Mobile Phones

Mobile Phones, cell phones

IPEVO Wi-Fi Phone for Skype Review

March 27, 2009

The IPEVO Wi-Fi Phone for Skype launched just last month and IPEVO sent me a review unit to check out, which I've been testing for a few weeks.

Installation
Installing the IPEVO Wi-Fi Phone was a snap. Although it only has a numeric keypad for entering in alphanumeric characters for entering in the WEP/WPA/WPA2 key. As you hit a key, it shows you the current key where your cursor is located, but it also shows you a horizontal list of all the characters that key can produce and highlights the current key.

Posted in Gadgets, Mobile Phones, Reviews, Skype, Video Conferencing, VoIP, Wireless

Native Skype for iPhone app coming?

March 26, 2009

Om Malik is reporting that a native Skype for iPhone app is coming next week.

According to Om:

A tipster -- a very reliable one -- tells me that Skype is almost ready to launch that iPhone version, perhaps as soon as next week. CTIA Wireless, a large mobile industry trade event, kicks off in Las Vegas next Wednesday, so perhaps the announcement will be made there. I am working on getting more details, as well as screenshots of the service.

But, if you can't wait that long, here's a good list of various workarounds to run Skype on the iPhone, including fring, which is an iPhone app you can get today (screenshot to the right), as well as Nimbuzz.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Mobile Phones, Skype, VoIP, Wireless

Finally! New Windows Mobile App AudioRoute Enables Earpiece for VoIP Apps

March 26, 2009

Finally a software tool called AudioRoute that can be used to route Windows Mobile audio from the earpiece speaker to the backspeaker and vice-versa. This is especially needed for VoIP applications on Windows Mobile phones.

I've tested several VoIP apps (SIP clients, Skype, etc.) on my Windows Mobile XV6700 phone and other Windows Mobiles and from what I understand the carrier forced the hardware manufacturers to block VoIP applications from using the earpiece for listening to the remote caller. You couldn't even use speakerphone. Instead, you were forced to use the backspeaker, a tiny low-quality speaker located on the back of the phone, which made phone quality horrendous when making VoIP calls.

Posted in Accessories, Asterisk, Gadgets, Microsoft, Mobile Phones, SIP, Skype, VoIP, Wireless

Google Voice Meet Asterisk

March 23, 2009

Nerd Vittles has another cool Asterisk recipe that combines Google Voice, voicemail transcription (via Google Voice), free calling, and of course Asterisk. Nerd does some packet sniffing and determines that Google Voice, powered by Grandcentral, is using SIP. What's most interesting is that Nerd determine that your SIP connection and your Google Voice phone bill is only protected by a 4-digit PIN. Yikes!

Posted in Asterisk, Google, Internet, Mobile Phones, SIP, Unified Communications, VoIP, Wireless

FriendCaller - Another VoIP App for the iPhone

March 19, 2009

In April 2008, I reviewed C2Call, a Java-based VoIP application that lets you make web-based P2P VoIP phone calls direct from your browser whether you're using Linux, Windows, or an Apple Mac. The company that developed C2Call claims their new FriendCaller, also a Java-based VoIP app works on the iPhone. Funny, last I checked the iPhone doesn't support Java unless you jailbreak it.

According to their website, "FriendCaller works instantly with every popular operating system and browser without installation. And, of course with the iPhoneâ¢ and iPodâ¢ touch." It then says, "Send your friends call-me links directly from your iPhoneâ¢ or iPodâ¢ touch. FriendCaller is instant browser based Voice, your friends don't have to install software or register with FriendCaller before talking to you through their browsers.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Mobile Phones, VoIP, Wireless

New Nimbuzz VoIP app for the iPhone and iPod touch

March 19, 2009

Nimbuzz just released their new iPhone version of Nimbuzz which also supports 3G VoIP "dial up" calling and can turn the iPod touch into an iPhone. The old version was just released into the Apple iTunes store in November, so Nimbuzz is cranking out new version pretty quickly!

The new version features a full dial-pad, and the ability to make VoIP calls to PSTN numbers using SkypeOut, as well as via their 10 VoIP partners including Gizmo5, Vyke, sipgate and A1 by leveraging SIP. You can now add individual buddies from AIM, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger (MSN), MySpace, Yahoo!, and Nimbuzz.

If Wi-Fi is unavailable you can make VoIP calls to Nimbuzz buddies using what Nimbuzz calls "Dial-Up VoIP", which is available in over 50 countries.

Dial-Up VoIP simply means that Nimbuzz dials a local access number that your iPhone dials and then Nimbuzz's VoIP servers terminate the call. Jajah, and others have this feature as well.

Posted in Apple, Mobile Phones, SIP, VoIP, Wireless

Zer01, <strike>a MVNO</strike>, uses VoIP to bring contract-less, unlimited voice & data on smart phones

March 13, 2009

A new mobile-phone MVNO carrier, Zer01 Mobile announced that it will give you 100% unlimited voice and data on smart phones for as little as $69.95/month, without a contract, and on a broad nationwide network - namely AT&T's network.

Update: (they're not a MVNO as I originally reported due to information I read on the web)

Unlike MVNO's which have agreements with a carrier to resale the carrier's service, ZER01 has no such agreement in place with any carrier, and in fact, actually provide their own voice and data to you.

Zer01 Mobile will even offer unlimited international calling (to 40 countries) for an additional $10/month. How are they able to offer such inexpensive calling? Take one guess.

Posted in Mobile Phones, VoIP, Wireless

RIM Launches BlackBerry App World

March 4, 2009

Ok, it's official, every mobile phone provider and their brother has an application store for mobile phones. It started with the Apple App Store. Google launched the Android Market. Then last month Microsoft launched Windows Marketplace.

Posted in Android, Apple, Gadgets, Microsoft, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, Wireless

ooma Telo vs. magicJack

February 23, 2009

Rich met with ooma recently to see their latest wares and hear about their current business model. Recently, ooma ditched the 'P2P voice network' idea where users actually "share" their home landline with others and instead became a traditional VoIP broadband provider. Apparently, the privacy issues were too much to overcome, since users were concerns about fraudulent activity happening on their home landline by outside ooma users. I had my own reservations about the business model as well, since they claimed it would take 2,000 strategicly placed ooma boxes in all the various local exchanges to get good local call coverage for free P2P calls.

Besides becoming a traditional VoIP broadband provider, ooma is now going to start offering high-end media phones, that according to Rich Tehrani will in the future feature a picture frame, in-house sensors and cameras.

Posted in Accessories, Gadgets, Mobile Phones, Technology and Science, VoIP, Wireless

Nearly killed by a school bus this morning - Skype Phone Saves My Life

February 20, 2009

I was driving to work in my Volvo V70 XC (XC=Cross Country) which has all-wheel-drive and Blizzak snow tires when I approached a T intersection where I had to make a right-hand turn. Now normally a Volvo with AWD and Blizzak snow tires can cut through any amount of snow with no problem. I've driven it through blizzards, so I know.

In fact, there was some light snow on the roads in my neighborhood, but once I got to the main roads, they were completely dry. The road I was on is also well-traveled and appeared dry in most places and wet in others.

Posted in Mobile Phones, Personal and Humor, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Previous 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ... 65 Next

VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Mobile Phones