There’s goes Rich again, spreading rumours.
It’s rumours with a “u” because this particular speculation got its start in the UK, where Jemima Kiss — writing on The Guardian’s pda:thedigitalcontentblog — hypothesized about a Skype/Google marriage.
November 2007 Archives
Packet8 today announced the Packet8 MobileTalk international calling service for mobile phone users.
Over 340 handset models are supported out of the gate, including mobile smartphones running the Windows, Palm or Symbian operating systems. Blackberries are also supported.
One of the hallmarks of the MobileTalk solution is its simplicity. Users simply go to he Packet8 Web site to sign up, and a custom software app is created on-the-fly that’s downloaded to the user’s mobile phone over the air. If the user does not have a data plan, an e-mail is sent with the software as an attachment, which the user can then download to their handset by syncing with their PC as they would normally do to add other software.
Once the number is dialed or selected from, say, a recently missed calls directory, the MobileTalk application identifies the international prefix being called and redirects the call to a local Packet8 network access number.
From there, Packet8 initiates the international call at a low per-minute rate.
Customers can sign up for a Packet8 MobileTalk account starting today at the company’s dedicated MobileTalk site.
Packet8 is positioning MobileTalk as a standalone solution, so customers do not need to have an existing Packet8 account to take advantage of the solution, however discounts apply to Packet8 VoIP or MobileTalk subscribers. A one-time $9.99 activation fee for the service and a monthly fee of $9.99 apply to non-Packet 8 subscribers. Existing Packet8 VoIP subscribers, including subscribers with one Packet8 MobileTalk account, pay a monthly service fee of $4.99.
For the fifth consecutive year, Verizon Business announced it will provide free phone calls this holiday season for U.S. Armed Forces personnel stationed in Iraq.
From Nov. 21 through Nov. 28 and from Dec. 21 through Jan. 3, Verizon Business will facilitate calls through a state-of-the-art mobile communications facility deployed in Iraq.
Verizon Business is also supporting the USO of Metropolitan Washington by hosting a Verizon Business Phone Home for the Holidays Program on Dec. 8 at Fort Belvoir, Va., which will allow troops and their families to make local, long distance and international calls as well as send e-mails from one of its mobile emergency communications vehicles.
Furthermore, Verizon Business is a Partner at several USO Gateway Lounges in the Washington, D.C. area, specifically at BWI/Thurgood Marshall Airport, at Reagan/National and at Washington Dulles International Airport.
In addition to providing funding for the lounges, Verizon Business also provides them with free phone calling anywhere in the world via wireless phones using Verizon Business voice-over-Internet-protocol service.
Taqua, Inc., today announced that Clear Rate Communications has deployed the Taqua 7000 Switching System to provide advanced voice services to its growing business and residential customer base in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.
“With the unique architecture of the T7000, competitive carriers like Clear Rate can deploy and turn up full Class 5 voice services easier and more cost-effectively than with any other competing solution ,” said Eric Pratt, Taqua’s president and CEO. “With 300 systems in service, the added benefit to Clear Rate is that they are deploying a field hardened product.”
I received a heads up on some HD videoconferencing news that will be going out across the wires this coming Monday 11/12.
LifeSize, maker of high-definition videoconferencing equipment, will announce a distribution agreement with uber-distributor Tech Data. Tech Data will distribute LifeSize’s complete HD product portfolio of high-definition video communication systems to solution providers nationwide.
LifeSize and Tech Data will reportedly work together to jointly develop marketing channel programs to assist resellers. The HD video conferencing solutions will be supported by Tech Data’s Telephony Specialized Business Unit (SBU).
LifeSize will also formally introduce Dan Sibille as their new director of global channels. Dan and his team will manage existing and grow new OEM relationships, maximize existing and develop new distribution relationships and develop programs for qualified channel partners.
The consolidation in the tech space is clearly not limited to the VoIP arena.
Contact center players are getting in on the fun as well.
According to a Marketwire report, Noble Systems Corporatiion is set to announce that it is acquiring AMCAT (as well as AMCAT UK and AMCAT Germany GmbH).
The combined entity will serve the whole breadth of the market from large-enterprise (Noble’s expertise) to small and medium-enterprise (Amcat’s target).
I’m no criminal, you know.
I work hard and I’m as honest as the day is long.
But I too have my moments of weakness.
For example: I was walking past my VP of Marketing’s desk earlier today and I saw an opportunity. I saw on his desk a whole big bag of discount registration coupons. Just lying there. He was away from his desk, and this big box of shiny happy 20%-off coupons was staring me in the face.
I thought back to when I was a kid and I “accidentally” took a whole handful of candy from the plastic pumpkin in front of my neighbor’s house, even though the sign clearly said “Happy Halloween! Please Take One.”
Suddenly the old urge was upon me. I couldn’t help myself. I started to sweat, the cold nervous kind. I looked around me. No one there. I felt my face flush red with heat as I reached out and grabbed a whole bunch of 20%-off coupons.
I ran down the hall, back to my desk, casting furtive glances over my shoulder. I sat down, breathing hard, and waited.
So here’s the deal. I’m going to be in Miami Beach this January 23–25 at our Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO. It’s going to be a great show with over 7,000 attendees expected.
Plus it’s Miami… In January… You see where I’m going with this?
Best part is, if you want to get in to the conference program I’m willing to make a deal with you.
If you would be so kind as to take the following code…
ITE08BLOG
…and enter it on the form when you’re signing up for the conference program at the ITEXPO conference registration site, you will be treated to a 20% discount off the conference fee.
But don’t tell my VP of marketing you got it from me.
He blogs too, you know.
Remember, the 20% discount applies to any conference plan at ITEXPO.
Just make sure you register on or before November 21.
Gotta run. I think someone’s coming…
The Open Handset Alliance is a group of mobile and technology leaders who share a common vision for changing the mobile experience for consumers. The Alliance is made up of mobile operators, software companies, chip makers, handset manufacturers and commercialization companies.
For more information visit http://www.openhandsetalliance.com.
Mobile Operators
China Mobile Communications Corporation
KDDI CORPORATION
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Sprint Nextel
T-Mobile
Telecom Italia
Telefónica
Semiconductor Companies
Audience
Broadcom Corporation
Intel Corporation
Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.
NVIDIA Corporation
Qualcomm Inc.
SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc.
Synaptics, Inc.
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Handset Manufacturers
HTC Corporation
LG Electronics, Inc.
Motorola, Inc.
Samsung Electronics
Software Companies
Ascender Corp.
eBay Inc.
Esmertec
Google Inc.
LivingImage LTD.
NMS Communications
Nuance Communications, Inc.
PacketVideo (PV)
SkyPop
SONiVOX
Commercialization Companies
Aplix Corporation
Noser Engineering Inc.
TAT — The Astonishing Tribe AB
Wind River
I saw a great article titled The Discovery Dilemma that was published on TMCnet’s Billing global online community.
In the article, the author — Tom Wheeler of CTIA and NCTA fame — talks about the challenge facing wireless operators when it comes to enticing customers to consume non-voice mobile services such as games, video, tones, and the like.
Check out the article here.
For other insights from Tom Wheeler, check out his TMCnet columnist page here.
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