voip

Free and cheap iPhone calls

The free Fring for iPhone is a compelling VoIP caller and multinetwork chat app in one. Tap over to the add-ons section to talk to friends using Skype, SIP, and Windows Live Messenger (MSN), Google Talk, and ICQ's protocols. Like plugging a headset into the PC, Fring's app spells cheap calls to international contacts. Beware though, you'll need a strong Wi-Fi connection to make or receive VoIP calls.

In addition to stretching out your vocal chords, Fring can open conversations for the IM networks above, as well as for AIM and Yahoo. Signing into Twitter from Fring … Read more

Skype wirelessly with Drone Bluetooth adapter

Most new laptops have built-in Bluetooth these days, but if yours doesn't, you might want to get what CallPod introduced on Thursday, the Drone.

The Drone is not a regular Bluetooth adapter. It's a high-powered device that offers a range of up to 300 feet; that's 10 times the range of regular Bluetooth devices.

Designed mainly for audio purposes, once plugged in, the Drone is recognized by a computer as a speaker. The Drone's built-in firmware then streams the computer's audio feed to Bluetooth headsets or speakers.

For this reason, the device is perfect for … Read more

Slash your long-distance bills

In some ways, Skype's latest offering takes a step back, but in many, it's a jump forward. In version 4.0, Skype's VoIP app for text, audio, and video calls refocuses on Skype's core competency (and most formidable challenge) of delivering high-quality audio and video calls over the Internet. A new sound engine and bandwidth manager helps keep calls clearer and more stable as talkers reach out across the world, using the spectrum of high- and low-end equipment. The improved sound and video quality were notable in our tests.

Many of Skype's secondary features remain … Read more

VoxOx goes gunning for Skype, Digsby

What if Digsby and Skype merged into one seemingly all-powerful VoIP and messaging communications tool? It's a question which, according to San Diego-based telephone company TelCentris, can be answered by VoxOx.

VoxOx, currently for Windows and Intel-based Macs with plans for Linux and PowerPC Mac versions to be released within six months, incorporates features that have not yet been seen all rolled into one package. It's got multi-protocol chat abilities, bolstered by messaging support on the most popular social-networking sites and support for short Web mail reading and writing. It offers a telephony service that includes call encryption; … Read more

iPhone OS 2.2 Beta 2 Released: Adds Support for Audio-In; VOIP for iPod touch?

Apple has released a new beta of iPhone OS 2.2 to developers. The new release adds support for audio-in devices in all third-party applications, meaning apps will be able to receive audio input on all devices and possible paving the way for genuine VOIP applications for the iPod touch.

The new release also re-adds APIs that may be used for live-updating (true GPS-like) directions in the Google Maps application--course, speed, direction etc.

Feedback? http://www.iphoneatlas.com/contact.

Buzz Out Loud 825: Go toward the light...It's got Wi-Fi!

Apologies in advance for the slightly dirty word toward the end of the show. Now you'll all listen, won't you? In other news, Ford wants to make sure your kids don't speed, that they wear their seat belts, and that they intensely hate your guts. And Google wants to make sure you don't send mail when you're too drunk to do math. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 825

A.M.D. to split into two operations http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/technology/07chip.html http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10059766-92.html

Warner … Read more

Verizon loses patent suit against Cox

Verizon Communications suffered a major blow in its patent battles on Monday, when a federal court ruled that cable company Cox Communications had not infringed on its patents.

The telecommunications giant has accused Cox of violating six of its patents related to Internet telephony. But a jury for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia decided against Verizon on all six patents.

Verizon settled a similar suit against digital-phone service provider Vonage last year, squeezing about $117.5 million from the troubled provider of voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. Against Cox, it had been seeking … Read more

Fring Brings Skype, Skype-out and SIP calls to iPhone

The long awaited Fring application is now available for free as the first App from the iTunes App Store to support Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony.

According to the vendor, fringland Ltd., Fring is a mobile internet service and community that allows you to talk, chat and interact with other "fringsters" and all your online buddies from Skype, MSN, GoogleTalk, AIM, Yahoo, Twitter, ICQ and of course Fring. All of this is available via your iPhone's internet connection. The key feature, however, is the ability of this App to make voice calls via VoIP over a WiFi … Read more

Skype: We didn't know about security issues

Skype's president said that the company was largely unaware of a major security breach affecting Skype users in China.

In a blog published Thursday, Josh Silverman, Skype's president, explained he did not realize that TOM-Skype, Skype's partner in China, was logging and storing users' instant messages that were deemed offensive by the Chinese government.

He said the company knew that instant-messaging chats were monitored by the government, as all communications in China are. And he explained that Skype disclosed this to users in 2006, explaining that a text filter was being used to block certain words in … Read more