voip

Speaking of convergence, the last place we thought we'd see a combo trend is the mouse and phone. That hardware mashup had initially been confined to some smaller brands like Taiwan-based Genius, whose mad scientists have produced such unholy marriages as combo camera-speakers.

But now Sony has come up with its own mouse phone (phone mouse?) for the Japanese market, an optical rodent that can be opened up for use as a Skype handset or propped up to become a VoIP speakerphone, according to Technabob. The Genius model still has one more function--it triples as an instant-message device--but Sony … Read more

A company called Jangl launched a service this week that promises to provide free and low-cost phone calls over the Internet to any phone and from any phone anywhere in the world.

Sound familiar? Well, it should. In the wake of Skype's success everyone and his brother are trying to use the Web to provide cheap phone calls. Jajah, Jaxtr, GrandCentral Communications--they all make similar promises.

Jangl's twist is that it claims all that is needed for its service to work is an e-mail address of the person you want to call. And voila, you'll be … Read more

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: More is not always better, when it comes to combo or all-in-one devices. And even when the combination of functions makes some sense, it's often at the cost of atrocious aesthetics.

Take, for example, the "Trio" Skype phone from Ipevo. Its features are logical--a handset, speakerphone and digital recorder, according to Everything USB--but just look at this thing. We first thought it was some kind of Taser or one of those handheld metal detectors that airport security uses when you've set off the threshold alarm.… Read more

Hopefully, you don't hand out your phone number to just anybody you meet on the street or online. But if you'd like to gab with people while retaining some anonymity, Jangl can hook you up. Launched today, this service provides users with virtual telephone numbers that route calls to your real phone number and messages to your e-mail in-box. Rather than being designed as a buffer between you and the masses you meet out on the town, Jangl (also here) focuses on allowing voice calls for relationships that begin on the Internet.

This privacy screen could add a … Read more

BBC News is reporting that British Telecom (BT) is teaming up with Sony to develop a voice and video communication service (via VoIP) for the Playstation Portable. Riding on BT's 21 Century Network, users of the software will be able to communicate with other PSPs, as well as some BT phones, using their own Internet service or one of the 2,000 BT hot-spot locations scattered across the U.K.

BT says that more information about the software and service will be announced at the Leipzig Games Convention in August. The camera and microphone kit, dubbed the "Go … Read more

Mobivox launched the beta of its new mobile-to-Skype service yesterday. Registered Mobivox users with Skype accounts can call local access numbers to be connected via a virtual operator to their Skype contacts, for free. The service works with landlines and mobile phones, and it requires no download to your phone or PC.

To use the service, just give Mobivox your telephone numbers and Skype account info. The service will sync your Skype contacts and make them available to call using the remote voice access system. Just call the number, and you'll get a virtual operator who takes voice … Read more

I get a lot of invitations for conference calls. And sometimes--sue me--I'm late to dial in, or I just plain forget. Awkwardness follows. A new telephone conference system, Gaboogie, can prevent this gaffe, by proactively calling all participants when a conference is scheduled to start.

I tried the service and like the concept, but I ran into a few snags.

Good news first: It works as advertised. You schedule a call for a particular time, enter in the names and numbers of the participants, and then Gaboogie calls everyone at the appointed time and puts them in the conference. … Read more

As fond as we are of the "Happy Kid" look, we woudn't recommend overdoing it by also getting Axive's "Q Internet Phone." Your kids will think Daddy's desk is a mini-playground and destroy everything on it accordingly.

That aside, we do appreciate the fact that gadget makers are getting more creative with the design of everyday desktop accessories like this, even one that includes a VoIP speakerphone, microphone, stereo speakers and Webcam as this device does, according to Everthing USB. If you're looking for a real combo gadget, though, you might consider … Read more

VBuzzer looks and feels like a basic instant messenger download, but it packs a whole lot more. It has your standard text chat and buddy lists, but also combines a Skype-like phone service, news feeds directly into the IM window, and the ability to send and receive faxes. VBuzzer is free to download.

While President and CEO Mike Mu says his target demographic is consumers--apparently not just young ones--and small businesses, it seems as though it might be tough to drag users away from established IM services, like AIM, Yahoo IM or MSN Messenger. He says his company is in … Read more