collegebooksmart.net

bet you’ve been looking for such an opportunity, but you never
thought about it. Here it is, you can finally advertise for
LESS.”

Why Should You Consider Shared Direct Mail?

Shared Direct Mail Advertising provides the same benefits of
solo direct mail advertising for a fraction of the cost. Shared
Direct mail advertising is a proven and cost effective way to
advertise your offer to consumers and businesses. Smart
advertisers are sharing the costs of postage, mail processing,
mailing service, ad design, mailing lists and printing by
combining their ads with several other advertisers into a
combined mailing package which reaches a targeted audience. If
you are a smart advertise and want to advertise for less then
you need to consider shared direct mail advertising. Shared
Direct mail advertising successfully reaches more than 98% of
households, thus over 120 million households throughout the
United States.

First-class mailers are still absorbing the harsh realities of
the recent postal increase and a variety of advertisers are
examining economic efficiencies of their methods of
distribution. Every mailer should seriously consider their
“options” and one such option is using shared direct mail.

In the last 30-plus years, the number of shared direct mail
advertising programs also called inserts has risen dramatically,
along with a variety of options being offered to the mailer.
Let’s examine the maze of insert opportunities in today’s
marketplace.

Package Inserts: These are free standing promotional pieces
delivered to mail order customers via their fulfillment package;
i.e. the insert is delivered to you in a box containing a shirt
you ordered from a catalog. Naturally the product shipment types
vary dramatically: catalog generated vs. space-generated,
television or internet, continuity or club oriented,
business-to-business vs. consumer. Correspondingly, the
responses to the outside insert will also vary. The going rate
for package inserts is still an average of $70/M. The number of
outside inserts varies from four to eight. Generally, only
non-competitive pieces are included together.

If one goes heavily into a club or continuity oriented program,
the rate of duplication needs to be monitored. The response
rates also vary significantly depending on a number of other
variables: whether the insert is generating a lead or producing
an order, the average ticket price of the items being sold, the
size of the insert, etc. A large ticket item may be satisfied
with two responses per thousand, whereas lead-generating devices
having a strong affinity between the insert and the products
being delivered would produce responses ranging from 1-3%.

The current universe exceeds seven billion and includes programs
like Shopper’s Advantage, America Online and Current. There are
also scores of smaller programs and specialty companies like
Zoysia Grass Plugs, Amazon.com Tools & Hardware and Wizard
Entertainment.

Ride-Alongs: In this instance, a company mails a catalog,
circular or announcement to its customer base and allows outside
advertising to ride along. An advertiser can count on this
method of distribution since the company doing the mailing has a
vested interest in getting out their own promotional pieces.
Companies like Columbia House dominate this category and offer
regular mailings in blocks of 2MM-6MM to their club members.

Advertiser’s response from this category is strong–comparable
to package inserts. Average prices range from $50/M-$75/M.
Outside inserts range from one to four per mailing. Response
curves are similar to direct mail. These programs may be dying
as they reduce their numbers of negative option mailings.

Co-op Mailings: This category, by definition, presents a group
of non-competitive advertisers mailing to a common market.
Co-ops represent large numbers (up to 40MM) in a single drop,
can usually provide good geographic selectivity and often
provide demographic selectivity as well i.e. new mothers, new
movers, prenatal. Although responses are not as high as those
generally received from packages, co-ops are priced more
competitively, at an average of $25/M. Other co-op mailings
include coupons from local merchants (i.e. dry cleaner, ice
cream shop, oil change). These programs are usually sold on a
local level by neighborhood franchises. Well known examples
include Super Coups, Money Mailer and Mr. Coupon. Most of them
are available in a #10 envelope format, but some mail in a 6 x
9″ envelope. Circulation exceeds 100MM/quarter.

Statement Stuffers: These mailings include invoices and
statements generated by cable TV companies, utilities, credit
cards, magazines, book clubs, continuity programs, retailers,
businesses and so on. They are usually distributed in small
envelopes so your insert needs to be no larger than 3-1/2 x 6″
to fit. Outside inserts are generally limited to one or two
since statements get mailed first class (high percentage of
deliverability) and additional outside advertising would bump
them into the next postal class. Response tends to be strong
with average prices running at $60/M.

Sampling: This method of insertion offers a variety of “goody
bags” distributed free to specific markets, i.e. college
students, new mothers, buyers at retail and other special
interest groups. Inserts accompany product samples and coupons.
Some vendors are trying to qualify the recipients by requiring
them to spend a certain amount, or purchase multiple products,
or fill out a direct response vehicle before receiving the
sampling bags or boxes. Packages are sometimes given out “free”
in high traffic situations. Frequently, geographic targeting is
also available. Pricing ranges from $35/M-$50/M.

Card Deck Mailings: This vehicle usually consists of 20 or more
3-1/2 x 5-1/2″ business reply cards delivered in poly packs.
Rate card prices average from $35/M to $45/M and include
printing; still mostly business-to-business, a growing number of
consumer card decks have come onto the market. Approximately 500
decks are available in circulations of 50M-1MM each. Most decks
will accept pre-printed inserts at a higher cost per thousand.
Many are also mailing in the larger 5-1/2 x 7-1/2″ format that
is more pre-print friendly.

Catalog Bind-Ins/Blow-Ins: This distribution has been used in
big numbers for years by the horticultural set (i.e. a magazine
subscription offer or a lead generator for a lawn tool product
is bound into a catalog). Many gift and apparel catalogs are now
beginning to offer blow-in space as well as bind-ins to further
serve the direct response advertiser. Blow-ins can run as little
as half the price of package inserts to the same customers. They
generally represent larger volumes and more predictable mail
dates.

Other Alternatives: Newspaper FSI’s have become more direct
mail/direct response friendly as they are challenged with
selling more pages while coupon distribution decreases. A great
testing vehicle, they represent at least 100MM circulation
weekly and can frequently be bought as remnant for under $4/M
for a half page. Solo and blow-in opportunities are also
available here.

Shared Advertising such as Inserts have been included in
supermarket take-one racks, have ridden along with Pennysavers,
order acknowledgements, retail circulars and the list goes on.
As direct marketers look for increasingly creative methods to
better their bottom line and find less expensive ways to
generate new leads, and qualified inquiries, more will be
developed. As direct marketing companies continue to be
challenged by the cost of finding new customers, the pool of
mail order sources will continue to shrink. Options like riding
along with newspapers and/or retailer circulars delivered in
mail boxes and selectable by county size and type of households
could spawn a brand new generation of customers.

Advertise For Less, Get More. For all the success stories, the
package insert field is just like the other forms of direct
marketing response. It is a numbers game. If you watch the cost
of printing and the cost of distribution, your response should
be sufficient to provide you with a satisfactory cost per
inquiry or cost per order. But for steady production of orders
at reasonable and competitive costs, shared direct mail is hard
to beat. And for ease of entry, low visibility, low cost, what
could be better? The cost of heavy postage and four-color
envelopes aren’t here. Inserts are inexpensive and for most
products, there is an extensive universe. Many magazines,
catalogs and continuity clubs distribute millions of inserts
annually. They are making the investment in inserts. Isn’t it
time to consider this medium.

You Can Target The Following Audiences

• Consumers • Homeowners • Businesses • New Businesses • New
Movers

Why Pay More When You Can Pay Less? Be Smart, Advertise For Less!

Andre Plessis

Author & Marketing Consultant Savings4Merchants
http://savings4Merchants.com Big Marketing Ideas Without The Big
Spending! Copyright 2005©

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/direct-mail-articles/advertise-for-less-insert-media-861.html

About the Author
None

Now that autumn leaves are blowing in through the patio door and being tracked into the dining room by the dog, our storied institutions of higher learning have begun the time honored process of educating our young people in the arts, sciences, humanities and professional fields. It is noble work. Included in the curriculum is the act of gathering half a dozen young people each fall who are willing to remove most articles of clothing and paint themselves in the school colors to lead a parade though campus. These and other alcohol induced undignified traditions have become the American Homecoming legacy.

It is surprising that none of these institutions have dedicated resources or brain power to better understand the allure of our Homecoming traditions. But maybe these things really are too simple to fully understand. The dignity that most universities present to the world is underpinned by the creation of an excuse – for a weekend anyway – for getting together with other alums to drink and reminisce about how things were better when they were students.

Homecoming is a uniquely American tradition of inviting parents and alumni to campus for a celebration highlighted by a football game. Ostensibly, these institutions say they want to connect alumni and friends with the student body. While this is fine with the alumni, the schools really want to connect alumni and friends to the Development Office.

Some alumni, though, really do want to ‘connect’ with the student body. This is where it gets interesting. Opportunities to make these connections are readily provided. Parades, rallies, dances and the ample ‘tailgate’ parties allow young and pretty college coeds to mingle freely with male alumni who weren’t quite ready to graduate and are kicking themselves for getting that thesis in on time. And that was ten years ago. Homecoming provides alums with a reason to take part in the festivities and contribute a few bucks to the school. This ensures they are invited back the following year to oogle the cheerleaders and watch the sorority parade while decked out in school sweatshirts and Rolex watches.

To keep up appearances, some Universities have attempted to make Homecoming serious. What a waste of effort! Socializing is the one thing most of us took from our college experience that we really enjoyed. The unfortunate among us then got jobs. We gaze longingly back at the days where the biggest concern was making the beer money hold out without getting a job and getting the seat next to Nikki from the dorm in Accounting 101.

Social gatherings are the staple events of Homecoming, although to keep a good face on things, some schools offer open lectures, symposia, and other things that are rolled out to prop up the illusion of a higher purpose. Then of course there is the football game.

What does a losing school do to celebrate its homecoming? It is an interesting study. Losing schools try to deflect attention from the football program, or, at least they should. Others, such as (then) 2-2 Colorado, declared its home game with #3 Oklahoma as its homecoming game. With a roll of the dice, the Buffalos hung themselves out to all their alumni as well as a sizeable television audience against mighty Oklahoma. There wasn’t any hiding from this one. If the Buffaloes went down, they were to be the laughing stock. If the Buckalo kicker could whack one through from 45 yards with no time left, the Gold and Black were in fact golden.

At last report, the Sooners were spending some time in quiet reflection wondering what hit ‘em. Some years ago, Ralphie the 2,000 pound Buffalo mascot got loose on her pregame run around the field and headed for the Oklahoma bench. Handlers got her back under control, but not before several OU players had to return to the locker room for fresh pants and socks. Even fresh uniforms couldn’t save the Sooners drive for a top BCS spot this year as the Buffs knocked ‘em off 27-24. One has to admire the schools that roll out their toughest home games for Homecoming. Most of the time, this strategy results in a humiliating train wreck.

In honor of American Homecoming traditions, here is a look at how some of the leading and losing football programs are handling Homecoming or have attempted to handle it in years past.

Iowa State – Ames, Iowa residents were treated to this year’s theme “Catch the Cyclone Craze.” Events included a scavenger hunt where participants didn’t know quite what they are looking for, being originally instructed only to find the ‘object’ and that other clues would follow. This exercise is very similar to the situation surrounding the Cyclone running game. Everyone knows the ‘object’ is the football, but still, no one can find it and some of the players have no idea what it looks like.

The Homecoming edition of the ISU Alumni mag included an article on Iowa Wineries, but after this season, it may include one about Iowa Whineries. Purchase of a $2.00 homecoming pin and a red sweatshirt worn to the “Wear Red to Get Fed” event – got the underfed students free admission to a cookout featuring all-you-can-eat pork burgers. Any game the Cyclones picked for Homecoming was going to be a touch one, so it really didn’t matter who showed up.

Army – At least these guys can have a damned real parade – complete with people who know something about marching and a band that can play. And everyone considers it an honor to be in the thing. You can also be sure the cadets won’t be wheeling a keg of beer in a shopping cart behind the band. (They are much more creative about hiding it.) The Corps of Cadets scheduled in Tulane this year for what was at least an entertaining game – a 20-17 victory for Army.

Syracuse – Events included the “Orange Friendzy” offering free Dreamcicles and a seminar on crime scene investigation. The ones giving this seminar will be looking at how the Orange managed its only road win against then #18 Louisville. The Orange Homecoming date was October 14 vs. Rutgers. If the Orange team that plucked the Louisville Cardinals had shown up for this one, it would have been interesting. However, the Orange sent out the team that lost its lunch in Iowa City (a 35-0 loss to the Hawkeyes.) Homecoming day will go down as the “Orange Endzy” as this season can’t end soon enough.

Utah State – The Aggie Admin types declared its 9/22 date against San Jose St. as its Homecoming Game. Something called a Paint Dance was to be held. This was either a deeply meaningful tradition or an event designed to show off young tuition-paying students soaked in non natural pigments. We will hope it is the former (or maybe not). There was also a run walk or roll event – which was interesting the morning after trying to get a drink in Utah. Most participants showed up dazed and sober. The school provided Aggie treats and a True Aggie night – although what those events actually were remains a mystery.

San Jose State – In an effort to set itself apart, San Jose State put a heavy academic focus on this year’s festivities – highlighted by a banned book discussion and debate. This might explain what happened to the playbooks. San Jose State is currently 3-5 claiming wins over Utah State, Cal Davis and the Idaho Vandals. SJ State at least had the sense to set up its homecoming game against Idaho.

North Carolina – The NoCareOlina web site only listed Homecoming events from 2006 – including something called Victory Village. It is a lonely place this year as the Blue Tar Heelers up to last week, had a whopping two victories – one over powerhouse James Madison U and a stunning upset of Miami. So the Victory Village is littered with losses to schools no one has ever heard of and one win over a school no one has ever heard of, and one over a team from football’s top tier. Go Figure.

NC State – NCStaters arranged a ‘Pack Howl’ and pep rally for this Homeconing season. One suspects that the Pack Howl was preceded by a billion sponsored tailgate parties and tents. The universal allure of the Delta Zeta tent overrides the Wolfpack’s dismal performance on the field. And this invites the question whether the over inebriated alums are set to howl at the football record or at the DZ Sorority float.

Duke – In a true harmonic convergence of alcohol related events, the 2006 celebration combined Homecoming with Oktoberfest. If the Germans can make beer and dance after drinking, Duke should hire some of ‘em to build a football program. Right now, Duke has one win under their belts – which is a significant improvement over last year. Other special events include hospital tours – presumably the one where they take the Duke players after the Florida State game.

New Mexico State – The school invested a great deal of brain power in their Homecoming. Included in the schedule was a Beans, Burritos and Beer alumni event. This was to be followed by a bonfire. At least these two events weren’t scheduled too closely together or campus would look like the Trinity site a few miles north. Reba also performes this year, but on the stage and not on the field. The Aggies looked into whether or not she had any eligibility left as they were going to throw her in at cornerback.

Notre Dame? – No listing of late for any Homecoming events. Perhaps the Irish don’t celebrate it. That would be understandable this year. Most of the campus is still in the deep depression that occurs when devoted fans face up to a solidly losing season. It is tough to celebrate when you are 0-8. Well at least the Irish haven’t sunk quite to that level this year but they can see 0-8 from where they are. If you included losses from last year, the Irish went 8 straight without a win before going to the Rose Bowl and waking up the UCLA Bruins. Even this win isn’t causing many Irish fans to want to hang out in the stadium parking lot. They’ll stay inside to drink their beer or go to Disneyland.

Idaho – You know when your team plays on the road and the host schools schedule you for their Homecoming, your team is a dog. But what does Idaho do for their own Homecoming? The Idaho Vandals boast a Homecoming theme called “Living the Legacy.” It is curious why a legacy of Vandalism is something to celebrate. Idaho managed a win over Cal Poly this year.. that is it. These on-field distasters don’t pull more bucks from the alumni, so the UI folks are gonna have to do something special… like pull out a win.

For more wit and wisdom, please visit the web page dedicated to the celebration of losing football: http://firstworst.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/football-articles/college-football-homecoming-traditions-a-celebration-of-losing-248282.html

About the Author

Uncle Bob achieved the status of Most Honorable one night in Berkley, California. As was our custom in college, we were there to watch the Cal vs. Stanford football game. His inauguration occurred the year before Stanford’s band ran on the field, giving Cal that amazing victory in the final minute. Bob was eight years older and Dino was the equipment manager for Cal.

He’d already reached the Most Honorable status several years before — mainly due to drunken acts of self abuse. In college he’d passed out in his food, nearly suffocating from inhaling mashed potatoes. That was just one event of hundreds making it impossible for anybody to continue to simply call him Dino. His wife started with the descriptive adjective that was added before his name. That was later shortened to the letter “F”.

Still, he needed more as his antics surprised everyone – even those along Telegraph Ave in the wildest city in all of the college towns. It just seemed that another title was necessary as he continued through amazing feats of self-abuse. Of course the F stayed as the most descriptive adjective, but he became Most Honorable long before Uncle Bob reached that plateau. It wasn’t long before he became known simply and appropriately as Most Honorable F D.

I don’t remember who won the game that year, but I do recall the most significant part of the weekend was when Uncle Bob peed in the bathroom sink. It wasn’t that the hotel toilet wasn’t working and I specifically remember the bathroom was not occupied, thus precluding his urinary disposition in the traditional sense. He just thought it necessary to relieve himself in this most unusual way and the sink just happened to be there.

Uncle Bob had been toeing the line between the Amazing status and that of Most Honorable for quite some time, but that night in Berkeley did it for him. I remember Most Honorable F D and I conducted the ceremony, anointed him with Seagrams VO and then joining him in a round of shots to commemorate the occasion. It was a grand achievement and that weekend we called him Most Honorable Uncle Bob several times.

That was twenty-seven-years ago and last week I visited him in a Veterans Hospital in Southern California. He’d been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a long time ago, but it was still long after he’d earned the title of Most Honorable.

As is my ritual, I called to alert him that I’d be coming. He readies himself for my trips; getting enough rest in the preceding days and enduring the assistance of a male nurse working his body into a motorized chair. The entire ordeal would take three hours that morning and as always, I brought lunch, and some medicine.

“You’re late.” He said as I walked up the concrete drive.

He’d been waiting outside, under the veranda, a cigar clenched between his teeth. I noticed his beard was nearly all white now and realized that besides being infirmed, he really was getting old. And grouchy too. He hadn’t maneuvered the freeways in ages, so he had no idea what obstacles were involved, but I didn’t want to talk about it. For various reasons my frustrations seemed incredibly insignificant at the moment.

“Most Honorable Uncle Bob.” I announced, bowing at the waist. “I’m quite certain you’ll find the wait was worth it.”

He smiled that great big smile of his; teeth yellowing from cigars, that bad left arm no longer working. He reached out with the good one as I hugged and kissed him. I set the paper bag in his lap, the medicine he requested and he fumbled for a new cigar he’d been saving for me.

“Got this guy sending me Cubans.” He said, working open the bag. “Let’s get some glasses.”

Seven years into his diagnosis we went to Alaska to catch King Salmon. He was still walking then, but fatigued easily and thought hard before agreeing to go. We were promised handicapped assistance from the guide service and are still laughing when we recall the forklift used to hoist him into the boat.

We smoked, nodded to a parade of scooter-driven vets, and told stories about the old days. I couldn’t help, though, to recall the conversation I had with him a few years earlier. It was a painful one, not at all pleasant and on a subject that could be broached by only a select few. In fact, I didn’t think anybody could have spoken to him about what was going on at the time. I sure didn’t want to.

We were in his room and without the fortification of additional medicine, I felt obliged to inform him that his wife was having an affair. Married for thirty years, she wasn’t content sitting out her remaining days. And unable to care for Uncle Bob, she now lived alone. Perhaps it is a misery worse than any of us could imagine.

I thought that perhaps he’d already heard about it. Maybe she already told him, but it fell upon me, his friend, a member of the Most Honorable club, to offer the branch. To be sure he knew.

“You know, Bobbie.” I said at the time. “It doesn’t have anything to do with anyone else. Even your kids could never understand the dynamics of a marriage. Until people are in this situation, they’d never know what they would do. In the end,” I told him, “it’s between you and your wife and God.”

He nodded a lot, his speech naturally slurred from working toward the goal of Most Honorable. Now the M.S. had moved in and was taking its turn.

“I already know about it and I appreciate you having the courage to tell me, but I’m all right. I understand. We talked about it a few weeks ago and as long as she’s happy, then so am I.”

I don’t really know if either of them are happy and perhaps the term is a lofty goal. Perhaps a state of mind. I love both of them dearly. I’ve met my aunt’s friend and he’s a wonderful man six years her senior. He’d been nurse to his own wife before her death set him free. They visit Bob every week, sometimes together and Bob and he play cards and share jokes.

“I heard Most Honorable FD quit drinking.” He said. “We’re starting to die off. Do you have anyone else in mind to become Most Honorable?”

In truth, I didn’t and considered that at one point becoming Most Honorable required the most audacious behavior and amazing and continued alcoholic triumphs. I knew a few who fit that profile, but something had happened along the way. Uncle Bob and I still sipped our medicine, though not in the quantity we once did and FD decided to stop all together.

But the philosophy of becoming and staying Most Honorable had changed along the way. For me, it was Bob’s acceptance of what life had brought to his door. Some would claim he was giving up, but others would recognize the qualities required for Most Honorable.

I really couldn’t think of anyone who could step into his shoes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/divorce-articles/before-you-divorce-her-walk-in-her-shoes-for-a-minute-389789.html

About the Author

Chuck Machado is President of New Mexico Chile Company

http://www.coyotechile.com

In 2000 he visited the state of New Mexico and thinking he was there to purchase Real Estate, fell in love with Green Chile. His wife almost threw him out of the house when he arrived home with 1000 pounds of frozen green chile. One day she asked him if he planned on buying the family another freezer because there was no room for hamburger. As Chuck & Jennie began cooking with the chile they discovered a gourmet recipe that launched them into the specialty foods business. Their sauces, under the label Coyote Trail, have won many awards most notably for the BEST RED CHILE in the state of New Mexico. Today, their gourmet sauces can be purchased at retail stores throughout the Southwest or on line through their web site where Easy, Gourmet recipes can also be found.

Femtocell Market Shares Strategies, and Forecasts, 2008 to 2014

Femtocell systems provide modular value added services delivery of wireless communications and SIP based push technology presence implementing flexibility for people. The femtocells are designed for achieving automation of communications connectivity around the home and office. Adoption of advanced systems is anticipated to be rapid.

Femtocells, are they a secret gathering of female revolutionaries or a miniature mobile phone base station? Probably the latter, but it is intriguing to think about the former. Lets see, oh well, femtocell technology is an industry-changing innovation. Dual-mode WiFi/cellular phones are not nearly as cost effective as femtocells. Femtocells are emerging as the main technologies that will link the indoor and outdoor networks. Femtocells are particularly attractive to mobile carriers.

Femtocells are emerging as a technology that lets wireless phone use in homes and offices become a viable alternative to landline telephones. The ability to leverage the Internet makes femtocells an economic force in the marketplace; it brings the industry changes in the way voice is delivered.

Femtocells support SIP based broadband applications. Femtocells will most likely work in a telecommunications environment that has multiple co-existing technologies that are deployed by different carriers to address their specific customer bases, business models, and eco-systems.

IP Multimedia subsystems promise to play a significant role in the core network evolution. The consumer always prefers achieving control over the network as much a s possible. The core backbone infrastructure is provided by the services providers, but the edge of the network is evolving functionality. Femtocells provide a way for consumers to go to the local store and purchase a device that optimizes the existing 3G handset ability to have better access to NGN IP services.

This aspect of optimizing packet services from the home gives the consumer better control. No one will defer to the service provider if they can go out and purchase their own device for somewhere between $300 and $100 as the volumes increase and the prices decline. Service providers may think that they can control the access to the devices, but in competitive markets, the customer will always choose control over his own environment vs. giving the services provider control over the network.

Femtocells improve the quality of service of 3G networks indoors. Even 2G and 2.5G coverage can be patchy. Mobile users can enjoy voice and data services from home. One barrier to rollout is the need to reduce the cost per unit of the hardware. Initially it may be that operators provide femtocells to customers as part of a service plan.

Carriers have realized that it would be three years before the cost of the femtocell will reach $100. They are now considering renting out femtocells to users for a long contract period, rather than allowing them to buy it outright.

Cisco has interest in the emerging technology with an investment in ip.access, a Cambridge-based femtocell manufacturer. This is opening up the possibility of femtocells being integrated into other consumer entertainment hardware, such as set-top boxes, which Cisco already sells. Because femtocells provide a way for mobile operators to handle backhaul, calls would go from the handset, to the femtocell, down the broadband connection, back onto the cellular network. This beats having to set up lots more base stations.

Ubiquisys, the Google-backed company is providing the femtocells for O2, along with 12 other trials around the world. It provide a technology that listens in to the existing GSM and 3G network signals to establish if the licensee is allowed to transmit here. This provides the advantage of allowing network operators to lock the femtocell to one physical location or more, for a small fee.

Femtocells provide cheap calls, but with the cost of calling so low there has been a clear shift to data, with O2 citing the iPhone as a clear driver: Apple iPhone is already driving unheard-of levels of mobile internet usage, and the introduction of flat rate data tariffs is expected to increase this further.

Ironically, the iPhone does not work with the femtocells O2 is deploying as they are 3G-only devices O2 is looking ahead to the next generation handset from Apple. O2 uses femtocells to drive uptake of their broadband offering. Network operators can deploy the technology on cable or ADSL broadband connections. O2′s DVB-H trials show that half mobile-TV viewing is done in the home, so a large-scale femtocell deployment provides them with the opportunity to become a major provider of video to the home.

Google has said it plans to bid in a planned auction of wireless airwaves. It could use femtocell technology to quickly roll out wireless services in the U.S. By deploying a femtocell-like system, in a matter of a year they might be able to reach more than 50% of the U.S. population. Google can deploy femtocells at malls, on city streets (by mounting femtocells on street lamps), and along major highways. Then it might strike roaming agreements with other carriers to offer users wireless service outside the home while it builds out its wireless towers.

If Google set up the wireless telephone business, they could offer communications free, basing the revenue model on advertising. If calls go out ot he Internet throught the femtocell, they could be handled in the same way that Google Talk works not, and there would be no need for a wireless services provider.

Services providers cannot service devices in the home the cost of truck tolls is too high. Just as Verizon started out offering routers to the home owner for fiber services, those devices were not supported and customers are told to go to the local store and purchase a router.

Femtocell trials are achieving success. Rolling out a femtocell-based service is dependent on building an end-user initiative that would create demand for a femtocell. Improved indoor coverage can be delivered by repeaters or additional macro-cell base stations. Improved capacity would follow. Femtocells create the need for subscribers to purchase home based devices. The value in FMC services comes when strong 3G users need more capacity to transmit to the internet from inside the home or office.

Markets initially at $434 million in 2009 reach $9 billion by 2014. The rapid growth occurs because to the large size of the wireless handset markets, the billions of subscribes that must be supported. The femtocells provide core infrastructure at a lower price than other alternatives. The local home base station gives the consumer a measure of control over the network that is useful.

About the Authors:

Ellen T. Curtiss, Technical Director, co-founder of http://www.wintergreenresearch.com , conducts strategic and market assessments in technology-based industries. Previously she was a member of the staff of Arthur D. Little, Inc., for 23 years, most recently as Vice President of Arthur D. Little Decision Resources, specializing in strategic planning and market development services. She is a graduate of Boston University and the Program for Management Development at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. She is the author of recent studies on worldwide telecommunications markets and the Top Ten Telecommunications market analysis and forecasts.

Susan Eustis, President, co-founder of http://www.wintergreenresearch.com, has done research in communications and computer markets and applications. She holds several patents in microcomputing and parallel processing. She is the author of recent studies of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) marketing strategies, Internet software, a study of Push to Talk Equipment, Worldwide Telecommunications Equipment, Top Ten Telecommunications, Digital Loop Carrier, Web Hosting, Business Process Management, Servers, Blades, the Mainframe as a Green Machine, and Application Server markets. Ms. Eustis is a graduate of Barnard College.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/femtocells-market-assessment-femtocell-market-forecasts-femtocells-market-431448.html

About the Author

Ellen T. Curtiss, Technical Director, co-founder of http://www.wintergreenresearch.com , conducts strategic and market assessments in technology-based industries. Previously she was a member of the staff of Arthur D. Little, Inc., for 23 years, most recently as Vice President of Arthur D. Little Decision Resources, specializing in strategic planning and market development services. She is a graduate of Boston University and the Program for Management Development at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. She is the author of recent studies on worldwide telecommunications markets and the Top Ten Telecommunications market analysis and forecasts.

Susan Eustis, President, co-founder of http://www.wintergreenresearch.com, has done research in communications and computer markets and applications. She holds several patents in microcomputing and parallel processing. She is the author of recent studies of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) marketing strategies, Internet software, a study of Push to Talk Equipment, Worldwide Telecommunications Equipment, Top Ten Telecommunications, Digital Loop Carrier, Web Hosting, Business Process Management, Servers, Blades, the Mainframe as a Green Machine, and Application Server markets. Ms. Eustis is a graduate of Barnard College.

Since motorcycles are notorious for being more dangerous than passenger cars, safety isn’t usually the number one criteria on a person’s list when they buy, repair, or build their own motorcycle. Rather, speed, comfort, fuel economy and style are a few more common criteria.

With fuel prices climbing higher and higher, more consumers are interested in motorcycles for their fuel economy. The size and shape of your bike will have a huge impact on its gas mileage though. For the highest number of miles per gallon, buy a smaller bike with an aerodynamic frame. College students and young adult with no children are probably the best candidates for motorcycle use. Many gas pumps are designed with cars rather than motorcycles in mind though. This can make re-fueling somewhat difficult. Motorcycle owners consider the inconvenience a low price to pay for the money they save on gas though.

The design and brand of motorcycle that you choose will largely depend on the way you plan to use it. For example, stunt bikes and dirt bikes are usually light-weight while touring bikes, which travel longer distances and higher speeds, are often heavier to support a larger engine. Geographic location also makes a difference. For example, in a Southeast Asian country, where lane splitting is a common practice, small motorcycles and scooters allow motorists to utilize the space between cars and move through congested traffic quickly.

Although many Japanese brands, like Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha, dominate the motorcycle industry today, Harley-Davidson is still a popular motorcycle brand in America. Harleys are pretty much heavy weight motorcycles that have at least 750cc engines. They are usually designed for highway cruising and they are also very customized and showy. One of the big selling points for Harley-Davison is their American-made and historic quality, but many of the motorcycle parts are actually made in other countries. This outsourcing increases the quality and decreases the price of the parts.

Buying vs. Building
Buying a motorcycle facilitates immediate use and requires no mechanical expertise. And, if your new ride comes with a warranty, you can rest assured that everything will run smoothly or be covered for the first couple years. On the other hand, if you build your own bike, you can make your ride exactly the way you want it and you will always be able to make your own repairs. It can also be more affordable to build your own bike because consumers can buy custom Harley parts for less than wholesale price if they know where to shop.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motorcycles-articles/influencing-factors-in-the-motorcycle-market-and-consumers-trends-492968.html

About the Author

Demon’s Cycle (http://www.demonscycle.com/) is the best place to buy custom Harley parts. As a multi-million dollar company they utilize their buying power to purchase parts far below factory prices. This enables them to sell parts at half the retail price. The author Art Gib is a freelance writer.

The Lost Coast

     The day had finally arrived to ride the Lost Coast. Immediately upon being stationed back in Northern California I traded in my BMW RT 1100 for a 2008 KLR 650. What better route for an inaugural ride? After many years of “hotel” touring I was transitioning back to my “pack it light, freeze at night” mode of travel. The Usal Road and Lost Coast road conditions were an unknown. The winter months of 2008 had seen a lot of rain on the North Coast near Eureka California and my research indicated that the roads could be impassable if wet.  Would the KLR be able to conquer what the King’s Range and Sinkyone Wilderness threw our way in late March? To hedge my bets I packed two motorcycle tie down straps that could possible double as tow straps. My riding partner for this trip would be a college roommate from 19 years ago. Glenn had called the day prior with a cryptic, “I’ve bought something that will handle anything the road will throw at us.” Cryptic messages are usually never good. Maybe the extra space the straps would take was cheap insurance. Where we were going Triple A would fear to tread.

Sunday’s early morning start was delayed until 3:00 pm due to Easter commitments. The afternoon came and went. I received a call from Glenn that his new mystery machine would not start. Certainly a dark harbinger of things to come. The afternoon ticked by and 5:00 pm turned to 7:00 pm. Glenn limped into Rohnert Park, CA around 8:30 pm, cold, lost but armed with a hearty appetite and an equally hearty and upbeat attitude; definitely the kind of partner  and attitude you need when venturing into the unknown. The said mystery machine came in the form of a 1985 KLR 600! The $800.00 museum piece was a steal until the hard starting bike continued to flood the aftermarket two stroke carburetor and killed the battery (steal was the right term but only time would tell who the victim was). Ever resilient, Glenn fixed the problem that Sunday and forged ahead from Sacramento to Sonoma County. My mom was all too happy to feed the tired road warrior with a home cooked meal. We modified the game plan that night and decided not to ride the Trinity Heritage National Scenic Highway (also known as Hwy 299/3) and the Bigfoot Scenic Byway (Hwy 96) loop out of Eureka. The bikes were prepped and ready despite a little incident with my newly purchased mount. I realized I shouldn’t have procrastinated in purchasing a center stand. While filling the tires earlier in the day the bike fell over as I pushed on the stems with a bit too much vigor. To the KLR’s credit, the new plastic radiator shrouds withstood the tip over and the “Bug” (as my daughter calls it) came away with only two minor scratches.

The next morning we headed north on Hwy 101 in the early Northern California chill, the two extremes of the KLR spectrum thumping along in harmony. At 8:30am we decided to pull into Cloverdale and have a quick bite at the local McDonalds. An old timer took an interest in our trip and told us how he used to race his Harley Davidson against the British invasion of BSA’s back in 1949 but lost to the lighter, faster bikes when it came to cross country racing. Over coffee talk turned to younger days. We shared our experience in the Cavalry (Glenn a pilot in the Air Cav, I a ground scout, and Don a sixteen year old Horse Cavalryman back in 1938). Soon after his horse cavalry days Don was prowling the South China Sea. His new ride was the USS Snapper, a 1928 era sub that made it out of Manila Harbor prior to the fall of the Philippines. He wished he could join us on our bike trip but his knee replacement was in a few days. Any adventure we would encounter paled to his depth charge experiences during the war. We thanked him for his sacrifices and service to country as we headed northwest.

The bikes made quick work of Hwy 128 to Mendocino as we fell into a smooth pace through the vineyards and redwood trees. At Fort Bragg we attempted to find a dirt route east towards Glenblair and back to 101 in order to shake down our load plans and bikes. We were thwarted by dead ends and gated access but rewarded by the single lane dirt roads. Doubling back we proceed up Hwy 1 picking up the pace, energized by the crashing waves and redwoods. Passing Rockport we scanned for Hwy 435/Usal Road but were so enamored with this part of Hwy 101 that we were nearly in Leggett before we discovered we had missed our turn. Backtracking we found 431. If it wasn’t for the fact that we knew it was at mile marker 90.88 we never would have found it. The start point looked like a private dirt drive. How this used to be a stagecoach route is beyond me. They must have gone through multiple teams given the steep hills and rough conditions. The views were stunning as we peered down on the Pacific. Accompanying the breathtaking scenery was a chance encounter with a bear cub ambling across the road. Startled by the “Bug’s” growl he ran back to mama and we continued our journey. The KLR weren’t challenged by the roads and we thought the estimated 3 hrs to reach Shelter Cove was an erroneous estimate. We would soon learn 6 hrs was barely enough. I also discovered that years of “hoteling” had taught me to over pack my Givi top case. The first and only flaw of my KLR became evident when Glenn yelled for me to stop. Rolling down the hill was my Givi and half my KLR luggage rack! The tie down straps were pressed into service sooner than I had expected.

            Soon we encountered the first of many delays. Mud, and lots of it. The KLR’s could not make it through the think soup, rear ends spinning out of control and flopping on their sides. Glenn and I ported our gear when necessary and then manhandled our mounts, pushing and cursing the machines through the muck. At the worse point, after we found a bypass to a seemingly impassable portion of the road, Mark from San Jose (in a tricked out Jeep-the only other human encounter on the scenic roadway), destroyed the bypass (for bikes at least) as his Jeep chewed up the ground. Bouncing off a tree he succeeded but erased any notions of turning back. For better or worse we were committed. No further than 200 yards down the Usal Road we were forced to unload the KLR’s again and push our mounts as the rider “paddled” along a foot and half wide path. A fall to the right and the bikes would disappear below the murky surface like the USS Snapper did to evade the Japanese warships seeking revenge. A fall to the left and the KLR’s would tumble down the cliff face to the Pacific.    Riding the bikes across the narrow path was too risky as the path itself was muddy and the tires could possibly slip. A few adrenaline filled heartbeats later, the bikes were safely across, loaded and moving at speed. Usal Road might support KTM Adventures and BMW GS’s in the dry seasons but in the winter months anything larger than a KLR would be difficult to navigate the numerous mud bogs. The bigger bikes would be exhausting to manhandle through calf high mud. When we finally reached Usal Beach we were rewarded by pristine beaches. The ocean front was all but abandoned and the KLR’s proved capable of crossing numerous streams as we explored the beaches. The “Bug” loved the fresh ocean air but the KLR 600 began to show her warts. On the last stretch prior to reaching Shelter Cove the KLR 600 quite running on one of the steepest parts of the route. Glenn rolled his chicken bones and sprinkled blood on the carburetor with no luck. Un-strapping one of the tie down straps from my Givi I hooked it to the 600 and the “Bug” transformed to “El Burro” as I towed the 600 up the hill. A day of many first. A quick dance to the motorcycle gods and the 600 fired up and we were Shelter Cove bound. The night at Shelter Cove was one of the most beautiful I have spent on the Northern California coast. The wind was totally absent and the stars shone brighter than the light in the decommissioned lighthouse. A couple of touches of Kentucky Bourbon made the night complete.

            A late start on day two due to Glenn locking his clothes in the dryer room and a non-responsive “steal of a bike” delayed us until 10:30. I began to sense who was the victim on this purchase and it wasn’t the “master mechanic” in Sacramento who sold Glenn the bike. Another quart of chicken blood and his bike roared to life. We entered King’s Range Road and crossed into another world. The range had received more than its average share of rainfall that winter. The fog shrouding the greenery reminded us of the rainforest of Costa Rica and Ecuador. Taking a wrong turn we followed the rocky dead end road to the Lightening Trailhead. The rocks took a toll on our tires but the scenery was worth the cost in rubber. The tight, twisty, uphill, climb on the way to Honeydew was one of the best parts of the trip. It was only challenged by the route from Petrolia to Ferndale. This portion of road twisted along the shore and then paralleled the crashing waves. Glenn played the part of ranch hand as he herded an errant cow off the road and back into the field on his temperamental steed. Anything can be thrown your way on the Lost Coast.

 Leaving the ocean behind us, we quickly climbed 2,400 ft. to Bunker Hill and then descended into a beautiful valley. As we crossed Bear River were it emptied into the ocean, Glenn pointed to the switchbacks climbing the hill. I pumped my arm in response and rolled on the throttle. In the ensuing climb we became one with our machines to the point where it felt as if the bikes disappeared and we were “skiing” through the picturesque Northern California scenery. The environment was a mix of Switzerland and Southern England, the narrow two lane roads lined with shrubs, trees, and cattle racing by. We were sad to see the Lost Coast disappear in our rear view mirrors but looked forward to exploring Humboldt Redwoods State Park, the Avenue of the Giants, and the Eel River.

            Unable to find a camp ground in Eureka we headed to Fortuna were the KLR 600 died on Main Street. Coaxing the bike to life Glenn met me at the RV park were we secured a log cabin for a pittance. Money well spent considering the rainfall that night. After filling our belly’s with our fair share of ale at the Eel River Brewery, Glenn filled his ego flirting with the very attractive female body builder bartender. We needed sleep as the road began to take its toll. Tomorrow would be very trying for us both.

The next morning the KLR was DOA but Glenn was loathe to admit it. After coaxing him into getting a U-Haul we doubled up on the “Bug” and made our way through Ferndale. We were already pushing 11:30 am so time was a factor as work loomed the next day. In route Glenn spotted an ATV and Tire shop. Tom, the owner and mechanic, took pity on us and gave us the keys to his truck and the KLR 600 received a new lease on life. In two hours we were rolling south on Hwy 101 thanks to Tom and his prompt attention. Although this was my fourth time down the Avenue of the Giants, I was amazed by the 40 miles of beauty. The coup de grace was when we received a free “Drive thru Tree” experience by a fellow KLR rider.

 The low point came 11 miles north of Laytonville. The KLR 600 gave up its ninth life and died on the west side of 101. Suspecting fuel starvation I made desperation run to Laytonville for gas. False hope as the bike had pulled itself off of life support.  A CHP officer radioed a tow truck which arrived at 6:30 pm and Glenn was on his own. Facing 35F weather  and a 2 hr plus ride from Laytonville I raced south. Two things helped me survive that trip; the Hotgrips on my KLR and singing every cadence at the top of my lungs. By 8:40 pm I was eating hot chow on the objective while Glenn was writing a new chapter on motorcycling on the edge. A day and a half later he made it back to Sacramento. A story best told over several cold beers.

            For pure diversity of terrain, vegetation, animal and road conditions nothing can beat the Lost Coast of California. Dual purpose riding milks the most fun per mile than pretty much any bike I have ever ridden. Despite all the web noise about the fairing falling apart due to vibration and the new KLR consuming quarts of oil, it is simply has not happened with this bike. Despite an operator induced tip over, the KLR fairing survived an encounter with a concrete parking block and after 2,000 miles the “Bug” has not consumed any oil. The KLR will remain in the stable regardless of whatever type bike comes along in the future. For pure versatility and “bang for the buck” fun, this bike cannot be beat.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motorcycles-articles/dual-purpose-riding-the-lost-coast-500021.html

About the Author

A veteren of motorcycling for 24 + years, Ed Ospital considers his native Northern California roads among the best in the world. His 14 years in the Army (and counting) have enabled him to ride throughout North America and Europe. Although he has favored BMW motorcycles for the past decade he has returned to his roots as a Kawasaki rider. Keeping that theme, Ed has also returned to his roots carving the roads of the North, South, and East Bay.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Clemson Tigers

NCAA LIVE ON PC: Watch Miami (FL) Hurricanes VS Clemson Tigers live stream online football TV

Click here to watch Clemson Tigers vs Miami (FL) Hurricanes NCAA College Football powerful game. watch Clemson Tigers vs Miami (FL) Hurricanes Live Stream Online NCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2010. Clemson Tigers vs Miami (FL) Hurricanes Live Stream Online will held on 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, October 2, 2010. Don’t miss to watch this game live. Watch live NCAA games online via the streaming live sports network, your home on the net for live NCAA College FOOTBALL each and every week of the season. Match Details : Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010 – Time: 12 PM ET – Competition: NCAA College Football Live/Repeat: Live

Miami (FL) VS Clemson

Watch Miami (FL) vs Clemson live stream NCAA College Football. Where to watch Miami (FL) vs Clemson live streaming NCAA collage football game today this Saturday? Sat Oct 2, 2010, Football, Football vs Clemson, Campaign, Clemson Football, Live Video – Miami (FL) Football Post Game Press Conference Miami (FL) vs Clemson live online NCAAF streaming on here. Miami (FL) NCAA Live Online Free with Video Streaming – Sopcast. Clemson vs. Miami (FL) Week 5 NCAA College Football Live Online Free with Video stream on internet TV. Miami (FL) vs Clemson live streaming NCAA college football is an exclusive match, You Are MOST welcome TO Watch NCAA Miami (FL) vs Clemson Football game from your PC. Previewing the Miami (FL) Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers from link and live coverage ESPN2/ESPN3D/ESPN3. Watch here the exciting COLLEGE football games without interruption. We will provide you with all the links to the necessary software so there will be no need to purchase any additional equipment. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Visit this site to begin watching NCAA live Full season.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Clemson Tigers
Match scheduled : October 2, 2010, 12:00 PM ET
Venue : Memorial Stadium, CLEMSON, SC
Coverage: ESPN2/ESPN3D/ESPN3
Competition : NCAA College Football Regular Season 2010 Week 5

Watch Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs Clemson Tigers Live Online

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/water-sports-articles/clemson-tigers-vs-miami-fl-hurricanes-ncaa-college-football-live-streaming-online-2010-2nd-oct-3376810.html

About the Author

Graduation Wording for Graduation Announcements and Invitations

Before you do anything else, you should congratulate yourself for accomplishing one of the most important milestones in your life. Graduating from college, high school, medical school, even kindergarten is a big deal today and should be celebrated with the people you care about the most. When you send out those good news mailings, here are some pointers on the Graduation Announcements Wording, http://www.graduationcardsshop.com/wording.php

Invitations vs. Graduation Announcements

First, you need to know what type of mailing you need to send. Graduation invitations, http://www.cardsshoppe.com/graduation-announcements/ are appropriate when you want your friends and family members to attend either the graduation ceremony itself or a graduating party afterward or both. Unfortunately, we can’t always invite everyone we would like to share the day with. That doesn’t meant they have to be left in the dark. Actually, you can send them an announcement instead. The announcement shares the good news but does not indicate that they should attend any type of event.

Normally, you would use the announcements when you only have a limited number of tickets for the ceremony or when you have out-of-town friends or family members you know will not be able to attend.

Graduation Announcements Wordings for Invitations, http://www.express-invitations.com/graduation-announcements/

If you’re planning how to word the invitations, the choice depends on what you are inviting the guests to attend. If you want them to come to your graduation ceremony and to attend a small party at home afterward, the message below would be a good choice:

Miss Arianna Masters Invites You to Attend Her Graduation Ceremony May 18th at 3 o’clock Liberal Arts Hall Clark College A reception will follow at her parents’ home immediately after

Besides the wording, you should also think about printing maps to the event and to the home that can be added to the invitations to make things more convenient for guests. Having an RSVP number would also be a smart idea. Now if tickets are going to be required for the ceremony, you’ll also need to decide how to distribute them to guests. If you have an unlimited number available, you can just include them in the invitations. Otherwise, consider having everyone meet at a specific location so you can hand out the tickets prior to the ceremony. For the rest of the Graduation Announcements wording, http://www.graduationcardsshop.com use basic party wording ideas.

Graduation Words for Announcements

The announcement needs to provide more information about the actual accomplishment. Below is an example.

Miss Arianna Masters Announces the Successful Completion of her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Clark College on May 18, 2008

Besides the content listed in the example above, you might also want to put in some additional details, such as that you graduated with honors, your GPA, your clubs or organizations, and even your future plans. Anything you want to share with your family and friends can be added into the graduation wording, http://www.cardsshoppe.com/graduation-announcements/graduation-wordings.htm with these announcements. However, do keep in mind that no mention of gifts would be appropriate with either type of stationery.

As you are shopping for online graduation stationery shoppes, you should look for those that offer the MANY advantages like the largest and best place to purchase online invitations and announcements cards and these:

* Unique and Exclusive Designs Available ONLY * Print and Ship YOUR Order on the same day * Add a photo, a picture or a logo to any card * Will Modify any card design or color available * If Will design exactly what you want for you * Proofs are Emailed to You within ONE Hour during the Business Day, and You Can Make Unlimited Changes at No Additional Cost * Free 10 Cards and Free Shipping * View Your Personalized Graduation Announcements Wording, http://www.express-invitations.com/graduation-announcements/ PRIOR to buying

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/graduation-wording-for-graduation-announcements-and-invitations-657744.html

About the Author

Sarah Porter have written several articles about Personalized High School Graduation Announcements, FREE College Graduation Invitations, Custom Nursing School Graduation Cards, Printed Graduation Party Invitations, Cute Kindergarten & Preschool Graduation Announcements, Printable Graduation Thank You Cards, Unique Graduation Wordings, Sayings and Verses and lots more for http://www.cardsshoppe.com http://www.express-invitations.com http://www.graduationcardsshop.com and http://www.cardspersonalized.com

Individual Retirement Account, ROTH vs Traditional
Direct Link to Post

By: Ahsan Bashir, www.MyTexasAgent.com

Traditional vs ROTH IRA

Opening and contributing towards an Individual Retirement Account or an IRA is one of the most important decision, an individual makes for his/her financial future. An IRA is an account or an arrangement that allows you to contribute a certain Dollar amount either Tax free or Tax Deferred annually for a future financial benefit upon retirement. There are limits each year, on the maximum amount an individual can contribute towards an IRA account. For Tax year 2008, the limit for an Individual is $5000.00. If you file a Married filing Joint return, the total amount is $10,000.00, i.e $5000.00 for each. There are two types of IRA’s, both with different Tax implications.

(a) Traditional IRA
(b) ROTH IRA

Traditional IRA
If you choose the traditional IRA, you save on tax upfront. The amount you contribute towards the Traditional IRA account, you do not pay the tax on the contribution. That amount is subtracted form your taxable Income for the current Tax year in which you contribute, and therefore you pay less in taxes. However, you pay the tax on earnings when you withdraw from the account. The withdrawals can start at age 59 1/2 and are mandatory at age 70 1/2. If you choose to withdraw funds before age 59 1/2, there is a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn. There are no Income Restrictions for the Traditional IRA regardless of your earnings. These funds can be used to purchase a variety of Investments including stocks, bonds, certificates of deposits, etc.

ROTH IRA
Contributions towards a ROTH IRA are not tax deductible upfront and there is no Mandatory distribution age like the Traditional IRA. However, the earnings and distributions are 100% tax free if rules and regulations are followed. Like the traditional IRA, the funds can be used to purchase stocks, bonds, certificates of deposits, etc. The principal contributions can be withdrawn at any time without any penalty, subject to some minimal conditions. The benefit is limited to single filers with a maximum Income of $95000.00 annually and married couples making a combined Income of $150,000 annually.

The biggest difference between the Roth and Traditional IRA is being Tax Deductible and Tax Free, and the age restrictions for the withdrawal of the traditional IRA. There are, however, 8 exemptions to avoid the 10%  withdrawal penalty on the traditional IRA.

1. Permanent disability of IRA owner

Money can be withdrawn without penalty in the event the IRA holder becomes permanently disabled.

2. Death of IRA owner

It’s small consolation, but if you kick-the-bucket before you’re 59 1/2 years old, your estate won’t be hit with the 10% early withdrawal fee.

3. Withdrawals are used to pay non-reimbursed medical expenses

In the event of serious illness or injury that requires prolonged or expensive medical treatment, Uncle Sam will waive the early withdrawal fee on the condition that the expenses are in excess of 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

4. Withdrawals used to help pay for first-time home purchase

Despite a lifetime limit of $10,000, this exemption can make it much easier for an IRA owner to buy a house.

5. Higher education costs

College can be expensive. Thankfully, certain higher education costs for you, your spouse, children or grandchildren can be withdrawn penalty-free. You may still owe federal income tax, however. For more information, read the Internal Revenue Service article, Notice 97-60 Using IRA Withdrawals To Pay Higher Education Expenses.

6. Money is used to pay back taxes to the IRS after a levy has been placed against the IRA

This is not the kind of exemption for which you want to qualify, but it may save you money if you find yourself in an uncomfortable position with the IRS.

7. Withdrawals used to pay medical insurance premiums

Out of a job? The rest of the world may be topsy-turvy, but rest assured, you won’t be penalized for using retirement money to pay your medical insurance as long as you have been on unemployment for longer than twelve weeks.

8. Made on or after the day the IRA owner turns 59 1/2

Once you have reached the qualifying age of 59 1/2, you can make penalty-free regular withdrawals upon which to live. 

IRA’s of both types can be opened through a bank or brokerage house. If you are interested in holding stocks or bonds in your IRA, it may be wiser to open an account with your broker. It should require no more than a few minutes’ visit to the local branch office, or a trip to their website.

www.MyTexasAgent.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-finance-articles/traditional-vs-roth-ira-957342.html

About the Author

Ahsan Bashir
Insurance & Financial Consultant in Irving, TX
www.MyTexasAgent.com

MPB TODAY is a company founded by Gary Calhoun in May of 2010 debt-free, shareholder free for the purpose of marketing services and products of  Southeastern Delivery with the desire of reaching the customers via the word of mouth. MPB Today  is an international company doing business in the US and Canada. MPB Today is not your typical network marketing company because of the nature of its structure and its ability to change the lives of the average man or woman. Our product is a must have on a weekly bases without a doubt.

MPB Today is a network marketing company  that gathers customers for Southeastern Delivery for the services and products that are ingrained in our daily lives. 

I want to officially give you a distinction between network marketing and multi-level-marketing for the purpose of clarifying some missunderstanding. I have taken the information from Wikkipedia for the benefit of this clarification and placed below.

Network marketing is a general term for a type of marketing that is usually performed by an individual instead of a company. It refers to the use of interpersonal or social networks to market products and services for business purposes as opposed to the more traditional and common practices of wide-range advertising. Many companies which utilize a network marketing strategy facilitate it with a multi-level marketing (MLM) compensation structure. For this reason, the two terms are often confused with one another and used interchangeably

Multi-level marketing (MLM), (also called network marketing is a term that describes a marketing structure used by some companies  as part of their overall marketing strategy. The products and company are usually marketed directly to consumers  and potential business partners by means of relationship referrals and word of mouth marketing.

Network marketing vs. multi-level marketing

It is important to make the distinction that the term “network marketing” describes a particular marketing strategy,  while “multi-level marketing” is a specific characteristic that is a large part of, and speaks to an overall business model.  While the two are often seen implemented within the same company business plan,  they need not be and in many cases one is used without the other.

It is possible confusion arises from the hierarchical structure created in a multi-level system: because of its nature, the system itself results in the formulation of a tree network  within the scope of the company. The term “network marketing” however is not in reference to the structure of the company; it is a description of the nature of the strategy used to market the company products. In other words, the “network” adjective is not referring to any company-related attributes; it refers to how the marketing itself takes place: through the social networks of individuals. Put yet another way, network marketing is not marketing which necessarily creates a network within a company, it is marketing that is performed through the social networks of independent people.

What gives multi-level marketing it’s name is the unique compensation structure. In such a company independent sales representatives (individuals who market company products) are contracted by the company in what is more or less a subcontractor position (however the company usually has no general contract with any client). Because of such a relationship, the sales reps are not employees of the company, they are independent from it. (An example of this in the United States would be in any situation in which IRS Form 1099 is used.)

If you are looking for a vehicle to secure your retirement, send your children to college without any debt, take that long vacation, or just to become debt-free, contact me! 

Enter your contact information in the opt-in form in the website below to LEARN MORE and receive $50 GIFT towards your first grocery purchase.

www.yourhealthandfinancialfitness.com

Leonel DaRosa

1-774-281-0095

theleaper@gmail.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/entrepreneurship-articles/is-mpb-today-a-multi-level-marketing-or-a-network-marketing-company-1109568.html

About the Author

I am a retired Guidance Counselor who wants to continue to help people. I was born in Cape Verde Islands in September of 1950 and I came to the United States in May of 1963. I attend junior high school and high school in Falmouth, Massachusetts and received my batchelor degree from North Adams State College in 1974. I received my Master in Education From Bridgewater State College in 1977. I retired after spending 34 years in education helping students. I am married with 4 children and I now live in North Carolina.