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Google Duo video calls are available on the web
Google is still making good on its shift in messaging strategy -- the internet pioneer has quietly rolled out Duo audio and video calls on the web in the US. So long as you've signed in to your Google account (no phone number checks or QR codes here), you can start and receive calls while you're sitting at your PC. This browser-based version still supports creature comforts like a preview window for video chats and can adapt to different video sizes.
Man sentenced to 65 months in prison over phone 'cloning' scheme
The US is tying loose ends on an elaborate cellphone crime spree. A Florida judge has sentenced Braulio De la Cruz Vasquez to 65 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges he worked with four co-conspirators (who've already pleaded guilty) as part of a ring that would 'clone' phones and use them for international calls. De la Cruz would receive identifying information linked to wireless subscribers' accounts and use that to "reprogram" cellphones he controlled. After that, his partners would send international calls to his home internet connection and route them through the hijacked phones, making the unwitting victims pay for others' calls.
Skype disappears from China's app stores
If you hope to download Skype to keep in touch while you're in China, you may be in for a rude surprise. Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi and other companies have been removing Microsoft's internet calling software from their app stores in recent weeks in response to a crackdown on VoIP apps that don't obey local digital security laws. The service still works if you already have the app installed, but you can't download a fresh copy or pay for features directly through stores.
Snapchat leak hints at a bid to fight Facebook Messenger
Snapchat has had features like live video calls for a while, but you almost wouldn't know it from the interface -- it's still built around those one-at-a-time photo and video messages. However, there are hints that Snapchat is giving its design a much-needed makeover. Leaked screenshots from Snapprefs' developers purport to show a hidden "ChatV2" interface where audio and video chat are obvious and easily accessible -- you'd always know when you could make a live call. There's also a revamped text chat interface that lets you send the stickers that have been all the rage in other messaging apps.
Brussels wants you to make internet calls to random locals
Brussels is having a tough time lately. While it's the effective capital of the European Union and famous for its street art, the combination of terrorism fears and an economic slump has kept the tourists away. The Belgian city has a clever solution for that, however: calling random people on the street. If you visit Call Brussels between 9AM and 7PM local time no later than January 11th, you can make internet calls to who picks up the phone in one of multiple public locations. As you've probably guessed, Brussels is hoping that you'll hear how wonderful the city is and book a vacation.
Kim Dotcom's secure chat service is launching 'soon'
Kim Dotcom has been touting development of a secure chat service for more than a year, but it looks like those plans are finally firming up. He now claims that the project will launch "soon," and suggests that it might be named MegaChat. Whatever it's called, it still amounts to a more NSA-resistant alternative to Skype. You'll get a "fully encrypted," web-based chat and video calling service that lets you quickly send large files (through Mega, naturally). That's all well and good, although it'll be better when Dotcom has something you can actually try -- it's easy to make big promises, after all, and this internet mogul won't recover his lost fortunes without a real product. [Image credit: Thierry Ehrmann, Flickr]
Kyocera Echo Gingerbread update bringing WiFi calling, NFC support? (update: sadly not)
Um, okay? Hot on the heels of rumors that Kyocera's Echo would see its first major Android update on August 1st, in flies an updated page over at the company's own website detailing the impending changes. Unless someone at Kyocera's pulling a fast one, it looks as if the imminent Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) update will bring a downright staggering list of new features, making an already unique handset capable of even rarer feats. Interest piqued? We're told that the refresh will provide pinch-to-zoom support in the browser, gallery, Maps and Sprint Navigation, an improved downloads app and an upgrade to the Swype 3.0 virtual keypad, with Tap Correction and Horizontal Word Choice list. But that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg -- the real kicker is the addition of "internet calling over WiFi" as well as "an NFC reader to interact with posters, advertisements, products, etc." You heard right, WiFi calling and a previously unmentioned NFC chip -- hopefully of the UMA variety, rather than just SIP. As of now, the only major US carrier to support WiFi calling is T-Mobile, and neither Sprint nor Kyocera have mentioned any secretive Near Field Communications module to us. The luckiest of the early adopters should see their over-the-air update swing through as soon as a half-hour, so be sure to let us know if this all proves true in comments below. Naturally, we'll be watching for the update on our own set and updating accordingly. Update: Bah, humbug! A Kyocera rep contacted Brief Mobile and explained that the feature page shown here went up prematurely, and that the WiFi calling and NFC support in particular weren't supposed to be listed. Consider our hopes dashed, and our dreams crushed. [Thanks, Brain_ReCall]
Google to acquire Gizmo5, swing at Skype with VoIP-enabled Google Voice?
There's no official word on this yet, but the inimitable Michael Arrington says that Google's up and purchased VoIP company Gizmo5 for "around $30 million in cash." You know, pocket change for the crew in Mountain View. The deal would presumably bring Gizmo's SIP-based VoIP talents to Google Voice, taking it from quirky phone-management service to complete end-to-end calling solution, and instantly catapulting it into direct competition with Skype. Heavy stuff -- we'll see if Google or Gizmo5 confirms Mssr. Arrington's report sometime soon.
Skype 2.2.0.45 adds in Windows Mobile 6.1 support
VoIP lovers, rejoice in unison. The latest version of your sure-to-be-favorite application has just added in support for Windows Mobile 6.1. No need to adjust your set -- the newly released Skype v2.2.0.45 does indeed play nice with the latest flavor of WinMo, so there's really no reason why you're still here reading this rather than starting a download. But we love you for it, so feel free to stick around if you wish.[Via SlashPhone]
Logitech's ClearChat PC wireless stereo headset does VoIP, too
What's the use in having a wireless set of cans to rock with and a separate contraption to make / receive Skype calls on? Exactly, thus the Logitech ClearChat PC was born. Of course, it's certainly not the first cordless set of stereo headphones to sport a microphone, but being that it's built on 2.4GHz technology, you can finally take your calling habits wherever you go in the house (well, within 33 feet of the USB transmitter) without fear of static ruining a good pep talk. Quite frankly, it's a little unsightly for our tastes, but those who can overlook that can pick one up (in the US and Europe, mind you) for $99.99 this May.
VoIP comes to MySpace through Skype partnership
Skype and MySpace -- that just sounds like a match made in heaven, no? If you're still scratching your head on how the two actually fit together, here's the low down: a new partnership between the pair will soon allow MySpace members to dial up other users by simply clicking a button in their profile. Of course, this is assuming you can actually find the aforementioned button in all of the site's clutter, but we digress. Starting in November, the service will reach users in some 20 countries around the globe, and while vanilla PC-to-PC calls will obviously be gratis, "premium options" such as personal phone numbers, voice mail, call forwarding and PC-to-landline / mobile calls will have an undisclosed pricetag attached. Welcome to a whole new realm of shock callin'.
Vonage struck again as court partly upholds Verizon verdict
When it rains, it pours. At least we're pretty sure Vonage thinks so, as for the second time in as many days, the firm has been hit with terrible news on the legal front. Just a day after being ordered to pay Sprint a whopping $69.5 million for patent infringement, the VoIP provider is now hearing that the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit "partially affirmed" the Verizon verdict from March. For those who have forgotten, that case proclaimed that Vonage owed Verizon $58 million in addition to royalties on future revenue, but the appeals court did "direct the trial court to reconsider the verdict on one of the three patents and it vacated the damages and royalty awards." Notably, the "injunction has been stayed pending resolution of Vonage's appeal," but it will go into effect within a month if the outfit can't secure an emergency stay from the US Supreme Court.
Vonage ordered to pay Sprint $69.5 million, royalties on future revenues
While there was once talk of just selling Sprint the keys to the (crumbling) Vonage offices, it's pretty safe to say that those plans are no longer in the cards. Apparently, Vonage Holdings Corp. "was ordered in federal court to pay $69.5 million in damages for infringing on six telecommunications patents owned by competitor Sprint-Nextel," and if that wasn't punishment enough, "jurors ordered Vonage to pay a five-percent royalty on future revenues." If you'll recall, this isn't the first time Vonage has had to cough up major quantities of dough after being sued for patent infringement, and although a spokesman for the firm "declined comment," the company has already announced that it will "seek to overturn" the verdict.Read - Vonage to pay Sprint $69.5 millionRead - Vonage to Appeal Court Decision in Sprint Patent Suit
Pudding Media eavesdrops on internet calls, displays relevant ads
Pudding Media, a California-based startup, is opening up a beta test of its internet calling service, and while calls are said to be completely free, there's most definitely a catch. Users making the call will be presented with advertisements that actually relate to the conversation taking place, as the company's speech recognition software picks out key words and beams in ads based on what you're yappin' about. Notably, the company actually seems quite interested in licensing its technology out rather than becoming "an independent provider of ad-financed internet phone calls," and while we're sure hordes of privacy advocates will be none too pleased with the setup, those without issue can head on over and give it a try today.[Via Yahoo]
Vodafone shows VoIP integration; non-committal about launch
The world's second-largest carrier is using CeBIT to demonstrate something very un-telecom-giant-like: integration with Internet calling services. Perhaps realizing that VoIP isn't about to just disappear like a bad dream, Vodafone has thrown together a demo app called "Starfish" that connects its handsets to all manner of voice-enabled IM services -- Skype included. Voda's wireless data network can breathe a sigh of relief, though; calls are mercifully routed via the traditional voice airwaves to some magical black box in the carrier's control, which then switches the remainder of the call over to the 'Net. Of course, such goodness stands to lose Vodafone fistfuls of cash, since calls that were once billed at international rates are now nothing more than a local hop to the radio base station -- no wonder, then, that the company is being wishy-washy about Starfish ever seeing the light of day: "We have not yet decided if we will launch it, or the commercial terms and prices."
Skype to FCC: open up those cellular networks, please
It's painfully obvious just how tight cellular providers have control over how their networks are used, which features are enabled, and what handsets are locked, but Skype is hoping to chip away a bit more at the mighty provider stranglehold by suggesting that wireless networks be made to carry Skype calls. In a recent petition to the FCC, Skype is purportedly "asking regulators to force cellphone carriers to loosen their controls on what kinds of hardware and software can be connected to their networks," essentially paving the way for free calls to be made over costly connections. Skype is asking that the so-called Carterfone rules (circa 1968) be applied to the wireless industry, which basically "allowed consumers to hook any device up to the phone network, so long as it did not harm the network." Unsurprisingly, carriers are less than enthralled about the notion, and a cellular trade group has already reacted by calling Skype's proposal one that "completely disregards consumer benefits provided by a competitive marketplace," which is certainly nominated for laughable statement of the year. As of now, no other companies are putting their collective necks out to join Skype's agenda, but hopefully it won't remain solo for too much longer.[Via ArsTechnica]
Asus showcases SideShow-enabled AiGuru S2 VoIP Skype handset
It sure didn't take long for this SideShow bandwagon to get overcrowded, as now we've even got a VoIP phone touting its SideShow functionality, not to mention its ability to interface with iTunes and Windows Media Player as well. While Asus' first attempt, the AiGuru S1, received lukewarm reviews at best, the refreshed version sports a lot more functionality, a color display, and a much slimmer profile. Aside from playing nice with 802.11b/g networks, touting three hours of talk time, and offering full support for Skype (including Skype ID and caller photos / avatars), this handset also rocks an internal speaker / headphone jack for wireless music playback, and also supports streaming from iTunes / WMP; moreover, users can purportedly check their email right on the display thanks to its SideShow pizazz. Although pricing information was absent, the AiGuru S2 will be hitting shelves alongside those PSTN-to-VoIP motherboards in the first quarter of this year.[Via Skype]
Thomson and Skype to release GE 28300EE2 VoIP phone
You know something's gone mainstream when corporate giants like Thomson and GE get involved, and these two are presumably validating the internet calling craze by teaming up with Skype to release a GE-branded VoIP / conventional landline phone. The GE 28300EE2 isn't too much different than the other computer-free units we've seen, and sports the DECT 6.0 protocol as well as a color LCD screen to view Skype messages and traditional caller ID data. Aside from handling both VoIP and landline duties, the device sports speakerphone, conference calling, a 100-name address book, and 10 hours talk / 120 hours standby time. GE throws in two (conservatively styled) handsets to get you started, but since six units are supported, you can snag a few more to prevent having to move a muscle to communicate with your entire household. You can get your VoIP on with the GE 28300EE2 "sometime this fall" for $149.99.
