The internet and related technologies are overtaking many original communication methods such as post and landline telephones. These are still, however, regularly used by many people.

This page provides you with an understanding of some of the methods and tools used with both of these.

With post, there is information on postal systems, stamps, postcodes/zipcodes and some of the major postal operations such as Australia POST.

In relation to telephony, data is linked to Australian and International telephone systems and information, mobile telephones - their use and health concerns, as well as information about VOIP including how the system works, suppliers, comparison sites, support and more.

Postal Information

Australian Postal Information & Postcodes

• Australia Post
• Australian Postcodes, Maps, …
  World Time and Dialling Codes. Part of the White Pages.
• Australian Stamps
  Information about Australian stamps and collectibles. Australia Post.
• Post Code Database for Australia
  Every suburb, town, village has a postcode.

International Postal Information & Postcodes/Zipcodes

• International Zip Code database
  World postcodes or zip codes.
• Post Code Links
  Links to access each country’s postcodes.
• Royal Mail
  UK postcodes, details about postage rates within and from the UK.
• World Mail
  Thinkquest. Take a trip through postal systems around the world, see how they interlink and how the system operates as a whole.
• World Postal Information Links
• Zip Codes & Postal Codes of the World

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Telephone Information

Australian Telephone Numbers & Information

• Communications and Technology for Consumers
  ‘Working toward a better future for all Australians and developing a world-class Australian communications and information technology sector’. Internet, mobile phones, telephone services, more.
• Cybrary Phone, Email, Postcodes
  Links to postcodes, emails, telephone number sources Australian and international. University of Queensland.
• Telstra White Pages
  Home and some small business telephone numbers, other tools.
• Telstra Australia Yellow Pages
  Business numbers.

International Telephone Numbers & Information

General Sites

• AreaCode.org
  ‘An area codes locator and comprehensive directory of area codes across the United States, Canada and within the North American Numbering Plan’.
• NumberInvestigator
  ‘NumberInvestigator.com provides Free information about hundreds of millions of landline and cell phone numbers in the United States and Canada. This information includes approximate location, city the phone number belongs to and phone carrier information. Our comprehensive database also includes reports of thousands of numbers used by telemarketers, scammers, debt collectors and other annoying callers’.

Business Telephone Directories

These links lead directly to business telephone numbers rather than personal or ‘residential’ numbers.

• McRAE’S Business Directory
  ‘The trusted source of Business-to-Business information on millions of the nation’s companies. America’s Original Directory Since 1892’.
• ProFile Canada
  Find business contact information by using the search engine, the category database, the alphabetical listings. A large range of listings [more than 1 000 000].
• Superpages
  Telephone & email addresses and numbers. The business section of a very large site covering the United States.

• Coolfinder
• Country Calling Codes
  International Dialling Codes. Codes to and from different countries.
• FoneFinder
  Search for international telephone numbers by several methods.
• Freesearching
  World wide directories listed alphabetically. Includes business and personal.
• HowtoCallAbroad.com
  ‘This website’s mission is to provide our visitors with comprehensive and up to date information on how to dial internationally from the USA, Canada or from any other country. Telephone country codes and international area codes are displayed by country, with additional info featured such as city and cellular codes, telephone books. In addition we provide a comprehensive list of country and exit codes’.
• Infobel World - Telephone Directories
  Access directories, find international dialling codes for listed countries.
• Infotel
  Telephone directories from 187 countries.
• International White and Yellow Pages
  Also time, international dialling codes, email, search engines.
• Numberway
  ‘Find international white pages and yellow pages phone books, and search online directory enquiries, in this Free, independent and up-to-date guide to telephone directories on the web’.
• Phonebook of the World
  Search by country. Huge listing.
• Superpages People
  Linked to the US business listing above. Personal searches, even reverse lookup.
• White Pages
  International phone numbers including reverse lookup.
• WhoWhere ?
  World telephone numbers, other information.
• World Time & Dialling Codes

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Specific Country Links

• 411.info
  Phone numbers for people/businesses in the US. Reverse Lookup, Maps & Directions, weather, more.
• AnyWho
  US directories.
• UK Phone Book
  Business, private numbers.

Telephone Cards, International

Use these for cheap phone calls. Many have cheaper rates for local, long distance calls.

• Best Phone Cards
  Very strong for cards to the Asian region, though it is not restricted to this.
• CheapCard
  International pre-paid calling cards and a significant range of other services.
• OzPrepaidCards
  While designed to sell phone cards, you can also compare prices and value on the site.
• Telephone Card Check
  Use this site to compare available telephone cards for calling other countries. Check costs, connections, more.

Mobile Phones

General Sites

• ACA Tool Kit
  ‘An information portal designed to help you choose the best value mobile, Internet and fixed line products and services to meet your unique needs’. Access sections from the front page.
• How Cell Phones Work
  From How Stuff Works.
• iMobile.com.au
  Information about individual mobile phones, comparisons, reviews, pricing, price comparisons, breaking news, coming models.
• Mobile Manufacturers Forum
  Publications, research findings, information on wireless devices, newsletters, fact sheets - especially on mobile phone safety.
• Thinkmobile
  Resources for handhelds including telephones. Also PDAs, laptops, more.

Mobile Phone Health Information

• Cell Phone Facts - Consumer Information
  Find what you wanted to know about health factors. US government site.
• CPR News
  ‘The source for learning more about radiation and cell phones. Pprovides updated information from news sources around the world’.
• Mobile Communications and Health
  The Ericsson site, but is indicative of general information relating to SAR, radio waves, networks, other health and research issues.
• Mobile Telephones and Health Effects
  Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Information is downloadable in PDF format. Other links.
• The Case for Precaution In the Use of Cell Phones
  ‘Advice from University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute based on advice from an International Expert Panel’.

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Voice over Internet Telephony [VOIP]

Without exception, you will need Broadband Access to effectively use this form of telephony.

Check carefully to see what hardware, other than what you already have, is required to operate effectively and what costs will be involved. Do thers require the same software/hardware package as yourself in order to receive calls.

This format is improving and will become more commonplace in the future. It should also offer increased savings based on current indications.

In addition to program suppliers, we have also included some hardware suppliers [phones, etc.] and information sources.

As with all services, Check several sources to ensure you are getting the best value for your needs.

Comparison Sites

These will provide a comparative guide to various services available and consumer comments.

• Australian Broadband Discussion Forums
  Click on VoIP to see what others are saying about services, potential difficulties, things that work well.
• OzInternetPhones
  Listing of VOIP/Internet Phone Service providers with relevant details. ‘See the What Else Do You Need page to see what things you actually require to get a VOIP internet phone operating’.
• OzVoiP
  Use this site for independent advice about options and the process. You can buy hardware through the site.
• VoIP Choice Australia
  Your Australian VoIP Guide. ‘Read our simple New User VoIP Guide and check the VoIP FAQs. Check the Compare VoIP Plans page or grab a bargain in our VoIP Store. Got a question ? Ask it in the VoIP Choice Forum’.

General Sites

Includes suppliers of services.

• BroadBand Phone
  Provider of VoIP and other phone services.
• Centrix Phone - ATU
  Telephony or broadband & telephony. Has access to associated hardware.
  Previously listed as AstraTEL.
• Clear Talk
  Using Broadband and the NBN to make telephone calls without using phone lines. Multiple sections of information from FAQs to International rates.
• engin
  ‘Allows any broadband user to make and receive calls using their existing telephone at a very low price. Simple to use and comes with a wide range of included features allowing the user to actively control their own calls’.
• eXetel
  ‘Residential and business Internet and telephone services throughout Australia’. Click on VoIP for specific information.
• FaktorTel
  Free calls to any other FaktorTel phone. They ‘offer some of the best voip telephone deals Australia wide’.
• Firefly
  ‘Firefly softphone allows you to call your friends and family who are also using Firefly for Free and by normal telephone’. Free and Fee-based services.
• GOtalk
  ‘The new generation broadband phone service based on making telephone calls over your Internet connection into a phone line also commonly known as VoIP’. Also has other phone services.
  You now have to log-in to be able to access this site.
• iinetphone
  ‘Iiphone and iinetphone help you to connect better with friends and family wherever they are with competitive call rates and Free call ii to ii’.
• ISPhone
  ‘Our specialty is providing complete VoIP solutions, managing VoIP networks, and transforming data systems into cost-effective, cutting-edge telecommunications tools’.
• Mynetfone
  ‘Customers are able to make and receive phone calls over any type of broadband Internet connection. Calls between MyFone customers are Free while calls to the public fixed and mobile networks, both domestic and international, are charged at extremely low rates’.
• Simtex
  ‘Turn your broadband or dial up Internet connection into a phone to save money on calls to any phone, anywhere in the world’.
• Skype
  ‘A little program for making Free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It’s Free and easy to download and use’.

Products & Advice

Includes suppliers of software & hardware.

• Counterpath
  Supplier of soft phones and software for use with VoIP.
• FreeCall
  Sections include What Do I Get ?, What Do I Need ?, What Next ?.
• ITtelenet
  Products for use with VoIP. Primarily phones of different kinds.
• People Telecom iPhone
  ‘An Australian Full-Service Telecommunications Company that offers a wide range of products to Homes and Businesses’.

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