Google wants you to use Hangouts for all your messaging needs, which is why the company is now adding free calls and other Google Voice features to the app.…
Read MoreResearch
Hold the phone: Google isn’t hanging up on Voice in Hangouts after all
At last week's Google I/O event, Google Voice news was noticeably absent from the stage, overshadowed by the new Hangouts service, which doesn't yet support Voice. Hold tight, says Google, it's coming.…
Read MoreSMS integration coming to Google Hangouts. Will Google Voice follow?
The new Google Hangouts brings together all of Google's messaging services and will soon see SMS integration. So where does this leave Google Voice in the big picture?…
Read MoreThe perfect murder: How Facebook will kill the phone as we know it
Facebook jumped into an already crowded VoIP market with the update of its Messenger app last week. Robert Gaal, of Karma, says the company's scale ultimately will allow it to kill off the phone.…
Read MoreIn new era, operators scorn over-the-top services at their peril
Consumers are gravitating to an ever expanding array of OTT services – much to the chagrin of telecom operators. Andreas Bernström, CEO of Rebtel, argues that not partnering up means missing out on big revenues and the control of their market.…
Read MoreGoogle Voice can now boot unknown callers to oblivion (or VM)
Google Voice gained new calling features giving users more control over incoming calls. While you could always customize ringtones or actions, you could only do so for known callers. Google Voice can now handle custom actions for people in your address book and for anonymous callers.…
Read MoreGoogle Voice VM now part of Android’s phone app
Google Voice on Android 4.0 devices gained a software update on Thursday, allowing users to listen to their Google voicemail directly in the native phone app. This type of integration is unlikely to appear on competing platforms, giving Android a potential differentiator.…
Read MoreRandom startups are eating almost $14B in operator sales
Viber. WhatsApp. Google Voice. These services are alternative ways to send IMs or speak across mobile platforms and are challenging the mobile carriers at their own game. In the last year, these apps and more familiar services helped cut $13.9 billion in operator revenue.…
Read MoreRogers’ new One Number: Is this the future of telco voice?
It was only a matter of time before a major operator abandoned its territorial notions about mobile voice and adopted a true ‘softphone’ service, and that operator appears to be Rogers Communications. It’s severing the bond between the mobile phone number and the mobile phone.…
Read MoreQuick tip: Use a Bluetooth headset with your iPad for making calls
Previously, we told you how you can use your iPad as a telephone. Using a Bluetooth headset with your iPad makes that idea even more practical. The Jawbone ERA is the one I happen to use, but others should work just as well.…
Read MoreCan Samsung’s 5.3″ Galaxy Note bridge phone and tablet use?
Samsung's Galaxy Note straddles the line between smartphone and tablet, thanks to the 5.3-inch display. As voice calling has become a secondary feature for some smartphone owners, is the next growth market one filled with these devices that double as both smartphone and tablet?…
Read MoreGoogle To Be Mobile Operator In Europe, Starting In Spain? Doesn’t Seem So
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) has worked its way into the center of the mobile industry with its Android OS, many mobile services and potentially even……
Read MoreUpdated: Ribbit croaks, just three years after $105m BT deal
The decision by British Telecom to buy internet telephony service Ribbit for $105m in 2008 drew out plenty of questions. Three years later the criticisms have come full circle, with news that the most visible part of the business is being shut down.…
Read MoreCaller ID arrives on T-Mobile phones, old school style
Knowing who's calling your mobile phone before you take the call is great, right up until you get a call from someone not in your contact list. T-Mobile phones can get old-school caller ID functionality with Name ID, a new monthly subscription service engineered by Cequint.…
Read MoreThese are the developers filling Google’s iPad app gap
Google hasn't made nearly as many native apps for the iPad as it has for the iPhone, so you can probably count Google among those who think a web-based, cross-platform solution is just as good as an app for tablets. Luckily, third-party developers don't agree.…
Read MoreYour iPad’s a Telephone With Google Voice
Out of the box, Apple has you covered on your iPad 2 with FaceTime for video chat. But if all you want to do is replicate a phone connection, Google Voice and two native iOS apps may be just what you're looking for.…
Read More9 Great Alternatives to Skype for VoIP and Video Chat
While there's probably no single provider that provides an exact like-for-like replacement for all of Skype's features, there are plenty of companies offering great VoIP and video calling services; some of which are even better than Skype's. Here is a list of my favorites:…
Read MoreKinect + Skype = Video Calling Magic
There may be many questions about Microsoft's decision to buy Skype, but one thing is for sure: It can take video conferencing video calling to a whole different level, thanks to Kinect. If you watch these videos, you can easily imagine the future of video calls.…
Read More8×8 Virtual Office Solo: A Business Phone Service for Individuals
If you have a one-person office and are looking for an affordable telecommunications package, provider 8x8's new Virtual Office Solo may be worth a look. Calls may be sent and received through most web browsers. When you're away, calls can be forwarded.…
Read MorenetTALK Duo: Cheap VoIP Calls, No PC Required
netTALK has introduced the Duo, a hardware-plus-service option that's about as simple to set up as anything I've seen. Plug it into an Ethernet connection, power and a phone, activate it, and you've got unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada, and cheap rates elsewhere.…
Read MoreWhy Carriers Still Matter — for Better or Worse
Carriers no longer dominate the mobile world thanks to the emergence of Apple, Google and the rise of third-party app stores. But they can retain -- or even increase -- their relevance by leveraging a few important things.…
Read MoreGoogle Voice Goes Mainstream With Sprint Integration
Sprint today becomes the first U.S. carrier to integrate Google Voice across its entire handset lineup, including feature phones. Customers who opt-in can use their current Sprint number for Google Voice or get a new Google number to be used for their Sprint service.…
Read MoreCanada’s Answer to Google Voice: TellFi’s Free Phone Service
Consumers and small business looking for Google Voice-type service in Canada may want to dial up TellFi, a small virtual phone service startup. The company just announced free calls for Canadians and the service includes intelligent phone routing, voicemail transcription and even virtual phone extensions.…
Read MoreGoogle Voice Now Lets You Bring Your Own Number
Google Voice has been a great tool for people to manage their communications. But it did not allow porting of existing mobile numbers, which limited its adoption. Now, Google has quietly enabled number porting for Google Voice though it comes with some hurdles.…
Read More