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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: VoIP

VoIP stories: 14 news summaries

Secret Google Phone Is Real—Really

It's rumored to be a VoIP-only device made by Samsung or LG

Nov 18, 09 2:14 PM CST
(Newser) - The “Google Phone” is real—no matter what Google has said—it’s coming next year, and it may be VoIP only. Or at least, that’s the rumor. Michael Arrington of TechCrunch says he’s “absolutely confirmed” the phone’s existence. Google will be have another company... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Google • VoIP • Google phone • Michael Arrington • Google Android • TechCrunch

(Newser) - Apple has rejected Google’s application to distribute its Voice application through the App Store, and that shows that Apple is dead-set against innovation, Adam Pash writes on Lifehacker. The official line is that Google Voice “duplicates features already on the iPhone—namely the Phone and Messages app,”... More »

MORE ABOUT:
wireless • VoIP • iPhone • Apple • innovation • smartphones • AT&T • iPhone applications • App Store • Google Voice

(Newser) - The European wunderkinds who gave the world Skype have been approaching private equity firms in an attempt to buy their creation back from eBay, the New York Times reports. Niklas Zennstrom of Sweden and Janus Friis of Denmark sold the Internet phone service for $2.6 billion in 2005,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
eBay • VoIP • mergers and acquisitions • Skype • telecommunications

Skype Expands
to iPhone, iPod
Tomorrow

Internet phone
service plans May
Blackberry launch

Mar 30, 09 2:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - Skype is launching service for the iPhone tomorrow, expanding its popular internet phone operation from computers to the lucrative mobile market. Users of iPhones as well as iPod Touches—which have wifi but no cell connection—will be able to make free calls to fellow Skype users and pay for... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cell phones • VoIP • iPhone • Skype • iPod Touch • smartphones

 Skype Rolls Out 
 New Biz Service 

Internet calling company aims to boost revenue

Mar 23, 09 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - Internet calling company Skype is introducing new software for businesses that lets workers on corporate phone systems make calls using regular office phones instead of computer headsets, the Wall Street Journal reports. Domestic and international calls to cellphones and landlines will start at 2.1 cents a minute, and computer-... More »

MORE ABOUT:
eBay • VoIP • businesses • Skype • Internet phone • telephone

TECH REVIEW

Google Voice Buggy
but Brilliant

Impressive new VoIP service could soon sideline Skype

Mar 13, 09 7:05 AM CDT
(Newser) - Google's new VoIP service could be more of a "life-changing experience" than a mere Skype substitute, Larry Magid writes in CNET. Google Voice—currently only available to former GrandCentral users but expected to soon cause sleepless nights for the whole telecom industry—offers users a single number to which... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Google • cell phones • VoIP • Skype • telecommunications • Google Voice

analysis

 911 Centers
 Easy Targets
 for Pranksters

Services not updated to handle fake caller ID

Feb 2, 09 2:58 PM CST
(Newser) - Using VoIP Internet-calling services, pranksters are easily duping outdated 911 call centers to disastrous consequences, Ars Technica reports. Using easy-access online services, callers can cover up their real locations, make up stories, and mobilize emergency teams anywhere. Updating call-center systems could fix the problem, but most such places can’t... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • crime • VoIP • crank call • prank • emergency responders • 911

 Technology 
 the Linchpin in 
 Mumbai Attacks 

They used GPS and satellite maps, phones

Dec 3, 08 1:54 PM CST
(Newser) - The Mumbai terrorists relied on advanced technology to carry out their attacks, and Indian security forces had trouble keeping up, the Washington Post reports. GPS devices enabled the non-sailors to get to Mumbai; satellite maps gave them "a good feel for the city's streets and buildings," said a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
technology • India • VoIP • BlackBerry • Mumbai • GPS • terrorist attack

UK: Web Phone Service Gives Criminals Edge

Authorities want
to expand their online snooping powers

Oct 16, 08 3:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - Criminals and terrorists are using VoIP services like Skype to evade law enforcement, sources tell the Times of London, and officials are lobbying for increased access. Police often rely on phone records as evidence, but online calls often leave no trace. “Communications data forms an important element of prosecution... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • VoIP • online privacy • Jacqui Smith • Britain • Internet phone • Internet privacy

Eavesdropping on Internet
Calls Is Easy

Researchers find potential encryption security problems

Jun 17, 08 7:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Not only are most Internet phone calls not encrypted, but a bandwidth-saving technique could undermine encryption once it’s implemented. Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that a compression method called variable-bit-rate encoding makes it possible for eavesdroppers to identify given phrases in an encrypted VoIP call 50% of the time,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
VoIP • eavesdropping • Internet phone • encryption

Consumers Giving Up Landlines

One-sixth of US households are
now wireless

May 14, 08 8:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Mobile and Internet-based phones are replacing landline phones in US households as younger Americans lead a movement to newer technologies, reports USA Today. The number of homes depending on wireless phones jumped 159% between 2004 and 2007. Nearly 35% of people 25-29 years old lived in wireless-only households in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
cell phones • Verizon • VoIP • telephone • AT&T

T-Mobile Launching
Net Phone Price War

New plan follows hard on news of wireless price war

Feb 21, 08 3:00 PM CST
(Newser) - T-Mobile is giving an extra push to the millions contemplating ditching their landlines. The low-cost wireless carrier is launching a new dirt-cheap VoIP service, which lets T-Mobile customers hook up traditional phones to an Internet router and make unlimited local and long distance calls for $10 a month, the More »

MORE ABOUT:
Vonage • Verizon • VoIP • telecom industry • telecommunications • Internet phone • AT&T • T-Mobile

Skype Blames Crash on Windows

Millions of updates, reboots fried VOIP service, company says

Aug 20, 07 12:49 PM CDT
(Newser) - Skype's mysterious failure last week was caused by a routine Windows update, the company says. Millions of users downloaded the new software, rebooted their computers, and tried to log into Skype at the same time, crashing the net phone service, PC World reports. It's still unclear why previous Windows updates... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • Microsoft • VoIP • Windows • communication • Skype • Internet phone

Google's Got Your Number

Giant buys company that consolidates all your phones, voicemail accounts

Jul 4, 07 6:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - Google extended its recent buying spree by snatching up a cutting-edge internet service that consolidates consumers' phone numbers and provides unified voicemail access via a single web account. The acquisition of GrandCentral Communications is expected to lead to Google's own online phone service to rival Skype and Vonage, reports PC ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Yahoo • Google • VoIP

14 Stories


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