call posts

Filed under: Audio, Design, Developer, Fun, Internet, Web services, P2P, Social Software, web 2.0

Introducing the Meebo platform

by Chris Gilmer Oct 30th 2007

Meebo has just announced a new platform for their messaging system. This allows for third party developers to create applications based on the growing chat service.

The Meebo development platform launched with a set of API's that developers can grab in order to create multi user applications that Meebo users can specifically use to connect with each other. The question users must answer before the build, "I want to ______ with you. Before development begins, Meebo requires applications to be registered complete with title of application, descriptions and author's names. Special instructions and a key will then be sent out to get connected to the database. When the build is complete using either the supplied Flash or JavaScript starter files, applications will be tested in a sandbox environment before they are released to Meebo users. Developers aren't left in the shadows, Meebo will be selling advertising on the applications, and will be splitting revenue 50/50.

The two year old company is moving into the big time fast with their communication platform. They have also announced some big partnerships that allow video/audio calls (TokBox), voice chat (Pudding Media), group calling (TalkShoe), and live TV show streaming (UStream).

Tags: api, application, audio, call, chat, im, meebo, talk, voice, web2, web2.0

Filed under: Audio, Business, Internet, Productivity, Web services, VoIP

Click the button and call a Jajah user for free

by Chris Gilmer Sep 28th 2007

Jajah has made it easier for people to contact each other without giving away phone numbers with the Jajah Button.

Jajah lets you make free calls to other users, or low-cost calls to phones using a web-based VoIP service. We have covered them before here with their low cost mobile web service.

With the new Jajah Button service, users can place a button on a website, blog, social network or in email signatures through an embed code and will be able to accept calls. This button will automatically connect the presser without giving out a phone number. Don't feel like answering the call? Reject it, or even block specific numbers. Again, if the button presser is a Jajah user, the call will be free. But there will be a charge per minute if they are not, that's were restrictions can be implemented.

Jangl also provides a similar service.

Tags: call, jajah, jajah-button, jangl, phone, voip

Filed under: Fun, Productivity, Web services

Ahoy, mateys! Win a license for CallBurner

by Lisa Hoover Sep 19th 2007

Ahoy, mateys! Gather 'round the poopdeck for an important message from yer captains.

Today, in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, we be givin' away a full license for CallBurner, a call recorder for Skype that we think is better than a chest full of pirate booty. To enter, all you landlubbers have to do is leave us a note in t' comment section. T' contest ends at 11:59 ET on September 21 (which gives us time to get our peg legs sanded and stained).

Enter now or we'll make ye walk the plank!

Tags: call, callburner, contest, record, skype

Filed under: Audio, Business, Fun, Internet, Utilities, Web services, VoIP

Jangl dishes out a phone number for every email address

by Chris Gilmer May 23rd 2007

DLS has the scoop on a hot new Jangl feature that has just sprouted up today, a way for users to call anyone online at anytime without knowing their phone number.

If you know someone's email address, but not their phone number, it's now possible to talk to them through Jangl. Michael Cerda CEO of Jangl sees this as a way to virtualize the phone number, making them as disposable as email addresses. The new JanglService now gives people a great, and virtually inexpensive way to chat by phone in 31 countries worldwide at the moment.

The service is simple to use, users start by inputing an email address on Jangl's homepage to get connected. A phone number will be displayed with a private local number for you to call them on. The first call you make will be to a voice mail system that Jangl will deliver to the recipient via email. Once the message is received, the recipient will get a local number to call and connect to you. This all allows for a secure and safe personal number.

This new service from Jangl works on any phone and is free during the beta period, with currently no news as to the future cost of this feature, besides carrier and local airtime charges.

Jangl also has another cool feature called "Call Me". This lets people connect by phone through a safe number by appending an email address to the end of http://callme.jangl.com.

Tags: call, ceo, email, index, jangl, michael cerda, MichaelCerda, virtualize, voice

Filed under: Business, Design, Developer, Video, Google

Could video be coming to gTalk?

by Chris Gilmer Apr 24th 2007

Could Google Talk soon be video-enabled? One of the first integrations of the Google acquired Marratech AB could actually be in Google Talk. It really does seem like the logical first step.

Speculation is that Google will soon offer a rebuilt Marratech downloadable client for Mac and PC's adding to the Google Desktop and Picasa lineup. However, with the current state of he market -- competition like Windows Live Messenger and Skype already offering video in instant messagers and VOiP clients -- and with all of Google applications running in the browser, it only makes sense that Marratech video be added to gTalk.

Tags: call, chat, google, marratech, talk, video, voip

Filed under: Fun, Internet, Text, Web services, P2P

Vbuzzer, new competition for the telephone?

by Chris Gilmer Apr 19th 2007

Bye bye Mr Telephone company, the future is arriving quickly with plenty of VOiP providers in the landscape, including a new buzzing sound. (although your Vonage phone may face a lack of dialtone soon)

High quality phone calls are what every international caller wants. No pops, cracks or wizzles. VOiP providers have achieved this quite nicely, including Vbuzzer. Upon downloading the Vbuzzer application it closely resembles an instant messaging application, but that's not all it does. The free service allows users to make free phone calls, send text messages and files. Calls can be placed through the application, or to traditional telephones for a small fee.

Vbuzzer is currently only available for PC users. Although Skype is much more user friendly, and at the top of everyone's list, Vbuzzer could still be a small contender. If anyone uses Vbuzzer regularly to make calls to landlines or mobiles, let us all know how it works and your thoughts.

Tags: call, im, instant messaging, InstantMessaging, pc, phone, skype, telephone, text, vbuzzer, voip, windows

Filed under: Audio, Internet, Blogging, Web services, Freeware, Social Software

Jaxtr to blogs: make the call, free

by Ryan Carter Dec 19th 2006

Jaxtr is a way for blogs and social networking sites to offer their visitors a way to make calls to any landline phone or cell phone for free. You might think of it as bringing the old-world telecommunications idea up to Web 2.0 speed. I have seen the many VoIP solutions out there, as you have, and many of them are very good, but few have targeted the social networking sites and made a good way to integrate VoIP offerings in a social way. Since Jaxtr is in a private beta right now, I haven't yet tried the service, but the sheer idea of it is cool. My question is whether or not bloggers would want to be contacted by random website visitors via Jaxtr or not. An interesting thing about Jaxtr is that it displays a local number the first time a visitor connects so next time they can call the local number to get a hold of the person again, without having to use the Internet. They will block certain callers for you, which is priceless for any phone service, paid or not, not to mention that the Jaxtr widget can be emailed to contacts. The service currently supports Blogger, Friendster, hi5 Networks, MySpace, Tagged, and Xanga. You can sign up for the private beta, and it helps to reply to the initial email they send you with your social networking information, because they are looking for beta testers with established accounts to test out the service. If you do get into the beta to try it, let us know what you think.

Tags: blog, call, jaxtr, myspace, soocial networks, SoocialNetworks, voip

Filed under: Audio, Internet, News, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, VoIP

VoIP better than standard phone service?

by Ryan Carter Sep 24th 2006

How good is VoIP? Is it better than standard telephone service? This is object of a new study, to find out if it's better. Keynote Systems (who measures Internet and mobile transmissions) studied 12 telecom providers of VoIP services to see if the call quality was better than standard lines. The companies: AT&T, Comcast, Lingo, Packet8, Skype, SunRocket, TimeWarner Cable, TrueVoice, Verizon, Vonage, Vonics and Windows Live Messenger were studied in the New York and San Francisco markets. Keynote claimed that the call quality was better than a standard phone, but the audio delay on the line in a VoIP system needs to be addressed. Considered by most to be in its infancy, this is good to hear that the call quality is getting there. Delay and some other factors need to be dealt with, but VoIP is well on its way to replacing traditional phone service in my mind.

Tags: call, phone, POTS, quality, telephone, VoIP

Filed under: Business, Utilities, Blogging, Web services

Jangl your way to a private mobile phone number

by Chris Gilmer Aug 23rd 2006

Jangl lets you communicate with anyone, without revealing your mobile phone number, or exchanging it with anyone else.

How it works is that your 10 digit phone number is masked by a Jangl ID number. It's as simple as letting someone know your easy to remember Jangl ID. No more remembering crazy 10 digit phone numbers when you don't have a pen lying around.

The Jangl service provides two way privacy, whereas both numbers on the mobile call are kept private at all times. Jangl gives users a unique 10 digit number for each relationship you have. When calling a number, the phone number that the other side will see will be the unique Jangl number that they have for you, ensuring that your privacy is secure. When you give out your Jangl ID, users visit jangl.com and enter the ID. The ID will create a special unique number that they will call you on. That person calling will only know you by that number, and you will only know that person by their unique number, allowing you to block it at anytime.

At the moment Jangl is in a closed beta, I have signed up, and will let everyone know how the service works. However, if anyone is currently using Jangl, let us know how it works in the comments.

Tags: call, cellphone, ID, jangl, mobile phone, MobilePhone, phone, phone number, PhoneNumber

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