« September 2010 | Main | January 2011 »
Thanks to Phil Bradley for a reminder about Google New, another place to look for all the interesting things Google is working on now. The page includes updates - going back a year or more in some cases - on most of its properties.
You can filter the page for just new developments in news, YouTube, mobile search, Google Finance, Docs or other specific areas. Nice way to get updated on the parts of Google you use the most.
It must have been back around 1995 when I decided to butch up my business, show that I was serious, and get a toll-free phone number. The phone companies had recently expanded the toll-free codes from only 800 to 888, 877, and 866. Back then, if you had an original 800 number, you showed that you had been in business for while -- not a Johnny-come-lately to toll-free services. I was quite proud to have landed one of the last 800 numbers (800.820.2104 - full of zeros, so of no value to anyone who wants to spell something from the numbers).
I have held on to that number for 15 years, simply because back then it was an indication of stability. Now that I have paid office help, all my bills are getting reviewed with a fresh perspective. Lin looked at the phone bill and asked why exactly I was paying a monthly fee plus $.05/minute for incoming calls. Um, well, you see... I've got this original 800 number, see, and, um...
I finally realized that since virtually everyone has access to unlmited long distance, the only people who can't just pick up the phone are people who probably don't have budget authority to contract with me. I'm paying $.05/minute to talk with someone who isn't allowed to make a long-distance phone call? Not so much. So, farewell to my original 800 number. May someone else wear it in good health.