More voip Stories

Twilio is launching an SMS service that allows web app developers to add SMS-based functionality into their web apps for about 3 cents a message. Twilio also cut the per-month, per-phone number price to $1 a month from $5. Read more »

VoIP penetration among U.S. businesses will increase rapidly over the next few years, reaching 79 percent by 2013 according to research out today from analyst firm In-Stat. At this point I wonder what market represents the last stand for legacy voice; consumer landlines or mobile networks? Read more »

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While the world was watching Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveil the iPad, voice over IP programs that use AT&T’s 3G network were finally being released for the iPhone. So far iCall and fring have 3G VoIP apps while Skype and Nimbuzz do not. Read more »

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AT&T has amended the terms of use for the iPhone and now allows Apple has apparently updated its iPhone SDK to allow VoIP applications to run over 3G data networks. Previously, VoIP applications were only approved for sale in the App Store if they were limited to […] Read more »

When it comes to mobiles phones, if we want to talk more, we can expect to pay more. But VoIP over 3G networks could drastically change that. Carriers aren’t too keen on the idea, but some folks believe it’s the next logical step in mobile communication. Read more »

8×8 has launched a new application that allows you to add a “Call Me” button to your Facebook page, thus allowing you to receive calls without giving out your digits. Since you can control access to your Facebook page, this is better than Do-not-call list. Read more »

Ifbyphone acquired Cloudvox in a tie-up of players on the fast-changing Internet voice field. We’ll see more consolidation in the space as voice transitions from traditional networks toward an all-IP universe — and as traditional network operators try to differentiate their offerings. Read more »

Apple & AT&T have come under criticism for not allowing VoIP over today’s 3G mobile broadband connections when using the iPhone. People are still asking why there is no VoIP over 3G. Some think AT&T and Apple are a conniving bunch, but there’s an alternative theory. Read more »

When a crappy economy meets VoIP, cheaper IP telecommunications win, according to research out today from TeleGeography showing that the estimated growth of international telephone traffic in 2009 has slowed to a mere 8 percent, while Skype’s growth has accelerated by 51 percent. Read more »

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Rebtel, the Stockholm, Sweden-based VoIP service provider is buying Free World Dialing, a division of Toronto-based VoIP service provider, Talkster for an undisclosed amount. As part of the agreement, Rebtel will carry all of Talkster’s international traffic over its network. Read more »

Flat Planet Phone Co., an Israeli VoIP startup, has developed a new VoIP technology called Dynamic Caller ID, that essentially allows you to have dynamically generated multiple Caller IDs. These IDs depend on the local number being dialed. Read more »

Skype in an FCC filing said that net neutrality was “about growing the broadband ecosystem and preserving a borderless, open Internet” and promoting “investment, jobs and innovation.” It applauds the FCC’s broadband proposals but wants to keep wireless broadband networks open for VoIP services. Read more »

Skype has tapped former Sony Ericsson President and current senoir adviser to Silver Lake Partners Miles Flint to chair its board. With Flint’s experience and Skype’s contentious history, it’s a move that makes sense — on a number of levels. Read more »

A Google executive claims the company is “just scratching the surface” with Google Voice and will move aggressively to expand the offering next year. Which means network operators must ramp up their efforts to make their pipes smarter. Read more »

Telefónica, the parent company of O2, today announced the acquisition of Jajah for €145 million (about $207 million) in an all-cash transaction. The rumors of this deal emerged earlier this month. Read more »

After DOE Nod, a Long Road Ahead for Green Car Startups

Yesterday, rumors were flying that O2, a division of Telefonica, a large Spanish phone company was buying Israel-based VoIP company, Jajah for about $200 million. My sources say that despite the reports, the deal isn’t done and the price is lower than $200 million previously reported. Read more »

O2, a division of Telefonica, a Spanish telecommunications company, is a front-runner to buy Jajah, a 4-year-old VoIP startup. O2 offered $200 million, rumor has it, beating out Microsoft and Cisco. So why does everyone want a piece of the upstart? Read more »

Nimbuzz, a Netherlands-based messaging and VoIP company has released an Android app. It already offers its apps on the iPhone and Symbian platforms. The company says it just crossed the 13 million user-mark and is currently adding about a million new registrations each month. Read more »

We’d like to thank this week’s NewTeeVee sponsors: thePlatform: What’s Your TV Everywhere Strategy? Server Beach: Save 30% by switching to dedicated hosting by Server Beach Read more »

As our sister site GigaOM reports, video calling has indeed arrived on the iPhone. It’s just a little one-way, is all. A new version of Fring supports video calls made using both its own and the Skype network, but you’re only able to receive video, not […] Read more »

If you’re a Skype and an iPhone user then there is one feature you sorely miss: getting video calls on your iPhone. Not anymore! fring, a London-based messaging startup based in Israel, has released an upgrade that allows you to receive video calls on your iPhone. […] Read more »

OnSIP, from Junction Networks, offers professional, flexible, business-oriented Internet phone systems for business that could be a good value, depending on your needs. What You Get OnSIP offers most of the features one would expect from such systems, including call routing, voicemail, business hours rules, and […] Read more »

Skype, with its spinout from eBay complete and its legal troubles with founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis settled, is looking to the future, where it wants to become a ubiquitous real-time communications platform. And that means thinking about the next-generation Skype architecture and hiring a […] Read more »

Fring, the mobile messaging and social communication tool that works on many smartphone platforms, is now available on the Android platform. Users of Android phones can get the client software from the Android Market or from Fring’s WAP site. Fring for Android works over 3G, GPRS […] Read more »

First Cisco Systems decided to buy Norwegian video conferencing equipment maker Tandberg for about $3 billion. This week, Logitech, a Swiss computer peripherals maker, acquired LifeSize, an Austin, Texas-based private company, for about $405 million in cash. The two deals have brought the fast-growing but often-overlooked […] Read more »

Meg Whitman, former chief executive officer of eBay,  defended her decision to buy Skype in a radio interview with KTKZ’s Capitol Hour featuring Eric Hogue. Whitman is running for the office of the Governor of California on a Republican ticket, and is currently leading in the […] Read more »

[qi:081] Broadcom is hoping to lower the price of high-definition VoIP services by taking its BroadVoice codecs open source. But even if this move lowers the price for HD voice, will consumers pay even a marginal premium for a better quality call? The Irvine, Calif.-based company’s […] Read more »

Google is rumored to have bought Gizmo5, provider of a SIP-based service, for an undisclosed amount of money, according to a report on TechCrunch. If true, the deal would add another arrow to Google’s quiver as it takes on incumbents Microsoft and Cisco Systems in the […] Read more »

Skype has hired well-known VoIP expert Jonathan Rosenberg as its chief technology strategist, the company announced today. Rosenberg was highlighted as one of the Cisco executives Index Ventures’ Michael Volpi would bring over to Skype in order to help the company figure out a way around […] Read more »

Earlier today in response to my post about Nimbuzz, a good pal emailed to find out why the service didn’t work over the iPhone’s 3G connection. After all, a few weeks ago AT&T announced support for VoIP over 3G with much fanfare, a move that was […] Read more »

Nimbuzz, a Netherlands-based VoIP and messaging startup, is introducing a premium calling service called NimbuzzOut. This service is available via an upgrade of its mobile client, which is currently available from the iPhone’s iTunes Apps Store, the Ovi Store and GetJar. So far, Nimbuzz has offered […] Read more »

Earlier this decade, when cable companies started their foray into the phone business, not many gave them much of a chance to succeed. Sure, they could sell a lot of broadband connections, but no one thought they would be players in telecom services such as voice. […] Read more »

There is a good likelihood that Skype; its founders, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis; and a group of private equity investors led by Silver Lake Partners are close to settling their legal disputes, allowing eBay to sell 65 percent of Skype for about $2 billion. I had first reported the news this past weekend. As part of the settlement, Zennstrom and Friis are likely to get a board representation, and there is some talk of Index Ventures being out of the deal as well. Read more »

I spend a lot of time each day communicating with colleagues and clients, by phone, email, on social networks, and via the occasional fax. But when I need to have a short conversation and get an answer right away, instant messaging is hard to beat. Unfortunately, […] Read more »

When BT, formerly known as British Telecom, splurged and bought Mountain View, Calif.,-based Ribbit for $105 million some 15 months ago, I dismissed it as an attempt by an aging incumbent carrier to reinvent itself as a web-savvy, next-generation communications provider that was unlikely to succeed. […] Read more »

Can you believe that VoIP-based telephony services brought in nearly $20.7 billion in revenues during the first six months of 2009? Incredible as it might sound, it is indeed true, according to data reported by market research firm Infonetics Research. Read more »

A few days ago, Aliza provided some excellent planning advice on how to pick a company phone system. I’ve written in the past about three options for incoming service: Google Voice (which now lets you use some of its features with your existing number), 3jam, and […] Read more »

VoIP and messaging application provider BroadSoft, in conjunction with its BroadSoft Connections conference, today introduced a new app store, BroadSoft Marketplace, where users can browse and purchase VoIP and communications applications. In addition, through an “Xtended” program, Broadsoft-partnered operators and app developers can offer their own […] Read more »

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