February 10, 2010

iPhone 3G VoIP could be a Boon to Business

Filed under: VoIP, voip phones — Tags: , , , — admin @ 12:05 pm

Recently rumbling from across the pond at Skype have revealed that a new Skype iPhone 3G app is on the horizon.

The news was announced by Skype towards the end of January and recent updates on the Skype blog have filled in a few more blanks.

While issues have been raised as to phone companies, who generally charge the customers through multi-minute packages, teaming up with a company that offers free-to-no-much calling via IP connections, it can’t be ignored that this could potentially be a massive win for the business market.

There seems to be an upward trend in modern media companies to offer their staff company iPhones and with the benefit of low-cost, “cd-quality” communication being available, the trend can only continue upwards as companies see an opportunity to cut costs.

Hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg – here’s to modern smartphone culture linking up with the growing VoIP market.

Full article via DSLReports.com can be found here

November 13, 2009

Google acquires Gizmo5 in bid to outdo Skype

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: , — admin @ 5:17 pm

According to TechCrunch Google has acquired skype-like VoIP venture Gizmo5 in a $30 million cash transaction.

Similar to Skype, Gizmo5 allows users to call other Gizmo users at no charge, offers cheap call rates to landlines and mobile phones and allows for SMS and Instant Messaging.

Google has not confirmed or commented on the buyout but the general consensus amongst industry experts is that the deal has indeed been done.

VoIP Watch blog author Andy Abramson considers the search giant’s acquisition a key component of its VoIP strategy. The Gizmo5 technology serves as a PSTN (public switched telephone network) link for Google allowing users to make conventional landline or mobile calls. This, combined with Google’s own Google Voice call management application and Google Talk (its voice/chat application), the path to a whole new all conquering service, “a lot more powerful than Skype” has been laid.

How exactly Google will shape its new masterpiece and what this will mean for consumers is still unclear but Abramson speculates that Google may offer a “free, ad-support phone service”, that is a service that is free and driven by advertising revenue.

Regardless of the details, VoIP is bound to change the face of telecommunications as we know it.

Mobile VoIP to Soar in Popularity

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: — admin @ 4:50 pm

In-Stat expects a huge rise in the popularity of VoIP over the next four years.

In spite of many mobile operators trying to delay the development of online VoIP it is expected to create revenues of £21.3 billion by 2013. The number of users is predicted to rise to 287 million.

Reportlinker.com predicts that VoIP will have a dramatic effect on the way we use mobile phones to communicate. VoIP is no longer just a cost effective way to bypass international call rates but is developing into a sophisticated mobile application.

While some operators try to stall technological advancements in a bid to preserve revenues from international call charges, others such as WiMax and 3G have started harnessing the potential of mobile VoIP. As more operators join, this will further increase the speed and quality of technological development.

Business travelers can benefit dramatically from VoIP as an internet business solution when they are not at the office. This demand is expected to rise significantly in the next year in London, Paris and Berlin.

A great variety of VoIP headsets have been developed specifically to meet the growing demand for this up and coming technology and to provide quality and comfort to business people, professional and amateur talk-aholics alike.

September 29, 2009

Should in-flight VoIP calls be allowed?

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: , — admin @ 3:12 pm

The debate continues over whether or not in-flight VoIP calls should be allowed.

It seems that discussions have erupted amoungst U.S. travelers, airlines and regulators regarding the use of in-flight cellphone usage via voice over internet protocol.

Travellers have been able to use their mobile phones to make calls over wireless internet access on airliners. The objection comes as mobiles use normal wireless spectrums that are banned because of the potential disruption to an aircraft’s equipement.

A total ban has been urged by some in Congress and a poll has learned that 45% of fliers believe that mobiles should be completely banned. 40% want to know if mobiles pose any threat, and then if there is none, they would like to be able to use the VoIP service.

The other issue will be in-cabin noise levels that will no doubt increase as a direct result of the use of phones onboard.

The debate goes on.

September 24, 2009

AT&T blocks 3G VoIP

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: , , — admin @ 4:53 pm

US Communications giants AT&T admits to blocking 3G VoIP across the company’s network.

AT&T had to admit to the Federal Communications Commission in the States that it struck a deal to prevent VoIP calls being made across the 3G network.

VoIP calls cost mobile phone providers money, as it cuts the cost of calls for the user – calls that would usually be made with mobile minutes.

Customer voice plans would not generate the predicted revenues if VoIP calls were available.

It seems that despite this rather unfair move on the part of AT&T, it seems that without removing the ability to make VoIP calls, they will all lose money. In fact, without the revenues created by voice call plans, there would be a slow on mobile phone advancements overall.

AT&T has said that VoIP can be used on any VoIP apps that use Wi-Fi to operate, but that they would be blocked from the iPhone.

July 23, 2009

New iPod Touch to have VoIP abilities

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: , — admin @ 4:16 pm

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.

July 21, 2009

Google’s VoIP Voice Application

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: , — admin @ 4:23 pm

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.

June 24, 2009

50% Mobile VoIP Calls in 10 Years

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: , , — admin @ 1:02 pm

Within the next 10 years, it is predicted that half of all mobile calls will be made using VoIP software.

According to Gartner.com, mobile VoIP will challenge traditional mobile models, as 4G connections are developed with mobile handsets in mind.

It is predicted that many VoIP calls will be made using social media sites like Facebook, MySpace, Google and Yahoo!, whilst over half of all mobile calls will be made using VoIP software.

Until 4G networks are fully implemented, mobile to mobile VoIP calling won’t happen and this isn’t predicted until 2017, but because the costs associated with making VoIP calls are considerably lower than current mobile rates the transition to VoIP will be fairly rapid, with people eager to make a saving.

Gartner have said that it is possible that one day all mobile calls will be made using VoIP technologies.

Read more at VoIP News.

April 20, 2009

The Top VoIP Conference Phones

Filed under: VoIP in the Workplace, voip phones — Tags: — admin @ 12:43 pm

Over the past few months a number of new IP conference phones have hit the market, giving you more choice.

For many this has been an utter delight, whereas some of you have mentioned some confusion over which conference phones are really pressing all of the right buttons.

Having recently read an article by Garrett Smith for VoIP Supply our thoughts on what really makes a great conference phone have been confirmed, although we have a few favourites of our own.

This is our current top 4:

Polycom IP 6000
Polycom has always been at the top of its game and this particular model comes with a microphone picking up your conversation, up to 12 foot away – a 20% greater range than previous generations. 14Khz for high-fidelity calls and strong, robust SIP software making advanced call handling and security a piece of cake.

Avaya 4690 IP
This stylish Avaya conference phone comes with a whole host of features including support for SNMP, DHCP client and a manually configurable IP address. As the phone technology moves forward you also have the option to upgrade and download new software – so that your phone moves with you and the times.

Polycom SoundStation IP 7000
Like the Polycom IP6000, the IP7000 has a huge microphone range, but this time we are looking at around 20 foot. Again, strong, robust with the most advanced SIP software in the industry. It speaks for itself.

Polycom Nortel IP2033 Conference Phone
This conference phone offers you a full duplex, hands free conference phone – ideal for your desktop.

Compare our list with Garrett’s

March 5, 2009

snom VoIP Phones get “Green” Light for Energy Efficiency

Filed under: voip phones — Tags: — admin @ 3:02 pm

In a recent test study against VoIP handset competitors conducted by the Research Group for Telecommunication Networks at the Frankfurt Main University of Applied Sciences in Germany, snom VoIP phones portfolio have been awarded the highest “green” standard.

snom SIP phones received top grades for being the most energy efficient in a head-to-head test against six other VoIP competitors.

An article on voipmonitor.net reports that research assistants and engineers at FH Frankfurt tested a total of 23 VoIP phones by seven of the world’s leading manufacturers over a three-month period. A variety of use scenarios was investigated including idle mode, conversation, idle mode after a conversation, and three-way conference, and in each scenario snom phones had the lowest power consumption across each comparable product class.

It seems that snom VoIP phones are to be the choice for the savvy and ecologically concerned company who wish to not only save on power costs while contributing towards the sustainable use of the earth’s energy resources, but also maintain a communications system that utilises the highest quality VoIP technology available.

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