Phone Addict

Come with us to our new home: 21talks.net

2006-02-17T20:12:00.000+01:00

Since early this month, we've been focusing on a rampant, less and less silent revolution ― voice over the Internet, of course ― and now, we too, we did our own revolution. Let's face it: Ladies and gentlemen, we have our new brand web site ready for use.

The new address (the essential information of this post): 21talks.net

From now to our dead, we will publish this important reminder for new readers: go on 21talks to read news on VoIP.

Why 21talks ? A couple reasons.

PhoneAddict.com/org/net/info/name/co.uk/fr/be/us or whatsoever are already taken, indeed; this name was so intuitive.
21talks because we wanted to extend our coverage of VoIP revolution to every kind of new use of communication based on voice. As Skype hooked the mobile market, we are shifting as them to this field.

Our main fear is that you will find everything you want in the new web site. Be kind, send us your feedback. We will very appreciate this.

Fresh $6 million for SIPphone

2006-02-15T16:20:00.000+01:00

Competitors are getting tougher for Skype. Mike Robertson, the Linspire mastermind and founder of SIPphone/Gizmo Project, grabs $6 million in funding from New York-based Dawntreader Ventures to expand his company SIP standard service to non-PC devices (adapters, routers, WiFi handsets and dual mode mobile phones).

Plus, the San Diego-based headquarters is expected to triple in size over the next year with hiring primarily in business development and engineering, according to their press release.

Dawntreader Ventures is their first external investor, whose managing director Edward Sim will join the SIPphone board. Existing private investors in MP3.com also participated in the funding.

Two other rumors are given by Om Malik on his weblog. First: SIPphone is going to announce a new "premium offering" later this week. No more extra details. Second: SIPphone might (may) be in talks with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, for adding voice functionality to MySpace.com. This would be a $50,000,000 contract.

It definitively seems that everyone will make phone calls this year. From online to offline and from offline to online users.

Tags: voip sipphone mike+robertson gizmo+project skype technology business venture funding dawntreader linspire open+source voice internet mobile sip pc software news+corp myspace rupert+murdoch web

At 3GSM, watch the Sky(pe)!

2006-02-15T13:58:00.000+01:00

Booth girls at 3GSM World congress (picture credits)

Now things start. Skype made a good sensation at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, with this big announcement: Skype and Hutchinson 3 Group to create what is claimed to become the world's first commercial VoIP service for mobile phones.

This is a major move. So far, Skype restricted itself on PC and landlines phone calls while luring on the mobile market. Hutchinson 3G, which is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., operates IP-based mobile broadband networks in several European markets.As Apple and its iTunes for the MP3 player market, it aims to offer this very attractive service to grab a huge share in the still burgeoning 3G mobile market although Hutchinson 3G, as a service provider, won't sell any phone.

"We can't talk pricing right now but we will be looking at various ways of bundling Skype into our other services. Maybe we'll offer monthly subscriptions in some countries, or bundled minutes, as we do with text messaging and e-mail. The main thing is, we aim to generate new business," said Christian Salbaing, managing director of European Telecommunications at Hutchison 3G, in a press conference.

Of course, a phone with some SIP capabilities is required prior to use the new service. eBay-Skype and Hutchinson 3G will first campaign in Sweden then in Italy for Europe. If the experiment is going good though, they will reach South-East Asia, the forecast fastest growing mobile phone area.

Tags: voip skype skypeout hutchinson hutchinson+3G UMTS 3G cellphone sip software technology tech business market 3GSM barcelona spain europe asia fon

iSkoot: PC calling on mobile phone

2006-02-15T12:04:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and lovers that are stucking to the phone but don't anything to computer-based calls will be happy. The US-based phone company starts distributing their iSkoot Mobile Networks, which offers mobile users to make Skype calls on their cellphones.

This sounds no very new though, mainly because these last weeks iSkoot has been giving its beta version to test for free. But they finally got Cingular as a first major partner and Skype as their first major VoIP call service.

The software explained by said Jacob Guedalia, iSkoot Chief Executive Officer, in their press release : "The iSkoot Mobile Network completely frees Skype users from their PCs. It provides an on-ramp to the PC-PC network for cell phone users. With the iSkoot software solution on your mobile phone, consumers can use the Internet to call their online buddies without ever having to use their PC or a broadband connection. Once cell phone users download the iSkoot software to their regular handsets, they will be able to do everything they do with PC Calling, but with true mobility, even away from Wi-Fi hot spots."

The iSkoot software client is currently supported on select Nokia Series 60 handsets. Additional support for Motorola RAZR, Treo, and Nokia Series 40 handsets is the next step. And iSkoot carefully points out on their product data sheet that they use the Skype API and are not endorsed or certified by Skype. iSkoot also aims to bring interoperability for Google Talk and Yahoo! Messenger.

Have you already tried? Then, give us your opinion.

Tags: voip iskoot skype skypeout cingular cell+phone mobile wifi 3G pc phone call internet voice network broadband google+talk yahoo+messenger

Wengo add-on brings voice over Firefox

2006-02-14T16:47:00.000+01:00

Remember Wengo? The France-based VoIP software maker and service provider that went open source a month ago? Since early February, Wengo has been airing what should be the first Firefox VoIP add-on, offering a time-saving contextual click-to-calls.

With this extension, you just need to select a phone number on a web page, right-click on your mouse to then dial it using Wengo. Almost as if you had a browser-based phone service.

This should be a serious competitor to Jajah. According to estimations, Firefox (combining version 1.0.x and version 1.5) is currently holding over 10% of the open source browser market.

The OpenWengo Firefox add-on currently stages in its 0.99 version. The major release 1.0 should be available tomorrow, February 15. Daniel Glazman, who created Mozilla editing tool Nvu, was responsible for this extension. He previously coded Skyfox XPI, the Firefox addon that makes Skype calls possible.

UMA: the new buzzword for voice over WiFi

2006-02-14T14:37:00.000+01:00

There's a bunch of good news for VoIP at the 3GSM World Congress.

Nokia new love: UMA

First, the phone maker plans to build its new phones for the UMA (unlicensed mobile access) technology.

UMA is the lastest brainchild of the 3GPP (see Webopedia). The technology aims to provide an access for mobile users to GSM voice and data services over their broadband connections in homes or hotspots.

UMA capable handsets use unlicensed access technologies, such as WLAN (WiFi) and Bluetooth, to connect to wireless access points. It hence allows operators to provide an alternative access method to fixed telephony. The picture illustrates how UMA Nokia network controller should work.

Nokia doubles the good news. It also prepares having handsets that will support VoIP over a WiMAX network once those are launched.

Third announcement: the launch of the Nokia 6136, a quad-band handset with a 1.3-megapixel camera, and UMA compliant. Shippings should start by March, said Nokia CEO Jorma Ollila at a press conference, for the Orange network.

Motorola's also caught the new buzzword

Among Motorola new phones (the SLVR L2 candy bar phone, the V195 and W220 clamshells phones ― W220 shows a stereo FM radio), there's the A910, UMA handset launched on British Telecom's Fusion service.

Note: For people who don't know it yet, the 3GSM World Congress this time hold in Barcelona, Spain is the biggest professional exhibition for phones and wireless stuff.

Skype to consider SIP calls... more seriously

2006-02-13T11:59:00.000+01:00

Facing a tougher and tougher competition environment, Skype might bring its voice software to other communication protocols ― understand SIP. Some Skype spokeswomen indicated to Light Reading that the company acquired by eBay might no longer held its interoperability, still without giving any date nor roadmap.

Such a move into VoIP interoperability will boost PC-to-PC phone calls, while merely affecting the percentage of SkypeOut. One of the reasons that pushed Skype marketing VP Saul Klein to keep insisting: "Skype created SkypeOut to address this growing consumer need; we also consider interoperability in other areas but are primarily driven by consumer demand."

Weekend catchup

2006-02-13T09:51:00.000+01:00

These last couple of days, you have taken a break far from your computer. Lucky you. And now back to it, you wonder what happened during this weekend. So here's the catchup.

VoIP listing may cost you The Indianapolis Star answered two customer questions: Will you get your phone number listed if you switch to a VoIP phone service? Can computer viruses harm hardware through these softwares?

Skype 2.0 for Mac to add Intel-only features The Mac Observer pinpoints that Skype 2.0 for Mac will take advantage of the multi-tasking capabilities of Intel dual-core processors. This allows up to ten people at the same time in conference calls, voice and video. But the new features can only be used with the iMac and MacBook Pro laptops.

Skype 2.0 remains to 5 simultaneous calls for PC users It makes sense. Only the new processors will use it. Conference calls for users of single-core machines and those powered ADM dual-core Athlon 64 chip, communications will remain at level 5.

Calypso C1250 GSM/GPRS/WiFI VoIP mobile phone unveiled The Miami, FL-based telco is launching its new quad-band GSM phone at the 3GSM World Congress 2006 trade show in Barcelona, Spain. Its rocking features: Intel PXA processors and Windows CE 5.0; Internet connection at 11Mbps (more than 100 times faster than other WiFi/GSM phones in the United States); ASNAP Session Controller, an open source seamless roaming of voice.

SkypeWeb shows user online status Skype announces its (new) web service SkypeWeb that is quite the same service as Web Presence feature already integrated by many web sites. Really new?

Jajah is bigbrothering you? (updated)

2006-02-11T22:50:00.000+01:00

Anonymity issue is growing among Net users population. The RIAA sue-them-all trial campaigns may have triggered this fear of Big-Brother-is-watching-you. Recently, people at Turn2VoIP, a blog-like magazine covering the VoIP industry, warns us that Jajah is monitoring the conversations.

The California-based VoIP service provider made quite a big buzz last week with the launch of its web-based phone call. Simple interface, simple functionalities, simple... but some conditions have been introduced in the license agreement between users and Jajah.

JAJAH reserves the right at all times to monitor communications on the Product and disclose any information JAJAH deems necessary to (a) ensure your compliance with this Agreement; (b) satisfy any applicable law, regulation or legal process; or (c) protect the rights, property, and interests of JAJAH, its employees or the public. JAJAH also reserves the right to edit, refuse to transfer or to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part, in JAJAH's sole discretion.

We know that we have quite cheered the launch of Jajah web-based phone over the Internet service. And Jajah certainly is not the first company to do so, albeit its layout and graphics tend to show conviviality and coziness with its customers. But its terms and conditions could lead to a KaZaA-like practice. This Dutch now Australian company was introducing spywares into its file-sharing software.

We'll keep an eye on Jajah. Do you think we should? Do you think Jajah is bigb(r)othering its users? Or is it just some wacko warnings?

Update: ExtremeVoIP is shaking the Jajah EULA a bit stronger. The online magazine attempted to contact Jajah executives, who were mute on this topic. Worse, Hachman from ExtremeVoIP spotted that Jajah would not guarantee the security of calls placed using the service, leaving ajar the the door to a third parties call listening. Sounds like we need to hear from Jajah.

VoIP optimization: test the broadband connection speed

2006-02-11T17:51:00.000+01:00

Want to talk over the Internet? Of course, you do. But how fast is your broadband connection? We may find something helpful for you: the VoIP band tester, an applet provided by TalkSwitch, thetelco for US and Canada households. It doesn't take long to load the applet, so you can use it quite often.

The test informs about the number of VoIP calls you can expect to take simultaneously and also your upload rate. The results also yields the simultaneous phone calls at different codec. The more up-to-date codec (understand the best your voice is compressed), the more calls you can make.

The results given to our bandwidth were quite accurate. But because quite suspicious of the results given by one private company, we found other resources on this blog that could confirm the numbers. Here's the list:

PC Pitstop upload bandwidth test,
SBC Yahoo! DSL Internet Throughput Test (only worth for America DSL users),
ADSL Guide broadband speed test (for British), Bandwidth Place,
McAfee (best-known anti-virus maker) Internet speed connection,
Leslie Long's modem speed test applet.

If you find other resources, please contact us, we would add them.

We are going to fly away from Blogger

2006-02-10T16:37:00.000+01:00

We are on the edge of switching server and blogging application. From Blogger.com, we'll be on Blogsome.com and from Blogger application, we'll move to WordPress. This change is affecting our publishing rate and doubly affecting us because we will propose you a new look-and-feel.

Nevertheless, we'll keep posting here at least 2 news a day. As soon as the new website is ready for launching, we'll warn you all and make an orgy fiesta!!

TrendNet Bluetooth: now 100-meter conversations are possible

2006-02-10T16:25:00.000+01:00

California-based TrendNet is pulling out its ClearSky TVP-SP1BK, one of the first Bluetooth VoIP handsets available. Quite boring conventional design. Quite ugly blue color. Hopefully it does support Bluetooth 2.0 which allows a 100-meter reception range and is compliant with other Bluetooth devices. The Lithium-ion battery is said to last up to 6 hours talk time and over 60 hours on standby. The eBay-Skype software will bundle the handset, with all the existing functionalities. The product will begin shipping March 2006 for about $100 USD (83 euros). Currently restricted to North America.

[via Engadget]

Linksys new WiFi VoIP phone opened for pre-order

2006-02-10T16:09:00.000+01:00

On February, 16, Linksys will start registering pre-orders for its new hi-tech EIP300 phone, Engadget announced. The device will rock on Wireless-G networks, operates at 2.4GHz band with 128-bit WEP, WPA, and WP2 security. It also handles SIP v2 on a 1.8-inch color TFT LCD display, 16MB flash memory and supports POP3 and SMTP email protocols. Last interesting features: the Linksys EIP300 sends SMS, but doesn't still make the coffee.

Skype vs Jajah: who will win?

2006-02-08T18:51:00.000+01:00

Since yesterday 9AM West Coast US time, a death match has begun. Skype 'Goliath' vs Jajah 'David'. The California-based Jajah Inc. launched its web-based service that presents quite the same functionalities than its software to download for free. Early testers have already adopted Jajah ― besides warmly welcomed the new service. Let's check how Jajah could tackle Skype market domination.

The same but better functionalities

Simpler functionalities. Luigi Canali De Rossi is impressed. For him, Jajah's interface shows functions mostly simpler and easier to handle than Skype's, but pinpoints the poor text chat interface ― it's voice chat after all ― and " other quirks which may fault the novice user in finding what she may be looking for".
Far lower calling rates. This is the key success factor. The brainchild of founder Daniel Mattes and Roman Scharf tackles the Skype temporary monopoly by setting (far) lower price rates. We can call in popular countries for 10 times lower than with the VoIP pioneer.
For example: calling someone in Thailand would return only $0.029 USD a minute. The same call this time on a mobile phone will cost less than the double.
Jajah gives the first 5 minutes for free ― to beckon your friends, we presume. Direct text messaging to cellphones is also possible.

New additions

New functionalities. Text messaging to a cellphone is now allowed. At the time we write, we don't have more details on the price rates.
No download required. Non-tech-savvy users don't bother hacking softwares. Jajah, which is the first to offer this very valuable service, could quickly build a strong reputation among the Internet community.
Open standards. Although Jajah is a proprietary application, it does support open standards such as SIP/IAX, which potentially increases the number of users that can reach from their website. Jajah to Skype call is possible. The opposite isn't true.

Time will tell, as we say in these situations. Skype has already several years of experience whereas Jajah is a new comer.

Note: The Jajah's website is currently down. Runtime error, it says.

Calling NYC from Israel from NYC

2006-02-08T14:00:00.000+01:00

When you are an Israeli American living in NYC and want to phone another Israeli, you will just have to call, well,... in Israel! Cedarhust, NY-based MSM Netphone Inc. is responsible for this idea. Of course, Martin Rothman, MSM Netphone CEO is delightful: "We are very excited about this new service. For a nominal monthly fee our subscribers will have local Israeli numbers ― no matter where they may live."

No computer is required. But a broadband connection and a MSM VoIP adapter are necessary prior to receive and make unlimited phone calls.

The numbers will behave the same way as a normal Israeli number. Although it makes sense to get an Israel phone number to receive a call for example from Moscow, Russia, some people might experiment calling in Israel to buy a pizza at the corner of the street. People, don't forget to call us in Israel, we're in Central Park.

Skype connected to the SIP world

2006-02-08T12:52:00.000+01:00

We won't over enthusiast ourselves on the newly released PSGw 2.0 (Personal Skype to SIP Gateway). After all, the software solely works on Windows XP/2000, takes 10 MB hard disk space, shows a simple almost grass-root look-and-feel. But byfitting itself between the Skype and the SIP layer, it allows Skype users to call their SIP cousins.

But who uses SIP? Basically supporters of the Michael Robertson's Gizmo Project and maybe soon, Google Talk users.

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol, see Wikipedia) is a communication standard that permits voice over IP. Since its launch, Skype has never been complying with SIP, due to its own close source technology. Jon Arnold, independent analyst, as Olga Kharif reported for Business Week, believes that sooner or later Skype will need to cope with the standards. Maybe they will, maybe some other people will do for them.

Ubiquity Software to ease VoIP providers innovate

2006-02-08T11:47:00.000+01:00

VoIP entrepreneurs will have something else to lure on. Ubiquity Software announced the launch of its Voice Plus solution. It's basically deploying SIP application server for residential zones, allowing features such as PC-to-PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), PSTN-to-PC, PC-to-PC, voicemail, or multiple-way callings. Regular users of traditional phones will be able to make call over IP.

As said in Wikipedia: On the long run, many observers believe that the PSTN will turn to be just one application of the Internet. However, the Internet has some way to go before this transition can be made. The Quality of Service guarantee is one aspect that needs to be improved on in the Voice over IP technology.

ubiquity software ubiquity+software voip services providers sip application server residential pstn pc voicemail call phone voice over ip voice+over+ip wikipedia quality innovation

Skype new ringing tones: a temptation island?

2006-02-08T10:38:00.000+01:00

We are aware that the subject has already been documented by other media ― for instance by Reuters for ZDNet. To make it short: Skype ring-ring will be enhanced by Madonna's voice. For $1.50 each. Delicious. So simple, so awesome, every one was dreaming of this for a long time...

But eBay-Skype will make millions out of this idea? Maybe, maybe for teens, maybe not. But above all, they might keep their software more restricted than ever. Right now, users can just puttheir favorite song in the only accepted mono-WAV format (see their FAQ). The stereo is out of reach for the Windows XP version. No more helpful precision for the other platforms. They probably don't want people record their own stuff and play with it as they want.

If you want to fine tunning your voice over Internet software for free, you ought to look after the Gizmo Project or OpenWengo. And you'll be able to bundle a customized ringtone by contacts.

Tags: skype ringtone voip madonna greenday wav voice internet millions download record tune open wengo open+wengo gizmo project gizmo+project

Netgear's no-great Skype WiFi phone

2006-02-07T19:25:00.000+01:00

The world consists of two groups. The Googlers, who solely use Google Talk, and the Skypers, who do the same with Skype. Too bad for Google, Netgear supports Skype. The Skype101 Skype pre-loaded WiFi phone enables Skype calling (in and out) anywhere within a hotspot range. All a user have to do is to enter his or her Skype ID and password.

Poor functionalities

Skype user-to-user is free whereas non-user calls are charged through the SkypeIn option. For very busy people, the Voicemail service is available. You can, of course, manage your Skype bookmarks but will not be allowed to use GSM network when no hotspot is at range.

The Netgear Skype WiFi phone is announced to be fully compliant with Smart MIMO technology, also unveiled at the 2006 CES exhibition.

Forget the mouse, here's the handset

2006-02-07T18:44:00.001+01:00

Usually, we see a mouse at the right of a keyboard. But this doesn't always have to be that way. So, when you make a phone call, instead of using a headset you will use a handset and then, you will need to stop typing on your keyboard. Great, isn't? Besides this, you will probably need to plug a wireless mouse.

At the forthcoming CeBit in Hannover, Germany on early March, A4 Tech will unveil its new Talky keyboard combining regular keypad and a handset for your VoIP urging needs. It works with every VoIP applications and show a plug-and-play USB device.

[via Gizmag]

Fon France: the dual-mode phone is coming

2006-02-07T17:40:00.000+01:00

Besides FON ships Linksys router with a FON compatible chipware, they have also announced the coming of their first WiFi phone. A dual-mode WiFi/GSM able to make the most of their rapidly extending wireless network.

For Linus-users (understand people who share a bit of their bandwidth), the activation will cost nothing. For the others, no tariffs have been provided on the French website, as no release date.

Steps into the FON revolution (and media buzz)

2006-02-07T12:18:00.000+01:00

Fon founder Martin Varsasky

On Sunday, Fon publicly announcement that Skype, Google and Sequoia Capital would put all together 18 million euros ($22 million USD) into the new Martin Varsasky's entrepreneurial adventure, the media and bloggers are buzzing on the pros and cons of its business model. We, at PhoneAddict, dug in the world press to bring you the most relevant information.

From traditional media

El Pais pinpointed the fast spreading rate: 1,710 new registered users for only the last day. The Wall Street Journal added Fon already contracted a deal with one large Sweden Internet-service provider. It's GlocoNet, the second largest ISP in Sweden, confirmed News.com and Reuters ― but their website is unreachable so far, quite weird for an Internet-related company. The US-based ISP Speakeasy should have also contracted with them. No! has written John Cook of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Meanwhile, Spanish daily Informativos Telecinco revealed some other investors name: Danny Rimer (Index Ventures), Mike Volpi (Cisco). Calm down, guys, it's still buzz, the BBC could claim. "According to a survey by electronics firm Toshiba, about 20% of laptop owners did not know how to use wireless functions."

How to get started

Fon provides Linksys router for $25 USD/25 euros ― it's definitively worth buying it if you're in America ― for people who don't have any appropriate devices. The software bundles the router. Be quick, they only have 3,000 pieces at low cost. So far, since the announcement, 600 of them have already been sold according to El Pais, 400 if we listen to Informativos Telecinco.

Then you just need to download the software (information in Spanish) and install it prior to jump into the FON network.

For others, who own one of the Linksys WRT54GL/GS/G version 1x to 4x routers, Ignacio García Sedano published steps to turn your wireless router into a FON compatible hotspot. Living in Spain, he seemingly achieved the installation in a few quick steps, although he didn't reference his access point router model. Some screenshots are available on his geek blog. Tele2 users should be careful on setting their wireless router, French-speaking Damien Van Achter warned.

For pure users, Fon provides a list and an interactive online map which regroups the currently available hotspots.

(Stay tuned, we still keep an eye on the Fon fuzzing buzz.)

FON calls with Skype and Google

2006-02-06T13:18:00.000+01:00

Spain is the place to be if you are a VoWLAN go-goer. Buzz on wireless access point and free hotspot are gaining momentum. Since the Davos 2006 summit, Martin Varsavsky ― Argentine entrepreneur, as his name doesn't show ― and his new wireless service company FON received many enthusiastic support to build a free-for-(almost)-all WiFi roaming environment.

Now "FON can now count Google, Skype, Sequoia Capital, and Index Ventures as investors and backers," as written on their weblog. So far, 3,000 'FONeros' have already registered within 90 days. The objective is to provide a 1 million hotspots by 2010. Possible if their network inflates as fast as "5% of a big hotspot network", as noticed Guru Glenn of WiFiNetworkingNews.

Grass-root network

The entrepreneurial idea bases its eventual success on ordinary people. After downloading the FON open source software, everyone could share a portion of his or her bandwidth to neighbors. Thousands of nodes could then be set at an inexpensive installation cost for the company. Such a structure of the wireless network could be compared to a mesh network.

FON currently yields its roots on Old Europe but North America could soon be part of the process. The FON blog acknowledge that Speakeasy and ETel is willing to implement some FON hotspot in America. Of course, it's not possible right now. But think about interoperability between Google WiFi and others networks. People from North America and Europe would almost pay their phone calls no more.

Monetized kindness

The people's kindness is even rewarded. Mr. Varsavsky's business model involved three levels of users: free operators (the wireless angles or Linuses as FON calls them), the for-fee operators or Bills, and non-operators or casual users or Aliens if you speak FON's tongue.

It still is buzz...

FON network could even be expanded a higher pace. But their software stubbles on quite numerous technical problems. A major one is the European WiFi authorities who won't allow FON users to share WiFi signals so easily. Besides this, the different Telcos and Comcos which are making big bucks with VoIP services included in their triple-play services (high-speed Internet connexion/television/VoIP phone calls).

Wireless security is the second problem. The FON network comes without encryption ― It's free, so why encrypt it? But if anyone could access the network, would it be still secured?

And third problem: Except the Linksys models, most of currently available wireless routers show close source administration applications. Which means: Whether you are willing to give your sweat building a nice application for them, whether you need to wait... Not the worst idea actually.

Skype still gets the vibe?

2006-02-04T18:29:00.000+01:00

December-2004 Skype was bold: 90% of VoIP traffic! Yes, so damn impressive... December-2005 Skype: a mere 45% of VoIP market share. Only for Europe. In North America, the market share of voice software company is even lower: 14.4% of traffic, behind the 21.7% of Vonage, according Sandvine, the broadband consulting company which gathered the numbers.

Is Skype stumbling? Is its user base eroding? Was eBay sick to acquire it for $2.6 billion?

No, Techworld replies. But many competitors have stepped into this trendy market within just one year. NTL/Telewest, FastWeb, Free Telecom just for Europe who all provide a triple-play (Internet, television, VoIP phone) service.

73% of their customers don't even know what is VoIP, noticed InStat. That makes sense. Why should "Grand-Mama" need to care about VoIP while she is still using the same handset to make free calls?

To bust the Skype Golden Age a bit more, Techworld reports the results of a research conducted by Point Topic in July. Only 5.3 million active users for 100 million Skype client downloads and 35 million registered users. For Skype, there's not 100 million client downloads but over 248 million times... Who dribbers?

Google free WiFi plans in San Fransisco

2006-02-04T17:33:00.000+01:00

Promise, after this one, we'll refresh our VoIP radar. But Google teamed with big device makers ― understand Sony, Motorola, Nintendo, Siemens and Philips ― to provide free WiFi in hi-tech world capital San Fransisco, CA. The city council has been incorporated in the plan, IDG revealed in a recent article.

Revealed by Christopher Sacca, principal in new business development at Google: After providing a high-speed Internet connection to its customers, Google could find some of them using bandwidth-hungry applications, such as streaming video or file-sharing, that hog the network's capacity.

When we know they just set a deal with VoIP Inc., no real doubt subsists on the future free VoWLAN out there.

[via Engadget]

Google newest idea: Click to call your favorite advertisers

2006-02-04T11:37:00.000+01:00

Google Inc. inked a pact with VoIP Inc. for Internet-telephony services last September. As usual, no mouth was eager to disclose the specifics. But, to Mark Evans (blogger and tech columnist for the Canada National Post) there's little doubt on Google doing a make-over of its Talk service by including the ability to call 911 and 800 services. Google has been buzzing quite much on its chat voice and text messaging software without convincing as many as users than its competitors.

SearchEngineWatch already pinpointed a consequent pact between Google and VoiceOne, a sister company of VoIP Inc., to provide VoIP for Google's click-to-call advertising service, also called pay-per-call ads. Since November, die-hard Googlers already read announcement on the click-to-call service.

As the Google Click-to-Call FAQ claims:

We're testing a new product that gives you a free and fast way to speak directly to the advertiser you found on a Google search results page – over the phone.

Here's how it works: When you click the phone icon, you can enter your phone number. Once you click 'Connect For Free,' Google calls the number you provided. When you pick up, you hear ringing on the other end as Google connects you to the other party. Then, chat away on our dime.

Yahoo, Microsoft and IBM all have announced plans to offer click-to-call services or have made deals that would enable them to provide them, according to News.com.

Gtalkr: Everything in your browser

2006-02-03T17:04:00.000+01:00

The Google Talk world has seemingly been inflating since the last 2 months. Among the new comers, there was Gtalkr released in early December. The Colorado-based 2-men start-up proposes a Flash based way to access Google Talk, Gmail and Yahoo maps from your own browser. Gmail users just need to enter their Gmail ID to get logged in the version 2.0.0.40 ― yes, it's a beta.

Recently, they offer an API toolkit to web developers. If Gtalkr manage to heat up some buzz, extensions might come up to extend the current functionalities. Sarah Perez, author of the SarahinTampa blog, had a conversation with a Gtalkr developer ― whose name remained undisclosed. He told her they will soon provide a del.icio.us extension and some peer-to-peer applications with the integration of the libjingle, the Google Talk library (understand file transfer and file sharing). "Video would the next step after voice," he told her.

The Unofficial Google Weblog, part of the Weblogs Inc., adds another buzz: "Gtalkr fills in some of the missing pieces of the desktop Google Talk, such as conversation searching, and starring as in Gmail. The last part of the buzz has been confirmed by Om Malik. Techcrunch have made a deeper coverage of the functionalities.

Who's gonna be the Skype-killer? (updated)

2006-02-03T11:34:00.000+01:00

We have been wondering about what VoIP applications are available out there to seriously overthrow Skype hegemony. The competitors mainly lure users with callouts phone rate. That's their key variable. Besides this, some softwares bundle new functionalities that Skype is still missing to integrate. And another strategy is to release the application code under a open source license. This would trigger a collective enhancement of the software and could deploy enough buzz on it.

The following isn't complete and will be updated as we found and test the voice chat applications. Some deeper coverage will also appear in the next days.

Enough talk. Show me the stuff!

OK, let's see what is available. Note that the list will certainly be updated in the next days.

Gizmo Project: Often called the "Skype-killer" application. Above all, tt's the latest brainchild of Michael Robertson, the found of MP3.com and Linspire, a Linux distributor. With such a pedigree, the Gizmo project couldn't have been anything else a open source project. Now, its features: free computer-to-computer phone calls. In addition, the Gizmo CallOut service enables users to initiate calls to landlines and mobile phones from 1.8 US cents per minute using CallOut Credits. Gizmo also provides a facility to allow users to receive calls on a traditional phone number from mobile phones and landlines. The Gizmo CallIn service, which costs $5 per month, supplies a phone number from one of over 50 cities in the US and UK.

Gaim: This popular open source instant messenger is evolving to its version 2 but still is on beta state hold. However, it is announced to support voice and video over IP.

Google Talk: Very simple look-and-feel as usual. You can pretty much do the same things as with the others. As the Gizmo Project, Gaim and probably the forthcoming voice chat softwares, it mainly relies on the SIP protocol to achieve its goals. We haven't tried it so far. Yes, we know, the shame is on us but it only is a matter of time, pals.

Wengo: A French VoIP sister company of Neuf Telecom, one of the four French national Telcos. Quite the same functionalities as Skype's ones. Lower than Skype costs for calls out. In mid-January, the company freed its main software source code, claiming it first developed under Linux environment but for some reasons, the Windows version came out first. Quite odd explanations. After all, Mozilla Firefox runs on Windows platform and has never close source. The open source version could be reached here.

VoIPBuster: The software comes from Germany with an incredible feature. Free phone out calls to 19 countries including New Zealand, Taiwan and ― this one is quite funny ― Monaco principality. As said on their website, you should be able to grab a VoIP-in phone number. We'll cover this deeper in a next post.

TeamSpeak: It's both a voice chat client and a telecommunication server. Call centers and companies that have a bunch of sales representatives should be interested by TeamSpeak. Innovations are not really in the client functionalities but rather in the server ones. You can decide who can to who. We'll also cover this one a bit later. So keep reading us and thanks already for reading us now.

Gtalkr: A pure Web 2.0 player. Flash and XML anywhere. The first stable version isn't suspected to appear very soon. Some promising functionalities bundle this VoIP application, such as calling, browsing and reading news in the same place. Gmail and Google Talk users just need to enter their ID to start using their phone service.

In 2006, one of four companies will use VoWLAN

2006-02-02T22:36:00.000+01:00

The exact number is 27%, not 26 not 28% exactly 27%! The estimation comes right from Infonetics Research, a marketing research and consulting company specialized on networking. Another research paper gives a glimpse on what they expect to happen for this year:

WiFi phones will bump up to 158% in 2006.
Roughly 2/3 of WiFi use the single mode WiFi VoIP handsets. But dual-mode phone should take the lead by 2009.
Above 50% of dual-mode users are located in the Asian Pacific area. Europe and North America are lagging ― as usual.
Real-time applications such as voice and video over wireless LANs should keep growing. But everyone has already noticed this.

It seems that all Telco and phone service providers want a piece of the cake. So watch out for the battle of who is going to propose the cheapest prices.

Make phone calls while shopping

2006-02-02T20:40:00.000+01:00

Parents, here's a tip for you. Whenever you go shopping in malls, drop your kids in the hi-tech section before they got lost. To find them again, just call them on their phone. You wouldn't anymore suffer from these unnecessary hide-and-seek games. But well, this tip concerns Spaniards only. The Spanish Telco AWA yesterday unveiled their forthcoming VoIP campaign. Over about 40 shopping centers and a number of public buildings, their press release explains. They teamed out with Meru Networks and OptiCall, a Scandinavian phone integrator and distributor. With a unique account, users will be allowed to reach any location of the mesh network. Times to go shopping.

20 pounds to start talking over the lines

2006-02-02T16:03:00.000+01:00

It's hard move. Tesco announced it would sell a VoIP starter kit at £20 (about 30 euros). The grocery homeshopping service bets on the 8.1 million British households connected to the high-speed Internet. The kit comes with a close-source software and plug-and-play phone handset.

Free calling concerns only computer to computer Tesco calls. Ringing a normal landline will cost 2p per minute (3 cent euros) at all times, 10p per minute (15 cent euros) to UK mobiles at any time to any network and for overseas calls, the rate remains at 2p per minute.

One of the sweetest advantage of Tesco handset is that you don't need a telesales-type headsets anymore. But, well, you couldn't still call nor answer phone calls when your computer is down.

Sylvia Carr, from the technology website Silicon.com, said Tesco's broadband handset launch would popularise something which at first had been restricted to the "technologically savvy". That would give a boost to British Telecom, which is quite the biggest Internet service provider in the Island, and which has announced the relaunch its own broadband phone products this year. Go going.

Future wireless VoIP map

2006-02-02T14:57:00.000+01:00

Now that VoIP is mainstream, wireless VoIP is going to be. Indeed. This market trend is logical and sooner or later conventional phone operators and phone makers will converge or even merge together. But Susana Vidal who led the research for IDC as a senior analyst is more accurate than us. She affirms it's going to be this year!

Vidal notes closer integration of dual-mode Wifi/GSM handsets and IP telephony vendors. Wireless VoIP will expand in a global map, made of thick independent access points and thin ones with corresponding wireless switch. "This implies that there will be increased interest in ensuring that their WLAN and VoIP systems are ready for future wireless VoIP deployments," she also pointed out, as reported CRN Australia.