You have just purchased one of the many models of Samsung Mobile phones. When you get it home, you try to use it with another network provider, and you find out that you can not. It could be that you haven’t unlocked your mobile phone yet. Why is your phone locked to begin with? The answer to this is simple. The company you bought your phone from wants you to use only their network so they have placed special types of locks on your phone that stop you from using other networks.

Although cell phones frequently have these locks, it is not illegal for someone who purchases the phone to remove the lock. Doing so will allow you to use other networks and possibly extend your calling area. It also increases the resell value of the phone.

Let us begin the procedure of unlocking your mobile phone. Here are the things you will need to know before hand. What is your handset’s model number? What is your IMEI number? What network operator is your mobile phone locked to? Does your particular model phone require any software or hardware like NS Pro, NS Pro Dongle, or NSPro? If so, where can you acquire the required items? You may need just a SIM card in order for mobile phone unlocking.

In some cases, a dongle might be needed in order to unlock the phone. A dongle began as slang for a hardware key. Now is used to describe a small adapter with a short cable that has connectors on both sides. The dongle used to unlock Samsung Mobile Phones is used in conjunction with the NS Pro software.

If your mobile phone does not require the NS Pro or dongle it will need a SIM card. It is a small rectangular card that is in all GSM phones. The card is your phone’s ID card. Without it your phone won’t work. It is located behind your phone’s battery, storing up to 250 contacts, which makes it easy to transfer your phone book when switching phones. This is just one of the many advantages of the SIM card.

Another advantage is that you can change your phone by switching the SIM card to another phone as long as they use the same carrier. The swap is quick and easy.

Once your mobile phone is unlocked you can buy prepaid SIM cards, so if you are on a trip your phone can have a local number wherever you are located. Unlocking your phone can also be done wirelessly if you have the right codes, and if your network doesn’t have that many locks on the phone. There are several sites that can give you the codes for unlocking mobile phones. It is just a matter of finding the right site that has your particular model phone on its list of unlocking codes. You will then simply need to enter the codes as instructed and enjoy your increased calling ability.

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If you have purchased a cell phone that you really like, know how to use, and you consider an investment you don’t have to sell it or buy a new one just because you don’t want to stick with the same cell phone provider. Instead, you need an unlock code that will allow you to use your phone with any service, or SIM card. While the phone is yours, many cell phone providers lock their phones, so that you cannot use the phone with any other service provider.

There are two basic ways to unlock cell phone devices. Many times you will have a cell phone that can be unlocked by entering a code into it. The code is unique to your phone and is linked to the serial number of the phone. This code can be purchased for as little as $5 and when you enter it into your phone it will become unlocked and you can travel internationally or switch cell phone providers.

Other phones require that you unlock service or their operating system, basically the operating system has to be rewritten to remove the lock. If you have this type of phone you will need to connect it via a data cable to a programming unit. This is a bit more expensive, but if you are attached to the phone it is worth it and this can be done quite easily and affordably. Cell phones these days such as a Treo or a Blackberry are an investment, so it makes sense that you want to hold onto it and unlock it under any circumstances. If you have a phone that you consider disposable, you may want to simply buy a new phone if you don’t want to pay more than $5 for an unlock code.

After you have unlocked your phone you will usually get some sort of message that says it has been unlocked or you may simply notice that the phone doesn’t say the name of your old service provider. This means that you are free to choose the provider of your choice. When you sign up with a new provider, you should inquire about whether or not your phone will become locked again, as this is possible. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you should know whether or not your phone is unlocked so you are free to switch providers at any time or use different SIM or GSM cards.

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This article is designed to provide a review and comparison between the two leading kids cell phones: the Firefly and the Migo from LG (the TicTalk will not be discussed). Designed to equip consumers with the latest reviews this article will provide a brief analysis about the pros and cons regarding these two cell phones. Let’s get started….

The Firefly has been out for a while, mid-2005 exposed the Firefly plans and towards Q3 of 2005 the Firefly was coming onto US markets namely on the Cingular network. The GSM enabled handset appealed to the kid audience through parents by offering basic features on a simple phone. The added ‘security’ appealed to parents hence the rush for other manufacturers to produce a similar device. Lo and behold, LG was next inline offering their version called the Migo. The LG VX 1000 Migo is a CDMA enabled handset and operates on the Verizon network.

This article doesn’t look at the practicality of the devices, but compares the two against each other; which device should you buy if you had the choice. Since both operate on different networks this means if you’re already with a carrier your choice may be restricted. As stated, the Firefly operates on the GSM network (T-Mobile, Cingular, Rogers), and the Migo operates on the CDMA network (Verizon, Sprint, Telus? or Bell?). The thing with GSM phones is you could potentially purchase it ‘unlocked’ and activate it on any GSM network provider of your choice. You cannot do the same with CDMA. If you’re purchasing for the first time and will choose between the two networks (Cingular and Verizon in the States) then the rest of this review will help your decision making.

Weighing in at a paltry 56 grams, designed to accommodate smaller hands, the Blue and Pink Firefly measures 1.75 x 3.46 x .79, weighs 2.12 ounces, offers up to 2.5 hours of talk time, and up to 100 hours of standby; a bare bones 850/1900 MHz GSM cell phone that permits parents to limit outgoing calls to certain numbers and also sports ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ buttons for quick dialling.

Conversely, the green Migo measures 1.77 x 3.42 x 1.07 weighs 2.4 ounces, offers 4 hours of talk time, but unfortunately no prepaid options are available with this phone. Network: CDMA; High-Speed Data: 1xRTT; remember, neither phones have Bluetooth, cameras, or any additional features common on regular phones. The phone also shows 5 buttons for quick dialling and emergency dialling.

Pro: Firefly. With the Firefly you can limit who calls your child based on a pre-programmed list. The Migo does not offer this security feature so essentially junior can give the number to friends and get them to call. The Migo only permits 5 programmable outgoing call numbers while the Firefly list enables 20.

Pro: Migo. The Migo works with hearing aids. Also, the second antenna is for eventual GPS support, where that goes we won’t know, but it is an additional feature on the Migo.

Con: Both phones are designed to give the bare phone essentials. However, they are candybar styles, which means the Firefly antenna is located within the phone unit and does not protrude out. This means cellular frequencies are closer to the brain. The question now revolves around how early is too early for exposing kids to cellular frequencies on a regular basis? On one hand you don’t want to risk your child’s health, on the other hand scientific research is still inconclusive when it comes to cell phone ‘radiation’. The juror is still out on this one, be your own judge regarding the health impacts. The Migo’s SAR rating is 0.915 w/kg when held up to the head, below the legal limit of 1.6 w/kg and also below the Firefly’s level of 1.322 w/kg. The Migo antennas are outside of the phone as well.

Conclusion: Both phones offer pretty much the same features and are built in the same way. If you’re on a network already and just want to add a kid phone then it’s Firefly for GSM and Migo for CDMA. Simple. If you’re getting a phone on a new network then it seems the Firefly wins by an edge. This article does not investigate the durability of the phones because they are both so new (the Migo especially), nor does it look at the sound quality. Both phones are near equal in this respect, however, the Firefly seems to be built stronger and the Migo appears to have marginally better sound in preliminary tests. Remember, a teen will not enjoy these phones for their basic nature, but your young child may benefit from the added security. Firefly seems to offer more in this security detail. So for now, points to Firefly, barely.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barry_Nagassar

Last year in the fall, I began covering the CECT line of unlocked iPhone clones. Although I personally loved the phones and absolutely saw the need for them, at that time the economy was still very robust. I figured there was probably a 50 / 50 chance that these Chinese knock off phones would catch on.

Sure, there will always be people like me who love the latest technology and become absolute giddy at the idea of not having to pay anywhere near full price for it. And folks like me hate the idea of being tied to an expensive carrier / network or a long term contract, but not every one worries about networks and I fully realize this.

Even so, this time last year my assertions that the Chinese iPhone clones were actually better in some ways than the original fell upon some deaf ears. Yes, the clone manufacturers allowed for a removable battery, added more speakers, and also added an FM radio an additional sim slot, but this was still not enough to intrigue those who wanted the original, which is still absolutely understandable.

But, as the economy soured and the iPhone clones became more mainstream, the tide began to turn. People who had actually laughed at my talk of clones before are now asking me about which ones they should maybe consider buying. The market has grown so much that the tri band models were expanded upon to include models that support all MHz bands (quad bands).

So, as I write this nearly a year later, I’m very grateful to be writing about the differences between two quad band knock offs, because that means that this market is going very strong. Now, onto the SciPhone versus CECT P168 Plus.

Quad Band Version of the iClone P168: The original CECT P168 was (and probably still is) the best selling, most well known iPhone clone on the market. It was the original and in my opinion, it is still among the best. (And it is by far the easiest for which to obtain accessories.)

However, if there was one complaint to it, it was that it only supported networks on 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz bands. A few carriers (like some rural A&T customers) are on the 850 MHz band, as well as are carriers outside of the United States. To address this, manufacturer CECT rolled out the updated, version of the 168 (called the Plus or 168+) that included the 850 MHz band.

Today, this quad band has new, updated: slide unlock feature; web cam; e book reader; and slight improvements to the camera, MP3 / MP4, and software. Additionally, the touch screen on the new version feels a bit more like glass.

So, How Is The SciPhone Different? This one is called many different names, including the CECT i68, Java 32, or the Y32. Some people consider this the latest update to the P168 Quad Band. Although there are some similarities, I consider the changes to this one much more significant than the 168 adding an additional band.

The SciPhone is a shake and tilt model, which means that you can advance music, media, photos, etc. by only gently shaking the phone. You can take the images to wide screen by only tilting the phone. There’s no scrolling involved. This feature is a bit controversial. Folks either love it or don’t see what all the hype is about. (I love it and find that it makes the phone very intuitive.)

But, in addition to shake and tilt, there are three major ways that the SciPhone is really different, as follows: 1) It’s a bit smaller and sleeker than previous clones; 2) It’s slightly faster than previous models. (Slightly is the operative word here. I’m only talking milliseconds, but I know some people consider this important.) 3) It has the latest version of Java which opens so many productivity and gaming doors, like PowerPoint, Word, and Excel to name a couple. The gaming download possibilities are numerous here.

Both phones are high performers with very solid customer satisfaction. I like them both. Price wise, you will typically pay $20 – $30 more for the SciPhone, but if you consider the additional productivity and gaming possibilities, this does not seem so bad. And, most times you can get either for under $150. If you know you need a quad band phone and want a clone, which of these you prefer really depends upon whether you want the latest version of what has been the best seller or the new, (but very loaded) kid on the block.

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Unlocking Motorola phones has never been an easy task. The Motorola series of mobile phones use a unique algorithm that prevents most software from generating a code simply by entering the IMEI number into a software form. Many customers and owners of Motorola mobile phones look at online unlocking and see a trail of scams and lost money. Granted, many sites for unlocking Motorola’s are scams, and I have come across more than my fair share. The other day I was scanning the internet, when I came across a site called motounlockuk.co.uk. This site seemed different, by the fact that it was offering Motorola unlocking with the IMEI number of your mobile phone. I had been told previously on many sites and forums that this was impossible. Their claims seemed too good to be true, as they were offering this service and software (which will unlock unlimited numbers of motorola’s) for only £5. I spoke and emailed the owner of the site, Mr Bob Franks, and asked him how he was able to offer such a remarkable service and software for such an amazingly low price.

After a fifteen minute conversation, he told me that the software itself had been relatively cheap to produce, and he had recouped the cost several times over. He said that he wanted to give something back to the customer (how many times do you hear that!) and that by telling his secrets of how to be as successful as he now was, he felt that he was doing some good. The software he sells for £5 now comes with a complete website template, ready to go, that customers can use to set up their own online unlocking business within 24 hours. So I went to his site, and paid £5 securely through Nochex. It’s only a fiver I thought. I received the software package in under 5 minutes, installed it, and used it. After much scepticism, I have only one thing to say about this software, IT WORKS! I didn’t have to use any cables to connect my phone to my PC (which I don’t have anyway), and it hasn’t changed my phones firmware. My razr v3 was unlocked in under 2 minutes, simply by using the IMEI. By reading the detailed information that came with the package, I was able to set up my own website unlocking Motorolas, and am now making over £1500 per. Week, and still growing. Go to the site, see for yourself, and be blown away as I was!

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If you are a cell phone lover, chances are you are aggravated with at least one aspect of your cell phone plan. Of course we all wish something about it was better – whether it be the sound quality, roaming charges, or the amount of service was get. But what if we had the opportunity to unlock our mobile phones? We have all wanted to switch services but keep our old beloved phone. Luckily, technology has now given us the means to do so. Better yet, it’s legal!

Mobile phone unlocking is a great way for people to get the most from their cell phones. We have all tried out a service that just doesn’t provide us with enough features, yet we haven’t wanted to go through the hassle of switching phones. Fortunately, mobile phone unlocking is extremely easy and legal! Although most cell phone companies want you to believe that they put cell phone locks on their devices, it is actually false. Of course no company wants you to leave! Every bright business wants to not only keep you as a customer, but keep your monthly cash that you send to them so frequently. Therefore, you have every right and ability to unlock your phone if needed. However, some companies will try to lock it permanently, so it was crucial to stay alert.

Another benefit to mobile phone unlocking is that it could save you a lot of money in the long run. For instance, if you were an avid traveler and wanted to save money on international phone rates, you could change your service. If you kept the same service, you would be charged for roaming fees, thus leaving you with an unnecessary bill. By unlocking your cell phone, you could spend more money on other features!

The greatest part about mobile phone unlocking is that is simple to access! Surprisingly, there are cell phone unlock codes you can use to do this procedure. Many websites online offer such codes that usually are quite affordable, ranging from $5-$10. However, some phones may need more than a cell phone unlock code. For instance, if you have a certain Motorola model, a data plug may have to be used to connect to a programming unit. This will reprogram your phone and allow you to pick another service.

Although mobile phone unlocking is a great way for people to switch services, not all phones can be unlocked. The only phone companies that have this feature are AT&T, Cingular, and T-Mobile. If you are not using a GSM company, chances are your phone has no ability to unlock. Nevertheless, if you have the opportunity to unlock your mobile phone, and you want to change services, then it is a wonderful opportunity. We now have the freedom to do what we want, when we want it. Cell phone companies are no longer holding us with these plans that cannot be changed. We finally have realized the secret and for that reason, cell phone unlock codes will always be our favorite feature.

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Motorola RAZR 2 V8 Unlocked GSM Phone From the moment it launched, the RAZR didn’t just break new ground. It redefined the way we talk. Now, Motorola is poised to redefine greatness again. The MOTORAZR2 V8 brings the revolutionary RAZR form to a new level of sophistication. It takes the impossibly sleek RAZR profile and makes it even slimmer. It packs a powerhouse of features into a strong stainless steel structure. This phone has captivated its on lookers and now has really taken over this market. It is one of the top phones available with all the great features you would want.

We tend to look for a phone that can do it all, this phone is very close to what we are looking for. It is not the iphone, but in its classification it is rivaled by very few. . It’s ultra slim design makes it the thinnest RAZR yet. If you are into taking pictures the camera is high powered in the fact that it has a 2MP camera with 8X digital zoom takes high quality pictures and provides up to 2 hours of video capture and playback. This RAZR model also offers

High-speed web access with content that’s intelligently sized to fit your screen, there’s no need for horizontal scrolling.

Interested in how clear this phone is? CrystalTalk(TM) helps deliver crystal clear voice quality in noisy environments. This is something that you will enjoy every time you answer your phone. CrystalTalk(TM) is something really cutting edge that will really make your talking experience an enjoyable one.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chad_Creel

3 color copies of your passport photo, 2-3 copies of your passport page, your home address and tel. numbers, you family’s first and last names and your place of work. In addition come of them require information you likely don’t even have on hand.

Also, you’ll have to take a taxi ride to a specialized shop and then a taxi back to your hotel. Often it can take 1-2-3-4 hours to complete the purchase depending on how busy the shop it, how expert the salesman is and how their computers are feeling that day.

Often once you arrive you have left out some form or piece of information and you’ll have to run around and get it and come back.

On the whole buying your SIM CARD in the USA from a reliable company such as http://www.planetomni.com means getting your card in the states without any hassle of registration at all. They can even give you your overseas phone number when you place the order. They also ship worldwide in case you need it and/or an unlocked cell phone shipped to where you are. To most popular destinations that means 1-2 day service.

If you’re a frequent overseas business traveler, you’ve likely encountered the frustrations of using a cell phone abroad.

Here is some advice…

Buy Local (Foreign) SIMs in the US or Use an International SIM

The way to save on international cell phone us is to buy a pre-paid SIM card from a phone company in the country you will be visiting. These SIMs can be purchased in the US and local SIMs can sometimes be purchased overseas. Be aware though, that if you buy SIMs overseas there might be residency requirements, you will not get your phone number until you arrive and the instructions will be in the local language. It may actually cost less to buy a sim card in the USA because of needing to go to a special shop but considering you get the number in advance (usually) and the instructions in English, it’s worth it.

Before departure, he said, find out whether your phone will work at your destination, and if so, whether you can activate the international roaming access function that would allow you to receive and make calls. However this mean very costly roaming fees and your incoming calls can be costly and always your outgoing calls are expensive.

If the phone is not compatible with local technology, you’ll have to consider renting, buying or borrowing a local cell phone or getting one in advance from a company like http://www.planetomni.com in California. They have Factory Unlocked GSM cell phones both to buy International Cell Phones and to rent Cell Phone Rental They ship worldwide and have cellular service for more than 170 countries (there are only 193 countries on earth!).

If your phone is compatible, you’ll need to decide whether you want to get your phone unlocked so that it can accept a local SIM card — the ID chip that carries your local phone number. For it to be compatible it must be GSM standard and be of the correct NETWORK BAND for the country you are going to. There are 4 bands, 850/900/1800/1900Mhz.

The advantage behind the LOCAL PHONE NUMBER option? With a local phone number you can receive local calls and avoid the $1-$2 per minute international roaming charges you’d otherwise incur with a U.S.-based SIM card.

Unlike U.S.-based service, where you pay for both making and receiving calls, in Europe (and most foreign countries) only the calling party pays, However, once you leave the country of the local SIM card, the calls you receive from there will rack up international roaming charges.

There are 2 ways to skirt that problem:

#1 is to buy country specific SIM cards for every country you visit, provided that your phone is compatible. Once again http://www.planetomni.com/Prod_SIM.shtml If you try to buy them overseas it can be either impossible or very frustrating and expensive or impossible.

The hassle with that option: You have to inform your contacts of your new cell phone number each time since you won’t have your foreign cell phone numbers until you buy them.

Getting them from http://www.planetomni.com first means you can have your numbers even at the time you place the order. Just call them direct for more info. 800-815-9380 or from outside the USA 925-686-9945 or email: jd@quantumstar.com.

#2 is to buy a single sim card good for more than one country. That way you give out a single cell phone number but good for between 110 and 160 countries depending on which international sim card you buy. You can see them here: http://www.planetomni.com/Prod_SIM.shtml

At least with one of those two your incoming calls while in western Europe will still be free to you, night and day, from every country and phone on earth. Calling the states from all western European countries is a flat rate of US$0.97 per minute, always. Compare that to using the, for example, German country specific sim card at $2.50 per minute and you’ll see that sometimes its cheaper to get one of the international sim cards.

Because companies generally foot the bill for business travelers, they may choose to forego the local SIM card option in favor of renting phones or using their own phones and swallowing the international roaming charges.

Americans are at a disadvantage when it comes to cell phones overseas, because most of the world uses a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard. While T-Mobile and Cingular use that standard, Verizon and Sprint operate on the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) standard, which is popular in North America but not supported everywhere else. But most carriers lock their GSM phones to their service so they can’t be used with other providers and you must also be aware that most American GSM phones don’t have the needed foreign networks in them so they won’t work overseas anyway.

If you go to the U.K. or Germany or most everywhere in the world, your Sprint or Verizon will not work at all.

Consider the battle between GSM and CDMA. The GSM standard outsells the other flavor, the flavor used by Verizon and Sprint, by 4 to 1.

The Japanese anomaly

Travelers heading to Japan face a whole different ballgame.

When you go there, your GSM phone won’t work. You have to have a 3G (third generation) phone, which you can get in from http://www.planetomni.com/3G_CELLS_planetomni.shtml. 3G refers to the technology that gives cell phone users the “broadband experience” of a laptop with its high speed and data capacity.

While such phones are just starting to come out in the United States, they don’t operate on the same frequencies as they do in Japan or Europe. A 3G phone purchased in the United States and taken to Europe would roll onto the networks there fine — but would operate as a 2G or “second generation” phone there, with limited data capacity.

Travelers from Japan or Europe to the United States will find that their 3G phones will roam on Cingular or T-Mobile 2G networks but without the 3G roaming experience they are used to.

Here are some fantastic looking new 3G cell phones: http://www.planetomni.com/3G_CELLS_planetomni.shtml

Roaming worldwide

Either of the international sim cards linked about work in most of the world’s countries.

How Pre-Paid SIMs Work

This is the easiest part. Pre-paid SIMs start with a monetary balance on the account. As you make calls, the charges are deducted from the credit available based on the per-minute rates. Rates will vary depending on the carrier’s policies, whether local, to a local cell phone, or international. The rates are included with the SIM card packaging. In almost all European and Western countries, incoming calls are free.

When your call credit gets low, you drop by any convenience store or newspaper stand and buy a little scratch off voucher from the same company as the SIM in your phone. Enter the secret code from the voucher into the phone’s automated top-up system, and the voucher’s credit is added to your account. It’s a free call to check your balance and to add more credit. It’s like getting gas in your car and something millions of people around then world do everyday. If you don’t want to stop frequently, buy a large denomination card, such as a 50-Euro.

Multi-Country Trips

For trips to more than one country, it is easier to use an international pre-paid SIM card that works in many countries. Planet Omni has an International sim card that gives you free incoming calls all over Europe and it is less than $1.00 a minute for outgoing calls to Europe or the US (when used in Europe). It works in a total of 110+ countries.

The pre-paid international SIM a great product for travel to more than one country. It keeps you from having to buy multiple SIMs and changing phone numbers and rates in each country. It provides seamless roaming from door to door.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Dulaney

When you are in the market to buy an unlocked cell phone, it is a good idea to have a basic idea of what “locked” actually means. The term locked when used with mobile phones means that the phone is programmed internally to operate on a particular system. This is usually the system that sells you the phone and provides the service. There are also two kinds of cell phones. These are the GSM and the CDMA types of mobile phones. The GSM is the type of phone used almost everywhere in the world, but the CDMA is a bit more common in the United States.

While it is possible to unlock a cell phone, many people prefer to buy unlocked cell phones. Any one who has watched television in the last couple of years is going to be aware of the tremendous competition between the various mobile phone service providers. These companies are most anxious to lock you into using their service and this is the purpose for locking them. When you own an unlocked phone, you are going to be able to select your own service, and use what is really your property in the way that you chose to use it.

GSM phones are very easy to unlock, and the CDMA phones are a bit harder. In either case, buying an unlocked mobile phone might make a little more sense than buying a phone and then unlocking it later. Ebay is one of the best sources for the purchase of unlocked mobile phones, but you need be a bit careful here. Some sellers on Ebay do not fully understand the concept of locked or unlocked. This is not really an attempt at dishonesty. They are not necessarily tech types, and simply do not understand. The best solution is to send a question to the seller and make sure that they understand exactly what it is you are asking of them.

Unlocked phones are also sold outside the United States and in some countries such as India; it is customary to unlock cell phones before selling them all the time. With the global internet market, this is a viable option for the purchase of an unlocked cell phone. Once again, the important issue to consider is making sure the seller understands exactly what you are looking to receive. Once you have your unlocked cell phones in your hands, it is an easy matter to determine if it is truly unlocked. All you need to do is try it out and it will tell you its status. If it is unlocked you are going to be able to use it to connect with whatever service you wish to use.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Aranda