TMCnet

Viber for Android Available!

July 20, 2011

Viber, a popular mobile VoIP app which enables users to make free phone calls and text messaging to other Viber users over 3G and Wi-Fi, is announcing today the official launch of the Android version of the app. Previously, it was a limited beta. Viber also stated that it has over 12 million active users (last 30 days) and has achieved an important benchmark - call traffic volume of over one billion minutes of calls per quarter.

Here are some exclusive Android Features not seen on other mobile versions (i.e. iPhone):

Full call screen whenever a Viber call is received;
Popup text message notification, which lets users respond to text messages without having to open Viber;
Tighter integration with the phone, which allows users to see their regular call logs and messages within Viber;
A default dialer setting that enables users to use the Viber dialer for all their phone calls, not just for Viber calls.

Check out the video demo:

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

Kerio Technologies Launches New Asterisk-based IP-PBX

July 19, 2011

Kerio Technologies, a company established in 1997, is launching a new Asterisk-based PBX today. They are announcing Kerio Operator 1.1, an IP-PBX that is designed to be easy-to-use and targeting the SMB space. Kerio Technologies has 180 employees and is best known as a Microsoft Exchange Server alternative. I spoke with Kerio Technologies last week to find out more about this Asterisk-based offering.

They explained that Kerio Operator 1.1 features integrated security, including protection against SIP password guessing and can block IP addresses that fail SIP authentication automatically based on criteria you specify.

Posted in Asterisk, Polycom, SIP, TMCnet, VoIP

SEO Webinar Today With Search Engine Watch

July 12, 2011

Rich Tehrani is hosting a webinar with Jonathan Allen, SEO expert and director of Search Engine Watch. According to Rich, "this will be the third-part in a webinar series which has focused on helping companies build content-based and other types of online communities allowing them to gain increased thought leadership, branding, traffic and sales."

SEO Director is one of my titles, since I help manage TMC's search engine optimization strategies, so I plan on attending to keep up on this fast-changing field. Amazingly, there are over 1,000 people who have signed up (register here). The webinar takes place today, Tuesday, July 12th at 2:00 pm EST.

Posted in Internet, TMCnet

Polycom Launches CX7000, Microsoft Lync Telepresence Solution

July 11, 2011

Polycom today announced the Polycom CX7000 Unified Collaboration System, what they claim is the "first room video telepresence solution custom-built for full integration with Microsoft Lync." It's an interesting solution that combines a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, omni-directional full-duplex speakerphone, a high-end camera, and a small footprint PC, which I'm guessing is running some flavor of Windows in order to run the Microsoft Lync client.

According to Polycom, the Polycom CX7000 solution (codenamed “Rally”) features an especially tight integration between the Polycom and Microsoft solutions, with an intuitive interface, simplified UC experience, and more seamless telepresence. The solution offers all the typical Lync features you need: presence, IM, online meetings, content collaboration, etc.

“The power of UC is to eliminate barriers to teamwork and bring people face-to-face. Polycom and Microsoft share a passion for delivering easy-to-use UC solutions that transform businesses into highly collaborative environments,” said Andrew Miller, president and CEO, Polycom.

Posted in Lync, Microsoft, Polycom, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP

Spirit DSP and Polycom Ink Licensing Deal on Polycom CX5000

July 7, 2011

Today, SPIRIT DSP signed their fifth licensing agreement with Polycom. Polycom has licensed SPIRIT's product to support quality videoconferencing on the CX5000 Unified Conference Station, Polycom's branded version of the Microsoft RoundTable, which I reviewed here.

As a Polycom-branded version of the Microsoft RoundTable collaboration and conferencing device, the CX5000 system provides engaging group telepresence and also can be used as an analog conference phone.

The Polycom CX5000 Unified Conference Station makes for an engaging group video experience to Microsoft Live Meeting session or to Microsoft Office Communicator conversation. With five cameras and six microphones, the CX5000 is primarily a USB peripheral device that delivers a unique, engaging 360-degree group video experience to Live Meeting 2007 applications, and when used only with Microsoft Office Communication 2007, the client functions as a video switched webcam. Interestingly, there is no mention of support on Polycom's website for the latest version of OCS now called Microsoft Lync. It should work with it since it is a USB webcam, though I heard it may only display the standard active speaker view and not the panoramic 360 degree view.

Posted in Lync, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, VoIP

How Skype Works With Facebook

July 7, 2011

7/7/11 Video Interview with Jonathan Rosenberg and Chaim Haas

I interviewed Jonathan Rosenberg, Skype's Chief Technology Strategist, to get the inside scoop on how Skype works with Facebook from a technical perspective. It was an interesting interview that covered topics such as whether the Facebook Skype plugin acts as a supernode, how Skype's architecture communicates with Facebook's architecture, group video calling, PSTN calling via Facebook, and the future direction of Skype within Facebook.

Essentially, the Facebook Skype plugin that you download and install the first time you make a Skype call within Facebook is a plugin that is a "mini-version" of the full Skype client. The mini version of Skype removes the Skype UI and is compacted down allowing it to be plugged into a browser.

Tom: Could this plugin be used in other places/sites or was it designed specifically with Facebook in mind?

Jonathan: Right now it is 100% focused on Facebook and in fact it's locked to Facebook. You would not be able to use it on another website even if another website tried.

Posted in Skype, Social Networking, TMCnet, VoIP

Skype Users Make 300 Million Minutes of Video Calling Per Month

July 6, 2011

During the news announcement with Skype and Facebook, Skype CEO Tony Bates (person left above) said that Skype users are using around 300 million minutes per month making video calls. He also said that 50 percent of Skype's traffic is video calls, which puts video calls even Steven with plain VoIP calls. Now that's impressive! Though a bit surprising. I would still think some Skype users prefer voice only - especially if in pajamas or something. That, or could be on a PC/laptop/mobile phone without video capabilities.
You can watch a replay of the press briefing / livestream cast here:
Watch live streaming video from facebookannouncements at livestream.com

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP

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