Los Angeles based Rapid Link, Inc. have today announced the introduction of it’s new VoIP phone for desktop and laptop computers.
The new phone is actually the result of work with the US military who wanted a cheap VoIP phone for soldiers to communicate with families while on a foreign tour. Rather than paying for each call on a per minute basis, the new Rapid Link VoIP phone is billed at an affordable monthly rate.
Rapid Link’s VoIP phone is compatible with multiple operating systems and requires the user to download and install a simple application to run. Currently Rapid Link are only offering their new VoIP phone to members of the US military.
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Many people use Skype for their long distance calls to foreign countries from their home computer. However, many companies are now offering Skype-compatible handsets, such as the Linksys CIT200 Cordless Handset.
The Linksys CIT200 Cordless Handset is a good addition to your home or office, especially if you use Skype frequently as it is much friendlier to use that the traditional microphones many use. This particular model is a step forward in that it is cordless, so no matter where you are in your home or office you can still make that call.
It really is more like using a cellphone, with a green “send” button and a red “end” button. The handset is integrated well with Skype’s existing features and fully works with voicemail. The handset is just like any other phone, plugging into the phone jack from a charging cradle. The handset uses a wireless connection to communicate with your computer through a base station attached via USB, which also uses coloured light to signal it’s status.
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As had been rumoured previously, Yahoo announced it’s new fee-based VoIP services (called Phone Out & Phone In) that allows users to make and receive calls on a PC. Yahoo’s VoIP service also allows the user to call non-VoIP landline phones.
Yahoo’s Phone Out VoIP service will let users make calls from their PC to non-VoIP enabled traditional landlines and cell phones located in over 180 countries. Calls within the United States will cost $0.01 per minute. Calls to 30 other countries such as Australia, France, Germany and Japan will be priced at less than $0.02 per minute. Yahoo will also make prepaid call plans available, priced in increments of $10 and $25.
The Phone In VoIP service will let users receive calls from traditional landlines or cell phones on their PC and will be priced at $2.99 per month, or £29.90 per annum. Users subscribed to Yahoo Phone In will be able to choose a phone number in a different country so calls originating from the country will be charged at a local rate. Subscribers will also be able to select multiple phone numbers for use when traveling.
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Broadview Networks, based in Rye Brook, NY, have been awarded the title of best company in the “VoIP Service Provider Awards” run by Internet Telephony Managazine. Broadview were selected because of their wide set of features, ease of use and customer service.
“We are honored to receive recognition for our Broadspeed Office Suite service from a well regarded industry source such as Internet Telephony. Our patented operational systems and processes, coupled with our extensive facilities-based Integrated Voice and Data product offerings and leading-edge VoIP service platform, enable us to provide a unique service quality guarantee on our network,” stated chief technology officer and chief information officer of Broadview Networks, Ken Shulman.
Rumours are circulating that Yahoo will finally launch a direct competitor to VoIP providers Vonage and Skype.
Currently Yahoo Instant Messenger is capable of making VoIP calls between two computers, but cannot make a call to a traditional landline telephone. The rumoured VoIP service from Yahoo would allow users to make calls to landline and cell phones, as well as VoIP enabled computers. Calls through the proposed Yahoo VoIP service would also be significantly cheaper than using fixed landline or cell phones. Voicemail would come with Yahoo’s VoIP service gratis, but users would need to buy a phone number priced at $30 (cheaper than Skype) in order to receive incoming calls.
Recently Yahoo and MSN inked a deal that would allow their respective instant messenging application to talk to eachother.
