Vietnam Urban Forum

Archive for June, 2009

Exploring Predam And Prodam iPhones

The fervor had built to a feverish pitch. Weeks before Apple would unleash their iPhone onto the expectant marketplace, rumors had begun to circulate about the device’s functionality. Online forums became both meeting place and combat zone as fans participated in heated debates about the new gadget. Blogs exploded with new readers who searched desperately for any credible information they could find about the coming iPhone. Soon, popular media began to chase the story of the impending launch. When the day finally arrived, millions of people waited for the chance to buy one. They would be dazzled and disappointed.

iPhone Owners Are Dazzled And Disappointed

When people first purchased their iPhones, they were in awe. It seemed to have few limitations. Never before had anyone seen such a compact device capable of doing so much with such an intuitive interface. The iPhone’s popularity surged immediately and those who had hesitated on launch day hurried to the stores to buy one. But, behind the initial dazzle lurked a major problem.

Due to an alliance between Apple and AT&T, the iPhone would only work on AT&T’s network. That is, there was an exclusivity clause (supported by the iPhone’s technical architecture) that precluded any other wireless carrier from providing service to iPhone users. In order to activate the iPhone’s phone, voice, web and email functionality, owners had to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T. This stunned new iPhone owners and ultimately set the stage for the emergence of a predam iPhone.

The Predam iPhone Emerges

For those people who already used AT&T for their existing cell phones, activating their iPhones on AT&T’s network wasn’t an issue. However, most iPhone owners used other carriers for their cellular service. Activating their iPhones would require another service contract with another hefty monthly fee. What was designed to be a major coup for both Apple and AT&T turned into a public relations fiasco. A predam iPhone (also known as a prodam iPhone) was soon developed to circumvent the limitation.

Benefits Of A Predam iPhone

A prodam iPhone (or unlocked iPhone) has one primary purpose: to thwart the technical architecture that prevents owners from using their iPhones with other GSM services. Doing so has several benefits. First, if an iPhone owner has an existing cellular plan with another carrier, it’s far more convenient to use his iPhone with that plan. Second, new AT&T customers are required to sign a 2-year contract to activate their iPhones. This is a longer commitment than many are willing to make. Third, a predam iPhone allows someone traveling overseas to use a prepaid SIM card (arguably more convenient that using AT&T’s service overseas). Fourth, by unlocking it, you can sell your prodam iPhone to someone else more easily.

Making Life Easy With A Prodam iPhone

Unless you’re already using AT&T’s network for your cell phone or iPhone and you’re happy with it, there are few reasons to leave your iPhone locked. While AT&T’s service is likely adequate, the coverage, 2-year contract and additional monthly fee for using your iPhone make it significantly less-appealing. Fortunately, you have options. Creating a predam iPhone only requires a few minutes and free software. And if you’d rather have someone else unlock the iPhone, you can find several prodam iPhones for sale on eBay. They’re already unlocked and can be used on any compatible GSM service. A locked iPhone can be severely limiting. Explore how a prodam iPhone can make your life easier (and less expensive).

  Forum marketing is a very popular way affiliates promote their websites or blogs.  Promoting on forums can be a great way to drive free traffic to your site, so you can introduce your product to interested people.  Before you start promoting on a forum, you need to know how to go about it.  Building a good relationship with a forum community is essential.  So, if you are thinking of using forums as a source to promote your website, make sure you know how to go about it and get started.

    Forums are a community of sorts.  Think of them as your neighborhood and the people on them are your neighbors.  A forum is a gathering place where people come together to discuss certain topics of interest.  There is most likely a forum out there for every niche possible.  You can use these forums to get information, ask questions, make new friends, and of course promote yourself.  You don’t want to sign up at a forum site and just start promoting.  There are certain unwritten rules that you should follow when you join a forum.

    Like I said earlier, a forum is a community.  The people who belong to them are a network.  They know one another and are trusting of each other.  So, it would not be a good idea to just join the forum and start bombarding it with your links for promotion.

    3 Steps for Establishing Yourself in a Forum Community

1.     Register and Look Around

    Once you have found a forum geared toward your specific niche. Go ahead and register an account for yourself.  Then, you should set up your personal profile.  You should take a few days to look around the forum before you start posting.  Get a feel for the forum.  Browse the posts, learn about some of the other members, and get yourself familiar with the written rules.

2.     Start Posting (Slow and Easy)

    You can go ahead and start posting after you have seen how your particular forum operates.  But, don’t over do it with posts.  You don’t want to be seen as a spammer.  Spammers bombard forums with irrelevant posts, so that they will get link exposure.  You want people to take you seriously, so again, don’t over do it!

3.     Build a Respectful Reputation

    Since you have started posting on your chosen forum.  You want to continue to post good and relevant posts.  Don’t expect people to automatically think you are an expert, show them.  Help people with their questions and answer them as thoroughly and as best you can.  You will get more clicks on your link, as you gain respect in your forum community.

    Creating relevant and valuable posts to your forum is nessesary.  You should not post a bunch of  ”I Agrees!”  Don’t expect to establish a good reputation doing that.  You need to provide valuable information to your forum.

    There are several different ways to post on your forum.  First, and foremost.  You should post an introduction.  Introducing yourself to your forum community.  Also, when there are other new people who have joined the forum, you can post to their introduction and welcome them.

    When posting questions, don’t ask questions that you can easily find answers to on a search engine.  You should post thoughtful questions.  When answering questions on your forum, give as much information as you can.  Don’t post uninformative answers, as they are not going to be very helpful.  When someone else has already posted a good informative answer to someones question, you can always comment on their answer and add valuable insight.  Once again, you should not just post “I Agree!”

    Once you have spent a few days or even weeks establishing yourself in your forum community, as a valuable, trusting member.  You should be able to start dropping your signature link at the end of your posts.  All forums are different when it comes to posting a signature link.  Some, let you include a link immediately.  Some, will require you to post a certain number of messages first.  Then there are ones that require you to be an active member for a specific period of time.  Make sure you read all the forum rules, so you know when to start adding your signature link.

    Building good relationships and establishing a good reputation in your forum community first is KEY!  Getting clicks on your link will follow.  So go get

The recent release of the Apple iPhone has caused a lot of buzz. The phone for many is a must have for its ease of use, great features and the iPhone is also a very cool status symbol. But at $600 is it worth the price?

The iPhone has some amazing features. Starting with its operating system OS X. This operating system is familiar to anyone who has used a Mac. The OS X is simple, clean and easy to use. In this hand held device it is very similar to that of a desktop system. You can easily access your widgets, Safari, text messaging, notes, calendar, email and every other feature that you are accustomed to with the desktop version.

The built in sensors on the iPhone’s touch screen is very unique and fun. The sensors make it easy to zoom in or out with just a pinch of two fingers. It is also easy to scroll through photos or other files by swiping your finger tip in which ever direction you want to scroll. This feature is fun, easy and very practical. The sleek design and sensor navigation makes this phone unparalleled.

The iPhone comes with its own built in 2.0 mega pixel camera. While this may seem like it is low pixel, the phone actually takes very good photos and images. It is also very easy to exchange photos to or from your Mac. You can also easily add photos to your address book so that when you get a phone call the image of the caller will appear.

Making a phone call has never been easier on a cell phone. To make a call, all you have to do is touch a name or a phone number. While the call part might seem like a basic feature, the iPhone has found a way to make it easy and practical.

The iPhones Internet feature is also great. The phone comes with a very advanced web browser which allows you to synch bookmarks from your home computer. Safari also has a built in search with Google and Yahoo. The iPhone is great for multitasking as it allows you to browse the web while you are downloading files.

One of the most fun features of the iPhone is that you can so easily access youtube. How great is it to be able to watch youtube videos to pass the time while waiting on a train or an appointment. The sliding touch screen allows you to easily scan for videos and the resolution and sound are surprisingly good.

You don’t have to worry about getting lost if you have your iPhone on you. With the iPhone you can quickly go to Google maps for directions at your fingertips.

There are many other great features to the iPhone, but probably the biggest complaint is that you can only use the phone with ATT. This means that if you already have a phone contract with another cell phone service, you will have to either continue your payments with the old service provider in vain or pay the hefty contract canalization fee.

While the iPhone may be expensive and you may have to pay to cancel your old cell phone contract, I feel the phone is worth buying. The phone is fun, practical, easy to use and very cool. I don’t think you will be disappointed.