Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Looks like you can call all your contacts on MySpace with MySpaceIM with skype. MySpaceIM with skype add voice chat capabilities to MySpace. These include speak to your friends on IM for FREE, call cell phones right from your PC, and even get your own local phone number and voicemail!. In addition, IM your MySpace friends any time, and Instant alerts for all requests, messages, and comments.
How do I start using MySpaceIM?

1. If you haven’t installed the application yet, first download the installer (look for the big Download button). Internet Explorer users can select "Run" to immediately start installing, while others should save the installer to disk and then double-click it to start installation. In either case, follow the directions to install the MySpaceIM with Skype application. Note: You must have Administrator privileges on your PC to install IM.
2. Double-click the MySpaceIM with Skype icon on your desktop, or select Start -> Programs -> MySpace -> MySpaceIM.
3. In the login panel that pops up, enter your MySpace email and password.
4. If you do not have a MySpace Username yet, you will be prompted to create one - just follow the instructions.

That’s it, you should be signed in. To start chatting, add your friends.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Skype Numerology noted that last week Skype reached, for the first time 10 million concurrent Skype users online. Then this week it went over 10.270.000 users online. This is an increase of 2.5% in one week!
Where did they come from? Are the MySpace users (MySpaceIM) beginning to stumble over after the MySpace-Skype deal? I think there will be a quite a number of people coming over from MySpace arena.
See More Numbers about Skype at Skype Numerology.

Source: voipcentral.org

Starting in November, MySpaces 110 million active users will use Skype-enabled MySpaces instant messaging client, MySpaceIM for free calling. This is the first time that Skype has allowed its technology to be integrated with a 3rd-party application.

MySpace users with a Skype account will be able to call members with a single click. Standard PC-to-PC phone calls will be free but users will have to pay for ‘premium’ options like their own personal phone number, voice mail, call forwarding, and the ability to make calls from a computer to land lines or cell phones. In addition, the integration of MySpace and Skype will allow MySpace users to transfer information, such as portraits, from their profiles to their Skype accounts. Users who have set their MySpace profile in ‘private’ will not receive any Skype call from someone who is not on their friend list.

MySpace will share its revenue from the deal with Skype. The service would be available in 20 countries. In addition, MySpace signed an agreement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment to allow the site’s users post videos and music from Sony artists on their personal profiles.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

According to an announcement on the about.Skype website, the popular social networking site, MySpace, has joined Skype strategic partnership with Skype to combine Skype’s VoIP features with Myspace’s IM client. The new service due out in November will allow MySpace IM users to call each other for free. Also they will be able to call Skype users as well.
The announcement unveils "MySpaceIM with Skype", a new product that integrates MySpace’s popular IM client— will add more than 25 million installed users—to Skype. The partnership will also enable users to link their MySpace profiles and photos or avatars to their accounts on Skype. Both products will be available to users starting in November.
MySpace also stand to gain some users with this deal as the word spread around all those Skype users and if they are not already on the MySpace, they might want to join to test the waters.
Skype is available in 28 languages and is used in almost every country around the world. The ability for Skype users to link their Skype accounts to their MySpace profiles will be available globally, except in Japan, China and Taiwan.

So why is Skype offering the free services to MySpace users, the same reason it offered us it’s services free, to be able to offer money saving(us), Money earning(Skype) services to us.
So in addition to free, high-quality Skype calling, MySpaceIM with Skype will also allow the users of the MySpace network to optionally select Skype’s premium fee-based products, including:

SkypeOut™ – To make calls to landlines and cell phones domestically or internationally; SkypeIn™ – A local phone number to receive calls wherever you are in the world from other people on landlines or cell phones; Voicemail – To take voice messages when you’re busy or offline; and Call forwarding – To redirect incoming Skype calls to a landline or cell phone.
I think it is a win win situation, for both the companies.
Skype MySpace Announcement

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

VoIP IP Telephony @ http://snapvoip.blogspot.com
Jaxtr has emerged from the private beta to Public beta. Everyone around the world can now sign up to receive a free jaxtr account that links their mobile or landline phones with their online network.
By adding their jaxtr widget to their online profile or blog, users can hear from callers worldwide while keeping their existing phone numbers private.
Jaxtr works with the world’s most popular social networks and communities, including MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Friendster, Flickr, YouTube, Wikipedia, Craigslist, eBay, LiveJournal, and Blogger.
You can Jaxtr me!

Links;
Jaxtr Launches Public Beta with VoiceBlasts
Jaxtr beta registration
Jaxtr blog post on Beta release
jaxtr in the works: Blasting your voice — online

Source: voipcentral.org

A lengthy Tom Keating post on Jaxtr gives me an impression that both VoIP and Social Networking are now coming together to form a common platform for users to share their views, profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos. Its a healthy trend in the current voice market.

The launch Jaxtr public beta breaches the gap between VoIP and social networking. The use and application of Jaxtr is very simple, but versatile.

It is a free service, using which you can make unlimited outbound international calls from your mobile phone and can make unlimited voice mails.

Their site has these words,

With the free jaxtr service, users can link their phones with their online network to hear from callers worldwide while keeping their existing phone numbers private. And jaxtr is not just about hearing from people who visit a user’s profile or blog. By adding their jaxtr link to their email signature, global friends can call our users on their phone with the click of the mouse - without downloading any software, incurring international phone charges or even registering for jaxtr.

Jaxtr is in constant touch with the leading social networking sites including MySpace, Blogger, LiveJournal, Facebook, LinkedIn, Friendster, Flickr, YouTube, Wikipedia and eBay to avail its services to their users.

Source: voipcentral.org

Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corporation said that one out of four people in America are interacting with MySpace content and services. However, in terms of traffic, the VoIP service provider Skype out classed the social networking site.

With 113 million users, Skype outruns the popular social networking site. As on August 8, MySpace has registered its 100 million users.

It is interesting to note that both the sites are in the top 10 most trafficked sites of the world. They were not in the list less than three years ago. They are now behind the most popular sites like Yahoo!, Time-Warner Network, Microsoft and Google.

Skype expects to add at millions of users to its customers base by marketing NetGears Skype phone. It is to be available this year.

Read

Source: voipcentral.org

Gone are the days when spamming was considered as security threat to social networking sites. Now, phishing and Web 2.0 attacks are on rise.

Once in my write-ups here, I argued how cheap VoIP calls widen the scope for data-thieving frauds. The number of phishing cases is increasing day by day. As per the latest count, one in every 459.8 emails (0.22 per cent) is now a phishing attack.

According to Web security firm MessageLabs, Gmail, MySpace and VoIP services such as Skype are most favored targets for security attacks. In its recent report, the security firm claims that security threat levels have remained constant overall, but attackers are turning away from email inboxes and towards social networking sites and other Web 2.0 phenomena.

The MessageLabs Intelligence Report explains,

July was a month of victimization for high profile and popular sites and services, with MySpace, AOLs AIM and Gmail all being used for attacks.

The report says that traditional email spam reduced by 2.1 percent from June to July. However, the report explains there is an increase in phishing attacks in which users lose their personal data. The scammers are targeting new platforms such as VoIP. MessageLabs says a growing number of distortion VoIP calls implore credit card details.

Israel is the most spammed country with 77.3 percent of junk email of all email, the report says. In case of India, one in every 11.1 emails contains a virus.

Read

Source: voipcentral.org

Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch said that his News Corps DirecTV satellite TV division was about to decide a strategy on how to venture into the wireless hi-speed internet bazaar. He said that it will be ready with a plan in 2 months.

Murdoch, whose News Corp owns the controlling shares of DirecTV said that the satalite group could invest about USD 1 billion in a deal to provide internet access enabling 2-way service that cant otherwise be offered through satellite links.

At a conference on Monday, he said that the media groups recently expanded internet businesses were likely to generate revenues around $350 400 million dollars in 2007.

He also said that he expected revenues to what he termed as take off after that. He was especially extremely optimistic about the prospects for MySpace.com that continues to attract whopping one million new users a week. There will be some new features that will be introduced this week such as free downloads of video. Not only that, he also added that IM and voice services would be introduced soon too.

Via: Financial Times

Source: voipcentral.org

While we had been discussing a lot about VoIP players like Skype and Vonage, we virtually ignored Net2Phone, one of the oldest players in the bazaar.

In this short piece, I will discuss the real value of Net2Phone.

1. Old brand. Known to places for a long time where Internet telephony is not yet legal, nonetheless people using it. Like in India, virtually every cyber caf that provides Internet telephony, Net2Phone is a popular service and had been since quite a few years now. So when companies like Skype are entering newer markets like Asian markets, they would find the presence of Net2Phone already!

2. Net2Phone is a part of MySpace, the most popular community builder. So when we talk about Voice 2.0 and building communities, Net2Phone has the advantage here. In fact, Russell Shaw writes in his blog;

I keep on thinking about Net2Phone as a component of MySpace.com. What a shot in the arm for social networking! And because MySpace is owned by News Corp., I envision the conglomerate’s powerful multimedia marketing machine really pushing Net2Phone, driving subs and valuations higher.

3. Rupert Murdoch factor. Net2Phone can be incorporated in the businesses owned by the Media Moghul. Imagine a Net2Phone click to call button on each of Rupert Murdochs online news properties! Example a scenario where you can connect directly to an advertiser in one of his online classifieds sections through Net2Phone!

4. Russell Shaw wonders if it can do better than sub $1000 a subscriber as it turns out to be so without even factoring in the contractual valuations. I would definitely say YES. It can do better because of the above reasons. Besides, due to the above factors, I really see the number of subscribers increasing substantially in the coming future.

Source: voipcentral.org

Seventeen year old wannabe pop star Kandice Melonakos is releasing her own branded VoIP called KanTalk! (nice name indeed Ya, can talk) along with her debut single. She is targeting the section of population for whom life means net and music only.

Since that population is fairly large, and growing by every passing day, she can seriously hope to compete with the 11,000 + VoIP service providers.

KanTalk! (with the exclamation like Yahoo!) VoicePod is a free downloadable software that like many of its genre turns a computer into a phone enabling people to talk from all around the world. Whats more, it will be completely free. After downloading and installation, just plug your headset and start talking. This will enable users to talk endlessly to their friends for free while truly mobile.

Thats not all; after fans hear the music on her VoicePod, they can call her up, send a text message, leave a voice or even a video mail!

KanTalk! was created using the VOIP software WhitePhone from the stable of Voice Commerce Group which is the company that has officially sponsored Kandice.

Her executive producer Tolga Katas says quite rightly;

Kandice is the perfect poster child for the VOIP industry. She spends hours daily on the Internet like millions of other young people, chatting and cruising MySpace. Shes always worried about running out of minutes on her cell phone. Music and technology is what she lives and breathes. It is fitting that she is the first artist to launch her own brand of VOIP software. It’s like MySpace and Skype put together.

Anyway, I must say I am mightily impressed by this young girl who actually used her talents other than technology to further her interest in the VoIP business. It makes real good business sense for her sponsors in this venture too.

So, whatever the pundits might say now, there can hardly be any doubt that it would be a really popular service (if only for the niche client of MySpace generation). Big players like Yahoo!, MSN, Skype can find it very difficult to beat in its what I would term as core support ground.

Lets wait and watch.

Source: eMediaWire