VoIP Phone Systems

Cisco’s Bid to Purchase Skype

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:00:53 +0000

The latest rumour, which of course cannot be confirmed, is that successful VoIP company Cisco, which is deployed for use in business phone systems around the world, has made a bid to purchase Skype, the most popular consumer VoIP company, before their IPO goes successful. Skype filed for its IPO last month and is rumoured to be in the process of completing that offering. Estimates on Cisco’s bid are currently sitting at US $5 billion, which seems hefty for the purchase of a company which was just sold back to its founders last year for less than US $2 billion.

If Cisco really is bidding that much to buy Skype, it’s worth questioning why, and why now. Skype has just made a slightly stronger foray into business VoIP phone systems, but Cisco can’t possibly be worried about the competition. Skype has only a tiny fraction of the business market and their new plans, not to mention their lack of support, are still not convincing. There must be other reasons behind this acquisition, and we believe it’s because Cisco wants to get in on the consumer market.

In fact, quite a few things have been going on behind Cisco’s doors that signal such a change. For one thing, Cisco has been developing apps that fit neatly into a consumer structure, and if they were to purchase Skype they would immediately have an immense user base for any forthcoming software.

If Cisco did acquire Skype, however, they would still face all the challenges that Skype is currently dealing with. Namely, Skype needs to monetise their service further, because much of their vast user base simply chooses to stick with free computer-to-computer calls. Skype also faces increased competition from Google, who have integrated their Google Voice service into Gmail and made all calls to users in the US and Canada completely free, with cheap calls to other countries around the world. For the first time, a reputable and well-known business is offering international rates at similar prices to Skype’s and it may well be that people switch over for the convenience of calling within their email account.

Cisco and Skype together could be a very powerful combination, but there would regardless be a few roadblocks to overcome. We’ll be very interested to see if Cisco’s bid is successful and where Skype goes from here if not.

How Skype Lied: Charging for 3G Skype Calls

Sky Lawsuit May Force Skype to Change Name

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:00:46 +0000

In a true demonstration of how ridiculous lawsuits can be, we recently discovered that BSkyB, the company which provides Sky satellite television for customers in the UK, has been suing Skype for over five years. Their lawsuit is based around the fact that “Sky” is in “Skype” and they both have blue logos, which they believe may confuse consumers. The lawsuit was launched in response to Skype’s attempt to claim trademarks that included television services.

Amazingly, they claim that their lawsuit is based on actual customer research which indicates that normal people would be confused between the two. This is baffling to us, as never once has Skype brought Sky to mind. It’s even more astonishing that Sky’s case was held up in court by the European Union’s Office for Harmonisation of Internal Markets last month, leading Skype to appeal. If the company loses, it will be forced to change its name and logo; immense blows to a company which is trying so diligently to make itself a household name.

It’s hard to believe that ordinary consumers are so ignorant that they would confuse a VoIP phone system and satellite TV, even if their names do both contain Sky. About five seconds of internet research will elucidate the problem in any case, which makes the millions spent on this case seem incredibly wasteful. It’s important to remember, however, that this lawsuit was begun by a Rupert Murdoch owned company, and this is the same man who is putting up paywalls all over the internet – somehow expecting consumers to pay for content they can find elsewhere for free.

We’re not surprised that his results are disappointing, but we are incredibly disappointed that this silly lawsuit may hamper the development of one of our favourite VoIP companies. Let’s hope that Skype emerges victorious.

No related posts.

Is Open Source VoIP for you?

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:00:42 +0000

A few weeks ago, some of the developers from well known FreePBX, another open source VoIP phone system, have launched a brand new venture aiming to position VoIP more prominently into the open source sphere. If you’re capable of installing your own software onto your PBX system, it looks like you’ll be able to get it for absolutely nothing, with some handy applications and libraries on top.

Open source projects are the tech world’s equivalent of non-profit organisations. They develop certain products which are then free to download; they also make all of their code free for others to adopt and modify at any point. The mission is to spread human knowledge widely and work for the advancement of everyone, not just for profit but for everyone.

Regardless, though, if you’re a corporation you could save immense amounts of money by switching over to an open source VoIP system. There are, however, a few risks you must understand before you do so.

There generally will be no one to help you out if you’re in a fix. There may not be any customer service and it’s likely that your own IT support companies will hesitate to bail you out in a crisis. Most IT companies are happily linked with VoIP providers that do charge for installation, which is precisely why you get that customer service you will be grateful for.
You’re indebted to the person who installed the software and got it working. If you can’t afford to keep him or her around, it could be a challenge to get fixes for problems or upgrade your software if you hire more employees. You should always keep an employee who understands precisely what they’re doing.

On the positive side, these services are not only free, they’re also intensely customisable. If you have the appropriate manpower, you can configure them to do anything you’d like without worrying about angering external companies. You can switch at any time, and you can often use them across desktop and mobile phone networks. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to chat with creators, because they’re generally very involved themselves in promoting and supporting the software they’ve created.

Do you use an open source VoIP telephone system? How is that going for you? Let us know in the comments.

No related posts.

Google Voice Gets Better, Maybe

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:46 +0000

It’s been a good few weeks for Android and Blackberry users of Google Voice. Google recently announced some speed improvements to the Google Voice apps for these phones, based on the way that Google connects you to the network each time.

Formerly, Google had to send a call to their server each and every time a user placed a call. This would find the call’s Google Voice access number, which necessarily took a short amount of time. Now Google no longer needs to make that call. Instead, each and every time you call someone they’re assigned a direct access number. This means Google can place the call right away without jumping through hoops, and as a result you’ll get who you wanted to call much faster than you previously could.

To access the updated apps, you’ll need to either use your phone’s built in updating feature or download the apps from the Android Market or http://m.google.com/voice.

It seems that early adopters are unhappy with these new improvements, mainly because they don’t want to have new phone numbers created for each and every contact they call using Google Voice. Luckily, this isn’t actually a problem, and the speed improvements are only on the back end of the system. Normal operation should continue for most users of the service.

Unfortunately Google Voice is still only available in the US and there have been no new indications about changing that. This functionality also isn’t available for users of other platforms, but it’s highly likely that it will become available in the future.

You may also have noticed a cheerful new voice whenever you access your voicemail. That’s Kiki Baessel, the new voice behind the system. While this is only a minor change, it undoubtedly threw some people when the new voice popped up the first time. Surprisingly, Kiki has no professional voice experience, and Google Voice is her first venture into the world of narration.

What do you think of the changes to Google Voice? Do you enjoy listening to Kiki every time you access your Google Voice messages?

Using Skype for Business VoIP?

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:00:29 +0000

On the surface, Skype looks like a consumer application. It enables us to make free calls to other PCs and cheap calls to normal phones the world over. But it doesn’t come with any hardware and the troubleshooting is not always the best it could be – certainly not the same as a dedicated, local team would be able to provide with on-the-spot service. Yet to our surprise, small businesses are beginning to use Skype for business purposes. While it would probably not have occurred to us – as we’re big proponents of dedicated VoIP phone systems – we’re certainly intrigued by what these businesses are doing.

Skype has plenty of features that aren’t obvious at the first glance. For one thing, it’s fantastic at conference calling. You can add both Skype users and regular numbers to a conference call on Skype, which makes it perfect for a small business where everyone there may be on Skype but the clients are not. The Skype business control panel allows the head of a business to take control of the employees’ accounts. He or she can then assign a fixed amount for standard calling and create accounts for employees and clients alike. So surprisingly, there is not much need for employers to fear that their employees will be too distracted by instant messaging to work.

Next, Skype is fine to use with the cheapest hardware on the market if necessary, so the initial outlay may not actually be all that much. Moreover, in conference situations in a conference room, all that’s needed is a single microphone and most employees could probably make do with headsets. Cheaper USB phones cost less than £20 each, which makes this a great solution for struggling small businesses looking to cut costs faster than they could with a more traditional system.

Skype’s program has a few extra hidden features as well. Instant messaging is included, including to multiple people, so if your employees don’t have time for a phone call or email Skype has a quick and easy solution. They also feature Screen Sharing, which is perfect for training and collaborating over distances. You can train new employees without being in the same room or even the same country. It’s also perfect for client-based businesses, because you can give presentations and info sessions without any traveling or added expenses.

On the other hand, however, Skype’s support is not quite at the same level you’d get with a standard business VoIP system provider. It’s free but it’s not as optimised for businesses as it could be, simply because it truly is primarily a consumer VoIP program. Medium and large sized companies are probably better off with a standard provider. Still, Skype can offer advantages to very small businesses. You might even give it a try before signing on for a large, more full-featured VoIP system.

Barriers to Worldwide VoIP

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:00:18 +0000

We often wonder why the whole world isn’t using VoIP. It’s not only cheaper but it can do almost anything better than a traditional phone system. It has more features and more options, both paid and free. It’s clear that something must be affecting the consumer adoption rate. So what are the current barriers to worldwide VoIP adoption and how can we surmount them?

Competition with the telecoms industry. This is a fairly severe challenge that will be quite difficult to surmount. In short, VoIP services can offer cheaper call rates than almost any traditional telephone service, simply because of the way it works. As a result telecoms companies would like nothing better than to ban VoIP services, and in some countries they’ve succeeded. Skype in particular is dangerous for them, as any two people with broadband connections can essentially talk for free.
Broadband speed. Unfortunately not everyone has the technology required to effectively use VoIP. Many first world countries do, but the rest of the world lags behind. Even some parts of the US are still using dial-up, limiting their ability to really take advantage of the cheaper costs offered by VoIP services. They are forced to continue dealing with traditional telecoms companies.
Technology barriers. Many people, particularly the elderly, are hesitant to adopt new technologies. Many over-60s don’t even own a PC, let alone have the ability to use VoIP programs. They are content to continue using the telephone system they’ve had for virtually their entire lives, even if switching over means saving money. Regrettably, the fear comes top over the savings.
Misunderstandings. Many consumers think that VoIP technology is less advanced than that of their phone line. They’re mistaken; Skype’s latest codec is HD VoIP and of a higher quality than you’ll achieve with any landline or mobile. Moreover, many people don’t realise that VoIP services are readily available on smartphones with unlimited internet. If your data plan allows it, you can use Skype instead of your minutes whenever you’d like.

So, how do we surmount these issues? It’s a challenge. The technology barriers will solve themselves over time as the world gets increasingly better connected. Improvements to broadband are happening all the time. And as the tech-savvy population gets older, VoIP will increasingly be accepted and used among all age ranges. Nothing but education and mainstream use will solve problem number 4.

That leaves us with the telecoms industries holding VoIP back. We predict that they will either fold or introduce VoIP phones themselves, especially for lucrative business VoIP phone systems. The latter option would be an excellent choice and we look forward to seeing how the industries handle the changing technology of phones in the years to come.

No related posts.

Top 3 VoIP App Choices

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:00:57 +0000

When it comes to choosing a VoIP app for smartphones, we’re almost spoilt for choice. A number of services have popped up offering cheap calls at low rates through third party apps. Some of them let you make calls over wi-fi while others use 3G technology to make calls possible when you’re out and about. If your plan offers few minutes but has unlimited internet access, these three apps may make up the difference.

For Apple users, Truphone has launched its new service for the iPhone 4 and the iPod touch. First of all, the app now offers calling over the 3G networks, when previously it had been limited to wi-fi. It also takes full advantage of the iPhone 4’s multi-tasking ability to run in the background, so for the first time you’ll be able to take calls while doing something else. The app also offers instant messaging this time around, so users can check that their friends are actually available before making the call. Some Android, Blackberry, and Nokia smartphones can also run a Truphone app but may not have the same functionality depending on the model and age of the phone.

Skype also has apps for most of the major smartphones. While the VoIP provider of choice does plan to charge a small fee for use by the end of the year, using the app won’t consume any of the minutes on your plan and you’ll have access to Skype’s cheap subscription plans and international calling rates. You can also purchase a Skype In number, which will allow you to receive calls through the app on your smartphone for a yearly fee. If you do a great deal of international calling or have a number of friends you normally chat to through Skype, this application would be perfect for you.

Lastly, Google Voice, while not an app for the iPhone, is the ideal choice for American smartphone users. The service for phones without apps is available through a mobile site, which is very well designed for its purpose. Unfortunately, since the iPhone will not allow the app in the store, the service will cost minutes, but they will be ordinary minutes as part of your original mobile plan, so Google Voice is still a deal for those who wish to call internationally. Android and Blackberry users will be able to seamlessly use the app from their phones, taking full advantage of the Google Voice functionality to make calls without using up extra minutes.

What’s your favourite VoIP app?

SkypeKit Beta Takes Skype Into the Wider World

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:00:36 +0000

Last month, Skype released SkypeKit, which is essentially made up of the elements in the Skype program for Windows. This will allow Skype to be installed on any system, though it is at present only available to a limited number of beta partners, but other developers can apply for the program in a month’s time or request a beta invite from the site.

Recently, we reported that Skype’s CEO envisioned the program’s installation on each and every connected piece of hardware in your house; so you could make and answer phone calls from your living room, your car, or your kitchen. This would essentially be a huge step in Skype’s potential mission of replacing the telephone. You can get Skype on your mobile, but you’re often still tied to your computer when using it at home. Skype’s goal to change that just got one step closer.

At the same time, Skype is starting up a new developer program, with an appropriate developer site, aiming to encourage developers to produce apps that use Skype’s API. Like Apple, they plan to censor apps based on content, excluding gambling or adult-themed apps, and will restrict sign-ups during its beta stage. The site makes available the API with restrictions. If developers wish to gain a special “certified” distinction and placement in the Skype shop, they can submit their product to Skype for comprehensive testing.

The SILK – super wideband audio codec – codec is also available through the site. The SILK codec is what makes Skype such a high quality choice for internet voice calls. A simple request grants potential developers access to the codec for testing, though they must request an IP license before any commercial use is permitted.

We’re excited to see what Skype developers come up with now that they have all of these resources at their disposal! Skype is becoming a more exciting platform almost by the minute. Stay tuned for news of future developments.

No related posts.

3G Video Calling over VoIP with Fring

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:00:23 +0000

Video calling over mobiles has been around longer than most people think, but due to Apple’s latest announcement of FaceTime on the iPhone 4, it’s gathered quite a bit of attention. Now that widespread adoption is virtually a certainty, it’s the perfect time for third parties to launch competing apps to try and cash in on that enthusiasm for themselves.

So it’s no surprise that recently, Fring implemented the expansion of its video calling app to iPhone 4, Android, and Nokia phones. They’re taking advantage of two big flaws with the iPhone’s FaceTime feature, namely that it’s only possible over wi-fi and only to other iPhone 4s. This means that most people, even with a phone that’s equipped to do it, probably won’t be able to call the people they’d like to call most of the time. And that’s when Fring becomes relevant.

While Fring is slightly more complicated to use than the iPhone 4’s FaceTime, the company is clearly betting on the fact that people will now want to use the iPhone’s front facing camera to call all of their friends, and the company will naturally want users to get more familiar with their specific interface before FaceTime becomes an open platform. That way, they might continue to use Fring and VoIP minutes rather than switching back to FaceTime and plan minutes. After all, Fring is totally free for those who are on unlimited data plans, and free is a pretty big barrier to overcome for the iPhone.

For those who are not familiar with the software, Fring is an app for a variety of phones which allows users to make free calls, video calls, and chats with both contacts on their phone. It syncs with services like Skype, MSN Messenger, and AIM to provide a one-size-fits-all app for the active web user. It’s already a great little app that we’d recommend; the new functionality will hopefully help it to become even more popular.

Skype in the Future: Switching Devices in Mid-Call

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:00:38 +0000

Skype CEO Josh Silverman has big plans for his company in the household. His latest pronounced goal is to allow Skype users to transition between devices throughout their household. So, you can start a Skype call on your PC, but if you want to head to the kitchen, you’d be able to seamlessly switch it to your mobile and then take a walk more or less anywhere you’d like to go. If you had to leave the house, you could seamlessly switch it to your in-car navigation system, essentially continuing a call despite any adverse circumstances cropping up.

The new feature would be perfect for busy people who have a number of conference calls; instead of being tied to a single room or PC they would be able to find information and check anything without leaving the call. According to Silverman, he plans to extend Skype throughout the home, with any computing device able to hold Skype software. So, in future, you might have Skype on your TV, on your refrigerator, and your video game console, as long as said equipment is connected to the internet. Chatting with your friends and family will be something you can do wherever you are.

Skype may well have the potential to go that far. Skype is pre-installed on many computers running Windows, making it the automatic VoIP phone system choice for techies and novices alike. Over the next year, 100 million PCs will ship with the software ready to go and 300,000 new users were signing up every day by the end of 2010. With all of these people chatting on Skype, the potential for growth is still massive.

On the other hand, will this help solve some of Skype’s revenue issues? It’s certainly a possibility. Almost everyone will enjoy the extra convenience of making low-cost international calls from anywhere in their home; while having the service on your mobile is convenient, it would be nice to have a chat while lounging in your living room instead of sitting stiffly at the computer, and it might be even easier to get the whole family involved in the conversation. In short, while Skype’s new ambitions may not gain them direct revenue, they could make it easier for users to spend.