VoIP

When you get a voicemail on your phone, it’s old news. When you get a voicemail via Facebook, that’s the future. Earlier today, Facebook released an update to the Facebook Messenger app for iOS and Android that allows users to record short audio clips and embed them within Messenger’s SMS-like interface.

Users can record up to 60 seconds of audio by selecting the “Record Voice” option in the app and holding down a record button for the length of their message. If the recipient is running the updated version of Messenger, the audio clip will appear as a playable file from within the app. Recipients without the update are prompted to download the clip via their phone’s web browser. Read the rest of this entry »

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Government agencies have long considered Skype to be a tough nut to crack — or more importantly, eavesdrop on — thanks to its peer-to-peer architecture and built-in encryption. In 2008, the company even flat-out said it can’t conduct wiretaps due to that potent (and privacy-friendly) one-two punch.

However, Skype recently re-engineered the so-called “supernodes” that form the backbone of the service, placing them on company servers in secure data centers, replacing the former decentralized P2P model that turned Skype users with powerful PCs into supernodes. The Internet instantly began filling with rumors that the update was designed to give law enforcement the ability to monitor Skype calls. Were the rumors true? Can Skype and government agencies now wiretap your VOIP calls?

Skype’s response has been a bit… hazy.

Read the rest of this entry »

The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show is over, but so many tech news stories, product showcases and software announcements came from the convention that you’re almost guaranteed to have missed something. If you take a look at our wrap up guides, you just might catch up on something you overlooked. Here’s everything we saw — and loved — at CES 2012.

CES 2012: Best in Show

The Annual Best of CES Awards
Here are the show’s standout products in 13 categories including the best smartphone, laptop, tablet, auto technology and accessory to surface in an unending swell of new gadgets.

Reader’s Choice Award 
The Best of CES Awards spotlights our editors’ top picks from the annual convention, but this year our readers had a decidedly different take on the single hottest piece of new tech.  

CES 2012: The Hottest Products

Best Laptops of CES 2012
Seven of these 8 clamshells fell short of a Best of CES Award, but they certainly garnered their fair share of time in the spotlight. Check out the laptops we eagerly look forward to reviewing this year.  

Best Smart Phones of CES 2012
The show’s smartphone announcements include a big step forward for Windows Phone, larger-than-ever screen sizes and phone cameras with the best specs we’ve encountered.

Best Tablets of CES 2012
This year’s tablets will offer longer battery life, lower prices and clearer screen resolutions.

CES 2012: The Biggest News Stories, Our Commentary and Live Video Coverage

Top 10 Videos of CES 2012
Some tech you have to see for yourself, like the Tobii Gaze Interface which, someday, will take hands-free to a whole new level by allowing you to navigate a computer screen just by looking at it. 

CES 2012: Biggest News Stories
CES doubles as a town hall for the world’s most successful tech companies to make huge announcements. This year, Microsoft embarked on its last CES keynote address and Intel announced partnerships to build smart phones with Lenova and Motorola.

SpoonFed: Top 5 Things I Learned at CES 2012
CES is too big to leave without thoughts on the long-view of tech. LAPTOP Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer learned that despite Ultrabooks’  lionshare of limelight at the show, hybrid Android tablets that connect to keyboard docks could be a bigger trend. 

CES 2012: How Our Staff’s Mobile Gear Performed
We armed ourselves with some of the best gadgets of 2011 and tested them in the fast-paced halls of North American’s largest tech show. Check above to see how the MacBook Air 13, ASUS Zenbook UX31 Ultrabook, Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone and other favorite gadgets performed in action. 

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Flying is inevitably stressful come this time of year, but Skype’s on hand to make your airport experience a little more pleasant.

Starting tomorrow, December 21st, through December 27th, the company will offer travelers at more than 50 U.S. airports one free hour of Wi-Fi access. To take advantage of this holiday freebie, you’ll need to have Skype installed on your Mac or PC, or the Skype WiFi app for your iOS device. Users in supported locations will be able to make free voice or video calls through the service, which should certainly come in handy considering the holiday tradition of flight delays and cancellations. Read the rest of this entry »

One of Google’s most useful services is Google Voice, which provides users with one number where their friends, clients, and colleagues can always reach them. This is great news for anyone who’s sick of checking their home, work, and mobile voicemail every time they miss a call. But Google Voice has a lot more to offer than just consolidation; you get free voicemail transcription, the ability to screen and block callers, personalized greetings for different callers, and free texting.

Getting a Google Voice number is as easy as going to www.google.com/voice and signing in with a Gmail account. From there, you can choose your area code and phone number, or have one assigned to you. If you’re a Sprint customer, you can now port your mobile number directly to Google Voice, enabling you to keep in touch no matter where you are without having to worry about changing numbers.

Even if you’re not ready to fully give up your phone number to Google, there are still numerous useful features for those willing to try it out. Here’s how to get the most out of Google Voice.

Read the rest of this entry »

Carrier	Minimum Voice + Unlimited Text and Web Per Month	Premium Smart Phone	Total Cost Over 2 Yearss
SMALLER CARRIERS
	$49.99 (500 minutes, unlimited text messaging, unlimited data, two-year contract)	Samsung Galaxy S Showcase ($199)	$1,399
	$55 (unlimited minutes, unlimited text messaging, 1GB of data, no contract)	Huawei Ascend ($139.99)	$1459
	$50 (unlimited minutes, unlimited text messaging, no contract)	LG Optimus M ($199)	$1,399
	69.99 (450 minutes, unlimited text messaging, 5GB of data, two-year contract)	Samsung Mesmerize ($74.99)	$1,829
	$25 (300 minutes, unlimited text messaging, no contract)	Samsung Intercept ($249)	$849
LARGE NATIONAL CARRIERS
	$85 (450 minutes, unlimited text messaging, 2GB data, two-year contract)	Apple iPhone 4 16GB ($199)	$2,239
	$79.99 (450 minutes, unlimited text messaging, two-year contract)	HTC Evo 4G ($199)	$2,119*
	$79.99 (500 minutes, unlimited text messaging, two-year contract)	T-Mobile myTouch 4G ($199)	$2,119
	$89.98 (450 minutes, unlimited text messaging, two-year contract)	Droid 2 Global or Droid x ($199)	$2,359
*Sprint’s 4G-Capable smart phones require a $10 monthly premium data fee.

While the big four national carriers — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless — tend to offer reliable service and a great selection of smart phones, most customers wind up paying $80 or more per month, and that’s without taxes and other fees. Plus, you need to lock yourself into a two-year contract to get the best price.

As the chart above shows, you can save big by going with a smaller carrier. How about $25 per month for 300 minutes and unlimited text and web (Virgin Mobile) or $55 per month for unlimited talk, text, and web (Cricket Wireless)? No contract required. Plus, smaller carriers are updating their phone rosters with more sophisticated devices, including those powered by Android.

Of course, switching your cell provider is a serious decision. Which is why we’re going to help you weigh the pros and cons of five popular small carriers before you decide whether to jump ship. Read on as we break it all down.

Small Carrier Showdown

• Introduction
• Cricket Wireless
• Metro PCS
• Virgin Mobile
• Cellular South
• US Cellular

Last week we reported that Google began testing a new feature to allow  users to port their current cell phone number over to Google Voice. Well, consider that testing done. The Google Voice team has officially announced that the number porting feature is now Live.

Currently, it is only available for existing users, but will be operational for new users shortly.

To view the original post click here and check out the short video explanation they created below.

Be sure to check back with us for a hands on walk through.

via Google Voice Blog

Hot off its newly enabled group video calling,  Skype has just announced its acquisition of Qik, the mobile video calling pre-loaded on more than 200 mobile phone models. Speaking at CES, CEO Tony Bates said the merger is expected to take place by the end of the month.

In its online announcement, Skype said that it will combine Qik’s apps—including the company’s Smart Streaming technology—with its own to provide a better real-time video experience across multiple platforms.

As we’ve written before, mobile video calling needs easy-to-use software and reliable service for it to really take off. Skype, which has over 500 million registered users, is in a prime place to take the momentum and run, and its acquisition of Qik only makes the service look more promising. Stay tuned for more details.

VocalTec Communications, maker of the low-cost magicJack telephony device, will be demonstrating its new magicJack Plus at CES tonight.

A popular item since its launch in 2007—and the target of consumer criticism that helped bring its Better Business Bureau rating up to an “A-” from an “F”—, the magicJack is set to become even more appealing with the addition of some mobile-friendly features.

Like the original magicJack, the magicJack Plus can be plugged into your PC via a USB plug, but there’s also the option to use it wirelessly with a Wi-Fi or 4G module. VocalTec has also added a processor and memory to its system-on-a-chip.

Expected to sell for $49.95, the magicJack Plus will come with one year of free local and long-distance calling along with the option to have your own phone number. In terms of voice quality, VocalTec claims this gadget outperforms not only cell phones but land lines.

In addition to the new device, VocalTec will be showing its magicJack Plus iPhone app.

Looks like all the talk about Skype adding video chat to its VOIP skill set is starting to gel.  Lately the company has been cryptically tweeting out hints to upcoming news (most likely at CES next week) and links to a new Web page called whatsnext.skype.  Stating the catch phrase, “I wish I could share moments like this”, the site presents little video vingettes as examples of compelling clips folks would likely share.

From concerts, kids and pets frolicking, to grandma’s killer recipe for lasagna, the videos Skype offers up have an authentic feel and we could see users shooting similar content. Of course, the real question is whether Skype will add video chat to its service, which would certainly make its millions of users worldwide ecstatic. Read the rest of this entry »