Tag Archive
Despite Delays, Skype for BlackBerry Coming
BlackBerry users got giddy last spring when they heard a Skype application was coming to their smartphones. So what happened?Skype says it’s had some delays that are beyond its control, but isn’t being specific. The company hasn’t been able to move out of private beta testing. So obviously, it’s premature …(106 words) ... »
Despite Delays, Skype for BlackBerry Coming
BlackBerry users got giddy last spring when they heard a Skype application was coming to their smartphones. So what happened?Skype says it’s had some delays that are beyond its control, but isn’t being specific. The company hasn’t been able to move out of private beta testing. So obviously, it’s premature …(106 words) Related Topics: application,... »
Skype to FCC: Keep the Internet Open & Neutral
Skype, a big proponent of open networks and net neutrality, in a filing today with the Federal Communications Commission argued that net neutrality was “about growing the broadband ecosystem and preserving a borderless, open Internet” and said it would “promote investment, jobs and innovation.” The company said that it “welcomes the Commission’s focus on preserving... »
Here Comes Dynamic Caller ID
Flat Planet Phone Co., an Israeli VoIP startup, has developed a new VoIP technology called Dynamic Caller ID that essentially allows you to have multiple caller IDs built on the fly. These caller IDs depend on the local number being dialed. For instance, if you call someone in Orange County, Calif., from New York,... »
Skype to FCC: Keep Internet Open & Neutral
Skype, a big proponent of open networks and net neutrality, in a filing today with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), argued that net neutrality was “about growing the broadband ecosystem and preserving a borderless, open Internet” and said it would “promote investment, jobs and innovation.” The company said that it “welcomes the Commission’s focus on... »
Skype for Business brings on new talent
As Skype gets more serious about its business VoIP offerings, it is bringing on new talent. David Gurle will be taking over for Stefan Oberg as the new General Manager and Vice President of the Skype for Business unit. Gurle came to Skype from Thomson Reuters where he served as Global Head of Collaboration Services... »
Voxbone sees growth in 2009
Not everyone is blaming the recession this year, some are actually announcing good news! Belgium-based Voxbone, which provides local and toll-free phone numbers over its own private VoIP network worldwide, saw substantial growth in 2009. Voxbone’s 2009 revenue was up 60 percent over 2008. Unfortunately, since Voxbone is a private company they didn’t actually disclose... »
Packet8 Service Down
Almost exactly one year ago 8X8’s Packet8 VoIP service suffered a major outage due to DNS issues. It now appears that both their domains 8×8.com and www.packet8.net are down. But more importantly their VoIP phone service is down. Stay tuned while I try and find out more… Update #1: from Joan Citelli Director,... »
Skype To Focus on Business and Collaboration
Skype has made a strategic hire to head the unit called Skype for Business. What makes the hire strategic is the person’s background with Reuters, Microsoft and VocalTec. Given the experience David Gurle has, and the moves Skype is making, I would say that SIP, video and the business markets are their core objectives for... »
PocketMac Rescues Smartphones from the Toilet
Admit it, you’ve come close to doing the unthinkable – you text on your phone and surf the web while in the bathroom and when you get up to flush, your beloved phone slips out of your hand, your shirt pocket, or pants pocket and heads toward the toilet. You see your... »
See you at IT Expo
It’s getting a little too cold in DC, so we thought we might take the publication to warmer climes next week. I plan to be down in Miami next week on Thursday and Friday for the IT Expo. I am looking forward checking out all the latest developments in IP communications on the show... »
Cisco brings TelePresence to the home
Last week at CES, Cisco unveiled its TelePresence system for consumer homes. The system used a set-top device, a remote control, a high-def camera, microphone, and a standard HDTV. The device is expected to cost around $1,000 excluding the cost of the TV and consumers’ monthly Internet bills. The company plans to trial its telepresence... »
Skype now supports 720p HD Video Calling for PCs and HDTVs
HD has already made its way into your living room and now its going to own the VOIP and Video Conferencing market. HD Video Conferencing is already getting popular. Skype after settling the P2P… Learn how to make FREE calls worldwide. Related Topics: call, calling, calls, free,... »
Truphone Comes to Android – But no VoIP over 3G
Truphone fans will be happy to hear that the popular VoIP application now works on Android mobile handsets, though support for the new Google Nexus One is coming soon. Truphone’s new Android application enables free calls to other Truphone, Skype and Google Talk users – though only over Wi-Fi and not 3G. I don’t... »
Joanna Stern Debuts in New York Times In Writing
Some of you will remember my Phweety, Joanna Stern, when the two of us had a voice call about 18 months ago over GoGO, back when they were saying "no way could you make a voice call" using Phweet. Or you may recall her from her Queen of the Netbooks role at Laptop Magazine where... »
Skype puts HD video calling on your TV
Finally something from one of my favorite movies, Back to the Future II, has come true. No, we haven’t invented hover skateboards–this is a VoIP-focused publication, remember? We can, however, finally get video phone calls via our HD televisions using Skype. Skype has launched an HD video calling feature for PCs as long as users... »
Avaya Reveals Roadmap for Nortel Enterprise Assets at ITEXPO
Rich Tehrani and I are both excited to hear the future roadmap Avaya has in store for Nortel’s enterprise assets that Avaya recently acquired. Will Avaya slowly phase out these Nortel enterprise products, continue the product line with the Avaya brand, integrate best-of-breed technologies from Avaya and Nortel and offer new SMB products? The... »
Skype Positioned to Exploit Potential in TV Video Calling
Mark McQueen (Wellington Financial) submits: I’ve had the pleasure of using Cisco’s (CSCO) videocalling system, and the technology would appeal to anyone who could afford a permanent setup. Thanks to Skype and two television manufactures (Panasonic (PC) and LG (LGERF.PK)), consumers will soon begin to enjoy the benefits of their very own basic video... »
Skype Brings 720p to HDTVs and PCs
Skype today introduced a high-definition (HD) video calling service that will work on computers and televisions. The newest version Skype 4.2 Beta for Windows, supports 720p video calling in a 1280×720 pixel resolution at 30 frames per second. The latest version of Skype will come pre-installed on some LG Electronics Inc. and... »
Boy Saved from Cougar by Golden Retriever
Yet another reason why dogs are the greatest – a Canadian boy named Austin was stalked by a cougar and when the cougar charged, Austin’s golden retriever, aptly named Angel sprang into action and leapt between them. The cougar and Golden Retriever wrestled while the boy ran inside so upset he was... »
Skype Out of Apple App Store-Not Really
The reports are swirling that Skype has been taken out of the Apple app store. Well I think otherwise. Here's what I think: 1) Apple is revising its Terms and Conditions around 3G Voice. 2) Skype is preparing a 3G native application 3) The next version we see in the Apple App Store will be 3G ready for... »
Jay Phillips Resurfaces
After a short stint with Voxeo, Jay Phillips, perhaps one of the brightest young minds in telecom, has resurfaced with his Adhearsion blog. I hold Jay in the same class as Thomas Howe, Alec Saunders (iotum, Calliflower), Jonathan Rosenberg (SIP, CISCO and Skype), Vincent Paquet, Craig Walker (GoogleVoice), Michael Robertson (Gizmo), James Tagg (Truphone) and... »
2010: The Year of Google VoIP?
Could 2010 be the year of Google VoIP? Perhaps. TMC blogger Tom Keating puts some puzzle pieces together and asks if Google VoIP is coming in 2010. He posits that Google’s recently acquired Gizmo5 has a superior client to Google Talk–and might see the original Google Talk phased out and the Gizmo5 software renamed. Keating... »
Telefonica buys JAJAH
Rumors just before the year’s end had surfaced that O2 was going to purchase Internet VoIP company JAJAH and it looks like they were true. Telefonica, O2’s parent company, has reportedly purchased JAJAH for $207 million. JAJAH works much like Skype in that users make VoIP calls over the Internet. The purchase will see JAJAH... »
Mobile VoIP: 2010 Will Be An “Exit” Year
A few days ago I posted an article about VoIP as the “industry of the decade“, meaning that VoIP has been the industry with the highest growth in terms of cumulative revenues. 2008-2009 has also been an important period in terms of market consolidation. Ribbit has been acquired by British Telecom after a very... »
AT&T Wants to Kill The PSTN
TMCnet contributor Gary Kim has an excellent article about AT&T asking the Federal Communications Commission to create a timetable to shutdown the analog PSTN phone system in the United States. AT&T explains that maintaining two networks – IP and PSTN is retarding the deployment of the newer broadband IP network. Ok, I’ll grant you... »
My WiMax Experience
I was in Las Vegas a few days ago and got to experience Mobile WiMax for the first time via the Sprint/Clearwire network that's been installed there. My reaction. Think the best of WiFi and a MiFi all rolled into one. Speeds were solid and I was able to make VoIP and Skype calls, including video,... »
Information Week Says Skype and Avaya Are Talking Enterprise Market
When the news gets slow around the holidays you can always expect the rumor mill to be running at full tilt around the household company names. Well, I don’t think this is a rumor at all when I read that Skype and Avaya are in talks to bring Skype into the enterprise. One reason is back... »
Google Voice VoIP in 2010?
eWeek has an interesting interview with Google’s Vice President of Product Management Bradley Horowitz where Bradley said he was very enthusiastic about Google’s acquisition of Gizmo5, a company that unlike Skype adopted the industry SIP standard. Gizmo5 brings technological know-how to Google in the areas of VoIP, SIP, and termination. Further, Gizmo5 has... »
Amazon Should Collect Taxes? Over my Dead Gadget-Loving Body!
The NY Times must be smoking the weed again. They have an article posted the day after Christmas arguing that Amazon should charge customers state taxes to help fill the state’s tax coffers. The NY Times writes, “Competitors aren’t the only ones hurt by Amazon’s stance on sales taxes: it also means the loss... »