I've been playing around with fring for awhile now. I like fring which I like to call "the Swiss army knife of mobile VoIP and IM", since it works with Skype, SIP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, and AIM. Because it supports SIP, I'm able to configure fring to work on Asterisk-based systems to be able to make and receive phone calls.



Receiving calls to my '149' SIP extension (see screenshot) works great on my Windows Mobile 6.1 Verizon XV6700 (Apache) phone. in fact, VoIP using fring even works over a cellular data connection, unlike the Apple iPhone which blocks VoIP over cellular and I'm sure you heard about Nokia announcing they will no longer support VoIP. Om Malik wrote about this last week. As a gadget freak, people have been telling me I should dump my Windows Mobile for an iPhone. So let's see here, no VoIP on popular Nokia phones, no VoIP on the popular Apple iPhone (except over Wi-Fi). Further, you can't even run Skype on the iPhone. Tell me again why I should dump my Windows Mobile phone for an iPhone? Ok, I know, I know, it has a cool multi-touch interface and some other great apps. I'm getting an iPhone to test/play around with, but I already know I won't like it's VoIP capabilities.

Getting back to fring, my one complaint about it is that it doesn't support DMTF (touchtones) for traversing voicemail, ACDs/IVRs, etc. So it's useless if you want to call your credit card company, bank, etc. I'm shocked they don't support it yet. There are other VoIP apps for Windows Mobile that support DTMF, such as Talkonaut, so I'm not sure why this is such a technical hurdle for fring. It's the one thing that stops me from using fring more regularly. One other minor complaint is that it doesn't have a quick redial button. Other than that, fring works fantastic. I can make Skype VoIP calls, SIP-based calls, and of course the built-in IM support for the top IM providers. Take that iPhone!

Looks like more action coming on the video gaming hardware front.

According to Engadget, the PlayStation 40GB model will be replaced.

Based on an alleged Wal-Mart spreadsheet, the 40GB PS3 console "will be replaced with [a] new model in early August."

But just what this means is open to interpretation -- maybe just a sweet plastic Olympics medallion to commemorate the occasion or a fancy new vibrating controller, so don't go thinking that an entirely fresh form factor is just around the bend.

But wouldn't that make it more interesting ...

Enkin is a developer of a location-based content that bridges the gap between reality and classic map-like representations using Google Android. It combines GPS, orientation sensors, 3D graphics, live video, several web services and a novel user interface into an intuitive and light navigation system for mobile devices. This project is a submission for the first round of the Google Android Developer Challenge. Their product is similar in concept to Wi-Fi Army that I wrote about.

Enkin's Rafael Spring and Max Braun created a new 3d-navigation system for Android phones that even includes a "radar" map of POIs (Points of Interest) that changes orientation as you change the orientation of the Google Android mobile device. Rafael and Max both study Computational Visualistics in Koblenz, Germany and started this (private) project when they were in Osaka, Japan for Robotics Research.

They told me, "We are both really excited about it since there is nothing even similar on the market, yet. Our project, which is called "Enkin", uses different kinds of sensors, live camera views, GPS, wireless internet and a lot of new interfaces provided by the Android platform to introduce a new way of navigation."

Enkin allows you to navigate through your environment without using a map. Instead, all your navigational content (such as directions, annotated placemarks, etc.) is displayed extending real objects on the screen, using the devices built-in camera. Turning and moving the device will make the camera image and the content float by.

Enkin uses GPS to determine the user's position on the globe and motion-sensors to calculate the device's current orientation in space. So when you aim your camera at say Yankee Stadium from 100m away, the phone's video display will overlay the "real world" image of Yankee Stadium with annotated text that says "Yankee Stadium 100m". Even cooler, say you are lost in the Bronx and are trying to find Yankee Stadium -- simply swivel your camera around until you see the annotated text "Yankee Stadium 100m" on the screen. Even if the Stadium is blocks away behind several buildings, since it uses GPS and motion sensors to detect your orientation, it doesn't require line of sight.

Another perspective in Enkin makes you watch your content from a virtual camera high above you. The content then comes embedded in a fully textured three-dimensional landscape.

According to Enkin, tou can also see your content on a classic 2D map (driven by a motionsensor-interface) which is similar to Google Maps. The different views can be switched seamlessly using 3D graphics. You can therefore "dive" right into a map. Enkin combines GPS, different orientation sensors, 3D graphics, live video and several web services into an exclusively mobile application.

Enkin will be released soon after the first Android devices are available.

Sometimes seeing is better than explaining. So check out the cool video!

D2 Technologies today released their mobile handset solution powered by Google Android.

D2's mCUE mobile convergence software solution combines a communications user interface with the company’s vPort MP VoIP software platform and is targeted towards OEMs and service providers to help deliver integrated Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and Unified Communications (UC) functionality.

mCUE provides a complete embedded software framework for multi-mode mobile handsets for enterprise and consumer use, such as dual-mode cellular plus Wi-Fi phones. Its completely Java-based user interface framework for Linux can be ported to other GUI platforms.

“mCUE revolutionizes mobile communications by tying together the best aspects of PC-based communications, such as VoIP, instant messaging and presence support, with the roaming benefits of mobile cellular and connection speed and quality of in-building wireless,” said Doug Makishima, vice president of marketing at D2 Technologies. “It is a complete turnkey solution for multi-mode mobile communication devices.”

mCUE is interoperable with enterprise IP-PBXs and unified communications systems. Looking at the GUI and the feature-specs, this definitely seems like a pretty cool product that I need to get my hands on and test.

Check out the news today.

LAS VEGAS, CTIA Wireless 2008 (Meeting Room 355) — April 1, 2008 — D2 Technologies, the market leader in embedded software platforms that power IP communications, today announced that its mCUE™ converged communications client for mobile devices and handsets now supports Google’s Android, one of the industry’s first open-source mobile platforms. D2’s mCUE product line, coupled with Google’s Android software development kit, now enables OEMs to rapidly develop handsets powered by Android that offer a premium,
graphic- and media-rich user experience.  The mCUE solution delivers device interoperability with enterprise IP PBXs, Unified Communications
(UC) systems and service provider networks, integrating all session types including voice, IM, SMS and email messaging through a converged presence-based communications user interface (CUI).

D2 is unveiling the integration solution at CTIA Wireless 2008, being held at the Las Vegas (NV) Convention Center April 1-3 (Meeting Room 355).

“This offering will give developers a complete turnkey solution for developing multi-mode mobile communication devices based on Android,” said Doug Makishima, vice president of marketing and sales at D2 Technologies.
“There is considerable market anticipation around Google’s Android platform, and our goal is to make it as fast, easy and affordable as possible for OEMs to deliver converged, unified communications devices to meet that demand.”

D2’s mCUE pairs an innovative, patent pending communications user interface with the company’s vPort MP VoIP software platform to address the needs of OEMs and service providers delivering integrated Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and UC functionality. mCUE provides a complete embedded software framework for multi-mode mobile handsets for enterprise and consumer use, such as dual-mode cellular plus Wi-Fi phones.

Mobile devices with mCUE provide users with advanced presence-based and push-to-x control of cellular and VoIP calls, PBX extension feature activation, IM, email, SMS and other features typically only available on PC-based unified communications soft clients. Its revolutionary user interface, built on top of a multi-identity, multi-session, multi-protocol engine, enables users to simultaneously utilize multiple different communications services such as enterprise IP PBXs and UC systems, and commercial VoIM services like Google Talk, Yahoo!, MSN, AIM, and others.

Developed by the Open Handset Alliance, the Android platform is a Linux-based software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications.

Garmin is the big bad boy in the GPS market, but they've now thrown their hat into the mobile phone ring with the Garmin nuvifone (not nuviphone). Garmin recently announced the quad-band nuvifone, a full-fledged GSM HSDPA smartphone built using Garmin's proprietary operating system. The nuvifone of course sports GPS navigation but it also adds web surfing, e-mail, and a built-in camera.

How Garmin was able to extend their "specialized" GPS operating system into something with full-fledged mobile phone and web surfing capabilities is an amazing feat. Though perhaps they started their operating system from scratch. Garmin has been mum on the technical details and the pricing will a release date set for the Fall. Though the fact that its HSDPA means AT&T or potentially T-Mobile.

Some might be quick to compare the nüvifone with the Apple iPhone. Like the iPhone the nuvifone will be 100% touch-screen with no button navigation. However, the touch-screen won't be multi-touch like the Apple iPhone.



However, the Garmin nuvifone has one up on the iPhone in that it it includes Google Local Search, which can sort search results based on your current location and give you star ratings. The iPhone uses inaccurate triangulation to figure out your location where the nuvifone gives a much more precise location via its built-in GPS. You can be walking down the streets of New York City and see local restaurants, stores, hospitals, etc.  Garmin espouses this feature when it says:

The nüvifone is Garmin's first device to include Google local search capability, which harnesses the vast point of interest information available from the world wide web. Nüvifone users can search for locations like “coffee shops” and Google will sort the results based on the user’s current location and relevance. Information provided by Google includes a web-based rating so that users can select the most appropriate destination and route directly to it. In addition, the nüvifone includes a web browser incorporating premium features and touchscreen operation for an optimum mobile browsing experience.

Some cool features include an MP3 and MPEG4/AAC video player. The MPEG4/AAC video player marks the first time Garmin has added video support. TomTom, Garmin's GPS competitor, has had video capabilities for some time. Another neat feature is the ability to find your car in an unfamiliar spot or crowded parking lot by automatically marking the position in which it was last removed from the vehicle mount. I actually have used this "find my car" feature using my old PocketPC Destinator GPS when I visited Disney World.

Also, Garmin Online offers real-time traffic and the ability to take pictures that are automatically tagged with location information. Great for geocache hunts. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is also included on the nuviphone. I really like Garmin products. I own a Garmin 2720 and have purchased a few Garmin nuvi 350 GPS units, including having to buy one to replace one stolen in Disney World. I will definitely have to get my hands on a nuvifone in the Fall and post a review. No mention of a VoIP application such as Skype, but my guess is there won't be one since they will make a deal with a carrier such as AT&T to subsidize the cost. Further, there won't be an SDK so unlike the Apple iPhone, the nuvifone won't be hackable to add third party apps.

nuvifone features include:
    • Camera, video camera, MP3 and MPEG4/AAC
    • Google local search
    • Garmin Online services - traffic, weather, fuel prices, hotel discounts, etc.
    • nuvi-like navigation on the road or in pedestrian mode
    • Email, text, and instant messaging (IM)
    • Preloaded maps of North America, Eastern and Western Europe, or both
    • Turn-by-turn, voice-prompted directions
    • Speaks the names of the streets
    • “Where am I?” feature displays your latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations.

Garmin Online service with dynamic up-to-date information:
    • Real-time traffic
    • Fuel prices
    • Stock prices
    • Sport scores
    • News reports
    • Local events
    • Weather forecasts

Google Features:
    • Gmail
    • Google local search
    • Proximity, location based search (coffee shops near me)
    • Access to millions of geo-located landmark/sightseeing photographs available through Google’s Panoramio picture sharing site

The official Garmin release is after the jump...

Mig33 is a mobile instant messaging application running on Java, which means it runs on over 250 mobile phones. It has mobile VoIP service, chat, chatrooms, SMS and instant messaging. Mig33 also works with MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ , AOL, and Google Talk. They claim over 9 million users even with their non-descriptive company name. Sounds like a Russian fighter jet to me.

Anyway, today Mig33 announced closing a Series B funding of $13.5 led by DCM with participation from existing Series A firms Accel, Redpoint and TVP. mig33 will use this round of funding to continue expansion of the company and growth of the mig33 global communication service in the U.S. and around the globe.

Since receiving Series A funding, mig33 relocated the entire company to the U.S. They claim their community has more than 2 million sessions per day, sends more than 45 million messages each day, and shares more than a million pictures a month. mig33 offers a mix of free and inexpensive services, including VoIP calls, instant messaging, e-mail, text messaging, picture sharing, social networking and community features.

To access it simply go to wap.mig33.com on your Java-enabled phone.

It's rare to see Google have a strange quirk or bug and even more rare for me to discover it. I was researching Microsoft ICS and was searching on Google for ics host when I noticed the first 2 results looked very odd. Take a look... Notice how the domain has three dots (...) (also known as an ellipsis), instead of the domain name. I never like to click through to a website unless I know what the domain is. Call me anal, but there are some shady domains out there that can install viruses simply by visiting their website.



The hidden domain in this case happens to be www.microsoft.com. Could Google be slighting their arch rival by hiding their domain name with the ellipsis? I had to hover my mouse over the link and look in the lower-right corner in Firefox to see what the website was. The reason is that the entire URL is too long so Google uses the ellipsis to shorten the path. However, I've never seen Google replace the domain name with an ellipsis - it's always some part of the path.

In fact, I just double-checked now and I see plenty of other links in the search results and in all cases a part of the path was replaced with an ellipsis and not the domain name. Below is an example if what Google typically does when shortening a URL with an ellipsis. Look at the second link with the domain name thesource.ofallevil.com. How apropos.

D2 Technologies today released at CES what they claim is the industry’s first embedded mobile convergence software solution for dual-mode phones.  D2’s mCUE mobile convergence software solution combines a communications user interface with the company’s vPort MP VoIP software platform and is targeted towards OEMs and service providers to help deliver integrated Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and Unified Communications (UC) functionality.

mCUE provides a complete embedded software framework for multi-mode mobile handsets for enterprise and consumer use, such as dual-mode cellular plus Wi-Fi phones. Its completely Java-based user interface framework for Linux can be ported to other GUI platforms.

“mCUE revolutionizes mobile communications by tying together the best aspects of PC-based communications, such as VoIP, instant messaging and presence support, with the roaming benefits of mobile cellular and connection speed and quality of in-building wireless,” said Doug Makishima, vice president of marketing at D2 Technologies. “It is a complete turnkey solution for multi-mode mobile communication devices.”

mCUE is interoperable with enterprise IP-PBXs and UC systems as well as service provider networks. Further, mCUE provides enterprise users with mobile access to full directory services, extension calling, corporate IM, and other features typically only available on IP desk phones or PC-based soft phones.

The user interface is built on top of a multi-identity, multi-session, multi-protocol engine, enables users to simultaneously log into multiple different communications services such as SIP, Google Talk, Yahoo!, MSN, AIM, and others.

The user interface offers presence functionality, push-to-X control over all types of sessions including voice, IM, SMS, and e-mail messaging. It includes an innovative presence-based converged contact list for all services and tools for managing multiple accounts, services and networks.

mCUE utilizes D2’s Internet Service Interface (ISI) layer, an interface that enables multiple IM, VoIP and e-mail services as well as concurrent sessions. It can be customized to meet specific OEM application requirements and can be rebranded by service providers looking for revenue enhancing customer opportunities.

D2’s vPort MP VoIP software engine gives mCUE seamless FMC mobility through IMS-SIP and VCC functionality. D2 technologies espouses their extensive experience in embedded VoIP solutions, IP communications, and Java device platforms, and claims they will provide core communications solutions for Google Android, Linux communications platforms, and other OS platforms used in mobile devices.

In addition to Linux, vPort has been ported to a number of other OSs and RTOSs, and will be available on Windows Mobile in the near future.

Wi2P Entertainment is developing a gaming application called Wi-Fi Army that combines GPS tracking, WiFi, cellphone, and a cellphone camera that allows you to play a game of "GPS laser tag" against other players. They claim to have used Android's ability to control a phone's GPS receiver to create the Augmented Reality game called Wi-Fi Army. You use your phone's GPS, WiFi, and Google Maps to track your opponent and shoot him. Though instead of using a laser to nail your opponent you use your camera's phone to take a picture of him.

The game figures out whether you've hit your opponent or not by recognizing the picture of him when you upload it to the Wi-Fi Army web server. Facial recognition obviously. Not sure how the server will score shots to the back of the head.

The way it works is that after registering, you can be contacted by any other player within a 300 foot radius, as the game works out your location and the location of any other players within this area. Essentially, it uses the limits of the WiFi range (300 ft) to detect other players and then sends out invites. You then select which player you want to play with, and if they accept, you're both sent pictures of each other, and the game begins, with each of you trying to be the first to take a photo of the other (effectively shooting them). Here's a video explanation:


The game software will feature a WiFi Battle Engine, Local GPS User Status, Account Upgrade Modules, and perhaps most importantly, Voice over WiFi. The site excitedly writes, "You're also able to keep up with the location of your opponent via Google Maps, which effectively turns your current location (such as a shopping mall) into a battleground. It's this that makes Wi-Fi Army an augmented reality game, turning a normal situation such as a shopping trip into a hunting game in which a previously random shopper (or more likely your friend) suddenly becomes your prey."

Here's another interesting quote:

Ethical considerations aside (do you really want to let yourself be effectively stalked by a complete stranger who may be take the whole idea of hunting down a stranger way too seriously, and not be content with simply taking your photo?!), Wi-Fi Army provides a novel use of mobile phones' location-aware abilities, and shows what can be done with location-based services when the whole mobile phone handset is opened up to software developers.

When can you get your real-world stalking game on? Well, according to Wi2P Entertainment, "Wi-Fi Army isn't released yet, but then nor is a Google Android-compliant mobile phone. As a first stab at using the potential of such an open platform, though, it shows real promise, and gives us a flavour of the type of new location-based services we can expect when Google Android handsets become available next year."

Further, they are currently working on “Phase II” of this project with Google which blends Virtual Reality with the Real World. Here's a cool conceptual example of how the game play would look like on the "Google Gphone":


Via Peter Whatanitch, lead application architect for W2Pi Studios

Greg Galitzine forwarded me an interesting email claiming to be the "rumored" Google Android in action and Greg asked me to investigate. First, I should point to a funny parody of the supposed Google Android on Youtube, which takes the concept of Google Adsense (ads based on keywords on the webpage) and extends it to speech-recognition of words spoken on the phone to "speak" relevant ads.


Ok, now let me share the email Greg received:

Here's an interesting piece of tip. As you know, Google Android aka Dream Phone is a mobile phone platform based on the Linux operating system and developed by the Open Handset Alliance.

There have been many rumors about what it will ultimately look like, with several parodies of it circling YouTube, especially this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naUnXplUtrQ

Even though that's just a cute play on Google Ads, I've stumbled across something that might actually be a working demo of Google Android in action here:

http://69.57.168.29/asr/

I decided to check out the URL http://69.57.168.29/asr/. Sure enough it had two fields - one for entering in your phone number (From) and another field for the destination number (To). Further, the top of the page boldly claims "Google dream phone, android, gphone... whatever its called. Here's a live demo! demo1.0" I was skeptical to say the least, but figured I'd try this anyway.

I entered in my cell phone and another number and it first connected my cell phone and then connected the second leg of the call. Once connected, I was able to pretend to have a conversation and ask questions such as "what are we doing tonight?" and then the automated speech recognition would detect this and that say "How bout a movie. Google Presents National Treasure. Book of Secrets. Now playing at Century Cinema 16 located at 1500 North Shoreline Boulevard. Mountain View, California". (here's a WAV recording of that portion of the call)

This demo will only work with US telephone numbers only. I also noticed that some phone numbers worked and others did not - there didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which phone numbers worked. So if it doesn't work, try another phone numner. The only phrases recognized in this demo are:
- What are we doing tonight?
- Weather for Mountain View
- I'm very hungry!
- Want to have a drink?

The examples they gave for speech phrases the demo would recognize often were based in Mountain View, the headquarters of Google, such as "weather for Mountain View". Even asking "what are we doing tonight" was answered with movie times for Mountain View. Trying so hard to associate Google's HQ location made me even more skeptical this was legit. Speech recognition and the ability to conference in two legs of a call is nothing new. But just who was sending a fraudulent tip to Greg? Let us continue the investigation...

I tried a whois on 69.57.168.29/asr but the whois record revealved it simply as a web hoster - FortressITX. Why would Google need a hoster? The pages appear to be hosted on IIS, but that can be spoofed. I then tried 1 IP address higher in my browser ( 69.57.168.28 ) and the page went to a specific Facebook application. Could it be possible 69.57.168.29 was owned by Facebook? Nah. I used a tool to detect that 69.57.168.28 was actually using a Javascript redirect to send my browser to a Facebook application called OneCall by Arsenal Interactive, Inc. I checked out the link to Arsenal Interactive (http://www.arsenalinteract.com/) and landed on www.heycosmo.com, a site that talks about their beta Facebook app which adds games, webcam, and voice. The voice seemed apropos, but the rest of the description for this Facebook app didn't seem to apply to the demo.

Since this didn't seem like the speech-rec app I just tested, I then tried one IP address lower - 69.57.168.27 and the page did a quick meta refresh redirect to a site owned by LignUp. I landed at CodeLign, a ‘sandbox’ site that gives you access to some of LignUp’s call control and media control web services and which is essentially a SIP-based "telephony middleware" platform. You can make a call from a web page as well as voice-enable web applications. You can even conference two legs of a call using LignUp. Hmmm, sounds like we may have our mystery man!

CodeLign does give you up to 800 free minutes as part of their beta developer program. Still, there is no guarantee that this demo application was developed using LignUp's CodeLign. In fact, looking at the sign-up page, it says:

Pre-registered ‘from’ number: this is your designated phone number that will be used when you initiate calls from CodeLign’s web services. This number is used in conjunction with your User ID. It may differ from your profile ‘Phone’ number, which may be used to contact you by LignUp.

I read this to mean you have to use a single assigned pre-registered number for making calls, where as the http://69.57.168.29/asr/ URL let me pick the number used to initiate calls. Well, if it isn't LignUp, it's pretty amazing that with only a 1 IP address difference that the site redirects to LignUp, a company that CAN create speech-enabled web applications with telephony. I will say there are plenty of existing technologies that can do what this demo just did. Though perhaps this is a legit demo of Google Android. Perhaps Google and LignUp have teamed up? Who knows? If I had to make a prediction on this New Year's Eve, I'd say this is a hoax. But still pretty fascinating to be on a call and then have advertisements or information injected into the call depending on what you say. Be afraid... Be very afraid!