SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE(SIM)
The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) is a smart card chip, of the size of a postage stamp, which when inserted in your mobile phone, forms the intelligent source of the various types of communications. A Smart Card is an integrated circuit card (ICC) and is defined as a miniature card with embedded integrated circuit. Though there are many applications, ICCs are catagorised into two broad segments. One is the non-volatile memory card which contains only the storage components, and the other being a kind of a microprocessor circuitry consisting of memory or microprocessor components.
The SIM is a microprocessor unit with memory storage capability, which stores all the unique information about your account. It holds your identity in the form of your account number with the service provider and identifies you to the network. The currently available SIM card has 16 to 64 kb of memory, which stores your personal telephone numbers that you call, text messages that you receive or send and other value added services. There are often options given as value added services where you can download a picture or MP3 songs and even a ring tome for your mobile. The memory storage available in your SIM card stores these data or information for you to avail them as and when you require. There is a demand of larger memory spaces to store high resolution pictures, large MP3 files and also enable live video streaming.
One of the third generation mobile phone technologies is called Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). A Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) is an application for UMTS mobile telephony running on Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). UICC is another type of chip smart card used in GSM and UMTs. Unlike SIM, this card has a huge memory space and holds a few kilobytes of data. With the coming of more services the storage area in the smart chip need to be larger. In a GSM environment, the UICC has an application of that of SIM where-as in a UTMS environment it is the USIM application. The SIM that you have is uniquely identified by its International Circuit Card ID (ICCID).
SIM cards are available on the basis of a subscription on signing a contract with the service provider. They are available either on a pay-as-you-go basis, where you get your monthly bills or as a pre-paid subscriber, where you pay a certain charge in advance for the service that you want. This depends on the type of contract that you sign.
Two SIM cards may also be used in your mobile phone. All you need to do is to buy dual SIM cover from your dealer for the model of the mobile phone that you have. This has many advantages viz. you could hold two SIM cards in a single mobile phone, featuring pay-as-you-go and pre-paid as well, for your office and personal use respectively.
In most of the cases, the SIM can be removed from the mobile phone, enabling you to carry your mobile subscription and data through different types of mobile phones that you may choose to have along the line of GSM phones available. It may so happen that the mobile phone with the SIM card in it is misplaced somewhere, stolen or lost. You may, at the earliest, request the service provider to deactivate that SIM, giving them the reasons as to why, and acquire another replacement card for your new phone. You may be liable to pay a charge to the service provider for issuing the duplicate SIM card to you.
Generally the mobile phones available are 'SIM unlocked' and as such it may be used with any SIM card from any carrier in the world. Guided by the contract you sign, many mobile phones are 'SIM locked' by the service provider, and in most of the circumstances, till a certain contract period. These phones will not work with another SIM card as in the former case.
The embedded circuitry of the SIM card holds information about the service plan that you have chosen as a subscriber. The information about your current area location (LAI) in the network is also stored by the SIM as network information. You will find that when you switch on your mobile phone, the software within, searches for the network that you are registered with and lock you on to that service provider. It does so by taking the necessary data from your SIM and search for the LAI it was in.
The SIM card in your mobile phone identifies you, by holding an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). All GSM and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network users are uniquely associated with IMSI, and this number is stored in the SIM. When a call is made, the mobile phone sends this number to the network which is used to acquire other details from the Home Location Register (HLR) or as available in the Visitor Location Register (VLR). The VLR contains all the data of the subscriber, which are required for any call handling and mobility management in the area controlled by the VLR. Due to security reasons, the IMSI is sent out very rarely and TMSI is sent instead, which is the Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity and is quite often used.
For security purposes, the SIM card features storage of Personal Identification Number (PIN) code, which is a 4-8 digit password chosen by you, and entered each time you wish to gain access to your mobile phone. There is also a PIN2, used to gain access to more advanced features in the mobile and is available for GSM II applications. On error, the system allows you to enter the password three times before the SIM card get locked and you would need a Personal Unblocking Key (PUK) from your network operator to unblock your mobile. PUK2 is used for similar purpose as PUK, but for PIN2.
In addition to the mobile phone smart cards mentioned above, viz., SIM and USIM, the following are the other types which have application in different network technology:
ISIM - IP International Services Identity Module is a smart card like the SIM, which is applicable in a UICC smart card environment in a 3G (Third Generation Technology) mobile telephone in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) environment. IMS is architecture for telecom operators applied to a standarised Next Generation Networking (NGN), a network that usually encompasses data and voice communication, as well as the optionally available media, such as video. ISIM can co-exist with SIM and USIM, provided that they are on the same UICC.
R-UIM - The Removable User-identity Module is like a SIM but capable of working with both, in CDMA and GSM phones and networks. The R-UIM fits into any existing GSM phone and is compatible with any GSM SIM.
W-SIM - The Wilcom SIM has been developed by Willcom, which, in addition to the functions of a SIM, provides radio receiver/transmitter facilities as its built-in feature.
Cell phone use overseas.
In 99% of the world the local cellular service standard is called GSM. We use this in the states as well. When combined with a SIM CARD (which usually goes under the battery of the phone) the phone is able to communicate and the SIM CARD also holds the telephone number and memory for pre-paid credit. Rates can be extremely low using this system. For example in 99% of all SIM CARDS incoming calls are free and calls to the states can cost a trifle. Such as, from the UK to the USA 7 cents/minute, from Israel 22 cents, from Australia 27 cents. Yes, USA Dollar cents! There are today even prepaid service providers in the USA offering rates of 10 cents per minute to call anywhere in the US to any type of phone. No contracts, no credit card checks, no bills. Pre-paid always means no minimums no contracts, no obligations. You only pay for the calls made. You'll need an unlocked GSM tri-band or quadband UNLOCKED phone. You can buy factory unlocked phones and international sim card for more than 170 or the 193 countries on earth. Tel. # 800-514-2984
Friday, April 11, 2008
WHAT ARE COMPUTER BENEFITS
The Benefits of Certified Microsoft Training in AccessBy Christine Harrell
Courses in Microsoft Access are available throughout the UK. When choosing the right training program for your organization, it's important to search for a training program whose instructors are certified in Microsoft training. Access courses are not all created equal and certified instructors ensure the highest level of quality.
Instructors Certified in Microsoft Training
Access course instructors who have been certified by Microsoft have demonstrated a high level of competence with the software on an exam. This proficiency doesn't come from just studying a book. All of Microsoft Certified instructors have extensive experience with the software they train on. Microsoft Certified instructors don't just teach out of a manual; they teach from experience.
Access courses cover all ranges of talent, from our Introductory class designed for people who've never even seen Access, to Intermediate and Advanced courses, and finishing with a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) class that shows even expert users how to take their data to a new level of analysis and accessibility.
Get Your Own Microsoft Certification
If you are preparing for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams you get even more benefit from using certified Microsoft training. Access course instructors have passed their own tests and know which material to emphasize to give you the best chance of passing when you take the examinations.
As an employee, an MOS certification gives you a qualification that separates you from the pack and can lead to better jobs and better salaries. For businesses, a staff of MOS certified employees sends a message of proficiency and professionalism that clients expect.
Cost and Logistics
Some ways to save money on Microsoft training are by planning ahead and asking about specials for new organizations. Some instructor-led Microsoft training Access courses in the London area start at just 110 per person.
You'll also want to seek out training facilities that offer state of the art training centers around London with all the equipment and software you'll need to get the most out of your course. If you're an employer looking to train many employees, you can also opt for training at your business location or a third-party venue such as a hotel conference room.
Consultancy Services
In addition to Microsoft training in Access courses, some training facilities also offer expert consultant services. Consultants can provide any level of service you need from optimizing an existing database and making it more efficient to creating an entire application from scratch. If you're a business owner contemplating training your staff with Access courses, an initial consultation can get your project launched in the most efficient manner, allowing easy maintenance once your employees are properly trained.
Courses in Microsoft Access are available throughout the UK. When choosing the right training program for your organization, it's important to search for a training program whose instructors are certified in Microsoft training. Access courses are not all created equal and certified instructors ensure the highest level of quality.
Instructors Certified in Microsoft Training
Access course instructors who have been certified by Microsoft have demonstrated a high level of competence with the software on an exam. This proficiency doesn't come from just studying a book. All of Microsoft Certified instructors have extensive experience with the software they train on. Microsoft Certified instructors don't just teach out of a manual; they teach from experience.
Access courses cover all ranges of talent, from our Introductory class designed for people who've never even seen Access, to Intermediate and Advanced courses, and finishing with a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) class that shows even expert users how to take their data to a new level of analysis and accessibility.
Get Your Own Microsoft Certification
If you are preparing for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams you get even more benefit from using certified Microsoft training. Access course instructors have passed their own tests and know which material to emphasize to give you the best chance of passing when you take the examinations.
As an employee, an MOS certification gives you a qualification that separates you from the pack and can lead to better jobs and better salaries. For businesses, a staff of MOS certified employees sends a message of proficiency and professionalism that clients expect.
Cost and Logistics
Some ways to save money on Microsoft training are by planning ahead and asking about specials for new organizations. Some instructor-led Microsoft training Access courses in the London area start at just 110 per person.
You'll also want to seek out training facilities that offer state of the art training centers around London with all the equipment and software you'll need to get the most out of your course. If you're an employer looking to train many employees, you can also opt for training at your business location or a third-party venue such as a hotel conference room.
Consultancy Services
In addition to Microsoft training in Access courses, some training facilities also offer expert consultant services. Consultants can provide any level of service you need from optimizing an existing database and making it more efficient to creating an entire application from scratch. If you're a business owner contemplating training your staff with Access courses, an initial consultation can get your project launched in the most efficient manner, allowing easy maintenance once your employees are properly trained.
IT ENGINEERING
Information Technology Has Come A Very Long WAY
Where does the history of IT begin? Well, in order to answer this question, one must first understand the basic concept of information technology as a whole.
In its most basic form, information technology aims to help communication between computers. This form of technology can be completed via input, processing, output, and various other communication types. Essentially, the history of IT can be split into four periods: premechanical, mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic. Before we delve into each category, remember that the key word here is "communication."
Prior to any form of mechanics, the very first humans sought to communicate through very simplistic sketches that we now call "petroglyths." For the most part, these drawings were in the form of pictures, and often they depicted daily life. Around the year 3100 B.C. the Sumerians came up with the cuneiform language, and this became the very first type of written language. After the Sumerians, along came the Egyptians with their papyrus plants, and they took communication to a whole new level when they began to use a form of the modern pen with papyrus as a type of paper.
Now, let's skip ahead to the Mechanical Age (1450-1840). Johann Gutenberg invented the first sort of movable metal-type in 1450. After this machine was invented, books began to pop up and the concept of a computer was born. Once this was conceived, there was no stopping civilization and around the end of the 18th century, telecommunication really began to grow stronger. Beginning with the Voltaic Battery and ending with the telephone and the radio, communication was really on a role. Once the computer was invented (many years later), the history of IT took an entirely different sort of path.
Today, almost everyone has some sort of involvement with a computer, though those people that work in the information technology field can often work many different jobs. Humans have always found a way to effectively communicate (as we have seen), which makes this type of technology one of the oldest trades on the face of the earth.
From the time of the cavemen drawing crude pictures on the sides of walls, to our modern computer obsessed world, the history of IT has come a long way. Even though some believe that the Internet has really outdone all other forms of communication that the world has ever seen, just remember that the Internet was a mere though once upon a time.
Aazdak Alisimo writes IT articles for ITServiceCompanies.com - a directory of IT service companies across the country
Where does the history of IT begin? Well, in order to answer this question, one must first understand the basic concept of information technology as a whole.
In its most basic form, information technology aims to help communication between computers. This form of technology can be completed via input, processing, output, and various other communication types. Essentially, the history of IT can be split into four periods: premechanical, mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic. Before we delve into each category, remember that the key word here is "communication."
Prior to any form of mechanics, the very first humans sought to communicate through very simplistic sketches that we now call "petroglyths." For the most part, these drawings were in the form of pictures, and often they depicted daily life. Around the year 3100 B.C. the Sumerians came up with the cuneiform language, and this became the very first type of written language. After the Sumerians, along came the Egyptians with their papyrus plants, and they took communication to a whole new level when they began to use a form of the modern pen with papyrus as a type of paper.
Now, let's skip ahead to the Mechanical Age (1450-1840). Johann Gutenberg invented the first sort of movable metal-type in 1450. After this machine was invented, books began to pop up and the concept of a computer was born. Once this was conceived, there was no stopping civilization and around the end of the 18th century, telecommunication really began to grow stronger. Beginning with the Voltaic Battery and ending with the telephone and the radio, communication was really on a role. Once the computer was invented (many years later), the history of IT took an entirely different sort of path.
Today, almost everyone has some sort of involvement with a computer, though those people that work in the information technology field can often work many different jobs. Humans have always found a way to effectively communicate (as we have seen), which makes this type of technology one of the oldest trades on the face of the earth.
From the time of the cavemen drawing crude pictures on the sides of walls, to our modern computer obsessed world, the history of IT has come a long way. Even though some believe that the Internet has really outdone all other forms of communication that the world has ever seen, just remember that the Internet was a mere though once upon a time.
Aazdak Alisimo writes IT articles for ITServiceCompanies.com - a directory of IT service companies across the country
ENGINEERING STUDENTS
TEENS: LIFE V. ELECTRONICS
Teens today have so much more to distract them besides their homework, the opposite sex, friends, family members, and extracurricular activities. Besides learning how to drive, teenagers are occupied with playing with an assortment of electronic gizmos including cell phones, camera phones, personal computers, MP3 players, DVD players, ipods, xboxs, digital cameras, the list goes on. Wired? You betcha…and then some. Perhaps all of this electronic gadgetry has you concerned and you are wondering just how you can extract your teen and involve them in an outside activity where they can expand their minds and refresh their bodies. Are you out of ideas? Let’s look at some options that may appeal to them and remove the worry from you.
WORK ON THE CAR : So, you think that a car isn’t a kid magnet as much as when you first learned how to drive? Think again. Today, kids are pimping their rides and expressing themselves through their cars. Custom paint, decals, blacked out windows, even faux aircraft wings are being attached to the outside of their cars. On the inside, it can be totally surreal: rear view mirrors wrapped with a studded belts, frilly seat cover trim, pushpin art attached to the headliner, decals everywhere, etc. Let them pimp your Camry or Explorer…that’ll keep them off the computer…and get you noticed too!
VOLUNTEER : Volunteer Help your teen organize a group of his or her friends to clean up the neighborhood, paint an elderly neighbor’s house, teach younger kids how to ride bikes, or visit folks at the local nursing home. You remember when you were a teen and you heard the comments from your parent’s generation about kids not wanting to do anything or being “no good,” right? With a little direction, young people can do just about anything and are more than willing to help out if you believe in them. Rewards are nice too…be prepared to throw a pizza party after their time of service is over for the day.
GETTING A JOB : Get a Job Kids who hold a job while going to school learn how to handle their money and budget their time. Limit work hours to fewer than 20 per week to ensure that their grades are not adversely affected. If your student is involved in extracurricular activities too, make sure that this time is included with the hours that they work. Maintaining good grades is essential, no job or outside activity is worth it if it takes away from their schooling.In all cases, show your teen that you believe in him or her. As you know, parenting is much more than providing for their needs…you want to guide your child from youth toward adulthood by showing them that there is much more to life than all things electronic. So, gently disconnect your teen and get them involved with other pursuits.
Teens today have so much more to distract them besides their homework, the opposite sex, friends, family members, and extracurricular activities. Besides learning how to drive, teenagers are occupied with playing with an assortment of electronic gizmos including cell phones, camera phones, personal computers, MP3 players, DVD players, ipods, xboxs, digital cameras, the list goes on. Wired? You betcha…and then some. Perhaps all of this electronic gadgetry has you concerned and you are wondering just how you can extract your teen and involve them in an outside activity where they can expand their minds and refresh their bodies. Are you out of ideas? Let’s look at some options that may appeal to them and remove the worry from you.
WORK ON THE CAR : So, you think that a car isn’t a kid magnet as much as when you first learned how to drive? Think again. Today, kids are pimping their rides and expressing themselves through their cars. Custom paint, decals, blacked out windows, even faux aircraft wings are being attached to the outside of their cars. On the inside, it can be totally surreal: rear view mirrors wrapped with a studded belts, frilly seat cover trim, pushpin art attached to the headliner, decals everywhere, etc. Let them pimp your Camry or Explorer…that’ll keep them off the computer…and get you noticed too!
VOLUNTEER : Volunteer Help your teen organize a group of his or her friends to clean up the neighborhood, paint an elderly neighbor’s house, teach younger kids how to ride bikes, or visit folks at the local nursing home. You remember when you were a teen and you heard the comments from your parent’s generation about kids not wanting to do anything or being “no good,” right? With a little direction, young people can do just about anything and are more than willing to help out if you believe in them. Rewards are nice too…be prepared to throw a pizza party after their time of service is over for the day.
GETTING A JOB : Get a Job Kids who hold a job while going to school learn how to handle their money and budget their time. Limit work hours to fewer than 20 per week to ensure that their grades are not adversely affected. If your student is involved in extracurricular activities too, make sure that this time is included with the hours that they work. Maintaining good grades is essential, no job or outside activity is worth it if it takes away from their schooling.In all cases, show your teen that you believe in him or her. As you know, parenting is much more than providing for their needs…you want to guide your child from youth toward adulthood by showing them that there is much more to life than all things electronic. So, gently disconnect your teen and get them involved with other pursuits.
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