Tag: CALLING

Google has made a pair of announcements concerning a tighter partnership with Sprint in the U.S. First, the Nexus S has arrived on Sprint's 4G network. Second, the two companies have worked together to deliver a seamless, app-free Google Voice experience to Sprint customers. Current Sprint users can now make a painless switch to Google Voice. No number porting is required -- existing Sprint ...

The GNU Project has begun laying the groundwork for another piece of "Free as in Freedom" software. This time, the group has its sights set on developing a Skype alternative which rivals the original in ease of use and functionality. Dubbed GNU Free Call, the program will rely on a "self-aware, meshed calling network" to deliver secure, anonymous VoIP. The GNU SIP Witch server will provide the ...

Over on its website, SayNow says it's "reinventing the phone call." With Google doing its best to reinvent the phone carrier, the two certainly seem like a good match -- which is probably why Google decided to purchase the startup. SayNow made a name for itself by offering to connect music fans with their idols, including artists like 50 Cent, Trisha Yearwood, and the Jonas Brothers -- who have ...

One reason users shy away from Google Voice -- or any alternative calling solution -- is because they can't bring their existing phone number with them. That could all be about to change, however, as several users happened upon an option to port their number to Google Voice. After checking to make sure Google is able to port a given mobile number, a $20 payment via Google Checkout is all that's ...

After a lengthy stay in Skype's beta sandbox, group video calling has finally been given the green light. The new stable Windows version now includes this feature as part of Skype's $8.99/mo premium offering. You can also get a group video calling day pass for $4.99. The official Skype blog post also mentions that the new build includes several improvements to video stability and quality. In ...

If you were lost without your Skype connection yesterday, the company's official blog has some heartening news for you this morning. Skype's engineers have been working hard to re-build the network of supernodes -- which had failed due to a software bug -- and have started seeing some encouraging signs. Users in various locations have been able to sign in again, and Skype reports that around 5 ...

Gmail's free phone service to numbers in the US and Canada has been extended until the end of 2011, according to the official Google Blog. Introduced earlier this year, the "call phone" button lets US Gmail users dial any phone number using their Google Voice numbers. The service was already guaranteed free through 2010. Google hasn't announced what its eventual domestic rates will be or revealed ...

The Google Talk app for Android is nice enough for text chatting on the go, but it lacks the video support offered by its desktop cousin. That could very well change in Android 2.3, if a recent discovery by Android Guys is an accurate indication of things to come. Nestled in amongst the files which shipped the Gingerbread SDK are a boatload of icons, including the ones you see above. The video ...

Not everyone who owns an Android smartphone has a glorious 4-inch Super AMOLED display in his or her pocket. Lower-priced devices like the HTC Wildfire have brought budget-conscious shoppers into the Android fold, too. But there's a downside to a device with a smaller screen: not all of the big name apps will run on them. If you've been cursing under your breath about the fact that you can't ...

fring, the popular multi-protocol text, voice, and video chat tool has just announced the addition of VOIP calling to their app for Nokia smartphones. Dubbed fringOut (sound familiar?), the new feature allows users to call just about any phone in the world from 1c/min. Don't own a Nokia phone? Patience, frugal caller: fringOut will be made available soon to users of fring's Android and iPhone ...

A while back, I tried to calm Mike Arrington down via a post -- he was quite worked about about Google's apparent scrapping of the rumored desktop client for Google Voice. No worries, I said, it's going to be coming to your browser soon enough. All the necessary bits are there, after all, at least in Google Chrome. Two days later, Alex Chitu seredipitously posted a screenshot of what appeared ...

Vonage just brought voice calling to Facebook with a new app for Android and iPhone devices. Vonage Mobile for Facebook lets you call any Facebook friend who has the app installed, without using Skype or having that friend's phone number. I like the concept of this app, considering that Facebook is usually the best contact list you can have, and not every friend you might want to talk to will ...

SkypeKit, a set of APIs that lets developers build Skype functionality into any app (or, theoretically, any device), is now in beta for Mac and Windows. SkypeKit originally launched on Linux, which actually makes a lot of sense when you consider how many electronic devices outside the PC market are powered by Linux variants. SkypeKit isn't just for computers: it could bring Skype to handheld ...

Google Voice and Google Chrome are two great tastes that taste great together, thanks to a new version of the Google Voice extension for Chrome. The extension gives you quick toolbar access to Voice features, including dialing, voicemail transcripts and SMS. What's more, phone numbers on webpages become click-to-call links, so you don't even have to type a number into your phone or paste it ...

Every time Skype for iPhone gets an update, there's a glimmer of hope that we'll be able to make calls over 3G again. Apple has re-opened the possibility, but hasn't yet approved the app that makes it possible. While the new Skype 1.3 might not be the golden ticket to dialing without wi-fi, it does offer some slick features to keep us happy in the meantime, including a horizontal keyboard and a ...