From the category archives:

Communications Technology

BlackBerry: Smartphones Sans AntennaGate

by Jim Courtney on Sat, Jul 17, 2010 8:07 am

When I first saw the antenna band completely surrounding the iPhone 4 during Steve Jobs’ initial presentation, I recalled a comment made to me by RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaradis after a RIM Annual General meeting a few years ago. And I should also mention that I personally have a history of dealing with rf [...]

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Categories Communications News, Communications Technology, Mobile Devices

For the past few years I have been aware of another company, aside from Skype, that develops communications software in the form of SIP-based softphones: CounterPath, working out of Vancouver, B.C.
I have always been a bit frustrated by SIP-based connectivity – my one learning across several attempts over the years to configure SIP-based softphones [...]

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Categories Communications News, Communications Technology, Mobile Applications, Web 2.0 Tools and Applications

Since its release late Saturday, Skype for iPhone 2.0, with its support of calling over 3G carriers and superwideband audio using Skype’s SILK codec, has set the blogosphere awash with two genres of commentary: those who seem to think the end of free Skype calling is approaching as an Armageddon and those who recognize [...]

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Categories Communications Technology, Mobile Applications, Mobile Devices, Skype News, Skype Platform, Skype on Mobile, Using Skype, Wireless Carriers

This morning I received a chat message from TechCraver’s Jason Harris asking if I would take a video call. Little did I realize that this was not going to be a normal HD Skype video call like our last one.
Jason is a fan of the Nokia N900 mobile computer which has always supported Skype voice [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Communications Technology, Mobile Applications, Mobile Devices, Skype Hardware, Skype News, Skype on Mobile, Using Skype

Ok so I’m the last to write about Google’s announcement this morning on its acquisition of Global IP Solutions, a major provider of IP-based communications infrastructure with not only its voice and video codecs but also voice and video engines that mean simply “supply me with an Internet connection, a microphone and a set [...]

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Categories Communications News, Communications Technology, Mobile Applications, Video calling, Web 2.0 Tools and Applications

Over the past week I have been experimenting with two relatively new features that build out the Skype video experience:

HD video using the recently released FREETALK® TALK-7140 HD webcam and Skype for Windows 4.2
Skype Group calling using the beta release of Skype for Windows 5.0

FREETALK® TALK-7140 HD Webcam
At a price point that makes [...]

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Categories Communications Technology, Skype For Business, Skype Hardware, Skype for Personal, Using Skype, Video calling

While attending eComm 2010 three weeks ago I was honored to be asked to join six other bloggers in providing weekly posts to Voyces.com, a blog that provides opinion, insight and perspective on developments in the IP-based and mobile communications space.
The initial two posts:
Has “Social Sharing” Become the “Nom du Jour”? provides a follow [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Communications Technology, Mobile Applications, Mobile Devices, Skype Platform, Skype on Mobile, Using Skype

Ok, so the iPad does not have a camera of any type. But is its form factor not a “natural” format for video calling? When Global IP Solutions put out a press release yesterday I was a bit skeptical about who would take up on their “one way Video Conferencing/Chat capabilities for iPad developers, [...]

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Categories Communications News, Communications Technology, Developers, Mobile Applications, Video calling

This week I am attending the fourth Emerging Communications Conference, or eComm America 2010, with the byline “What’s Next in Telecom, Mobile and Internet Communications”. The first morning was probably one of the best overall sessions for providing an update of where several major players are taking their offerings and how they are contributing [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Communications Technology, Conferences and Events, Mobile Applications

Pardon my exuberance but I am about to write about a product that I have been beta testing for the past few months. Seven months ago I knew very little about small business PBX’s other than to know they had big $$$ signs associated with their operation.
Back in 1992 my employer of the day [...]

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Categories Communications News, Communications Technology, Mobile Applications, Service Providers, Skype For Business, Skype Hardware, Skype Partner News, Skype Partner Solutions, Skype Platform, Skype on Mobile, Using Skype

The DECT 6.0-compliant RTX 3088 Dualphone allows North American consumers to continue to use their legacy PSTN phone service while seamlessly incorporating Skype into their routine “home phone” activities. And it’s one reason why you will see those Skype Mood Messages that say “Using Skype without my computer”.
Over the years we have become used [...]

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Categories Communications Technology, Skype Channels, Skype Hardware, Using Skype

Partial disclosure (the full disclosure is at the end): Since receiving Version 1.0 of the FREETALK® Wireless Stereo Headset about two years ago, it has become one of my few “must have” accessories. I’ll try to keep to the descriptive details and let other bloggers comment on their experiences with it.
In the fall of [...]

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Categories Communications Technology, Skype Hardware, Skype Partner Solutions

Yamaha launches their PSG-01S Microphone Speaker for Skype to be sold via the In Store Solutions shop on the Skype Store.
During my recent European trip I had my first ever encounter, after several decades of traveling on Air Canada, with their baggage scales and new weight limits: 23 kg per checked luggage piece and [...]

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Categories Communications Technology, Skype Hardware, Skype Partner Solutions, Using Skype

At eComm Spring 2009, Skype executive Jonathan Christensen announced that their recently released SILK codec would be available to third parties royalty-free. Two weeks ago at eComm Europe phonefromhere.com’s Tim Panton gave a presentation “Deploying the SILK codec, How and Why” where he discussed two projects where he was involved in embedding Skype’s SILK [...]

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Categories Communications News, Communications Technology, Developers, Service Providers, Skype Partner News, Skype Platform

In the lead-up to the forthcoming eComm Europe Conference organizer Lee Dryburgh interviews some of the speakers. This past weekend he posted an interview with GIPS CTO Jan Linden (picture below) and CMO Joyce Kim where they talked about (i) the role of codecs in delivering overall high quality HD voice and (ii) the emergence [...]

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Categories Communications Stories, Communications Technology, Conferences and Events, Embedded Skype, Mobile Devices