VoIP

VoIP news, trends, and opinions, VoIP reviews. Covering Asterisk, Cisco, Grandstream, Polycom, Microsoft, Vonage, Packet8, etc.

Asterisk 1-2-3 Workshop Well-Attended at ITEXPO

January 29, 2013

It always pleasantly surprises me how well-attended the Asterisk 1-2-3 Workshops are at past ITEXPOs and now the current one, especially considering today is a "pre-conference" day with no exhibit hall open today. Tomorrow is when the "big" day is -- with lots of attendees showing up for both the conferences and the exhibits. But the Asterisk 1-2-3 Workshop is its own draw even without exhibits. Asterisk is certainly one of my favorite VoIP topics so I can see why the room was pretty packed. Here, see for yourself with a panoramic photo [click for larger view]: [Star Wars Stormtroopers make an appearance adding to geek nirvana!]

Posted in Asterisk, ITEXPO, Unified Communications, VoIP

WebRTC Challenges

January 22, 2013

WebRTC holds a lot of promise, and with the buzz surrounding WebRTC beginning to reach a fever pitch, it's worth pointing out the challenges facing WebRTC.

First, let's begin with the expectations set for WebRTC. At TMC's recent WebRTC Conference, a panel discussed how WebRTC has high expecations. WebRTC has very ambitious goals, aiming to become the de facto standard by which users voice and video chat with other Internet users, which has the developer community and techies like myself very excited. Recently, I've written about WebRTC Demo fun, 2013 - The Year of WebRTC, and

Posted in Apple, Google, Microsoft, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP, WebRTC

WebRTC Test Demo Fun

January 21, 2013

WebRTC is pretty cool, allowing you to perform VoIP and video conferencing all within a browser. I thought it would be cool to demo some WebRTC code here leveraging getUserMedia, an API that began as part of HTML5 and was split off into the W3C WebRTC specification suite. It allows JavaScript access to a device's cameras and microphones to enable in-browser VoIP and video-conferencing. Further, with HTML5 it's easy to apply cool video filters (think Instagram) on-the-fly while in a video conference.

So without further adeiu, let's try "Self View" Camera on your WebRTC-enabled browser - Google Chrome, Opera, and Firefox (nightly build only) all support WebRTC, though not Internet Explorer (yet).

Posted in Apple, Google, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, VoIP, WebRTC

Logitech UC Solution for Cisco 725-C Launches

January 17, 2013

Logitech has now integrated voice, video and messaging controls into the Logitech UC Solution for Cisco 725-C, a UC keyboard (K725-C), wireless mouse (M525-C), and HD camera (Logitech C920-C) combo designed for Cisco Jabber. Cisco Jabber is a unified communications software client that gives users access to presence, instant messaging (IM), voice, video, voice messaging, desktop sharing and conferencing.

The keyboard features illuminated control buttons for call answer/end, mute video, mute audio, and volume controls. The keyboard LCD screen displays Caller ID, call duration and receives calls for the user currently signed into the system, making it ideal for hot desking work environments where users don’t have a permanently assigned desk or phone.

Posted in Accessories, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Video Hardware & Software, VoIP

2013 - The Year of WebRTC

January 9, 2013

WebRTC has been making great strides of late. A few companies using worth checking out are bistri, Plivo, and twelephone. I'm in the process of testing bistri and twelephone, but I did actual use Plivo's proof-of-concept WebRTC offering, which I'll get into a in a moment.

First an overview of bistri and twelephone. bistri is pretty interesting because it lets you link with Facebook, Google, Windows Live, Yahoo, Jabber/XMPP, and ÐÐºÐ¾Ð½ÑÐ°ÐºÑÐµ.

Posted in Google, SIP, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP, WebRTC

Facebook Testing Free VoIP calling in Messenger app

January 3, 2013

Well, well, well - just days after my "Skype vs. Facebook - How WebRTC Will Turn Friends into Enemies" post where I said Facebook could crush Skype if they chose to get into VoIP, Facebook released a new version of Facebook Messenger for iOS that sports VoIP features.

According to the Verge, "Facebook today began testing a new feature in its Messenger app that lets Canadian users call each other for free anywhere they have a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. The test for now only applies to Messenger for iOS, but could roll out to Android users, as well as people worldwide, if the test goes well."

I just tried it out on my iPhone and so far it's only one-way voice messages that you record and send to your Facebook friends.

Posted in Facebook, Google, Skype, Social Networking, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP, WebRTC

Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam Review

January 3, 2013

The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam is an innovative product marking a trend away from high-end in-room video conferencing systems toward smaller, inexpensive video systems that leverage desktop PCs or laptops, along with inexpensive USB cameras. These USB cameras often have the same if not better optics than higher-end video conferencing camera models but at a fraction of the cost.

The Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam actually fills a niche between large room conferencing systems and computer webcams, offering a plug-and-play videoconferencing system that sports a Carl Zeiss lens, 1080p HD video, 30 fps, high-quality omni-directional microphone/speakerphone with a range of 8 feet, and the ability to pan, tilt, and zoom from the unit itself or the included remote control. It uses UVC H.264 so no driver installation is needed on PCs or Macs to get up and running.

I tested the BCC950 ConferenceCam on a Windows 8 x64 desktop PC with an Intel i7 3.07Ghz processor and 16GB RAM. I was very impressed with the feature-set and performance.

Posted in Accessories, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Reviews, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, Video Hardware & Software, VoIP

Skype vs. Facebook - How WebRTC Will Turn Friends into Enemies

December 27, 2012

Facebook and Skype currently enjoy a friendly relationship that all started back in 2011 when Facebook collaborated with Skype to integrate these two popular social networks. They then deepened their partnership by offering direct Facebook video calling. But I always wondered why Facebook didn't offer their own VoIP service. They own the largest social network in the world and could crush Skype if they so chose.

Posted in Facebook, Skype, Social Networking, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP, WebRTC

Level 3 Layoff Rumors

December 14, 2012

I received some information from a source claiming to work for Level 3 Communications. He stated, "They are not doing well. Just laid off 4% of the workforce. 14% planned in January."

File this under pure speculation / rumor at this point. I am going to contact my Level 3 ASAP to confirm.

Posted in Internet, TMCnet, VoIP

Voxeet Launches 3D Audio Conferencing App for iPhone & Android

December 12, 2012

Voxeet.com today launched their immersive 3D audio conferencing app for iPhone and Android. Voxeet's new apps enable participants to switch among devices without disrupting the conversational flow of Voxeet-based conference calls. I took the app for a spin using an iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and Android-based Samsung Galaxy SIII.

After installing the app you have the option of connecting to Facebook so you can send invites as well as the option of importing your contacts as seen here:

After installing the app, I had two co-workers test this with me - Rich Tehrani and Erik Linask. After launching the app I called Rich and when he accepted the call we were immediately put into conference.

Posted in Android, Apple, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP, Wireless

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