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COMMUNITY SERVICES
By Michael Rogers
Newsweek
Updated: 3:45 p.m. ET Dec. 16, 2006
Dec. 16 - Technologists used to predict that in a true broadband Internet world the cost of sending voice telephone calls would become so low that it would no longer be worth billing for them. Now, in a flurry of year-end announcements, everyone from start-ups to Ma Bell herself has announced their intention to deliver voice over the Internet. So when does the free part start? How about never? The technologists were technically right: voice over the Internet (VOIP, for Voice Over Internet Protocol) will end up being so small a part of the data stream that it alone will not be worth metering. But VOIP is probably, right now, just about as free as it’s ever going to get. If you already pay for Internet access, making telephone calls costs nothing, once you’ve invested in a bit of extra hardware--but with some big caveats. The basic idea is simple: turn voice into a stream of bits, just like email, and send it on the Internet rather than the telephone company’s lines. The prime example right now is Skyper, the software company launched by the same two Scandinavian entrepreneurs who gave the world the file-sharing software KaZaA, which shook the music industry to its core. In a recent interview on the Red Herring site, the founders promise to do the same to the telephone industry: "The future of telephony," says Janus Friis, "is free worldwide telephone calling." And on the surface that would appear to be the case. Folks with Skype software on their computer, plus a headset, microphone and high-speed Internet connection, can dial one another anywhere in the world at no cost.
For the less technically inclined, a growing number of firms now sell Internet telephone handsets-devices that look like telephone handsets but plug into your broadband-connected computer and let you dial, for free, anyone else who owns a similar handset. Large corporations are already adopting these VOIP systems,and some consumers are as well. One early market in the United States, for example, is immigrant communities--with a small upfront investment on both ends, expats can now chat with their homelands as long as they want.
But there are some hitches in Internet telephony. The first, and least troublesome, is sound quality--in years past, Internet telephony was often pretty awful. But that’s already improving dramatically, and someday, with a few tweaks, Internet telephony could actually sound better than the best quality available on current analog telephones. More troublesome is how you connect to people who don’t have your brand of VOIP software. The answer is, at present, you don’t. If you want to call someone’s regular telephone number, you’re going to have to use a for-pay Internet telephone service, like Net2Phone or Vonage. They’re cheaper than traditional telephone connections, but they’re never going to be free because they need to pay fees to the local phone companies in order to make the final connections. Futurists sometimes see Internet telephony as the death knell for traditional phone companies. But that’s not going to happen: those companies also own the last few miles of the old-fashioned copper and switches that cause phones to ring in every home and business. They’re not going to give up this business without a fight, and that’s why Verizon, AT&T, Quest and SBC have all announced that they will begin to sell Internet telephone services next year. You can expect these services to be priced below the phone companies’ regular packages, with slightly lower sound quality--something like an airline starting a low-cost carrier that doesn’t serve meals. Adding VOIP to the already intense competition from wireless carriers could mean that 2004 will launch a brutal price war between telephony providers, with only the strongest surviving. For the most part, those survivors will be the companies that already own their own networks. The failure of the AOL-Time Warner merger offered a very instructive lesson, when it became clear early on that the Time Warner cable systems had no intention of sharing their Internet access business with their new kin at AOL. Even within the same company, the people who own the networks don’t need to play nice. And they don’t need to make telephone service free.
While free is not in our future, the way we’re billed for telephone calls will change dramatically in the next decade. For starters, we may well see portals like MSN, Yahoo and AOL offering telephone service as part of an integrated communications package that also includes voicemail, email, fax, instant messaging and video-conferencing. The network and cable system operators could do this themselves, of course--Time Warner is already experimenting with cable telephone service--but my guess is that in the long run they’ll partner with companies who are already good at building and running this kind of consumer software.
In that new world, clever Web interfaces will let you convert your voicemail messages to email, or your emails to voice; you’ll be able to call-forward in a myriad of ways, or switch to video or hi-fi voice if you want, or even agree to hear some number of commercials every day to lower your bill. In the end, the futurists will be right in one sense: you won’t be paying a measurable amount for the bits of voice you actually send. Instead, you’ll be paying a monthly fee for all the services wrapped around those bits. Your phone bill will morph into a connectivity bill--and that will be anything but free.
© 2003 Newsweek, Inc.
O.K. folks, here's some low-down on prescription drugs. First of all there is a LOT of information out there on where you can buy cheaper drugs, and all the controversy surrounding this issue. Is it really cheaper to buy in Canada, are the drugs reliable, is it legal to buy outside of the U.S., and so on. Obviously, you need clear and reliable information on this matter since ingesting a pill that isn't what it claims to be could immediately or ultimately cost you your life. Since there is so much at stake you may want to do your own research and I think I can help get you started. If you have access to the internet (and obviously you do) then you can start by following some of the links below. Read on for the little information I have uncovered and links to important sites. The first important source of information on prescription drugs and issues related to retirees comes from the Alliance for Retired Americans, an organization of over 3 million retired union members who are looking out for the current or future interests of all Americans. One of their issues is the cost of prescription drugs. From their site I discovered a link to canadameds.com. CBS News, MSNBC and ABC, all featured stories on this Canadian internet drugstore owned by Daren Jorgenson. If you follow the news links you can read what they had to say specifically about canadameds. After reading those articles you may then wish to check out the very recent (October 27, 2003) Report on Feasibility of Employees and Retirees Safely And Effectively Purchasing Prescription Drugs from Canadian Pharmacies commissioned by Rod. R. Blagojevich, governor of Illinois. This report is over 80 pages long so if you don't have the time to read it at length then check out a mini-version. Perhaps like me, you wanted to know what agency, organization or affiliation related to the Canadian government that serves as consumer watchdogs may have to say about specific companies such as canadameds.com. You can check out Health Canada, an official Canadian federal government site "responsible for helping the people of Canada maintain and improve their health." Follow the links to consumerism or health. It is much like our government sites and has exhaustive information about everything and anything you could possibly care to know. Perhaps the links displayed on the canadameds site (North American Pharmacy Accreditation Commission or Canadian International Pharmacy Association) may give you some insight. Finally, you may call the Manitoba Pharmacy Association at 204 - 786-7141. To sum up this "little" effort (about 8 hours of research) of mine, to find out if I would recommend that my mother buy prescription drugs from a company in Canada, I would have to say, "Mom, you decide!" Not much help, huh? Well, my opinion on the subject is this- Even in the good ole' USA people have been duped by so-called prescription drug scams. The FDA can't find every corruption every minute. And mistakes are made, no matter what. When we pick up our prescription at the local pharmacy there is a heck of a lot of trust involved, between many total strangers. Canada has governing agencies much like those in the U.S., such as Health Canada, enacted by the Canada Health Act. From what I can determine, their standards seem to be at least as stringent (perhaps more stringent) as our government agencies. IF you decide to buy prescription drugs from a Canadian company, remember it is just like any major purchase in the U.S. At least check out the governing sites I outlined above, to determine their credibility. Then, it's like I would say to my Mom, "You decide!". In 1960, the Grand Lodge Convention established the IAM Scholarship Program. This action made it possible for affiliated lodge to contribute to a fund that would provide scholarships to deserving members and children of members. The total number of annual awards is determined by the total amount of voluntary contributions from IAM Local and District Lodges, IAM State and Provincial Councils, individual members and the International Union. In its 43 years of existence the Program has awarded 143 college scholarships to members and 491 to children of members. This scholarship competition is open each year to members of the IAM and their children throughout the United States and Canada under specific procedures and rules of eligibility. For the rules on eligibility contact your chief steward or District 27 Communicator at (502) 587 - 1557. To be valid an application must be submitted on the appropriate form. Application Packets for the 2008 competition may be obtained by writing to the IAM Scholarship Program, 9000 Machinists Place, Room 117, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-2687. The following coupon may be utilized as your request for the Packet. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2007 IAM Scholarship Application Packet Coupon Please send me an Application Packet for the 2008 IAM Scholarship Competition. If proper packet is not received within 30 days, advise the Scholarship Department. I understand that his request is not an application, and that the Application Packet must be completed and postmarked no later than February 25, 2008. REMINDER: Please check the appropriate box of the three listed below and the requested application will be mailed to you. As an IAM member who will have two years' continuous membership in the IAM as of February 25, 2008, I am requesting an Application Packet for: Child of a member requesting a college scholarship Child of a member requesting a vocational/technical scholarship IAM member requesting a college or vocational/technical scholarship IMPORTANT: Complete this coupon and enclose a self-addressed LABEL for reply. (Do not send a self-addressed envelope.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are contract negotiations coming up soon? You may not be close to retirement, but look closely at the benefits package that your company offers, if not to improve benefits, at least for bargaining leverage. Current statistics suggest that a employees change jobs on an average of at least once in ten years. The general lack of concern on the part of the bargaining committee is reflected in the latest contract agreements. Adequate retirement benefits have eroded to practically no benefits at all. (If you think your 401(k) plan is a benefit over a traditional pension plan, you haven't been watching or reading any news lately concerning pervasive and horrendous stock-market scandals. That's your retirement money being used to throw obscenely lavish birthday parties.) Companies are accruing huge savings through diminishing retirement plans. If retirement funds are not valuable to you and most importantly, the people you represent, then do the math. Determine the gains the company is making through retirement money lost, and bargain to make it up in wage or other benefit earnings. The following is some general information about financing your retirement. For more specific information and helpful links check out the Department of Labor Pension and Welfare Benefits web-site. Where does the money come from during retirement? Social Security, personal savings and investments, employer pension plans Social Security Facts- Social Security benefits are based on an individuals average earnings, over 35 years. Many retirees rely on Social Security as a primary source of funding. The average benefit for women retirees is only $644 per month. A woman can earn Social Security benefits through her employer or the employer of her spouse, depending on which is greater. An ex-wife can collect Social Security benefits from a former spouse if she has been married at least 10 years. Depending on total income, Social Security may be taxable. Currently, an individual qualifies for full Social Security benefits at age 65. Starting in 2003, the minimum age will be 67. For information on reduced Social Security benefits initiated prior to age 65, contact the Social Security Administration 800-772-1213. Pensions There are two types of pension plans. A defined benefit plan usually means that your employer is the sole contributor, and also chooses an administrator to make investment decisions. In a defined contribution plan, such as 401(k)s, you may contribute all or a portion of the funds, and make investment decisions. (Unfortunately, more and more, employees are asked to pay for their retirement.) Employers require that an employee remain employed for a certain duration before they are eligible for pension plans. Review any available plans prior to terminating your employment- you may find that delaying your resignation for say, another 6 months or a year will make you eligible for benefits down the road! Finally, watch out for Social Security integration plans. (They are the latest company effort to reduce their retirement payments, particularly to low-wage earners!) These pensions reduce your benefit, by subtracting part of your Social Security benefits. Possible Benefits to 401(k)s- A 401(k) plan, even without an employer contribution, provides a few benefits. First, all of the contributions to the plan are tax-deferred. This means that you pay taxes when you begin withdrawing the money at the age of 59 and 1/2, when the tax rate is usually lower than it is now. (Earlier withdraws are usually subject to penalties and taxes.) Also, if you change jobs, you can take your 401(k) contributions and earnings, and if you are vested, this includes the company's contribution, and roll it over to another 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account (IRA). This option is usually not available for pension plans other than 401(k)s. Possible disadvantages to 401(k)s- the earnings of your 401(k) depend on the amount of your contribution as well as your ability to choose wise investments. (Not so easy to do nowadays.) Also, unlike pension plans of old, 401(k)s are not insured by the Federal government. That means if your company fails, your prized retirement earnings are not guaranteed! Finally, if your 401(k) plan has less than 100 participants, the federal government does not require audits. This means that your plan is vulnerable to abuses that may include mismanagement of funds. Take a look at the Department of Labor web-page concerning "warning signs" of possible account mismanagement. Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Since women, on average outlive men, personal savings and investments are essential protection against poverty for them. However, men and women alike can certainly benefit from personal retirement savings such as IRS's. An IRA is a private retirement savings account established through most financial institutions such as banks and credit unions. There are several types of IRA's, but most necessitate a penalty if funds are withdrawn prior to age 59 1/2. Possible Benefits - Most IRA's, but not all, provide a tax break during the contribution phase or after retirement. An IRA may offer a substantial supplement, more so especially if your investments are wise, to personal reserves or a pension plan at retirement. Finally, a traditional IRA allows you to make an early withdraw, without penalty for catastrophic illness, college tuition and up to $10,000 for a first-time home purchase. Possible Disadvantages - Individual contributions to an IRA are limited to $2000 yearly. Depending on your financial status, you may not qualify for an IRA that allows for a tax deductions on annual contributions. The IRA, like the 401(k) relies on wise investment choices.
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