Return of OpenSRS Announced: Was It Missing...?

Tucows Announces Return of OpenSRS Where Friendly, Reliable Service Comes First

Unsurpassed support and reseller satisfaction as top priority sets

OpenSRS apart

TORONTO and CHICAGO, HostingCon 2008, July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Tucows Inc., (AMEX:TCX, TSX:TC) a leading provider of Internet services to web hosting companies and ISPs worldwide, announced today the return of the OpenSRS name for its wholesale reseller services group. Through its network of web hosting companies and Internet service providers, OpenSRS provides web and email addresses for millions of people worldwide.

In 1999, Tucows became the first domain name wholesaler to be accredited by ICANN and chose the name OpenSRS for its domain name service. Today, OpenSRS remains one of the world's largest wholesale domain registrars, and has expanded its offerings to include hosted email and SSL certificates. Resellers' sustained loyalty to OpenSRS was one reason behind the decision to re-launch the brand, and key to that loyalty is the company's reputation as the most reseller-friendly among Internet services wholesalers.

"At OpenSRS, we really believe in supporting our resellers because they've been incredibly supportive of us. That means not only making it easy to sell, provision and support the highest quality Internet services, but it also means being true to our word," said Ken Schafer, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing for Tucows. "We've made a commitment to being reseller friendly, so much so that we've included it in our new logo."

Over the past nine years, OpenSRS has grown steadily each year and today boasts over 9,000 active resellers on six continents. Those resellers, in turn, have the potential to reach millions of end users. OpenSRS resellers are fiercely loyal, 78% of the resellers who joined in 1999 are still using OpenSRS to sell services today.

OpenSRS is known for its work on registrant rights within the registrar community as well as making things simple and reliable for its resellers. It also differentiates itself through a deep commitment to its identity as a wholesale business. This runs in sharp contrast to competitors that frequently end up competing with their own resellers for customers.

"We're a true Internet services wholesaler. You won't find our name or logo anywhere on our end-user interfaces and we don't talk to our reseller's customers, ever," said Schafer. "We stand by our promises and commitments and we work to earn our reseller's loyalty."

As part of the re-launch of OpenSRS, the company has established new brand marks and a logo consistent with a 1950s-era service company, aimed at recalling a time when service mattered most. An iconic character has also been created to embody OpenSRS' core values - service, friendliness, willingness to help, community service and reliability.

To celebrate the re-launch of the OpenSRS brand and mark a return to the bygone days of service with a smile, OpenSRS will be serving up treats from an old-fashioned soda fountain and ice cream stand in booth #626 at HostingCon 2008, at Navy Pier in Chicago from today through Wednesday.

About OpenSRS
OpenSRS is a global provider of wholesale Internet services to web hosting companies and ISPs. Wholly owned by Tucows, Inc., OpenSRS provides wholesale services for hosted email, domain name registration, Personal Names, and SSL certificates. For more information, please visit http://opensrs.com.

About Tucows

Tucows provides Internet services for web hosting companies and ISPs.Through our global network of over 9,000 service providers our OpenSRS group provides millions of email boxes and manages over eight million domains. Tucows is an accredited registrar with ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). We hold a domain name portfolio of approximately 150,000 domain names that are available for sale, monetized through advertising and support our wholesale Personal Names Service. Our Retail division sells Tucows services to consumers and small business owners through Domain Direct, IYD (It's Your Domain) and NetIdentity. Tucows.com remains one of the most popular software download sites on the Internet. For more information please visit: http://tucowsinc.com.

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If you are interested in becoming a domain reseller, check out OpenSRS, but start with their OpenSRS reseller pricing. It may save you from spending more time learning about their program only to realize you can get better pricing elsewhere. At first I thought maybe their non-refundable fee of $95 might not be to bad for a really nice domain reseller program, but when I saw that they add a "$3.00 OpenSRS Management fee" to most of the domains, I soon realized that their program was not for me...!

Make sure ResellerClub.com is on you list of places to check for reseller programs. Yes, you may not find them as easy as other programs, but the cost is lower.

Government Rejects Request to Clean up Asbestos

LegalView Reports About the Government's Rejection of a Monetary Request to Clean up An Asbestos-Tainted Site

LegalView updated its mesothelioma blog to include news of the government denying federal funds to an area in Arkansas that was left tainted with asbestos after nearly 150 World War II structures were destroyed in a fire. The government rejected the requests from the town of Chaffee Crossing where citizens are currently at risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer.

Denver, CO - LegalView.com, the number one resource for everything legal on the Web, recently reported on its mesothelioma blog that federal funds were denied to cleanup an asbestos-tainted town in Arkansas. Chaffee Crossing is the site of a recent fire, which destroyed nearly 150 World War II (WWII) structures, releasing asbestos fibers and dust into the area potentially increasing the risk of citizens developing mesothelioma. The city requested federal funds from the government to assist the cleanup of the town, which is considered by several citizens there to be a Superfund Site. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is refusing to deem the site a Superfund because it claims that levels of asbestos in the air after the fire were too low to be deemed as such. However, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality found asbestos contamination in some areas to be much higher than EPA tests recorded. For those who live in the area or who have previously been exposed to asbestos, using LegalView's mesothelioma portal to locate a mesothelioma attorney is the best way to protect oneself.

Asbestos is a material that is derived from vermiculate, a mineral often mined for uses in construction and as building insulation. Asbestos was widely used as insulation in many early 20th Century constructions, such as those burned in Chaffee Crossing. However, after discovering the link of inhaling asbestos to an incurable form of lung cancer, the use of asbestos was discontinued and the EPA has spent billions of dollars in the removal of asbestos across the country. Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos are advised to contact an experienced mesothelioma law firm to receive an attorney consultation on developing a mesothelioma lawsuit in which compensatory damages can be sought. Mesothelioma is a painful and deadly illness that takes decades to reveal itself, by which time it can be too late to find ways in paying for medical expenses. Use the mesothelioma portal to learn more about this and other recent asbestos-related news.

Additionally, LegalView offers several other information portals relating to a range of issues such as the Baxter Heparin recall, traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatments and Erb's Palsy jury verdicts. Heparin is a blood thinner injected into patients undergoing heart surgery or similar procedures. It is used to prevent blood clots, which can be fatal during surgery. Recently, the Baxter Healthcare Corporation issued a Heparin recall because several patients had reported severe allergic reactions to the drug, which has been associated with at least 19 patient deaths. LegalView.com reported updates continually to readers as this story unfolded, providing insightful and imperative news for victims of the Heparin recall. Similarly, individuals can use the TBI practice area to learn the most up-to-date news on brain injury lawsuits, jury verdicts, treatments as well as how to locate brain injury lawyers.

For information on Erb's Palsy, a condition that usually develops because of labor complications, visit Erb's Palsy lawsuit as the condition is usually preventable and caused by a physician pulling on a baby during birth.

About LegalView:
LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://mesothelioma.legalview.com

Foundation Funds Follow-up Care in Revolutionary Cancer Vaccine Study

Onyx and Breezy Foundation Funds Follow-up Care in Revolutionary Cancer Vaccine Study

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation recently funded after-care for dogs engaged in a revolutionary research study to develop a cancer vaccine that may be given to both humans and animals when successful. The study is being conducted at The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital, a small animal teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Tuxedo Park, NY and Philadelphia, PA  -  March 14 -- The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has announced a gift to The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. The gift will cover the expense of follow-up care for 12 dogs that are currently enrolled in the School's cancer vaccine study.

"Thanks to this generous gift, more participants in our lymphoma cancer vaccine clinical trial will be able to return for follow-up care," said Dr. Karin Sorenmo, chief of oncology at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital. "This means that we can capture all the data that is needed for the study while pet owners are helped financially."

Prior gifts to The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital from the Foundation have been a respirator for their ICU department and a mast cell tumor research study.

Dr. Sorenmo treated Breezy, who had mast cell tumors. "Thanks to Dr. Sorenmo, Breezy lived another 2 years, of quality life, after other vets gave her only 6 weeks to live," said Wanda Shefts. "We are glad that this project will help owners of dogs in remission from lymphoma and help advance Dr. Sorenmo's work on the cancer vaccine.

Dr. Sorenmo stated that she was encouraged by the results and she is hoping that this is just the beginning of more trials that can benefit dogs and ultimately help people. Thanks to this study, a number of the participating dogs are now cancer free. The researchers now estimate that they are within two years of testing the vaccine on humans. Without the dogs, they would be more than a decade away.

"We have a tremendous amount of respect for the work they do at the Hospital and we are glad to be able to fund another project for them", said Mark Shefts.

For more information about Penn Vet, please visit www.vet.upenn.edu; for more information about The Onyx and Breezy Foundation, please visit www.onyxandbreezy.org.

The Onyx and Breezy Foundation Background

The Foundation was created in 2004 and named after the trustees Mark & Wanda Shefts' two Labrador Retrievers. The Foundation lends financial support to organizations that benefit the welfare of animals.

The University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine Background

Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine is one of the world's premier veterinary schools. Founded in 1884, the School was built on the concept of Many Species, One MedicineTM. The birthplace of veterinary specialties, the School serves a distinctly diverse array of animal patients, from pets to horses to farm animals.

Press Contact: Barbara Kauffman
Company Name: The Onyx & Breezy Foundation
Phone: 201-782-7400
Website: www.onyxandbreezy.org

Multi-Billion Online Sports Betting Biz Tapped

Casinos VIP Lounge Taps into the Multi-Billion Online Sports Betting Biz

Online casino portal CasinosVIPLounge.com launches a new sports betting section. Among the info available are detailed reviews of leading sports betting websites as well as articles on the most prominent sports betting events.

July 27, 2008 -- CasinosVIPLounge.com, a leading online casino portal (http://www.casinosviplounge.com/), recently unveiled a new section targeted at online sports betting aficionados. The new sports betting section provides readers with extensive and valuable information on this particular industry, from in-depth reviews of the most popular sports betting websites and detailed gambling advice to articles on the hottest sports betting (http://www.casinosviplounge.com/sports-betting-intro.html) action.

Over the years, betting on sports has become a multi-billion dollar industry. According to sports betting industry experts, the total amount of money wagered on bets annually in the United States alone stands at over $200 billion. Today, thousands of online bettors enjoy placing daily bets on their favorite sports, such as horse racing, soccer, American football, hockey, baseball, basketball, boxing and golf. Trustworthy information on winning odds, Internet bookmakers and the most popular sporting events is crucial to people seeking to make successful wagers.

CasinosVIPLounge editor-in-chief Marcy Jefferson said, "The CasinosVIPLounge team is very proud to launch this new sports betting section. We seek to provide newcomers to this industry as well as seasoned bettors with reliable information and useful advice. CasinosVIPLounge has already become an authority in the world of online casinos. We expect to achieve the same status in the world of online sports betting."

About CasinosVIPLounge

CasinosVIPLounge, a top provider of reliable and up-to-date information on online casinos and sports betting websites, has already gained tremendous prominence. CasinosVIPLounge offers in-depth reviews of the online gaming industry's most reputed online casino destinations, breaking casino news as well as updates on the richest promotional offers available over the Internet. Already a major authority in the world of online gaming, Casinosviplounge.com is an independent online casino portal not affiliated with any online gambling website.

Contact Information
John Smith
CasinosVIPLounge
http://www.casinosviplounge.com/
18665598690

Homeowners Receiving Structured Settlement Payments Get Foreclosure Assistance

Woodbridge Investments to Offer Foreclosure Assistance to Homeowners Receiving Structured Settlement Payments

Woodbridge Investments, LLC. a structured settlement factoring company has today announced a new program designed to aid homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

Studio City, CA  -  March 15 -- Woodbridge Investments, LLC. a structured settlement factoring company has today announced a new program designed to aid homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

The newly implemented "Woodbridge Home Owner Relief Program" will allow homeowners who are receiving structured settlement, annuity, or lottery payments to instantly borrow up to $20,000 against their settlements to reinstate or pay delinquent mortgage payments.

Heading up the innovative new program is Sofia Ekberg, who has an extensive background in debt negotiation with banks nationwide. Sofia stated, "My experience with homeowner relief programs acted as the catalyst for the idea to offer loans to homeowners receiving structured settlements."

Ms. Ekberg further added, "Management at Woodbridge Investments was thrilled with the idea and has set aside a fund to immediately begin making loans."

To qualify, an individual must own a home and at the same time be receiving a structured settlement, annuity or lottery payment.

About Woodbridge: Woodbridge Investments and its predecessor companies have been purchasing Lottery Payments, Structured Settlements and other cash flows since 1993. Over a thousand individuals and families have relied on Woodbridge to realize a large lump sum from the sale of their long term payments.

Press Contact: Jennifer Fiero
Company Name: Woodbridge Investments, LLC
Phone: 1-866-865-7044
Website: www.woodbridgeinvestments.com

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Structured settlements  are when someone receives financial or insurance periodic payments that was accepted to settle a claim such as a personal injury tort or pay off a statutory periodic payment obligation. Structured settlements were first made during the 1970s as an alternative to lump sum settlements that might cause a large corporation to go out of business. Structured settlements is part of statutory tort law in the United States. Structured settlements may or may not include income tax and spend thrift requirements and benefits. The structured settlement payments may be called periodic payments and a structured settlement that is incorporated into a trial judgment is called a periodic payment judgment.

Parked Domain Traffic Value

Exploring The Value Of Parked Domain Traffic

by Janel Landis , Friday, July 25, 2008

I have been reading about the lawsuit recently filed against Google that alleges traffic received from parked domain sites was low quality.  What is most interesting about this topic are the sharply conflicting viewpoints online marketers have concerning the value of traffic from these sites. 

The first perspective is that of savvy search marketers, who have analyzed referring URL traffic and know that the majority of traffic from these sites is unqualified.  What they have found is that the only instances of qualified traffic from parked domain sites occurs on domains that are typos of their own domain, their brand terms. 

Have you ever accidentally typed your search query into the domain address bar instead of the search box?  I am pretty sure everyone has done this before and often, simply out of habit, even followed the misplaced word with a ".com".  In a presentation I gave at a conference a few months ago, I used the examples www.homesecurity.com and www.bookkeepping.com as visuals of sites that contain no original content, just ads.  These are the types of sites that deliver the majority of parked domain traffic.  How often are people actually making this mistake?  According to Google's keyword tool, the keyword home security drove approximately 1 million searches on Google and its search network in June 2008. 

Let's move on to the much smaller segment of parked domain sites that actually will drive qualified traffic: the domain typos.  Unfortunately, many companies have not protected themselves by registering common misspellings of their domain -- so when returning customers mistype the URL in the address bar, they are delivered to parked domain sites.  An example of this is www.lininsandthings.com: Notice that linen is misspelled in the URL. In this instance, the searcher was already going to Linens-N-Things, and in this way they would be a highly qualified click.  However, Linens-N-Things would now have to pay for a click to get their customer, rather than connecting to them directly.

The second perspective is that of the domainers themselves.  They claim that address-bar-driven traffic is highly qualified; however, the click revenue generated from these types of sites is the sole source of revenue available from them.  Again, they contain no original content, no products and no value.  The backbone of their argument lies in statistics that show direct navigation traffic is the most qualified traffic to a site; however, what they fail to interpret is that this statistic does not pertain to an indirect or unintentional visit. 

As the industry has matured, the engines have provided marketers with better tools to exclude distribution of ads on these types of sites.  Google allows advertisers to block parked domain sites altogether from their campaigns, and Yahoo allows advertisere to exclude sites individually.  The most perplexing part of the recent lawsuit filing is that it only challenges Google, yet Yahoo's search network distribution is much more riddled with these types of sites than Google's.  The www.homesecurity.com and www.bookkeepping.com examples I used above both serve Yahoo ads.  If this is truly going to be a class action suit and it gains any traction, I anticipate it just may involve both companies.

Post your response to the public Search Insider blog.

See what others are saying on the Search Insider blog.

Janel Landis is senior director of search development and strategy at SendTec, Inc., a St. Petersburg, Fla.-based multichannel, integrated marketing firm specializing in search engine marketing, direct response television and lead generation.
 
Search Insider for Friday, July 25, 2008:
http://blogs.mediapost.com/search_insider/?p=839

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World's First Musical Instrument Search Engine

JamLoop.com Launches World's First Musical Instrument Search Engine

Proprietary technology aggregates new and used listings for musicians

Pleasant Hill, CA  -  March 11 -- JamLoop (http://www.JamLoop.com) announced today the beta launch of its search engine for finding new and used musical instruments and equipment. On a daily basis, the search service aggregates over 250,000 musical gear listings from across the web and makes them available to musicians through a simple keyword search box, resulting in an easier and more comprehensive search experience for users.

"JamLoop offers musicians a new way to shop for musical gear online," says JamLoop Director of Marketing, Liz Kuykendall. "Historically, there are lots of places that musicians look to find that unique Les Paul used guitar, that Fender Twin Reverb amplifier, a matched pair of Shure microphones, etc.: From newspaper classifieds to eBay, Craigslist and retail websites like Musician's Friend, there are so many relevant options but they all take time. JamLoop replaces a highly-fragmented, clunky search experience with a much more efficient and intuitive one. We give users a single destination to find most of what's available on the market today."

JamLoop's proprietary content indexing and fuzzy search technology simplifies the search process for users by adding classification structure to used gear listings and finding matches even for misspelled text. It also layers geo-coding and mapping information onto listings so that users can search for items locally.

"The secondary market for used musical instruments is extremely vibrant and JamLoop does a fantastic job of bringing together all of those vintage pieces into a single search experience; it's a huge time saver," said Chris Rigatuso, avid guitar collector and CEO of Skyfollow, a media production company. "What I really like though is the way that JamLoop lets me compare used and new equipment simultaneously using price and location filters. I'm often indifferent as to whether an item is used or new, I'm just looking for the best deal. There's no other service for musicians on the web that does this so comprehensively," continued Rigatuso.    

About JamLoop
JamLoop (http://www.JamLoop.com) is the world's first shopping engine for finding new and used musical instruments and equipment. By aggregating musical gear listings from hundreds of local and national sellers, JamLoop is a one-stop destination for musicians looking to find the best deals on musical gear.

For more information, please contact:
Liz Kuykendall
Director of Marketing
JamLoop
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: (925) 300-6170
www.JamLoop.com

Press Contact: Liz Kuykendall
Company Name: JamLoop
Phone: 925-300-6170
Website: www.JamLoop.com

Recession Rescued By Bad Credit Loans

Bad Credit Loans to the Recession Rescue

Fears of an official recession have government officials wringing their hands with worry, reports Andy Hygate from www.loansbadcredit.org.uk.

Edinburgh, UK  - April 1 -- Fears of an official recession have government officials wringing their hands with worry, reports Andy Hygate from www.loansbadcredit.org.uk. But for the average consumer it doesn't really matter what the economists and market pundits predict or declare. Most of the UK population is already experiencing a recession on a personal or household level, and no amount of number crunching or financial juggling will do anything to change that stark reality.

One thing that could help, however, is a so-called "bad credit" loan. These are special loans extended to those with poor credit, and during recessionary times like these, they represent one of the last lines of defense and one of the best ways to access a line of credit to help weather the storm. Bad credit loans can provide emergency funds to help get back on solid financial footing, or they can be used on a longer-term basis for mortgages and other major but necessary expenditures.

Such loans may be a lifesaver if the situation persists. Roger Bootle, managing director of Capital Economics, was quoted by the Telegraph as saying that the growing financial crisis has increased the chances of recession in the UK as families struggle with their finances.

•    The government may need to raise taxes even more and scale back benefits to offset the nation's economic problems, which would only put more pressure on the average consumer.

•    Petrol prices are going up with no end in sight, and the cost of transporting all sorts of consumer goods is going up as a result. Those increases are being quickly passed along to retail buyers, so that the average UK consumer is bearing the biggest burden of all.

•    For example, the Bank of England has been forced to lower its interest rates twice in an effort to jumpstart the slumping economy. But mortgage lenders, credit card companies, and others who sell their financial services and are experiencing difficult time have not passed those price cuts along to their customers.

Meanwhile the news from across the puddle indicates a growing sea of debt that will soon wash ashore in the UK and likely prove that the turmoil in the USA is contagious - especially for economies that are so closely connected to it as is that of the UK.

"The underlying trends are horrible, with worse to come," reported the Guardian, citing prominent economist Ian Shepherdson of High Frequency Economics in New York.

With the unprecedented fall of Northern Rock - the first run on a UK bank in 100 years - and a rescue effort to save it that will eventually cost taxpayers about £25 billion - the economy signaled a severe crisis of staggering proportions. The bailout of the failed bank was mirrored on Wall Street, where one of America's legendary investment banks - Bear Stearns - fell apart within a matter of days. Stock in that company traded for around $160 per share last year, and hit $2 in mid-March.

The Telegraph reported that millions of British households will feel the aftermath of these events as mortgages become harder to get and monthly debt rises. One sign of recession is rising unemployment, and when Bear Stearns fell, fears rose that the company's 1,500 London-based employees might find their jobs or salaries in jeopardy - like so many others in the UK have already experienced.

However those companies that intentionally specialise in providing loans for bad credit are welcoming distressed Brits with open arms - and open purse strings. If you find yourself faced with the dilemma confronting most of us during these turbulent times, you may want to explore the option of a bad credit loan as a financially prudent alternative.

Press Contact: Andy Hygate
Company Name:
Phone: 077960436789
Website: www.loansbadcredit.org.uk

Property.com Unable to Resist Foreclosure

Property.com SOLD to Foreclosure.com

FORECLOSURE.COM OWNER TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY.COM

Brad Geisen continues to build online real estate empire to expand opportunities for future homebuyers and investors nationwide
Boca Raton, Fla. - July 22, 2008 Foreclosure.com Founder, President and CEO, Brad Geisen, announced today that he has reached an agreement with "Domain King" Rick Schwartz to acquire the domain name "Property.com," paving the way for his entry into a new market.

With Property.com Geisen intends to create a one-of-a-kind - and convenient - one-stop online real estate marketplace that is easy-to-use and navigate. The Web site will serve as an easy-accessible national real estate classified that is going to be free to all visitors, providing sellers, buyers and investors with a whole new concept of marketing and finding homes on the Web.

According to Geisen, the acquisition of Property.com will allow him to focus his efforts on a different and potentially much larger segment of the real estate market. In fact, in Geisen's opinion, the niche foreclosure market, which is Foreclosure.com's market, represents just 2 percent of all available real estate inventory.

"I'm going after the 98 percent of the real estate market outside of the foreclosure business." said Geisen. "For the past several years, I've built and run one of, if not 'the,' most successful Internet foreclosure businesses, but the business was always exclusively distressed real estate. I've achieved in Foreclosure.com what I set out to accomplish and I am ready for a new challenge in a different market. I intend to shift my focus on developing my new ideas that will revolutionize how homes should be listed, viewed and purchased. I've developed the critical skills which I intend to apply to this new market," said Geisen.

Property.com will include all listing types, including those indexed the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), creating a database that could surpass more than 15 million homes, but not including distressed properties, which will remain the business of Foreclosure.com. The best part is that it will be totally free to search for potential buyers and visitors, and sellers will be able to upload and edit their own personal listings at no charge. It's a wide-open model that Geisen knows will create an invaluable resource for just about anyone interested in real estate.

"I'm raising the stakes and pushing all my chips to the center of the table," said Geisen. "Foreclosure.com and my related companies have been leaders in their spaces for nearly a decade. I've seen what's been wrong with the way things were done and I've developed the methods to fix them. I have the knowledge and resources to take this to a whole new level . and that's what I plan to do."

Geisen revealed the new Property.com will be unveiled sometime in 2009. The specific terms of the deal to acquire Property.com were not disclosed. However, Geisen indicated that the value of the deal is one of the largest URL purchases to date.
That's a deal that has the seller Rick Schwartz - who is known as the "Domain King" -- smiling from ear-to-ear. He purchased Property.com for $750,000 in 2005 and was recently introduced to Geisen through Kevin Leto of BigTicketDomains.com about a possible re-sale.

"My job is to acquire prime, industry specific domain names with large volumes of natural type in traffic and eventually develop them to their fullest potential by partnering with leading companies in their respective fields which I have been doing for more than a decade," said Schwartz," "Early on I saw the value in Property.com; however, I never had the resources to develop it so it could reach its maximum potential. Brad Geisen has the vision to truly get the most of Property.com for the benefit of so many people in every corner of the United States. I'm thrilled to be a part of this exciting new project with Brad."

Stay tuned for frequent updates and milestones for the new Property.com. Feel free to visit the Web site in its current form. However, as mentioned earlier, the complete re-launch will not be official until sometime in 2009.

About Brad Geisen and Foreclosure.com
Ten years ago, Brad Geisen founded Foreclosure.com and built it over time to a company with more than 1.8 million foreclosure, preforeclosure, bankruptcy, FSBO and tax lien listings in one place, Foreclosure.com delivers America's largest and most accurate searchable database of foreclosed homes and distressed property information to its customers and business partners. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Brad Geisen and Foreclosure.com work with hundreds of top lending institutions and government agencies to list diverse property types on its Web site, including Real Estate Owned (REO); Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); Fannie Mae; and other government agency and financial institution properties; as well as listings from an extensive network of corporate sellers. On the Web: www.foreclosure.com.

About eRealEsate.com.
Rick Schwartz, aka "Domain King" and "Webfather," is the CEO, President and Cofounder of T.R.A.F.F.I.C. found at TargetedTraffic.com-- the premiere domain conference for the domain industry. It is both the oldest and largest and attracts over 500 of the top professionals in the industry in a by invitation only event. As one of the early domain pioneers dating back to 1995, Rick has a knack for predicting big trends and getting it right. He may have been the first to recognize the value of "type in" traffic which is now commonly referred to as "direct navigation" -- the most potent and targeted traffic on the net. Rick has a prime portfolio of one and two word domains, and is considered by many to be among the leading experts on domain names, traffic, Web site flow and valuation. www.eRealestate.com

Media Contact
Thomas Myers
Foreclosure.com
tmyers@foreclosure.com
Tel: (561) 981-5337 ext. 381

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Bus Tours Crestron

CEA Showcases Crestron on National Bus Tour

Crestron Represents American Innovation and Ingenuity on CEA National Tour
America Wins with Trade

ROCKLEIGH, N.J.-- July 23, 2008 --The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) launched the "America Wins with Trade" bus tour, which will visit 28 states in seven weeks, with scheduled stops at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. A primary mission of the tour is to highlight CE companies that operate domestically and drive the nation's economy. As the global leader of residential and commercial control and automation systems, Crestron Electronics, Inc., exemplifies American business and innovation by designing, manufacturing, and shipping worldwide from northern New Jersey.

Crestron invited CEA executives, local and federal government officials to an exclusive inside look at the company's state-of-the-art operations. Esteemed guests were treated to a rare view of the 100,000 square foot Research Center where future technology is developed; product testing and quality control techniques used for more than 1000 products; and efficient manufacturing processes.

"Crestron was built from the ground up here in New Jersey. While others move manufacturing off-shore, we remain loyal to our roots. It's because of our talented and dedicated people that we continue to flourish," said Randy Klein, Crestron Executive Vice President. "We take exceptional steps to ensure the quality of our products and support, and make considerable investment in our community, employees and partners."

Rockleigh mayor Nicholas Langella, Peter Kortright, III, Bergen County Economic Development Corporation, and Michael Muldowney from U.S. Congressman Scott Garrett's office were among the respected visitors on the Crestron tour. All were impressed with the extensive Crestron testing and quality control technology, such as the high voltage testing lab (that exceeds UL and CE requirements) and the FCC RF-compliance testing chamber.

Additionally, each new product Crestron develops is subjected to stress, static electricity and lightning simulation tests, and every finished unit is inspected to ensure that it functions to design specifications.

"With 35% of sales of its US-made products going to overseas markets, Crestron is a great example of how trade is an engine of economic growth," added Gary Shapiro, CEA President and CEO.

Contacts

Crestron Electronics, Inc.
Jeff Singer, 800-237-2041
Fax: 201-767-1902
jsinger@crestron.com

EPA Required To Regulate Invasive Species Pollution

Stanford Environmental Law Clinic Announces Ninth Circuit Upholds Case Requiring U.S. EPA to Regulate Invasive Species Pollution

STANFORD, Calif.-- July 23, 2008 --The Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School today announced that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of environmental organizations seeking to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate ship discharges under the Clean Water Act. Dealing a setback to the shipping industry, the decision follows a 2005 lower court ruling that the EPA had illegally exempted ship discharges from Clean Water Act requirements. That decision gave the agency until September 2008 to end the regulatory exemption and issue permits to ships, an order that the EPA appealed to the Ninth Circuit.

"The EPA spent nearly ten years fighting against using the nation's only comprehensive law to combat an environmental plague that is costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars," said Deborah Sivas, Director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School, which represented the three plaintiff groups. "We are gratified that the Appeals Court has held the EPA accountable so that this country can begin to control the dangerous tide of invasive species."

The court's ruling today upholds the lower court's order directing the EPA to take specific action to ensure that shipping companies comply with the Clean Water Act and restrict the discharge of invasive species in ballast water. In mid-June, the EPA issued a draft permit to regulate all vessel discharges. The draft permit requires treatment of a wide range of pollutants contained in ballast water and many other types of ship discharges.

Nina Bell, Executive Director of the Portland, Ore.-based Northwest Environmental Advocates, said the court's decision will properly shift some of the burden of invasive species from taxpayers to shippers. "The Ninth Circuit's decision is very important for the taxpayers who have been paying the huge price of the EPA's continuing refusal to implement the Clean Water Act," said Bell. "If the EPA had used its Congressional mandate thirty years ago, this country would have been using the Clean Water Act to effectively control ship discharges for all that time," she added.

The plaintiff groups cautioned that the shipping industry has already shifted its fight from the courts to lobbying Congress. "As soon as we won the district court case in 2005, the shipping industry immediately turned to Congress for a special exemption from the Clean Water Act, to preserve their ability to pollute at the nation's expense," Bell said.

Live species from other countries are carried to U.S. waters in ballast water that ships use for stabilization. The ballast water is discharged into bays, estuaries, and the Great Lakes as ships approach port and when cargo for export is loaded. Over 21 billion gallons of ballast water from international ports is discharged into U.S. waters each year. The cost of damage caused by invasive species to the U.S. economy is estimated in the billions of dollars annually.

"The San Francisco Bay and Delta have been completely invaded by non-native species introduced by commercial ships coming to our ports. Species such as the Asian clam and Chinese mitten crab are clogging the intake pipes of drinking water facilities and power plants, harming the commercial fishing industry, and destroying native species habitat," said Sejal Choksi, San Francisco Baykeeper.

The absence of effective federal action, combined with the high cost of invasive species to the environment, industries, and drinking water sources, has led numerous states to pass their own pollution control laws. Michigan and Minnesota require shippers to have discharge permits. California has the strictest controls on the discharge of ballast-borne invasive species in the world. Six Great Lakes states?New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin?joined the environmental groups' lawsuit to persuade the court to require a federal regulatory program.

The challenge was brought by Northwest Environmental Advocates, San Francisco Baykeeper and The Ocean Conservancy, three of the signers of a petition filed with EPA in January 1999. EPA denied the petition in 2003, triggering the lawsuit. The Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School and Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center (PEAC) at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Ore., represent the three organizations.

About Northwest Environmental Advocates

Northwest Environmental Advocates, based in Portland, Ore., works through advocacy and education to protect and restore water and air quality, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.

About Baykeeper

Founded in 1989, Baykeeper works to reverse the environmental degradation of the past and promote new strategies and policies to protect the water quality of the San Francisco Bay. For nearly two decades, Baykeeper and its Deltakeeper project have been the premier watchdogs of the water quality of the vast San Francisco Bay-Delta watershed.

About the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford

The Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School (http://www.law.stanford.edu/program/clinics/environmental) enables students to provide legal assistance to nonprofit organizations on a variety of environmental issues, focusing primarily on natural resource conservation. The clinic's clients include large national environmental organizations and a variety of regional and local grassroots groups. Working under clinic attorneys, students routinely investigate cases, assist clients in developing legal strategies, draft comment letters, court pleadings, and briefs, present testimony before administrative agencies, and argue cases in state and federal courts. Clinic students also provide policy advice and work on regulatory and legislative reform in the environmental field.

About Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School (www.law.stanford.edu) is one of the nation's leading institutions for legal scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision makers in law, politics, business, and high technology. Faculty members argue before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, and write books and articles for academic audiences, as well as the popular press. Along with offering traditional law school classes, the school has embraced new subjects and new ways of teaching.

Contacts

Media:
Stanford Law School
Amy Poftak, 650-725-7516
Assistant Director of Communications
poftak@law.stanford.edu
or
Comment:
Stanford Law
Deborah Sivas, 650-723-0325
dsivas@stanford.edu
or
NWEA
Nina Bell, 503-295-0490
nbell(at)advocates-nwea.org
or
Baykeeper
Sejal Choksi, 925-330-7757
sejal@baykeeper.org

Foreclosed and Lender-Owned Property Search Declared Possible

Searches for Foreclosed and Lender-Owned Properties Now Possible

EDINA, Minn.-- July 22, 2008 --Foreclosed properties are in high demand and in today's market, many such properties are available. To simplify searching for foreclosed and lender-owned properties, Edina Realty now offers consumers a new search option on its Web site, www.edinarealty.com.

Consumers simply click on the home page link, "Search Foreclosures" to pull up information and a link to all "In Foreclosure/Lender-Owned Properties." Like all properties on the Edina Realty Web site, searches can be conducted using an interactive map, or by area, city or school district. All properties that are in foreclosure or lender-owned - Edina Realty's listings and those of other brokers - will appear.

Currently, over 3,000 foreclosed or lender-owned properties are listed in Minnesota and W. Wisconsin, ranging in price from $8,000 to over $5 million. The Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®, which tracks closed sales of lender-mediated homes, reports that these sales made up 27.6 percent of the total market in the first quarter of 2008, compared to 9.3 percent of the market in the first quarter of last year.

"The increase in foreclosures is another opportunity for consumers to take advantage of the current real estate market," said Barb Jandric, Edina Realty general manager. "But when entering into this type of real estate transaction, it's critical to work with an agent with experience in these types of listings who can help navigate a complex process and protect the buyer's interests."

Jandric said that buying a foreclosed or lender-owned property can be more complicated because the lender is involved in the transaction, either acting with approval powers or as the owner/seller.

A property in foreclosure means that the owner has been served a legal foreclosure notice. Once the foreclosure process is complete, the property becomes lender-owned. "Each situation is unique and understanding the process and the market is important," Jandric said. "For example, because these properties may be previously owned by people experiencing financial difficulties, they may need updating and repairs. There may be liens or back taxes due on the property.

"Knowledge is power in this market," Jandric said. "Researching market conditions and thoroughly understanding the 'ins and outs' of the foreclosure process are crucial."

Edina Realty, a subsidiary of HomeServices of America, is one of the nation's largest real estate companies with 80 real estate offices throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Western Wisconsin and more than 2,800 REALTORS®. Edina Realty's family of companies includes Edina Realty, Edina Realty Title, Edina Realty Mortgage and Edina Realty Relocation. Edina Realty handled more than 26,300 transactions and $7.0 billion in sales volume in 2007. For more information, visit www.edinarealty.com.
Contacts

Edina Realty
Gena Henrich, 952-928-5069
genahenrich@edinarealty.com
or
Verve P.R.
Maria Verven, 612-990-7328
mverven@gmail.com

Housing Prices Down By 0.4% In Real Estate Report

Real Estate Report: Housing Prices Down By 0.4% In February

For-sale listed property inventories increased in 19 of 22 markets identified in the March Real Time Real Estate Report.

Mountain View, CA  -  March 13 -- The Altos 10-City Composite showed a decline in asking prices of 1.6% over the past three months and continued that decline in February with a decrease of 0.4% for the month. Prices of properties listed for sale fell in 15 of 22 major markets according to the Real-Time Real Estate Report, jointly published by Altos Research, the premier source for real-time real estate research, and market analysis consultancy Real IQ™.

Asking prices fell at the fastest rate in San Diego, down 3.0% during February and 5.2% for the most recent three-month period. Prices also fell by more than two percent in the Detroit, Los Angeles and Las Vegas markets during February. Prices increased in Chicago, Charlotte, New York, Dallas, Phoenix and Houston during February and were flat in Seattle.

"We are seeing some stability in asking prices as a result of seasonal reductions in inventory during the past winter months," said Stephen Bedikian, partner and research director for Real IQ. "Unfortunately we also saw an increase in listed property inventories this month which is atypical this early in the year. Only a sustained reduction in inventory will arrest the market's fall nationally."

For sale property inventories increased in 19 of 22 markets during February. The Altos 10-City Composite showed a supply increase of 2.5% for the month. Property inventories declined in only three markets: Chicago, Indianapolis and San Francisco.

Data in the Real-Time Real Estate Report is based on analysis of over one million homes currently listed for-sale in 22 metropolitan markets across the country. The report is the most timely source of real estate data available.

"Inventory growth combined with the recent rise in mortgage rates and reported job losses does not bode well for future price stability," said Michael Simonsen, CEO and co-founder of Altos Research. "We expect housing price declines to resume in earnest during the next several months."

The Real-Time Real Estate Report also found that time-on-market remained high. Miami and Detroit experienced the longest time-on-market spans with an average days-on-market of 146 and Minneapolis was close behind at 145 in February. Seventeen of 22 markets had an average days-on-market of over 100. Denver led all markets with the fastest rate of inventory turnover at an average of 77 days-on-market, followed by Dallas at 79 days.

The report examines housing pricing, inventory levels and market conditions in 22 major U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, DC. The Real-Time Real Estate Report is released every month.

About Altos Research
Altos Research LLC pioneered real-time real estate research. Founded in 2005, the company's information products serve investors, traders, and thousands of real estate professionals. Because real estate data is traditionally obscure and highly latent, Altos built the Real-Time Market Intelligence(TM) platform to monitor dozens of housing market metrics as they are right now in local markets across the country. The company publishes real estate reports and real estate data each week for thousands of zip codes around the country.

About Real IQ
Real IQ provides housing market analysis and consulting services to leading mortgage and real estate companies. More information about Real IQ is located at www.realiq.com.

Press Contact: Michael Simonsen
Company Name: Altos Research
Phone: 888-819-7775
Website: http://www.altosresearch.com

Consolidate Outstanding Debts With Bad Credit Loans

Take Advantage of Bad Credit Loans to Consolidate Outstanding Debts

Even if your credit is not great, you can still benefit from a Consolidation Loan explains Andy Hygate from www.loansbadcredit.org.uk.

Edinburgh, UK  -  March 11 -- Even if your credit is not great, you can still benefit from a Consolidation Loan explains Andy Hygate from www.loansbadcredit.org.uk, and get out from under an avalanche of rising interest payments.

Just when we had hoped for relief, the economic woes seem to accelerate with no end in sight. Combined with growing fears of a recession we now have the disturbing prospect that an imminent recession will be combined with simultaneous price inflation. Commodity prices, for example, are climbing - with some industry observers predicting that the price of petrol will rise as much as 30-40 percent by July. As these factors create a bleak economic outlook, the cost of high-interest debt becomes more burdensome.

According to recent reports from the Telegraph and BBC News:

- A record-breaking 107,000 people went insolvent in 2006, an annual rise of almost 60 percent, as UK personal debt totals hit £1.4 trillion

- Lenders wrote off about £6.8bn in individual debt last year, the biggest annual total on record.

- Banks classified a total of £2.1bn as bad debt in the final quarter of 2007, of which £1.6bn was consumer debt.

- Only a small fraction of this was mortgage debt, with the majority accounted for by credit card and other unsecured debts.

But all is not lost. While major interest rates are still relatively low there is time to get out from under high-interest debt, and mounting monthly payments by borrowing a single affordable loan and using it to pay off more expensive loans. The strategy, referred to as debt consolidation, is often recommended to consumers faced with seemingly impossible financial circumstances. A debt consolidation loan is one that offers a more competitive rate than the ones you currently hold.

Of course if you already have bad credit, it can be harder to find an attractive consolidation loan. But so-called bad credit loans offer a solution, even for those with low credit scores. Lenders who offer these loans tailor to a niche market, and specialise in serving those borrowers who are turned down by traditional banks and other lenders due to credit problems. Their sole purpose and business focus is on providing loans to people with poor credit, and the services they provide are a valuable asset for UK consumers unable to borrow from conventional lenders.

With a bad credit loan from one of these lenders, it is possible to consolidate debt and convert your bad credit into a good plan for saving money and getting back on track to financial security. Transferring outstanding balances to a single lower interest bad credit loan accomplishes two critical and financially helpful goals.

First of all, you save money on the difference in interest payments. For example, if you are paying on a credit card that charges 18 percent interest and can pay off that balance with a new loan that only charges 8 percent, you realise immediate savings of 10 percent. That's a better return than most stock market wizards can boast, and it can be done in a matter of minutes by simply applying for the new loan.

Secondly, consolidating debt by paying it off with a single loan makes monthly payments simpler to manage your budget. With only one payment to make - instead of numerous bills to pay at various times during the month - it is easy to write one check, once a month. You minimize the risk of late payments, penalties, fees, and punitive rate hikes, while also making your personal financial life less stressful.

Press Contact: Andy Hygate
Company Name: Loans for Bad Credit
Phone: 07780859312
Website: www.loansbadcredit.org.uk

Secrets How To Survive This Mortgage Market Collapse

New Radio Show Reveals Insider Secrets How To Survive This Mortgage Market Collapse

Teaneck, New Jersey based Mortgage Expert, Joe Gross reveals mortgage market survival secrets on a brand new radio show, "Your Home - Your Future" on WVNJ 1160AM.

Teaneck, NJ  -  March 19 -- National Mortgage Expert Joe Gross launched a new radio show "Your Home - Your Future." You can listen to the show live on Thursday March 20th at 2pm, or at http://www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com. "Your Home - Your Future", is all about helping listeners get the tools and information they need to protect their home for today and the future.

National Mortgage Expert, Joe Gross, addressed in his radio show on this past Thursday the issues of protecting your credit rating, debt consolidation companies, refinancing in today's ever changing mortgage market. Listeners were able to email their financial questions or situations and receive help both on- and off-air.

"Your Home - Your Future" is a forum to discuss most recent financial headlines, listener financial problems and tips to protect your home and improve your financial situation.

This week's program is all about Adjustable Rate Mortgages and how to stop the predatory rate increases. Future shows in the "Your Home - Your Future" series will cover other aspects of the mortgage market including:
•    Avoiding scams and fraudsters
•    How to budget your income and expenses
•    Boosting your credit score
•    How to choose a good broker
Since the mortgage market collapse, Joe has redoubled his efforts in educating the public about the mortgage market and what they can do to get in a better position for the future. "If this crisis has taught us anything, it's that everyone loses when people aren't educated." This is the primary reason behind the launch of the radio show.

Joe has worked in the mortgage industry for ten years and has heard hundreds of stories from customers who have gotten into trouble with debt and thought they couldn't get out. He has helped people refinance into a much better situation with manageable monthly payments and has maintained a 98 percent approval rating.

Kim and Richard VanNortwick had combined mortgage and credit card payments of $2,903.00. They had been trying for a few months to refinance. "We were very stressed out," says Kim. "We tried calling other mortgage companies but we kept getting the answer, "I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do for you."

Joe got them a 30 year fixed mortgage and saved the VanNortwick's $597.63 a month. "It only took us 17 days to get out of this misery. Joe was also able to escrow our taxes and insurance and pay off our outstanding taxes of $9,042.41" says Kim. The VanNortwick's are happy to be on their way to financial freedom and credit National Mortgage Expert, Joe Gross with their success.

Joe Gross is the president of Qualified Mortgage Inc. and specializes in Debt Consolidation and helping people with credit issues. He is committed to getting each customer into a product that will benefit them today AND tomorrow. Joe's unique Client for Life program provides additional support to customers through monthly newsletters, tele-seminars and email bulletins.

Currently, Joe is writing a book on the mortgage market collapse covering what happened, who's to blame and, most importantly, how people can get out of this mess and keep their homes.

Joe is available for interview and welcomes your mortgage-related questions. Call 800-662-0125 for a Free No-Obligation Consultation or visit http://www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com.

Please contact Theresa Consoli with any questions or interview requests:
800-662-0125
Fax: 201-837-1128
email protected from spam bots
www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com

Qualified Mortgage Inc.
1086 Teaneck Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666

Press Contact: Theresa Consoli
Company Name: Qualified Mortgage Inc.
Phone: 800-662-0125
Website: www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com

Program Limits Homeowners, Mortgage Brokers, and Lenders

Bills.com Launches 'Know Your Limits' Program for Homeowners, Mortgage Brokers and Lenders

Program helps determine eligibility for new, higher jumbo-conforming, FHA loans

San Mateo, Calif. -  March 17 -- Today, Bills.com will launch "Know Your Limits," a quick, easy-to-use program to help homeowners determine if they are eligible for new, higher-limit loans passed in the economic stimulus package.

Last week, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight raised the size of loans that can be guaranteed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The new loan limits will stay in effect through the end of the year. Also, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) raised the size of the loans that the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) can insure.

Previously, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could insure only mortgages of up to $417,000. That meant - even with a 20 percent down payment - only buyers of homes costing $521,500 or less were eligible for these mortgages. The new "jumbo-conforming" loan limits vary by area, with the maximum loan amount 125 percent of the median home value of the county in which the home is located. The new loan limits affect homeowners and buyers in 71 metropolitan areas and 21 counties outside of those metro areas, reaching as high as $793,750 in Honolulu.

Loan limits for FHA-insured loans were even lower, with a previous limit of $362,790. Now, mortgages of up to $729,750 can qualify for FHA insurance.

For homeowners and home buyers
Determining eligibility for the new loans can be challenging, says Ethan Ewing, president of Bills.com. With the "Know Your Limits" program, applicants can complete a simple form (www.bills.com/fhasecure) and receive an immediate assessment of their eligibility, Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae and FHA loan limits, and up to four lender matches for their specific situations.

For mortgage brokers and lenders
As part of the "Know Your Limits" program, mortgage lenders and brokers can reach homeowners eligible for the new loans quickly and easily. The "FHA Select" program will match lenders and brokers with applicants whose desired loan amount is below the FHA loan limit for their county of residence. A corresponding "Stimulus Select" program will match applicants who are eligible for jumbo-conforming loans. Both FHA Select and Stimulus Select are activated on a filter-by-filter basis, and are optional.

"The new limits will make it easier for buyers to get loans, which should help the home markets get moving again," says Ethan Ewing, president of Bills.com. "We've been in a situation where the average cost of a home in large areas of the country was far greater than available loans. These new programs will be of great assistance to home buyers, homeowners who have been unable to get out of their adjustable-rate mortgages, as well as the broker/lender community."

Based in San Mateo, Calif., Bills.com is a free one-stop online portal where consumers can educate themselves about complex personal finance issues and comparison shop for products and services including credit cards, debt relief assistance, insurance, mortgages and other loans. The company blogs about consumer finance issues at http://www.bills.com/blog. Since 2002, Bills.com has served more than 30,000 customers nationwide while managing more than $1 billion in consumer debt. Bills.com is a division of Freedom Financial Network, LLC, whose co-founders and CEOs, Andrew Housser and Brad Stroh, have been named Northern California finalists in Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Press Contact: Aimee Bennett
Company Name: Bills.com
Phone: 303-843-9840
Website: www.bills.com

First-Timers Prefer Virgin Money

Virgin Money USA Leads Industry in Private Mortgage-Based Loans

Growing Number of Homeowners Seek Intra-Family Mortgage Loans Over Traditional Lending Sources

Waltham, MA  -  March 13 -- Virgin Money USA, the leader in formalizing and servicing mortgage loans between friends and family, today announced that it has reached its highest volume of mortgage-based loans to-date. With over 1/3 of the total loan volume -- which has recently surpassed the $300 million mark -- coming from mortgage-based loans, Virgin Money continues to prevail as the leader in the private mortgage loan industry.

With consumers feeling the impact of the recent credit crunch and the decline of the housing market, homeowners are now seeking refinance options to help lower their monthly interest payments. In addition, new homeowners are seeking an alternative source of funding for a down payment or mortgage now that it has become increasingly difficult to get from a bank due to tightening loan qualification restrictions.

Turning to family or friends for a mortgage-based loan has become a popular option that offers benefits to both the borrower and the lender alike. Borrowers are able to determine an interest rate that is often lower than a traditional bank rate, and can set a repayment schedule that meets their needs, considerably lowering the risk for default. In addition, lenders are able to earn additional income from an interest rate that is often higher than traditional bank investments, such as a CD.

"By keeping the money within the family, an intra-family loan provides options to all parties involved with the transaction; borrowers need a financial boost without breaking the bank, and lenders are looking for unique ways to preserve their wealth. Virgin Money allows lenders to earn fixed income while helping a loved one or friend in need," said Asheesh Advani, CEO of Virgin Money USA. "We offer a variety of mortgage products that are designed to meet the individual needs of homeowners, including residential mortgages, retirement mortgages and seller-financing options, enabling consumers to get a better deal than they would from a traditional lending source."

Virgin Money USA provides documentation, professional service and complete record-keeping for every mortgage loan, as many people welcome having an independent third party in the middle of a family transaction. Virgin Money allows homeowners to keep the home and the cash, as well as the decision-making power, in the family. To learn more about mortgage products and services from Virgin Money USA, please visit www.virginmoneyus.com.

About Virgin Money USA
Virgin Money USA is a financial services company committed to offering consumers alternatives to traditional and costlier forms of credit. The company provides a safe and easy way for people to make loans between relatives and friends -- thereby helping people to arrange affordable loans without hurting their relationships, to enjoy the benefits of flexible loans that fit their needs and to keep money where it belongs -- in the family. With interest rates that are typically lower than what a bank charges, coupled with flexible repayment schedules, Virgin Money allows consumers to take major steps toward achieving their personal dreams, with help from friends and family. Visit us at www.virginmoneyus.com.

Press Contact: Laren Frueh
Company Name: Virgin Money USA
Phone: (617) 337-9514
Website: www.virginmoneyus.com

US Property Real Estate Financing and Mortgage Lending for non-US citizens

Finance North America Offers Real Estate Financing and Mortgage Lending of U.S. Property for citizens of Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia

UK, Europe, Asian, Australian and the Americas citizens can now purchase and finance their U.S. property mortgage through Finance North America.

San Diego, CA  -  March 13 -- Finance North America announced today its latest offering of mortgage financing to international residents in the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas looking to purchase or remortgage U.S. real estate. Finance North America specializes in providing mortgage financing to U.S. and Canadian citizens and is now proud to announce the expansion of their U.S. mortgage financing offering to the International market.
    
"Foreigners are taking an interest in purchasing property or wanting to cash in on their equity here in the US. With a weak dollar and low mortgage rates, real estate investments are becoming the choice for a growing number of people from other countries. Some see real estate as a great investment opportunity due to the low price while others are interested in enjoying the properties as a second or vacation residence." - Russ Schreier, CEO, Finance North America

Finance North America is dedicated to helping International citizens interested in purchasing real estate in the U.S. and Mexico. They offer purchase lending as well as refinance / remortgage lending. Awarded for successfully closing the most financing transactions in 2005, 2006 and 2007 for US citizen's real estate investments in Mexico, Finance North America now also provides UK, Canadian, European, Asian, Australian, and Latin American citizens a reliable partner to help with their U.S. property search and mortgage needs.

For additional information about Finance North America and their International financing options for UK, Europe, Asia, Australian, Canadians, and Latin American citizens, please send emails to: info @ FinanceNorthAmerica.com or visit www.FinanceNorthAmerica.com.

Finance North America - Finance North America, Inc. specializes in providing mortgage financing on real estate in the US and Mexico. They offer not only purchase and refinance lending, but also construction loans that convert effortlessly into permanent financing. Finance North America has over 25 years of experience in the mortgage and real estate industry and has a proven track record managing a variety of successful lending transactions on US and Mexico property. Finance North America successfully closed the most cross boarder financing transactions in 2005, 2006, 2007.

Agency/Source: dtelepathy.com

Press Contact: Russ Schreier
Company Name: Finance North America
Phone: 866-937-4639
Website: http://www.financenorthamerica.com

Real Estate Deals Found Thrill Homebuyers

Homebuyers are Thrilled with the Deals to be Found through the Latest Real Estate Trend to Hit California-An Online Auction

With low minimum bids and increased FHA loan limits, homebuyers are racing to get an amazing deal on a brand-new, luxury home in the California Central Valley with the click of a mouse. The Freedom Realty Exchange, the nation's leading online home auction website, is offering more than 60 gorgeous new homes in Gridley, Lathrop, Madera and Kerman on www.FRE.com/193R4. With about two weeks until the bid deadline, interested homebuyers are encouraged to visit the website and register to participate in the online auction as soon as possible.

Newport Beach, CA  -  March 27 -- A new luxury home valued at more than $700,000 for a buck seems too good to be true, but that really was the starting bid for several of the homes in an online auction currently on the Freedom Realty Exchange website (www.FRE.com/193R4). With about two weeks until the bid deadline, prospective homebuyers are jumping on the bandwagon and bidding to get a deal on one of more than 60 brand-new, luxury homes located in several cities across the California Central Valley.

The online auction includes 15 homes in Gridley, a quaint community between Chico and Yuba City; 18 homes in Lathrop, a short commute from the San Francisco Bay Area; and a total of 29 homes in Madera and Kerman, quiet suburbs just outside of Fresno.

Though originally priced as high as $715,000, the Freedom Realty Exchange, which is part of the LFC Group of Companies, the nation's premier online real estate auction marketing firm, is offering these homes with minimum bids as low as $140,000, in addition to the model homes that started at $1. Although most of these model homes are no longer going for their $1 minimum bids, their current high bids are considerably low, so interested homebuyers can still purchase one of these homes at a steal if they act fast.

More exciting news for homebuyers is the recent announcement by the Federal Housing Administration that FHA loan limits in these Central Valley counties have increased significantly, affording potential homebuyers an even better opportunity to buy a new home.

The spacious homes feature three to five bedrooms and two to four bathrooms, and range from approximately 2,000 sq. ft. to over 3,500 sq. ft. Many of these beautifully crafted homes are fully-upgraded and include attractive features like hardwood floors, granite countertops, central air conditioning, energy efficient windows, recessed lighting and walk-in closets.

"What differentiates these homes from all of the competition out there is that they have been built to the highest standard of quality," says Kelly Lovegrove, Director of Operations at the LFC Group of Companies. "We have received rave reviews from prospective bidders who have gone out to visit the properties over the past few weeks. They have expressed how beautiful these homes are and even compared them to 'celebrity' houses," continues Lovegrove.

There has never been a better opportunity to get a deal on that new, luxury California home you've always dreamed of. Forget wasting an entire day at a foreclosure auction in a hotel ballroom or convention center, this online auction makes it simple and convenient to purchase a gorgeous new home at a great price. The bid deadline is Thursday, April 10, so there is still plenty of time for interested buyers to visit the homes, prequalify for financing and place a bid with the click of a mouse. For more information and to register to participate in the online auction, go to www.FRE.com/193R4.

Freedom Realty Exchange - part of the LFC Group of Companies
For more than 30 years, the LFC Group of Companies have served numerous Fortunate 500 companies, real estate developers, investors, financial institutions and government agencies by auction-marketing thousands of commercial, industrial, land and residential properties with an aggregate value well in excess of $5 billion. www.FRE.com

Press Contact: Ashley Carvalho
Company Name: LFC Communications, Inc.
Phone: 949-706-6135
Website: www.FRE.com

Despite Credit Crunch Homeowner Loans Activity Increasing

Homeowner Loans Are on the Rise, Despite Credit Crunch

Despite the recent credit crunch in the USA and the UK, the folks behind Phillips Financial Services (http://www.phillipsfinancialservices.co.uk) say secured loans and homeowner loans are on the rise.

Essex, UK  -  March 13 -- While a credit crunch in the USA and the UK has lead to increased speculation of a recession, a UK company specializing in secured loans and homeowner loans says both types are on the rise.

The company is Phillips Financial Services (http://www.phillipsfinancialservices.co.uk) and their message is clear; secured loan lending in the UK is increasing and is set to continue rising for the foreseeable future.

"We are one of the leading independent finance brokers in the UK, providing a very wide range of loan and mortgage solutions to consumers nationwide," said spokesman Kieron Phillips. "We offer finance solutions to people with a good and bad credit history and we have definitely seen an increase in the amount of homeowner loans and secured loans being issued."

While homeowner loans do require borrowers to put up their houses to secure the loan, it's obvious that many homeowners are willing to take the chance, thanks in part to the added benefits of the homeowner loan. Such as:

Loans from £10,000 to £500,000
Repayment terms from 2 years up to 30 years
Up to 125% LTV (loan to value)
Loans against difficult or unusual property
Loans available on buy to let or rented houses

"As long as the title deeds belong to you we can arrange you a low rate homeowner loan," said Phillips. "It doesn't matter if you have good credit or bad credit, as long as you have something to borrow against, a homeowner loan or secured loan is one of the easiest loans to get."

For more information on Phillips Financial Services, please visit: http://www.phillipsfinancialservices.co.uk

About Phillips Financial Services:

Phillips Financial Services is one of the leading independent finance brokers in the UK, providing a very wide range of loan and mortgage solutions to consumers nationwide. They offer finance solutions to people with a good and bad credit history, they can help most people, even those with an adverse credit history.

Contact Information:

Kieron Phillips
+44 0208 1237274
http://www.phillipsfinancialservices.co.uk

Press Contact: Kieron Phillips
Company Name: Phillips Financial Services
Phone: +44 0208 1237274
Website: http://www.phillipsfinancialservices.co.uk

Prescription for Avoiding Subprime Mortgages

Bills.com's Housser Provides Prescription for Avoiding Subprime Mortgages

Online consumer portal founder offers 9 steps to build prime-worthy credit

San Mateo, Calif.  -  March 12 -- Rising foreclosure rates. Tightened mortgage lending and a government bailout plan. Companies folding and talk of a looming recession. Over the past year, the United States has undergone an economic correction based in large part on the implosion of the subprime lending market, but Bills.com co-founder and co-CEO Andrew Housser tells would-be home buyers how to shore up their credit scores and profiles to help remain eligible for a new mortgage, even in these difficult times.

"Today, it is increasingly difficult to obtain a subprime mortgage, a term that refers to a home loan made to individuals with less than 'prime' credit," Housser explained. "Fortunately, one surefire way exists to avoid a subprime mortgage. It is to not need one -- by having prime-worthy credit."

Credit scores range from 300 to 850. Higher numbers indicate better credit, or a greater likelihood of repaying debt. The median U.S. credit score is about 725. A score below 680 usually results in a borrower being charged a higher interest rate or being denied credit. Lower scores (typically 650, or sometimes 620) are considered subprime.

"These scores qualify only for loans with higher interest and stricter requirements -- if you can get a loan at all," Housser said. "A good credit score can significantly boost your ability to borrow money. Credit scores also can affect consumers' ability to rent an apartment, lease a car or even get a job."

Housser offered the following tips for consumers to improve their credit scores:

1. Understand the score. The first step in good credit is monitoring credit reports. Each of the three main credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) tracks consumers' credit history and calculates their credit scores. The score from each agency may be different. Get a free credit report each year at www.annualcreditreport.com.

2. Correct mistakes. Correct any inaccuracies on the report. Visit the credit bureaus' Web sites for information on how to file a dispute. Credit bureaus must investigate any disputed items and remove them if they cannot be verified, Housser noted. Keep copies of all correspondence.

3. Build job history. A stable job history is one factor lenders consider when offering a mortgage loan. Creditors look at job history to understand a consumer's stability and income.

4. Pay bills on time. On-time payments are very important to good credit. Paying bills on time for as little as one month can raise a modest credit score by 20 points.

5. Avoid new debt. "When preparing to apply for a mortgage, do not open any new accounts for six months ahead of time," Housser cautioned. Every new inquiry to a credit report affects the credit score. However, he noted that when consumers shop for the best mortgage loan, credit bureaus do not hold against them multiple inquiries for the same product within a short period of time.

6. Avoid payday loans. Payday loans have annual rates of 200 percent (or more) -- a terrible path into a debt snowball that can destroy financial security.

7. Do not max out cards. Do not charge credit cards up to the limit. "If possible, keep one or two cards open with low or no balances," Housser said. "This will help the important 'credit utilization' aspect of the credit score. Also, avoid making substantial charges on cards one to two months before applying for a mortgage, even if the balance will later be paid in full."

8. Do use credit. Credit bureaus rely on past payment history to gauge borrowers' future behavior. Closing unused accounts while maintaining some debt creates a higher debt-to-credit ratio, which appears as a greater credit risk and lowers a credit score. Use credit cards sparingly (and pay them off monthly) to maintain a current credit history.

9. Resist identity theft. Identity theft can destroy credit ratings. "Protect yourself from unscrupulous individuals who could go through your trash, steal account numbers online or get information through "phishing" scams," Housser said. "Keep important financial information and account numbers in a secure place, shred documents that contain personal information, and never give out personal information in e-mails or phone calls you did not initiate."

"In today's financial market, a good credit score is more important than ever," Housser said. "Take steps today to build and safeguard your credit. A solid score will repay your efforts today and in the future."

Based in San Mateo, Calif., Bills.com is a free one-stop online portal where consumers can educate themselves about complex personal finance issues and comparison shop for products and services including credit cards, debt relief assistance, insurance, mortgages and other loans. The company blogs about consumer finance issues at http://www.bills.com/blog. Since 2002, Bills.com has served more than 30,000 customers nationwide while managing more than $1 billion in consumer debt. Bills.com is a division of Freedom Financial Network, LLC, whose co-founders and CEOs, Andrew Housser and Brad Stroh, have been named Northern California finalists in Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Press Contact: Aimee Bennett
Company Name: Bills.com
Phone: 303-843-9840
Website: www.bills.com

Mortgage Brokers, Real Estate Agents, and Realtors Find Hope

Real Estate Agents, Realtors, and Mortgage Brokers Find Hope in Internet Marketing at WowInternetBusiness.com

Real estate professionals being squeezed by the current market conditions are finding relief by joining internet marketing business systems such as www.WowInternetBusiness.com.

Middleton, MA  -  April 21, 2008 -- Thousands of real estate and mortgage professionals, squeezed out of their livelihood with current market conditions are finding solutions to their own financial crunch on the internet. Internet Marketing used to require specialized knowledge and years of training, but newer online businesses have provided systems that can be picked up and used almost immediately. One such system is provided by WowInternetBusiness.com.

"Internet marketing skills are relatively easy to learn when you are a people person, as anyone in real estate is," says Rodd Stockwell of www.WowInternetBusiness.com. "Selling software or vacations online is not much different that selling houses."

Paul Spradlin of San Diego, CA is one former real estate agent who has made $10,000 -- $15,000 each of the past six months since starting with internet marketing. Internet marketing gurus, such as Darren Gaudry, are coming up with systems that are easier and easier to jump into and learn while earning. Passport to Wealth was one such system that launched about fifteen months ago. It has proven that, as in other industries, it is easy to learn from the experts and be successful.

Professionals who want an easy entry into the world of internet marketing and sales can buy packages such as those offered through WowInternetBusiness.com, an affiliate of My Internet Business.com. "With the help of the computer, so much of the drudgery of sales and running a business can be automated. You can even pay someone a commission to close your sales and keep the lion's share of profits for yourself," says Rodd Stockwell.

About WowInternetBusiness.com:
WowInternetBusiness.com is a newly launched affiliate dedicated to high quality training and education of internet marketers. Even people new to the internet can quickly learn all they need to know to supplement their income selling products and services on line.

Contact:
Rodd Stockwell
www.WowInternetBusiness.com
rodd @ WowInternetBusiness.com

Press Contact: Rodd Stockwell
Company Name: WowInternetBusiness.com
Phone: 978-646-9380
Website: www.WowInternetBusiness.com

Sales of iPhone 3G Kicked By Telecommunications Giant

AT&T Kicks Off Sales of iPhone 3G Phone

Online Resources Available to Help Customers Prepare for Purchase

Variety of Attractive Plans Combine Voice and Unlimited Data

Dallas, Texas, July 11, 2008 - AT&T begins selling iPhone 3G today in its retail stores at 8 a.m. local time across the United States, along with a variety of attractive monthly plans that combine voice and unlimited data use. iPhone 3G uses the nation's fastest 3G wireless network, which reaches 300 major metropolitan areas.

Pricing and Eligibility
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that AT&T is making it easy for customers to prepare for their iPhone 3G purchase by posting "Get iReady" tips and frequently asked questions at www.att.com/iphone. The site also includes a link for customers to check their upgrade eligibility and other wireless account information.

iPhone 3G phones will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. These prices require two-year contracts and are available to the following customers:

    * iPhone customers who purchased before July 11*
    * Customers activating a new line with AT&T
    * Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount

Current customers who are not eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement. Current customers may also choose to wait until they become eligible for an upgrade discount. Eligibility is generally determined by amount of time remaining on a current contract and payment history.

Current AT&T customers who are upgrading to iPhone 3G will pay an $18 upgrade fee and new AT&T customers will pay the standard $36 activation fee.

Voice, Data and Text Messaging Plans
AT&T brings iPhone 3G customers the best coverage on the globe and the largest mobile-to-mobile calling community with unlimited calling to AT&T's 71.4 million wireless customers. iPhone 3G customers can choose from four individual AT&T Nation plans, which bundle voice and unlimited data (e-mail and Web browsing).

    * AT&T NationSM Unlimited: Includes unlimited Anytime Minutes for $129.99 a month.
    * AT&T Nation 1350: Includes 1350 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes for $109.99 a month.
    * AT&T Nation 900: Includes 900 Anytime Minutes and unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes for $89.99 a month.
    * AT&T Nation 450: Includes 450 Anytime Minutes and 5,000 Night & Weekend Minutes for $69.99 a month.

All AT&T Nation and AT&T FamilyTalk® plans for iPhone 3G include nationwide long distance and roaming, Visual Voicemail, Rollover®, unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Three-Way Calling and Caller ID.

AT&T will offer FamilyTalk plans, with bundled voice and unlimited data, starting as low as $129.99 a month for two iPhone 3G lines. Up to three additional iPhone lines can be added for $39.99 each.

Unlimited text messaging can be added for an additional $20 ($30 for FamilyTalk plans of up to five lines); $15 (1,500 messages), or $5 (200 messages).

Additional Tips for Consumers
New AT&T customers who wish to port or retain their phone number from another wireless carrier should consider bringing a copy of a bill from their current service provider. Customers will be asked to provide account information as it appears on record with their current provider, including:

    * Account number
    * Name of the account holder
    * Account holder's SSN or Tax ID
    * Billing address
    * PIN or password (if applicable)

Customers who inherit an original iPhone from a friend or family member will need to request a SIM card from AT&T for the phone and activate the device using the in-home activation process through iTunes.

Customers should listen to voice mail messages on their current devices and write down any necessary information before purchasing iPhone 3G, because existing voice mail messages will be lost when upgrading to iPhone's Visual Voicemail feature.

AT&T will offer accessory bundle options specific to iPhone 3G in its retail stores.

iPhone 2.0 Software
All iPhone customers will benefit from the iPhone 2.0 software, which will be pre-loaded on all iPhone 3Gs and available as a free download for current iPhone customers. The new software will include numerous enhancements, such as business-class e-mail access via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync; the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), which allows a business to easily create applications customized to its needs; and the App Store, available at www.apple.com/webapps, which offers a wide-range of applications - from games to business, education to entertainment and productivity to social networking.

For example, AT&T has developed YELLOWPAGES.COM Mobile for iPhone, which takes local mobile search to a new level by allowing users to discover businesses and local events based on their popularity among other iPhone users, get directions and access business reviews. Numerous enterprise applications are and will continue to be available on iPhone 3G, via the App Store, including Oracle's CRM, collaboration and e-mail applications.

iPhone for Business
Oracle and Kraft Foods Inc. are among the first business customers to deploy iPhone 3G. Business customers interested in iPhone 3G should contact an AT&T business sales representative or review their account information online to determine their eligibility for upgrade pricing. Corporate e-mail and other business applications require the Enterprise Data Plan for iPhone, which is $45 a month and bundled with an eligible voice plan. Small business customers may qualify for AT&T BusinessTalk, the industry's only shared plan specifically for small businesses. Additional details on iPhone business offerings are available at www.att.com/iphoneforbusiness.

*iPhone 3G is available to customers who are currently prepaid customers; however, there is no prepaid plan for iPhone 3G. Additionally, customers' accounts must be in good standing at the time of purchase.

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AT&T Offers Nation's Fastest 3G Network

Nation's Fastest 3G Network Complements Best Global Coverage and Industry-Leading Portfolio of 3G Devices

Dallas, Texas, July 10, 2008 - For customers who want access to blazing-fast wireless broadband service, there's one clear choice among all U.S. carriers. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced it offers the nation's fastest third-generation (3G) network, according to data compiled by leading independent wireless research firms. AT&T's superfast 3G mobile broadband network is currently available in nearly 300 major U.S. metropolitan areas, with plans to expand to nearly 350 by the end of the year. In addition, AT&T has the best global coverage of any provider with roaming available in more than 200 countries, including more 3G roaming than any other carrier.

The fastest 3G network claim is based on a variety of tests conducted by leading third-party researchers, who downloaded a variety of applications and files to test throughput and overall performance. AT&T was the winner by a significant margin.

AT&T also announced it has started doubling the data capacity of its 3G markets, and nearly half of all cell sites will receive additional 3G capacity by the end of the year. The additional capacity will help accommodate the anticipated growth of 3G subscribers over the next several years. According to the Yankee Group, the number of 3G subscribers in the U.S. is expected to increase by 160 percent by 2012.

"We've invested billions of dollars in our 3G network, and now we can proudly claim it as the nation's fastest 3G network," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T's wireless unit. "We will continue to expand our 3G network coverage into new areas, grow our lineup of industry-leading devices, such as iPhone 3G, and deliver compelling new 3G services to market like Video ShareSM. And to top it off, only AT&T offers the best global coverage. AT&T's ability to serve its wireless customers is unparalleled in our industry."

Between 2005 and 2008, AT&T will have invested more than $20 billion in network improvements and upgrades - an average of $5 billion a year. Much of this network investment has gone to build out the 3G broadband data network, which today is available in 296 major metropolitan markets. In addition, the company is deploying additional 3G coverage using 850 megahertz (MHz) spectrum that is now available from the recent sunset of its older TDMA network. This spectrum extends farther and better covers the interior of buildings.

In addition to the company's constant 3G expansion in the U.S., only AT&T can offer 3G data roaming in 60 countries, including Japan and South Korea, as well as voice calling in more than 200 countries. Nearly all devices in AT&T's current portfolio are "world phones" that can be used around the world.

Another advantage of AT&T's 3G network is the ability for customers to simultaneously use voice and data features. For example, customers can make a call while checking for a local address on YELLOWPAGES.COM.

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Sprint's "iphone clone" the Samsung Instinct priced at $129.99

Daytona Beach, FL (PRunderground) June 20, 2008 - Sprint's highly anticipated phone, the Samsung Instinct, goes on sale Friday. Sprint has announced via a press release that the instinct will cost $129.99, with a 2 year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate. The Samsung Instinct is Sprint's answer to the iPhone, which is slated to cost $199 next month.

There is a catch. Sprint also announced that activation of the Instinct requires a pricing plan offering unlimited data. Customers can choose from Everything plans for individuals starting at just $69.99 per month for 450 voice minutes or Talk/Message/Data Share plans for families starting at $129.99 per month for 1500 voice minutes to share between two lines.

The Instinct is a touchscreen device that includes EV-DO Rev. A, which is equivalent to AT&T's 3G speeds, for Web browsing, e-mail and more. The Instinct has already been awarded such honors as "Most Innovative Product at CTIA Wireless 2008?, and "Best Cell Phone" by CNET's CTIA 2008 awards. Only time will tell if Sprint has a winner with the Samsung Instinct. To purchase a Samsung Instinct you can visit http://samsunginstinctstore.com

About SamsungInstictStore.com
SamsungInstinctStore.com provides access to the best deals on Samsung Instinct phones and accessories. For more information please visit http://samsunginstinctstore.com

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Michelle Wagner
contact@samsunginstinctstore.com
http://samsunginstinctstore.com

3G Secret Uncovered

LG Secret : Unveil the secret

The LG Secret is a 3G enabled phone with some of the best multimedia and connectivity options. The gorgeous looks come complete with a touch sensitive navigation pad.

Jul 02, 2008 - The LG Secret or KF750 is a highly amazing 3G phone with attractive looks. The mesmerizing looks can definitely turn heads of the prospective users, wherever it is. This beautiful 3G phone is empowered with high quality features as well as fast technology. Therefore, it won't be wrong to say that the overall looks of the handset have gained a "wow " factor in the crowd. This phone is designed to suit the "fashion conscious" users who are looking out for high quality multimedia, entertainment and connectivity options, even on the go. The mid-sized casing of the phone is available in a colour choice of silver and black. The spacious coloured touch screen dominates the front panel of phone. All the high-end features and functions are contrived to fit in ultra slim dimension of 11.8 mm in thickness, 50.8 mm in width and 102.8 mm in height. This 3G phone is well suited to the users pocket or bag easily, without even feeling heavy to carry, as it weighs only 116 grams. This fashionable handset is a member of the LG Black Series.

Display:
The brilliant screen of the Secret is made from tempered glass or well known as LCD. This LCD display is a scratch resistant glass that offers a high gloss finish. The users can experience a neon touch navigation on this screen, which glows with a a blue light colour when in use. The LG KF750 Secret comprises of a large 2.4 inches screen and provides a vibrant combination of thousand colours. A high screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels gives a good viewing experience.

Memory:
The LG KF750 comes embedded with 100 MB of internal memory which is further supplemented with a memory card slot. Therefore, with the help of MicroSD memory card, the owner can extend the internal memory by up to 4 GB. The massive storage allows the users to store various information and multimedia content on their portable device.

Connectivity:
The LG Secret is a tri-band enabled phone with a large roaming coverage. Therefore, the users enjoy seamless communication across the world. For transferring the files, the handset supports more than one connectivity options. As a matter of fact, the Bluetooth wireless technology with A2DP can be used for transferring the files up to some distance. While, cabled USB connectivity option is considered for transferring the files with the compatible devices at comparatively longer distance. One can enjoy high speed data transfers with the built-in EDGE technology and GPRS. The users can connect to Internet with the help of WAP browser and enjoy a XHTML as well as HTML experience on their respective phone.

Camera:
The users can experience a high quality digital imaging feature with them, wherever they go. As a matter of fact, the phone is integrated with a 5 mega pixels camera complete with a flash, auto focus and face detection feature. The high-end camera allows the users to capture those fun moments of their life. With the help of video capabilities, you can record moving footage with ease. One can record video in various popular formats such as DivX, MPEG4 and many more.

Music Player:
On the musical front, the handset is empowered with a music player and a FM radio. The handset allows the users to play their favourite music for entertainment on various popular formats. An integrated FM radio comes with a RDS feature which allows the user to view information on their screen, while listening to the radio station.

Messages:
With the help of comprehensive messaging options, the users can stay in contact with others without making a call. One can experience wide selection of messaging services such as multimedia picture messaging, enhanced messaging, email as well as text messaging.

http://www.directphoneshop.co.uk/dealset.asp?id=1332

To conclude, the LG Secret comes with a rechargeable battery which provides approximately 260 hours of stand by battery time or up to 4 hours talk time from a single charge.

http://www.directphoneshop.co.uk/mobile-phones/lg-mobile

Google Now Provides Search Query Numbers!

Google Keyword Suggestion
I was checking some keywords with the keyword tool and was BLOWN AWAY to see actual numbers have replaced the green bar general indication of what the number of searches are. THIS IS AWESOME, since it gives us hard data on how many people are using any specific keyword phrase. This information is critical for web site optimization or blog optimization.

Rank Checking and Overture (Not Yahoo) Keyword Tool
Still tainted by people looking for rankings, this information may be as good or better than anything out there for keyword research. I loved Overture's keyword suggestion option and Yahoo was stupid to let it decline, in my opinion. WordTracker may be pretty good, but I never liked it and thought their fees were excessive. I think it's also over-kill for small business owners.

Global Search Query Data
What we really need is something that would take search query data from as many sources as possible, weight the results based on the probability that people are doing rank checking, and aggregate the data into something that would really represent global search query numbers. Now that would be cool! Just think about how much better your search engine optimization, SEO, and SEM would be with marketing data like that.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes from over 317 Insurers

New Compare.com Website Launched - Compare Car Insurance Quotes from over 317 Insurers throughout the UK

With the launch of the latest heavyweight contender in the car insurance quotes industry, The Car Insurance Megastore leads the way. Searching over 317 car insurers and schemes.

March 11 -- On March 1st, 2008 the new car insurance quotes comparison website The Car Insurance Megastore was launched, offering its customers the ability to search a massive range of UK car insurers and schemes. With the completion of one form, it is now possible to search over 317 insurance schemes/providers and obtain the cheapest quote displaying simple and informative results. Even allowing the full viewing of the policy before you buy for total peace of mind.

With the launch of the latest heavyweight contender in the car insurance quotes industry, The Car Insurance Megastore leads the way. Searching over 317 car insurers and schemes, The Car Insurance Megastore hits hard against all Compare.com websites.

There are a huge amount of car insurance comparison websites advertised, such as Compare.com along with a myriad of deals available from the larger retail supermarkets. Yes you want to save time and money, but if you target your requests for quotes properly, you could save hundreds in less than an hour online.

Many car insurance companies claim to offer policies for all types of drivers. Simply asking just any random insurance company for a quote, isn't going to save you money. If you are a new driver, a learner, convicted driver, lady driver, or a motorist with little driving history, you need to get a specialist quote.

This is where car insurance comparison websites step in, enabling you, the customer to compare all these specialist providers by filling out just one form. All the quotes returned will then be organised, with lowest price first. You can then plough through the results simply selecting the right cover for you!

There are a number of price crunching web sites online. To provide you with a rate, they will ask you some basic information about yourself, what level of cover you need, and then request quotes from various different car insurance companies in a single search.

With car insurance premiums climbing higher each year, particularly for learner drivers, students and young drivers, make the insurers work for your business.

If you are in a statistically higher risk driver group, for motor insurance, the more money you will save if you shop around. By using a comparison website, you only have to enter your details once but get a vast number of quotes to select from, saving time and money in your search for car insurance cover.

Where to Look?

With a plethora of car insurance comparison sites to choose from, where do you start? Why not check out the UK's fastest growing car insurance comparison website - Car Insurance Megastore with over 317 insurers and schemes to choose from. With some of the lowest prices on the internet. The only Compare.com Website you will ever need to browse for car insurance.

Press Contact: ANDY BIGGS
Company Name: Car Insurance Megastore
Phone: 0796 000 3186
Website: http://www.carinsurancequotes.uk.com/compare.com.php

 

Baxter Heparin Information on Additional Heparin Recall

LegalView Expands Baxter Heparin Information Portal to Include Information on an Additional Heparin Recall

LegalView updated its Baxter Heparin information portal to add information on the most recent recall of the blood-thinning drug. Heparin, which is used to control blood during surgical procedures, was recently discovered to have a Heparin-like contaminant that sickened many and caused at least 19 deaths.

Denver, CO  -  March 31, 2008 -- The Baxter Heparin practice area on LegalView's site, the source for everything legal on the Web, was recently expanded to explain details of an additional Heparin recall . Heparin has been linked to hundreds of allergic reactions among patients as well as having been connected with 19 deaths. B. Braun Medical Inc. issued the most recent recall of Heparin, which was supplied from Scientific Protein Laboratories - the same company that supplied Baxter Healthcare Corporation with the contaminated Baxter Heparin. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and B. Braun Medical Inc., no one was reportedly sickened off of the Heparin from B. Braun Medical but it did have a "heparin-like contaminant," which was enough for the company to recall the drug.

Heparin is blood-thinner injected into patients who are undergoing surgical procedures such as heart disease or kidney dialysis. It is a drug that has been imported to the United States since the 1930s and is derived from pig intestines. Many surgeons find that Heparin is an extremely important drug because it prevents blood clots from forming during surgery, which can result in death among patients. However, earlier this year, a rash of individuals who had been given Heparin during a surgical procedure had allergic reactions. Individuals who have been affected by the contaminated Heparin should consider contacting a Heparin lawyer to learn about developing a Heparin class action lawsuit for which compensation may be derived from manufacturers if the tainted drug.

The Baxter Heparin that was initially recalled had been tainted with a chemical known as over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate. Through an FDA investigation, it was discovered that a Chinese company that produces the drug was responsible for the tainted Heparin. Although an investigation continues to be ongoing as to whether the chemical was intentionally or accidentally introduced into a batch of the Heparin. According to news reports, using the over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate allows for a reduction in the production of production for Heparin.

For information on additionally recalled prescription drugs or to report an adverse reaction to a prescribed drug, visit LegalView's many unsafe drugs information portals. Here, readers will find information on recently recalled drugs as well as prescription drugs under investigation such as Chantix, Avandia and Trasylol Aprotinin.

Chantix is a smoking cessation drug from Pfizer that was first introduced to the market, with FDA approval, in mid-2006. However, in late-2007 the FDA began an investigation into nearly 400 reports of suicidal tendencies and behaviors among patients. Additionally, nearly 37 suicides have been associated with the Chantix side effects, which include psychotic episodes, depression, suicidal thoughts and erratic behavior.

Avandia is a prescription drug used to treat diabetes 2 among patients; however, the drug has been linked to several serious side effects including an increased risk of heart disease and a higher chance of early onset osteoporosis. Individuals who are taking Avandia are advised to locate an experienced pharmaceutical law firm to receive consultation on an Avandia lawsuit.

Trasylol, also known as its generic version Aprotinin, is similar to Heparin in that it is used during surgical procedures to control blood loss. A study was released in 2006 from the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that the use of Trasylol Aprotinin increased the chances of a patient developing heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and death. Patients who received or may have received Trasylol or it's generic version should use LegalView's information portal to find an Trasylol attorney.

About LegalView:
LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://baxter-heparin.legalview.com

Can I Get A Little Privacy Please...?

Google's Privacy Policy Link: Too Little, Too Late?  

By Wendy Davis, Monday, July 7, 2008
Now that it's facing a genuine privacy crisis, Google has decided to quell a completely insignificant privacy dust-up. The search giant has finally placed a link to its privacy policy on the home page. Previously, users had to click on multiple links, or search on the terms "Google privacy policy," to reach the information.

This purely cosmetic change might placate some watchdogs, who argued that Google was violating California law by not including the link on its home page, but does nothing to solve the larger problem: Google stores too much information about its users.

Among other data, the company retains logs showing users' IP addresses and their search queries. Google contends that IP addresses don't usually reveal people's identities. But that assertion ignores the reality that examining all of a person's searches can in itself reveal identity. In other words, users' identities can be deduced whether the IP address is real or a made-up sequence of numbers -- as long as it's paired with all of the searches originating from a single computer.

Last week, a federal judge ordered Google to disclose to Viacom complete user logs for YouTube, including all users' IP addresses, screen names and which videos they watched. Google and Viacom have since tried to quell privacy concerns, with Google saying it will ask to "anonymize" IP addresses, even though that won't necessarily preserve users' privacy as long as all of their information is still paired with the same identifier. Viacom has also said it will handle all information confidentially.

As privacy advocates point out, Google wouldn't be facing this problem now if it hadn't compiled and stored these records in the first place.

Louis Stanton, the federal judge who issued the order in the YouTube lawsuit, wrote in his opinion that Google argues in its public policy blog that IP addresses aren't necessarily personally identifiable. "We have proposed broad global privacy standards, and are strong supporters of the idea that data protection laws should apply to any data that could identify you. The reality is though that in most cases, an IP address without additional information cannot," the blog states.

But, on other sections of its site, Google equates IP addresses with personally identifiable information. "Due to user privacy concerns, Google Analytics doesn't report on personally identifiable information, including a visitor's IP address," the company states on a site about Google's analytics tool.

In other words, even Google realizes that, for all practical purposes, IP addresses should be treated as personally identifiable information. Given the events of last week, the company should rethink the wisdom of retaining such data.

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(c) 2008 MediaPost Communications, 1140 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001

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From what I've seen the IP address can provide very specific information that can track people. This is especially true if a time and date stamp is included with the log informaiton, which it generally is. you may need a court order to get the information from the person's ISP, but that's not all that hard if you have a reason to request it. I think we need this. While tracking people can be as benign but annoying as showing you ads based on past activity, it can also be abused on a more serious level. On the other hand if everyone can mess around on the web with little or no chance of being identified or tracked..., well, we already have enough spammers, hackers, crackers, and Turkish script kiddies to keep us busy.

Perhaps Google should encrypt the IP address and some of the other information to keep it from being abused, well abused by anyone except them. Of course if we saw signs of abuse then we would know it was them, wouldn't we...?



 

Executive Says Sun Company Not Suffering from Open Source or open sores

Sun Executive Says Company Not Suffering from Open Source Malaise Stifling Novell

Sun's Chief Open Source Officer disputes Novell CEO's claim that Solaris and OpenSolaris operating systems are going nowhere.

Louisville, KY  - April 15, 2008 -- Novell is the company stuck in an open source malaise, not Sun Microsystems, at least according to Simon Phipps, chief open source officer for Sun. While talking with IT Business Edge, Phipps responded to comments Novell CEO Ron Hovsepian made regarding the future of Sun and OpenSolaris during a recent Linux Foundation podcast. Phipps said that Hovsepian quoted inaccurate download numbers for OpenSolaris while criticizing Sun's open source strategy. 
    
"I think that what Mr. Hovsepian is doing here is 'whistling in the dark,' as they say." stated Phipps. "I think he's worried about the resurgence of a new, fast, innovative OpenSolaris."

Phipps noted that many open source vendors offer commercial and free versions, with support available only for the commercial offering. In response to Hovsepian's suggestion that Sun's strategy for balancing open source and commercial interests isn't right, Phipps said, "Novell's got a big problem. What they're doing is trying to sell open source software as if it was proprietary software. The comment that Mr. Hovsepian made seems to be projecting Novell's malaise onto Sun, but we don't have that malaise. We ship a completely free piece of software that anyone can download and use without any restrictions."

The full interview with Phipps can be viewed at IT Business Edge: http://www.itbusinessedge.com/item/?ci=40871

Find the latest news impacting the open source market at the Open for Business Blog: http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/osb/


About IT Business Edge and NarrowCast Group LLC
IT Business Edge delivers the information, analysis and context that business technology decision makers need to devise strategies, optimize resources and capitalize on IT investments. As a Technology Intelligence Agent, we provide our audience with practical online content and useful tools different from anything offered by traditional IT publishers, news services or analyst firms. IT Business Edge features our business-focused blogs, exclusive interviews with field experts and industry insiders, plus our database of more than 25,000 abstracts summarizing content from 3,500-plus sources.

IT Business Edge is published by NarrowCast Group, LLC, a privately held online media company that targets high-level business technology decision-makers. The company offers IT vendors varied opportunities to access this coveted audience through high-impact advertising and lead-generation programs. Through an array of partnerships with other publishers, NarrowCast Group also markets select books, training products and software tools directly to its subscribers, creating a diverse revenue model while meeting the comprehensive information needs of its customers.

Press Contact: Jeff Yocom
Company Name: NarrowCast Group/IT Business Edge
Phone: 502-515-6461
Website: http://www.itbusinessedge.com/

Nokia To Distribute Original (OEM) Accessories with Cesium Telecom

Cesium Telecom, Inc. and Nokia Canada sign a Distribution Agreement on Original (OEM) Accessories in Canada

Cesium Telecom, Inc., a leading North American distributor of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accessories, today signed an agreement with Nokia Canada authorizing Cesium Telecom to be an official authorized distributor of Nokia Original Accessories.

Montreal, Canada - July 4, 2008 -- Cesium Telecom, Inc., a leading North American distributor of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accessories, today signed an agreement with Nokia Canada authorizing Cesium Telecom to be an official authorized distributor of Nokia Original Accessories.

"We are very pleased to be able to offer our customers the full range of Original Accessories from Nokia (http://www.cesiumtelecom.com), the world's leading manufacturer of mobile phones" stated Vicken Kanadjian, Managing Director of Cesium Telecom, Inc. "This agreement further represents our added value and commitment to all of our customers. Cesium strives to offer the most innovative products from top manufacturers to enrich the Canadian wireless market."

"Nokia's lineup of innovative products, combined with Cesium's distribution channels, will ensure that Canadians have easy access to the latest mobile phone accessories," said Richard Lee, Sales Manager, Nokia Original Accessories, Nokia Canada. "We are pleased to be working with Cesium Telecom, Inc. as an official distributor of Nokia Original Accessories (http://www.cesiumtelecom.com)."

About Nokia Canada Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks. www.nokia.ca

About Cesium Telecom, Inc. Cesium Telecom, Inc. is one of North America's leading distributors of OEM accessories and other select wireless products. Its mission is to help its clients increase their profitability. It does so by staying on the cutting edge of product and market developments around the world, and delivering the most complete and appropriate solutions possible. Cesium Telecom, Inc's clients also count on the company's logistics expertise, quality assurance and world class service to grow productively.

Cesium Media Contact: Etienne de Longchamp - (etienne @ cesiumtelecom.com)

Contact Information
Etienne de Longchamp
Cesium Telecom, INc.
http://www.cesiumtelecom.com
514-798-8686

New American Security Bank Commercial Real Estate Administrative Banking Offices Opens

American Security Bank Opens Newport Beach Branch, Commercial Real Estate Division and Administrative Banking Offices at 1401 Dove Street

SANTA ANA, Calif.-- July 03, 2008 --David T. Blankenhorn, President/CEO of American Security Bank, announced that the Bank will relocate its full-service banking office and Administrative offices, currently housed at 1 MacArthur Place, Santa Ana, and its Commercial Real Estate Division, located at 1451 Quail Street, Newport Beach, to a new 10,000 square foot commercial office building located at 1401 Dove Street, Newport Beach, in the heart of the financial district. The move to the new location, under consideration since early 2007, will more effectively position the organization to conveniently serve business owners in the Newport Beach, Irvine, and Costa Mesa markets.

Shirley Wentzel, Senior Regional Vice President, and her Relationship Banking team, Lisa Gorelick, Sylvia Ucciferro and Robin Schmidt-Brown, will personally assist business clients from a state-of-the-art facility featuring ATM access, ample parking, and comfortable, sit-down teller stations. The Relationship Banking team, led by Ms. Wentzel, is strongly established in the Newport Beach market, having served the Newport Beach community for more than sixteen years before joining American Security Bank in June 2005.

"The Bank's search for the right location, one large enough to consolidate three of our largest divisions, with good visibility and portraying an image that represents the strength and character of our franchise, has had extremely productive results. Not only does Shirley Wentzel and her talented Relationship Banking team have a history in the financial corridor, but our Executive Vice President, Manager of Commercial Real Estate, Jim Roberson, and I have both worked in this particular geographic area in the past with very successful results," states David T. Blankenhorn, President and CEO.

American Security Bank provides a full complement of business and personal banking services, referring to themselves as the "Right-Sized" bank - large enough to handle even your most aggressive business plan, and personal enough to make the process simple.

The new location of American Security Bank will be open for business on July 7th. The first 50 business owners to establish relationships with the bank in the new office will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card to thank them for supporting the Bank in its new location, as well as becoming Charter Account Holders and enjoying deeply discounted checking and cash management services.

American Security Bank's headquarters office is now located in Newport Beach, CA. The Bank has assets totaling $464 million (as of June 30, 2008.) It operates full-service banking offices in Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Apple Valley (Spirit River and Jess Ranch), Lancaster, Victorville and Corona. Loan Production offices serve the cities of Covina, Newport Beach and Palmdale; giving the Bank a footprint in four counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Member FDIC

Contacts

American Security Bank
Cynthia Schneider, SVP, Marketing
951-372-8930

Job Seekers Driven To Self-Employment By Worsening Economy

Worsening Economy is Driving Job Seekers to Self-employment

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.-- July 03, 2008 --Forced retirement, job cutbacks, and economic uncertainty all point to a safety net of a recession-proof franchise opportunity. Liberty Tax Service is experiencing a tremendous response to its franchise opportunity. "When job security goes away, many people decide to take the future into their own hands," according to John Hewitt CEO and Founder of Liberty Tax Service. (www.libertytaxfranchise.com). The company offers low start-up costs and the certainty of filing income tax returns to provide an enticing business opportunity that's a part of the American way of life.

In 2008, the gloomy forecast is that corporate layoffs could increase up to 37 percent. Contrast that with the tax industry that historically has delivered a growing market of taxpayers every year. Approximately 62% of all taxpayers paid someone to prepare their taxes in 2008, up from 51% in 1994.

Liberty Tax and CEO John Hewitt are garnering many accolades for a superlative franchise opportunity that welcomes a diverse America to join its ranks. Hewitt has 39 years of tax industry experience, the most of any CEO in the tax preparation business. He is the only founder of two franchises that Entrepreneur magazine has ranked in the top 25 of their Franchise 500: Liberty Tax Service and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (NYSE:JTX).

"Our franchisees continue to be the cornerstone of our success. For the sixth year in a row, Liberty grew by more returns (raw numbers) than H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt combined," noted Hewitt. "We are focused on providing an affordable opportunity for new franchisees, and great support so that our existing franchisees can add additional offices. These key factors will allow us to open a projected 400 new offices for tax season 2009."

Liberty Tax franchising is a fit with various life scenarios: keeping a day job while starting a franchise, entry into the tax business with little or no experience, and the challenge of a busy seasonal business.

A tax background is not a requirement. Top performing Liberty Tax franchisee, Annie Fuller of Newberry, South Carolina lacked any previous tax experience. "I followed the Liberty Tax Service system, held tax schools for training, and hired the best people who were stars in the customer service arena," said Annie. "I'm obviously not a bean counter." By Tax Day, April 17th 2007, Annie's first-year Liberty Tax office in Newberry finished #1 in the entire Liberty Tax Service operating system for first-year stores with a company record of 1658 returns prepared. She was first in the system for second year offices in 2008.

About Liberty Tax Service:

Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, Liberty Tax Service (www.libertytax.com) has prepared over 6,000,000 individual income tax returns. The Liberty Tax franchise opportunity is ranked highly on Entrepreneur's "Franchise 500" for affordability, low cost and overall potential. The company is a member of the International Franchise Association and its MinorityFran and FranVet outreach programs. John Hewitt is available for interviews on franchising issues and entrepreneurial advice.
Contacts

Liberty Tax Service
Martha O'Gorman
Chief Marketing Officer
800-790-3863 ext. 8022
martha.ogorman@libtax.com

j2 Global Communications Patent Lawsuit Gets Protus Response

Protus Responds to Patent Lawsuit brought by j2 Global Communications

OTTAWA-- July 03, 2008 --Fast growing Canadian technology company Protus IP Solutions responded today to a competitor's patent infringement suit by noting that the asserted patents are not relevant to the company or any of its products.

The plaintiff (j2 Global Communications) has accused Protus' popular MyFax Internet fax services of infringing two patents. The lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Texas.

Last year Protus defeated j2 Global Communications in another patent lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Judge Dean Pregerson issued an order on November 13, 2007 dismissing the case against Protus, with prejudice (meaning the patents cannot be reasserted against Protus). The case was closely followed by technology and communications companies because j2 Global Communications, prior to targeting Protus, licensed the patents to more than 30 companies. Protus was the first company to challenge these patents in the courts and was awarded a decisive victory.

"This is another meritless case by j2. In the last case the court held that the patents did not apply to Protus' services," said Andrea Girones, General Counsel at Protus. "We are confident that this case will be dismissed as well."

"I'm not surprised that j2 feels compelled to continue to clog the courts with these unfounded lawsuits," said Joseph Nour, Protus' Chief Executive Officer. "Protus' MyFax is the fastest growing Internet fax service in the market and is aggressively gaining market share against j2's eFax. We are confident that we will win this case on its merits and MyFax will continue to erode j2's market share."

About Protus

Protus® provides the highest quality software as a service (SaaS) communications tools for small-to-medium-businesses (SMB) and enterprise organizations, including award-winning MyFax, the fastest growing Internet fax service; my1voice, the cost-effective, feature-rich virtual PBX phone service that travels with the user from phone to web; and Campaigner and CampaignerPro, software-as-a-service email marketing solutions with advanced automation features. Protus' commitment to delivering a superior user experience has resulted in a continually growing and loyal customer base, allowing market leadership in industries including finance, insurance, real estate, healthcare, transportation and government. For more information about Protus and its family of communication tools, call 888-733-7007 or visit www.protus.com.

Contacts

Protus
Sue Rutherford
613-733-0000 x 519 or srutherford@protus.com
Tech Image
Tracy Shryer
847-279-0022 x230 or tracy.shryer@techimage.com

Growing Interest In Search Engine Marketing Confused With SEO And PPC

SEMPO Institute To Present "Generating Leads with Practical Search Engine Marketing" Session at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston, TX

Session will provide strategy and best practices in SEO and PPC

WAKEFIELD, Mass.-- July 02, 2008 --Thousands of Microsoft partners attend the annual Worldwide Partner Conference to network and tap into the latest business-growth opportunities each year. One area of growing interest is search engine marketing, also known as SEO and PPC. Microsoft has invited SEMPO Institute to present a session on search engine marketing at this year's conference, which is being held in Houston, TX from July 7-10. Cindy Turrietta, a contributing author for two of SEMPO Institute's online courses, and Katie Donovan, SEMPO Institute's Business Development Manager, will highlight the current marketing environment that benefits small, medium and large companies with search engine marketing strategies. The session will blend strategy with best practices to ensure attendees have the ability to act on what they learn. "Generating Leads with Practical Search Engine Marketing" will be presented on Thursday July 10th from 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Central Time in Grand Ballroom B at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Over the past few months, SEMPO Institute and Microsoft Worldwide Partners have been working on new instructional tools for partners. This session is the first to be rolled out. "Search Engine Marketing is a critical business tool for our partners," states Jennifer Siddall, Microsoft Senior Marketing Manager Worldwide Partner Marketing. "We anticipate great business benefits for our partners as they further incorporate SEO and PPC into their marketing efforts."

About SEMPO Institute

SEMPO Institute is a non-profit, online career development organization, whose purpose is to educate and train professionals in the growing field of search engine marketing. Suppo  rted by SEMPO, SEMPO Institute's courses are developed by experts in search marketing and then peer-reviewed for accuracy and best practices. Since its first course in January, 2007, SEMPO Institute has educated more than 800 individuals in search marketing. SEMPO Institute's courses are available to SEMPO members and the general public. For more information, please visit www.SEMPOInstitute.com or call +1 (781) 876-6214.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Contacts

SEMPO Institute
Katie Donovan, 781-876-6214
Business Development Manager
kdonovan@sempoinstitute.com

Ohio Residents Not Worried About Gambling Addiction

Lakes Entertainment, Inc. Announces Status of Ohio Petition Drive

MINNEAPOLIS-- July 01, 2008 --Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: LACO) announced today that it is currently on pace to collect over 700,000 signatures to place a referendum permitting one casino in Ohio on the November 4th ballot. Ohio law requires at least 402,225 valid signatures to place the referendum on the November 4, 2008 ballot. Although it has obtained more than the required number of signatures, the Secretary of State has not verified that the signatures are valid. The verification will occur when the petition and signatures are submitted to the Secretary of State on or before August 6, 2008.

"We are pleased with the number of signatures that we have obtained so far and believe it shows that a significant number of Ohio residents want a casino in their state," said Tim Cope, President of Lakes. "We anticipate gathering in excess of 700,000 signatures by August 6 and we anticipate verifying enough signatures in the requisite number of counties to place the referendum on the ballot."

Under the current development plan, construction of the planned casino would likely commence within 12 - 18 months after the referendum is approved, and the casino would open approximately 18 months after construction commences. The casino is expected to employ up to 5,000 people and could generate over $200 million in gaming tax revenues that would be divided directly among all 88 Ohio counties on a per capita basis.

About Lakes Entertainment

Lakes Entertainment, Inc. currently has development and management or financing agreements with four separate Tribes for casino operations in Michigan, California, and Oklahoma, for a total of five separate casino sites. Lakes is currently managing the Cimarron Casino for the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Four Winds Casino Resort for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Lakes is also involved in other business activities, including possible development of a Company owned casino resort project in Vicksburg, Mississippi and the development of new table games for licensing to Tribal and non-Tribal casinos. The Company also owns approximately 61 percent of WPT Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WPTE), a separate publicly held media and entertainment company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes, including the World Poker Tour® television series, the operation of an online gaming website, the licensing and sale of branded products and the sale of corporate sponsorships.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by Lakes Entertainment, Inc.) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to plans for future expansion and other business development activities as well as other capital spending, financing sources and the effects of regulation (including gaming and tax regulation) and competition. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the company. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, obtaining a sufficient number of signatures to place the Ohio casino resort project on the November 4, 2008 Ohio statewide election ballot or if the referendum is placed on that ballot, that the referendum will pass, need for current financing to meet Lakes' operational and development needs; those relating to the inability to complete or possible delays in completion of Lakes' casino projects, including various regulatory approvals and numerous other conditions which must be satisfied before completion of these projects; possible termination or adverse modification of management or development contracts; Lakes operates in a highly competitive industry; possible changes in regulations; reliance on continued positive relationships with Indian tribes and repayment of amounts owed to Lakes by Indian tribes; possible need for future financing to meet Lakes' expansion goals; risks of entry into new businesses; reliance on Lakes' management; and the fact that the WPTE shares held by Lakes are currently not liquid assets, and there is no assurance that Lakes will be able to realize value from these holdings equal to the current or future market value of WPTE common stock. There are also risks and uncertainties relating to WPTE that may have a material effect on the company's consolidated results of operations or the market value of the WPTE shares held by the company, including WPTE's significant dependence on the GSN as a current source of revenue, and the risk that the WPT series does not find a domestic distribution outlet; difficulty of predicting the growth of WPTE's online gaming business, which is a relatively new industry with an increasing number of market entrants; reliance on the efforts of CryptoLogic to develop and maintain the online gaming website in compliance with WPTE's business model and applicable gaming laws; the potential that WPTE's television programming will fail to maintain a sufficient audience; the risk that WPTE may not be able to protect its entertainment concepts, current and future brands and other intellectual property rights; the risk that competitors with greater financial resources or marketplace presence might develop television programming that would directly compete with WPTE's television programming; risks associated with future expansion into new or complementary businesses; the termination or impairment of WPTE's relationships with key licensing and strategic partners; and WPTE's dependence on its senior management team. For more information, review the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Integrated Corporate Relations
William Schmitt, 203-682-8200
investorrelations@lakesentertainment.com
or
For Further Information:
Timothy Cope, 952-449-7030

Telephony That Is Open Source Is A Disruptive Evolution

Open Source Telephony - Is it Disruptive or an Evolution?

LONDON-- July 01, 2008 --Open source telephony is gradually gaining traction in Europe due its cost advantages over proprietary IP PBX and call centre products. Frost & Sullivan's analysis shows that the cost of an open source telephony 'line' can be up to 40 per cent less than an averagely priced IP PBX/Communication Manager. Total cost of ownership (TCO) comparison indicates a similar picture, with the cost benefits far greater in a call centre environment and in settings where the proportion of 'professional services fee' is higher.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.enterprise.frost.com), European Open Source Telephony Market, finds that the market shipped more than 74,000 lines in 2007 and estimates this to reach 1.95 million in 2013.

Frost & Sullivan studied a number of 500+ extension deployments in the open source telephony markets. Some of them included complex integration, while others were across numerous sites distributed across continents. These deployments are testimony of the capabilities of the technology and the expertise of the people supporting it.

"Our research finds that many of the open source telephony vendors have been enjoying a very high growth rate," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Dorota Oviedo. "Several notable open source telephony vendors are investing in the European market and 2008 will be dominated by channel activities, especially channel recruitment and training. Established participants will be investing to expand their footprint mainly through distribution."

Nevertheless, mindshare and user acceptance of open source telephony is relatively low at present. Open source telephony vendors face a huge challenge in competing against participants that use proprietary technologies. These vendors benefit from their well-established (legacy) market position, brand image, strong distribution network and strong relationship with the customer base.

"The biggest challenge that the open source market has been facing and gradually overcoming is the issue of negative market perceptions," says Oviedo. "Open source projects are relatively young and thus, struggle with market concerns and perceptions of lack of support, scalability, functionality or reliability."

Open source telephony vendors should invest in building awareness through site visits, publishing success stories, and so on. Research suggests that once prospects overcome the initial reluctance and run a test system, success rate for open source telephony deployment is relatively high.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users and other industry participants with an overview of the European open source telephony market, then send an e-mail to Joanna Lewandowska, Corporate Communications, at joanna.lewandowska@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

European Open Source Telephony Market is part of the Enterprise Communications Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets: business telephony, telephony endpoints, peer-to-peer telephony, mobile enterprise, and unified messaging. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team MembershipT empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

European Open Source Telephony Market

M287-62
Contacts

Frost & Sullivan
Corporate Communications - Europe
Joanna Lewandowska, +48 22 390 41 46
joanna.lewandowska@frost.com
or
Corporate Communications - North America
Mireya Castilla, 210-247-3830
F: 210-348-1003
mireya.castilla@frost.com
or
Corporate Communications - Southeast Asia
Sarah Lourdes, +603 6207.1030
F: +603 6201 7402
sarah.lourdes@frost.com
or
Corporate Communications - South Asia
Caroline Lewis, +91.22.4001 3438
F: +91.22.2832 4713
caroline.lewis@frost.com
or
Corporate Communications - Middle East
Nimisha Iyer, +91 22 4001 3404
F: +91 22 2832 4713
niyer@frost.com
or
Corporate Communications - China
Amelia Wong, +86 21 5407 5783 Ext 8669
M: +86 13621724823
amelia.wong@frost.com
or
Corporate Communications - Africa
Patrick Cairns, +27 18 468 2315
patrick.cairns@frost.com
or
Corporate Communications - Latin America
José María Jantus, +54-11-4777-9951
F: +54-11-4777-0071
jose.jantus@frost.com
http://www.frost.com

Really, It's Not You, It's ME!

First-Come. First-Served Registration for .ME Coming Soon!

Web's Newest Domain Name Extension Set for Open Registration July 17

PODGORICA, Montenegro-- July 01, 2008 --The .ME Registry is about to open domain name registrations on a first-come, first-served basis, and if initial indicators are accurate, the .ME domain names will move quickly. Open Registration officially begins July 17.

The .ME Registry concluded its Landrush Period June 26. The 20-day time span was the first opportunity for the public to apply for .ME domain names. More than 80 different accredited registrars from 24 countries are offering the catchy domain extension.

"In the Landrush already, applicants from around the world will be receiving some excellent domain names such as Click-On.ME, ChatWith.ME and Optimize.ME - illustrating just a few of the catchy names being awarded," said Predrag Lesic, the registry's executive director. "This extension really does lend itself to creative and attractive names whether for business or personal use."

Right now, the official Quiet Period is in effect. During this Quiet Period, the .ME Registry will be making domain awards, and in cases where multiple applications for the same name were received, auctions will be held. To date, through Sunrise and Landrush, the .ME Registry has received more than 30,000 .ME applications.

"This has been one of the quickest, most efficient contract-to-market timelines for any domain name extension," said Lesic. "Open Registration is a prime time to secure your dotME."

Two-year minimums are required on all .ME domain names registered during the Landrush and initial Open Registration periods.

For more information, or to apply to be a .ME Registrar, visit: www.Domain.ME.

About the .ME Registry:

.ME Registry (the d.b.a. of doMEn, d.o.o.) was chosen by the government of Montenegro to operate the new .ME domain name extension. The domain extension will be available to the general public worldwide in mid-July. .ME Registry partners include ME-net, GoDaddy.com and Afilias Limited. Me-Net is located in Montenegro, and its principals have been leaders in the ICT sector in Montenegro, including the privatization of its largest ISP. GoDaddy.com is located in the USA and is the world's largest domain name registrar and the largest paid hostname provider in the world, according to Netcraft Ltd. Afilias Limited is headquartered in Ireland and is a leading registry services provider, supporting more than 13 million domains worldwide.

Contacts

.ME Registry
Telephone: 382.281.601.303
Info@Domain.me