VoIP

After dissing WinMo, Skype snuggles up to Symbian

offegoalofido — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:39:40 +0000

While the Skype experience on Windows Mobile handsets was determined to be “unsatisfactory,” phones running Nokia’s SymbianOS (more than 200 million worldwide) now have access to the immensely popular VOIP app.

In an official blog posting, Skype’s Peter Parks reports that the app is now available for download in Nokia’s Ovi store and directly from Skype via this link. The app supports voice calling and SMS via wifi and 3G connections. Video calls aren’t supported, however (not a big shocker).

You can also IM and share pictures and videos with your Skype contacts, and the app even supports importing contacts you have stored in your phone.

As the blog post points out, it’s a great way to avoid roaming charges while you’re on the road.

Only Nokia phones are officially supported at this point, but Skype says they’ll be adding other brands — like Sony Ericsson — soon.

[via JKOntheRun]

Skype kills off its Windows Mobile client… for now

assevedut — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:16:59 +0000

Skype has removed the download links for Skype and Skype Lite for Windows Mobile devices. If you’ve already got Skype loaded up on your phone or PDA, you can keep using it. But according to Skype’s FAQ, the company felt the Windows Mobile version was “not offering the best possible Skype experience.”

Of course, pulling the software altogether instead of working furiously to provide an awesome update isn’t necessarily the approach I would have taken.

But Skype’s explanation does imply that a new and improved Windows Mobile client is on its way. Hopefully whatever new software the company releases will be compatible with the millions of Windows Mobile devices already on the market. But it’s possible that Skype only plans to focus on the new Windows Phone 7 Series platform that Microsoft will launch later this year.

Skype continues to offer mobile clients for iPhone, Symbian, Nokia N800/N900 series devices and the Sony PSP.

[via WMPoweruser]
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Verizon to allow Skype VoIP calls over 3G

amitg — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:21:39 +0000

Verizon Wireless has announced that ~~Hell has frozen over~~ starting next month wireless customers with compatible phones will be able to use Skype’s mobile software to make VoIP (Voice over IP) calls over Verizon’s 3G wireless broadband network. In other words, you can call people on your cellphone without using any voice minutes… you’ll just be eating into your data plan.

Verizon and Skype says you’ll be able to make free Skype to Skype calls to anyone using Skype software, whether they’re on a phone, computer, or other device. You’ll also be able to make international calls to telephones at SkypeOut’s normal rates. And you can send and receive instant messages and see the status of your contacts.

One thing you won’t be able to do is use Skype to make free domestic calls to telephones withing the United States. And that makes sense, since Verizon would be shooting one of its primary revenue streams in the foot by allowing that.

Verizon is hardly the first carrier to allow Skype calls over its network. AT&T users can already do this. But Verizon is one of the largest telecoms in the US, making this pretty big news.

Skype 1.3 for iPhone: great new features, still no 3G calling

solovekaaqw — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:52:15 +0000

Every time Skype for iPhone gets an update, there’s a glimmer of hope that we’ll be able to make calls over 3G again. Apple has re-opened the possibility, but hasn’t yet approved the app that makes it possible. While the new Skype 1.3 might not be the golden ticket to dialing without wi-fi, it does offer some slick features to keep us happy in the meantime, including a horizontal keyboard and a call quality indicator.

The horizontal keyboard is a must-have if you ever use the Skype app for serious IMing, so it’s nice to see that included. The call-quality indicator is cribbed from the Windows version of Skype. It’s not essentially, but it’s nice to know when you’re in danger of a call dropping, so you can warn the person you’re talking to. An annoying bug that cause calls to drop when you return from hold after clicking a push notification was also fixed.

Speaking of push, Skype still doesn’t support it, but it’s still in the works. Push and 3G support would elevate Skype into the ranks of the most useful iPhone apps out there, and it’s already not too shabby. I’m looking forward to the next update!

Truphone brings VoIP to Android phones, including Google’s Nexus One

solovekaaqw — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:52:14 +0000

If you’re looking to make VoIP calls on your Android phone, London-based Truphone might have the app for you. Truphone just released an update to its Android app that makes it compatible with Google’s Nexus One. It now works on five Android devices.

In stark contrast to the VoIP situation on the iPhone, where developers frequently run into problems with Apple’s approval process, Truphone’s developers apparently worked closely with Google.

The Nexus One is an ideal device for Truphone because of its open nature. Because Google’s phone isn’t locked to any particular carrier, it can use SIMs from any of Truphone’s mobile partners (of which Vodafone UK is the largest so far), and take advantage of local calling rates through those companies.

Why would you choose Truphone over any other VoIP provider? Well, the ability to make free calls to Skype users is a pretty sweet selling point. If you own a Nexus One or an iPod Touch, Truphone is the only serious game in town for Internet calling at the moment.

Finally, if you’re in Europe, you might pick Truphone over Skype and other competitors because of its growing base of partnerships with mobile providers. Unfortunately, Truphone has made no deals with US providers thus far, but it’s nice to dream about.

[via Techcrunch Europe]

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‘Click-to-Dial’ on any webpage with the Google Voice Chrome extension

sealliarfarry — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:52:14 +0000

Google Voice and Google Chrome are two great tastes that taste great together, thanks to a new version of the Google Voice extension for Chrome. The extension gives you quick toolbar access to Voice features, including dialing, voicemail transcripts and SMS. What’s more, phone numbers on webpages become click-to-call links, so you don’t even have to type a number into your phone or paste it into to Voice to dial.

This extension makes Voice a lot more practical by removing the need for a standalone app, single-site browser or separate browser window. Soon, you’ll even be able to use it to play back your voicemail. Windows users should be good to go with the new extension, but Mac users will need the latest build of Chromium to make it work properly.

[via TechCrunch]
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HTML5-powered Google Voice looks, feels like the iPhone app Apple denied

trialsoft — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:52:13 +0000

Google’s developers are just too clever and impatient to wait for Apple to open its arms and invite Google Voice into the app store. Regardless of what or who was ultimately behind the rejection of Google Voice, it’s a moot point now.

Since they’ve already got solid HTML5-powered versions of GMail and Google Reader which perform nicely on the iPhone, Google has decided to follow that route with Google Voice.

Point your iPhone to m.google.com/voice and you’ll have access to a web-based app which looks and feels a whole lot like a native iPhone app.

The web app allows Google Voice users to make and receive calls and SMS messages through their Voice number. Since it’s HTML5 and not a native app, users of Android and WebOS phones can get in on the action, too.

Sorry Blackberry owners — your handset can’t handle HTML5 just yet.

Google is bullish on bridging the native/web application divide — coming up with elegant solutions like the one they’ve released for Voice is extremely important to the success of Chrome OS, after all.

[via ZD Net]
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Apple opens up VoIP via 3G on iPhone, and maybe even iPad

assevedut — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:52:12 +0000

With all the hype around Apple’s release of the iPad, other big Apple announcements have slipped by without the attention they deserve. For example, Apple’s updated iPhone SDK allows VoIP calls over 3G. That’s a pretty big deal for Skype users, who can now use VoIP like a regular phone, without being tethered to areas with wifi coverage. It doesn’t work for me on the latest version of Skype, but I’d be willing to be an update is already in the pipeline.

AT&T made the changes that would allow iPhone VoIP on its 3G network back in October, so the holdup has presumably been on Apple’s end since then. Now that Apple has lifted its restrictions, though, does this mean the iPad with 3G service will be able to pull off VoIP calls? I sure hope so. It would be nice to have just an iPad, instead of carting around an iPhone, too.

If you’re impatient for a Skype update, you can test out 3G VoIP with iCall, an alternative app whose developers have been using the news of the new SDK to draw attention to it as the first app to actually enable cellular VoIP call via iPhone. iCall is free, although somewhat crashy and unreliable, and it can fill the void until Skype swoops back in.

[via Gizmodo]

Skype says 3G iPhone app is coming

olcia1802 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:52:12 +0000

Last week Apple changed began allowing third party applications to make VoIP calls over 3G. What that means is that you can make a telephone call over the internet using a wireless broadband connection. The upshot is that you could theoretically use an application like Skype to make free or cheap phone calls while eating up your data minutes instead of your voice minutes. You can also make international calls over a VoIP application for much less money than your cellphone company would typically charge.

Right now there’s only one problem: Skype’s iPhone application doesn’t support making calls over 3G. And it won’t for a little while, because while the Skype team plans to start work on a 3G enabled version, the goal is to improve the audio quality first.

In the meantime, you can always use Fring, which already offers VoIP calls over 3G.

Is Google Voice going to be the next Skype?

offegoalofido — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:07:28 +0000

Google Voice is great for voicemail and text transcription, call forwarding, and a bunch of other useful phone-related services, but it’s not a full VoIP solution like Skype. That could change in 2010, though, especially since Google acquired Gizmo5, a company that develops technology for web-to-web and web-to-phone calls. Owning Gizmo5 doesn’t necessarily mean Google’s going to compete with Skype, but some recent quotes from a VP at Google suggest things may be headed in that direction.

According to eWeek, a Google VP of Product Development, Bradley Horowitz, told the media that “voicemail transcription, inbox integration and threaded SMS are fantastic features, but we’re really just scratching the surface. Gizmo5 gives us talent and talent technology. … We want to make sure your communication is available to you irrespective of where you are at, what device you have in your pocket, etc.” With Gizmo5’s technology, Google’s brand name and huge userbase, will we be saying “Google Voice me” instead of “Skype me” by this time next year?

I’m not willing to call it one way or the other just yet. What do you think, oh wise DLS readers?