iPhone

TruPhone, Top VoIP Company 2008: FierceVoIP, Fierce 15

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:49:08 -0500

Truphone

Where it's based: London, England
When it was founded: 1999
Website: www.truphone.com

Why it's Fierce: Truphone decided to power its way around the me-too mobile VoIP pack by buying roaming operator SIM4travel. While it is still in the me-too free client/lowest-rate voice game, it hasn't been afraid to fight established cellular operators in court to get the settlements it wants.

On the technology side, Truphone has developed clients for a variety of phones, including the BlackBerry and iPhone; Truphone had the first Internet telephony app for the iPhone on the iStore, er, Apple App Store. The company has a carrier-grade, global telephony operator infrastructure on the backend to handle up to 40 million calls worldwide that includes a global network of SIP gateways, a Nokia Siemens Networks mobile network Home Location Register (HLR) and a GSM identifier.

8x8 reports slight growth

Pete Wylie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:06:24 -0400

8x8, the provider of Packet 8 broadband services, announced its fiscal 2Q2009 results Thursday, and it finds itself in a considerably better position year-over-year. Although 8x8's income is down to $44,000 from $1.2 million last quarter, it now is debt free and has $16 million in cash, while last year's 2Q report showed a $2.6 million net loss.

The company added 1,846 new customers in the quarter, bringing its total customer base to more than 13,700 companies, according to the release. It also grew its cash and investments for the sixth-consecutive quarter, bringing its total to $15.8 million, an increase of $1 million from last quarter and nearly $3 million from the same fiscal period in 2008. Revenue was up a slight $100,000 from last quarter, increasing to $16.4 million from $16.3 million.

"8x8's money saving Virtual Office communications services are more critical than ever to businesses," said 8x8 Chairman & CEO Bryan R. Martin, in the release. "With nearly $16 million in cash and no debt, the Company remains well positioned in its efforts to transition more and more small businesses away from budget-wasting legacy phone solutions."

For more:
- see the 8x8 release here

Raketu adds SIP service

Pete Wylie — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:07:40 -0400

Raketu will now offer a client called RakSIP that will enable SIP-based calls through the company's RakOut VoIP service.

Users need only connect their third-party SIP client (mobile or desktop), IP phone or SIP hardware to RakOut to make outbound calls at low prices. RakSIP is compatible with the built-in SIP capabilities in Nokia smartphones and Blackberry devices, and it works with most iPhone and WinMobile SIP clients, according to Raketu's release.

Current users of the RakIn service can begin using RakSIP immediately, and new users can sign up easily for only 99 cents per month. The company has a laundry list of services for use with TVs, IM, mobil devices, businesses, Google widgets, and web phone clients. The addition of a SIP mode to the company's peer-to-peer service solution gives them one up on Skype. Is a channel driver for Asterisk soon to follow?

For more:
- see the RakSIP press release here

Newber's geo-sensitive autoforwarding

Doug Mohney — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:43:25 -0400

The combination of GPS and a hosted IP PBX service from FreecomVOICE creates Newber, an iPhone application to automatically transfer inbound calls to the most geographically local phone number - sweet!

Newber requires downloading of iPhone client software from Apple's app store and then entering numbers that can be forwarded from a Newber-assigned number to wherever you want. Inbound calls can be "dumped" from the iPhone to landline in order to save mobile minutes and battery life. It also has a click-to-forward function so you can transfer an inbound call to a set of displayed numbers.

However, the real goodness here is Newber's ability to tap into the iPhone's (and no doubt other smart phones down the road) GPS capability to determine the most likely number you want to transfer a call to; for instance, if you're near the office, the office phone number appears on the screen to click, while at home, the home number displays. If you aren't close, the app tells you "no number" preference and lets you enter one. The coolness factor involved here is using GPS to auto-select a number to forward, rather than having to remember to update a website or base a forwarding decision upon a static date/time chart.

Newber is currently in beta and will start charging in October for $5 per month plus 2 cents per minutes for calls.

For more:
- VoIP News dials in on Newber. Article

SPOTLIGHT: iPod Touch finally VoIP-able

Pete Wylie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:04:45 -0400

Clever hardware buffs have found a pathway to enable VoIP calls on the newly released iPod Touch and Classic. Apple enabled the headphone jack to accept external microphones, with the intention of letting clients record voice memos on the devices. But with the right application, users could manipulate the external microphone capability to enable VoIP calls over WiFi through clients like Jajah and Skype.

Apple has yet to clarlify on its stance on VoIP calls over WiFi; the company expressly forbids VoIP calls using either the EDGE of 3G networks.

For more:
- see the blog post on macrumors.com

Raketu launches browser agnostic VoIP service

Pete Wylie — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:47:10 -0400

Raketu has announced a new service into its VoIP offerings Friday with the release of its RakOut WebPhone. The new service allows users to make a VoIP call to landline or mobile phones from any web browser; previously, users could only make a call from computers with Microsoft Windows. The service does not require a download, so calls can be made directly from Raketu's website.

Needless to say, this adds Raketu to the lengthly list of VoIP service providers that started with web clients, added dial-out capabilities and typically end up with unique phone numbers with a <something>In service.

Based out of New York City, Raketu hopes to lure business travelers with the accessibility and affordability of the service, in comparison to traditional phone services or mobile offerings.

For more
- Raketu hopes to RakOut to VoIP success.

Push to Voice IM to iPhone

Doug Mohney — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:36:26 -0400

In June, Palringo introduced a push-to-talk-like service for PCs and smart phones. Add the iPhone to the list of devices it supports.

Palringo calls its service "vocal IM," says VoIP News. The downloadable client, emulating push-to-talk (PTT), works by pushing a key or button on a handset or keyboard in order to talk. Voice is packetized and sent directly, with Palringo users able to listen immediately through the client; other users get a URL to listen to a WAV file.

The Palringo client supports text messages with every major IM service and can also send pictures. On the iPhone, the client works a bit differently; automatic PTT voice play only works when the Palringo messaging client is open. Don't want an incoming message to break in to the middle of an iTunes jam. Palringo also shuts down when the iPhone makes or receives calls.

For more:
- VoIP News listens to Palringo

Related articles
Cisco intros PTT VoIP
VoIP mobile users to hit 250M by 2012

CTIA Wireless IT: A looming 800 lb fruit in the room

Doug Mohney — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:06:12 -0400

The iPhone has set the gold standard for web browsing on a mobile device. Apple is reportedly making a million dollars a day on iPhone application downloads--money going straight into the company's pocket. So why isn't Apple playing a more prominent role at CTIA I.T.?

Sure, AT&T is the exclusive U.S. iPhone carrier, so maybe Apple doesn't need to have a big booth presence at CTIA I.T. But can you really have a discussion about enterprise IT applications without someone pulling out an iPhone--either figuratively or literally--within 30 seconds? HSBC may roll out iPhones to its 300,000 person workforce, displacing a whole lot of Blackberry devices.

AT&T knows the enterprise wants iPhones. Business customers can now order iPhones online directly through AT&T's Premier Enterprise program--no waiting in line down at the Apple or AT&T store.

It's not just AT&T doing what its business customers want. Oracle says there have been more than 23,000 downloads of its free Oracle Business Indicators iPhone application as of mid-August. Nearly 19,000 downloads were to U.S. phones, and it's likely a good number are actively being used; you don't download Oracle apps for the cheap entertainment value.

Apple has maintained an aloofness when it comes to the enterprise, doing just enough to get devices (desktops, laptops, servers, iPhones) in the door--and that's it. However, the ability of the 3G iPhone to act as a dual-mode phone (Both GIPS and SPIRIT DSP have released VoIP stacks) means that custom-tailored FMC/Mobile UC applications aren't far behind.

Will Apple stand up and take a more active role in the corporate arena? Or will it be content to simply *ahem* grab the low-hanging fruit? Nokia and RIM would certainly like to know the answers. -Doug

iPhone gets VoIP stacks for apps

Pete Wylie — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:19:03 -0400

GIPS announced Monday it is enabling VoIP applications on the Apple iPhone with GIPS VoiceEngine Mobile. The software will allow developers to integrate voice elements into iPhone applications.

Dovid Coplon, director of product management, said that GIPS real-time VoIP enables such useful features as live in-game chat and implied that social networking and instant messaging applications could be augmented with the new technology.

"The iPhone is a very interesting platform, and we're excited about the enterprise uses as well as the more obvious gaming and instant messaging possibilities for VoiceEngine Mobile on iPhone," Coplon said. "It works well with our strategy, which is to leave our programs open for any application customers see fit."

Coplon had no comment on specific clients for VoiceEngine Mobile, but he alluded that negotiations were underway with some large accounts.

VoiceEngine Mobile will turn voice into IP packets that can easily be transmitted through WiFi, making it easier for applications developers to come to market quickly with integrated VoIP applications, according to a GIPS press release.

Coplon acknowledged that there are many competitors in the VoIP software for iPhone market, such as Russian firm SPIRIT DSP, which also announced an iPhone VoIP platform Monday, TeamSpirit 3.0 VoiceEngine Mobile. But he also noted that GIPS's iLBC codec, a narrowband speech algorithm standard designed to optimize calls made over the Internet, is already embedded in the iPhone, providing a platform for developers seeking to leverage the iPhone's WiFi capabilities. He said he did not see similar adoption rates from competitors.

"GIPS's online products have been downloaded more than 800 million times," Coplon said. "I think we compete very well, and I don't see anyone stepping up to the plate across multiple platforms like GIPS has."

For more:
-Here is a link to the GIPS press release.
-SPIRIT DSP's iPhone VoIP press release.

Who doesn't like the iPhone?

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:37:29 -0400

By Carl Ford

As I walked the mall this weekend and saw the line at the Apple store to be the next iPhone convert, I began to wonder who is making money--other than Apple--on the iPhone?

The AT&T store was quiet, with a piece of paper saying that, despite the four-foot iPhone display in the window, they had no phones. The iPhone 3G has actually gained prominence within the store with a display and accessories kiosk, but nothing left to sell but the peripherals.

The rest of the displays featured the usual suspects: different Blackberrys, a Treo, a Samsung Blackjack. AT&T's Tilt and an LG Glide were the closest to the horizontal feel of the iPhone, but nothing in the presentations was designed to excite, just to compare.

At Sprint, its Samsung Instinct is trying to stand toe-to-toe with the iPhone and if you went on the web, you would think that it was competing with "Batman: Dark Knight " as well.

Speaking of "Dark Knight," Verizon has a Nokia "Dark Knight edition" camera phone. For its iPhone competitive strategy, Verizon has the LG Dare. While Verizon is putting all its cards in this basket, it's a good phone as Noah from phonedog.com would tell you. But Verizon's marketing for the LG Dare is off to the side.

Over at Alltel, Chad does not care about smart phones; the story is the magic of circles. Chad and the Verizon guy will be duking it out soon. If I were Chad, I would keep the wizard nearby.

Given all this, I would say there is a chasm that has yet to be crossed in mobility. As Fierce prepares for its 4G virtual event, I have to believe we need more.

As a recovering Bell Head, I like the Sprint/Samsung integration to the network operator, particularly to visual voice mail. While some say voice mail is dead, I think voice mail just needs to be annotated. Social networks are teaching us that the phone no longer has to be a real time experience and voice mail could be the binding between these worlds.

While many are happy to join the iStore for Apple's iPhone, I think it was telling that the AT&T salesman had downloaded a VoIP dual mode app but did not use it. I expect we are going to have that familiar problem of apps not being seen enough to be used. Competing for prominence on a phone suggests to me also that Google's Android may be brilliant indeed.

Who should love the iPhone at the end of the day? I would say ad agencies. The fact that iPhone added 2 million more users to AT&T's network is going to drive a lot of commercials. And it may be the prominence of apps on the phone is part of the advertising.

Carl Ford is Strategic Advisor and Community Developer for FierceMarkets. His words of wisdom can be found at www.carlford.net.

iPhone VoIP Options

Doug Mohney — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:45:12 -0400

How many ways can iPhone owners do VoIP on their most-beloved device? VoIP News counts them along with detailing how each package handles long distance calling.

Each iPhone VoIP solution has its pros and cons. Truphone's application will connect with other Truphone clients though WiFi but there's no connection to the cellular world. Packet8 MobileTalk uses a web portal that mimics the iPhone dialer and the app causes the iPhone to dial a local Packet8 access number to access the company's VoIP network.

Jajah's iPhone VoIP app is awaiting the official blessing of Apple before users can download it through Apple's App Store. The app should allow an iPhone to make calls that travel over 3G, EDGE or WiFi data networks to reach Jajah's VoIP network. A call can go over a data network if the link quality is good or if the users says it should use the network regardless of link quality, otherwise Jajah will do a callback using an external network to link the iPhone and an overseas number.

In beta, iCall also uses WiFi links to make a VoIP call, but the app supposedly also can switch from cellular to WiFi without interrupting a conversation in a seamless fashion.

For more:
- VoIP News talks iPhone VoIP flavors

Related articles:
VoIP developers fire up for iPhone
A fring fling on iPhone

8x8 iPhone Love

Doug Mohney — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:38:32 -0400

Is it fair to say 8x8 has hopped onto the iPhone bandwagon? The company has released a version of its MobileTalk application for the iPhone.

Apple's iPhone has been added to the list of over 450 mobile handset devices now supported by Packet8's MobileTalk international calling service. MobileTalk enables cell phone users to tap into lower cost international rates through Packet8's service.

The Packet8 iPhone application doesn't require a software download (hmm, the Apple people might not be happy about not getting a cut), but uses a customized web-based dialer accessible through a standard data plan or WiFi connection to route calls to a unique local Packet8 access number and onto Packet8's VoIP network. Once the call has been started, the data connection drops out and the call is carried to completion over the cellular provider's network with Packet'8's international calling rates applied.

A spokesperson for 8x8 describes the iPhone version of MobileTalk to be even simpler to install than the versions for other smart phones (Sure, web browser, no download).

For more:
- 8x8 iPhone product release

Related articles:
8x8 jumps into SIP trunking
8X8 gets serious about Mobile VoIP

SPOTLIGHT: TruPhone iPhone

Doug Mohney — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:55:06 -0400

It's just not a new iPhone release without a VoIP story. News.com dials in a plug for TruPhone's new iPhone application, arriving via Apple's spanking new iPhone Application store on July 11. The VoIP app allows you to make long-distance calls through a WiFi spot, free to other TruPhone callers, landline calls billed at 6 cents per minute, mobile phone calls cost 30 cents per minute, an SMS text message is 20 cents. The client was first demoed back in September 2007.

For more:
- News.com blog on TruPhone for iPhone

Related articles:
TruPhone Buys SIM4travel
Truphone launches iPhone VoIP client

The power of VoIP in Adobe Flash 10

Doug Mohney — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:07:43 -0400

Adobe Flash 10 beta is being credited with super powers with the inclusion of peer to peer (P2P) and the ability to seamlessly integrate VoIP without a Skype install. Using P2P, Flash sites will be able to serve higher quality video than YouTube at a fraction of the cost. VoIP is enabled by a combination of the Speex audio codec and the Real Time Media Flow Protocol (RTMFP).

Anyone in the client-side VoIP space is vulnerable, says Adam Fisk. Writing a VoIP app now becomes as easy as writing a Flash video play, with all the "hard stuff" already done. And since it's in Flash, you don't need to worry about a separate install--unlike Skype. Finally, the code is not based on SIP or P2P-SIP in any way. Adobe's SIP work has so far only been shown in Adobe Pacifica, not in the Flash Player.

Adobe has put a lot of money into SIP, including the hiring of Dr. Henry Sinnreich, the "Godfather" of SIP. There has been continued talk Adobe would be offering some sort of service revolving around SIP, but the company has yet to make any official announcements. If Adobe could implement a P2P CDN and/or P2P-SIP infrastructure through Flash, it would be a serious game changer.

For more:
- Adam Fisk's blog on Flash 10 Beta being a YouTube, Skype, and BitTorrent Killer
- GigaOm chimes in on Flash P2P being disruptive; comment reading recommended.
- A prediction Flash based VoiP, Adobe please wakeup!
- A Spartan Adobe Pacifica Blog

Related articles:
Jobs: Adobe Flash not good enough for iPhone
Adobe Media Player, TV launched
Level 3 Adds Adobe Flash Streaming Server Support

Nimbuzz Retreads Familiar Ground

Doug Mohney — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:25:39 -0400

Nimbuzz has announced an application to provide free calls, chat and more, pumping an all-in-one solution for free mobile VoIP calling, conferencing calling, instant messaging, chat and group chat, and photo and file sharing across multiple IM communities, including Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo, and AIM, plus 23 social networks, including Facebook and Myspace. Is an offer to include a set of Ginzu knives far behind?

It's hard to get excited because of the glut of companies offering bits and pieces to the puzzle, ranging from Skype with a mobile client, free client-to-client calling and IM solution to Jajah/Jangl's bits splicing in VoIP to social networking. Nimbuzz's Swiss Army knife approach with a S****-out approach to pick up a couple of pennies per minute per call sounds tired. Skype isn't standing still either, moving to testing a mobile VoIP client in Europe and other improvements no doubt in the works.

Despite being officially announced today, Nimbuzz says it already has more than 500,000 registered users (collected through their beta started in January 2007) and is generating more than a million logins per week. The company resides in Rotterdam and boasts of venture and strategic funding by Mangrove Capital Partners, the VC backers of Skype.

For more:
- Nimbuzz TechCrunch/Washington Post write-up.

Related articles:
A fring fling on iPhone
Jangl and TalkPlus On the Block
Skype's mobilized phone play

SPOTLIGHT: Microsoft messenger for Mac muffed

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:59:53 -0400

Microsoft Messenger for Mac Muffed
Microsoft Messenger 7 for the Macintosh is getting a mixed review from TGDaily. There are various tweaks and improvements to make it behave more like its PC counterpart, plus some new enterprise features, but Microsoft left some holes in the implementation of audio calls and video conferencing. You can get audio calls, multi-party conference calls and video conferences, but only users who run the application in an enterprise environment and conjunction with Microsoft Communicator and Exchange Server; no joy for home users. Microsoft says VoIP and video calls to Windows Live Messenger will be enabled through updates "further down the road."

Enterprise users will be happy with improved integration with Office Communicator 2007, but Mac users will continue to rely on tools such as iChat and Skype to conduct audio and video conferencing. Then again, there's never been any love lost between Apple and Redmond.

For more:
- TGDaily's critique of MS Mac Messenger 7

UC--gotta have it

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:59 -0400

Many people have implemented VoIP and wonder "What's next?" They've logged the cost savings, they've simplified phone management, and maybe they have arranged for the IT people and the phone people to play together well (OK, maybe not so much on the last point …).

"What's next" boils down to UC in some shape or form. And it's coming out of the woodwork in places that are going to challenge the conventional thinking of IT executives and CIOs. Next week, CosmoCom will add mobility to its call center solution; which, oh-by-the-way, looks and smells like a UC solution that just happens to be labeled a call center solution. Presence, IM, and sophisticated routing capabilities enable first-line customer contacts to be connected with the right people in a matter of minutes, rather than hours. Answers come quicker, problems can be solved faster, happiness is more prevalent.

Being able to splice mobile phones into the mix means you can reach people faster, especially if they are they are out of the traditional office a lot. No more phone tag or trying a couple of different numbers before you find the correct one.

A more radical notion is that you don't need a desktop handset and mobile UC (The concept formerly known as FMC) will be UC. All business is conducted through the cell phone, with phone calls routed through the converged services node, or whatever you want to call it, to the proper parties. Corporate phone calls will be routed through that node, so the company gets billed and the worker doesn't gripe about his long-distance phone bill.

I like the corporate phone number as an alias to one's own phone. Who foots the bill for an upgrade to a smart phone enabling presence and IM is an interesting question, since it is highly unlikely everyone who needs a smart phone will have the supported type and PIT (Phone-IT) approved model. And there will be resistance to switch phones unless you standardize everyone on the Apple iPhone, which would make Mr. Jobs and AT&T stockholders happy.

Fierce is in the process of lining up speakers for our Unified Communications Conference at NXTcomm. If you need an excuse to come to Vegas in June, this is about as good as it gets if you are in the wide world of telecommunications. -- Doug

Skype's mobilized phone play

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:59:57 -0400

Skype has released a beta version of a mobile Java thin client that work on about 50 or so mobile phones, including models from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson. The beta version includes the usual feature set you'd expect from a Skype client, including chat, group chat, presence, and receiving calls from Skype users and through SkypeIn. However, support for Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls from the mobile handsets are only initially supported in seven markets: Rio (Brazil), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the U.K.

Skype says after the beta they expect to have a public version available to millions of mobile users around the world. Will it ultimately work with the iPhone? Nobody's saying. If you're already in '3' territory, Sky hints that you should get a 3 Skypephone.

For more:
- Skype's mobile phone software release
- Skype launches mobile app for 50 handsets

Related articles:
3 Mobile and Skype collaborate on VoIP phone
SPOTLIGHT: Skype ever working the mobile angle

InterOp's wireless VoIP flavoring

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Go to InterOp, see wireless VoIP-flavored promotions or technology. Agito Networks and Trapeze Networks both have Wireless/Mobile VoIP technology to show off in Las Vegas.

Agito is announcing details of the Enterprise Fixed Mobile Convergence (eFMC) Infrastructure Passport program, an ecosystem to get all the moving parts of services and local LAN bits to play well together. As part of your enlightenment, you can run around with a paper passport on the show floor, collect stamps by visiting at Agito's partners, and return back to Agito for a chance to win a dual-mode Nokia phone--they're not giving away an iPhone! Agito's mobility router appliance does smart management of dual-mode technologies using location-based technology and plays well with many other boxes and software.

Trapeze Networks will demonstrate its NonStop WirelessTM technology at Interop. Voice sessions over VoIP handsets over Trapexe MP access points and MX mobility controllers will be setup, then they'll pull the plug on an MX controller during an active call to demonstrate fully automated dynamic redundancy and scaling. Claims for NonStop WirelessTM technology include non-stop operation, in-service upgrades, and hitless failover while dramatically simplifying redundancy configuration.

For more:
- Agito Networks eFMC Infrastructure Passport release
- Trapeze Networks NonStop Wireless release

Truphone lands $32.7 million second round

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

VoIP and new mobile operator Truphone has raised $32.7 million in a second round of venture capital funding. Participants included "private investors" plus all of Truephone's existing backers.

Last week, Truphone purchased SIM4travel for around $2.64 million in cash and $2.56 million in stock, allowing the company to get assets including a travel SIM capability and mobile virtual network operator assets which will allow it to offer low-cost GSM calls worldwide via SIM card. The purchase also gives the company additional leverage in settlement discussions with other mobile operators; some have argued since Truphone conducts transport over the Internet by using WiFi instead of cellular infrastructure, there's effectively no cost to terminate calls.

Truphone's first round of $24.5 million in VC funding was closed in December 2006. The company boasts of a global network of SIP gateways, Nokia Siemens Network mobile network HLR and a GSM identifier and is capable of supporting 40 million customers worldwide. According to its corporate website, Truphone has attracted "tends of thousands" of users in 149 countries.

For more:
- Truphone VC Investment announcement
- GigaOm Blog Truphone Comment