VoIP services and broadband are going to get a boost from a new satellite that is about to go into orbit.
Originally the technology was due to be launched into space on a US built Falcon Nine rocket, but due to delays the technology will use the more expensive UK Hylas spacecraft.
The company behind the VoIP technology, Avanti Communications, has gained financial support to pay for the switch, especially with the demand for broadband and VoIP growing.
Avanti has recognised that the market was a lot bigger than they had originally thought and so a blue chip shareholder has got involved to bring the launch forward and ensure that it happens.
The UK Hylas satellite weighs nearly 3 tonnes and is going to bring broadband to the homes and businesses of over 350,000 customers across Europe.
The cost of the satellite means that the initial price of the broadband connections will be more expensive than regular broadband, but as demand rises, the cost should fall.
VoIP could be used to tackle the swine flu pandemic. Small businesses are being urged to put contingency plans in place for dealing with the possibility of an accelerated spread in the virus.
Swine flu is in the headlines every day, with more cases being reported up and down the country and it seems as if some firms have been looking into ways that people can work around the virus.
Many small firms are ill prepared for the devastation to employee numbers that swine flu will cause and so small businesses are being urged to look into their options.
Those affected by the virus are usually able to work and therefore enabling them to work from home and communicate with other team members and clients will allow businesses to virtually carry on as normal.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solutions will allow employees to work remotely whilst in quarantine and small companies to continue running, even if the majority of the staff have been affected by the swine flu virus.
Rumours have been flying all over the place that the new iPod Touch will have VoIP capabilities.
The news that Apple is planning to launch a revamped iPod touch featuring a built in camera have been doing the rounds – although hard, physical evidence of this is rather slim on the ground.
A source at Wired says that the rumours are ‘on the money’ and that Apple are not going to stop at the camera and will be adding a microphone too, transforming the media player into a VoIP phone.
The camera and microphone are going to allow the phone to understand voice commands as well as capture images and work with more apps than ever before.
If Wired are right, the new iPod will boost sales but probably at the expense of being a competitor for the iPhone – it’s own creation. Only time will tell. So we shall see in around 3 months.
Google has jumped on the internet phone bandwagon and introduced a Google Voice application for Blackberrys and mobiles that are powered by Google Android.
It is expected that preference will fall to Google’s VoIP application over eBay’s Skype and solutions already available from Microsoft and Cisco.
Google finished making initial tests on the application which allows users to make calls over the internet, read transcripts, listen to voicemails and trace users to the nearest phone using a special telephone number. Google then opened up a waiting list and invited customers to join.
Google aims to get ahead of the VoIP market by offering a wireless mobile friendly application. This comes at a time when Skype are struggling to get new customers and any new revenue from their existing customer base.
Skype’s customers seem to have opted widely for the free PC to PC option and avoided the paid for option.
Google Voice will allow users to use Smartphones to send SMS messages using the Google Voice number and manage their inboxes, which will reduce the cost of international calling enormously.
Users can also choose the types of calls that they want to make through their phone using the Google VoIP system.
Google’s advances will be making those already in the VoIP marketplace very nervous.
