The Skype 2.0 update hit iPhones yesterday and brings with it 3G voice calling. Which is huge if you view AT&T as the agnostic data pipe it should be. So, instead of paying their possibly exorbitant rates, we now have a legit alternative. All 2.0 improvements: Call using your 3G connection. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are … Read more
After CES I was pretty fired up about the possibility of a femtocell magicJack – a gadget to potentially route some of our cellular voice commutations over the Internet, thereby saving carrier minutes. The technical details were murky, but the concept seemed compelling. So I reached out to magicJack’s PR team and insisted they get one out to … Read more
Beginning tomorrow, Skype will be made available for download on 9 Verizon Wireless phones – 6 Blackberry models, and 3 Android handsets. Interestingly, this isn’t the traditional Skype experience we’re used to. International calls are handled as you’d expect, being routed over the data network at reasonable Skype Credit rates. But domestic calling doesn’t seem … Read more
Licensed photo by AP/Paul Sakuma While racing around Vegas during CES, I received a few inquiries regarding magicJack’s new cellular femtocell. Unfortunately, I missed them at ShowStoppers and the rep on the convention show floor was uninformed. Fortunately, post-show, I’ve been able to dig up some details (and a photo) via their PR firm. And … Read more
After a few false starts, it appears XStreamHD will be launching for real in 2010. As they’ll begin accepting pre-orders shortly for an expected spring delivery. I was pretty intrigued with their product offering as first described at CES 2008. However, CES 2009 was disappointing with a zero-hour press conference cancellation — possibly related to … Read more
Tonight at Digital Experience (in the Mirage), Ooma will unveil a slew of new VoIP goodness scheduled to hit Telo customers over the next few months. But first, a quick refresher… Ooma Telo is a hardware device (<$250) that provides pretty much unlimited domestic phone calling with no monthly fees utilizing whatever broadband provider you’ve … Read more
Need a Google Voice invite? Leave a comment and I’ll randomly pick at least 3 7 winners – hopefully tomorrow, before I leave on vacation. See our previous GV coverage here. If you’ve got invites you’d also like to share, let me know (dave@zatznotfunny.com) and we’ll work on hooking up even more of the ZNF … Read more
Ooma’s refreshed home VoIP hardware has started trickling into Best Buy brick & mortar outlets nationwide. And it’s safe to say that their full complement of retail partners will shortly have Telo ($250) inventory. I first caught sight of the product update last November and, like it’s predecessor (the Hub), Telo effectively offers unlimited US … Read more