Google

Google Talk Adopts Jingle As Default VoIP Protocol

June 24, 2011

Google has adopted Jingle as the default protocol for Google Talk. Jingle is an extension of the XMPP which allows for peer-to-peer and session control (signalling) for multimedia interactions such as VoIP and videoconferencing.

The protocol was developed by Google, Collabora, Yate, Tandberg and Jabber Inc. Others that support it include Asterisk, FreeSWITCH, Nimbuzz, and Pidgin. Imagine a P2P protocol that lets the thousands of Asterisk-based PBXs to communicate with each other using XMPP. Taking the Asterisk ecosystem along with other large user bases from Nimbuzz, Google Talk, and potentially others could potentially build the largest P2P VoIP / video conferencing network in the world. Bigger than Skype.

Posted in Google, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP, p2p

Google Building Skype-like App in the Browser

June 22, 2011

Look out out Skype, Google Chrome is looking to add voice & video capabilities to the Google Chrome browser. Shortly after releasing WebRTC audio and video chat software as open-source, Google has begun to integrate WebRTC into Google Chrome. They're leveraging Global IP Solutions (GIPS) for the VoIP and video codec pieces. As you know, GIPS used to be the packet loss concealment and VoIP codec used by Skype before Skype dropped them in 2006. Google acquired GIPS in May of 2010.

Gmail currently has audio and video capabilities but it requires the use of a proprietary plug-in, so it can benefit from this as well.

Posted in Google, Mobile Phones, Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing

Google Promotes $.0007 VoIP Access Rate to FCC

June 17, 2011

Google recently weighed in on the Universal Service Fund (USF) and carrier access charges, which will affect the future of both broadband and VoIP. Over the past few years, there have been past court skirmishes over whether VoIP service providers must contribute to the FCC. VoIP has changed the landscape of telecom regulation and the FCC is scrambling to keep up, while not killing innovation or slowing the fast growing VoIP industry in the process.

With Google offering the popular Google Voice offering, which technically isn't VoIP, but could head in that direction, Google is leery over having to pay into the USF or pay carrier access charges. After all, if Google carries the voice call over IP, why should they have to pay into the USF, which was designed to help rural areas have subsidized access to the PSTN network?

Posted in Google, Internet, Skype, VoIP, Vonage

Top 20 VoIP Innovators of All Time

June 13, 2011

VoIP has come a long way since it was first popularized by VocalTec in the mid 1990s. Here is a slideshow of the Top 20 VoIP Innovators of all time with photo captions explaining why they merit this top 20 ranking. Most innovators are companies, but not all. Two important VoIP standards make the list, which cannot be attributed to a single individual or company.

Posted in Asterisk, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, News, Polycom, Reviews, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, VoIP, Vonage

Feel the Nostalgia! Turn Rotary Phone into a VoIP Handset!

May 31, 2011

Now normally you wouldn't want to use a corded phone to make VoIP calls and be chained to a 6 foot corded talk distance. That is unless of course you want to feel the nostalgia of the early 1980s (and earlier) by using a rotary corded phone to make VoIP calls. Tyler Brainerd found an old Model 500 rotary phone at Goodwill, which he then turned into a handset for his computer.

He explained, "I am a rather heavy google voice user, and I was thrilled when google implemented calling through gmail, except for one thing. I use a desktop, which has only a token crap webcam, and not a decent microphone at all.

Posted in Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Google, Personal and Humor, TMCnet, VoIP

Viber for Android Beta Launches

May 4, 2011

Viber today announced Viber, a mobile VoIP app was available for the Android. Viber lets users make free phone calls and send free text messages with their mobile phone. I've written about Viber in the past, but didn't initially see the convenience factor of using a person's regular phone number to dial someone using Viber. That is, the Viber dialer would automatically detect if the other person is also a Viber user to route the call.

Posted in Android, Google, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, VoIP

Bababoo Mobile VoIP App for iPhone Saves You Money

May 3, 2011

Bababoo is a new iPhone mobile VoIP app, similar to Viber which aims to simplify dialing while saving on costs. Bababoo user-to-user calls are free. It automatically figures out whether WiFi, 3G (data), or your mobile carrier is the best way to connect. Non-Bababoo calls are 16 cents/minute.

Posted in Android, Apple, Google, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Skype Fixes Privacy Vulnerability in Skype for Android

April 20, 2011

Well, that was fast - just 5 days after a vulnerability was first reported, Skype has released a new version of Skype for Android that fixes the privacy vulnerability. According to Skype's Adrian Asher:
After a period of developing and testing we have released a new version of the Skype for Android application onto the Android Market, containing a fix to the vulnerability reported to us. Please update to this version as soon as possible in order to help protect your information.

Posted in Android, Google, Mobile Phones, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ... 22 Next

VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Google