January 2007 Archives

Today's announcement about Michael Dell becoming CEO of his own company through me off guard, especially since the disposed CEO, Kevin Rollins, was at the big Windows Vista launch shindig in NYC just two days ago!

Wonder if anyone in the "C" suite at Dell (the company) knew this was going to happen ... and, if so, why not have Mr. Dell, whose roots in the PC biz go back nearly as far as Mr. Gates and company, at the event to espouse how solidly Dell is behind the Vista bandwagon?

After all, Dell (the company, again) did announce that a whole bunch of hardware with Vista was available even before Microsoft officially launched the product.

What does this all mean to us, the gadget-buying public?

Maybe better Dell products since the man who's name is on the box is watching more closely ...

 

The SuperBowl brings to mind many traditions -- watching TV, snacking, having a beverage, getting together with friends, etc. -- and how about the new one of buying a new large screen TV for the game?

CE companies would love it, retailers would love it -- what better way to take in all of the action of XLI?  Especially in HD bay-bee!

So how many of you have already made the plunge this month?

Or are you waiting for the weekend? (Hey, it's this weekend!  )

If you have, let me know on what model what you shelled out the simoleons ...

Vringo's Jon Medved launched Vringo, a mobile application that brings "video ringtones" to mobile phones. Yeah, that's right. Video ringtones. When you call your buddy, you can send or receive video clips that will appear as your ringtone. In a nutshell, Vringo allows users to share short video clips each time they make a phone call. Vringo is launching its service simultaneously at the AlwaysOn Media and Demo conferences. Vringo is now opening its private Beta program and hopes to invite the general public into the community soon.

You can choose from a variety of movies, trailers and comedy clips for free. Vringo also gives you the option for to capture your own video clips and use them free of charge.

Ok, let me get this straight... First we have mobile phone ringtones (which I hate), then we have paid Skype ringtones, VoIP ringback tones, and now we have video ringtones? When will this madness ever end? Can't we just talk on the phone without forcing our music or video tastes on someone? Seriously. What if I just want to talk to someone without Britney Spears music hurting my ears, or a Paris Hilton music video hurting my eyes. I mean, sheesh!

I just received word that American Telecom Services, Inc. (AMEX: TES), a provider of converged communications solutions, is scheduled to feature its VoIP phone on the QVC channel tonight at midnight (ET) during the “Your Home Office” broadcast.

The ATS Voice-Over-Internet Protocol Phone (QVC Item #E0381) is a multi-handset, cordless Internet telephone that includes an integrated IP voice platform in the base of the phone to ensure easy and clear connections for the user. The phones come bundled with Internet telephone service from SunRocket.

I believe this is the first VoIP product I've heard of that is being featured on the QVC channel. Of course, I don't watch QVC, so I wouldn't know. Boy, I have to say, VoIP used to be so "niche" years ago. Now you've got Chloe on 24 talking with a guy in a bar about VoIP. You have Cisco VoIP phones at CTU headquarters and prominently displayed on each 24 episode (wonder how much that plug costs Cisco). I recently saw some VoIP products advertised by affiliates at my local movie theater. Yes, yes, I know VoIP is mainstream now and has been for a while.

The niche is over. Heck, there are a ton more VoIP blogs today than there were just a couple years ago. Blogging is all about finding a "niche" to write about, but the VoIP space is getting mighty crowded. Maybe I should just retire my VoIP & Gadgets blog and move on to another niche? Hmmmm.... "No, don't do it, Tom! We love you. We need our morning VoIP & gadgetry fix!"

Nah. No worries. I'll stick around. Still plenty interesting VoIP stuff to write about.

Skype for Mac 2.5, as I previously mentioned back in November, has now gone into public release and can now be downloaded

This from their PR rep...

As you know, the beta version of this beautiful piece of software has been available since mid-November. Since then, Skype has worked hard at ironing out the beta wrinkles and is pleased to release a public version into the wild. Skype has even added a nifty little birthday reminder feature, to help you impress your Skype contacts (and secure an invitation to the party).

Skype for Mac 2.5 features the ability to send SMS messages to any mobile phone in the world, bringing friends, family and colleagues yet another step closer. Also, Mac users can now use Skype to hold conference calls with up to nine other people. Calls can be made to Skype contacts for free and to landlines and mobiles for a small fee, via SkypeOut. So, whether your contacts are in one city or scattered around the world, you can now get together to share a laugh or hatch the next killer business idea without hassle.

Of course, Skype for Mac 2.5 also does free one-on-one video calls (assuming users have a broadband Internet connection).

Reminder: Today is the final day for Skype users in the U.S. and Canada to subscribe to the Skype Unlimited Calling plan for the introductory rate of $14.95 ($17.50 Cdn) for 12 months of unlimited SkypeOut calls to landline or mobile phone numbers in the U.S. or Canada… the price goes up tomorrow to the regular rate of $29.95 ($35 Cdn) for the same 12 months of unlimited SkypeOut calls.

I get all kinds of stuff in my e-mail (you can only imagine!), but intrigued with today's Wal-Mart Wire, which featured -- can you believe it! -- Windows Vista! (Wire is the weekly e-flyer from the big bad boy of retailing.)

Now I don't know about you, but I still connect buying software with computer retailers like CompUSA or CE big box stores like Best Buy or buying it on a vendor's site and opting for the download.

But hey! plenty of software is sold at stores outside of those channels, so why shouldn't Wal-Mart with all of its retail might make a strong play in this area?

You can buy the software there or get systems with pre-installed software; there's even a guide to finding the right Vista for you.

(How about a look inside the Microsoft marketing barage in this report?)

Maybe I will check it out ...

Funny (for me, not for Microsoft) to see this report about no one lining up to buy the new Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office when it went on sale in SF.

Well, if you attended the big soiree in NYC yesterday (yes, I did), you know what I mean about funny (as in ironic). The line to get into the Nokia Theatre in Times Square was plenty long and plenty slow moving. And it was plenty cold in 20 something degree weather with that great NYC wind whipping up and down Broadway (and across town, too).

(You can read the official Microsoft press release here.)

Couple of things while I think back to yesterday's event -- why have registration for the event outside (yes, outside) in NYC at the end of January? You would think the PR agency (headquartered across the street from the Times Square event locale) would have known that? (Patrick! Buy an overcoat, man!)

And how about a "neutral" venue? Now Nokia may not compete too directly with Microsoft, but Radio City Music Hall would have done just fine or even the Theatre at Madison Square Garden (or whatever it's called today). Not as bad as holding a Fujfilm event in Southern California at the Kodak Theatre ...)

I'm sure read plenty of other places about Windows Vista "enabling the digital lifestyle" (let's not overwork that phrase too much Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer), but Mr. Bill did have a nice moment thinking back to how different it was 12 years ago when the Windows 95 OS was launched. (Much simpler back then, too, for the boys -- and girls -- from Redmond. (Hey, have you heard about the Internet?)

And whatever happened to something like "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones to get this whole thing launched in style -- Vista could use a music tag, don' t you think?

 

Mark Spencer, founder of the Asterisk movement, lead off the conference call by saying, "Today is one of the most exciting days in the history of the company." Them's some mighty big words! Mark explained that this came about while searching for a COO and VP of Business Development and they were then approached with something even more exciting.

Mark explained why Digium hired a new CEO and why Mark changed his role within Digium. Mark, "When you start a company and you're just one person, you have to do everything yourself and that is the history of Asterisk got started really - because I needed my own phone system and they were too expensive to go out and buy one. But as you grow, you have to start delegate stuff out.  The easiest thing to delegate out in the beginning is to delegate stuff you're bad at and don't enjoy doing. Delegating stuff you're good at but don't enjoy doing.  Then there is stuff you enjoy doing but are still bad at doing. Lastly and the most difficult part is delegating away stuff that is very enjoyable to you and that you have a propensity for doing well. Digium has reached a size that that was a decision I had to make." (Note: I'm typing this during the call, so the exact quotes may be a bit off)

Mark added, "While hopefully I've done a (cough - nervousness? I think its modesty since he didn't want to toot his own horn) fairly reasonable job getting the company to this level, I felt that the part that is more interesting to me and that part where I can bring the most value to the community, employees, and the customers, was focusing on the technology and strategic vision of the company in the long run. When I had the opportunity to bring on someone who has an incredible operational background and whom I have a relationship of trust for the past 7 years, it was simply a very easy decision to make and to make this transition happen."

Bill Gates (Windows) role and title famously shifted and now Mark Spencer's (Linux) role has shifted. This  is all part of the 1st law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy) and keeping the universe in balance. That's my theory anyway. Mark Spencer is to Bill Gates was Neuman was to Jerry Seinfeld, what the Red Sox are the Yankees. It all makes perfect sense now. If Mark didn't change titles, the universe would explode.

Mark explained that Danny Windham "has been a board member since 2000 and actually has been with the company longer than any other employee has been. He was able to come on and be the CEO of the company and allow me to be able to focus on the community and the customers and the technology of the company in a much more focused way."

ADTRAN explained that they have a 7 year relationship with Digium, with a significant investment in Digium but a minority investment. Since I want to get this news up and let everyone listen to the conference call themselves, I'm going to post the entire conference call here as a podcast. I may update this post in a bit with some more interesting quotes.

Here's an MP3 podcast of the conference call:
Conference Call with Digium about new CEO

Agent Jack Bauer CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) of FOX's 24 fame relies on his trusty GPS-enabled mobile phone to get him where he needs to go, as well as call in Curis Manning from tactical for backup or even airstrikes to specific GPS coordinates. Jack also relies heavily on GPS tracking devices to monitor the location of the bad guys.

But things just got a bit harrier for Jack.  DetectNu, a Holland-based company has come up with a GPS and GSM jammer that you simply plug into your car's cigarette lighter. It will block any planted GPS tracker in your vehicle from transmitting location data back to CTU (or Jack's phone).

It also shuts down GSM mobile phone devices. Hopefully, Jack has a triband mobile phone so he switch to CDMA or perish the thought - analog. But even if the bad guys jam Jack's GPS phone or GPS tracking devices, don't worry, Jack always gets his man (or woman) - even if does take him 24 hours to do it!

News reports from TomTom's own website reveal that some TomTom GO 910 GPS units were infected with a virus. The models affected were produced in one week in the last quarter of 2006 with software version 6.51. They claim the virus is qualified as low risk and does not affect the navigation performance of the TomTom GO 910 in any way. However, reports have surfaced of drivers being re-routed from Lowes to Home Depot, Burger King to McDonalds, and from Target to Walmart. You think I'm kidding? Ok, maybe I am.  

But don't think for a second the virus writers and spammers looking to make a buck won't find a way to make revenue from infecting GPS devices, Apple iPods, mobile phones, etc. Their ilk know no bounds...

If you're interested in the TomTom GO 910 GPS (which is still a great GPS unit), you can pick one up on Amazon pretty cheaply.

Mark Spencer, the current CEO of Digium has been replaced by Danny J. Windham, President, Chief Operating Officer and director of ADTRAN for the CEO title. I've visited both companies in Huntville, Alabama and learned a lot about the history between Digium and ADTRAN. Mark Spencer actually used to work for ADTRAN (pre-Asterisk) and ADTRAN helped provide Mark & Digium with some "seed" money to get Asterisk/Digium off the ground. Hat tip to Alec Saunders for the tip.

The ironic thing is that I actually just emailed Digium's PR firm (which was forwarded to Mark Spencer and Bill Miller) yesterday to ask about their trademark policy which is up for renewal every January 30th. I wanted to know if any major or even minor changes were going to be made which would affect the Asterisk ecosystem. I didn't hear anything back and usually they're pretty good at getting back to me quickly. Maybe I should have suspected something was up?

As of 9:15am today, I haven't heard back. Perhaps this news about Danny becoming the new CEO has something to do with it. What exactly Mark's new role or title will be I'm not sure. Maybe he'll go back to what he loves best - coding Asterisk and working with the Asterisk community. I'll contact Digium and find out more. Stay tuned!

Update - Just read that Mark will remain a Chairman and CTO of the company.

I just came across a VoIP product that is somewhat similar to the PhoneGnome product, called the V-Global Dialer from V-Global Communications. The V-Global Dialer offers a programable, least-cost call router that sends long distance calls over a standard phone line to its 100% VoIP network for termination.  The V-Global call router is offered commercially for $19.99 with $10.00 of talk time as a "Dialer".

Technically, the PhoneGnome analogy is a bit off, since the PhoneGnome can route over your existing PSTN (if local call) or use VoIP termination via it's Ethernet port (true Voice over IP). The V-Global Dialer doesn't sport an Ethernet port. Rather, it routes all calls over the PSTN to a local access gateway and then using DTMF (touch-tone) digits your  "dialed digits" are passed to the local access gateway where it routes the call over IP and then the call is bridged. This concept is similar to units that let you pre-program your calling card number and PIN so whenever you dial, your dialed digits are first passed to the calling card company for termination. Essentially, this product is PSTN-to-VoIP-to-PSTN whereas most VoIP solutions are VoIP-to-PSTN.

I suppose the best analogy would be with the Zoom Dialer that I reviewed for Internet Telephony Magazine back in 2003. It was a nifty little device that I reviewed. The Zoom Dialer contains up to 350 lines of routing tables. A simple routing algorithm would be: If you dial “1”, except 1-800 it goes to the calling/debit card network. Also, if you dial “011”, it goes to the 101xxxx network. However, if you dial “0” or “00”, it goes straight to the LEC and not to the network. You can even set up routing rules to exclude local numbers from dialing into the network. The routing rules support up to six different carriers with LCR capabilities.

In any event, the V-Global Dialer measures just 1" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and sits between your existing land-line wall-jack. That is, you connect your existing land-line from your wall outlet to the 1st port on the V-Global Dialer. Then you connect a phone wire from the second port to your phone. The V-Global Dialer will automatically route calls to a VoIP termination service provider. The nice thing about this product is that there are no service contracts. They claim rates as low as $0.02/minute which isn't bad. Of course you probably get better voice quality since the last mile of voice is terminated at the PSTN local access gateway and not over the public Internet, like a Vonage or Packet8 does.

The art of the deal ...

Now it's not surprising that Apple's iPhone would wind up with Cingular (er, I mean AT&T), but wouldn't you like to know why -- or at least why it didn't end up with a different wireless service provider, like Verizon, for instance.

Well, your dreams have been answered ... (if you were dreaming about this at all.)

According to USA Today, we can now get an idea of the kinds of negotiations that go on between cell phone companies (aka handset manufacturers) and wireless service providers (aka cell phone companies).

In this case, curious to see issues/details like who decides to fix or replace the phone play such a large part. Lots of other stuff they talk about, too ...

The art of the deal, indeed ...

While I'm getting ready for the launch celebration of Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office in New York City today (Bill Gates will come out of "retirement" for one of the presentations), it's very interesting to see how excited everyone is getting (or is supposed to be getting) about this product launch. (Catch the Bill webcast here.)

(Microsoft itself apparently can't wait -- new Wow home page can be viewed today. Wow, of course, now to be confused with World of Warcraft.)

Microsoft is (of course) hoping to recreate some of the frenzy around previous launches of operating systems (like Windows itself) when many folks waited many hours outside retailers to say they bought one of the first copies of the new OS when it went on sale at midnight. (See if that smile lasts.)

(That will work better in warmer parts of the country today -- will be in the teens here in the Northeast ...)

Apparently, you can get around inconvenience if you wanted to buy a new Dell computer today (click here for more).

But now we have the upgrade issue ...

Let's hear it if you're getting all jazzed up about this launch (or why not) ...

Microsoft Vista Upgrade requires an earlier version of Windows in order to install. No biggie, right? Just insert the Windows 2000/XP CD during the install process, right? WRONG! In a bonehead move Microsoft has decided that in order to "upgrade" your current version of Windows you have to have the older version of Windows ON YOUR PC already. Thus, upgrade versions of Windows Vista Home Basic, Premium, and Starter Edition will require that you have Windows XP or Windows 2000 on your hard drive. Everyone knows a "clean" install is better for reliability/stability and better performance. Now Microsoft is forcing you to install an older version of Windows (XP or 2000) just to get the Windows Vista Upgrade to install.

You could of course pay for a full version of Windows Vista, but isn't the point of upgrades to "reward" your loyal customers by cutting them a price break? Bad move Microsoft. Piss your customers off any more and the Mac OS or perhaps even Ubuntu (Linux distro) is looking better all the time!