Paypal may send you a “Notification of Limited Account Access RXI033″ if you try to use Opera Mini to access your paypal account. If you find Paypal has frozen your account it may be caused by your using Opera Mini or another Anonymizing web browser. Opera Mini is usually only used on Non-Smartphone devices like Motorola Razr & Blackberry. Opera Mobile is the paid version which it appears should not give the same issue.

Paypal may send an email that reads “We have reason to believe that your account was accessed by a third party. We have limited access to sensitive PayPal account features in case your account has been accessed by an unauthorized third party.”

The reason for this account access is most likely not some hacker sitting in a coffee shop messing with your paypal account. The reason is Opera Mini uses a transcoder to minimize the amount of data passing through to your cell phone. The transcoder server is in Norway. Therefore, when you attempt to access Paypal from Opera Mini on your phone in the USA the Paypal Security Watchdogs are alerted to access to your account from NORWAY. Now Opera claims to adhere to proper security policies but then they say there is no end to end security with paypal.  At the same they say they adhere to Norwegian Law as respects to privacy concerns. However it doesn’t seem to adhere to common sense. They should alert their customers IN THE OPERA MINI APPLICATION BEFORE we attempt to sign in to banks that their software is not properly suited for Secure Banking transactions. At least let their customers know that, and let the customer know that Opera Mini’s transcoder may look like an anonymizer tool, which Paypal does NOT like.

The point is, if you use Opera Mini to access Paypal, Paypal will most likely freeze your account. Period. Because of this it is wise to tell this to everyone you know who uses Opera Mini.

Here is a sad, sad side point also. Even if log in to “fix” your limited access you may not get your account reactivated at all. Their automated steps do not work. When you walk through the steps and verify your security questions and the Resolution Center shows no open cases to fix, your account may still be frozen. Paypal’s answer? I quote loosely “Our online security walkthrough to reactivate the account used to be good but now it’s behind the times and we know it’s broken. Let me ask you some questions over the phone instead. … Yes, we know it says the you have no open cases but your account is still frozen. You can only fix it over the phone.“

For your sake, I hope you didn’t find this article because you used Opera Mini to check your Paypal account balance before buying a last minute plane ticket or some other time sensitive transaction. Depending on the hold times at Paypal it may be hours before you get access to your money again.

Comments are welcome,
Evolving Office

First Photo Credit: prfct.net

For those of you who were wondering, they recently changed their name. Some links and menu items may still reference simulscribe. Also, if you get a security warning that phonetag.com is trying to act like simulscribe.com do not worry, some tech just didn’t do his job and update the web certificate.

2008-09-25 UPDATE: I use this service on my blackberry and it is absolutely wodnerful. I no longer need to interrupt meetings to read email. I now have the ability to treat voicemail like I do an important email. It is truly empowering. I hope they fix all the links to point to their new name, but I imagine it will take some time.

I’m on a mission with Verizon to fix my malfunctioning blackberry. I bought the unit with the understanding that I could ditch my old Bluetooth GPS as the Curve has a GPS chip built in. I have many Blackberry GPS programs. I purchased Garmen and TeleNav. I use free ones like Nav4All, Blackberry Maps and Google Maps. I am even trying CarFinder, amAze and AccuTracking. The problem is, none of these applications actually work with a new Verizon Blackberry. They SHOULD work. If I had a Sprint or an Alltel blackberry they would work. The only application that works? The $10 a month VZ Navigator, which is NOT a product that I would recommend.

It all comes down to corporate greed. When Blackberry released the Blackberry 8830 (World Edition), 8130 (Pearl) and 8330 (Curve) they gave the operators choices as to which features to enable or disable. The Verizon Blackberry 8330 has a crippled GPS unit. Who crippled it? Verizon apparently. Some whizbang top exec apparently felt if they could disable the internal GPS unit, they could make more money by FORCING their customers to use the substandard VZ Navigator program at an additional monthly cost.

So, none of those other programs that utilize GPS can work without purchasing an additional piece of hardware. Imagine buying a car with a built-in GPS unit from Verizon Automotive. The problem? They want you to subscribe to their $10 a month GPS program. So they disable the GPS until you purchase their monthly service. Then imagine when your friend gets in your new car and sees 2 GPS units! He asks why two? You explain “Verizon is holding my GPS hostage until I pay them more money so I had to buy another one”. Why pay $10 a month for a product I don’t want when there are better products for the same money (or even free)?

Verizon has done this before. Back in 2005 Verizon released a nice phone, disabled some of the bluetooth features, then sold it to customers as if it was all good. It wasn’t all good. Verizon was sued and they lost. Now they are pulling the same stuff again.

Mobileburn.com explains:

The case was based on claims that Verizon Wireless misrepresented the Bluetooth capabilities of the Motorola V710 phone. While the V710, the first Bluetooth phone offered by Verizon, had full Bluetooth profile support as originally designed by Motorola, Verizon had certain profiles such as Dial-Up Network and OBEX Push disabled in its offering.

So today, June 6, 2008 I talked with a nice Customer Service Rep from Verizon. She promised me that she would get back to me within 5 business days (June 13th) with answers on why this was disabled. (Two weeks ago I talked to a Customer Service Manager who promised HIS manager would call back within 3 business days. I’m still holding my breath.) Let’s see if she actually follows through. I will update this post with news.

Do you have a Verizon Blackberry 8830 World Edition, 8130 Pearl or 8330 Curve? Do you feel you have been wronged for buying a unit with GPS but not being able to use the GPS? Tell Verizon! Tell me your story. Check back often.

CURRENTLY THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THE VERIZON BLACKBERRY ISSUE IS TO BUY A BLUETOOTH GPS

UPDATE #1: June 25, 2008 To date, not one Verizon rep has called back about this issue. To top it off, we required an update to one of our other lines, and we purchased a Verizon XV6900, which is actually an HTC Touch with a different name. Our Verizon XV6900 also has the GPS disabled. It’s a shame corporate greed has sunk to this level.

UPDATE #2: August 5, 2008 No Verizon reps have called back yet. Repeated visits to stores has showed us that the store reps do not even understand the problem. Additionally visits to Altell seems to indicate they have exactly the same lock downs. I had considered migrating to Altell but it appears they have they have the same limitations.

Just to let you know, the customer only left because their new site developer hosts exclusively with EvolvingOffice. 50Below was apparently quite a good host!.

Thanks again Bill!

For around $10 a month you can have VOIP lines with several extensions. Each extension can forward to a different landline, cell phone or several phones! OR you can utilize their Soft Phone feature which let’s you add a digital line that rings directly on your computer, eliminating your landline. You can even configure it to receive faxes and have the faxes emailed to you as a pdf file. Voice messages can be forwarded to your email and even opened via blackberry! You can get toll free numbers so your customers or family can call you for free! You could literally get rid of your home or business landline phones lines entirely with proper configuration.

• Very cheap rates
• Multiple Lines, multiple extensions
• Put calls on hold and forward to other extensions
• Ability to use regular home phone with SIP adapter.
• Ability to use “soft phone” that turns your pc into a phone.
• No more late night wakeup calls! “Rules” allow you to ring you only when you want to take calls.
• “Follow Me” feature will ring every phone line you have until it finds you, if you wish.
• Custom record your messages, upload music or let your customers listen to “elevator music” while on hold.
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Give the service a try! There is a free 30 day trial. Click the following link to sign up.

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• Business cards printed at home from your own computer may seem relatively cheap, but they are no match for high quality products from a professional printing company.
• Many professional services will charge you $20 - $50 for the base card printing and then only a few bucks per thousand (or 10,000) after that. You can take advantage of this by buying large amounts of business cards at once.
• Unique is good! A unique design will catch the eye of potential clients. Some services let you create them online or even upload your own images.
  
• The standard size is used for a reason. Do not try to invent a new size for business cards. The standard size is the only one that fits well in the business card sleeves. The standard size is the only size that is easily scanned (more about scanning later). The standards size is that size for a reason. Use your creativity in designing the card, not in redesigning the size of the card.
• Include information about you and what you do. How many times have you gone through your pockets and found a name and number with no other information? A business card without any useful information is going to make your prospective client confused, not informed.
• Use the space on the back of the card. Many printers will allow you to put some information on the back of your business card for a small fee. This is a good place to put your company tag line or motto.
• Pictures are good. If you are having a professional print your card, consider putting your picture on it. ALWAYS include your company logo. If your logo and possibly your picture are included, soon your customers will learn your face and your name. They will know what you do and how to find you. Pictures help people remember.

Please visit one of the links below for more information.

PLEASE NOTE:
Though the following are not free, they are reliable hosts and may be what you are looking for:

There are so many ways to use this service. Here’s how I use it:

• Note Taking (I have a bad memory. I leave myself notes from my cell phone)
• Product Reminders (Sometimes I see something in a store, but I know it will be cheaper if I remember to look it up when I get home)
• WAKE UP CALLS! This is one of the BEST ONES! After leaving yourself a message, you can schedule it to call you at a certain time!
• Song Reminder System. Sometimes, I’m driving along and I hear a song that I want to download later. I just call BrainCast and record it. When I get home, I remember the song and look it up!
• Honey Do List. When she tells me what to do, I tell BrainCast. I know they won’t forget.
• Anniversary Reminder. (Need I say more?)
• Holiday Reminders. (Remind yourself to ask early for extra time off around holidays! Maximize your Vacation!)

Remember! It all starts when you leave yourself a message. Once you do that you can log into the account and use that message however you like!

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There are several options:

• Label The Message (For creative ideas, brainstorming sessions, writing ideas, midnight creativity, etc.)
• Email The Message (to yourself or friends & family)
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The list really goes on and on. Set BrainCast to a hotkey on your mobile phone and you’re only one button away from never forgetting an important message again.

Try it today! Registration is free!

The real problem with this setup isn’t that he only has equipment in his business office. The real problem is that he is using the wrong technology. Faxing is still necessary in some cases, but why fax when you can email?

With a “Print to PDF” application such as PrimoPDF, you can “print” a document no matter where you are. You print it to a file and choose to do what you want with it later. You could email it to a client, move it to a pocket computer or even save it to a thumbdrive and print it in another office.j

The point is, sometimes we go along with Standard Operating Procedures to get business done but we don’t know how to (or don’t feel we have the time to) make those procedures more efficient. By using one free product, this client now can potentially save hours every week. No more printing or faxing unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Do you have any time saving techniques that you would like to share? Leave a comment and let us know!

They collect and resurrect salvage materials such as antique doors, windows, glass, bathroom fixtures and hardware. Their inventory is constantly changing so check the site often!

Several years ago if someone needed some computer equipment, they would go to Sears or Radioshack. Computers were expensive, and a novelty for many. Their practicality had not yet matured for many families and small businesses. When someone wanted to purchase computers or electronics, they did so at a local store and they paid whatever premium that store demanded. TIMES HAVE CHANGED. Computers and electronics are utilized more than ever and prices are falling. Now we live in a truly global marketplace.  One internet company may order in bulk, buying tens of thousands of pieces of equipment at a time. If they have no storefront to maintain, and they sell that equipment directly to the consumer, you can save a lot of money! How do you make sure you are buying a well-priced item from a reputable company? What things should you consider before making your decision to pay a premium at a local store, or buy for less online?

There are a few basic things to consider.

1. Age. How long has the company been in business? This information isn’t always easy to find. Many scams start business after business because their ratings reset every time they do. It’s not that they’re rated a good company, they just aren’t rated bad. Many consumers will mistakenly put large orders with a company despite the fact that they have no rating. See #6 below to learn more about various companies.
2. RESEARCH! Go to google.com or click on the search google text box on this page. Research the company name and put the word review or problems in the search box. Many times you can see a list of people who had problems with that company. Remember though, just because one person rants about their issues with a company it doesn’t mean that company was necessarily 100% to blame. It will soon become apparent if there is a trend among the complaints.
3. Speed. This can be a huge factor in deciding who to order with. My favorite online ordering company is NewEgg.com and it is partly to do with their speed of service. If I place an order, many times it is at my door within 2 - 3 days, without paying for higher priced priority shipping. Some companies cannot answer when you will receive your package because of shipping variables. MOST, if not all, should at least be able to tell you when the order will be processed. Some businesses simply process all orders 2 or 3 days after the order comes in because of their size. If possible, find out beforehand when they expect to process the order. It will help set your expectations.
4. Communication. The internet is full of tech-savvy people looking to make a buck as conveniently as possible. So they build stores with beautiful FAQ’s and detailed customer support forums. The problem is we the customers are impatient. We tend to want answers immediately. For this reason, most of the calls to online retailers are simply not needed. If you the customer spend time to read their site, checking their policies and reading descriptions in full, you may find you don’t need to call them after all. Many retailers simply remove phone support altogether, opting for email. Although inconvenient to some, this helps them throttle the requests and allows them to spend less money on support.
5. Return policy. Some sites have mandatory restocking fees for returned items. If you aren’t SURE you are getting the right item, be wary of the company return policy. If there is a problem with the order, you will probably have to pay to ship the equipment back. If shipping is a significant fee for your product, it may not even be worth the cost, now you are stuck! Make sure you research what their return policies are.
6. Use credit cards! Credit card companies are no strangers to fraud. A large percentage of their resources go to preventing fraud and educating their customers. What many consumers forget though, is that merchants that use credit cards have made an agreement with the credit card companies! If those merchants break the rules, then you report them, they could lose their card contract POTENTIALLY MAKING THEM GO OUT OF BUSINESS! It is in the merchant’s best interest to keep the card companies happy. If you properly report fraudulent activity to the card company you could save many more people lots of hassle down the road.
7. Reputation and price. Word of mouth is the best advertising possible. Ask your techno-savvy friends where they shop. Check out places like The Better Business Bureau. The online version of this resource can be found at http://www.bbbonline.org/. Also, check sites like http://froogle.com and http://shopper.yahoo.com. These search companies list millions of products from thousands of companies and often have powerful price comparison tools. It is in their best interest to figure out which businesses are good, and which are bad. They may offer rating systems which will help guide you through the experience of previous customers. Remember, generally if there is a LOT of reviews and they are almost ALL good, the merchant is a good egg. If there are FEW or NO reviews or only one or two reviews and they aren’t so great… the merchant may be a good egg, ready to be discovered and just growing.
8. Purchase size. Maybe that stereo price is a little to good to be true. Maybe the company has only a few ratings and your gut says NOT to spend $350 on that $800 stereo. Your gut is usually right. If in doubt, don’t. If you still want to tread through the water, make a small purchase. Test the company out. If your $20 memory card gets delivered in a timely fashion… then maybe think about going bigger. Let them earn your trust. SLOWLY.

I hope these guidelines can help someone. Let me know if you have significant information to add to the list.
Have you had a good shopping experience? Would you like to share which Merchants you really like and tell us why? Please do! I will be making a Recommended Merchants page in the future with this information.