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AWE Implements EU Direct Debit Billing
Sep.24.2008
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AWE has added Webbilling.com EU Direct Debit to their billing cascade.
Industry Leading live cam affiliate program Adult Webmaster Empire has announced they are live with the Webbilling.com European Direct Debit billing platform.
Monitoring global trends and following the continued strength of the Euro and British Pound against the US Dollar, AWE believes this will continue to be an ongoing industry flashpoint, and chose to be ahead of the curve offering every join option possible. AWE now bills using the Direct Debit purchase option for Spain, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom for the up to 75% of users who will not use a credit card online, and soon the ‘direct pay’ push payment method for the remaining EU countries still requiring a physical signature – which, while it is not the same as Direct Debit, still works for a compelling site or goods – no card of any kind required.
AWE liked our flexible platform, our ability to address their sales options, and our marketing tools typically only associated with credit cards; especially our one-click purchase option. During the implementation and optimization phases, the AWE team has demonstrated their dedication to further refining their products.
Adult Webmaster Empire, with its solid reputation for performance recognizes the importance not only of utilizing every conceivable option and resource to convert existing traffic, but the ability now to encourage webmasters with European cam traffic to send even more. “Existing affiliates can rest easy knowing we take all measures necessary to ensure their European traffic converts well with us, and webmasters not yet working with AWE now have an additional reason to give us an opportunity to convert their EU traffic,” stated Mickey Bojcsik, Director of Program Operations for AWE. “Webbilling and our billing department do an outstanding job at working together closely to ensure the new primary preferred billing method is properly optimized.”
Adult Webmaster Empire entered the market six years ago with its flagship site, LiveJasmin, and just a handful of staff. The company now employs 150+ people and has since become one of the market leaders in the live cam sector. AWE now offers eight live cam products covering many popular niches, in addition to co-brands, white labels, lifetime revenue sharing and has sponsored the popular AWEsome Sunday Beach Party at Island Gathering for three years running.
Mickey Bojcsik can be reached at: mickey@awempire.com, and the affiliate program is located at: AWEmpire.com. For more information on the Webbilling.com direct debit platform for Europe, contact JoeD at: marketing@webbilling.com.
Further Reading on Related Topics
Your Alternative Billing Self-Test
Do You Really Bill the United Kingdom?
EASY NATS IMPLEMENTATION!
Boris set us up! Contact me for details.
Industry Leading live cam affiliate program Adult Webmaster Empire has announced they are live with the Webbilling.com European Direct Debit billing platform.
Monitoring global trends and following the continued strength of the Euro and British Pound against the US Dollar, AWE believes this will continue to be an ongoing industry flashpoint, and chose to be ahead of the curve offering every join option possible. AWE now bills using the Direct Debit purchase option for Spain, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom for the up to 75% of users who will not use a credit card online, and soon the ‘direct pay’ push payment method for the remaining EU countries still requiring a physical signature – which, while it is not the same as Direct Debit, still works for a compelling site or goods – no card of any kind required.
AWE liked our flexible platform, our ability to address their sales options, and our marketing tools typically only associated with credit cards; especially our one-click purchase option. During the implementation and optimization phases, the AWE team has demonstrated their dedication to further refining their products.
Adult Webmaster Empire, with its solid reputation for performance recognizes the importance not only of utilizing every conceivable option and resource to convert existing traffic, but the ability now to encourage webmasters with European cam traffic to send even more. “Existing affiliates can rest easy knowing we take all measures necessary to ensure their European traffic converts well with us, and webmasters not yet working with AWE now have an additional reason to give us an opportunity to convert their EU traffic,” stated Mickey Bojcsik, Director of Program Operations for AWE. “Webbilling and our billing department do an outstanding job at working together closely to ensure the new primary preferred billing method is properly optimized.”
Adult Webmaster Empire entered the market six years ago with its flagship site, LiveJasmin, and just a handful of staff. The company now employs 150+ people and has since become one of the market leaders in the live cam sector. AWE now offers eight live cam products covering many popular niches, in addition to co-brands, white labels, lifetime revenue sharing and has sponsored the popular AWEsome Sunday Beach Party at Island Gathering for three years running.
Mickey Bojcsik can be reached at: mickey@awempire.com, and the affiliate program is located at: AWEmpire.com. For more information on the Webbilling.com direct debit platform for Europe, contact JoeD at: marketing@webbilling.com.
Further Reading on Related Topics
Your Alternative Billing Self-Test
Do You Really Bill the United Kingdom?
EASY NATS IMPLEMENTATION!
Boris set us up! Contact me for details.
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Working from Home?
Sep.16.2008
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A Typical ‘Day in the Life’
Some online businesses have offices – others have offices in the home.
However you work – wherever you work - whatever equipment you use to accomplish your work – there is no typical online entrepreneur. For the webmaster entrepreneur, the average “day in the life” is something that most people who work in the traditional outside business world would never envision.
Webmasters come in all shapes and sizes - men and women - single, married, divorced or widowed - Some with children – some without… Some are just beginning their families, others are experiencing life as a grandparent. Some are religious – others are not. Some live in big cities – others live in way-out rural areas [as long as they have access!]. These webmasters live all over the world, cloned in every country… Some like to party – some prefer a quiet night at home. Some are uber technical geeks and some are marketing gurus. Some got started in the early days at the inception of the World-Wide-Web – and some have only just begun to make their mark on the e-commerce world… Webmasters come in all shapes and sizes…
I know many successful women who use initials online to remain gender anonymous in pulling in lucrative consulting contracts where personal contact has never been required beyond email and instant messaging – talk about eliminating the glass ceiling – think about that one.
With that foundation and the old YMMV (your mileage may vary) firmly in mind, don’t assume anything when interacting with remote colleagues, contacts and business entrepreneurs online – diversity has been the key to online industry drive, innovation, and success. Working online is the perfect antidote to working in a real world filled with cubicles, punch clocks and deadlines. You can work at your own pace, create your own schedule – put in a 14 hour day, or just pop in for a few minutes to check email. It all depends upon your personal business model, goals, your focus and what is required of you on a daily basis as far as maintenance, development and supervision for the advancement of your proprietary enterprise.
Let’s throw out an in-general idea of what it’s like to be a work-from-home e-commerce entrepreneur or webmaster. Let’s say this person is an affiliate webmaster. Here might be a look through the virtual window into an average day:
8:00 AM – Wake up, check stats, make coffee and begin reading e-mail and instant messages that came in over the night.
10:00 AM – Check server stats, affiliate program sites and see what sales/traffic came in overnight.
11:00 AM – Check stats, work on site building targeting niches and sponsors for affiliate program sales. Eat lunch at desk while working.
Noon – Check stats.
1:00 PM – Check stats.
2:00 PM – Check stats.
3:00 PM – Check stats.
4:00 PM – Check stats, begin submitting sites to link lists, TGPs or favorite traffic generation tool of choice.
7:00 PM – Take a little AFK (away from keyboard) break to spend time with the family before the spouse has a fit and declares you legally dead.
9:00 PM – Back to work building sites, checking stats, looking for listings and responding to e-mails and instant messaging.
12:00 AM – “Free time” now available to check stats, check webmaster forums, read up on industry news and catch up on what’s happening in the biz world.
3:00-4:00 AM – Get up after passing out on keyboard, wipe the imprint of the letters GHJKL from your forehead, check stats and toddle off to bed…
Well, you get the picture. There’s a lot more involved in working online – even as an average webmaster.
Of course the “typical” schedule above does not include emergencies that come up – analyzing stats, your host crashing, database issues, problems with sponsors, signing up for new programs, piss fights on the boards and locating and purchasing new content… Then there are events including meeting with your accountant at tax time, speaking with your attorney about issues and how they affect you, oh, and networking with the big traffic gurus to get your sites listed. The queue of daily duties, responsibilities and options that webmasters have to consider each day goes on and on – and of course, will vary with each individual and business – and for those traditional owners and bosses that think remote workers work less than office workers? Banish that weary timeworn misconception; remote workers spend more time at the computer on focused tasks, become more skilled at multi-tasking and are generally happier and more productive than their equivalent office workers...but everyone is unique, which continues to drive the evolution of the WWW…
Some online businesses have offices – others have offices in the home.
However you work – wherever you work - whatever equipment you use to accomplish your work – there is no typical online entrepreneur. For the webmaster entrepreneur, the average “day in the life” is something that most people who work in the traditional outside business world would never envision.
Webmasters come in all shapes and sizes - men and women - single, married, divorced or widowed - Some with children – some without… Some are just beginning their families, others are experiencing life as a grandparent. Some are religious – others are not. Some live in big cities – others live in way-out rural areas [as long as they have access!]. These webmasters live all over the world, cloned in every country… Some like to party – some prefer a quiet night at home. Some are uber technical geeks and some are marketing gurus. Some got started in the early days at the inception of the World-Wide-Web – and some have only just begun to make their mark on the e-commerce world… Webmasters come in all shapes and sizes…
I know many successful women who use initials online to remain gender anonymous in pulling in lucrative consulting contracts where personal contact has never been required beyond email and instant messaging – talk about eliminating the glass ceiling – think about that one.
With that foundation and the old YMMV (your mileage may vary) firmly in mind, don’t assume anything when interacting with remote colleagues, contacts and business entrepreneurs online – diversity has been the key to online industry drive, innovation, and success. Working online is the perfect antidote to working in a real world filled with cubicles, punch clocks and deadlines. You can work at your own pace, create your own schedule – put in a 14 hour day, or just pop in for a few minutes to check email. It all depends upon your personal business model, goals, your focus and what is required of you on a daily basis as far as maintenance, development and supervision for the advancement of your proprietary enterprise.
Let’s throw out an in-general idea of what it’s like to be a work-from-home e-commerce entrepreneur or webmaster. Let’s say this person is an affiliate webmaster. Here might be a look through the virtual window into an average day:
8:00 AM – Wake up, check stats, make coffee and begin reading e-mail and instant messages that came in over the night.
10:00 AM – Check server stats, affiliate program sites and see what sales/traffic came in overnight.
11:00 AM – Check stats, work on site building targeting niches and sponsors for affiliate program sales. Eat lunch at desk while working.
Noon – Check stats.
1:00 PM – Check stats.
2:00 PM – Check stats.
3:00 PM – Check stats.
4:00 PM – Check stats, begin submitting sites to link lists, TGPs or favorite traffic generation tool of choice.
7:00 PM – Take a little AFK (away from keyboard) break to spend time with the family before the spouse has a fit and declares you legally dead.
9:00 PM – Back to work building sites, checking stats, looking for listings and responding to e-mails and instant messaging.
12:00 AM – “Free time” now available to check stats, check webmaster forums, read up on industry news and catch up on what’s happening in the biz world.
3:00-4:00 AM – Get up after passing out on keyboard, wipe the imprint of the letters GHJKL from your forehead, check stats and toddle off to bed…
Well, you get the picture. There’s a lot more involved in working online – even as an average webmaster.
Of course the “typical” schedule above does not include emergencies that come up – analyzing stats, your host crashing, database issues, problems with sponsors, signing up for new programs, piss fights on the boards and locating and purchasing new content… Then there are events including meeting with your accountant at tax time, speaking with your attorney about issues and how they affect you, oh, and networking with the big traffic gurus to get your sites listed. The queue of daily duties, responsibilities and options that webmasters have to consider each day goes on and on – and of course, will vary with each individual and business – and for those traditional owners and bosses that think remote workers work less than office workers? Banish that weary timeworn misconception; remote workers spend more time at the computer on focused tasks, become more skilled at multi-tasking and are generally happier and more productive than their equivalent office workers...but everyone is unique, which continues to drive the evolution of the WWW…
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Marketing Too Honest ?
Sep.11.2008
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I’m all for transparency in Marketing...
I believe marketing claims should be clear, straightforward and not overly broad – but confident! In the online processing arena, increased capability, innovation and advancement are usually functions of vision, merchant feedback, and technical programming skills. One aspect I really appreciate in considering our programming and development staff is their ability to always create a better product than the one we requested – more refinements, additional enhancements, easier use and functionality... They really understand the platform, customer behavior, merchant requirements and capabilities, and that’s how they respond. It is personally important to them that our platform potential be the absolute best available.
While reading The Wall Street Journal cover to cover on the way to Montreal recently, I came across an article on the new 2009 Hyundai Genesis and the gamble by this automaker to elevate its image and sales across the board by launching a luxury sedan. It's actually quite a fine looking car and a nice website, and we have all seen Toyota, Nissan and Honda follow this path with luxury entries in their own dealerships as well as through Lexus, Infiniti and Acura. What really got my attention as Neal Boudette wrote about the goals of this economy standard offering a ‘lavish alternative’ to BMW and Mercedes, was his quoting of the Korean manufacturer’s Vice President of Product Development. I was thinking there can actually be too much honesty in marketing. Quotes attributed to VP John Krafcik included the belief by Hyundai that the Genesis can attract a class of non-conformist consumers who want luxury but “are not concerned about the Brand they drive.” The particular admission that made me chuckle was, “We don’t think it’s as good as a BMW 5 Series, but we think you can compare it to a 5 Series.” The lesson to take away here is to be up-front right out of the box; that you are not everything for everyone, but have targeted a niche and will focus your efforts on the complete satisfaction of that niche market.
On a recent panel at Michel Plant's Qwebec Expo in Montreal, and so often in my discussions and email, I maintain that our direct debit platform does not replace any method in your billing cascade; we are always a capability additional to your existing join options – we work best augmenting and in conjunction with what you are already using so you don't miss a join, and of course we just might have some suggestions for maximizing your EU joins based on our experience and expertise ;-) In this regard, I like to think our focus and passion for direct debit joins, helps us perform the best at what we specifically add to your conversion capability.
So let's hear it for more, straightforward marketing!
Related Articles
Su propio examen de facturacion alternativa
EU Revenue Next Week
Compañía ayuda a la mayoría Europea que no utilizan tarjetas de crédito.
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En realidad usted envía facturas al Reino Unido?
Sep.3.2008
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www.webbilling.com, Nominado en la categoría de Procesamiento Alternativo de los Premios Xbiz 2008 y líder mundial en la disposición real de soluciones de Debito Directo Europeo. Soluciones de Debito ha anunciado el comienzo de facturación de Debito Directo en el Reino Unido para sus clientes comerciantes.
Por mas de diez años Webbilling.com se ha enfocado en el uso de debito directo para la conversión de tráfico Europeo específicamente para la industria de adultos con la misma rapidez, facilidad, y con los mismos métodos de comercialización que han disfrutado con la facturación de tarjetas de crédito. Nuestro Socio mayor Michael Reul asegura a todos que esto, es una oportunidad mas para continuar con la misión de Webbilling que es proporcionar productos de debito enfocados hacía nuestros patrocinadores a precios razonables, con toda la capacidad de aumentar sus ganancias Europeas, incluyendo acceso inmediato, repetición de facturación, gratis y múltiple pruebas gratis, cross sales, upsells , niveles de seguridad avanzados, paquetes de pago-por todo, y membresías encryptiadas con solamente un clic para comercialización adicional – junto con traducciones y entreno en estrategias de conversión. También añadió, “Recuerde que el Reino Unido también incluye Inglaterra, Países de Gales, Irlanda del Norte, Isla del Hombre y la Isla del Canal, es por eso que la potencia es grande y aun hay mas por venir. Es impresionante el número de dueños de programas con los que hablamos que nos dicen que ellos piensan que ya tienen Debito Directo. Lo único que puedo sugerir es que naveguen por sus paginas “alternativas” de membresía y se aseguren por si “mismos”
Nuestra directora de operaciones globales, Ines Petersen, indico “Casi según lo aceptado en el Reino Unido como en el continente, por completo el 73% de adultos en el Reino Unido están positivamente dispuestos a usar métodos de pago de debito directo electrónicos por medio del Internet. En realidad es irónico que estamos nominados para el Premio por el mejor Procesamiento Alternativo, desde mi perspectiva como Europea; nosotros proveemos una plataforma, ya probada como nuestro primordial método de facturación preferida para nuestros mejores mercados. Todo es por perspectiva. Quédese con todos sus métodos de facturación corrientemente en uso; solamente optimicé Webbilling para máximar sus ganancias Europeas. Esto es dinero encontrado – ya usted esta hacienda todo el trabajo para traer a todos estos navegadores a sus paginas de Internet.”
Agregue el Reino Unido a su lista de membresía y envié facturas a lugares como Alemania, Austria, Holanda Y los mercados Españoles en donde tarjetas de crédito son un método alternativo de facturación. Y, Que sobre sus tarifas? Webbilling JoeD recontó un patrocinador con mucho humor. Fue algo así, “Usted a hecho muchas brillantes decisiones para alcanzar este nivel de triunfo. Porque pagaria usted mas de 15% por procesamientos? Eso es como tomar otro socio adicional!”
El equipo de Webbilling esta tomando citas Webmaster Access LA, November 19th to 21st. Por favor, comuníquese con nosotros para hacer una cita para así poderle enseñar exactamente como usted puede reesforzar su condición económica para su programa especifico .
________________________________________
Please contact:
Webbilling.com B.V.
Ines Petersen
JoeD
E-mail Us!
Webbilling.com - Best Alternative Processor
Por mas de diez años Webbilling.com se ha enfocado en el uso de debito directo para la conversión de tráfico Europeo específicamente para la industria de adultos con la misma rapidez, facilidad, y con los mismos métodos de comercialización que han disfrutado con la facturación de tarjetas de crédito. Nuestro Socio mayor Michael Reul asegura a todos que esto, es una oportunidad mas para continuar con la misión de Webbilling que es proporcionar productos de debito enfocados hacía nuestros patrocinadores a precios razonables, con toda la capacidad de aumentar sus ganancias Europeas, incluyendo acceso inmediato, repetición de facturación, gratis y múltiple pruebas gratis, cross sales, upsells , niveles de seguridad avanzados, paquetes de pago-por todo, y membresías encryptiadas con solamente un clic para comercialización adicional – junto con traducciones y entreno en estrategias de conversión. También añadió, “Recuerde que el Reino Unido también incluye Inglaterra, Países de Gales, Irlanda del Norte, Isla del Hombre y la Isla del Canal, es por eso que la potencia es grande y aun hay mas por venir. Es impresionante el número de dueños de programas con los que hablamos que nos dicen que ellos piensan que ya tienen Debito Directo. Lo único que puedo sugerir es que naveguen por sus paginas “alternativas” de membresía y se aseguren por si “mismos”
Nuestra directora de operaciones globales, Ines Petersen, indico “Casi según lo aceptado en el Reino Unido como en el continente, por completo el 73% de adultos en el Reino Unido están positivamente dispuestos a usar métodos de pago de debito directo electrónicos por medio del Internet. En realidad es irónico que estamos nominados para el Premio por el mejor Procesamiento Alternativo, desde mi perspectiva como Europea; nosotros proveemos una plataforma, ya probada como nuestro primordial método de facturación preferida para nuestros mejores mercados. Todo es por perspectiva. Quédese con todos sus métodos de facturación corrientemente en uso; solamente optimicé Webbilling para máximar sus ganancias Europeas. Esto es dinero encontrado – ya usted esta hacienda todo el trabajo para traer a todos estos navegadores a sus paginas de Internet.”
Agregue el Reino Unido a su lista de membresía y envié facturas a lugares como Alemania, Austria, Holanda Y los mercados Españoles en donde tarjetas de crédito son un método alternativo de facturación. Y, Que sobre sus tarifas? Webbilling JoeD recontó un patrocinador con mucho humor. Fue algo así, “Usted a hecho muchas brillantes decisiones para alcanzar este nivel de triunfo. Porque pagaria usted mas de 15% por procesamientos? Eso es como tomar otro socio adicional!”
El equipo de Webbilling esta tomando citas Webmaster Access LA, November 19th to 21st. Por favor, comuníquese con nosotros para hacer una cita para así poderle enseñar exactamente como usted puede reesforzar su condición económica para su programa especifico .
________________________________________
Please contact:
Webbilling.com B.V.
Ines Petersen
JoeD
E-mail Us!
Webbilling.com - Best Alternative Processor
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Additional Currency Conversion Capabilities
Aug.21.2008
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Merchants keep asking for more capability so they can customize and control every aspect of their program and processing capability and we are responding, making their requests reality as fast as we can program. Webbilling.com has announced further upgrades to our platform with the roll out of additional currency conversion features for billing in Euros and GBPounds.
As I've told you in previous posts, Webbilling has focused on the use of Direct Debit for the conversion of European traffic in the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Austria and Germany, and recently announced the addition of Webbilling.com Advanced Direct Pay for a total of 43 EU countries.
Our new conversion utility affords merchants flexible pricing options allowing them to set direct 1:1 conversion, conversion floating with the Central European Bank daily rates, conversion floating with the Central European Bank daily rates and a specified merchant margin, or a specified fixed conversion rate. Merchants are also able to utilize the Webbilling ‘round-up’ feature which allows them to specify a consistent ‘_.95’ or ‘_.99’ price point regardless of their conversion choice. Floating with the Central European Bank daily rates and a specified merchant margin allows Webbilling.com merchants to account for bank conversion fees in their pricing model, as banks always charge more than the official rates. Innovative processing ideas combined with ongoing research and development is what keeps Webbilling.com and our merchants on top of the ever-evolving global markets. Webbilling.com utilizes the latest technology and experienced staff to ensure the steady adoption of merchant requested upgrades to our transparent system - watch for new reporting and analytics announcements soon.
- Individual Solutions for Individual Requirements -
We're setting appointments for Tony Morgan's first show,The Atlanta Forum. Tony told me the keynote speaker is going to be special and the seminars are going to be groundbreaking. If you like what CCBill has always accomplished in Phoenix, you know you want to be in Atlanta! Write me for a personal appointment to discuss Webbilling Direct Debit and Advanced Direct Pay and your specific program requirements.
Further Reading on Related Topics
Your Alternative Billing Self-Test
Do You Really Bill the United Kingdom?
EASY NATS IMPLEMENTATION!
Boris set us up! Contact me for details.
As I've told you in previous posts, Webbilling has focused on the use of Direct Debit for the conversion of European traffic in the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Austria and Germany, and recently announced the addition of Webbilling.com Advanced Direct Pay for a total of 43 EU countries.
Our new conversion utility affords merchants flexible pricing options allowing them to set direct 1:1 conversion, conversion floating with the Central European Bank daily rates, conversion floating with the Central European Bank daily rates and a specified merchant margin, or a specified fixed conversion rate. Merchants are also able to utilize the Webbilling ‘round-up’ feature which allows them to specify a consistent ‘_.95’ or ‘_.99’ price point regardless of their conversion choice. Floating with the Central European Bank daily rates and a specified merchant margin allows Webbilling.com merchants to account for bank conversion fees in their pricing model, as banks always charge more than the official rates. Innovative processing ideas combined with ongoing research and development is what keeps Webbilling.com and our merchants on top of the ever-evolving global markets. Webbilling.com utilizes the latest technology and experienced staff to ensure the steady adoption of merchant requested upgrades to our transparent system - watch for new reporting and analytics announcements soon.
We're setting appointments for Tony Morgan's first show,The Atlanta Forum. Tony told me the keynote speaker is going to be special and the seminars are going to be groundbreaking. If you like what CCBill has always accomplished in Phoenix, you know you want to be in Atlanta! Write me for a personal appointment to discuss Webbilling Direct Debit and Advanced Direct Pay and your specific program requirements.
Further Reading on Related Topics
Your Alternative Billing Self-Test
Do You Really Bill the United Kingdom?
EASY NATS IMPLEMENTATION!
Boris set us up! Contact me for details.
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Active Home Internet Users by Country
Aug.12.2008
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As we follow markets, and budget resources for translation, marketing, content, stats and analytics, traffic and billing decisions and pricing, it’s important to consume and digest whatever data is available – and remember as always, while reviewing any data regardless of the source, it’s important not to take a measure at its face value but keep in mind exactly how it works, exactly what it’s measuring, what its limitations may be, and how it applies to your specific situation, requirements, planning and goals.
In a recent survey by Nielsen Online the total number of active Internet home users increased overall but 2 of the 10 countries tracked.
Active home Internet users declined in the U.K. (-1.14 percent) and in Switzerland (-0.81 percent). Combined, it was a loss of 326,506 active Internet home users – not a big number, especially for a single month, and possibly the result of methodology.
Overall, the number of active Internet homes increased 1.96 percent over the previous month. The countries with the highest increases include Brazil (8.32 percent), Australia (7.28 percent), Japan (2.75 percent), and Italy (2.23 percent).
Nielsen Online uses a sampling methodology applied worldwide, which allows for data aggregation on a regional and global basis. Active Internet users are derived from the number of users who have logged on in the previous 30 days.
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The Current State of VoIP
Aug.5.2008
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Voice over IP (VoIP), or the process of transmitting voice calls over a computer network is no longer a new concept. VoIP has been around for many years now, and has promised to revolutionize the telecommunications industry for just as long. I had a talk recently with FtOCC certified IT and VoIP consultant Chris Sherwood, out in Los Angeles. The question posed is…has VoIP yet proven itself to be a viable alternative to legacy voice and PBX solutions? The answer, he says, “is yes and no.”
He told me there are many companies including Vonage and Road Runner now offering unlimited long distance for a small monthly fee for consumers, as well as numerous VoIP providers offering calls to anywhere in the world for pennies per minute – and even T-mobile is now offering a two year contracted service for ten dollars a month after modem purchase and set up fee. In theory, he said, this is a great concept, and has made these companies millions of dollars in revenue in the consumer market.
“The business market however, is another story. The smallest of businesses can certainly take advantage of this type of solution, but any small to medium business making more than five simultaneous calls will have problems switching to VoIP for one main reason,” he continued, “Internet bandwidth is still too small and too expensive. Most small to medium businesses have DSL/Cable or T1 connections to the Internet where the upload speed is no more than 1.5 Megabits per second (Mbps). At 60 Kilobits per second (Kbps) per voice call, this starts to really add up, and when you factor in normal Internet usage and SoHo routers that can’t prioritize VoIP traffic, you will soon be dropping calls and having ‘tinny’ voice quality. This causes employees and customers to become frustrated, and potentially results in lost business due to poor voice quality and company representation.”
Drawing on over a decade of experience in the field, Chris started in on the nitty-gritty: “That being said, there is one huge advantage to running VoIP in your business, and that is as an alternative to a legacy PBX. PBX systems from companies such as Lucent, NEC, and Mitel can be horrendously expensive even at entry level pricing. Companies can spend in excess of $25,000 for a PBX that has minimal features beyond providing dial tone and voice mail capability. For additional features, or to run a reliable call center, the price can skyrocket to anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000. By replacing a legacy PBX with an Asterisk based solution, such as Fonality’s Trixbox system, you can make literally hundreds of calls within your LAN without a reduction in voice quality, and you can get premium PBX features such as conference calling, call queuing, an auto attendant, voice mail to email, paging and intercom, and music on hold for a fraction of the cost of a legacy PBX.”
“When used as what I like to call a ‘hybrid’ PBX system, this solution can be a huge advantage in both features and cost savings. If you use standard (POTS) phone lines or a voice T1/PRI for connectivity to the outside world in conjunction with a VoIP based PBX for your internal call routing and functionality, you are getting the best of both worlds, and an extremely reliable telephony solution. Asterisk-based PBX systems have their foundation in Linux which has already proven itself to be the most stable enterprise level operating system available today. I have had Linux servers in production data centers online for in excess of 400 days straight without a reboot. Linux Web servers running Apache serve the largest percentage of Web pages on the Internet today. I am completely comfortable using it for telephony as well. Used with the proven reliability of the ‘Ma Bell’ telecommunications infrastructure that has been in place for decades now, hundreds of companies are switching to this type of solution…and the stock prices of legacy PBX providers going into the toilet is proof positive that the paradigm is shifting.”
“Just a year ago there was one sector where the hybrid PBX solution fell way short, and that was for companies with call centers larger than 20 agents. The problem for those companies was not so much the lack of VoIP technology, but rather the lack of management and reporting tools for medium-to-large call centers. But just in the last ten months there are now great solutions available, and they are getting better all the time. VoIP still has tremendous potential in this industry when you consider options such as work-at-home agents, seamless cross-country or international call routing, and cost reduction, however no one has yet created tools robust enough to compete with the agent and call detail reporting and management you can get with a legacy PBX solution. Attention investors! There is a huge opportunity for innovators in this market if you don’t mind battling the big boys.”
So what does the future hold for VoIP? Chris assures us it can only get better. “As we are starting to see Internet connections of 10Mbps and higher coming into homes and businesses, using VoIP for both internal and external voice calls will become a much more viable solution within five years. Once huge fiber links straight to the home and office are commonplace, and Internet bandwidth is sufficient to handle both normal Web traffic and tens if not hundreds of simultaneous voice calls with ease, there will be a new paradigm in place to the benefit of home users as well as small to medium businesses. Within our lifetimes I believe we can expect to see the downfall of the legacy telephony infrastructure. Just as analog broadcast television is finally dying out in favor of digital cable; VoIP will reign supreme before we know it.”
Chris Sherwood is an FtOCC certified IT and VoIP consultant based in Los Angeles and it was my pleasure to speak with him. He has worked in IT and telephony for 12 years in numerous sectors, and is the author of the popular ‘Trixbox Complete Setup Guide for Small Businesses’ available at sureteq.com. He has written numerous telephony and networking white papers and has been featured in Network World magazine. You can contact Chris by emailing chris@sureteq.com.
He told me there are many companies including Vonage and Road Runner now offering unlimited long distance for a small monthly fee for consumers, as well as numerous VoIP providers offering calls to anywhere in the world for pennies per minute – and even T-mobile is now offering a two year contracted service for ten dollars a month after modem purchase and set up fee. In theory, he said, this is a great concept, and has made these companies millions of dollars in revenue in the consumer market.
“The business market however, is another story. The smallest of businesses can certainly take advantage of this type of solution, but any small to medium business making more than five simultaneous calls will have problems switching to VoIP for one main reason,” he continued, “Internet bandwidth is still too small and too expensive. Most small to medium businesses have DSL/Cable or T1 connections to the Internet where the upload speed is no more than 1.5 Megabits per second (Mbps). At 60 Kilobits per second (Kbps) per voice call, this starts to really add up, and when you factor in normal Internet usage and SoHo routers that can’t prioritize VoIP traffic, you will soon be dropping calls and having ‘tinny’ voice quality. This causes employees and customers to become frustrated, and potentially results in lost business due to poor voice quality and company representation.”
Drawing on over a decade of experience in the field, Chris started in on the nitty-gritty: “That being said, there is one huge advantage to running VoIP in your business, and that is as an alternative to a legacy PBX. PBX systems from companies such as Lucent, NEC, and Mitel can be horrendously expensive even at entry level pricing. Companies can spend in excess of $25,000 for a PBX that has minimal features beyond providing dial tone and voice mail capability. For additional features, or to run a reliable call center, the price can skyrocket to anywhere from $100,000 to $500,000. By replacing a legacy PBX with an Asterisk based solution, such as Fonality’s Trixbox system, you can make literally hundreds of calls within your LAN without a reduction in voice quality, and you can get premium PBX features such as conference calling, call queuing, an auto attendant, voice mail to email, paging and intercom, and music on hold for a fraction of the cost of a legacy PBX.”
“When used as what I like to call a ‘hybrid’ PBX system, this solution can be a huge advantage in both features and cost savings. If you use standard (POTS) phone lines or a voice T1/PRI for connectivity to the outside world in conjunction with a VoIP based PBX for your internal call routing and functionality, you are getting the best of both worlds, and an extremely reliable telephony solution. Asterisk-based PBX systems have their foundation in Linux which has already proven itself to be the most stable enterprise level operating system available today. I have had Linux servers in production data centers online for in excess of 400 days straight without a reboot. Linux Web servers running Apache serve the largest percentage of Web pages on the Internet today. I am completely comfortable using it for telephony as well. Used with the proven reliability of the ‘Ma Bell’ telecommunications infrastructure that has been in place for decades now, hundreds of companies are switching to this type of solution…and the stock prices of legacy PBX providers going into the toilet is proof positive that the paradigm is shifting.”
“Just a year ago there was one sector where the hybrid PBX solution fell way short, and that was for companies with call centers larger than 20 agents. The problem for those companies was not so much the lack of VoIP technology, but rather the lack of management and reporting tools for medium-to-large call centers. But just in the last ten months there are now great solutions available, and they are getting better all the time. VoIP still has tremendous potential in this industry when you consider options such as work-at-home agents, seamless cross-country or international call routing, and cost reduction, however no one has yet created tools robust enough to compete with the agent and call detail reporting and management you can get with a legacy PBX solution. Attention investors! There is a huge opportunity for innovators in this market if you don’t mind battling the big boys.”
So what does the future hold for VoIP? Chris assures us it can only get better. “As we are starting to see Internet connections of 10Mbps and higher coming into homes and businesses, using VoIP for both internal and external voice calls will become a much more viable solution within five years. Once huge fiber links straight to the home and office are commonplace, and Internet bandwidth is sufficient to handle both normal Web traffic and tens if not hundreds of simultaneous voice calls with ease, there will be a new paradigm in place to the benefit of home users as well as small to medium businesses. Within our lifetimes I believe we can expect to see the downfall of the legacy telephony infrastructure. Just as analog broadcast television is finally dying out in favor of digital cable; VoIP will reign supreme before we know it.”
Chris Sherwood is an FtOCC certified IT and VoIP consultant based in Los Angeles and it was my pleasure to speak with him. He has worked in IT and telephony for 12 years in numerous sectors, and is the author of the popular ‘Trixbox Complete Setup Guide for Small Businesses’ available at sureteq.com. He has written numerous telephony and networking white papers and has been featured in Network World magazine. You can contact Chris by emailing chris@sureteq.com.
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Webbilling.com Adds Advanced Direct Pay
Aug.1.2008
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We listen to our merchants, and in our endeavor to be the global leader in the provision of real European Direct Debit solutions, coupled with value added benefits related to our banking focus, we are rolling out our Webbilling Advanced Direct Pay for 43 European countries.
For over eleven years Webbilling.com has focused on the use of Direct Debit for the conversion of European traffic in the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Austria and Germany, and now you can access the rest of Europe using Webbilling.com Advanced Direct Pay.
Senior Partner Michael Reul assures all prospective client-merchants that “we have worked hard to enable our Webbilling Advanced Direct Pay surfer/users to have access to merchants’ sites in as little as one day. While this method is not as effective as our true direct debit, and not exactly impulse buying, it is guaranteed no chargebacks and works effectively for the 38 European countries still requiring a physical signature for real pull debits. We will continue to innovate and refine our techniques in this area in order to further maximize our merchants’ earning power.”
- Individual Solutions for Individual Requirements -
The Webbilling.com team is setting appointments for August Internext. Introduce yourself at the Mix & Meet Market Thursday August 7th, 2008 or contact us in advance for an appointment to discuss Webbilling Advanced Direct Pay and all aspects of our proven EU direct debit platform. Let us show you exactly how you can best leverage current economic conditions for your specific programs.
Please contact:
Webbilling.com B.V.
Email JoeD
About Webbilling.com:
WEBBILLING.com B.V. is the leading provider of real EU Direct Debit services to e-commerce companies worldwide. With a negative database and systems developed over ten years, superior fraud detection and established collection services, Webbilling.com has the experience to maximize your revenues, and the expertise to guide you to the best EU conversion rates possible. Their European Direct Debit can be added to any existing billing cascade and does not cannibalize credit card revenue. Webbilling.com assists client-merchants by combining in-depth knowledge of the European market with proven technology, powerful time-tested relationships, client focused expertise, and personal service second to none.
Further Reading on Related Topics
Your Alternative Billing Self-Test
Do You Really Bill the United Kingdom?
EASY NATS IMPLEMENTATION!
Boris set us up! Contact me for details.
For over eleven years Webbilling.com has focused on the use of Direct Debit for the conversion of European traffic in the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Austria and Germany, and now you can access the rest of Europe using Webbilling.com Advanced Direct Pay.
Key benefits of Webbilling Advanced Direct Pay include:Today’s rapid and ever changing e-commerce world demands innovative ideas and solutions in order to increase market share; strengthen your brand and grow your bottom line. Innovative processing ideas combined with ongoing research and development is what keeps Webbilling.com and our merchants on top of the ever evolving global markets. We utilize the latest technology and experienced staff to ensure the steady growth and profitability of your business. Our innovation is driven by our experience.
- Advanced Direct Pay Covers 43 European Countries
- Payment Funds Are Available in as Little as One Day
- Advanced Direct Pay Guarantees No Chargebacks
- Your User Can Remain Completely Anonymous
- Take Advantage of our Webbilling Periodic Recurring Process
Senior Partner Michael Reul assures all prospective client-merchants that “we have worked hard to enable our Webbilling Advanced Direct Pay surfer/users to have access to merchants’ sites in as little as one day. While this method is not as effective as our true direct debit, and not exactly impulse buying, it is guaranteed no chargebacks and works effectively for the 38 European countries still requiring a physical signature for real pull debits. We will continue to innovate and refine our techniques in this area in order to further maximize our merchants’ earning power.”
The Webbilling.com team is setting appointments for August Internext. Introduce yourself at the Mix & Meet Market Thursday August 7th, 2008 or contact us in advance for an appointment to discuss Webbilling Advanced Direct Pay and all aspects of our proven EU direct debit platform. Let us show you exactly how you can best leverage current economic conditions for your specific programs.
Please contact:
Webbilling.com B.V.
Email JoeD
About Webbilling.com:
WEBBILLING.com B.V. is the leading provider of real EU Direct Debit services to e-commerce companies worldwide. With a negative database and systems developed over ten years, superior fraud detection and established collection services, Webbilling.com has the experience to maximize your revenues, and the expertise to guide you to the best EU conversion rates possible. Their European Direct Debit can be added to any existing billing cascade and does not cannibalize credit card revenue. Webbilling.com assists client-merchants by combining in-depth knowledge of the European market with proven technology, powerful time-tested relationships, client focused expertise, and personal service second to none.
Further Reading on Related Topics
Your Alternative Billing Self-Test
Do You Really Bill the United Kingdom?
EASY NATS IMPLEMENTATION!
Boris set us up! Contact me for details.
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Epoch & Island Gathering 8 – WIN!
Jul.31.2008
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A Truly Elegant Mix of Business and Pleasure
Would you like to attend the most productive industry event of the year…in the Tropics...in October? Epoch.com and 123Resourcing.com host the Eighth Annual Island Gathering, October 17th to 20th, 2008. This exclusive all-inclusive event has defined the gathering concept for an industry, and with more CEO attendees as a percentage than any other event, it remains the perfect mix of business and pleasure – a proven concept, a proven reputation, with proven results. The eighth rendition promises to raise the bar once again by which all other events are measured, and Epoch.com would like to send you there.
Have you been to a trade show or webmaster event recently and STILL not reached the decision maker you’re after? Do you know you could make the deal or establish a relationship if you could just reach the person who makes the decisions? Don’t miss this unprecedented opportunity to brand, bond and connect.
Epoch.com offers you a chance to attend as their guest. All you have to do is complete and submit the online registration form and then answer the contest questions. The answers can be found in the first two installments of the Epoch.com educational video series provided right on the page. There are no purchase or sales requirements.
THE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDING:
- Round trip transportation for one person to Curaçao (average retail value of US $1,000.00).
- Accommodation for one person in Curaçao (average retail value of US $2,300.00).
- Access for one person to all Island Gathering event offerings. Total Prize Package valued at over $3,000.00.
To enter the contest, just visit the Epoch contest page and take a few minutes to complete the mini form!No incidental costs are included as part of the prize - all incidental costs are the sole responsibility of the winner.
Countdown to Island Gathering as this post went to press:
77 days, 18 hours, 33 minutes, and 16 seconds from today!
Eligibility:For additional contest information, contact: Rand at Epoch or ICQ: 207066243
The Contest is open to: (a) any sponsored merchant in the online adult entertainment industry, (b) an affiliate of a sponsored merchant in the adult online entertainment industry, and (c) anyone in the business directly servicing the online adult industry (i.e. hosting provider, content provider, etc.). The Contest is void where prohibited by law. Residents of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Union of Myanmar, are not eligible to participate in the Contest. Employees and contractors of Epoch and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, advertising agencies, and families, and persons living in the same household as such employees, are not eligible to participate. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
If you are already registered for Island Gathering – tell any of us of friends and associates you’d like to meet there – Most business is completed every afternoon at the Sex Search Happy Hours. The Island Gathering has truly evolved into a must-attend event for the industry’s biggest movers and shakers.
What should you expect? Expect the unexpected!
Every year attendees join fellow industry professionals for a truly unforgettable experience – a relaxed professional ambiance which combined with great food, great fun and proven ROI culminates in a feeling you just won’t find at any other industry event. The combination of unique activities and events in an exclusive Caribbean location, the best sponsors in the online e-commerce world, and attendees ready to engage in serious high-level business discussions in a relaxed atmosphere contribute to the elegant climate created each year for our enrichment and enjoyment.
A complete list of Island Gathering 8 sponsors, more information, and the online registration form can can be found on the IG8 site and for any inquiries, email Dana or Tunde.
Island Gathering 8
Date: October 17-20
Location: The Island of Curaçao
Hosts: Epoch Systems, 123 Resourcing
If you have not registered, enter the Epoch contest and watch for future announcements, because you know it will sell out…it always sells out.
You bond and make friends at this conference, and friends conduct business with friends…we’ll see you all in October.
And mail me for a personal meeting on EU direct debit at Internext, Qwebec Expo, Atlanta Forum, WebmasterAccess Amsterdam, Oktoberfest Gathering and Island Gathering 8. Europeans billing Europe.
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Strong Mobile Marketing Growth, but...
Jul.21.2008
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JupiterResearch has reported that, beyond SMS marketing, most mobile marketing tactics are still in their infancy and will struggle to meet initial high expectations. According to a recent report, Mobile Advertising in Europe: Achieving Search and Display Revenues in the Long Term, mobile search and display revenues are expected to together reach 1.3 billion euros by 2012.
Consumers' limited willingness to pay for mobile content coupled with convergence of the free Internet will foster and drive the emergence of ad-funded business models. Thanks to more affordable multimedia handsets, enhanced networks and transparent data plans, 40 percent of mobile users will regularly access the mobile Internet in five years' time.
"The mobile advertising market will grow significantly over the next few years and move from its current trial stage to a more mature business where stakeholders will leverage consumers' uptake of mobile data services" said Thomas Husson, Senior Mobile Analyst at JupiterResearch.
However, according to the report the relatively small audience of mobile media users, coupled with the lack of critical mass of educated advertisers able to analyze and measure return on investment will restrain mobile media's potential in the midterm going. Looking forward, once stakeholders implement interoperable and independent standards and reliable indicators of ROI, mobile will increasingly be part of the marketing mix.
"Mobile advertising is destined to be a multi-billion euro industry," stated David Schatsky, president of JupiterResearch. "But the maturation of this industry could take a decade," he continued. "Advertisers tend to be slow to react to consumers' changing behaviors and will need more than encouraging trials and early click-through rates to begin to invest massively in this nascent medium."
For more information on JupiterResearch's European Mobile research service, please contact Kevin Savage by phone +44 (0) 7703 063 958 or email. For more information on the JupiterResearch European research services visit www.jupiterresearch.com.
I'm always looking at available data and information on the EU market, and one interesting study as we look at Europe top to bottom is how to bill online for every service. Sometimes we limit ourselves by looking at a processing solution only in terms of subscriptions, pay-per-download, and funding wallets. In opening your mind to additional possibilities an interesting aspect of the Webbilling.com direct debit solution is the ability to bill for both virtual and hard goods with no minimum or maximum price points. And even EU webmasters and program owners might prefer to pay using direct debit. Suppose you sell content packages, or bill monthly for feeds, hosting or design services - or maybe you sell travel packages related to your Swing, Cam or Dating sites - these could all be processed by Webbilling direct debit.
Consumers' limited willingness to pay for mobile content coupled with convergence of the free Internet will foster and drive the emergence of ad-funded business models. Thanks to more affordable multimedia handsets, enhanced networks and transparent data plans, 40 percent of mobile users will regularly access the mobile Internet in five years' time.
"The mobile advertising market will grow significantly over the next few years and move from its current trial stage to a more mature business where stakeholders will leverage consumers' uptake of mobile data services" said Thomas Husson, Senior Mobile Analyst at JupiterResearch.
However, according to the report the relatively small audience of mobile media users, coupled with the lack of critical mass of educated advertisers able to analyze and measure return on investment will restrain mobile media's potential in the midterm going. Looking forward, once stakeholders implement interoperable and independent standards and reliable indicators of ROI, mobile will increasingly be part of the marketing mix.
"Mobile advertising is destined to be a multi-billion euro industry," stated David Schatsky, president of JupiterResearch. "But the maturation of this industry could take a decade," he continued. "Advertisers tend to be slow to react to consumers' changing behaviors and will need more than encouraging trials and early click-through rates to begin to invest massively in this nascent medium."
For more information on JupiterResearch's European Mobile research service, please contact Kevin Savage by phone +44 (0) 7703 063 958 or email. For more information on the JupiterResearch European research services visit www.jupiterresearch.com.
I'm always looking at available data and information on the EU market, and one interesting study as we look at Europe top to bottom is how to bill online for every service. Sometimes we limit ourselves by looking at a processing solution only in terms of subscriptions, pay-per-download, and funding wallets. In opening your mind to additional possibilities an interesting aspect of the Webbilling.com direct debit solution is the ability to bill for both virtual and hard goods with no minimum or maximum price points. And even EU webmasters and program owners might prefer to pay using direct debit. Suppose you sell content packages, or bill monthly for feeds, hosting or design services - or maybe you sell travel packages related to your Swing, Cam or Dating sites - these could all be processed by Webbilling direct debit.
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