Travel-Writers Carry an Office in Your Pocket
Travel Lightly With Portable Electronics and VOIP Phone Technology
Aug 11, 2009
Almost anywhere one travels in the world there are Internet cafes, hotel Internet connections, WiFi, someway to connect to the Internet. Instead of carrying a heavy laptop, one can keep their office on a small, pocket-size flash drive.
SanDisk 8GB ReadyBoost Cruzer Micro USB Drive
Cruzer Micro features:
- A sliding USB connector means there's no cap to lose, and the connector is protected from damage when the drive is not in use.
- The slider switch is illuminated by an amber LED light when the drive is active, making it easy to see – when the light goes out – that it's safe to unplug the drive.
- U3 Smart Technology for running applications directly from the drive, without those applications having to be installed on the computer. U3-compatible software provided free with Cruzer Micro includes the PC phone service Skype, SanDisk's own CruzerSync for synchronizing files between a PC and the drive, the password manager program SignupShield Passwords from Protecteer, and a trial version of McAfee anti-virus software.
Skype™ Internet Phone (Voip)
Skype calls are free to anyone in the world that also has Skype.
Skype works on most types of computers. To call land and mobile phones (2.1 cents/min. and up—SMS messages about 8 cents and up), start a tab with Skype ($10 minimum). To receive phone calls from people who don't have Skype, one may buy a local phone number from Skype ($18 for 3 months--includes voicemail).
Numbers are available in the UK, USA and several other countries. Sign up at Skype.com. Skype works best with broadband Internet. Skype contacts and phone book are available wherever one goes – just log on to Skype. Portable Skype (to load on the device along with PortableApps) is available through the PortableApps site. It is good to carry a small microphone/earphone set for computers that don't have these capabilities.
Vonage V-Phone with 250MB USB Flash Drive
A phone that fits on a keychain, The Vonage V-Phone turns any PC or laptop into a fully functional Vonage telephone.The Vonage V-Phone includes everything one needs to make and receive calls with a high-speed Internet connection.
The Vonage V-Phone comes with Vonage Talk software pre-loaded – there's no need to install it on a PC and no need to restart the computer. Simply insert the Vonage V-Phone into any available USB port, plug the earpiece microphone into the side of the Vonage V-Phone and it’s ready to make and receive calls.
Remove the drive when done and the phone and all one’s important contact information leaves with the V-Phone. Vonage V-Phone has an intuitive on-screen telephone that can make and receive calls. And it has extra features like Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, etc. - included at no extra charge. V-Phone fits on a keychain and can be used anywhere there's a high-speed Internet connection. It's powered through the PC so there are no batteries to replace.
Both Cruzer and Vonage products are available from Amazon or other online electronics stores.
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