We first became interested in these frames when our accounting manager bought one for her parents. All the kids and grand-kids can email pictures directly to the frame for an ever changing array of photos. And the best part is, her parents don’t have to do anything to add the new photos.

If you’re looking for a unique gift for Mother’s Day a Wi-Fi enabled photo frame is sure to be a hit. With Haviland  Telephone’s DSL service and standard wireless modems, no extra equipment is necessary. Keep reading to learn more about some of the Wi-Fi ready frames available.

Motorola 10” Digital Photo Frame
Retails at: $99.99 from Amazon.com

• ŸDisplay photo albums from photo sites such as Flickr and Picasa
• Ÿ Send and receive photos from the frame via email
• Ÿ Listen to MP3 music while enjoying your photos
• Ÿ Programmable on/off time
• Ÿ Clock, alarm and calendar functions
• Ÿ Wall mountable

Kodak Pulse 7” Digital Frame
Retails at: $129.99 from Amazon.com (10” size also available for $199.99)

• Ÿ Display photos from Facebook and Kodak Gallery sites (quick comment feature for Facebook)
• Ÿ Send and receive photos from the frame via dedicated email
• Ÿ Built-in activity sensor turns the frame on when you’re nearby and conserves energy when you’re not

Pix-Star 8” FotoConnect Web Frame
Retails at: $149.99 from Amazon.com (10.4” size also available for $189.99)

• Ÿ Display photos from Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, Shutterfly and more
• Ÿ Send and receive photos from the frame via dedicated email

This year’s recipients are: Austin Phillips of Conway Springs, Rebecca Lynn Stillwell of Nashville, Jordan Wyrick of Haviland, Natali Goertzen of Argonia, and Kaitlin Nellene Henson of Argonia.

In addition, Montana Bailey of Sawyer, Kansas, was awarded $1000 from the Foundation for Rural Education and Development (FRED) through her nomination by Haviland Telephone Company.  FRED awarded $76,000 in scholarships to some of the most outstanding students rural America has to offer.  A total of 52 students were selected to receive scholarships from the organization.  Close to 200 applicants applied to this program this year.  Montana, a graduate Medicine Lodge High School, plans to attend Bethany College in the fall.

FRED is a national 501(c)(3) charitable foundation located in Washington, D.C., and was founded in 1989 by the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO).  The mission of FRED and its supporters is to promote educational, social and economic development in rural America and Canada.  Only OPASTCO member companies are eligible to nominate a student.

Looking for that perfect gift idea for Mom this Mother’s Day?  Check out our article on WiFi picture frames that allow you to email pictures directly to her all year long.  We also announce the Directory Cover photo contest for 2012 and tell you how to “spring clean” your email box.

Click here for the May  2012 Newsletter.

May 2012 Newsletter Answers

Newsletter Archives

Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and shrubs. The depth of utility lines varies and there may be multiple utility lines in a common area. Digging without calling can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm you and those around you and potentially result in fines and repair costs. Calling 811 before every digging job gets your underground utility lines marked for free and helps prevent undesired consequences.

Pick up the phone before you pick up the shovel! Call Kansas One-Call at 811 or 1-800-DIGSAFE. Calling Kansas One-Call is the law if you are going to be doing any kind of digging for any reason.

It is free to you to have lines or cables located. If you do not call and end up cutting a line or cable, the cost of repairing is up to you and can get very pricey. You’ll need to provide the best location details you can, often the street or legal description of where you’ll be working; when you’ll be working; and what type of work you’ll be doing. You need to call at least 3 days before work is scheduled to begin.

Locate ticket requests can also be submitted online at: www.kansasonecall.com. You can check the status of a ticket, read tips on digging safely, learn more about when or how to contact Dig Safe and view the entire Kansas One-Call docket at the website as well.

Remember, calling One-Call is not just a safety precaution, it’s the law.

Do you or your family members have a smartphone? The convenience of internet access in your hip pocket is great both on the road and at home. HTC’s high speed DSL offers a faster Internet connection than national wireless networks available in our service area, saving you time. It can also save you money, especially if you don’t have an unlimited data plan, by eliminating the need to use your smartphone’s data plan while at home. Check with your wireless phone provider to verify the details.

Do you have a laptop currently wired into your modem?  Wish you could conveniently move it from room to room and maintain internet access? Odds are you can.  Most laptops come wi-fi enabled, and with a few clicks you can be streaming videos or surfing the web from any room in your house.

Been considering a tablet computer such as an iPad or a Kindle? Just take it out of the box and follow the setup process to get connected.  It doesn’t get easier than that.

With a Haviland Telephone wireless modem, your options are almost limitless on how and where you access the internet.  If you are uncertain about the process, or have questions about your existing wireless service, call our office during business hours or visit our Frequently Asked Questions on the Service tab of our website anytime day or night.

Take advantage of the benefits your existing home wireless network and get connected today!

The Department of Revenue then looks at the total company situation: total assets, age of assets, change in status from last assessment, anticipated change and ability to generate revenue. This includes everything from vehicles and buildings to cables and services. We even have to pay taxes on our Long Distance operation. Although there is no physical asset or property tied to it, our Long Distance services have the ability to generate revenue. Haviland Telephone is assigned a valuation by the Department of Revenue, then assessed at 33% times the local mill rate levy. Much of the local taxes this generates goes right back into our public schools.

Stay aware of impending severe weather. Local weather reports are invaluable during severe weather.  In addition, you can locate your local weather report online with the National Weather Service (www.weather.gov).  Haviland Telephone provides a direct link to your local weather on our news page (www.havilandtelconews.com). It is set up to default to the town closest to you in our service area when you access the site. We also recommend that you keep a weather radio with battery backup to be alerted when there is severe weather in your area.

Practice tornado safety. The State Library of Kansas has compiled a list of links to information on tornado safety and disaster preparedness with a couple informative resources for children.

Protect your electronic investments from an electrical strike or power surge. Your friends at Haviland Telephone remind you to always unplug your computers, televisions, modems, fax machines, VCRs, cable outlets, and telephones when the forecast is for threatening storms. A lightning strike to the electrical or phone lines can lead to serious damage to this electronic equipment, and in some cases, even a fire. To avoid the risk of injury or death, unplug everything before the bad weather starts – you don’t want to touch or be near electrical outlets and devices during an electrical storm. An electronic surge protector with a built-in phone line protector is a great idea, but keep in mind that it does not provide 100% guaranteed protection. This type of device does make it easier to unplug many items at once, so it can streamline your response to an upcoming storm. You may also want to visit with your insurance agent to check on your coverage for electronic equipment and confirm the amount of your deductible. We want you to stay informed, and stay safe, during this storm season.

Stay connected to family, friends and emergency personnel during storm season. Haviland Telephone’s facilities are underground, not aerial, reducing the chance of phone line damage from lightning. We also provide battery and generator backup for our phone system. For safety’s sake, we urge you to have at least one corded phone, since it does not require electricity and could be your lifeline in the event of storms. Please keep in mind:

• Cordless phones require electricity and will not continue to work during a power outage.
• Cellular systems and towers are not required to provide backup power, so cell phones may not operate during a power outage either. During an extensive power outage, your cell phone’s battery may become depleted and you may be unable to charge your phone without electricity.

Click here for the April  2012 Newsletter.

April 2012 Newsletter Answers

Newsletter Archives

2-1-1 – United Way. You’re local United Way can find help for mentoring, after-school programs, senior care, counseling, food pantries, disability services and more. You can also find organizations to volunteer for, donate to or advocate.

4-1-1 – Directory Assistance. Directory Assistance can find specific phone numbers and addresses for businesses and residences. Unpublished numbers and addresses are not available through the Directory Assistance.

5-1-1 – Travel Information. Call to learn about road conditions, construction detours and travel weather information for the Kansas turnpike and any Interstate, US or state highway in Kansas and Nebraska.

6-1-1 – Haviland Telephone Company. You can use this number to contact us to make changes to your account, report phone troubles or with any questions or inquiries you might have.

7-1-1 – Kansas Relay Center. This is a communication service that connects people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled that may use specialized telephone equipment to people who use standard telephones.  An operator assists with the call, relaying typed and spoken messages from one user to the other.

8-1-1 – Dig Safe. By contacting Dig Safe you can request to have underground lines marked before starting a digging project. Companies with buried lines must have a ticket from Dig Safe before doing any locating.

9-1-1 – Emergency Services. 9-1-1 should be used only in emergencies when police, fire department or an ambulance is needed. 9-1-1 should NOT be called for information, to report power outages, pay a ticket or for pet emergencies.

There are three general categories of cloud computing: Storage, Software, and Hosting (such as for email or a website). The easiest way to understand the difference between local and cloud computing is to look at a few examples of software and hardware that perform the same or similar functions.

Not all cloud services are one-for-one substitutes for their desktop counterpart. For example, Microsoft Office has many more features than Google Docs, although the latter makes cooperation between remotely located users easier. You also have much more control over music that you’ve purchased than what you rent from a cloud service like Pandora.

All things considered, it’s safe to say that tomorrow’s forecast will include clouds.