About.com Voice Over IP

How Well Will Chrome OS Support VoIP?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:08:36 +0000

This type of question is starting to become somewhat irrelevant since all new stuffs know they have to embrace VoIP as part of the future tech landscape. Chrome OS is no exception. VoIP will, according to me, thrive on it.

Reasons are numerous. First, it is Linux-based and therefore open. VoIP services and developers won't have to wait for clearance and APIs. Second, it supports Java, and when you have Java, you have a wide platform for applications. Third, it supports Flash, and some VoIP services deploy Flash applications, such as the recently-reviewed TringMe. After all, Chrome OS will be an operating system for Web and communication.

How Well Will Chrome OS Support VoIP? originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 15:08:36.

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3Jam - an Alternative to Google Voice?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:19:31 +0000

3Jam is a service that provides 'cloud' phone numbers that can be used to contact a number of phones. It poses as a competitor to Google Voice, but unlike the latter, it is not free. The price covers the expanded features and facilities it offers that Google Voice does not. 3Jam's robust features and available anywhere worldwide and without invitation, among other reasons, make up for its cost. Read more on 3Jam below:

3Jam - an Alternative to Google Voice? originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 09:19:31.

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Internet Connection - Cable or DSL?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:52:16 +0000

Bandwidth if one of the main factors that affect voice quality for VoIP calls. Cable and DSL are the most common types of high-speed Internet services we have, but which one is better? About.com has this great video for making the difference and helping you to choose. There is a transcript below the video frame, in case your Internet isn't high-speed yet.

Google Voice Goes VoIP by Acquiring Gizmo5

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:45:46 +0000

So far, Google Voice has only been a service offering phone numbers that can ring several phones, forwarding of voicemail as text and some other features. It finally isn't a VoIP service. This is about to change since Google confirmed it is acquiring Gizmo5, which is fully VoIP-based.

This acquisition will allow Google Voice to pose as a competitor to services like Skype by offering free Internet-based international calls and cheap calls to and from phones. Stay tuned on what Google will propose soon.

Google Voice Goes VoIP by Acquiring Gizmo5 originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 14:45:46.

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FriendCaller Click-to-Call VoIP Service

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:34:53 +0000

The classical VoIP service where you install a softphone client and make calls through your computer has its limits when it comes to making calls instantly. Say you are in a Facebook chat and someone you want to contact uses a service other than yours - like you using Skype and they using Google Talk. Talking to each other instantly would not be possible unless one of you signs up with the other's service.

With services like FriendCaller, talking instantly in such situations can be possible. Simply clicking on someone's Call Me link starts a conversation even if one of the talking parties is not a registered user of the service. Besides, FriendCaller is browser-based, which means there is no need for installing any application. FriendCaller also has interesting international call rates. Read more

FriendCaller Click-to-Call VoIP Service originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 09:34:53.

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Skype and Joltid Bury the Hachet

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:10:12 +0000

Skype is finally relieved from the lawsuit that Joltid had held against it and that had potentially put its own existence into jeopardy. Skype creators Friis and Zennstrom, who are behind Joltid, and who sold Skype to eBay, had lodged a lawsuit against the latter for using technology it was not allowed to use, a technology that is the very core of the Skype communication system.

Now the conflict is resolved, with the lawsuit dropped in exchange of 14 percent stake given to Friis and Zennstrom in the new Skype venture, as well as a seat for each of them on the board. This event results in Skype having full ownership of the software, so that it can concentrate on building what Skype president Josh Silverman terms as "the world's greatest communications software".

Skype and Joltid Bury the Hachet originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 00:10:12.

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New VoIP-Based Fax Phone Adapter from FaxBack

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:06:01 +0000

Faxing over IP isn't as developed as voice communication, and VoIP faxing devices are rare. As Mike Oliszewski, CTO for FaxBack puts it, "The issues associated with connecting fax machines via SIP T.38-based ATAs still pose a serious challenge for carriers seeking to migrate their internet connected customers to VoIP." They have therefore introduced an ATA (commonly known as a phone adapter), for faxing over IP using the T.38 protocol. The difference between this ATA and non-fax ones is that, beyond the VoIP functionalities, it embeds the necessary software and intelligence for reliably connecting fax machines and computers to a range of common networks. Read more

Skype to Become Open Source

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:09:36 +0000

Many put a question mark to this phrase, because many are still skeptical as to Skype becoming open source. Developers inside Skype (namely Stanislav Karchebny, a.k.a Berkus) announced that Skype is definitely going open source. Olivier Faurax also shares on his blog his correspondence with Skype on the matter, confirmation the information. However, we still ask whether it will be the complete Skype we know, including its core protocols and algorithms, or simply its user interface. This is the reason for the skepticism. Berkus says, "Having an open source UI will help us get adopted in the "multicultural" land of Linux distributions...".

Why only an open source 'UI' (user interface)? This is most probably because going open source might prove to be rather uncomfortable for Skype. Firstly because if we believe Joltid, the main underlying Skype communication technology doesn't belong to Skype but to them, which is the reason for their lawsuit against Skype. This tempts us to say that besides its GUI and billing service, Skype doesn't own much of its application. Secondly, an open source Skype will nurture potentially serious security issues. With thousands of hands able to make surgery into the app, the prejudice to Skype might potentially stem from simple network attacks to stealing calling credit. In the best case, it's going to be harder for Skype to manage the application.

On the bright side, that is the users' side, open source Skype will be most welcome, especially by Linux users. The app would be far richer that what it is now, with a worldwide cohort of developers free to add any options and features they want to the app. This will also make it more accessible to platforms other than Windows - the actual Linux version of Skype severely lags behind the Windows version.

Skype to Become Open Source originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 21:09:36.

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VoIP Services Thrive, with $21 Billion for the First Half of 2009

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:46:08 +0000

Who said VoIP was dead? An Infonetics research showed that for the first half of 2009, the VoIP services services worldwide generated a whopping $21 billion. Above that, demand for VoIP keeps being on the rise, while that of other services accused a slowdown, mainly due to recession.

A breakdown of the study reveals the following main points:

Residential VoIP has the majority of paid VoIP revenue and subscribers are 14% more numerous over last year;
IP connectivity services amount to a third of the total VoIP business revenue;
North America is the biggest VoIP market;
More details...

VoIP Services Thrive, with $21 Billion for the First Half of 2009 originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 08:46:08.

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Is Windows 7 VoIP-Friendly?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:02:21 +0000

The number of rather positive reviews on Windows 7 that flooded the Internet since its launch, and even before, make us think that it is poised to replace the XP celebrity. But, on the other hand, I can't help thinking that Vista also had many positive reviews when it was launched, but that didn't prevent it from being a flop.

The question that brought you here is whether it is VoIP-friendly. Why wouldn't it be, given there was no problem with Windows XP? But Microsoft being Microsoft, you don't what works and what doesn't, and who'll be blocked. At times, commercial battles overshadow technology. But Windows 7 promises to be open, and even shows sign of a warmer welcome towards VoIP. What remains is for third-party developers to readjust their applications accordingly. Read more

If you have used or tried to use VoIP on Windows 7, share your views and experience with us.

Image (c) microsoft.com

Is Windows 7 VoIP-Friendly? originally appeared on About.com Voice Over IP on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 11:02:21.

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