Easy Money

Easy Money

While their peers were out making trouble, these young achievers were making bank.

Forever in search of the secrets to entrepreneurial success, we peeked into the inspirational lives of five whiz kids who built million-dollar enterprises before the age of 20.

They partnered with friends, siblings and mentors, or did the work on their own. Three are from the U.S., two from the U.K. All started at age 15 or younger--and one before he broke double digits.

Their common thread: preternatural business sense and demon drive to turn ideas into reality.

In Pictures: Businesses Of The (Really) Young And Successful

Five Teen Millionaire Entrepreneurs: Fraser Doherty, Ashley Qualls, Catherine Cook, Cameron Johnson, Adam Hildreth

In Pictures: Eight Ways To Make Money Online

While four of the five were making a mint on the Internet, Fraser Doherty was doing things the old-fashioned way. In 2002, at the age of 14, Doherty started making jams from his grandmother's recipes in his parents' kitchen in Edinburgh, Scotland. Neighbors and church friends loved them. As word spread, Doherty started receiving orders faster than he could produce them at home, so he rented time at a 200-person food-processing factory several days a month.

Go With The Flow

By age 16, Doherty left school (with his parents' blessing) to work on his jams full time. In early 2007, Waitrose, a high-end supermarket in the U.K., approached Doherty, hoping to sell his Superjam products in their stores. Within months there were Superjam jars on the shelves of 184 Waitrose stores, hoisting Doherty and his business to new heights.

Doherty borrowed 5,000 pounds (about $9,000) from a bank to cover general expenses and more factory time to produce three flavors: Blueberry & Blackcurrant, Rhubarb & Ginger and Cranberry & Raspberry. Tesco (other-otc: TSCDY - news - people ) followed, adding Doherty's products to 300 stores across the U.K. In March, Superjam will launch at Tesco in Ireland.

Last year Superjam hit $750,000 in sales and is on track to double that in 2008 (about 50,000 jars a month). Based on a reasonable valuation multiple of one times revenue--jelly-maker J.M. Smucker (nyse: SJM - news - people ) trades at 1.2 times sales--Doherty's 100% stake is worth in the neighborhood of $1 million to $2 million.

Not bad for a 19-year-old. Doherty's recommendation to other young entrepreneurs: "Have an attitude of adventure, and enjoy the journey."

Double Down

Cameron Johnson truly took that perspective to heart, parlaying one hit into the next. Back in 1994, when he was just 9, Johnson launched his first business out of his home in Virginia, making invitations for his parents' holiday party. By the seasoned age of 11, Johnson had saved up several thousand dollars selling greeting cards. He called his company Cheers and Tears.

But the little guy didn't stop there. At age 12, Johnson offered his younger sister $100 for her collection of 30 Ty Beanie Babies, all the rage at that time. The young entrepreneur quickly earned 10 times that amount by selling the dolls on eBay (nasdaq: EBAY - news - people ). Smelling potential, he contacted Ty and began purchasing the dolls at wholesale with the aim of selling them on eBay and on his Cheers and Tears Web site.

In less than a year, Johnson banked $50,000--seed money for his next venture, My EZ Mail, a service that forwarded e-mails to a particular account without revealing the recipient's personal information. He hired a programmer to flesh out his idea, and within two years My EZ Mail was generating up to $3,000 per month in advertising revenue.

Be Fearless

Johnson still wasn't done. In 1997, he joined forces with two other teen entrepreneurs, Aaron Greenspan and Tom Kho, to create an online advertising company called Surfingprizes.com, which provided scrolling advertisements across the top of users' Web browsers. Those who downloaded the software received 20 cents per hour (a tiny fraction of the value to the advertiser) for the inconvenience of having ads splay across their computer screens.

The boys employed a classic pyramid strategy to spread the service. Users who managed to refer Surfingprizes.com to a new customer would nab 10% of that new person's hourly revenue.

But Johnson and company didn't just sell software--they wanted a piece of that juicy ad revenue too. Their solution: partnering with companies such as DoubleClick, L90 and Advertising.com that could sell the ads for them. Under the agreements, the middlemen would collect 30% of any ad revenue sold, while the three boys split the remaining 70%, out of which they paid those referral fees.

"I was 15 years old and receiving checks between $300,000 and $400,000 per month," says Johnson. At 19, he sold the company name and software (but not the customer database) to an undisclosed buyer. Says Johnson, "Before my high school graduation, my combined assets were worth more than $1 million."

Now just 23, and with other ventures under his belt, Johnson spends his time giving speeches and promoting a new book. "Put yourself out there," he advises. "Don't be afraid of rejection. Don't be afraid to ask anything."

Stick To A Vision

At 15, Catherine Cook and her brother Dave, 17, were flipping through their high school yearbook and came up with the idea to develop a free interactive version online. In 2005, the two convinced their older brother Geoff, a budding Web entrepreneur himself, to invest $250,000 and his time to help them launch MyYearbook.com, a social-networking site based in Skillman, N.J.

Soon after, the Cooks merged with Zenhex.com, an ad-supported site where users post a variety of homemade quizzes, more than doubling the number of eyeballs taking in their site. But when they tried to expand even further, they hit some snags. Potential investors wanted to move the company's headquarters to New York (the Cooks wanted to stay put). They also wanted to have ads appear on users' personal profile pages (the Cooks didn't).

Good thing the Cooks stuck to their vision. By 2006, MyYearbook had raised $4.1 million from the likes of U.S. Venture Partners and First Round Capital. Since then, the site has attracted such advertisers as Neutrogena, Disney (nyse: DIS - news - people ) and ABC; has grown to 3 million members worldwide; and rakes in annual sales in the "seven figures," says Catherine.

How to compete in an industry dominated by MySpace and Facebook? Mine a niche. "[Our site is] specifically for high school students, and we really listen to the suggestions of our members," says Catherine.

While the Cooks decline to discuss the value of their stake in the business, one MyYearbook investor (who agreed to speak only if unidentified) claims the Cooks' chunk is worth "well over $1 million."

Seven figures is real money to anyone, let alone a teenager. Yet despite their heady success, all of these young world-beaters seem to remain--refreshingly--kids at heart. "I'm not driving around in fancy cars," says Doherty. "I'm in it totally for the adventure."

Profits and perspective: Sounds like a recipe for even greater success in the decades to come.

Soulmate or Love of your life

Soulmate or Love of your life

Do not fear. If a high-net-worth mate is your ideal, a plethora of dating sites offer an inventory of men who say they earn at least six figures annually. You can troll sites such as MillionaireMatch.com, Sugardaddie.com, DateAMillionaire.com or the humorous Marry-An-Ugly-Millionaire-Online-Dating-Agency.com to find deep pockets. (Men seeking sugar mamas on these sites typically have fewer choices because profiles of wealthy men tend to outnumber profiles of wealthy women.)

In Pictures: Where The Millionaires Date Online

Sure, these find-a-rich-guy sites might sound dubious, but they insist they provide a valuable service to wealthy people who are too busy running businesses to hang out at bars, clubs and other social venues. "It's a matter of convenience," says Steven Pasternack, chief executive of Miami-based Sugardaddie.com. "These guys work a lot of hours. It's very convenient to sit in your office and look through a catalogue of women" on your computer. Lucky them.

It's also cheaper than traditional matchmakers. For instance, both Sugardaddie and MillionaireMatch charge members about $20 a month, while high-end matchmakers charge clients thousands of dollars.

The sites also claim to have higher-profile members, such as CEOs, celebrities and major sports figures, than broad-based sites such as Match.com and eHarmony. For instance, actor Charlie Sheen was a member of MillionaireMatch for a few months. Steve Kasper, marketing vice president at San Jose, Calif.-based MillionaireMatch, says the company never reveals the identity of its members, and that Sheen was outed by another member.

In addition to millionaire dating sites, myriad other niche sites abound. Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Spark Networks (amex: LOV - news - people ) operates 30 special-interest dating sites, including the popular JDate.com for Jewish singles, BlackSingles.com and ChristianMingle.com.

True.com's niche is safety in online dating. The Dallas-based site screens members and boots off those with criminal backgrounds. "I can guarantee criminals will be sorry if they get into our site," said Chief Executive Herb Vest. "We turn them in to the feds and we go to the trouble of turning them in to their state parole boards. We also sue some who lied about their criminal background." True.com also kicks out married folks posing as singles.

Online dating giants such as Match.com and eHarmony say it's usually best to take into consideration many factors, not just one, in finding a partner. "Any time there's a site where people are looking for one attribute, [a lasting relationship] isn't realistic," says Janet Siroto, editorial director at Dallas-based Match.com.

While Match.com and eHarmony are two of the most popular dating sites in the U.S., China's QQ.com Love is the No. 1 ranked dating site in Asia. Meetic.com and be2 are No. 1 and 2 in Europe, and Amigos.com is second only to MSN in Latin America, according to comScore. "The stigma of online dating has completely evaporated," said Egon Smola, general manager of Yahoo! (nasdaq: YHOO - news - people ) Personals. "So many people have told me they've met someone online."

While options abound in online dating, the number of U.S. visitors to dating sites has fallen steadily from a peak of 21% of all Internet users in 2003 to 10% in 2006, according to JupiterResearch. The technology-research firm said the industry hasn't been able to convince the public that dating sites have high-quality members and that they're safe places to share personal information.

Despite the drop in visitors, online-dating industry revenues have grown as companies raised monthly membership fees and membership lengths increase. Total U.S. industry revenues rose 10% to $659 million in 2006, and Jupiter forecast a compound annual growth rate of 8% through 2011.

To lure new members, Match.com and others add new features constantly. Late last year, the online-dating giant launched a service called Match My Friends that lets members create profiles of friends, instantly adding new members to Match.com's 20 million.

Asked whether Facebook and MySpace compete with dating sites, Match.com said social-networking sites have a different objective. "People on social networks already know who they're communicating with," said Craig Wax, general manager for Match.com, North America. "Match shows them people they don't know."

Still, some industry members say that adding a Facebook application isn't innovative enough to spur the sector forward. Established dating sites "are making a good living, getting $35 a month from customers," said Alex Gurevich, co-founder of Say Hey Hey, a start-up described as YouTube meets Match.com because videos of members are used as dating profiles. "For them to go off and do something more innovative, that's a risk. They've thought about adding video, but they don't want to risk losing their demographic. It's up to smaller players to push innovation."

Cloning backup Files

Cloning Your Computer Genome

Do you feel comfortable about reinstalling Windows and your other programs on a bare hard drive? If you don't, then back up everything. Power users can forgo the full drive backup and just grab data files, typically the stuff that lives in your My Documents folder.

The easiest way to make a full backup is to "clone" your hard drive. Cloning gives you an identical copy of your drive as it exists right now. If your drive crashes, you can clone the backup drive onto a new drive, and it will be like nothing ever happened.

You'll need a drive dedicated to cloning and a little knowhow to use a cloning program, but it's a simple enough procedure for an intermediate user. If you use CloneZilla (a system I've mentioned before), you should also be able to add more backups to the clone, assuming there's enough room.

It makes sense for everyone to have a hard-drive clone, just in case. External drives are cheap, and this method is the easiest way to back up your files and get back up and running in a jiffy. Reinstalling Windows and other applications can be an all-weekend affair. After that, as Mark noted, comes the job of tweaking your system to get it just the way you like it, which can take weeks.

Let's say you've got your clone drive in hand, or you just want your data files and don't need a full backup. Now what?

Depending on the computer, I use two different approaches.

First, you can use a syncing program like GoodSync to make a daily or real-time backup. GoodSync is very fast, because it only copies new or changed files. So, you'll have an identical copy of your hard drive on the external drive, and you can update both whenever you like. You can also use GoodSync to copy files between two computers, allowing you to run two identical machines at once.

My second approach is to just use a regular backup program like Cobian Backup. It runs quickly, it doesn't require a lot of maintenance, and it's free. I use Cobian on systems that don't change a lot and when I don't need a full clone.

With a clone drive and one of the above backups, you're covered in the event of a hard-drive crash. But I also like to hedge my bets by making an online backup, in case of something catastrophic, like a fire at home. I use Mozy, and I only back up my data files. Backing up the entire hard drive online would take too long, and it wouldn't make sense, since I'd have to reinstall Windows to run the Mozy restore program, anyway.

The online backup is only a safety net. But it's a safety net I wouldn't want to go without.

Business Basics

Business Basics


With the dawn of the Internet age, many of the little, practical things about working and getting ahead seem to have been lost. Our new Tuesday series, Business Basics, will help anyone from recent graduates to senior managers build the skills needed to succeed.

The Job Search

Career Resolutions You Must Make For 2007
What you need to do make more money, find a better job and even drop a few pounds in the new year.

How To Bail With Your Bonus
Fed up and tempted to take your bonus and head for the exit? What you need to know before quitting your job.

How To Apply For A Job Online
What you need to know to ensure your résumé rises to the top of the digital heap.

Suiting Up
"Corporate casual'' doesn't always apply to job seekers. The new rules on what to wear to your next job interview.

Smarter Career Moves
Are you being transferred to another city? How to get the most money for your move.

Out Of Work And Over The Hill
Older job seekers benefit from experience but suffer from age discrimination. How to find your next job for the next phase in your life.

Getting Connected
Professional networking sites promise career-advancing contacts. Here are the ones worth subscribing to.

It's No Keg Party
How to ace that first job interview--and any others that may follow.

A Woman's Guide To Making More Money
Failing to negotiate your salary could cost you more than $500,000 throughout your career.

June Grads' Dream Jobs
From Wall Street to Main Street, the right job is awaiting, and some of the hottest jobs are also quite lucrative.

Recruiting In The PDA Era
The crackberry has changed the way you look for a job.

You Got A Job Offer. Now What?
It's not all about the money. Take a look at the other benefits and the work environment.

Finding Your Dream Job
You spend so much time at work, why not love what you do?

Job Hunting Tips From Recruiters
Since they see thousands of résumés and interview hundreds of candidates, who better to get advice from?

Interviewing A Prospective Boss
It's better to find out ahead of time what a potential new boss will be like. Here's how.

Office Etiquette

The Art Of The Business Lunch
Eating at your desk day in and day out may be costing you money and career advancement.

Holiday Party High Jinks
'Tis the season for office parties. How to cut loose without losing total control or your co-workers' respect.

Touch Points
How to avoid those awkward and potentially actionable "touchy-feely" moments at the office.

Go Ahead, Let Them See You Sweat
Joining your company's athletic team can enhance your physique and your career.

Giving At The Office Without Going Broke
It's a classic dilemma: To chip in or not to chip in. How to handle office donations with grace.

Got The Right Stuff?
Decoding what office decor says about you and your colleagues.

Getting Yourself Fired
Some stupid ways to make sure your next trip through the front door is your last.

Firing A Worker
Tips on performing a most unpleasant task effectively.

Handling The Dingbat
Conflict resolution is critical to managers' success in the workplace.

Handling The Office Jerk
There's at least one in every office. Here are some tips on coping.

Smell Ya Later
If an employee has hygiene trouble, you've got to deal with the problem quickly.

Flirting Without Disaster
Chatting up workplace colleagues can be acceptable--as long as ground rules are followed.

Managing The Workflow

Tackling Fantasy Football
Nearly 37 million Americans are playing when they should be working. Here's how to stay in the game and keep your job.

Instant Messenger Etiquette
Office communication just isn't what it used to be. The dos and don'ts of interoffice IMing.

The ABCs Of Negotiating
Don't forget that everything is on the table, and the intent isn't to smash your counterpart to bits.

Avoiding Repetitive Strain Injury
Both young and old workers can contribute to the success of a workplace. The key is that they get along.

The Secrets To E-Mail Nirvana
Be honest, how many messages are in your inbox? Here's how to clean house and keep it that way.

Business Travel

Kicking Jet Lag
The last thing you need before a business meeting is a cloudy head. Here's how to reset your body clock.

Saying Sayonara To Travel Faux Pas
If your company is sending you on a business trip outside the U.S., here's what you need to know.

Issues In The Workplace

Working Out At Work
How companies are creating on-site gyms that are healthy and not hazardous to their employee's sense of decency.

The New Mommy Track
Giving birth often leads to career death. But companies are trying to change that with a host of new benefits. Among them: lactation rooms.

Get A Degree On Your Company's Dime
You're taking full advantage of your health plan and 401(k). But don't overlook another job benefit: tuition reimbursement.

Do You Deserve A Raise?
'Tis the season for annual job performance reviews. What you need to know to guarantee a glowing evaluation and a bigger paycheck..

Salary Envy
Just found out your co-worker makes more than you? Six steps to achieving paycheck parity.

How To Survive Your First Week At Work
Got a new job? Here's everything you need to know to navigate your new office and hit the ground running.

Baseball Strikes At Productivity
The post season presents a major-league drop in office efficiency. How to stay on top of the game without losing your job.

Only Have Two Weeks' Vacation?
Our guide to making the most of the little time you have for rest and relaxation.

Creating Offices With Ambience
Corridors of cubicles don't inspire anyone. How to create a space that really works.

Can't We All Just Get Along?
Office infighting costs time and money. Eight steps to keep the peace.

Working A Better Balance
Want out of clocking in at the office? Here's how to pitch a more workable schedule.

Succeeding In The Corner Office
Or, if it's not working out, what to do next.

Moving On
Tips for executive relocation in big companies or small.

The Boss And You
A good relationship with your supervisor is key to your career and happiness. Here's what to do and not to do.

How To Motivate Bad Employees
Workers come in all shapes and personalities. Here's how to get the most out of each of them.

Seven No-Nos When Asking For A Raise
Build your case and point out how you've contributed to the organization.

Hidden Household Toxins

Hidden Household Toxins

In Pictures: Hidden Household Toxins Also In Lifestyle Popular Videos

That couch you're sitting on could be making you sick.

That's because there's a good chance it's been coated in polybrominated diphenylethers, or PBDEs, a class of flame retardant chemicals, which are designed to slow a fire and provide adequate time for escape. They are included in household items from consumer electronics to upholstery to wire insulation to furniture foam. Though researchers have yet to determine what level of exposure in humans might cause negative health effects, animal studies have shown that high levels of exposure interferes with thyroid hormone, which is essential for healthy brain development.

It's not the only toxin, toxic compound or poison likely hiding in your home. These harmful substances--including mold, lead, radon and more complicated industrial chemicals like bisphenol A and phthalates--live nearly everywhere, including in our walls, plywood cabinets, videogame consoles, paint, air fresheners, water filter pitchers and couch cushions. In fact, pollutant levels indoors, where 90% of our time is spent, may be two to five times higher, even 100 times higher, than outdoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In Pictures: 10 Hidden Household Toxins

It's impossible to rid one's home of all dangerous substances. Still, vigilant awareness about the common signs of household toxicity, its sources and ways to address it can prevent short- and long-term health problems.

"There are a whole bunch of products on the market we don't know enough about," says Dr. Ted Schettler, science director for the Science and Environmental Health Network, "but consumers can get involved."

Common Signs
Household toxins, toxic compounds and poisons manifest themselves in varied ways. Mold, for example, can lead to upper respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing and asthma as well as itchy eyes, sore throat and skin irritation. Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, produces no symptoms until it turns fatal. The health impact of lead poisoning for children has been well documented and involves slowed cognition and impaired memory.

But figuring out whether an illness is being caused by a harmful substance can be a complex task.

"You don't want to make people believe there's a ghost behind every tree," Schettler says of trying to diagnose the possible source of persistent symptoms. Since the symptoms can vary so widely, it's important to consider environmental factors like air quality, smoking habits and allergy-inducing products and animals in the home.

One sure sign that a member of the family is suffering from home-grown toxins is if the symptoms clear up when he or she leaves.

Common Sources
Dr. Sarah Janssen, a physician and scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, says that she frequently sees patients complaining of symptoms related to toxic levels of mold, lead, formaldehyde and tobacco smoke. The sources of these toxins and poisons are often easy to isolate: a leaking roof can cause mold, houses built before 1978 may have lead paint and plywood can off-gas formaldehyde.

But while most people know that mold thrives in poorly ventilated and moist environments and indoor smoking worsens the air quality, fewer consumers know that toxic chemicals also lurk in everyday products purchased at the grocery store.

"People are beginning to realize that just because you can buy it at Target or Wal-Mart, doesn't mean it's safe," Janssen says. "You can't look at the label and know whether or not there are [toxins] in them."

A 2007 study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that 12 of 14 different brands of household air fresheners contained phthalates, chemicals known to disrupt hormones and cause birth defects in male genitalia in animals. While the air fresheners posed no immediate risk to consumers, persistently high exposure levels can have long-term health risks, according to the NRDC.

Janssen says that other common household items like plastic baby bottles and water filter pitchers contain bisphenol A, a chemical that mimics estrogen and has been linked in animals to infertility, enlarged prostates, abnormal chromosomes, obesity and insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. Flame retardants, which are found in textiles, computer casings, sofa foam and other household items, have been shown to interfere with thyroid hormone, essential for healthy brain development.

In the National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's biennial study of Americans' exposure levels to 148 chemicals, it found 93% of the 2,400 people studied showed traces of bisphenol A in their blood and urine and 95% of those studied showed traces of phthalates. The CDC plans to release a similar number for flame retardants in late December. Researchers at the CDC and elsewhere are presently conducting studies to determine at what level these industrial chemicals become dangerous to humans. As of yet, there is no guideline on recommended exposure level.

Taking Action
Creating an environment free of toxin compounds or poisons may seem impossible since we're surrounded by so many chemicals, but Dr. Ted Schettler recommends starting with a mental walk-through of your property. Try thinking about how the home fares in terms of ventilation, paint quality, the heating system being used and potential levels of radon in the bedrock. The Web sites of the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency offer guides for assessing indoor air pollution, lead poisoning prevention and regional radon levels.

Also evaluate consumer purchases and consider trading in plastic items for quality wood or stainless steel versions. Contact the manufacturers of appliances, cabinetry and electronics when unsure of their chemical ingredients.

An expanding market for organic and toxic-free furniture, clothes and consumer goods has also yielded healthier alternatives. Amie Nguyen, founder of the online retailer Earth Friendly Goods, says that one-half of her customers are looking for allergen-free items and the other half are exploring "green living." Clothes are the top-seller, but the site also offers latex mattresses, dining tables and CD holders. Though it's an expensive habit--a queen-size latex mattress sells for $2,049--Nguyen says the health benefits of lowering one's exposure to toxic chemicals at home are more important than cost.

"It's almost a vicious cycle," she says of learning about the seemingly endless number of poisonous substances that surround us daily. "At some point you wish you could go back to being naive."

How To Call Home From Outside The U.S.

How To Call Home From Outside The U.S.

In Pictures: How To Call Home From Outside The U.S. Related Quotes

Neil Kozarsky thought he had found the perfect phone in the BlackBerry 8830. As head of a New Jersey packaging company, he travels to Japan at least once a month. So when a phone clerk said the "World Edition" BlackBerry could keep him connected--even in Japan, a notorious dead zone for Western phones and personal digital assistants--Kozarsky was sold.

Too bad. On his next trip to Tokyo in mid-July, Kozarsky found his Blackberry wouldn't get a signal. He blamed the airport, then the train, then the overcast weather. After a sleepless night spent rebooting the phone and talking to his support staff in the U.S., he contacted Verizon (nyse: VZ - news - people ) Wireless customer service, which immediately pinpointed the problem: The phone was functional in more than 160 countries, but not Japan.

Calling home is one of the great frustrations of traveling abroad. Horror stories abound of travelers stranded with malfunctioning phone cards or racking up thousand-dollar cellphone bills for international roaming charges. Some frequent travelers carry multiple phones to navigate incompatible cellular standards country to country.

In Pictures: How To Call Home From Outside The U.S.

The introduction of "world phones," which can toggle between the two most popular cellular technologies, and the growing popularity of VoIP services like Skype, which route calls over the Internet, have expanded options, but also complicated the process.

The best way to phone home depends on several factors: your current phone and carrier, your destination, your budget, and the amount of effort you're willing to invest. Business travelers that have generous corporate budgets and diverse destinations will probably want to rent a phone at the airport, or perhaps buy a world phone and ask their IT departments to ensure seamless use abroad. Budget-minded travelers with more free time would be better off using a local phone card or VoIP services.

In terms of cellular access technology, U.S. carriers can be divided into two basic camps: CDMA and GSM. In general, AT&T (nyse: T - news - people ) and T-Mobile phones use GSM, while Verizon and Sprint Nextel (nyse: S - news - people ) phones--as well as those from smaller carriers, like Alltel (nyse: AT - news - people ) and United States Cellular (amex: USM - news - people )--use CDMA. The distinction matters, because GSM is a more widely used technology globally--about 85% of wireless phone users across Europe, Australia and much of Asia and Africa, while CDMA is predominantly found in the U.S. and South Korea.

A GSM phone has a good chance of working abroad, as long as it's a multi-band (tri-band or quad-band) phone. That functionality is necessary because GSM works on a different radio spectrum in the U.S. than in the rest of the world. Most new GSM phones are capable of accessing these other spectrum bands--but check the user manual or ask your carrier to be sure. AT&T, which says it has coverage in more than 195 countries, recently added a Web site features that pinpoints access based on your phone type: Just plug in your cell number.

"There are devices that work just about anywhere, particularly if you're on a GSM network and have a quad-band phone," says Michael Gartenberg, an analyst with Jupiter Research. "But you do have to look at the feature sets and ask the right questions."

Verizon and Sprint customers have the option of buying a "world phone" that uses CDMA in the U.S. and GSM abroad. The BlackBerry 8830 and Motorola's (nyse: MOT - news - people ) Z6c are two examples. Again, the prepared traveler should check the company's Web site for details on exactly where the phones work, as coverage can vary city to city, based on the carrier's global roaming agreements.

Taking your cell phone abroad is convenient, but pricy, as dialing from another country activates international roaming rates. If you have a GSM phone, you can get cheaper service by swapping out a small card located in the back of your phone and replacing it with a local version. (This won't work on CDMA phones, as they don't have these cards.) Called "SIM" cards, they're sold in phone shops and can be purchased prepaid. Snapping in a new card will make your phone act as if it's a local phone, complete with a local phone number and local rates. Switching cards is particularly popular in Europe, where people "walk in, buy a SIM, and keep on adding minutes to it," notes Current Analysis analyst Bill Ho. Calls to your existing phone number go to voice mail.

One caveat: This kind of swap only works on "unlocked" phones. Most phones purchased in the U.S. as part of a subscriber plan are "locked" to a particular network to try to build in loyalty in exchange for cheaper handsets. Before you leave, ask your carrier to unlock your phone--a quick, software-based process. Due to an exclusive agreement between Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) and AT&T, the iPhone cannot be unlocked here in the U.S.

Of course, many people don't want to take their phones abroad. They can rent a phone at the airport or online, then arrange delivery to their hotels--or buy a local phone. Buying is a good choice for extended stays and in countries that have cheap handsets. Gadget geeks often pick up cool phones that haven't yet debuted in the U.S. and bring them back, intending to switch the SIM cards and use them at home. This will work as long as the frequencies match, which is a good bet for quad-band phones.

If you're traveling with a laptop and will have ready access to a broadband connection, you can bypass these technical issues and simply make calls over the Internet. Robin Kawakami, a 31-year-old New Yorker currently studying in Europe, uses Skype to keep in touch. Calls to other Skype users on computers are free; those to U.S. cell phones or landlines cost about 2.1 cents per minute from her current base in Denmark.

Of course, making calls online isn't limited to Skype or PCs. New York City startup Raketu offers VoIP calls on certain BlackBerrys, as well as the iPhone and iPod touch. The service utilizes Wi-Fi hot spots, and is limited to designated zones in about 40 countries. Later this month, Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) will introduce a software update for its PlayStation Portable that will support Skype.

For those who prefer to travel light--no phone, no laptop, no major purchases abroad--there's always the tried-and-true phone card. Major telcos, including AT&T and Verizon, offer calling cards for calls both to and from the U.S. So, of course, do a number of independent and local companies. Local phone cards offer cheaper rates, but the potential for more headaches as well, including technical glitches and assistance or directions limited to the local language.

Japan and Korea are special cases: The proprietary cellular technologies used in those countries means travelers need phones that operate on third-generation technology at 2100 MHz. Samsung's Blackjack II and Palm's (nasdaq: PALM - news - people ) Treo 750 are two handsets that fit the bill.

These proliferating options means it's easier than ever to make regular phone calls. But it's increasingly complicated to access mobile data networks abroad, something more people are interested in as phones get more sophisticated. Switching SIM cards won't guarantee text messaging or Web browsing will be functional.

Carriers are working toward a more universal standard for cell phones. Verizon has said it will upgrade its network to a fourth-generation mobile broadband technology, called Long Term Evolution, that is likely to be adopted by other operators around the world.

For now, "what it comes down to is caveat emptor," says Jupiter's Gartenberg. If you're buying a phone or a SIM card, "assume that the salespeople in the store aren't necessarily international travelers. Do your homework."

How To Avoid A Heart Attack

How To Avoid A Heart Attack

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Sure, many of us can't resist glazed donuts and French fries and don't remember what the inside of a gym looks like. And yes, we're constantly stressed out about work and could stand to lose 10 pounds.

But a heart attack? They happen to other people--not you.

Even if the worst should occur, doctors can use drugs to decrease the damage to your heart, or perform angioplasty or bypass surgery to fix the problem. Right?

In Pictures: 15 Steps To A Healthier Heart

Not always. Up to 25% of people who die of sudden cardiac death had no prior symptoms or warnings such as chest pain.

"You can't just rely on the thought that, 'Oh, well, if I have a heart attack the doctors will be there to save me and put me on medications,' " says Dr. Erin Michos, a cardiology fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Some people don't make it to the hospital. They die at home. Prevention needs to begin early in life."

Heart attacks strike when one or more of the heart's arteries are blocked, severely reducing or stopping blood from reaching part of the heart muscle. They're usually preceded by the buildup inside the artery walls of fatty deposits or plaque, which can rupture, causing a blood clot to form and block the artery. When the blood supply is cut off for more than a few minutes it can be deadly.

Coronary heart disease remains the nation's single leading cause of death, and it's estimated that 1.2 million Americans will have a first or recurrent coronary attack this year, killing 452,000 of them, according to the American Heart Association.

Preventative Measures
If those statistics sound frightening, take heart.

Cardiologists, doctors, nutritionists and other experts say you have the power to cut your risk of having a heart attack.

Instead of looking for the latest quick fix, however, focus your preventive efforts on what's already been proven.

For starters, that means changing your diet. But, as registered dietitian and American Heart Association spokeswoman Ronni Litz Julien points out, today there are lots more do's than don'ts.

She tells clients to get a tablespoon of olive oil LINK TO SLIDE a day, either with sautéed vegetables or a salad, and to frequently eat low-mercury fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A few eggs a week are no longer forbidden. Neither is meat, if you're eating lean, 4 ounce to 6 ounce cuts. The same goes for nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, cashews and peanuts, as long as you're not demolishing a Costco (nasdaq: COST - news - people )-size container in two days.

A little portion control will go a long way toward helping you keep your weight in check too. Litz Julien recommends that couples eating out order separate salads or shrimp cocktails and split an entrée. When cooking, don't just dump half a bag of rice into the pot--measure it. Aim to always leave something on the plate.

"If you can leave a few bites, you've created a barrier between you and the food," she says. "You're still satiated but you're not so completely full that you have to unbutton your pants."