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Vonage VPhone Reviewed

smeology — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:44:08 +0000

The Vonage V Phone is an Internet telephone on a USB stick that has its own ‘virtual’ landline number.

Vonage has come up with this nifty little phone on a stick (a USB stick that is) that turns your laptop into low-cost phone and virtual office.

Set-up could not be easier – you just take the lid off the USB stick and plug it into a USB port. The software launches itself from the USB stick. Dialling is via an on-screen virtual keypad and you can dial by typing the numbers in or by clicking with your mouse.

The Vonage V Phone headset, consists of a pair of ear buds, a microphone bead and a clip to attached it to your clothing, plugs into the side of the USB stick.

Call quality is generally good. One cool feature is that the V-Phone has an assigned virtual landline telephone number . This means that anyone can call you , wherever you happen to be, by calling the number assigned to your phone. It’s a handy way for your contacts to call you without racking up huge bills.

Voicemail is supplied so if your laptop is switched off or you don’t have the USB stick plugged in, you won’t miss a call.

The system works through a broadband internet connection, either wireless or wired, so you’ll be able to use the V-Phone in plenty of places. Remember that some hotspot providers ban the use of internet telephony services like this from their networks.

The VPhone is good if your doing lots of international travelling, where it is a lot cheaper than a mobile and it gives people the ability to call you on a fixed landline which is cool.

Compare Vonage and Skype tariffs and features for Vonage Vplan UK. Skype Pay As You Go, Vonage VoIP India Calling Plan, Skype Unlimited Europe, Vonage VPlan 5, free calls to 45 countries, Skype Unlimited World free calls to 34 countries, Vonage Vplan 3 free calls to 25 countries, Vonage Vplan 2 free calls to 15 countries, Vonage VoIP India Calling Plan, Vonage VoIP USA Calling Plan. See the Smeology VoIP Comparison Guide for all the best Voice Over IP deals

The Skype Phone Reviewed

smeology — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:41:58 +0000

The Skype Phone allows users that’s why you’re able to make both ordinary 3G calls on this handset as well as using it to access Skype voice over IP services.

To use the Skype Phone you need to pay a monthly subscription or pay for a handset then pay as you go.

So the Skype Phone is a mobile Phone that also allows you to make free Skype to Skype telephone calls. 3-Mobile provides the mobile telephone network and Skype does the VoIP part.

If you want a good basic mobile which is cheap to use and have a network of contacts who all use Skype, this handset is ideal.

The Skype Phone can be purchased on an 18-month contract from the 3Store.

The Skype Phone handset is manufactured by handset maker Amoi. The Skype Mobile/VoIP combo phone, because that’s what it is offers a slim design and cool backlit buttons. You can access the 3-Mobile network and 3’s Planet 3, to access tunes, games, and mobile tv clips, news and content from the likes of MTV and Warner Bros.

Accessing Skype is pretty straightforward – you can set up a new account or access an existing one when you press the Skype button. Now this isn’t full-blown Skype here. You can’t use it to access SkypeIn and SkypeOut services – the ones that let you have your own follow-me telephone number and for you to call any landline or mobile number for a small fee. This is understandable – 3 wants you to use its network for this purpose.

Sound quality is generally good and with no problems with dropped calls in the time I have been using it.

New Vonage VoIP Services for 2010

smeology — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:52:33 +0000

VoIP company Vonage has announced new features in its Vonage World Mobile app. The app is available now for Apple’s(AAPL) iPhone and iPod Touch as well as BlackBerry (RIMM) devices.

Given the title Vonage Mobile the free VoIP app enables users to place international calls from their mobile devices. iPod Touch owners can do so by placing calls through Wi-Fi. BlackBerry owners will transmit calls over the cellular network only. iPhone owners will be able to place calls from Wi-Fi through the AT&T’s network in the United States.

While the international service is available on both cellular and Wi-Fi, free domestic calls in the US can be made over Wi-Fi on the iPhone and iPod Touch without using up minutes. Existing customer contacts and cell phone numbers will be used for connections.

Vonage expects dynamic growth for the company as mobile devices become more advanced, high speed broadband becomes more prevalent, and 3G/4G networks become more open. Recent pushes in mobile tech have buoyed a sharper rise in VoIP use.

According to Vonage, its app will help users save up to 50 percent on international calling charges levied by carriers. After downloading the app, users need to enter an international number. They can also select a call recipient from their existing iPhone or BlackBerry contacts list. Those who receive calls will see the user’s cell phone number on their caller IDs. Charges will be taken against the user’s credit card, which they need to input when they first start using the app.

Vonage’s app launch comes on the heels of controversy over whether Google’s similar Voice app should have been denied access to Apple’s App Store. Vonage’s new mobile app is available now in Apple’s App Store and Research In Motion’s BlackBerry App World. Both versions are free.

See the Smeology VoIP Comparison Guide for all the best Voice Over IP deals

VoIP to be more popular in 2010

smeology — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:07:57 +0000

Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP is expected to become more widespread in 2010.

A number of expects including Chad Behling, of open source software company RockBochs, expect market growth in the VoIP sector over the next few years “as bandwidth increases and users adjust to declining analogue lines”.

He went on to add that the global economic slowdown has actually been beneficial to manufacturers of VoIP products as businesses want to cut down on their external communications costs and VoIP can be an effective way to do this.

It has been estimated that VoIP and telephony are set set to expand during 2010, with the unified communications and collaboration market reaching a value of $7.4 billion (£4.6 billion) by the end of the year.

Advances in networking technologies over the past few years have had a significant impact on the way businesses deploy telephony services and has stepped up the industry’s shift from PSTN, or old fashioned fixed lined telephony towards Voice over IP (VoIP) based offerings.

Chad Behling believes that said there will be significant market growth in the VoIP sector over the next few years as bandwidth increases and the use of analogue lines declines.

He explained that the VoIP sector has benefited from the global economic crisis, because firms are looking to cut down on external communication costs and are turning to VoIP providers such as Skype and Vonage in order to do this. He added that the ”explosive growth path” is expected to continue well into 2010.

See the Smeology VoIP Comparison Guide for all the best Voice Over IP deals

IP and VoIP Phone Features

smeology — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:29:08 +0000

There is a wide range of IP phones available today; but for the most part, IP phones can be divided into the following categories:

Desktop: today’s desktop IP phones typically include single-line access, a limited number of interactive soft keys and a screen with browsing and instant messaging capabilities. Top of the range IP phones also feature a backlit, high-resolution, touch screen for easy access to communications information applications and special features.

Wireless: Wireless IP phones are becoming more and more popular with the increase of wireless networks. That’s because wireless IP phones contain a wifi adaptot that allows it to connect to a wifi network. Although slightly more expensive than wired phones, wireless devices can deliver long-term cost savings, with access to cheaper Voice over Ip (VoIP) vendors such as Skpe and Vonage.

Conferencing: IP conferance phones offer instant, face-to-face communication between two or more participants. Ideally suited for small or medium-sized conference rooms, these specialty phones incorporate a camera, speaker, keypad and handset in a single unit.

Client Matter Code or CMC: This featrure allows businesses to bill each of their organisational units for calls made and identify which areas receive which volume of calls. After being specified by a system administrator, the CMC can provide billing information to each department for accounts purposes.

Corporate Directory: IP phones with this feature have a soft key or button which lets users place a call to a number in the directory listing. Searchable directories appear on the phone’s display for easy to access.

Smeology provides a Voice over ipVoip Comparison section , Skype Unlimited world, Skype Unlimited Europe, Skype Pay As You Go, Vonage VPlan UK, Vonage Vplan 5 free calls to 45 countries, Vonage Vplan 3 free calls to 15 countries, Vonage VoIP USA Calling Plan, Vonage VoIP India Calling Plan

VoIP sales on target for over $40b for 2009

smeology — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:30:37 +0000

The recession may have given a boost to worlwide Voice over IP (voip) sales.

It has been reportred that in the first 6 months of 2009, VoIP services brought in nearly $21 billion in global revenue. The report by market research firm Infonetics Research, stated that sales of residential and business services VoIP services are on target to grow by even more in the second half of the year.

Residential VoiP services account for the majority of revenue, with the number of subscribers growing 14 percent from the end of 2008 through the first half of ‘09. On the business side, the research firm said it expected IP Centrex and hosted unified communications service revenue to grow 26 percent year-over-year.

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

The end of the Landline

smeology — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:40:14 +0000

Telecoms experts are predicting the death of the landline as figures show their use is plummeting, as demand for mobile technology booms.

The cost of mobile calls dropped 47% between 2003 and 2008, while that of landlines fell by only 18%, according to Ofcom, the regulator. The average mobile bill, at £16.71 a month, is now lower than the average landline bill at £21.57.

Mobile operators are becoming increasingly competitive. Many broadband firms place a requirement for a landline for their home internet services, but it is possible to get a broadband and phone service without a landline. But there is a number of ways to ditch the landline and still get broadband.

Fixed Line Broadband tends to give the fastest home internet connection, and almost all providers require a landline, which costs about £11 a month. However, Virgin Media uses a fibre optic network which provides broadband without the need for a landline telephone. A 10Mb broadband deal will cost £20 a month or a “bundle” that includes broadband and a landline is £25 a month. Only half the country is covered by Virgin, so for many people — particularly those in rural areas — this is not an option.

Mobile Broadband is an alternative is to use a “dongle”, which provides access to the internet via the 3G mobile network. Only 3% of households use a mobile dongle as their sole access to the internet, according to Ofcom, but the take-up is rising rapidly.

Pay-as-you-go deals from 3 and T-Mobile cost as little as £20 a month for 1GB of downloads — which is adequate for anyone wishing to write and browse e-mails. Signing up to a contract can cut costs even further. For example, 3 charges only £10 a month for up to 1GB of downloads if an 18-month contract is signed.

About 12% of households have a mobile phone but no landline, compared with only 7% with a landline and no mobile.

What you should know about VoIP

smeology — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:56:15 +0000

If you’ve read a few articles on Smeology you should know about Voice over Ip (VoIP), Internet Telephony or broadband telephony as it is also sometimes called…. its’ ease of use and the savings on your phone calls. However, below there is a few tips to choosing your Voice over IP provider.

The quality of your VoIP depends on the service provider – In general the bigger VoIP service providers have more Points Of Presence or PoPs, in general the more PoPs the better. A VoIP provider with a huge amount of PoPs and switches is able to offer better voice quality than a provider with a small number of PoPS…its’ that simple.

If your broadband provider is not able to provide you with a good Broadband connection …it would be wrong to blame the VoIP service provider for the poor service when your Internet connection is slow…so for a good VoIP service make sure you have a good Internet or Broadband connection.

When selecting a VoIP service provider the tariff or cost of the call is not always the most important consideration. You should also consider factors like quality of service and 24 hour support as other factors too. Its’ essential that your VoIP provider offers you round the clock technical support to ensure reliability for your service. The support will usually come in the form of a Service Desk with some VoIP providers also providing live chat, for fault rectification.

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 Smartphone

smeology — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:22:02 +0000

With the rapid rise of wireless networks it is now possible for a kind of mobile phone to communicate between two nodes using the same wireless network. Skype have developed a mobile which can be used in a wi-fi network to make free phones calls to other users using Skype. Since the new Skype phone can be taken anywhere and used within the radius of the wi-fi network and continue the conversation with the other user.

The new Skype phone acts like a mobile phone with the capability to take the Skype phone anywhere without interruption to the call. The Skype phone also comes with the most popular mobile phone features such as a contact list, call history, voicemail, add a contact, change your status, search for your contact and look to find out how much Skype call credit you have available.

There are huge benefits to using this new Skype Smartphone with the most obvious one being the cost of calls. Skype to Skype calls are are free, the only cost is that of buying the Skype hardware. With wi-fi networks becoming more and more available throughout the country the prospect of using the Skype phone to make free phone calls increases. The shared wireless roll-out helps Skype provide better voice transmission capability.

Since the Skype hardware is based on wi-fi technology when the Skype phone is switched on it automatically searches for a wi-fi connection, just like your laptop. The Skype phone is definitely much cheaper than using mobile phones, so it may shake up the mobile phone networks like vodafone, o2 and orange to innovate and change their tariff structures which can only be good news for the consumer …hurrah.

VOIP Providers Improve Call Quality

smeology — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:20:46 +0000

The services provided by VoIP providers varies depending on the size, operation and requirements of their users. These services allow users to make long distance or international calls at minimal rates and increase call productivity.

The way VoIP or IP Telephony works is very simple. It converts the analogue signals into digital IP packets and transfers it over the internet. These digital signals are converted into digital IP packets and transferred over the internet, they are then reconverted into analogue signals when the call reaches it’s destination.

VoIP services are becoming more popular by the day. VoIP service providers now offer clients additional add-on benefits like voice mil, 3-way calling, caller ID, call forwarding and call waiting.

VoIP enables users to make calls directly through the Internet as it uses a single cable for sending and receiving data, voice and video. Therefore, it reduces costs and passes on this cost reduction directly to you.

The services VoIP providers give their users varies from provider to provider. The aspects you must keep in mind when choosing your VoIP package are:

.Quality of service. When searching for a VoIP service provider, you must look out for the quality of service in terms of ACD (average call duration), ASR (average success ratio) and PDD (post duration delay). For better service, always choose the VoIP provider who offers a higher ACD and lower PDD.

. Rates. In order to get the best call rates check our VOIP section.

. Support services. The provider must operate their customer support services around the clock. This is because VoIP has a local and a global presence, which is why they offer both cheap and international call costs. Users must look for VoIP solutions providers who give the best services in terms of quality of service, 24×7x365 hours online support and ensure smooth working of daily operations.

. Cheap international call rates. To get their hands on cheap international call rates users must get their VoIP service from reputed providers.

. Other important considerations are that you must select the VoIP provicer that offers the best services in terms of speed, voice quality, call tarriffs and service features.

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