Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

Vopium, the new provider of international mobile calling via GSM and VoIP launches itself in Italy with an exciting offer that includes free 30 minutes call and 100 SMS. Vopium is now available on all latest phones of Blackberry, Symbian, Windows Mobile Smartphone, Java and more. The users can directly install the software on their phones instead of depending on computer or monthly subscription of operators.

After downloading the free software of Vopium either over the web or text message, users can enjoy low priced calls and SMS where ever they want. It is far more economical to call through Vopium because the user pays the mobile provider for a local call and Vopium for the international add-on. Vopium is also available in local languages which can be selected automatically based on the language settings on your phone.

“Making calls through VoIP service is far cheaper than paying heavy tariffs to operators’ world wide. To prove our product in this competitive market of VoIP, we are offering 30 minutes free international call to Vopium users which will enable them to experience the improved voice quality at affordable rates.”, says Tanveer Sharif, CEO of Vopium.

In addition to this, Vopium users can easily monitor their consumption, enjoy other products of Vopium family and buy packages of cheap minutes to selected destinations. Just register yourself on Vopium.com and enjoy low priced international calls with great voice quality, whenever and wherever you want.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

by Michael Muchmore

Skype users will be familiar with the service’s "SkypeIn" feature, which lets you buy a phone number that will work for any landline or cell phones. As of Monday, VoxOx, a new service from business telecom provider TeleCentris, will offer inbound telephone numbers to all of its users for free.

The service also offers many other VOIP and Skype-like features, including instant messaging, video chatting, SMS text messaging, callback, and faxing. Its "one number follow me" feature will even let users enter numbers to ring successively in case they’re not at the main phone number – similar to Vonage’s Enhanced Call Forwarding. They can even create a "this number is not in service" message for telemarketers.

"We are connected to so many people through so many channels that communication is becoming increasingly unmanageable in today’s media-centric society," said Bryan Hertz, chief executive of TelCentris. "The typical consumer, ages 14 to 45, wakes up and moves from Facebook, to Skype, to Blackberry or iPhone, to Gmail and Google Talk, to MySpace, to YouTube to Yahoo Messenger, to a landline phone, and then back again. This communications frenzy has created a need for a single tool to manage all connections and contacts so that consumers can take control of their interconnected lifestyle. That’s why we’ve created VoxOx."

Users can bring in all their contacts from email accounts, instant messaging, and social networks to create a "meta address book". VoxOx is targeting its service at so-called "Millennials" and Gen Xers, who have come to rely on SMS text messaging as the primary method of communicating with friends and family. But the support for email, IM, and telephone lines brings Baby Boomers and older users into the fold.

The VoxOx home interface resembles that of the iPhone, with square icons for each application. Just as with the iPhone, applications can be built by third-party developers using an open API. The key apps, though, are the VoxOx supplied Contacts, which resembles an IM client’s buddy list and shows the availability of your contacts if the service they’re on provides that info. Like Trillian, VoxOx lets users chat with friends using the IM services they already use, such as AIM, Yahoo, or MSN/Windows Live Messenger.

Since VoxOx’s maker is a telecommunications provider, it can provide some slick features not found in Skype, such as the ability to transfer a call from the web interface to a cell phone and to ring several numbers in order to reach you, with the "one number follow me" feature. Voicemail is included, along with a call directing "personal assistant" which can forward calls to a number of the caller’s choice from a voice menu. Three-way calling with a personal choice of hold music is also available. The service also offers two-way texting, inbound fax receiving, and fax-to-email capability. An SMS "callback" feature lets you send a text to a number from your cellphone to be connected to another phone anywhere by texting the number to VoxOx.

Users who sign up for VoxOx will get 120 minutes free calling time, but the company has offered the first 500

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

The FCC recently adopted new 911 rules for VoIP service providers. These rules, set out in the NET 911 Improvement Act signed into law by President Bush in July, require that VSPs have access to the 911 system and that their customers be able to make emergency calls that are routed directly to the local public safety answering point. 911 Enable provides an Emergency Routing Service that helps VSPs meet these requirements.

The Emergency Routing Service provides the largest enhanced 911 coverage available on the market, with connectivity to over 5000 PSAPs nationwide. In the event of a 9-1-1 call, the VSP simply routes the call to the ERS. The service will automatically connect the caller to the appropriate PSAP based on their registered location, ensuring that the correct location data and callback number appear on the dispatcher’s terminal. Service providers can incorporate 911 Enable’s provisioning interface directly into their website, allowing users to update and validate their locations in real-time, no matter where they might be. The ERS is ideal for residential VoIP providers and hosted IP-PBX providers.

911 Enable also provides E911 solutions for organizations with private IP-PBX systems, helping them meet state and local E911 obligations. Its solutions are certified with today’s leading IP telephony vendors such as Cisco, Avaya, and Nortel.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

The WowWee Rovio is a cool Wi-Fi enabled robotic webcam. I like to call Rovio a remote-controlled VoIP webcam sentry robot.

The Rovio is pretty futuristic looking. It looks like it belongs on some sci-fi TV show or movie. Reminds me of some vehicle I saw on Terminator 2. The Rovio can move in any direction and can be controlled remotely. Simply view and interact with Rovio’s environment through its streaming video and audio from its built in camera using a browser. You can even control the Rovio from an iPhone and the Nintendo DS.

The Rovio is capable of automatically navigating to a stored location and can even automatically return to its charging dock when the battery runs low. The web interace allows two-way audio communication leveraging VoIP. So drive this bad boy to the kitchen and ask your wife son or daughter to bring a cold brewsky while you’re watching some football. It’s too bad it doesn’t have a cup holder or the Robio could deliver the beer back to you. Rovio 2.0 I guess…

So why would you want Rovio? Well, you can use Rovio to check on your family while away from home, watch over your house while away on vacation, keep an eye on your pets, etc.

You can direct Rovio’s movements, neck mounted camera via the Internet, using any web accessible device such as a cell phone, video game console or PC. As I mentioned, it supports the iPhone and the Nintendo DS. From the web interface you can set and select way points, and then with one click you can tell Rovio to navigate itself to the chosen point. It sports built in LED lights to help you guide Rovio through dark hallways, though they could be brighter.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

Mobile VoIP player Fring made wave on Wednesday, announcing a partnership with leading Austrian mobile operator, mobilkom.

Under the agreement, mobilkom austria, which offers products under the popular A1 brand, will give customers access to a dedicated version of the Fring mobile client.

The fact that this service will use proper VoIP over 3G, rather than a circuit switched call via a VoIP gateway as per Skype, makes this a big deal. According to Dean Bubley of Disruptive Analysis, this is one of the first such VoIPo3G partnerships in Europe and an important signal for the future.

Bubley believes that, "mobile operators should look to partner with 3rd-party VoIP specialists, in order to gain early experience (and leverage their software experience) in delivering packet voice on cellular networks." Ultimately, the analyst expects mobile operators to U turn on their initial VoIP hostility and VoIP advocates.

To start with, the A1 over IP service will be integrated into Fring’s SIP service, but will later lead to a Fring application being built into mobilkom austria’s services and pre installed onto a large number of devices. Fring’s entire feature set will be available, including VoIP, instant messaging, real time presence, file transfer and access to internet applications.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

By Ted Stevenson
October 13, 2008

Utah-based Alianza Corp. has been developing its integrated VoIP/UC platform for some four years now, and selling it around the world to a variety of carriers, CLECs, and Internet service providers in the so-called tier two market—smaller subscriber bases. Alianza has architected its IP solution to support all types of transmission media, cable, satellite, and wireless networks.

Virginia-based DigitalBridge Communications (DBC)—an ISP whose mission is to bring broadband Internet connectivity to under-served communities—launched BridgeMAXX, if not the first, then one of the first, commercial WiMAX networks back in June of last year, followed by a mobile WiMAX deployment in June of 2008.

This week, DBC announced BridgeMAXX VOICE, powered by the Alianza platform. It may or may not be the first WiMAX-based VoIP service, but it’s the first we’ve heard of. The company is characterizing the $29.95 per month phone application as a way to "enhance its fixed high-speed wireless Internet service"—and "upgrade to better value."

See here for the full story at Enterprise VoIP Planet.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

It’s actually quite easy to compare VoIP providers because the technology is so new that the features that each provider offers differ quite a bit. Just like any service, you want to be sure that you get the best deal, and a program that will fit your needs and desires. Luckily, comparing VoIP providers will be quite simple and you’ll quickly be able to select the provider that is best suited to you.

The first thing you’ll want to do when you want to compare VoIP providers is find out which ones offer services in your area. You may be able to eliminate a couple providers just by looking at their areas of service. Once you eliminate the providers that just won’t work out, you’ll have to look at features and price.

One of the biggest differences between VoIP providers is the features that they can offer. Many have very easy to use routers that allow you to use a regular analog signal and digital signal when it’s suitable. Some VoIP providers only allow calls to other VoIP users, and others allow you to call anyone, anywhere, anytime.

If you make a lot of long distance calls you’ll really want to pay attention to the plans and the provider that you go with. Some VoIP providers don’t distinguish between local and long distance calls, so you basically get all your calls one month for just a service fee. Other VoIP service providers don’t allow you to make long distance calls, or they charge exorbitant fees for them. So, the amount of long distance phone calls you make may be the deciding factor in your choice for a VoIP provider.

Do a lot of research, just like you would when you are looking into any service. If you know whom you are dealing with it’s a lot easier to make an educated decision. When you determine exactly what you need then it’s just a matter of matching your needs with what is offered! Good luck, VoIP is definitely the wave of the future and it will only get easier and more advanced!

About the author:

Laura Rupert is a freelance writer who contributes to The Tech FAQ

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

Realizing the need to integrate latest VoIP system into its web portal, Mail.Ru - a popular Russian Internet web portal, has called on Global IP Solution (GIPS) to help deliver its technology to its IM application. GIPS, based in California is a provider of IP multimedia processing, serving application developers, wired and wireless service
providers and network and telecommunications equipment vendors.The two parties have settled necessary arrangement to facilitate quick delivery of this VoIP technology and part of the agreement reached include the incorporation of the version 5.0 that will allow low and cheap calls tariff to stationary and mobile phones from the company’s portal.

Mail.Ru Agent for PC-to-PC calls, as well as telephone calls to both landline’s and cell phones and thereby attracts many users to its services. In his remarks, Jan Linden, vice president of engineering at GIPS said "We’re thrilled to add Mail.Ru to our list of leading global Internet Service Providers, who see Unified Communications (News - Alert) and
point-to-multi point communications across IP-devices as a strategic benefit for their customer base."

The company concluded that with GIPS Voice Engine’s unique capabilities, such as automated adjustments for echo, noise suppression and bandwidth constraints, his company is confident that Mail.Ru will realize an immediate dramatic improvement in voice quality and overall user experience.

GIPS

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

As part of its strategies to make its entering to the internet telephony popular and acceptable, I2 Telecom has launched a laudable product that allows users of mobile phones in the U.S. to make cheap calls to landline phones to anywhere in the world for as low as two-cents per minute thereby allowing for more talk time while spending less on international calls.

The product is branded myglobaltalk.com and it allows users to place direct calls to their desired destinations across the globe from smartphones such as the latest of Research in Motion Ltd Blackberry e-mail phone. Other devices supported include the Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Blackjack, Palm Inc Treo and the Motorola Inc Moto Q. Arrangement is also in progress to include Apple iPhone.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

Yoomba is an Isreali startup firm that is integrating e-mail with VOIP. It practically converts your email address into a phone or messenger, allowing users to talk to people around the world, for free. Its only PC-to-PC voip application but on the up side it let you call your contacts directly from any e-mail application that you are using. Since most of us check our e-mails regularly integrating e-mail and voip seems a practical solution.

Yoomba works with any e-mail application such as yahoo, hotmail or gmail. Very easy to setup up and use. On Yoomba website enter your e-mail address to register, you will receive an activation e-mail, click on the activation code and yoomba plugin download will start and install automatically.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

The Indian based Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has entered into a contract agreement with Cable & Wireless based in the UK in order to enable the two parties share asset for the improvement of each other’s services.One of the issues agreed upon is the sharing of networks and telecommunication infrastructure that will offer them mutual benefits which include expansion of BSNL network to reach the global community.

Source: voipworld.wordpress.com

Users can now log on to HearMe website to enjoy the company’s new version of its online video conferencing tool branded HearMe 3.1. Designed to provide video/audio conferencing, desktop and application sharing, and as well as online browser-based meeting rooms; the new version 3.1 is also a browser-based tool but I utilizes ActiveX
controls to effectively perform and require less hardware.