Vonage begins testing exciting new contact management and calling features

Posted by Joe on December 22nd, 2007

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Vonage has begun testing of a new feature called ContactBook that will greatly enhance their internet telephone service for both new and existing subscribers.

ContactBook is an enhanced online address book that not only makes it is easy to add contacts from other sources, like Microsoft Outlook, but also very simple to manage and communicate with those contacts. According to Vonage ContactBook will include:

• Contact Management – Manage all your contacts in one centralized place. You can store all of your important contact information online including phone numbers, addresses, and e-mails.
• Import your Contacts – Easily import your existing contacts from Microsoft Outlook.
• Group Calling – Want to talk to friends or co-workers all at once? Vonage Group Calling allows you to talk with up to five contacts at the same time.
• Call Blast – Have a message that you need to send to a group of people? With Vonage Call Blast you can record a message and send it to up to 20 contacts with the click of a button.
• Click-To-Call – Call a phone number with a simple click of the mouse. No memorization of phone numbers needed!
• Speed Dial – Create easy-to-remember speed dial numbers for your contacts. One more way to make your life easier with Vonage.
• Voice Activated Dialing – Simply dial *44 from your Vonage phone and say your contact’s name and Vonage Voice Activated Dialing will place the call for you.

Vonage also notes that all calls made through these enhanced features will be available at the same great low rates that Vonage subscribers are used to.

Any current Vonage subscriber can opt-in to be a part of this new feature test by going to the Vonage ContactBook page and logging in to their account. ContactBook is in alpha stage which means that it is not totally ready for prime time and Vonage is likely still working through some final quirks and bugs. As such, we would recommend only Vonage subscribers that are ok with some potential hiccups opt-in for the new feature.

Even if you don’t opt-in now, the full feature set should be widely available to all Vonage subscribers some time in 2008.

We are huge fans of consumer VoIP services as is, so it is great to see even more exciting features being added by providers like Vonage. If you want to learn more about other VoIP services please read our comparisons and reviews at NextAdvisor.com.

• Vonage continues to innovate in 2008 with launch of MyVonage
• Vonage starts 2008 with a clear legal slate
• Vonage vs. Magic Jack - one reader’s opinion
• Vonage makes customer support a top priority
• Court decision will keep Vonage subscriber fees low

Blockbuster to increase prices by as much as 40%

Posted by Joe on December 21st, 2007

Subscribers to Blockbuster’s online dvd rental service were notified this week of new increased pricing that will go into effect beginning December 27, 2007. The price increase will vary by the type of plan that current Blockbuster subscribers have, but some plans will cost as much as 40% more.

The blog Hacking NetFlix pulled together this information on the increases based off of reader feedback:

Some of the price increases were modest: $9.99 to $11.99, $14.99 to $16.99, $17.99 to $19.99, and even $21.99 to $29.99, but the biggest increase was on the 3-out unlimited plan: $24.99 to $34.99.

Blockbuster is also eliminating the free in store rental coupon that was included each month with many plans. The loss of this unique Blockbuster perk also increases the effective cost of the membership since subscribers are essentially getting one less dvd per month.

Given the increase in price, some consumers may find a better deal at NetFlix depending on the type of plan they currently have and the number of DVDs that want to have out at any given time. Keep in mind that Blockbuster is unique in that some of their plans also include in store rentals from an Blockbuster outlet (even though they are doing away with free in store coupons), something that NetFlix does not offer. so, if in store rental are important to you it is probably best to stick with Blockbuster (although you may want to downgrade your plan if you don’t think you need the extra movies for the price).

We have reviewed all of the major online dvd rental services, including NetFlix and Blockbuster, and encourage our readers to read our in-depth reviews and comparisons to find the right service particularly given the pending Blockbuster price increase.

• Our review of Apple’s new movie download service - Stick with NetFlix!
• HD DVD vs. Blu-ray - Who will be the next Betamax?
• Netflix to invest in expanding Blu-ray movie inventory
• NetFlix beats Apple to the unlimited download punch
• Netflix issues apology, 5% discount

2008 VoIP trend alert - VoIP services let consumers keep traditional phone service too

Posted by Joe on December 20th, 2007

We feel strongly that many of the VoIP services we have reviewed, such as Vonage, can be a fully acceptable replacement for traditional phone service without giving up any quality or reliability.  But, there are still many consumers that aren’t comfortable with making the switch from the traditional phone service.

This is somewhat hard to believe given all the benefits of VoIP over traditional phone service.  For example, VoIP services typically cost significantly less per month than traditional phone service and offer many features, such as access to voicemail over the web and free long distance, that traditional phone just can’t match.

The good news for consumers that are interested in VoIP service but aren’t quite ready to give up their traditional phone service is that so VoIP providers are developing solutions that allow a traditional phone line to live in harmony with VoIP technology.  This trend is in full swing in England and we are starting to see similar offerings in the United States.

For example, ooma, one of our top rated VoIP service providers, offers two different versions of its service- one that only uses your broadband connection and one that integrates both broadband and your standard telephone line.  The main benefit of such an option is that it allows consumers to maintain a traditional phone line which typically means keeping their existing phone number and having access to phone service in the case of a broadband outage.

Frankly, we feel that the quality of the top VoIP providers is so good that the extra line is typically unnecessary.  That being said, it is important to some people and we always see more options for consumers as a good thing.
We expect to see more developments in this area in 2008 and will be chronicling all new VoIP services and features as usual.  In the meantime, check out our in-depth coverage of VoIP service providers at NextAdvisor.com.

• Traditional phone service losing ground to VoIP
• New bill will improve VoIP 911 calling
• Facebook poll shows college students don’t know VoIP
• Court decision will keep Vonage subscriber fees low
• 3 tips for VoIP 911 calls

VoIP subscribers to triple in the United States by 2011

Posted by Joe on December 20th, 2007

As 2007 comes to a close more consumers in the US are using VoIP than ever. eMarketer estimates that more than 16 million US households are currently subscribed to VoIP services and expects that number to triple to more than 45 million subscribers by 2011.

So, why the tremendous growth in number of VoIP subscribers? There are probably several important factors. For one, VoIP has become an established technology thanks to companies like Vonage, our top rated VoIP service provider. Well over 2 million households subscribe to Vonage service in the United States alone, so we are well past the early adopters here.

The availability of cheap and reliable broadband Internet connections also helps the VoIP industry grow since VoIP calls are made through cable or DSL modems. In fact, the same eMarketer report estimates that more than 45% of households with broadband Internet connections will also be subscribed to VoIP by 2011.

Ultimately, the most compelling feature of VoIP service to most consumers is probably the same reason we like it so much- the monthly savings versus traditional phone service providers. We haver been reviewing VoIP services for quite some time now and have found time and again that VoIP service will save most consumers hundreds of dollars per year.

Ben Macklin, senior analyst and author of the eMarketer report, agrees

“Early indications suggest VoIP will be very popular worldwide simply because VoIP calls are cheaper,”

We are big fans of VoIP services like Vonage, voip.com and ooma. With the explosive growth of VoIP in the United States it is a better time than ever to make the switch from traditional phone service. Read our in-depth VoIP service provider reviews and comparisons to learn more.

• Traditional phone service losing ground to VoIP
• Apple OKs voip over wifi for the iPhone
• Facebook poll shows college students don’t know VoIP
• Vonage makes customer support a top priority
• New bill will improve VoIP 911 calling

Experian says 55% of child identity thefts perpetrated by family members

Posted by Joe on December 20th, 2007

We have reported previously on the growing threat of child identity theft and thougt that some recent statistic released by Experian were important to share with our readers.

These numbers were based on a recent Experian/Gallup poll that attempted to gauge consumer perceptions on child identity theft.

• 7 percent of consumers reported they know someone who has a child that was a victim of identity theft
• 55 percent of consumers who knew someone who had a child whose identity was stolen, said the person who stole the child’s identity was a family member, while 33 percent said it was a non-family member
• 54 percent believe it is very likely that someone could use information from the Internet to steal a child’s identity
• 19 percent believe a child’s personal information from extracurricular activities such as a sports program could be used to steal their identity
• When asked to estimate out of every 100 children, how many have had their personal information stolen, the average estimate was 23 out of every 100

The two things that really struck us about these stats were that 7 percent of consumers knew a child that had been a victim of identity theft and that in 55 percent of those case the id thief was a family member.

As the threat of child identity theft and identity theft in general grows in the United States, we continue to strongly advise that everyone use an identity theft prevention service to take proactive preventative measures from being victimized.

Read our in-depth reviews and comparisons of identity theft services to learn more.

• Data Breach Alert: Over 200 child identities exposed in UK
• Child identity theft protection guide featured on About.com Fatherhood blog
• Help us help you protect yourself from identity theft
• 8 tips to protect your children from identity theft
• Reader Question: Will my LifeLock or Equifax account also cover my spouse?

TJ Maxx may have know about identity theft threat two months earlier than reported

Posted by Joe on December 20th, 2007

You may remember the massive data breach by TJX, the parent company of popular retail store TJ Maxx, Bob’s Stores, HomeGoods, Marshalls, and A.J. Wright, last year which exposed thousands of consumers to potential identity theft. The full extent of the breach is still unknow, but new information is coming to light that suggests that TJX may have known about the risk of identity theft several months before they notified the government and consumers.

The company officially released information regarding the data breach at their stores in mid November of 2006. But, an attorney involved with the matter recently mad statements in a court proceeding that TJX may have known about the breach as early as October 3, 2006- two months earlier.

It is hard to know whether or not the claim that TJX knew of the breach nearly two months before information was released to the public are accurate or not, but it definitely underscores the importance of consumers being proactive with identity theft protection.

As always, we strongly suggest that consumers arm themselves with an identity theft protection service such as LifeLock, Identity Guard or TrustedID. Read our in-depth identity theft prevention service reviews and comparisons to learn more.

• TJ Maxx parent company offers 15% off to victims of massive data breach
• TJ Maxx to send follow up fraud alert letters to victims
• Data Breach Alert: Millions at risk for identity theft due to supermarket chain data breach
• Data Breach Alert: Auto parts retailer exposes tens of thousands
• Data Breach Alert: Theft puts 13,000 Pfizer employees at risk

LifeLock selected as preferred identity theft prevention service for Illinois State Bank

Posted by Joe on December 20th, 2007

Given the staggering growth of identity theft in the United States- over 246,000 cases of identity theft costing consumers $1.1 billion dollars were reported in 2006 according to the FTC- many businesses are taking steps to help protect both their customers and employees from the threat of identity theft.

The latest is Illinois State Bank, one of the largest regional banks in Illinois and Wisconsin. They have selected LifeLock as the preferred provider of identity theft prevention services for their employees and banking customers. LifeLock CEO Todd Davis summed it up well:

“It’s very important for everyone to think about securing their personal information, but it’s great to see organizations like Illinois State Bank taking a lead role in the fight for its customers and employees.”

We think they have made a great choice. LifeLock is the best identity theft prevention service we have reviewed to date given both their proactive approach to protecting your identity as well as their simple sign up process. We encourage all of our readers to use an identity theft prevention service. Review our in-depth comparison of identity theft prevention services and select the service that is right for you.

• LifeLock selected as exclusive id theft prevention service for a variety financial firms
• LifeLock… Now with frequent flier protection!
• WalletLock takes the worry out of losing your wallet
• ID theft hits a little too close to home
• Data Breach Alert: Eye center patients may see identity theft in their future

New FICO score will help some, hurt others

Posted by Joe on December 19th, 2007

Fair Isaac Corporation, otherwise known as FICO, has created a new scoring system that will change how potential lenders may view your credit history.

FICO is a household name that is synonymous with credit scores, particularly to anyone that has ever applied for a home loan, auto loan or credit card.  FICO estimates that 90% of major banks use their scoring methodology to analyze the credit worthiness of consumers.

The new FICO score, officially called FICO 08, was created to more accurately predict the credit risk of an individual.  It will be more lenient on people who may have had a few credit slip ups in the past but otherwise have had fairly responsible credit practices and much more harsh on those who repeatedly make credit mistakes.

FICO provided these very helpful examples of how the new FICO 08 score may impact differnt types of people based off of their credit history.

This is great news for consumers that are actively working to improve their credit and adopting healthy credit habits and even more reason for those people that have habitually poor credit to take moves to improve.

The FICO 08 score also makes it extremely important to have a full grasp on the contents of your credit report as inaccuracies could cost you once the new formula begins calculating scores.  The simplest and most effective way to get a full grasp of your current credit profile is to sign up for a credit report monitoring service.  These services will give you access to your credit report, credit score and alert you to any changes on your credit report.

All of the credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, provide these services and we have reviewed and compared all these credit report monitoring services for the benefit of our readers.

• Reader Question: Will shopping for a mortgage hurt my credit score?
• Reader Question: How do I get my FICO score for free?
• Equifax offers free 3-in-1 credit report and 3 bureau credit report monitoring
• Reader Question: Which credit score do lenders use?
• Credit piggy backing gets bucked

Type carefully when looking for a free credit report

Posted by Joe on December 19th, 2007

A recent study by USA Today and online security company Symantec found hundreds of websites that took advantage of typos to direct consumers away from their intended destination when searching for a credit report.

These sites have domain names very similar to those of the credit bureaus. For example, freecreditrepotrt.com may accidentally be reached by consumers that are attempting to visit Experian’s FreeCreditReport.com. While most of these sites likely pose little threat to consumers, it is still important to be fully aware who is operating the website you are visiting before you engage in any business dealings.

One simple way to ensure that you are on the website you intend to be is to check the privacy policy and/or contact us links which are typically at the bottom of the web page. If these items aren’t present or seem suspicious, it is a good idea to move along.

We here at NextAdvisor deal directly with all the major credit report monitoring services and make sure that all links on our site are valid and directing to reputable service providers. You can click on any of the links below to visit the official websites of each of the credit report monitoring services that we have reviewed:

• Equifax
• CreditCheck Total
• FreeCreditReport.com
• Privacy Matter 123
• TrueCredit
• MyFICO
• TransUnion

• FreeCreditReport.com offers 30 day trial of the cheapest three bureau credit monitoring service
• Reader Question: How much do credit report monitoring services cost?
• Reader Question: Am I entitled to a free credit report each year?
• Reader Question: How do I order my free credit report?
• Reader Question: What is the best way to monitor my FICO score

Identity theft finds a new target - your kids!

Posted by Joe on December 19th, 2007

We already know that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States, but what is the fastest growing segment of identity theft vicitims? Kids!

According to the FTC, 5% of the 255,000 victims of identity theft in 2005 where under the age of 18 which is up 40% from 3% in 2003. Most of these cases take place very early on with over half occurring prior to the age of 6 according to the Identity Theft resource Center.

Unfortunately, these cases can be hard to track because children don’t apply for credit or review a credit report to identify suspicious activity. That being said, there are steps that parents can take to lower the risk of their kids becoming victims of identity theft.

First, keep social security cards out of kids hands. In fact, no one in your family at any age should be carrying a social security card. We recommend that you keep all of your families sensitive documents in a home safe, safety deposit box or at least a locked filing cabinent.

Next, keep a look out for any suspicious mail that arrives at your house in your child’s name. If credit card offers, late payment notices or other suspicious items show up, don’t assume they are mistakes. Follow up with the company that sent them to determine the reason they were sent in the first place.

Finally, keep in mind that if your child can be a victim you certainly can as well! Take proactive measures to protect your own identity. We always recommend using a identity theft prevention service like LifeLock or TrustedID to keeps tabs on any suspicious activity. Read our in-depth comparison and reviews of identity theft prevention services to learn more.

• ID theft hits a little too close to home
• 8 tips to protect your children from identity theft
• Data Breach Alert: Eye center patients may see identity theft in their future
• Shop safely this holiday season
• Reader Question: Will my LifeLock or Equifax account also cover my spouse?