Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Nokia together with Reuters have come up with a mobile journalism kit (you can make it yourself, just add the ingredients)for reporters on the go. I have tried (Well I am not a journalist either) on my blackberry to do some weblogging. But it is hard, not impossible, with my big fingers. So what is the difference in this kit? what do I get with it? and Finally will it help me?
First of all the phone. This is a Nokia N95 which now comes in three different versions. The original European version that Nokia used for most of the trial. Then there is a the US edition which adds more memory and support for US carrier frequencies. Finally there is the news 8GB version which can store much more music and videos, and for journalists more raw materials space.
Then are the peripherals. One I really like is the bluetooth keyboard that they used. This will make it much easier to enter text-based stories with my fingers. The trial team used the Nokia SU-8W. This folds up and has a bracket to hold the phone.
The team was also supplied with a basic tripod to help in video interviews and a Sony microphone for audio recording and reducing background noise in interviews. The power issues were dealt with Power Monkeys, both basic and Explorer versions from Powertraveller. The Explorer has a solar charging system which was particularly useful in Senegal trial that the team conducted. I think it will be useful anywhere.
Now I think I have some thing that I could blog with!

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Source: voipcentral.org

We cannot overlook the agony of Nokia users when Vodafone disabled VoIP functionality from N95. Vodafone is not the first company to do so. Ever since the MVoIP concept has come to the fore, the incidence like this has become a common phenomenon.

In the backdrop of this, Vykes recent announcement brings some cheers for the mobile VoIP users. The popular MVoIP service provider is updating its software to enable users to get around mobile VoIP blocking by mobile phone operators.

The upgradation version will be known as Vyke Mobile IP, which will enable the customers to make and receive VoIP calls from their mobile handsets even if the operators block the network.

Vyke CEO, Kjetil Bohn says,

In the short amount of time that this immerging technology has been in the market, they have already responded by removing VoIP capabilities from mobile handsets that they sell and by introducing very restrictive contract terms prohibiting their customers from using their networks to access services such as VoIP and third party peer-to-peer messaging clients.

The Vyke Mobile IP upgrade will be available during the end of this year. I am sure the mobile operators may be trying to find out some alternative way to pressurize the MVoIP operators. After all, they cannot see their revenue being snatched by the way of cheap VoIP services.

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Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Michal Lev-Ram, Business 2.0 Magazine writer has gone picking iPhone alternatives.

I am glad I did pick some of them sometime ago;
HTC Touch, iPrada, and also those Linksys iPhones!
Of all those choice, I think I will go with Nokia N95, if not for it’s price.

Anyway Michal takes us through his 10 picks;
Prada by LG, (I call this iPRADA)
Nokia N95, (I like this Phone, better camera, GPS, wireless VoIP!)
Moto Razr2,
Helio Ocean,
Samsung t409, (VoIP again!)
Sony Ericsson W580,
Cisco iPhone, (This is the same stuff from Linksys above)
HTC Touch,
Samsung Wafer,
LG Muziq,
So follow the link to get more info and pricing on these phones;

10 picks for the iPhone-phobic

Source: voipcentral.org

SIPphone’s widely used VoIP client, Gizmo Project has been updated with a number of features. The popular VoIP software now supports Nokia S60 dual mode phones including Nokia N95. It is available for the beta users. The early version supported Nokia N80.

Gizmo Project VoIP software is also supporting AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and MSN Messenger buddies. Thus, you can free voice calls and chats to the users of these IM clients.

The company has planned to provide similar capabilities for Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk and iChat.

The Gizmo Project provides free calls from a computer to the landline or mobile phones of other Gizmo users.

This service is available for landlines in 60 countries and mobile phones in 17 of them. Using Gizmo Project, you can make free voice mail and conference calls.

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Source: voipcentral.org

We have some good news for Nokia N95 users as WiFiMobile has just released its latest software Version 751 bringing VoIP services for N95 in a true fashion.

WiFiMobile made the release of its OneFone software just a few days after Vodafone wiped out VoIP functionality from Nokia N95. The OneFone software will enable Nokia N95 devices to carry out VoIP services.

With OneFone, the users can make VOIP calls either over Wi-Fi or through a 3G network. The software also ensures presence information in the form of a contact list.

Besides supporting N95, the software also enables other selected Nokia N60 devices as an extension to a corporate IP PBX system. It empowers IT Managers to warily manage their companys constantly rising mobile phone costs.

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Source: voipcentral.org

When I reported the elimination of VoIP functionality from Nokia N95 by Vodafone and Orange and then the reasons of the removal, a Fring spokesperson left a comment in one of my above posts.

I think the comment is an indication that VoIP is there with Nokia N95.

Fring, the emerging MVoIP application will still work on the N95.

With Fring, we can make free mobile calls and send instant messages to other Fring users. At the same time, the Fring enabled phones also support calls to PC based VoIP applications such as Skype and Google Talk without any additional cost.

Source: voipcentral.org

Explaining the reasons for the elimination of VoIP service from Nokia N95, Vodafone says VoIP is not a reliable technology and confronts a number of problems like in-depth testing, a solid end-to-end user customer experience, billing integration and customer support.

In a statement Vodafone said,

There is a misleading perception that VoIP services are ‘free’. This is, however, not the case when it comes to using VoIP over mobile where customers will need to use data connectivity to establish a service and may incur further charges.

The mobile operator further explains the way VoIP operates, sending voice packet-data for calls, many VoIP services often face data transfer problems.

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Also Read

Source: voipcentral.org

Really, it is quite disappointing. Since long, the customers were swayed by Nokias advertisement regarding the availability of VoIP services in their N95 devices. Regrettably, Vodafone and Orange have deactivated VoIP calls on the N95 device.

It means that the customers of Vodafone and Orange will not be able to find VoIP option in their N95 device since Nokia has removed it at the behest of these mobile operators.

Perhaps, both the operators have taken this step considering the fact that the ensuring cheap calls via VoIP means loss of revenue for them.

We should not forget that VoIP calls can be charged as data rates when the customers are outside WiFi areas. It will accrue revenue for the operators.