Spracht Aura Mobile Portable Bluetooth Speakerphone

At first glance we weren’t sure what the Spracht Aura Mobile BT was. It kind of resembles a mouse, but the built in speaker threw us off. Turns out that the Aura Mobile BT actually is a bluetooth enabled product that can turn your cell phone, computer, or home phone in to a high quality conference phone on the go. It features echo and noise cancellation and promises to work without software. It’s also compatible with Skype, Yahoo messenger and most VOIP programs but it’s greatest aspect is its portability factor. After all, you never know when you’ll need to suddenly have a conference call when you’re on the go. The Spracht Aura Mobile BT retails for $129.

Web-Based ThePudding Offers Free Long Distance Phone Calls

ThePudding is a new web-based service in Beta that lets you make unlimited free phone calls to any phone number in the U.S. or Canada. The catch is that, using a technology somewhat similar to Google Adsense, your conversation is monitored, and as you talk advertisements, news and images related to your conversation come up on thepudding site. The quality of the calls vary, and isn’t up to par with Skype, but it’s hard to complain too much when it’s free. [Read more]

3 Skypephone Lets You Make Skype Calls via Your Cell Phone

Sure there are a million Skype wifi or landline phones available, but this is the first true Skype mobile phone we’ve come across. The new 3 Skypephone lets you take advantage of ridiculously affordable Skype rates  and free Skype to Skype calling on your own cell phone. And the phone itself is cheap, retailing for just 50GBP on a prepay plan. The phone also supports web browsing and other standard features. Unfortunately if you live in North America you won’t be able to get one of these, only those lucky Europeans across the pond can score one for now. [Read more]

MagicJack USB Device Offers Unlimited Calling for a Year for Just $39.95

MagicJack is a complete phone service that comes equipped on a USB key. Plug the MagicJack in to your computer’s USB port, plug a telephone line in to the MagicJack and with in a minute and the MagicJack software will automatically load. You’ll then be able to make and receive calls using any home telephone handset. MagicJack comes with a phone number, magicfree local and long distance, free voicemail (you can receive messages even when you’re offline), caller ID, call waiting, free directory assistance, call forwarding, free three way calling, and emergency 911 dialing - and you get all of that for just $39.95 for the first year and $19.95 for the each year thereafter. [Read more]

MobileTalk Lets You Make Really Cheap International Calls from your Cell Phone

One of the biggest VOIP providers in the U.S., Packet8, is now offering a new service to help save lots of money when making international calls on your cell phone. The service is a lot like Jajah and similar VOIP apps. First you sign up for a MobileTalk account and then you will receive a text message with a link to download the MobileTalk software on your phone. Once the MobileTalk application is installed on your phone, you can dial international call straight from your handset. You can even dial directly from your ordinary contact list. The rates are really good. For example, calling the U.K. is just 0.02$ a minute, while India is 0.059$ and Australia is 0.03$. Needless to say that is a lot less than what your cell phone carrier will charge you if you dial those countries. (eg: AT&T charges $1.49 per minute for calling to the U.K.). [Read more]

iSoftPhone VOIP Client Looks Like an iPhone

Yes, we know that everyone loves the iPhone and that it hass inspired a whole  slew of imitators - mostly hardware imitations anyway. Now there is a VOIP program that has been designed to emulate the look and feel of your iPhone, even on your desktop. “iSoftPhone is an internet phone that uses VoIP to provide users with very cheap telephone calls in a beautiful interface.” The Mac compatible software claims to have crystal clear voice quality, an address book which integrates with your MAC OS address book, the ability to choose the VOIP provider of your own choice, customizable ringtones and skins, and it will pause your iTunes music when calls come in. iSoftPhone retails for $75.

AIM Call Out Lets You Call Phones on the Cheap

While we’re pretty fond of Skype, but for instant messaging we prefer old school AIM. AIM is now offering a competitive Skype-like service named Call Out. Call Out lets you dial from your PC to a regular phone. The service is pay as you go, with extremely international competitive rates. 2 cents to Australia, Canada and China are just some of the great prices. And for all of you AOL haters out there, cut them some slack already!

Philips VOIP841 Skype & Landline Dual-Phone Review

Admittedly I am a casual Skype user and I really only use Skype to talk to friends overseas, where Skype seems to be even more popular then it is here. I’ve eyed several Skype handsets in the past but never jumped ship because I didn’t like that your computer had to be powered on and that you had to be signed on to Skype in order to use it. Thus the fact that the Phillips VOIP841 lets you talk on Skype without having your computer turned on, well that caught my attention right away. The other main feature that piqued my interest, though not quite as unique is the fact that the handset works with your regular landline as well.

Setting up the VOIP841 was as easy as connecting its base station to my wireless router and to my land line. The included instructions were easy to understand and no software installation was required to get it up and running. However you of course need to have a Skype account. The package generously comes with skype credit for 120 outgoing minutes and 12 months of voicemail.

When you turn on the phone it initially asks you to enter your Skype username and password account information. Once that is set up you are ready to start sending and receiving phone calls. After you dial a number and hit send, the phone’s interface gives you an option to select Skype or landline as the method for making your phone call. It’s an easy two step process, that doesn’t require any complicated steps to switch between Skype and your old landline - and that is the way it should be. You can also access your Skype contact list and scroll through it and choose who call.

[Read more]

Philips Skype Web Cam Review

It’s amazing how the web cam and the technology behind it has evolved over the years; from being a device that produced mediocre video at best to its present day incarnation of delivering crystal clear video and breath taking crisp pictures. It is safe to say, that web cams are very much at the forefront in today’s computing environment. The use of personal web cams is very much embedded into our culture (just look at social networking sites like You Tube or My Space).

Thus, many web cam manufacturers are always looking to incorporate a human element into their technology. Take for instance the Philips web cam with Skype ($39.99). Skype is the wildly popular video/audio service that enables one to talk on the internet using Skype’s video conferencing network via a web cam or a Skype enabled phone.

Sporting silver on black and weighing less than one pound, this device reminded me of a mini observation microscope with its rotund shape. The included head phones were fairly comfortable and light weight. The web cam instructions were straight forward and very easy to follow. This web cam is only compatible with Windows (sorry Apple users). I used Windows Vista in testing out this web cam and the drivers weren’t on the installation CD (information on the CD clearly pointed this out) and directed me to the link to download the Vista Drivers.

[Read more]

Sliding Mouse VOIP Phone Suffers from Identity Crisis

We’ve seen many computer mice that double as VOIP handsets, but this mouse sports a very unique design. The mouse slides open to reveal a numeric keypad, a speaker-phone, while the top of the mouse has a backlit LCD screen that displays contact details, time and other information from the chat program, making the mouse look a lot like a cell phone. Also, the 800 dpi mouse also does double duty as a computer speaker, but at just 1.5watts, it wont replace your regular speakers anytime soon. The sliding mouse is available in red black or silver for $24.13 and is compatible with most popular VOIP programs.

Send Free Voice Messages to Your Friends

We’ve mentioned Pinger before, a neat new technology that brings you free voice messaging for your cell phone. Pinger is a really great communication tool that can make your life simpler. Basically, the way it works is that if I want to send you a message but I don’t want to bug you (I know you are in a meeting, at a movie, etc) you call the Pinger number (a local call) on your cell. The first thing you hear is “who do you wanna message?”. You say the name of the person. You say your message and send it. The recipient gets a text message that prompts them to dial the local number and presto they get your voice message. I have had to get messages to people at odd hours and have used it and it really is quite handy. In case, you’re a bit confused, check out the Pinger video that describes it quite well. You can also try it yourself by calling 310-651-6366 to send a free message now.

SOLO Skype Desktop Phone with Color LCD

The SOLO Skype Desktop Phone looks like a standard corded land line handset but it’s actually a VOIP phone designed to use with Skype. The device has a bright 2.4″ color LCD screen, a built-in speakerphone as well as support for Skype-to-Skype, SkypeOut, SkypeIn and Skype Voicemail. The device also promises excellent voice quality with no noise or echo. And coming from IPEVO, a company whose expertise is with VOIP handsets we would expect nothing less. The phone should be available very soon

Gizmo Project Now Available on Your Mobile

In case you’re not familiar with the Gizmo Project, it’s one of the best Skype competitors out there. The software based VOIP service offers similar pricing to Skype, and even one-ups it with certain features that the mammoth VOIP powerhouse doesn’t even have. At last, Gizmo is now available on your mobile as well, so that you can use your Gizmo credits to make cheap national and international phone calls. And like the desktop client, the Gizmo for mobile version allows you to instant message MSN, AIM, Yahoo, iChat and GoogleTalk buddies, so in pother words the software doubles as an all-in-one IM client with the ability to use file transfer to send pictures, audio and video from your mobile phone to a friend or your desktop. Gizmo for Mobile is available for many popular handsets including Blackberries, Treos and popular Nokia and Motorola models.

ooVoo Video Conferencing Software Lets You Talk with Up To 6 People at a Time

There are many, many Video Conference programs. But the new ooVoo beta has one feature that stands out. The software allows you to talk one-on-one or with up to 6 people at a time. We can’t imagine all that many situations where you might need to do that (sounds like a big headache to us), but this can be a great alternative to a traditional meeting. Other unique features include the ability to send text messages, choose your ringtone, view call your call history as well as the option to leave a voice, video or text message if no one is answering your ooVoo call.

Truphone Offers Free Calling From Your Mobile Phone to 40 countries Worldwide

Nokia’s Series 60 based smartphones aren’t nearly as popular in the USA as they are in Europe, which is a shame because there is so much great free and powerful software available for them. One example of that kind of software is Truphone, a VoIP application that allows you to make phone calls. Currently Truphone is running a promotion that if you sign up for their service before September 30th, you’ll be eligible to make free phone calls to landlines in 40 countries for the rest of the year. Users who sign up in the UK or US will get their own UK or US phone number, respectively. Truphone also recently announced some new features which includes free text messaging to other Truphone users, and Truphone inTones which lets you choose the ring that your callers hear - this is the kind of feature that only wireless providers have been able to provide until now.

Plantronics Calisto Pro Series Reinvents the Home Office Phone System

Plantronic’s new Calisto Pro Series is ready to redefine the home office system. The Calistro Pro Series is made up of a very compact landline handset that resembles a cell phone. The handset comes with  a matching integrated milti-function bluetooth headset that allows users to talk hands-free. The Calisto Pro was designed with the busy and hectic home office lifestyle in mind. They know that you’re probably busy changing diapers in between screaming at your stock broker and talking to a friend on Skype. Thus, the system can switch between landline, mobile and VoIP phone calls with just the touch of a button.

Free Voip Calls From Your Web Browser

Gizmo Project is an excellent Skype alternative that works on both Mac, PC, and many cell phones. And now Gizmo Project has a new service called Gizmo Call that allows you to access your Gizmo Project account to send and receive phone calls, from any browser. All you need is a headset and you’re ready to go. They’re offering 5 free minutes of calling, or 10 free minutes a day if you register, however each call is capped at 3 minutes which can be a pain. Still, it’s hard to complain about something that is free. Aside from Gizmo Call, they’re also offering another neat web based service called Gizmo SMS for sending free text messages to almost any phone internationally.

Iogear’s Shiny Red Skype Mouse

Iogear has a shiny red 800 dpi optical mouse with a built-in mic for all your VOIP pleasure. The mouse comes with a carrying pouch for traveling, but we can’t help wish that this was a wireless mouse. At least the USB Optical Calling Mouse is ergonomic and it comes with a 3 year warranty.

Gizmo Project VOIP Software Now Enables Free Calling to Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Users

Gizmo Project, which is an awesome Skype competitor, has now come up with version 3.0 of its software which allows you to call Yahoo and Windows Live Messenger. That makes Gizmo Project the first VOIP software to link together different VOIP networks in to one. If only they’d be able to communicate with Skype as well, we’d be all set.

VTraveller Skype Phone is Cheap But Not a Piece of Junk

The VTraveller Skype Phone is an affordably priced Skype phone that doesn’t look like it’s junk like so many other inexpensive Skype phones do. The $29.99 device features Keypad dialing, personalized ring tones, one click voicemail and a LED indicator for calls. Unfortunately the VTraveller doesn’t sport an LCD display, but for this price it’s hard to complain, especially since the package throws in a carry case, a 30 minute SkypeOut voucher, as well as a voucher for 2 months of Skype Voicemail.

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