1. DIDs covering numerous destinations worldwide can be acquired online.
2. Through the use of a DID your customers will be able to call you at local call rates. This is particularly significant because it essentially eliminates the need for local representatives at every location and allows you to talk as much as you want at a reasonable monthly rate.
3. Operating a small business may require you to travel. You can change the forwarding destination of your DIDs, so you can still receive all of your calls when you’re on the road. The price of the DID will remains the same regardless of destination (mobile or landline) and you avoid paying the cellular companies’ excessive roaming rates.
4. You can receive calls to your different phone numbers on a single phone line, and able to answer more than one call simultaneously.
5. You will also be able to receive calls from those connected to the traditional PSTN network on your VoIP or Skype devices, making you more easily accessible.

In short, a DID is easy to set up, flexible, useful and cost effective. Using DIDs a small business can establish a global presence at minimal costs.

Note: This information was provided by the helpful people at DID World Wide, a leading global supplier of IP-based communications services including Direct Inward Dialing (DID) access solutions.

PEER 1 10 Year Anniversary Tattoo’s from Charnell Pugsley on Vimeo.

Today at PEER 1 and ServerBeach, we are celebrating 10 years in business. It’s a blast right now! Our staff of 360 in 12 offices around the world have been divided into two teams: Orange and Lime. We’ve got games going on over the next 24 hours for the two teams to compete in, prizes to dish out and our legendary Beer O’Clock to cap it all off. The employee spirit here is incredible. I can stay without hesitation this is the best company and group of people I have ever work for and with in my career.

So how deep does the spirit run in this company? Well, check out this video where three of our staff members in San Antonio, Texas marked the anniversary occasion with company tattoos. Sweet.

The original founders of Microsoft... and a token brown guy.

Last week, I had the pleasure of touring the humungus Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA. Suren Singh of Microsft gave myself and my colleagues a personal tour of the grounds which is home to over 30,000 employees and spreads across 8 million square feet. I still can’t get my head around it. What struck me most about the impressive grounds is the university campus feel it had that got me feeling nostalgic about my days at UVic. There are plenty of soccer fields outfitted with outdoor artificial turf, immaculate landscaping that retains the pacific northwest feel, and buildings up buildings divided by business concentrations.

The highlight for me was a visit to the Microsoft museum that covered the history of the company from it’s humble start in 1975 up to present day innovations like Surface and Xbox 360. By the way, Surface is VERY cool and ironically (I learned) that it almost never came to fruition. There are endless possibilities for this technology to be used in everyday workplace and home appliances. Below are some photos from the museum, but quite honestly, they don’t do it any justice. Visit it in person if you ever get the chance. Worth the trip out to Redmond. And, thank you Suren for the hospitality!

The Flip Video Mino

Cool new point-and-shoot video camcorder called the Flip Video Mino by Pure Digital Technologies is the size of a small digital camera, but can record up to 60 minutes of video and publish straight to YouTube, AOL Video, and MySpace through its internal software. You can see a Flip Video demo here. It retails for $179.99 and comes with 2GB internal memory, rechargeable batteries, digital zoom, and a USB arm that connects directly to your laptop download your videos in seconds. I’ll be getting my hands on one soon and can’t wait to start playing around with it.This is a great tool for bloggers and Internet video aficionados.

At PEER 1, we have launched today a limited time promotion where are giving away the Flip Video Mino free to anyone who signs up for a managed hosting or dedicated hosting plan. If you are in the market for hosting, this a great time to sign up for a plan and to get your hands on this hot new gadget.

My colleagues and I opening the TSX on September 30th, 2008.

Yesterday, at 9:30am EST, my PEER 1 colleagues and I were given the opportunity to open the market for the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) (on which we are listed under the symbol PIX). What a cool experience and one that I won’t soon forget. I remember back in university taking a course on corporate valuation taught by a former Wall Street insider. I found it fascinating and have been following the markets ever since. I’ve also seen many companies on television opening the market by ringing the bell, or in our case, pushing a touch screen button on a plasma (ah, technology). I can’t say I ever thought I would get the chance, but I’m very glad I did. The opening marks a significant milestone in PEER 1’s nine year history and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it, and to have shared the experience with a tremendous group of people.

The new and faster Apple iPhone 3G will be available in Canada through Rogers and Fido beginning July 11th. The data plan pricing hasn’t been revealed but the price of the phone will be the same as in the US, $199 for the eight-gigabyte version and $299 for the 16-gigabyte version. I’m one of the few who has the now old iPhone unhacked, so I personally can’t wait to get my hands on the new one and actually make a phone call from it. Read story

“The listing of PEER 1’s shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange will be a major milestone in PEER 1’s evolution” said Fabio M. Banducci, PEER 1’s president and CEO. “We look forward to the increased visibility that our graduation to the TSX will deliver to the company and to our shareholders.”

I’v been at PEER 1 since November 2004 and have witnessed more growth in the past three years working here than I have over my entire career. This is a great company with tremendous people, and I’m truly proud to be part of it. For PEER 1, I really feel this is just the beginning. But for now, we are celebrating this milestone.

• Official Press Release
• PIX Stock Information

I think I’m in love. The newly re-designed 2009 Audi A4 is coming to North America in September. Can’t wait to see those beaded headlights face-to-face.

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