I recently got a couple Tracfone’s for my family. They are a great deal just as they are but, I got one phone 100% free using Dan’s promo codes. His site has much to be desired, but the codes work, which saved me at least 100 bucks!! If you are looking for a Tracfone I suggest checking his site or looking for discounts elsewhere before you buy — it’s worth it!
All Americans know how to call 911 in case of am emergency. The system was first investigated in 1958 and was set in place in 1967. The first 911 call ever to be made was in 1968. The caller was Rankin Fite, then the Alabama Speaker of the House, and the person who answered was Congressman Tom Bevill. The 911 emergency call system has gone a long way since then and has saved countless of lives.
Today, with telephony covering many aspects and facets aside from the conventional telephone lines, the ability to reach 911 in case of an emergency is something to consider. With VOIP becoming as prevalent as it is today, it is but natural to make sure that people who use VOIP lines instead of conventional phone lines will still be able to call 911 and get the fastest service possible.
This is why the Lee County Division of Public Safety is calling for the testing of the efficiency of calling 911 from VOIP lines. To date, there has been no case of failure or complications of 911 calls from VOIP lines. However, I do agree with them when they say that we should not have to wait for such an occurrence.
So why should there be any complications with VOIP lines when they function basically the same way as regular phone lines? The fact is that there are differences – significant differences. This is particularly important with the Enhanced 911 service, wherein details such as phone number, name, and address are displayed. This information can spell the difference between life and death in some cases. If the person in trouble does not have time to state the important details, the dispatcher just has to look at the information displayed on screen and have the proper people go over to the site.
Sometimes, though, when VOIP users make calls, the vital information is not displayed at all. What reasons could be behind this? One reason could be that the VOIP user did not give their VOIP service provider (VSP) that information – this could be either because they purposely did not do so OR they were not informed that they should have done so. In any case, the possible results are the same – no information will be displayed when they call 911. More so, some VOIP calls do not get connected directly to the 911 center. Instead, they are routed to a VSP center first.
As you can see, this is a vital point that has to be dealt with soon – before anyone actually gets in trouble because of the lack of proper preparation.
Everything seems to be going mobile these days – and why not? With the fast pace of life that most of us are living, it is just right to have the proper tools to continue with our daily tasks wherever we may be. I was just thinking about the people I see on my way to work everyday. Every where I look, I see people fiddling with their mobile phones, their PDAs, their notebooks, etc. Our society has indeed become a mobile one – so what does this have to do with VOIP?
Well, VOIP has gone mobile, that’s why. What is mobile VOIP? According to Mobile VOIP Review:
Mobile VoIP is a term used to describe the delivery of Voice over IP via a mobile handset. Mobile VoIP is delivered by a third party service provider over a WiFi or 3G network cellular network that a mobile device is connected to. Mobile VoIP service providers typically require a user to download software onto their mobile device in order to gain access to their service.
Simple enough, isn’t it? So, for example, you have the latest mobile phone in the market. It has Internet capabilities so you can connect to the Web anytime you want to – as long as your network provider has that feature. Now, why would you want to have VOIP access if you have your mobile phone that you can use to call anyway? Simply because VOIP calls – especially to overseas destinations – is so much cheaper! If you can call through VOIP on your mobile phone, you will make considerable savings on your voice calls!
How can you have VOIP access on your mobile phone? As I mentioned earlier, your network provider and your mobile phone should have Web connectivity features. Once you have this, you only need to download software from the mobile web site of a VOIP provider. Once the software is downloaded and installed, you can make VOIP calls.
There are a lot of mobile VOIP providers existing today. How to know which is the best? Visit this new review web site that I quoted above – Mobile VOIP Review. They provide basic information about the various mobile VOIP providers. In addition, they are trying to get real users from all over the Web to share their opinions and experiences regarding these providers. Though the site seems fairly new, I suppose that it will have more content in the near future – why not add your voice now?
In this day and age, most everyone you know probably has a mobile phone of some sort. In many countries, even those in the developing world, the average person has at least one mobile phone – and why not? With all the convenience that a mobile phone offers, every person certainly can go about his daily activities with more ease. I still remember 10 years or so ago, when there were only a handful of people who had mobile phones. That was a time when pagers were still the “in†thing. Today, the face of the mobile communication industry has changed so much – one can do more with a mobile phone than simply make voice calls.
Quickly, each year, a new technology is developed in relation to mobile phone applications. When before, making voice calls was the major function of a mobile phone, today we have features such as text messaging, multimedia messaging, phone camera features, Walkman phones, and more. That is why I don’t find it particularly surprising that mobile phone manufacturers are now developing and releasing units which are capable of exploiting what a connection to the Internet can do. VOIP through mobile phones? Not a problem with the new Nokia 6300i phone. I am not a fan of Nokia, to be honest, but based on the review made by Cell Phone News, it seems pretty interesting. Here, read it for yourself:
Nokia has announced its new 6300i mobile phone with an integrated and easy-to-use VoIP client. The 6300i makes up for an ideal complement for connections from the home office. Users can store up to 2,000 VoIP,Home, and mobile numbers which can be listed side-by-side. A dedicated WLAN and VoIP symbols show the connection status and whether a phone call is using GSM network or VoIP. The Nokia 6300i is set for release by the second quarter of 2008 For around $272 you’ll get useful features such as; video 3GPP streaming, 2.0 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom, 30MB internal memory and 512 memory card with room for expansion. The 6300i also features Nokia maps, WidSets and Download, full screen view finder, music player support for mp3, AAC, MP4, AAC+, FM stereo radio, XHTML browsing over TCP/IP , GPRS/EDGE/HSCSD/CSD for browsing and as data modem, EDGE class 10; GPRS class 10 , OMA DRM version 2.0, WLAN, Bluetooth 2.0 , 2.5mm AV connector, High-speed Micro USB interface to PC. 2.0 “ TFT VGA display with 320×240 pixel resolution, the usual MMS/SMS and email messaging capabilities, and more. The Nokia 6300i sports a classic silver-gray look and weighs just 93g. The Nokia 6300i runs on S40 user interface with clear display for easy readability. It has side volume keys for easy adjustment and volume control. It is also packed an integrated handsfree speaker, loudspeaker for IHF, Xpress on audio messaging, voice commands and voice recording and speaker-independent name dialing. But of course what would probably make you buy the Nokia 6300i is its VoIP calling features.
They’re probably right.
I love Apple – what can I say? I know some of you may not agree with me but here’s a piece of news worth sharing. For all those iPhone fans out there, Asterisk Voicemail for the iPhone is coming out very soon. I ran across a developer’s announcement about his project on ChrisCarey.com. This is what he has to tell you:
Asterisk Voicemail for iPhone allows you to check your voicemail messages on your house or business line from your iPhone. You can think of it as “Visual Voicemailâ€, but for your Asterisk PBX numbers instead of your AT&T cell number. The technology behind it is Asterisk (The Open-Source PBX), with iUI, Joe Hewitt’s UI interface for iPhone. This software can be installed on any Asterisk server (though you will want to use one that is available via the Internet) and will allow you to check messages in multiple folders, listen to messages, delete messages, move messages, and change voicemail settings – all from your iPhone.
Contact me with any questions or comments.
This software is unreleased. Most of the features are fully functional, but I need to clean up certain portions of the code before releasing it in order to avoid public ridicule. This software will be released under the GPL or some other free license.
I know, it’s more of a teaser right now, but hey, with something like this, all you need is a teaser – for now. I am sure that hordes of iPhone fans using VOIP are going to be thrilled about this. In fact, I have seen several blogs and web sites already featuring Chris Carey’s announcement. It is not a surprise, really. For those who are already using Asterisk and have iPhones (I am not sure about the number of these people), this is something to look forward to.
So what is the potential of this development? I suppose you can describe it in one word –HUGE. Imagine being able to access your voicemail messages anywhere. With today’s trend of everything going mobile, this is the perfect solution to the traveling individual’s needs. Chris Carey, you rock!
SpinVox, the pioneer and leader in Voice-to-Screen messaging, just announced that it has made a deal with Skype to offer its voicemail-to-text service for the VOIP software. Initially, the service will be available in English, Spanish, German and French.
The SpinVox voice-to-message is a simple and practical solution that converts your voicemail to text and delivers them to your mobile phone, email inbox or blackberry device. This makes the voicemail experience easier and more manageable since it makes the message more accessible.
In its deal with Skype, SpinVox will allow Skype users to have all their voicemail messages converted and sent to their cellphones as an SMS when they are not on their computer. The service also supports the Skype Caller ID, which it will include on the SMS message of the converted voicemail. This gives skype users even more immediate and convenient access to their messages even when they are on the move. This also enhances the apparent reliability of the skype platform, since people will be more confident that their messages will reach their contacts immediately even when the latter are offline or away from their computer.
Because it uses the industry standard SMS to deliver the converted message, SpinVox will reach any mobile phone, obviating the need for skype users to download new software onto their phone to benefit from this voice-to-text messaging service.
This is a powerful example of how SpinVos is enabling leading Web 2.0 services to extend their reach from PC to mobile,†said Christina Domecq, CEO and co-founder, SpinVox. “It’s also proof of our ability to integrate our technology with an existing servie platform, whether fixed-line, cable or wireless and now internet calling, with market leaders Skype.
The globan nature of both Skype and SpinVox services makes for a natural and exciting partnership that will deliver a simpler, more effective communication experience for both the caller and the Skype user receiving a message,†continued Domecq.
Though the service will launch at the end of the year, this deal is a step towards a world of convergence and connectivity. Soon, skype users will become even more connected and always updated with their voice mail messages, thanks to SpinVox’s voice-to-text services. Having seen the renewed focus of the industry to bring new things to the age-old voice mail technology, we can only expect more innovation in this space.
Last Tuesday, May 22, T-Mobile launched its newest gadget, The Wing. Like the iPhone, which is scheduled to ship in about a month, the Wing is a Wi-Fi equipped combined PDA and mobile phone. It was developed by Taiwan’s High Tech Computer Corp. exclusively for T-Mobile.
The Wing boasts of plenty of features, including a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi for Internet access, a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, extended battery life and a microSD slot for expanding the storage capacity. It also has a 2.8-inch diagonal color display made up of 240×320 pixels and features music and video playback capabilities. It’s available for $299 with a two-year contract.
The Wing is the first Windows Mobile 6 smartphone built by HTC that’s equipped with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 to go on sale in the United States, although HTC has been selling similarly-equipped phones in Europe for months. It’s the successor to the MDA smartphone. The biggest news about the Wing is that it runs the latest version of Microsoft Windows Mobile 6. Windows Mobile 6 provides a better experience than Windows Mobile 5 and includes some nice updates such as native Active Sync/Exchange wireless e-mail support. Windows Mobile 6 connects easily with Microsoft Office documents and HTML e-mail, enabling users to use e-mail in original HTML format with live links to Internet sites. A Microsoft Live Search function can be used for online searches.
“The T-Mobile Wing is 30% smaller than its predecessor, the T-Mobile MDA, and is packed with broad functionality that enables users to experience the best in connectivity, productivity and mobility,” said Todd Achilles, VP of HTC America, in a statement.
Heard from the grapevine that Jajah has announced a partnership with Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile’s parent, recently. The deal is part of  a USD20 million investment, in partnership with Intel Capital and T-Online Venture Fund, the venture capital unit of Deutsche Telekom.                            Â
This is the first time a major phone company has decided to support a VoIP start-up, understandable since internet calling services will allow consumers to bypass conventional voice networks. Â ”This is the first time a major carrier is coming downstream to partner with a consumer web-calling player,” Jajah chief executive Trevor Healy said. Â Although, analysts say Jajah’s approach is the most friendly to telecoms carriers, in part because it allows people to use their conventional phones.
Deutsche Telekom said it had begun embedding Jajah into its T-Online web properties and that it expected to offer calling services to consumers and businesses in the future. Deutsche Telekom, which operates big fixed-line, mobile phone (T-Mobile) and broadband services (T-Online) in Europe and the United States, sees working with Jajah as a way to meet the threat of cannibalization to its existing businesses.
“The communication landscape is rapidly evolving,” chairman of investment committee of T-Online Venture Fund Andreas Kindt said in a company statement. Â ”By investing in companies like Jajah, we will be able to continue to bring users around the world the innovative solutions they are looking for.”
The recent launch of T-Mobile’s “Wing†also has Jajah excited. Like the Apple iPhone and the LG Prada phone, the Wing, like any smartphone with a browser, will allow Jajah to directly make free or low cost global long distance calls without needing to install any client. You can see a prototype of Jajah running on the Wing by accessing http://blog.jajah.com/.  My next posting will tell you more of the Wing’s features and services. Watch for it!
Here’s another player offering a downloadable mobile VoIP-enabling software application. EQO Communications (pronounced “echo”), a provider of mobile Internet phone services, announced its new EQO Mobile version. EQO was originally designed to add Skype functionality to mobile phones, however EQO is now offering their own mobile VoIP solution with EQO Out “credits” for PSTN termination. The new version, which still runs on Java compatible phones, will let users make international and long distance calls as well as send and receive IM and text messages on their mobile phones at local calling and messaging rates.
After you sign up on the EQO site, you’ll receive an SMS link on your phone for download & installing the app. You’ll be able to send instant messages through EQO on many of your favorite IM services–AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Jabber and Yahoo Messenger. Calling another EQO user is free, but calling a regular mobile or landline phone requires using EQO Out credits, which is still cheaper than standard mobile rates since it uses a local gateway (and therefore you get local rates).
Joanna Stern from Laptop Magazine was able to test the new software from a Blackberry Pearl. According to her:
“The easily navigable interface makes chatting through numerous IM services extremely easy. We especially liked the ability to close certain IM network lists to make our list more succinct. While we didn’t get to try out any overseas phone calls, we called one of our colleagues here in New York on his cell phone. We could hear him just fine, but he reported a slight delay on his end. We were able to try an EQO-to-EQO call with EQO’s CEO Bill Tam. We heard Bill quite clearly on the other end and found the calls to go through very quickly. In both cases the voice quality was much clearer than calls over a Wi-Fi network.â€
Another plus is that EQO’s new mobile application is available for hundreds of mainstream mobile handsets. Its Java application is available for BlackBerry, Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung & other devices. A Windows Mobile version is expected to be released in the coming months. For more info, check out www.eqo.com.
Yes, we know that with the advent of the internet, privacy has become almost obsolete. But if you’re one of those who still believe that there’s some way to keep your landline, cell or VOIP phone numbers accessible only to people who actually know you, there might be some hope yet. Yes, Virginia, there are technologies that can anonymize your phone number or at least make it tougher for callers to reach you. VoIP News lists several ways how. Here’s a summary:
Jangl – Jangle’s MatchTalk service for Match.com, centers on VoIP-enabled online dating. The MatchTalk service creates an anonymous number that two people can use to call one another.
Craigsnumber – it’s a free service that auto-generates a phone number where people can reach you. Callers dial it and record a short introductory message, then Craigsnumber calls you at your designated number and plays the message. You decide whether to accept it. Callers won’t know your real phone number, and they won’t even be able to reach you through your Craigsnumber unless you permit it. Another plus is Craigsnumbers are not re-used.
Jaxtr – Sign up for Jaxtr and get a designated URL for yourself. To make calls, you first type in another person’s designated Jaxtr URL, then type in your phone number. Jaxtr will call you, then call the other person, and viola! You’re connected, anonymously and even internationally, for the price of a local call. Jaxtr can also handle calls on a per-caller basis, putting some people through, while shunting anyone not pre-approved by you to voice mail. In addition, Jaxtr’s VoiceBlast feature promises to bring prerecorded voice greetings to people’s blogs.
Privacy Corps – if your phone number is already public, you can block unwanted callers by using their Caller ID Manager. It’s a $100 device that blocks up to 175 numbers, area codes or even prefixes while giving you the ability to receive calls only from specific numbers.
VoicePulse – you can access a large menu of call-handling capabilities to block telemarketers and anonymous or unavailable callers, schedule do-not-disturb times and modify how your phone rings depending on the caller.
For a better look at the article, visit http://www.voip-news.com/feature/anonymous-voip-calling-052107/