Greg Galitzine's VoIP Authority Blog: Mobility Archives

Look! Up in the Sky...

November 10, 2008 12:16 PM

It's such a cliché, but I can't help myself.

It's my first Internet experience at 36,000 feet.

I sent an e-mail to my brother in law: "You'll never guess where I am right now..."

I remember those in-flight phones too, back in the day. Yes I called my folks the first time I was able to call from on high...

In any event... I can finally say I've blogged from 38,000 feet.

American Airlines. GoGo Wireless. Blazing fast speeds. 25% off coupon... No complaints.

I'm heading to out to VoiceCon, where I've lined up a bunch of meetings over the course of the week. I'll try to post stories of what I see at the show as fast as I can, but plans call for meeting with as many companies as possible, so there's scarce downtime during the event for blog posts.

One thing I plan to do is keep up with the TMCnewsroom and the daily video news broadcasts. You can too, just by bookmarking this link.

That's it for now...

TMC, Ex-VON Team Join Up for 4G Event, Web Site

October 30, 2008 8:44 AM

TMC and Crossfire Media announced they were working together to produce 4G Wireless Evolution, comprising a Web site, an event, and other media to address a growing need for information regarding the next generation of wireless.

4G is the fourth generation of wireless communications, which is expected to be implemented globally in the next 2-5 years, and which will offer significantly faster speeds and broader applications than current wireless networks can allow. The result will be an influx of new technologies and a significant increase in the number of customers using wireless communications for a wide variety of uses.

The 4G Wireless Evolution Conference is the first event dedicated to 4G technologies, and will take place February 2-4, 2009 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Industry watchers will note that this collaboration brings together some familiar faces, working together for the first time. In fact, over the past several weeks, the TMC team of Dave Rodriguez, Michael Genaro and I have been meeting with our counterparts at Crossfire Media: Scott Kargman, Joann Varello and Carl Ford to hash out the details of the partnership and to build the conference program and the Web sites. It's amazing to see all that hard work come to fruition today with the official launch.

Of course, now the work truly begins to make 4G Wireless Evolution the industry's #1 resource for all things 4G. But I've got a feeling that with the resources of the two organizations and the expertise involved, we're well on our way to achieving that goal.

For the official press release, click here.

Ifbyphone Launches iPhone Conferencing App

October 30, 2008 8:12 AM

Ifbyphone today announced a new conference call application for Apple's iPhone.

Available immediately on the iTunes App Store, the Conference Call App enables users to set up ad hoc conference calls from their iPhones or iPod touch devices, or to arrange conference calls in advance.

It's as easy as choosing a group of recipients the contacts in the iPhone address book and tapping on "schedule conference."

This is the second Ifbyphone application available on the iTunes App Store following up on Ifbyphone's popular Voice Broadcast app.

The Conference Call App is free to download, and includes 100 free minutes of conference calling per month, with an option to upgrade for additional minutes.

Truphone for Blackberry Now in Beta

October 28, 2008 7:39 AM

Blackberry users rejoice!

Truphone today announced the launch of a beta of Truphone Anywhere, for BlackBerry.

Earlier this year the application was made available for iPhone users.

According to the announcement:

Truphone works with the user to save them money. Instead of requiring the user to remember what to do, Truphone Anywhere simply asks whether he/she wants to make a Truphone call whenever an international number is dialed. The user simply accepts, and Truphone connects the call.

Users can download the application for free from www.truphone.com/blackberry and Handango users can download Truphone from www.handango.com.

Nokia: Out of UC, In with Touch-Screen Phone

October 3, 2008 1:50 PM

So, I received a note from Ovum Research with their take on the fact that Nokia is leaving the enterprise solution business, namely their IntelliSync unified communications play.

According to Senior Analyst, Claudio Castelli of Ovum:

Mobile unified communications involves high complexity and vendors should concentrate on their strengths instead of trying to provide end-to-end solutions. Nokia will no longer develop software solutions for enterprises. The company has recognized that it is unable to advance into the enterprise market as a standalone mobility solutions provider. Nokia will now concentrate its efforts on developing powerful user interfaces for its devices, which will be supported by its UC partners on their platforms- they include companies such as Microsoft, IBM, Cisco and Alcatel-Lucent. By focusing its efforts, Nokia will be able to exploit its main strength and is more likely to succeed.

The key devices in this space for Nokia are their E-series devices and the company will reportedly look to build on the successes of their E66 and E71 units.

Sad as it may seem to some, I think it makes a great deal of sense for a firm with Nokia's legacy of device creation -- and creativity -- to focus on that part of the ecosystem that they are really good at.

Relationships with the aforementioned companies, like Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent, and others will only bode well for the phone maker as chances are their handsets will be among the preferred devices that the mobile UC solution providers will offer their end users.

Speaking of Nokia devices, reports abound that Spain's Telefonica will be getting Nokia's new touch-screen phone before the end of the year. According to a report from Forbes:

A source familiar with Nokia's strategy told Forbes.com that Spain's Telefonica would offer the 5800 touch-screen phone when it starts shipping, sometime in the final months of 2008. This will be the second touch-screen victory for Telefonica this year, after it was picked as Apple's exclusive partner to launch the iPhone back in July.

#$%^&* Apple!

July 24, 2008 4:14 PM

It figures. Do something to help the masses identify where they can get an iPhone 3G and Bam! No good deed shall remain unpunished.

Earlier today I blogged about the Top Muffin iPhone 3G Availability Tracker, and how it was helping people find the iPhone 3G's they had been waiting for. Well guess what? It's gone. Over!

Here's what Top Muffin has to say:

Evidently, Apple did not like their 3G iPhone availability data being used outside of apple.com.

They have changed all inventory values to NULL in their JSON file. I guess it beats a cease-and-desist letter.\

Looks like people will have to go to the store themselves now. It's a wonderful strategy on the part of Apple. Maybe once we get the folks who want an iPhone into our stores, they'll impulsively purchase some iPods and a 30-inch Cinema Display...

Grrr....

iPhone Shortage Dissipating

July 24, 2008 1:24 PM

It is true that in the wake of the recent iPhone 3G launch, Rich Tehrani had trouble finding one.

But according to Top Muffin's iPhone 3G Availability Tracker -- which tracks which stores have inventory based on Apple's own information -- as of 12:45pm today, July 24th there were quite a few units available for purchase at Apple stores throughout the United States.

In fact if Rich really wants a black 16GB model, I might be able to hook him up.

For more on the availability of the iPhone 3G, check out this article.

America for Sale?

July 15, 2008 4:22 PM

Tim Gray is reporting on the chatter that has Sprint as the target of a takeover - albeit a friendly takeover - at the hands of SK Telecom, South Korea's wireless giant.

Yesterday, Leuven, Belgium-based InBev picked up Anheuser Busch for the thirst-quenching little sum of $52 billion.

And last week word came down that the Abu Dhabi Investment Council had purchased one of New York's landmark skyscrapers, the Chrysler Building, for $800 million or so.

Now quick... Who owns Rockefeller Center?

Mobile Giving and the MLB: A Grand Slam!

July 11, 2008 10:48 AM |

1 Comment

Here's a great concept... Use technology to help raise money for sick kids.

This Sunday, the Washington Nationals and MLB.com will debut the use of "mobile giving" to benefit the creation of a Diabetes Care Complex for Children's National Medical Center.

Here's how it works: Fans can text the word "NATS" to 90999 to give $5 to support the work of Children's National Medical Center to fight pediatric diabetes, a growing concern in the Washington area and nationwide.

While the July 13 game against the Houston Astros is the public launch of this initiative, people can donate between July 10th and July 31st.

MLB.com, the Nationals, and Children's National Medical Center are partnering with the Mobile Giving Foundation, which enables nonprofits to accept donations from almost any phone and major cellular providers.
mobile giving.jpg

For further information about the Mobile Giving Foundation, visit their Web site.

For further information about the Children's National Medical Center, located in Washington, DC, visit their Web site.

Truphone Hits iPhone App Store

July 11, 2008 7:44 AM

If you spend any time traveling internationally for business, you understand the challenge of maintaining a high level of connectivity while keeping costs down.

Let's face it, international calling plans are expensive, and frankly the various roaming agreements can be confusing, leaving users trying to remember how much it costs to call from Prague to Paris as opposed to say Peoria or Portofino.

Truphone today announced that their native VoIP client for the iPhone -- developed with Apple's own SDK -- is available at the online iPhone App Store. The application is currently available for download at no charge.

The company has been at the forefront of making mobile VoIP inexpensive and easy to use for some time now. The solution routes calls over WiFi, so if you're near a hotspot and need to make a call you can simply call up the Truphone application on your iPhone and place the call.

Existing Truphone users will recognize the same simple process for initiating a call: one touch to open the keypad/dialer, the actual dialing of the digits (or simply select a contact from the iPhone's own address book), and one touch to launch the call. That's it. No access codes, no fuss, no muss.

Here's a nifty video explaining how the solution works.

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