As though in response to Google+’s Hang Out feature, Facebook just announced plans to integrate a video chat feature powered by Skype. It will be built right on Facebook Chat and will be available to its 750 million users over the next couple of weeks. But you don’t have to wait that long to try it out – if you click here, you can test the video chat feature with your friends. Oh, and there’s no need to create a Skype account to use this feature.

Now that I’m a bona fide BlackBerry user, I’m constantly on the lookout for interesting apps that I can use on my device. It occurred to me that I could really use a BlackBerry VoIP app so I can save on international calls, and with a little Googling I discovered a promising service called TringMe. TringMe stood out among all the other apps because they provide VoIP calls directly over WiFi. Additionally, TringMe users can enjoy free worldwide calls when they phone each other. The app also allows easy one-click conference calls; simply select your contacts and hit the call button, or click on the conference menu items. You can conference among our BlackBerry Groups or Contacts, without the need to remember PINs or dial-in numbers. The app does all the work and calls the selected contacts or groups for a conference. Pretty useful, huh?

Download the app by visiting http://bb.tringme.com/ on your BlackBerry device.

USB mice just can’t be mice these days. I just discovered that China has been churning out a whole bunch of USB mouses with built-in VoIP phones – they look and work just like regular mice, except it looks and feels just like a real phone when you flip-it open, LCD screen and number keys included. All you have to do is plug the device into your laptop and make voice calls via Skype or your favorite VoIP service. USB mice with VoIP come with all sorts of features and are available at various price points, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding one that suits your budget and needs. You can even buy them wholesale if you wish! The device featured above is from Hong Kong Runrise Technology and is seamlessly integrated with services like Skype, FreeCall, VoIPCheap, and more. An earphone connector and built-in speaker gives you hands-free function, and an acoustically isolated mic and earpiece eliminates echo. No need for an external power card or sound card to use it.

One of the biggest limitations of VoIP is that it’s not reliable during an emergency situation. Not all VoIP providers have a direct connection to 911 emergency services, and even if you do manage to get connected, the address and location information associated with the VoIP number won’t be of any use to the dispatcher if the user forgot to update it. But if you’re an Ooma subscriber, consider upgrading to their Ooma premiere service for $9.99/month. The company will be adding a new feature that sends an SMS or email to pre-determined recipients if a 911 call is placed. This feature gives the user the peace of mind knowing that their emergency will be heard by someone who can call for help. For more information, visit the website www.ooma.com.

Back in February, we blogged about Viber, a popular VoIP app that allowed iPhone users to enjoy free VoIP calls to fellow Viber users through WiFi and 3G. At the time, Viber was only exclusive to the iPhone, but they finally released an app for Android devices today. There are a bunch of features unique to Android, including pop-up text message notifications, full call screens, and integration with your phone’s messaging and call logs. You can even set your Viber number as your default dialer. The Viber Android app is still in beta mode though, but you can start downloading it here.

Interesting developments in the VoIP world! Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in cash today, and will be integrating the VoIP service to Microsoft devices like Windows phones, Xbox, Kinect, Outlook, and Lync. The deal was made by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, and is the most money the company has ever paid for a company. Even though Skype has had a total of $860 million in revenues last year and $264 million in operating profits, documents from the SEC report that the company also lost $6.9 million and has $686 million in debt. Only 8.8 million of Skype’s 170 million regular users are paying customers. Still, this acquisition can give Microsoft a much-needed kick-start in telecommunication. And it would be very interesting to see what Microsoft can do with Nokia and Skype.

Despite Skype’s integration with Microsoft devices, the company will continue to develop and support non-Microsoft Skype clients.

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Cost benefits

The first advantage that customers can now have is the immense reduction in costs of calling. Businesses as well as individuals have often been worried about the heavy phone bills that they pay every month. Internet phone has slashed the costs of calling many times down. Big VoIP providers like Vonage and Axvoice offer calling plans for businesses and home phone users too. Choosing the right calling plan will not help in reducing the calling expenses but would further ensure that all the requirements of a phone user met are aptly. Internet is used as a medium to carry voice, which makes this phone service a lot better.

Feature rich services

Features also play an important role in deciding the effectiveness of a phone service. VoIP phone offers excellent service features to its customers. Customers can now enjoy a full range of different features. These include basic as well as advanced features. Telephone services still struggle to provide many of the advanced and even some of the basic features that broadband phone can easily provide its subscribers. Some of the excellent features that customers really want to have from their broadband phone service include; E911 support for emergencies, call log to see all the calling activity, find me follow me, call forwarding to another number in case a call is not attended, enhanced voicemail, online account management facility and soft phone support to name a few.

Call plan flexibility

Telephone service had never been able to provide you with enough different plans so you could have a choice. Even when they tried to provide you with more than one option, the difference was usually very minimal. Now VoIP providers offer a large variety of calling plans, so you can choose that plan, which suits your needs and your pocket too. Don’t overspend anymore because you have not been able to find the right calling plan. Instead opt for the plan of your own choice and enjoy all the cost and benefits.

Ideal phone for travelers

One instant advantage that you will have once you choose to subscribe to internet phone is that you would increase your mobility which was earlier captivated because of telephone. People, who have to travel a lot to national as well as international destinations, depend either on the cell phones, which are very expensive or the public phone booths. Now they can easily cut their cost many times over with an internet phone.

Quality of voice

Besides all the above facilities, VoIP is way better in terms of the voice quality it offers to its customers. Now customers can easily enjoy the same quality without any problem even at any location.

Author Bio:

Article has been written by Stan Kruger who has great experience in writing VoIP related articles

Working from home is not an entirely new phenomenon but these days, it’s not just bloggers and technophiles who work in their pajamas. Even seasoned executives are working remotely these days, and it’s all because of VoIP and similar tools that make a desk-bound job almost obsolete. VoIP, video conferencing tools, and desktop videos are the technologies that make remote working possible, and Skype expects to see usage increase over the next two years. Where did they get this data? Skype just released a new report called The Living Workplace, where they surveyed 1,000 professionals at 500 businesses of all sizes. Indeed, flexibility about office presence is becoming the norm, at least for US companies.

You can download and view the report at livingworkplace.skype.com.

Fring just one-upped their biggest competitor Skype by offering a new Video calling feature for Android and iOS users. Users who have the app can initiate video conferences over WiFi or 3G that accepts up to four participants. However, it’s not quite available to the public just yet. The video call feature is part of Fring Beta, and you can only get the app if you request it. The iPhone Beta request is over, but Android users can still ask for their Beta invite here. Enjoy!

Nokia users can now save on international calls, thanks to a new automated service called Tpad. Tpad is now available for Nokia’s current range of S40 phones, and the app allows Tpad users to make free worldwide calls to fellow Tpad users over WiFi. Any other Tpad calls made from WiFi or 3G to mobile or landline phones will be charged at Tpad’s low rates. Setting up a Tpad account is easy – when you sign up, you will automatically receive personal VoIP/SIP settings that configures your Nokia device with the service. In addition, new users who sign up will receive a free test call worth $.10 for a limited period of time. The best part about the new Tpad/Nokia collaboration is that you don’t need to download any apps or software, as the Tpad app comes pre-installed with the device. So if you just bought a Nokia S40 device, look for the Tpad app and make a cheap VoIP call today.

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