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fring Adds VoIP to iPhone

October 4, 2008

fring for iPhone has arrived! I'm a huge fan of fring, which I like to call the Swiss Army knife of VoIP/IM communications since fring works with AOL/AIM, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, Skype, Twitter, Yahoo! Messenger, and SIP registrars/IP-PBXs. I've used fring on my Windows Mobile 6.1 phone to connect to an Asterisk-based IP-PBX using SIP which enabled me to remotely make and receive calls. fring is a currently a free pre-release app free on iTunes.

VoIP using fring is of course restricted to WiFi connections - it won't work over 3G, but still cool nonetheless. Further, according to the apps description in iTunes you can IM over 3G, GPRS, EDGE, or WiFi, so you can use fring as your centralized IM application on your iPhone.

Features:
• VoIP (Voice) Calls over WiFi
• Instant Messaging
• Integrated dynamic contact list  with real-time contact availability
• SIP integration
• Multiple Connection types

Download fring (free app) for iPhone here.

Posted in Apple, Mobile Phones, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP

More on Skype for Asterisk

September 25, 2008

Continuing the coverage of the big Skype for Asterisk news I covered earlier today... In a nutshell, the Asterisk server acts as a Skype-to-SIP gateway, a very popular requested feature, mapping Asterisk SIP-based phones onto the Skype network via the Asterisk Skype channel driver. Technically, you could call Asterisk a Skype-to-IAX gateway as well.

So how does it work?

Well, on an inbound call to your Skype username, both your Skype desktop client rings (if running) and your Asterisk IP phone rings. You can take the call using either your PC's Skype software or your IP phone.

Posted in Asterisk, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Skype for Asterisk Launches

September 25, 2008

Skype and Digium have hooked up to bring Skype to Asterisk called Skype For Asterisk. Skype For Asterisk launched minutes ago enables Asterisk users to get access to Skype features coupled with the capabilities of Asterisk. For example, the beta version of Skype For Asterisk will allow customers to make, receive and transfer Skype calls from within Asterisk systems using their existing hardware; enable inbound calling solutions like free click-to-call from company websites or virtual offices; and manage Skype calls using Asterisk applications such as call routing, conferencing, phone menus and voicemail.

Hey, I guess I was right in my (Astricon) prognostications earlier today about it having to do with Skype.

The Skype For Asterisk Beta program begins today. Asterisk users, system administrators and developers are invited to apply to participate at http://www.astricon.net/skype

I'm trying to figure out how you transfer a call to a Skype username (i.e. tkeating) using a traditional (Asterisk) IP phone with no keyboard - just a numeric keypad.

Posted in Asterisk, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Pro vs. G.I. Joe using SightSpeed Video/VoIP App

September 22, 2008

This news about American troops using VoIP & video is a few weeks old, but I wanted to share it, since it's pretty interesting. SightSpeed VP of Marketing Eric Quanstrom mentioned the news to me awhile ago when we were on a SightSpeed video call. Using SightSpeed, U.S. troops are able to play PlayStation, XBox and the WII against professional athletes (Philadelphia Eagles) while seeing them (video) and "trash talking" them over the Internet (VoIP).

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

ITEXPO West 2008 a Resounding Success

September 18, 2008

Some great news from TMC about our IP communications conference & expositions (ITEXPO) taking place this week that I thought I'd share. The show is still going on, with today being the last day. Yesterday's exhibit hall attendance was tremendous as seen by some photos I snapped and posted yesterday. I had some great meetings or saw many important VoIP companies, including Asterisk/Digium, CosmoCom, Fonality, Microsoft, Packet8, PIKA, Skype, and more.

Posted in Asterisk, Avaya, ITEXPO, Packet8, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, VoIP

Korea uses Skype for English training classes

September 17, 2008

According to Reuters, Skype has become an indispensable tool in teaching South Koreans to speak fluent English. Good English speaking skills are considered the key for success in South Korea.

The article states,"On any given day, students ranging from kids learning their alphabet to adults preparing for job interviews sign in on their Internet messengers, fire up their webcams and wait for English teachers to appear -- from faraway continents."

In fact, according to the article, "South Korea ranks No. 1 in the number of international students in the United States, ahead of more populous India and China, according to U.S. Student and Exchange Visitor Information System."

Skype, the #1 VoIP software in the world, has become one of the main tools in their arsenal to train students to speak English.

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP

ITEXPO Live Video Streaming!

September 17, 2008

This blog entry will show live video streaming (via my Windows Mobile 6.1 phone's camera) of various ITEXPO events, including keynotes, receptions, and of course the exhibit hall. I'm going to broadcast starting at 3:30pm PT (6:30 ET) when Skype's Jonathan Christensen and Microsoft's Xuedong Huang and Sonus Network's Vikram Saksena will be keynoting. So if you couldn't make it to ITEXPO, you'll at least be able to see the keynotes in just a few hours.

I'll also livecast the show floor when it opens. I'm going to "future date" this post so it stays on the very top of my blog's home page.

Posted in ITEXPO, Microsoft, Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP

VoIP is Dead, Long Live VoIP!

September 17, 2008

In case you missed Skype General Manager for Voice & Video Jonathan Christensen's ITEXPO keynote, you can check out my mobile phone video phone recording here. In the keynote, Johnathan made a bold statement - "VoIP is dead". Specifically Jonathan said, "The title of my talk is: 'VoIP Is Dead.' So, maybe a little bit of controversy about that, but as I said, let's work through it." TMCnet's Michael Dinan has a good summary of the keynote here.

Of course, VoIP isn't really dead, as can be demonstrated by the 175 exhibitors at ITEXPO, and the plethora of research reports that shows VoIP is growing very rapidly. What Jonathan is attempting to point out in a somewhat sensational manner is that VoIP - or voice over IP will become less important as video over IP and unified communications grows.

Posted in ITEXPO, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP

Video Stream the ITEXPO Keynotes from earlier today

September 16, 2008

I live video streamed the ITEXPO keynotes from earlier today using my Windows Mobile 6.1 phone. But in case you missed it, I recorded the live video stream.

Here's a link to two video recordings I made for two keynotes:
Skype's Jonathan Christensen (2-3 minute filler in beginning so fast forward)
Microsoft's Xuedong Huang

video quality isn't the greatest. Will have to try and tweak it in the future. Though a lot of it has to do with the poor video camera built into the XV6700

Posted in ITEXPO, Microsoft, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, VoIP

Om Interviews Skype CEO

September 12, 2008

Om Malik has a video interview with Skype CEO Josh Silverman. Om asks about Skype on the Apple iPhone to which the Skype CEO simply says "Stay tuned..." Om presses some more, but is unable to get him to crack. Ah well. While we wait for the Skype gurus to get an official Skype client for the iPhone, at least we have some workarounds to get Skype running on the iPhone.

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

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