In flight phones service exists in most of the flights, but due to the associated high cost ($4/min on most US airlines) has limited most the passengers making a call. However soon it is going to cost cheaper.

FCC has a frequency auction is underway, that could allow airline passengers to make phones calls using VoIP. Two winners are expected to emerge from this auction. Airfone executives have indicated that Internet service could begin in about a year if it wins some bandwidth.

Although many frequent flyers and airline attendants favor a ban on the phone chatter, Connexion by Boeing, whose Internet service is already offered on nearly 200 international flights a day, notes that there have been no complaints of in-cabin incidents about the technology. The Connexion service is regularly used by passengers to make VoIP calls.

VoIP enabled inflight phones would mean the death of the builtin air phones. Always Travelers avoided the fees of $3 to $6 per minute, and airlines had said that the inflight phones were adding weight that could increased fuel consumtion costs. Delta Air Lines has totaly removed the airphones from their fleet. American airlines has taken the off phones from its domestic routes.

Related: cell phones to work in nyc subways

Source: In-Flight VoIP Calling | Inflight Phone Calls and VoIP | WP
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NetZeros PrivatePhone pros Compared to AOLs AIM Phone
* It has the Ability to create a personal greeting
* Have the choice of numbers for almost every US areacode
* Ability to Retrieve or save or delete voicemails
* Ability to Forward voicemails to another emailaddress
* Mush Faster and easier signup. Does not require Physical address for signup.
* International users can have a local US number.

NetZeros PrivatePhone Cons Compared to AOLs AIM Phone
* Cannot answer any calls as all the calls will be answered by Voicemail.
* Limited to 10 voicemails.

If all the 10 voicemails are used up the system will tell the caller that voicemailbox is full and will not record their message.

Tip: Forward voicemails to a different email address and delete them from Netzero.


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Microsoft has released a small beta application that can run on a WindowsXP based computer to find out if it is ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista. When Upgrade Advisor is run, it scans the computer and generate an simple report of any known system and device compatibility issues, along with recommendations on how the computer can get ready for Windows Vista. Microsoft plans to add functionality to Upgrade Advisor, such as checking how the software applications will run with Windows Vista.

Upgrade Advisor is currently a BETA release and contains functionality and features that have not been thoroughly tested and may contain errors. Please consider the information that Upgrade Advisor currently provides as preliminary and check back in October for the final version, which will also include additional functionality such as checking how your software applications will run with Windows Vista


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Nokia is adding the Google Talk to a Nokia handheld Internet tablet device, in a move that could help boost google reach in mobile communications.

Nokia plans to announce an upgraded version of its Internet Tablet device that will come ready loaded with Google Talk, which enables users to have voice conversations and exchange instant messages, according to a person familiar with the plans. The device, which relies on WiFi rather than cell phone networks, isn't a cell phone.

Users of the new Google Talk enabled Nokia device will be able to make calls either by talking directly into the device like a wireless handset or by attaching a headset to other users with the Google Talk software on their personal computers or handheld devices. It does not support to make calls to a regular phones.

Source: _msnbc_




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Skype released a Universal Binary of its telephony software yesterday. With Skype for Mac 1.4.0.49, mac users can now have the ability to show Skype status on the Web or email signature just as its Windows version thus establishing web Presence.

In Order to activate this feature skype mac users must download their new binary and then check the box in the Privacy setting in Preferences to say "Allow my status to be shown on the Web" while installing. Skype also now lets users to forward calls to other Skype Names or to a regular phones. A Traditional Chinese version of the this new Mac software is also available.





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Skype is introducing Language Line "Personal Interpreter" Service for its users. Through this service Now all Skype subscribers can have access to live, high-quality online professional interpreters, who speak over 150 languages.

"Personal Interpreter" is a pay-as-you-go service that allows quick and easy access to highly skilled and certified interpreters in more than 150 languages directly from a Skype phone, for only $2.99 USD per minute. Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Interpreter costs will be automatically charged directly to user SkypeOut account.
Language Line Services has lead the Over-the-Phone Interpreter industry for more than 20 years with innovative award winning language service offerings, combined with state-of-the-art technology makes Language Line Services the best option whenever there is a need for over-the-phone interpreter services, anytime, anywhere in the world.


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Microsoft has released beta version of IM application. Windows Live Messenger built on Microsoft - "Live" initiative and features Windows Live Call. Windows Live Call is a VoIP service that allows Live Messenger users to call each other for free.

The Windows Live VoIP service is provided by Verizon and will be offered in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain. The service will soon expand to other countries like Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands in coming weeks.

Philips and Uniden have announced their new phones which are compatible with Live Messenger and Live Call. Uniden-WIN1200 Philips-VOIP433 are both available now for around $100. According to Microsoft's press release:

"Windows Live Messenger is changing the way people communicate and stay in touch,” said Martin Taylor, corporate vice president of Windows Live and MSN at Microsoft. "With powerful sharing, collaboration and communications tools designed to put the user firmly in control of their communications experience, Windows Live Messenger is a key part of the foundation of Windows Live. The several million consumers already in the managed beta have been giving us great feedback, and we’re excited to make the beta of Windows Live Messenger to users worldwide."

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Google recently announced many new tools like Google Trends, Notebook and Co-op earlier this week. Then now google has some new features added for their Gmail service.

Gmail-pictures allow to put a face to a name, by showing user selected pictures when you roll over a name in your inbox(simillar to flickr), Contacts, or Quick Contacts list. You can choose your own photo for yourself and for your contacts, suggest a photo for a contact to use, or see what your friends have selected for themselves.

Gmail-pictures can also be configured to show to all users emailed to or who email you, or they can be limited to only those users who are able see when online. You can see a full list of users who can see your online status from the All Contacts tab of your Contacts page.

If you have Flash-enabled on your PC, Gmail will play an audio notification for each incoming chat. Audio notifications are enabled by default, but you can always disable them.


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Chip company Airgo Networks is going to introduce its ultrafast Wi-Fi chips into two Alienware wireless laptops the 17-inch Aurora m9700 and 19-inch Aurora mALX.

Alienware, is a boutique PC maker that mostly targets gamers and other consumers looking for highend machines. Dell recently acquired Alienware. Teaming up Alienware is a good move for Airgo.

Airgo Wi-Fi chips promise speed of 240 Mbps, although the actual speed could be reduced by half, depending on the equipment, the distance the signals must travel, and barriers such as walls that could slow down the data transmission.

Still, they are fast enough to stream high definition movies, something the older version of Wi-Fi lack, as well as help users play heavy graphics games wirelessly.

“Airgo’s embedded Gen3 True MIMO technology makes high-performance mobile gaming a reality,” said Beau Beck, vice president of business development for Airgo.


source : here


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Skype, the worlds largest Web-based telephony service provider, is accused of illegally drawing subscribers in South Korea without registering with the government. Skype and its Korean partner Auction have violated domestic regulations by going ahead with their Internet phone business without the government’s approval.

Skype launched the voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services in Korea under a business alliance with Auction, a local online auctioneer. Only the free-of-charge calls between PCs are available to Skype subscribers in Korea because the company has yet to install the proper payment system.

Should Skype and Auction be found to have violated laws by not registering their business, they can be subject to a maximum of 150 million won in fines or three years in prison.


source: Skype Probed


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SpeedBit, claims it can help users to download large movies or other files much faster, it has already amassed million's of registered users worldwide with its free Download Applicator Plus (DAP) software program.

The technology has grabbed the attention of some of the biggest names on the Internet- Google and AOL are partnering with the small Israeli startup in order to increase its distribution. SpeedBit distributes Google’s search tool bar and the SpeedBit music store is supplied directly by AOL.

The company is now planning to take its patented technology one step further.

"Up to now we’ve been focused on speeding up the delivery of files to users, but now we’re adapting our platform for enhancing everything from streaming, to browsing, and even VoIP," says SpeedBit CEO Ariel Yarnitsky.

If it could find a good application in the VoIP industry, that would mean the the audio and the video quality would get enhanced at less cost. Although peer-to-peer voice client already rely on this technique and this won’t solve the uplink bottle neck problem.


Source: SpeedBit to enhance VoIP experience





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Verizon announced that it lowed the cost of its VoiceWing service from $34.95 to $24.95 per month if taken with Verizon broadband. That is way cheaper than Vonage's comparable, $24.99 plan. But unlike Vonage VoiceWing the activation will is free.

AOL said it would launch AIM Phoneline, a free service that will let AOL IM users receive incoming calls from any phone. The service will also come in an AIM Phoneline Unlimited version which will let users call any number in the U.S. as well as in 30 countries for a flat monthly fee of $14.95.

Verizon squeezing Vonage from 'above'- as a deep-pocketed provider with enough resources to drive down the pricing game and recruit the type of VoIP customers Vonage needs to cover its massive marketing expenses as well as the confidence level of investors once the their stock goes public.

And AOL is squeezing Vonage from below. Let's see, $14.95 for 30 countries and the U.S., vs. $24.99 for North America and a handful of European destinations? And instant messaging on top of it all?

Truely Vonage has a tuff competetion here.


Source: Znet


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SoonR has introduced SoonR Talk which allows anyone to place Skype calls from their cell phone without using a computer. First One needs to click on the buddy list in order to make a Skype call to the mobile phone, also then one needs to click a friend and place the two calls into a conference.

SoonR Talk works with a person's PC like a switchboard to set up their calls. Users simply click on the buddy they wish to talk with and SoonR Talk tells their PC to call their mobile phone using SkypeOut, then instructs Skype to call the buddy and places the user into a conference. SoonR Talk can even create calls with multiple users from the mobile phone. Just like on the PC, SoonR Talk shows which buddies are online and if they are not there, a user can IM them so they can see the message the next time they are using Skype. SoonR Talk fully supports Skype chat.





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For a runner, a heartrate monitor is a must. But for women, the strap variety is a problem as it generally gets in the way of the equally necessary sports bra. Nu-Metrex has come with a sports bra and Sensors built into the fabric to pick up heart rate, which is displayed on a PolarF4 watch. The garment is durable and is made of a moisture wicking material, which is necessary for doing serious exercise. It is priced at $145, it's about the price of a regular sports bra and watch. Available in 32 to 38, A to C.


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Whether you are playing MineSweeper game or exchanging your emails or using Yahoo Messenger, we always see yellow Smileys which always help all to exchange happiness and puts smile on the faces.

Wal-Mart uses smiley face everywhere from staff uniforms, their handbags, shopping carts and even promotional ads. But things just got a little bad as Walmart had staked a claim for the smiley face logo.

Smiley face is available in the public domain but Wal-mart claim that Smiley is distinctive and that most people associate the yellow happy face with them. It is in a patent battle with London based SmileyWorld over the rights to the Smiley Logo.

But this is what Wal-Mart lawyers see when they gaze into Mr. Smiley's eyes, according to one of their legal filings:

"The 'smiley face' design is comprised of a circle, within which appears two dots, parallel to each other and in the upper third of the circle, approximating eyes in a human face, and an upturned parabola in the lower third of the circle, approximating a smile on a human face. The design appears sometimes with, sometimes without, lines perpendicular to the corners of the 'smile' element. It is usually represented in the color yellow."

LA Times | BBC
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