Top Softphones for Mac OS-X

VoIP is practically indispensable today and it is estimated to have around 32.6 million users by the year 2010. Despite this, it seems as if software developers have a bias for PC’s over Macs - until recently anyway. There is a large market for Mac users and it seems like VoIP providers are working on giving Apple lovers the technology they need.

Besides iChat and Skype, here are some of the top softphones for the Mac OS-X.

LoudHush
LoudHush is a Mac-only softphone that works within Asterisk PBX. This means that you’re going to need an Asterisk account before you can use LoudHush. It’s very user-friendly and easy to use, and it’s definitely going to work on your Mac. Unique features include a fixed-call recorder and a missed call indicator.

Gizmo
Those who are used to Skype might enjoy using Gizmo since it has similar plans and allows you to call anyone regardless of what OS the receiver is using. One feature you might like is the plug-in for Adium, which allows you to call anyone within Adium through your Gizmo account. While there isn’t any video conferencing here, Gizmo can be used together with SIP-based VoIP services.

SightSpeed
SightSpeed is a little more like Skype. With video conference, calling, free unlimited calls between SightSpeed users, cheap calls to cell phones and landlines, SightSpeed is great for people who video-conference often. However, it’s not the most Mac-friendly as it doesn’t integrate with other applications.

Globe Releases iPhone 3G on August 22

The iPhone 3G will finally be released in the Philippines - but at what cost?

Globe Telecom announced the release of the iPhone 3G on August 22, as well as special post-paid plans that will allow users to fully utilize what the iPhone was designed for. That means the plans will come with free WiFi browsing hours (in hotspots covered by Globe WiFi) and free local mobile internet hours. Sounds good - but wait til you hear how much they’re selling the iPhone for.

For 2-year locked prepaid kits, the 8GB iPhone 3G will cost Php41,889 while the 16GB iPhone 3G will cost Php48,889. The prepaid kit also includes 50 free hours of Internet use.

Globe post-paid plans are a little more affordable, but not by much. (Click on the photo to enlarge) Rates include VAT and Currency Exchange Rate Adjustment.

Those who are really itching to get their hands on a unit should probably call Globe now and have one reserved. Personally, though, I don’t think it’s worth it.

Source

Tips to Buying a VoIP Service

We already know that getting a feature-rich VoIP service will cost your business about a fraction of what you pay for traditional telephone services. But this will only happen if you get the best deal that’s out there.

Make sure you shop around before committing yourself to a service - and look carefully! Some VoIP companies are 50% cheaper than others, even though they offer similar features and packages. Don’t just check the prices; also inspect the features that come with the package.

Don’t fall into the trap of going with the biggest names instead. If you’re regularly updated in VoIP news, you’ll see that the most well-known VoIP providers have had some serious downtime. Whoever you choose to get, make sure that the carrier has a history of reliability.

For business and call centers, make sure you have enough bandwith to use VoIP. Try to avoid buying cheap IP phones as well because the quality of your hardware affects the quality of your calls.

Finally, make sure that your VoIP conversations are encrypted. VoIP calls is essentially data - and like any data on the internet, it can be stolen and misused. Ask your carrier about how you can protect your data and keep them secure.

Improve the Sound Quality of Your Skype Calls

If the sound quality of your Skype calls is scratchy and horrible, you might want to try this really simple solution: delete the file shared xml. The shared.xml file contains host cache information - a list of Skype host pairs and super-nodes that the software needs to run properly. Sometimes the information in the shared.xml file affects the conversation’s sound quality because it’s not optimized for the call’s connection. By deleting the shared.xml file, Skype gets forced to rebuild the list the next time you fire it up.

To delete the shared.xml file, close Skype then go to Documents and Settings/Username/Application Data/Skype folder. This is where you can find the shared.xml file. Delete the file and open Skype again, and the software will create a new file with the same name in the same folder. If blocked ports and P2P background processes are what’s affecting your Skype calls, then the sound quality will improve dramatically - otherwise, something else might be causing it.

Make Voice Calls on Twitter Using Phweet!

The thing about Twitter is that when conversations generate lots of replies and get exciting, sometimes you feel this need to take it to another venue to really get the discussion going. Stuart Henshall and David Beckemeyer realized this and came up with a way to integrate voice calls with Twitter in an interesting new service called Phweet. If you’ve got a Smart Phone, you’ll find that it’s incredibly easy to use. The moment you go to the Phweet website, you are asked to enter your Twitter username and password. Then type the username of the person you’d like to call. Phweet then creates a URL for the voice call, then sends a private message to the person with the link to join the call. You also have the option to choose between calling on the browser with a SIP URL or through services like Gizmo, Free World Dialup, or PhoneGnome - for free. There’s no way to make calls to a regular phone yet and while I won’t be surprised if they develop that in the future, I’m not gonna expect that part of the service to cost nothing.

Phweet is available to everyone for testing purposes so I suggest that you check it out and give them your feedback. The official launch is in 100 days and as the date draws nearer, I’m sure they’ll be making the service more feature rich and interactive.

ASUS Eee PC 1000H Now in the Philippines

A netbook is a small, lightweight and low-cost notebook that’s designed for Internet access and basic PC and online functions like word processing, e-mail, Internet surfing, IM, and VoIP. Even if they don’t have as many features as a full-sized laptop, netbooks are perfect for people who already have a PC but who’d want to stay constantly wired to the Internet or bring their work wherever they go. Netbooks are small enough to fit comfortably inside a purse but size doesn’t mean that they’re any less powerful in terms of performance.

The Asus Eee PC 1000H is the latest in netbooks and is probably the best one out there. Not only does its small size and weight (a mere 1.45 kg!) make it very convenient to bring around; it also consumes less power and is more resistant to shock damage. The new Super Hybrid Engine allows users to enjoy a battery lifespan of up to seven hours by providing options to adjust power consumption and performance modes. And with 20GB of Internet storage facilities, users can share files and multimedia with others without having to worry about space.

All this is possible because the ASUS Eee PC 1000H is powered by the Intel Atom processor, making the device energy-efficient without sacrificing performance.

Other features include Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, Dolby Audio, stereo speaker, and a digital array mic.

Back Door in Skype?

There are speculations that there might be a back door built into Skype - which means that your conversations can easily get bugged. This was discovered when the Austrian regulator on lawful interception of IP services held a meeting with ISP representatives and discovered that they had no problem listening into Skype conversations. Members of the Austrian police, who were also in the meeting, were able to plug into Skype connections.

Skype has declined to comment on this, saying that they don’t usually comment on media speculations. They could at least say something to assuage their users fears, but the fact that they never reveal details about their Skype protocol or how the client works makes many people suspicious and curious about what else Skype can be capable of doing as well as other risks involved in using the service. There are also rumors about special listening softwares or devices that Skype sells to interested states under the table. Perhaps it’s high time for an open-source alternative to emerge?

Source

Skype Goes Mobile with the 3 Skypephone

One of the biggest gadgets to come out on 2007 was the Skypephone by 3. Today, 3 announced that they’ll be releasing a new version of the 3 Skypephone called the Skypephone S2. Contrary to early reports and rumors, the 3 Skypephone S2 WILL support HSDPA. And like the original Skypephone, you can expect the integrated Skype feature, which you can access through the central square button. Your contacts are also integrated into the phone book so you can easily notice those who are online. Other features include a 2.2 inch QVGA display screen, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and built-in modem drivers so you can use it as a dongle for your Mac or PC. No news on pricing yet, but it will be available on the market by August 18.

Source

Windows Mobile has 3G VoIP (No WiFi Required!)

Today, Jahjah launched the second phase of their Windows Mobile 6 SIP Client for the EM-ONE. EMOBILe users can finally get their own direct inward dialing (DID) number and can receive calls from this number from any regular phone. This means their device can work as a fully functioning mobile phone even without a connection. Even more importantly, EM-ONE also provides for a truly connected life on-the-go by including a 3G feature. The 3G connection is the only think you’ll need for the EM-ONE to work as an inbound and outbound VoIP calling device! Besides that, the EM-ONE also has Bluetooth 1.2, a digital broadcast TV receiver, and 802.1b/g.

This exclusive service from JAJAH will need a pure IP network and will be available in Japan beginning August 1, 2008. No news as to when this will be available elsewhere, so it looks like those in the US will have to stick with JAJAH on the iPhone for now!

Source

One Million iPhone 3Gs Sold

Today, Apple announced that they just sold their one millionth iPhone 3G on Sunday, merely three days after its official launch last Friday, July 11. According to Steve Jobs, the iPhone 3G had a “stunning opening weekend” - compared to the first iPhone launch, which took 74 days to sell the one millionth unit. Looks like the iPhone 3G is off to a fantastic start all over the world.

And if you need any reminding of what it can do, the iPhone 3G has all the revolutionary features of the first iPhone, a 3G network that’s twice as fast, built in GPS, and runs on an iPhone 2.0 software that supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and 800 third party applications that you can get through the App Store.

The Apple iPhone 3G can now be found in 21 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US, and will be available in France on July 17.

Source

• DS3 Prices and T1 quotes
• Business VoIP New York
• Toll Free Voicemail
• Internet phones
• best mobile phones in the UK
• Business Phone Systems
• Business Phone System
• Call Center Software Solution