Here is another VOIP for you, DallasXtreme. DallasXteme specializes in Ventrilo Server and Ventrilo Hosting. They also secure their service with GoDaddy’s SSL. The cool thing about DallasXtreme right now? You get a 50% discount is you use the promo code “Summer09″. Obviously, this coupon is only good for a little while longer.

They also host Teamspeak servers, and comparing rates the prices are the same. Most of my experience is the Teamspeak so that is the route I usually go.

Current monthly rates are as follows:

• 10 Users – $2.48
• 15 Users – $3.48
• 25 Users – $5.48
• 50 Users – $9.48

Looking at those rates you can see there is pretty much no excuse to not get a host for your gaming needs. On the Ventrilo servers you can actually host up to 400 users. That’s a $119.95 a month. That will also be a killer deal if you used the promo deal they are currently doing.

Playing online is always fun, and being able to actually talk to others while you are doing it makes it even better. Hosting a Ventrilo Server on your own IP is just dumb though. It will completely swallow up your own bandwidth. The best way to go? Use a server like DallasXtreme’s and let them do the hosting. Low cost, high quality, and more bandwidth for you!

Hardware, Websites and Blogs hosting, server, ventrilo

So I have been looking at a bunch of websites that rate hosting services. UpperHost is yet another one, see their best web hosting ratings to see how they have rated everyone. While I was looking at all these hosting review sites, I found one very common similarity, Host Monster.

UpperHost has rated Bluehost as number one as far as they are concerned, see bluehost hosting review, but their number two ranked host was Host Monster. What’s the big deal? Well, when I look at many other host rating sites, they all seem to have their own different favorites for the number one spot, but Host Monster always seems to get the number two spot. Comparing BlueHost to Host Monster, personally Host Monster seems to be the better pick. Both are comparable for services, but the one thing I like more about Host Monster is that they pre-install a ton of the common services that you might want, like Joomla, polling software, or Wordpress.

Another selling point for Host Monster is really just their customer base. They are currently hosting nearly a half a million sites. Getting a high rating like they typically do combined with such a large customer base really confirms their quality of service, and their pricing. I might just have to check them out when I set up my next domain.

Here is the review of Host Monster that UpperHost gave.

Hardware, Websites and Blogs bluehost, host monster, hosting, review

Are you a gaming fanatic? I know many of you are, and for a while I was. I even hosted my own Teamspeak server for a while. Hassle. I hated sharing my IP address. If I knew about UGT I probably would have just gotten a Teamspeak Server. It’s cheap, and doesn’t hog my bandwidth. Here is your introduction to a Ventrilo Server.

Low Cost

UGT Servers offers a variety of packages based on your gamming/community needs. Prices start at just $2.69 a month for a ten person limit, and go up to $23.25 a month for 100 person limit. When I was hosting my own I never had more than ten, but that was still enough to slow down my old DSL line. $32 for an entire year could equal a ton of fun. They have Ventrilo Hosting throughout the contry, and is not just limited to the U.S., so connection speed should not be an issue.

Easy Setup

According to UGT, even a Level 12 Mage could even set it up. The servers use a web based control panel, you can add and remove channels, you can modify voice codecs, and you can even reset/turn on/turn off your server. In the past, when I ran my own, it was an easy setup. If you have someone set up the server for you like UGT,  well don’t be surprised if a twelve year old is hosting one.

Cool service, great idea for a hosting company, a good luck in your gaming fun. I will crush you.

Hardware hosting, server, teamspeak, UGT, ventrilo

Hosting Ref has updated their list of top sites for 2009. InMotion Hosting won the #1 spot again. Hosting Ref reviews and rates web hosting services.

Everyone of the hosting sites that made the top ten cost less than $7 a month, and many of the offered unlimited bandwidth. If you’re looking for budget hosting, their #2 spot was Web Hosting Pad costing just $3.96 a month. You can’t get much cheaper than that for server space.

Hosting Ref has the side by side comparison they have on the main page, but also does an extensive review for each site. One thing I think they have added since last year is their customer reviews. Besides hearing what Hosting Ref has to say, you can see what the general audience is saying. Reviewers rate several categories, and can also submit written feedback. This makes the reviews way more credible to me.

I admittidly don’t use any of the hosts that Hosting Ref mentions, but I like to check it out occasionally to see what I am missing. I have been using the same old company for eleven years now.

Tools bandwidth, hosting, hosting ref, server

I found a cool video on Microsoft Surface on this UK Webmaster Blogs. It’s located on the top right of the blog. Microsoft surface appears to work like a touch screen, but it’s not. It uses cameras behind the screen. Could be a great idea if you have kids like me. They don’t like to touch, they like to bash.

Also, if you have not heard of UK Webmaster Blogs, it’s basically a search engine marketing guide blog. I know the owner, and if you knew the size of his network and web activity, you would know that this blog is a good one to watch. I try to keep this site focused on web tools, so parts of his blog that I found interesting is the web hosting blog posts. I lease a ton of server space myself.

The blog has been around since 2005 so their are categories for just about everything webmaster related, and if you are new to building websites this would be a great page to bookmark.

Websites and Blogs blog, hosting, microsoft, surface, uk, webmasters