smeology.co.uk » cheap phone calls

VoIP market grows

smeology — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:13:48 +0000

According to Research and Markets’ latest report the VoIP market has continued to grow in 2009, despite the difficult economic climate.

The report suggests that improvements in technology have helped VoIP continue to thrive, although security and reliability still cause concern.

One of the main benefits of the technology is reported to be the savings on cost offered by VoIP compared with traditional fixed line calls.

This view is echoed in a report from Frost and Sullivan which looked at the attitude of companies to VoIP and other new technologies.

The study found that 92 per cent, of IT managers believed that VoIP surpassed traditional phone systems for business use.

The research found that companies were investing in IP networks, in order to take advantage of features such as Cisco TelePresence and other collaboration technologies.

In a seperate development Skype has secured a deal with Lenovo for ‘Skype for Windows’ software to be pre-installed on Lenovo’s computers.

Skype’s VoIP and video-calling software will be loaded onto all of Lenovo’s Thinkpad laptops and ThinkCentre desktops, which target the enterprise market.

The Skype icon will be available via the Start menu.

There is also a VoIP or Voice Over IP article section, with articles including……What you should know about VoIP….Skype Smartphone….VoIP Providers Improve call quality…International VoIP…..VoIP explained….8 VOIP questions answered….Voice Over IP FAQ’s….What is VOIP ? etc

Skype to be integrated into Nokia phones

smeology — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:43:42 +0000

Nokia and Skype have announced plans to fully integrate Skype into some Nokia mobiles, with the Nokia N97 being the first to have Skype functionality.

Skype will be part of the address boom of the Nokia N97, enabling users to see when their Skype contacts are online. It will also enable Nokia N97 customers to use 3G and WiFI to make and receive Skype to Skype voice calls.

Skype will be rolled out on other devices after the Nokia N97 goes live in September 2009. New Nokia N97 devices will have Skype functionality pre-installed, whilst early versions will be able to get it through a software upgrade. Other select Nseries devices are also likely to come with integrated Skype functionality which includes Skype contacts, Chat, VoIP and Presence.

The first Skype-enabled Nokia N97 devices will be rolling out from the third quarter. Using Skype on your S60 device isn’t new, but the level of integration with the service and the device is. Skype won’t be running as a separate application, but actually plugged directly into your contacts, making the service a sleek and neat integration.

Since 2005, the number of registered Skype users has risen to 405 million from 53 million.

Skype Unlimited World

smeology — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:29:14 +0000

Specification criteria	Specification
Is there an initial sign up cost?	No
Sign up cost (£)	N/A
Details of what extras sign up includes	N/A
Contract or Pay as you go	contract
Monthly cost (£)	7
Monthly cost details	N/A
Is VoIP service available regardless of which ISP you use?	Yes
Details of ISP VoIP service is linked to (if applicable)	N/A
What is the minimum contract term? (months)	1

Making and receiving calls

Making and receiving calls
Can calls be made to traditional landlines?	Yes
Can calls be received from traditional landlines?	Yes
Is it free to receive calls from traditional landlines?	Yes
Are calls made through the user’s PC or by using an adapter?	Either
Can calls be made/received if the computer is switched off?	Yes
Are there any conditions for using VoIP when computer switched off?	The user has to have a device that has Skype embedded in it. Like the Philips 841 phone.
Does the package include free calls other than to users of the same service?	Yes
Details of free calls?	Anytime landline calls to 34 Worldwide destinations including the UK
Is it possible to make calls to the emergency services (ie 999 calls)?	No
Will the emergency services automatically know the location of the person who dialled the number (even if they are not at home)?	N/A
What happens if there is broadband problems?	The service won’t work

International call costs

International call costs
Cost of calling Australian landline (pence per minute)	0
Cost of calling Spanish landline (pence per minute	0
Cost of calling American landline (pence per minute)	0

Additional Features

Additional Features
Do you get free equipment as part of the package?	No
What equipment is provided free as part of the package?	N/A
Is the service compatible with Apple Mac computers?	Yes
Are there any conditions to using the service on a Mac computer	No
Free voicemail?	Yes
Free group calling?	Yes
Geographic number available?	Yes
Cost of geographic number	3 numbers free
How much does it cost to send an SMS (text) message from your VoIP service to a mobile phone?	Different rates depending on country. £0.064 for UK
Additional costs/services	All Skype calls to landlines are subject to a connection fee of 3.3 pence

Our VoIP or Voice Over IP section provides the reader with information on the Sype and Vonage packages and tariff details, the following articles are included……….Skype Unlimited World ….Skype Unlimited Europe…Skype Unlimited Country….Skype Pay As You Go….Vonage VPlan UK……Vonage VPlan free calls to 45 countries….Vonage VPlan 3 free calls to 25 countries……Vonage VOIP India Calling Plan….Vonage VOIP USA Calling Plan….

Skype Unlimited Europe

smeology — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:25:05 +0000

Specification criteria	Specification
Is there an initial sign up cost?	No
Sign up cost (£)	N/A
Details of what extras sign up includes	N/A
Contract or Pay as you go	Contract
Monthly cost (£)	3
Monthly cost details	N/A
Is VoIP service available regardless of which ISP you use?	Yes
Details of ISP VoIP service is linked to (if applicable)	N/A
What is the minimum contract term? (months)	1

Making and receiving calls

Making and receiving calls	Yes
Can calls be made to traditional landlines?	Yes
Can calls be received from traditional landlines?	Yes
Is it free to receive calls from traditional landlines?	Yes
Are calls made through the user’s PC or by using an adapter?	Either
Can calls be made/received if the computer is switched off?	Yes
Are there any conditions for using VoIP when computer switched off?	The user has to have a device that has Skype embedded in it. Like the Philips 841 phone.
Does the package include free calls other than to users of the same service?	Yes
Details of free calls?	Anytime landline calls to your choice of 20 destinations including the UK
Is it possible to make calls to the emergency services (ie 999 calls)?	No
Will the emergency services automatically know the location of the person who dialled the number (even if they are not at home)?	N/A
What happens if there is broadband problems?	The service won’t work

International call costs

International call costs
Cost of calling Australian landline (pence per minute)	1 ppm
Cost of calling Spanish landline (pence per minute	0
Cost of calling American landline (pence per minute)	1 ppm

Additional Features

Additional Features
Do you get free equipment as part of the package?	No
What equipment is provided free as part of the package?	N/A
Is the service compatible with Apple Mac computers?	Yes
Are there any conditions to using the service on a Mac computer	No
Free voicemail?	Yes
Free group calling?	Yes
Geographic number available?	Yes
Cost of geographic number	Free
How much does it cost to send an SMS (text) message from your VoIP service to a mobile phone?	Different rates depending on country. £0.064 for UK
Additional costs/services	All Skype calls to landlines are subject to a connection fee of 3.3 pence

Skype Pay As You Go

smeology — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:18:53 +0000

Specification criteria	Specification
Is there an initial sign up cost?	No
Sign up cost (£)	N/A
Details of what extras sign up includes	N/A
Contract or Pay as you go	PASYG
Monthly cost (£)	N/A
Monthly cost details	N/A
Is VoIP service available regardless of which ISP you use?	Yes
Details of ISP VoIP service is linked to (if applicable)	N/A
What is the minimum contract term? (months)	0

Making and receiving calls

Making and receiving calls	Yes
Can calls be made to traditional landlines?	Yes
Can calls be received from traditional landlines?	Yes
Is it free to receive calls from traditional landlines?	No
What is the charge to receive calls from traditional landlines?	£11.50 for 3 months or £40.25 for 12 months.
Are calls made through the user’s PC or by using an adapter?	Either
Can calls be made/received if the computer is switched off?	Yes
Are there any conditions for using VoIP when computer switched off?	The user has to have a device that has Skype embedded in it. Like the Philips 841 phone.
Does the package include free calls other than to users of the same service?	No
Details of free calls?	N/A
Is it possible to make calls to the emergency services (ie 999 calls)?	No
Will the emergency services automatically know the location of the person who dialled the number (even if they are not at home)?	N/A

International call costs

International call costs
Cost of calling Australian landline (pence per minute)	1 ppm
Cost of calling Spanish landline (pence per minute	1 ppm
Cost of calling American landline (pence per minute)	1 ppm

Additional Features

Do you get free equipment as part of the package?	Yes
Free Voicemail?	Yes
Free group calling?	Yes
Is the service compatible with Apple Mac computers?	Yes
Geographic number available?	Yes

Additional Features

Additional Features
Do you get free equipment as part of the package?	No
What equipment is provided free as part of the package?	N/A
Is the service compatible with Apple Mac computers?	Yes
Are there any conditions to using the service on a Mac computer	No
Free voicemail?	£3.45 for 3 months or £11.50 for 12 months.
Free group calling?	Yes
Geographic number available?	Yes
Cost of geographic number	£11.50 per month or £40.25 for 12 months
How much does it cost to send an SMS (text) message from your VoIP service to a mobile phone?	Different rates depending on country. £0.064 for UK
Additional costs/services	All Skype calls to landlines are subject to a connection fee of 3.3 pence

Vonage Vplan UK

smeology — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:40:28 +0000

Vonage Vplan UK is an accessible and good quality service. It is designed to replace or complement your existing phone line and use the service to make calls through your broadband connection to other landlines or mobiles.

Specification

Making and receiving calls

Is there an initial sign up cost?	Yes
Sign up costs	£18
Contract or Pay as you go	Contract
What is the minimum contract term?	12 months
Monthly cost	£5

Can calls be made to traditional landlines?	Yes
Can calls be received from traditional land lines?	Yes
What happens if there is a Powercut?	Vonage provides a facilitywhich will divert calls to your chosennumber should your power fail.
Can calls be made / received of the computeris switched off?	Yes
Details of free calls	Unlimited calls to the UK

International Calls Costs

Cost of calling Australian Landline	2p per min
Cost of calling Spanish Landline	2p per min
Cost of calling American Landline	2p per min

Additional Features

Do you get free equipment as part ofthe package?	Yes
Free Voicemail?	Yes
Free group calling?	Yes
Is the service compatible with AppleMac computers?	Yes
Geographic number available?	Yes

smeology.co.uk » cheap phone calls

VoIP market grows

Skype to be integrated into Nokia phones

Skype Unlimited World

Skype Unlimited Europe

Skype Pay As You Go

Vonage Vplan UK

Sign Up here for Vonage V Plan