Best of VoIP!: March 2008

Skype support will be available on PSP

PlayStation Portable or PSP will get Skype support soon. Whether it is good or bad for PSP owners is difficult to predict given the advantages and disadvantages of this communication software program. The definite advantage that gamers of popular games on PSP will enjoy is that now more gaming community networks will be setup centered on a particular game with more prompt voice interaction. If the video conferencing feature of Skype is included then there will be more fun with gamers actually getting the opportunity to see the facial expression of their fellow players who so long was satisfied with their avatars. Skype has been widely criticized for distributing bugs even fooling the seeming most secure firewalls. I hope PSP manufactures keep in their mind this problem before integrating Skype into their device.

Jajah liberates VoIP users from PC

The reason why Jajah is growing at a steady pace since inception is simply due to its continual effort to make the VoIP simpler. Maintaining that tradition, the Austria-based startup has introduced yet another sophisticated service, Direct VoIP. As it seems, the Direct VoIP will enable Jajah customers to enjoy VoIP service directly without depending upon an intermediary channel. I mean VoIP without PC. Though, the service like this is not new in the market, Jajah Direct VoIP stands unique of its own. With Jajah Direct, the customers can make and receive VoIP calls anywhere in the world without sitting before computers. They also don�t need internet connection. With an ordinary phone, they can VoIP calls. The Jajah Direct is very simple. It provides VoIP service the way your mobile phone makes to other phones. To go with Jajah Direct, you need an access number using which you can call to a destination phone number upon hearing a dial tone. The first call is totally free. Jajah Direct is cheap. The company charges a paltry 2.5 or 3 cents for a minute call. The service is available in 122 countries. However, the local number facility is now available in 10 cities in the US, nine cities in Europe.

Yahoo Messenger for Vista Adds VoIP

If you recall in my December Yahoo! Messenger for Vista post, this version which was pretty much completely rewritten didn't have VoIP yet -- unlike the XP version which does have VoIP capabilities. Well good news my friends! I learned via Josh Jacobson, Senior Product Manager, Yahoo! Messenger for Vista on his blog that PC-to-PC VoIP (free calling) is now available as well as PC-to-PSTN (Yahoo MessengerOut?) It also features "Phone In" number so you can receive calls. This latest beta of Yahoo Messenger for Vista will have cool voice visualizations for the product that leverage the WPF 3D integration. (see image right) SMS will also be part of this next release, allowing users to send text messages from Yahoo! Messenger for Vista to a friend’s mobile phone for free.

The plan is to add Yahoo! Mail alerts to this next version as well. I'd like to see Yahoo! Messenger for Vista be able to make VoIP calls to Microsoft Live Messenger. They're both SIP-based after all and they already interoperate with IM. But then again, Yahoo! and Microsoft have been butting heads lately with Microsoft trying to acquire Yahoo and Yahoo playing "hard to get" wanting to be courted for more cash. Anyway, you can download and try out the preview version available at http://messenger.yahoo.com/vista Also, read more about the new features on the Yahoo! Messenger blog. http://www.ymessengerblog.com/blog/2008/03/06/in-the-mix-with-yahoo-messenger-for-vista/

British padding lampposts?

I love the Brits. I most admire them for their World War II toughness & fierce determination and can-do attitude against seemingly overwhelming odds. There is also something to be said for their "properness" and manners. Britain, a tiny island once held the mightiest navy in all the world and explored and colonized much of the world spreading for better or worse the English language and culture. Britain gave this world some of its greatest free-spirited explorers. With this in mind, I never would think of the British as the type of people that sues McDonald's for spilling hot coffee like America's over-litigious society nor would I expect them to be granted a free government hand-out. But it appears Britain has lost much of that free spirit. Like the rest of Europe they have become more socialist than capitalist. Whether you agree or disagree in nationalized health care, we can all agree that Britain's nationalized health care system is a disaster. So perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised that the British government has now issued an order to wrap their lampposts in padding because the Brits were walking into lampposts while texting. No doubt some probably sued and won millions complaining there was no radar-induced audible alert that they were about to bash their forehead into the post. Oy! Let's assume there are 1 million lampposts in Britain and the padding costs $100 + $50 labor to install. That's $150 million to pad lampposts to protect someone from getting a bump on their head? C'mon! What a waste of British taxpayer money. Even if it isn't that much money, I still say Survival of the fittest. Let the dumb ones who walk into lampposts fall backwards onto a busy street and be weaned out of the human gene pool. Ok, that was a little harsh. Well, perhaps they can just fall all on their arse and it'll knock them sense into them to not text while walking or at least look up every few seconds. Where have the Brits I have come to admire and love gone?

SippySkype SIP-to-Skype Gateway

Last month I wrote about my strong disagreements with a guest blog post on Skype Journal that was titled "A SIP/Skype Gateway Is NOT In The Forecast". I disagreed with the premise that a SIP/Skype gateway isn't in the forecast. Well, Skype Inc. may not care about offering a SIP-to-Skype gateway, but that doesn't mean VoIP enthusiasts are going to sit around and not build their own SIP-to-Skype gateways! I've blogged on a few occasions where I discussed the desire for Skype users to have SIP connectivity and various home-brewed solutions. Well, we can add another SIP-to-Skype gateway solution to the mix. I just discovered SippySkype today, which is an open source & free SIP-to-Skype gateway. Check out the features: SippySkype is Java software that allows you to make and receive Skype calls from your SIP/VoIP adapter. Basically a Skype/SIP Bridge/Gateway/Proxy Call Skype Users using speed dial or use Skype out. SIP to Skype authentication/denial mappings via SIP caller ID and IP blocks - 1.1 or higher Skype to SIP authentication/denial mappings via incoming Skype User ID - 1.1 or higher Support RFC2833 touchtone decoding (DTMF) - 2.0beta or higher Could be used as an endpoint with Asterisk Auto play pre-recorded file(s) to SIP callers - 2.0beta or higher Incoming SIP Pin number authentication and dialing - 2.0beta or higher Open Source - You can modify/fix it if you like. It's free System Requirements: Skype Client Working Java 1.6.0 or better runtime mjsip/mjua 1.6 http://www.mjsip.org/ - Use those included with SippySkype as some bugs have been fixed. Skype4Java 1.0 https://developer.skype.com/wiki/Java_API - Unmodified SIP/VOIP adapter such as a spa-3102 to make and receive Skype calls or register with a provider or Asterisk. Should work where Skype4Java works (windows/linux/osx). (I'm using it on Windows XP)

TomTom GO 930T & 730T

TomTom, today launched the new TomTom GO 930 and TomTom GO 730, where are updates to the popular 720 and 920 TomTom models. These new TomTom GPS units will feature TomTom's IQ Routes technology and Advanced Lane Guidance. According to TomTom the IQ Routes technology is based on actual average speeds measured on roads, rather than posted speed limits. Thus, the new TomTom GO range determines a route by considering all possible routes and then selecting the one that takes the least time based on recent historical data. This sounds eerily similar to my 2004 post where I said GPS units would one day use actual real world traffic data to calculate the optimal route. I actually stated P2P technology would be used to "share" GPS data amongst the GPS units. In any event, according to TomTom, in almost 50% of all trips, their IQ Routes technology results in a faster route. In addition, the new TomTom GO series includes TomTom's Advanced Lane Guidance feature. Advanced Lane Guidance provides users with realistic representations of complex highway junctions and lane-specific visual directions. TomTom IQ Routes Explained: The new TomTom IQ Routes technology is based on actual average speeds on roads, rather than the posted speed limits. This intelligent routing technology is based on anonymous historical speed profiles of over 6.2 billion miles of driven roads, gathered over the years by millions of TomTom users. It takes into account all the factors that may influence the time it takes drivers to get to their destination, including traffic lights, rotaries, steep slopes and speed bumps. The TomTom IQ Routes speed profile database continues to grow at the rate of over half a billion measurements per day, so the time and spatial accuracy of TomTom IQ Routes(TM) technology will continually increase. Drivers can be confident that they will always be given the smartest route, incorporating detailed local knowledge. This allows for more efficient daily route planning, in particular when driving through urban and mountainous areas. Other Features: -- TomTom Map Share technology, enabling users to make updates and corrections to their own maps instantly and to benefit from improvements made by other users, completely free of charge. New Map Share features include the ability to change turn restrictions and posted road speeds -- Latest map guarantee so users always have free access to the latest map at time of purchase -- Voice address input so that users can drive to millions of cities and street names by simply announcing the address of their destination -- Clear voice instructions and text-to-speech to enable street names, places, traffic alerts and SMS messages to be read aloud as part of the spoken instructions -- Enhanced Positioning Technology (EPT) for uninterrupted navigation even in tunnels or highly-built areas (TomTom GO 930 only) -- TomTom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver, as a compatible accessory, for detailed traffic information -- Large 4.3 inch touch screen with new generation icons and an updated user interface to navigate drivers to their destination even more easily -- Enhanced hands-free calling with high-quality sound system via Bluetooth(R) to allow drivers to keep their eyes firmly on the road while making phone calls in the car -- Extensive safety features, including the 'Help Me' menu that gives drivers direct access to emergency services and roadside assistance -- Built-in FM Transmitter to play music and navigation instructions seamlessly over the car stereo -- New smart & fun extras to personalize users' devices, including recording your own driving instructions, view documents, exchange positions via SMS and Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology and select a favorite car icon on the screen -- Free TomTom HOME software and content from the TomTom community to keep your TomTom device up to date at all times -- Full range of accessories to match the design and finish of the updated GO range Map Coverage -- The TomTom GO 930 comes pre-installed with the most up-to-date maps of US, Canada and Western and Central Europe stored on the internal memory -- The TomTom GO 730 includes new expanded map coverage, including the latest maps of the US and Canada Availability The new TomTom GO range will be available across North America and Europe starting at end of April 2008. TomTom product technical specifications -- 4.3" widescreen 16:9 format LCD (WQVGA: 480*272 pixels) -- CPU 400 MHz -- TomTom GO 930: 4 GB internal flash memory, TomTom GO 730: 2 GB -- SD card slot -- High sensitivity GPS receiver -- Bluetooth(TM) -- Lithium-polymer battery (up to 5 hours operation) -- Dimensions: 118 mm x 83 mm x 24 mm- convert to inches 4.6 x 3.2 x 1 -- Weight: 7.7 ounces

Where's My Cell Phone?

It's happened to be best of us - we misplaced our cell phone and after frantically looking for it we turn to our spouse/significant other and humbly ask, "Have you seen my cell phone?" or accusingly "What have you done with my cell phone? I had it right here!". Now if your cell phone is on you can simply call it from your landline and hope you can track down the ringing (assuming you didn't leave it on vibrate). But what if you are like a number of people who have gone 100% wireless with no landline service? Well, you could use Skype if you have SkypeOut credits, but not everyone does. So what to do? Well, head on over to www.wheresmycellphone.com and enter in your cell phone number and it will dial it for you for free. No doubt you'll hear your lost cell phone ringing in your pocket or the sofa seat cushions. Now of course there is potential for abuse. You can enter in the cell number of a person you want to prank call and it will dial their number while protecting your anonymity. You could even write a script that hits this page multiple times to barrage your victim with countless calls. Perhaps even schedule the script to run at 3am. Ahh the fun to be had...

PBXtra 4.0 Released

Fonality today announced the release of PBXtra 4.0. New features in PBXtra include FindMe with Boomerang Mobile Integration, a feature that uses presence detection to automatically find employees on their mobile devices, allowing them to answer the call or bounce it to another extension. Other new features include tighter integration with mobile phones and web browsers, and enhanced support of branch offices. One really cool feature that is part of the Boomerang Mobile feature is that you can dial *1 to record the mobile phone call and have it automatically stored on the PBXtra server. Another cool feature that Chris Lyman CEO of Fonality gave me a sneak preview a few weeks ago was FONcall, a new PBXtra plug-in for the Firefox web browser. It turns any phone number on any site into a link. When you click the link, PBXtra will automatically take an Aastra and Polycom off the hook and dial out to the number hands-free. I pointed out to Chris that there are similar plug-ins out there including Skype's browser plugin, and I added that Skype's plugin often brings your computer browser to its knees. Chris said he was well aware of that fact and they spent countless hours developing their plugin to make sure it wasn't a CPU hog. Also, no support for Internet Explorer yet - possibly never since Chris stated it was much harder to develop plugins for IE. (though I should point out that Skype's plugin works on IE) Greg Galitzine has more on this news and was the first to post the story about this new release.

Talkonaut 4.0 native Symbian S60 edition released

The GTalk2VoIP dev team just released their VoIP+chat application for Symbian S60 phones that runs as a native (.sis file) application. I should stress that several Nokia smart phones come with a SIP stack, however they are limited to WiFi use only and won't work over your cellular network. You can thank the carriers for that one. Talkonaut on the other hand is not bound to WiFi only, allowing you to make calls over GPRS, EDGE, 3G or WiFi. Talkonaut has essentially developed their own VoIP SIP stack that allows Talkonaut users to make voice calls over most data connections your mobile phone might have, such as GPRS, EDGE, 3G and WiFi. The application also sports the ability to make free VoIP calls to Google Talk users, to SIP phones, to MSN, Yahoo, AIM and ICQ voice capable IM clients. I believe you can even chat with MSN Messenger, Yahoo, AIM, and ICQ users. Here's a list of the new features in the 4th release according to the release: - Talkonaut 4.0 was entirely rewritten in C/C++ and now runs on Symbian S60 3rd edition based Nokia smart-phones. Moving from Java to native platform allowed to reduce memory usage, improved speed and to add some functionalities that were not previously available for Jave applications, like VoIP, access to file local system (improved file transfer) and interaction with other applications (Web Browser for opening URLs right from chat window). - Using a set of narrow-band Speex codecs and relying on Jingle Audio extension to XMPP protocol (same as implemented in Google Talk), Talkonaut now brings to the world a very powerful combination of IM chat, Presence and VoIP calls made over data connection. - Talkonaut 4.0 allows to make free VoIP calls to Google Talk users, to SIP phones, to MSN, Yahoo, AIM and ICQ voice capable IM clients, as well as to other Talkonaut fellows. - Talkonaut 4.0 allows to receive free calls from SIP phones (or any other VoIP networks), from Google Talk, MSN, Yahoo, AIM and ICQ users. - Talkonaut 4.0 allows to make cheap VoIP calls to any mobile or landline phone number in the world. - Talkonaut 4.0 allows to define any number of SIP accounts and use them to make free or cheap calls over third-party VoIP/SIP carriers. A flexible Dialing Plan feature is helpful for choosing routes to destinations between different carriers. - Talkonaut 4.0 is fully equipped with all the features previously available in J2ME version of Talkonaut 3.0, inherits the same graphical user interface and menu structure. Talkonaut 4.0 runs on the following sets of Symbian S60 based Nokia smart-phones: o 3rd Edition: 3250, 5500, 5700, 6110, 6120, 6121, 6290, E50, E51, E60, E61, E61i, E62, E65, E70, E90, N71, N73, N75, N76, N77, N80, N81, N81 8GB, N82, N91, N92, N93, N93i, N95, N95 8GB Talkonaut 4.0 can be downloaded over-the-air using mobile web browser from http://get.talkonaut.com/, or via PC from http://www.talkonaut.com/download.shtml

Junction Networks Adds Inbound Bridge to onSIP Hosted PBX

Junction Networks, provider of the hosted onSIP PBX service, has launched Inbound Bridge, an accessory service that ties in third-party providers of international and domestic DID numbers. Inbound Bridge saves money for Junction Networks’ business customers by allowing them to find the best per-minute price for inbound VoIP calling minutes in their chosen geographic regions. Essentially this bridging application lets hosting customers use third-party providers of DID numbers for best LD price in desired footprint. According to Junction Networks, "Inbound Bridge solves a vexing problem for companies that want local numbers and 800 numbers in foreign countries or specific domestic regions—numbers typically rented from other VoIP network providers. Many of these providers simply deliver calls from one end point to the other; they don’t implement the key function of the SIP VoIP signaling protocol that allows callers to navigate phone menus, transfer calls, put callers on hold and trigger other events. Without this function (specified in the IETF’s RFC 3515), inbound callers are disconnected when they “press 1 for sales,” or try to transfer to extension numbers for specific people. Or at the least the DTMF touch tones are not recognized. Junction Networks' Inbound Bridge performs the missing SIP function, maintaining the two-way SIP signaling needed for interactivity after a call is already established. It can therefore pass the entered touch-tone digits to the auto attendant and other PBX applications. It can integrate onSIP with any network vendor having an open SIP implementation (permitting communication with other SIP networks). “This is a perfect opportunity if you’re a company that wants a toll-free service from Europe or Asia, or you have some other reason to use a third-party phone number provider,” said Rob Wolpov, president, Junction Networks. “But you do want to use our hosted solution, because it works very well, you have company extensions in one or more sites, and you like the price of that.” ($39.95 a month for core voice applications and an unlimited number of SIP extensions, with free calling between them.) “You can get your toll-free origination from any provider that offers SIP delivery of inbound calls, and just have it go to us through the Inbound Bridge. We charge $1.95 a month per DID, and half a cent a minute to cover our cost of the Bridge. If you can get your toll-free for one or one and a half cents a minute, you wind up paying two cents a minute for toll-free, as opposed to paying almost four cents a minute to Junction Networks. “That’s completely OK with us,” Wolpov stressed. “Go somewhere else to get your minutes and then come to us for the auto attendant, the ACD queue, the voice mail, all those sorts of applications.” To date, Junction Networks has tested the Inbound Bridge with international DID provider Voxbone. Other third-party DID providers are to be tested and added in the coming months. “We’re happy to supply onSIP customers with our core value—locally dialed phone presence in more than 40 countries around the world,” said Rodrigue Ullens, Voxbone CEO. “With our intercontinental voice-only backbone, Junction Networks’ Inbound Bridge and onSIP platform, these enterprises can get the best value in DID numbers and international VoIP transport, plus all the convenience and flexibility of hosted IP PBX.”

Nuvio sues Garmin over nuvifone

Nuvio announced a trademark infringement lawsuit against Garmin today. The dispute is against Garmin's uber cool GPS mobile phone called the Nuvifone just recently announced and due out later this year. Nuvi claims they filed this lawsuit January 31st of 2008. Ok, I'll grant Nuvio that Nuvi is "close" in spelling. Ok GPS fans, what's wrong with this picture? Could it be that Garmin has been selling GPS units with the name "nuvi" for years! You may have seen the nuvi spelled with the funky two dots about the letter 'u', i.e. nüvi 350. If you Google "nuvi" you'll see Garmin owns this term. If you look at Google Images for "nuvi", once again, all Garmin products. So if Garmin has been using this trademark for years, why all of a sudden is Nuvio suing them? The Answer? Drum roll please... Because the Garmin Nuvifone has generated a lot of media buzz (myself included) that while it isn't as rabid as the iPhone, it's still a pretty hotly anticipated product. Need I also remind you of the Cisco/Linksys lawsuit over Apple's use of the term "iPhone" which I covered here, here, here, and here. Cisco/Linksys already had a trademark on that exact same name. Unlike Nuvio which has a different spelling, the term "nuvi" is not exactly the same. Now you could compare this with Apple's iProductName, where they pretty much own the letter "i" in front of computer-related technology (iMac, iPhone, iPod). Same goes for McDonald's. I can't launch a frozen pizza called the McPizza without being sued. But certainly Nuvio doesn't have industry-wide acceptance as the owner of the phrase "Nuvio" or "Nuvi". So I don't see how they can win. Seems to be patent extortion to me, but maybe my analysis is off. If so, tell me. But I'll include the news release below so you can judge for yourself. OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nuvio Corporation, a leading provider of on-demand business phone service, today announced that it has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Garmin International, Inc. (NASDAQ: GRMN) in the U.S. District Court of Kansas. Garmin’s recently announced Nuvifone infringes on the prior Nuvio trademark which Nuvio uses on Nuvio phones and its telephony services. Prior to filing the lawsuit, Nuvio attempted to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution with Garmin. No resolution was reached and Nuvio filed legal action to protect its rights. “While we would have preferred to settle this without resorting to a lawsuit, we felt it was important to ensure that our customers and potential customers are not confused by someone abusing our legally protected trademark,” stated Jason P. Talley, Nuvio’s CEO. “Our customers commonly refer to our service as the Nuvio phone.” Nuvio’s lawsuit alleges that Garmin knowingly and willfully appropriated Nuvio’s trademark. In addition to a determination that Garmin has infringed on the Nuvio trademark, Nuvio is seeking a permanent injunction that prohibits Garmin from using the Nuvi name. Nuvio issued a cease and desist letter to Garmin on January 31, 2008. As well as seeking a permanent injunction barring Garmin from using the Nuvio trademark, Nuvio has requested damages for past infringement. About Nuvio Nuvio Corporation, a provider of on-demand business communication solutions, distributes its products through direct, indirect and wholesale channels. Nuvio offers a reliable, stable communications platform providing unparalleled uptime for customers. Since 2003, Nuvio has provided PBX services for small to medium-sized businesses in a cost-effective manner. For more information, visit www.nuvio.com.

Hosted trixbox IP-PBX

Just learned via TMCs' VoIP Forums that Click4PBX just announced hosted trixbox plans starting at $109/month (1-10 extensions) and going up to a maximum of $279/month (1-300 extensions). It's unclear from the website if that monthly fee is per extension or the total cost for each particular plan. I believe it is the total cost since the alternative (per extension) would be cost prohibitive. Not to mention the price would go down per extension as you scale up where as the plans listed increase in price as you increase the number of extensions. It just seems so cheap to only pay $109/month for up to 10 extensions. A more typically example for the SMB is 50 extensions and that's still only $139/month. Actually, all Click4PBX is doing is hosting the trixbox software. Well, they are hosting the PC hardware as well and providing some failover redundancy I suppose. So there is some value in that if you are an SMB that doesn't want to maintain hardware & do periodic trixbox software upgrades. In any event, with this solution all you need is DID numbers and SIP trunking termination services from Click4PBX's list of certified VoIP providers. Your IP phones connect directly with the SIP service provider, while Click4PBX hosts the trixbox management interface, which leverages FreePBX, a web front-end to several Asterisk-based solutions. I'm very high on SIP trunking as you know, so it'll be interesting to see if more hosted trixbox or hosted Asterisk-based solutions come to market. We already have thousands of website hosting companies - could a plethora of hosted PBX providers be far behind? I should add that Click4PBX also hosts VICIDIAL, a set of programs that are designed to interact with the Asterisk Open-Source PBX Phone system to act as a complete inbound/outbound call center suite. It includes predictive dialing capabilities, inbound, Outbound and Blended call handling and more.

SimplyWiFi SIP Phone

SimplyWiFi is a new SIP-based WiFi phone based on Linux that not only lets you make free or low-cost calls, it also lets you IM/chat using the SIMPLE standard. SimplyWiFi is a small lightweight phone with a superb talk time of 10 hours and 250 hours stand-by time. The WiFi SIP phone features a 65,000 color 2.0" TFT-LCD with 176x220 resolution. Wisecom Technologies' SimplyWiFi phone features the ability to make encrypted calls, manage your contacts and send instant messages. The WiFi features include all the usual suspects, including DHCP, authentication and encryption. It supports WEP (64/128-bit), WPA/WPA2 (Personal/PSK/Enterprise), Open System, and Shared Key. I should point out that some SIP WiFi phones only allow you to connect to open hotspots with no encryption. Fortunately, SimplyWiFi has WiFi profiles allowing you to enter in your WiFi security key one time per SSID/WiFi network, save it, and then re-use the profile when you enter range of that WiFi network. Features: Phonebook records Volume control for headset and dialtones Brightness control Support for strong security and ESSID authentication Battery and signal level metering (RF and Battery indication) Update via USB port Extended stand-by time Pixel-based full-color user interface display Provisioning support Support SIP and RTP/RTCP protocol Instant messaging (SIMPLE) Chat key Caller ID NTP time synchronization Acoustic Echo Cancellation Jitter Buffer Control DTMF Transmission Call mute Call redial Call transfer (depending on service provider) Call history (Answered, dialed and missed calls) Preconfigured speed dial (voice mail) Silent ring (Vibrate mode) Customized ringtones Language support Backlight keypad SIP account management (multiple, locked and hidden) Network profile management (multiple, locked and hidden) Specifications: VoIP Protocol: SIP v2 Session Initiation Protocol (RFC3261), SDP (RFC2327) Voice codecs: G.711a/u, G.723.1, G.729a/b, G.726, ILBC 802.11b/g: DSSS, OFDM Dimension: 46.7 x 135.2 x 18.8 mm, 1.84 x 5.32 x 0.74 inch Weight: 106 g Battery: 3,7V 1320 mAh Li-Polymer Charging: USB/mini-USB cable or AC adapter with mini-USB cable VoIP chip: AT76C902 (ARM7 + ARM9 +TeakDSPCore) Display: 2.0", 176x220 pxl graphic 65K color TFT-LCD

SimplyExchange Skype PBX Gateway

Wisecom Technologies Ltd is now selling a Skype Certified gateway called SimplyExchange, which hooks up to your corporate PBX using four analog FXS ports. This is similar to the Actiontec VoSKY Skype gateway, though SimplyExchange is a much smaller unit than the 1U VoSKY gateway appliances. In any event, you simply connect 4 SimplyExchange analog FXS ports to 4 PBX FXO trunk ports, which will "Skype enable" your PBX. Alternatively you can connect to 4 telephones (or some to trunk ports and some to telephones) Next, you configure your PBX by setting a hunting group number for the four trunk ports to a specific number, such as 8. This hunting group will be act as Skype lines allowing a corporate user to simply press '8' to get access the Skype network, as seen by these 2 diagrams:

Then you hook up the SimpleExchange gateway to a PC (via USB) running Skype and install their software.

After configuring four Skype IDs you'll see this in your System Tray - 4 SimplyExchangeExt icons, 4 secondary Skype account icons, 1 primary Skype account icon, and 1 SimplyExchangeCenter icon. Pretty cool seeing 4 green Skype icons in the System Tray!

Technically, you'll need 5 Skype IDs, since one of them is used as your "primary" Skype account which runs on your PC and communicates with these 4 secondary accounts. You just need to tell this primary account to other Skype users. When somebody calls this primary account, the incoming call will be distributed automatically to one free account of these four secondary accounts. You can obviously configure a SkypeIn phone number as well for inbound PSTN calling. What's really cool is that the installation installs a local PostgreSQL database and a local web server on your PC so you can do some cool web-based management. The web interface keeps a call history, lets you view your contacts and has other capabilities. You can even import your Skype contacts using the web interface as seen here:

Features Integration of Skype into existing PBX system Supports 4 lines Skype call in and call out at the same time Unique enterprise Skype account as hunt group with automatic distribution for all incoming Skype calls Up to 16 digits Skype contact speed-dials Centralizes all Skype activities to a single server - good for enterprise management Web interface for contacts management and history/log check Uses only one Windows account to handle 4 Skype accounts Supports 4 inbound and/or outbound calls concurrently Automatically finds a free line/port for the incoming or outgoing Skype call Works with the existing PBX to provide other telephony features such as Call Transfer, Call Pickup,Call Hold, Call Waiting, Conference Call... etc. (PBX dependent)

Skype Customer Service

February 21, 2008 I've railed against Skype's poor customer service in the past. I've received a few emails over the past couple months that go like this: I am a Skype customer who signed up with one ISP email and now I have another. The old email is defunct and unaccessible by me. I forgot my password and when I want to get again, they say they will send me instructions for changing the password to my old email address. This does me no good. How can I contact these people directly? A phone number to tech support would be great. Thanks for your help. Indeed if you forgot your password, they will email it to you by using their online form. But this particular customer changed email addresses, so how can he reset his password? When you try and Google for keywords "Skype customer service" the first Skype.com link goes here which states: "How do I contact Skype customer service for help with my service?" Guess what the answer is? To contact Skype Customer Support, please visit the help section on our website and report your issue through our support form Simply choose the topic and subtopic that fits your issue the best and explain your problem. Gee thanks. Way to provide customer support - only through the support form with no phone number. Hmm, a phone provider that has no phone number, how ironic. Ok, well maybe they'll let you submit a trouble ticket that lets you request a new password sent to a different email address that is not the same as the one you registered with when you joined Skype. Well, that won't work because someone could surreptitiously enter in their email address with your Skype username and gain access to your Skype account. Well, after searching around Skype's website I found the answer if you lost your password and changed your email address: I lost my password. How can I retrieve it? If you have forgotten your password there is no way to retrieve it, but you can have a new password sent to you so that you can access your account. If you entered an email address when you registered for Skype, you can request a new password by filling out this form and a new password will be sent to you. If you do not receive the email check your Junk Mail folder, sometimes it is sent there by mistake. If you did not enter your email address, you will have to register again as a new Skype user. If you have SkypeOut credit on your account and the retrieve password tool does not work please submit a ticket to customer support with your billing information. They first suggest you sign-up with a new Skype username. That's not very helpful. What if I have dozens of people on my buddy list? I have to re-add them using a new Skype username? They then relent a little by allowing you to recover your password "If you have SkypeOut credit on your account" by submitting a ticket to their customer support with "your billing information." First off, what if I don't have SkypeOut credits, will you still help me recover my lost password or do I have to re-register with a new Skype username? Secondly, what billing information does Skype require? My billing address? The credit card I used? Can I just give the last 4 digits of my credit card because the Skype trouble ticket form is not encrypted? Trying to reach Skype customer service just for a password reset is one thing, but now imagine if you are having a billing issue. I've received email complaints from Skype users that they were over-billed and had no way to speak to someone about their issue. Trying to interact via a 1-way web form isn't the best way to do business. At the very least, Skype should add an online 2-way real-time chat support.

Skype support will be available on PSP

Jajah liberates VoIP users from PC

The rivalry between Cisco and Microsoft has once again intensified, as Microsoft launched its Unified Communications portfolio to take a significant share of the VoIP market pie. Cisco has already admitted that Microsoft�s entry into the VoIP sector has already slowed down its sales cycle with customers are waiting longer to make a comparison between the portfolios of the two companies before proceeding to buy. As for Microsoft's Unified Communications initiative, the company promises to treat voice as just another data type that can be routed around an office, much like an email. The new products include Microsoft Office Communications Server2007, Microsoft Office Communicator 2007, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, a service pack update of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and a Round Table, Ethernet-connected, 360-degree videoconferencing VoIP phone that will cost $3,000. Microsoft's new initiative is to eliminate the traditional PBX systems that run office environments. As for Cisco, its CTO of unified communications has said: There's a couple of extra conversation while we work through what does Microsoft actually have, what does Cisco have and what are the various ways they can work together.

Raketu does VoIP without PC, Internet

Raketu has liberated its users from PCs. The Skype-killer has just launched a SMS-Text Driven VoIP service; the service essentially marks a new wave of mobile VoIP communication where the users simply need a mobile device to make VoIP calls without depending upon PC or internet connection. It is indeed a unique proposition for Raketu to leverage their strong presence in MVoIP market. The SMS-Text Driven VoIP as it appears will enable users to make VoIP calls with their mobile phones which are capable of sending messages to other devices. The users can make national and international calls without leaning over PC or internet connection. Previously, the Raketu customers used to do VoIP calls either from PC to phone and vice versa. Greg Parker, President of Raketu elaborates, Our new SMS-Text Driven Service represents a paradigm shift in the ability for users with just about any mobile phone to initiate free or low-cost calls right from their handsets. The SMS-Text Driven VoIP service is free. It is available in forty countries. The company charges very low cost for rest of the world. The call rates are based on Raketu�s RakWeb calling rates. The customers who have registered for RakWeb can get 1200 free minutes per month under the SMS-Text Driven VoIP plan.

Vonage ends legal dispute with AT&T

Vonage has ended patent battle with AT&T and agreed to pay $39 million over five years as part of the settlement. It is the third major settlement by Vonage. The first two settlements were with Sprint Nextel and Verizon. The American telecom giant, AT&T had sued Vonage last month in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin claiming illegal use of their wide-area packet technology system by the VoIP pioneer. Vonage, which has now more than 2.2 million residential customers, has faced massive loss in the third quarter on account patent disputes with telecom companies. It agreed to pay $120 million to Verizon and $80 million to Sprint Nextel last month. The latest settlement was done as Vonage declared their third quarter results. The company has conceded net loss of $168.8 million. It spent more than $133 million in legal battles.

Will Skypephone bring revolution in Mobile VoIP?

The wait is almost over. Huchison 3G or 3 has officially launched the keenly-waited Skypephone dubbed as 3 Skypephone in UK. Skypephone means built-in Skype functionality. Thus, as said earlier, the device must simplify the use of Skype VoIP. There is no doubt. Other countries like Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Macau and Sweden will welcome the 3 Skypephone by the end of this year. The Skypephone brings free VoIP calls for the Skype users in UK. The mobile operator is not charging. However, the customers can enjoy 4,000 minutes of free calls in a month on 3�s network. They can enjoy incoming calls beyond that limit. If the customers are outside 3�s network, then roaming charge is applicable. The phone does not work in USA. With Skypephone, you can also make Skype Out calls. I mean Mobile to PC or Landline or any other phone. These calls are not free. Features: 1.Candy-bar style 2.Color: white and black 3.2-megapixel camera, 4.MPHuchison 3 player 5.Bluetooth connectivity 6.16M bytes of internal memory 7.Micro SD memory card. 8.Price: Just $102 Is it new beginning for MVoIP? MVoIP or Mobile over VoIP is a dichotomy (Read Vodafone, Orange). The mobile operators have always tried to maintain distance from VoIP. Huchison 3 has embraced Mobile VoIP. Who knows some other day, Vodafone may be romancing with VoIP!!!