AT&T Will Offer Three iPhone Service Plans

According to Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart, AT&T's unlimited-data service plans for Apple's iPhone are "quite reasonable" in that they cost only about $20 more than the equivalent voice-only plans from other providers. "From the consumer's point of view," he said, AT&T's approach to unlimited data on the iPhone is "extremely positive."

Lest you thought the iPhone could get by on looks alone, Apple and AT&T have formally released three service plans for the Friday launch.

The iPhone-specific plans all include unlimited data for e-mail and Web, Visual Voicemail, 200 text messages, rollover minutes, unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling, as well as varying amounts of phone minutes.

The three iPhone plans are $59.99 monthly for 450 minutes and 5,000 night-and-weekend minutes, $79.99 for 900 minutes and unlimited night-and-weekend, and $99.99 for 1,350 minutes and unlimited night-and-weekend.

There is also a one-time activation fee of $36, and users must sign up for a two-year contract.

Boingo to Roam onto FON's Wi-Fi Network

Boingo Wireless Inc., the world's leading wholesale network aggregator and operator of neutral-host Wi-Fi networks, today announced it has signed a roaming agreement with FON, a Madrid-based company, that, when integrated, will provide access to an additional 130,000 hot spot locations -- more than doubling the company's network size.

The 130,000 Wi-Fi locations come from businesses and individuals who add their own hot spots to the FON community in exchange for the right to roam on other FON community locations for free or at a reduced rate. For Boingo users, these new locations provide a rich network of Wi-Fi locations in areas that complement Boingo's existing commercial locations.

Access to the FON network will also benefit users of Boingo Mobile, the company's service for Wi-Fi-enabled handsets. Boingo Mobile users pay $7.95 per month for unlimited access to hot spots worldwide to make VoIP calls, use messaging services or surf the Internet from their handset.

FON hot spots are provided by community members (called Foneros) who share their unused bandwidth via a FON router in exchange for free Wi-Fi access when roaming through any other FON access point. FON recently signed a partnership with Time Warner Cable, to give their cable modem service subscribers the opportunity to be members of the FON community and enjoy free unlimited Wi-Fi access at any of FON's partner ISP Wi-Fi hotspots.

Skype partners with Wal-Mart in bringing VoIP to the masses

San Jose, CA -- Starting today, Wal-Mart is offering Skype Certified(TM) hardware in the Internet and voice communications area of 1,800 of its stores throughout the country, providing more opportunity and accessibility for people looking for affordable calling options. This partnership gives shoppers immediate hands-on access to headsets, webcams and handsets designed to work with Skype, as well as the first pre-paid cards for Skype available in the U.S. The addition of Skype Internet communications products to Wal-Mart stores comes at a time when Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) adoption among U.S. households is growing rapidly. According to the Telecommunications Industry Association, 9.9% of all landlines in the U.S. were VoIP lines in 2006, and this will rise to 34.1% by 2010. In addition, Skype is the number one software-based VoIP application in the U.S. by market share, according to a March 2007 report by In-Stat.

"We applaud Wal-Mart for recognizing the popularity of Skype and making it more accessible to Wal-Mart shoppers. This relationship with Wal-Mart will increase exposure for Skype and our hardware partners in a single dedicated Internet communications section," said Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America. "Our research suggests that when users add a Skype Certified accessory like a headset, handset or webcam, it greatly enhances their experience and they use Skype more to connect with family, friends and business colleagues."

Today, Skype is enjoyed by more than 196 million registered users around the world. Users download Skype software to make free voice and video calls and send instant messages over the Internet. Skype also offers paid-for products which let users make, receive and forward calls to and from landlines and mobile phones. To enhance the Skype user experience, hardware devices and accessories are available from approximately 50 leading manufacturers. These products certified by Skype give users the additional flexibility to talk more freely and naturally when placing Skype Internet calls.

"We have taken a sharp focus to launch the products and brands that consumers are moving toward at the most affordable prices," said Kevin O'Connor, vice president and general merchandise manager, Wal-Mart Electronics. "The Skype hardware and pre-paid cards are a great fit with Wal-Mart because they offer long-term money-saving solutions at the right time for many customers -- parents, grandparents, college students and military families."

Wal-Mart is the first and currently only retailer in the U.S. to offer Skype's pre-paid cards. Shoppers can purchase a $20 pre-paid card and redeem it for Skype credit to make inexpensive international calls at rates as low as 2.1 cents per minute. Another pre-paid card is available in stores for a three-month subscription to the Skype Unlimited Calling Plan for just $8.85. This gives consumers three months of unlimited Skype calls to any landline or cell phone number in the U.S. and Canada.

Up to nine different Skype Certified hardware products are available within branded Skype Internet Communications sections within Wal-Mart stores' electronics department. Shoppers will find Skype certified headsets under $15, webcams under $25 and handsets under $30 from quality brand names such as Plantronics, Philips, Logitech and more. The relationship with Wal-Mart represents the first time a retailer is bringing together Skype Certified hardware and pre-paid cards for Skype under one dedicated section.

T-Mobile’s Hotspot@Home Going Nationwide This Week?

“The Boy Genius Report says it has seen documents that suggest the launch will occur on June 27,” smartphonetoday recently reported on its website. However, T-Mobile USA is being tightlipped on the matter.

The new wireless service, which underwent trials in Seattle for longer than a year, lets T-Mobile’s subscribers make free phone calls using their at-home WiFi (News - Alert) network or from any public WiFi hot spot.

Earlier, subscribers using the Nokia 6136 and the Samsung T709 dual mode phones could only place free calls over WiFi. T-Mobile has since moved to the newer Nokia 6086 and Samsung (News - Alert) t409 for HotSpot @Home.

According to news reports, T-Mobile HotSpot @Home costs $20 a month on top of your regular cell phone plan. It delivers unlimited Voice over WiFi calls from over 8,000 hotspots as well as your home through a WiFi access point.

As the service is based on Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology, it allows users seamlessly switch voice calls and data connections between a WiFi and cellular, depending on which is available and which is most cost effective at a particular moment.

Another advantage for users is that once they are in a hotspot, they gain access to a higher speed network, which allows them to download mobile content including Web pages, music files, video files, and games - much faster than they can from a 2G, or even 3G wireless networks.

Source and more info: tmcnet

VoIP Phone Maker snom Teams with SOA Specialist BlueNote Networks

VoIP phone manufacturer snom technology AG and SOA-based business communications solutions provider BlueNote Networks (News - Alert) announced on Monday a strategic partnership. The two companies are, after extensive certification procedures, are now marketing solutions involving BlueNote’s SessionSuite software and snom’s VoIP phones, which are proven interoperable.

Alan Rosenberg, director of product management at BlueNote, said that the company’s customers are accustomed to flexible solutions that are easy and fast to deploy. This partnership with snom extends that winning recipe by ensuring that BlueNote solutions work with snom’s entire product line.

“Now, we can easily incorporate snom phones into our overall solutions,” Rosenberg said in a statement.

That product line includes all of snom’s telephones, including the 300, 320, 360 and 370 models. Each of these products is designed easy configurability and manageability—using a keypad-cursor, dedicated function keys and menus, or Web browser. The phones include user-friendly features such as programmable keys and downloadable ringtones.

Further, the phones comply with the IETF’s latest recommendations for authentication and security using industry standards.

These phones can now be paired with BlueNote’s SessionSuite family of solutions, which are designed to integrate voice, video and other interactive communications functions with business applications using Web services. These solutions help improve collaboration, productivity and business agility.

Skype highlighted in rising supply

April 2007 Telecom Products 45 The popularity of Skype among VoIP users worldwide is fueling makers’ adoption of the application for DECT VoIP phones. Makers in Hong Kong, which emphasize peer-topeer (P2P) application support, are centering their R&D and production plans on building Skype into their products.

This, however, does not preclude any growth in the USBbased phone segment. Many makers in mainland China and Hong Kong produce an ample supply of DECT VoIP phones with USB interface. In fact, makers see continuous growth in this sector, as many users worldwide still depend on the PC to place and receive VoIP calls.

Most models currently available support conventional and VoIP phone calls. Makers piggyback on DECT’s capability to enable wireless communication to add value to VoIP phones. Some companies also integrate Bluetooth, and others are considering adding Wi-Fi support.

Source and more info: telecom

The Nokia N80 as a VoIP Phone

Hi-Mobile sent us in the very popular Nokia N80 smartphone. While the phone was released about 10 months ago, just last month there was a brand new and free firmware upgrade that upgrades it to version 4.x which adds VoIP functionality. The upgrade is available for all N80 models, even the ones that were not released under the “Internet Edition” brand. Read more for our test.

The N80 is a quad-band GSM/EDGE and European UMTS smartphone running the Symbian 9.0 OS with the S60 3.x front-end. It features an impressive 2.2″ TFT screen with the 352×416 resolution, it supports miniSDs and has 40 MBs of internal memory free. It features Bluetooth 1.2, an IrDA port, WiFi, FM Radio, PTT, a CIF video call front camera and a 3.2 MP camera with flash.

The device does not weigh much and it feels pretty good in the hand, although it could have been thinner. The slider mechanism is not very good, I kept pressing keys by mistake while trying to slide the phone up. One other thing is that the camera is more exposed than usual and so if you leave your phone in a rough place you can seriously scratch the lense. Having said that, the overall construction of the device is very good and pleasant. In the box there was a charger, a handsfree stereo headset, a 512 MBs miniSD and a USB cable.

Source and more info: osnews

EarthLink To Unveil WiFi Phone Beta

EarthLink is expected to announce a beta test for Accton Technology Corp’s WiFi phone as early as tomorrow. Beta testing on the phone has been in the works on EarthLink’s municipal wireless network in Anaheim and it seems to be working very well. Like any WiFi phone, you’ll be able to make VoIP calls from your home network or on EarthLink’s Municipal WiFi network. As soon as you power on the phone you’ll be able to make quick and cheap phone calls over the internet without sacrificing voice quality.

Source and more info: crunchgear

The Apple iPhone

Capping literally years of speculation on perhaps the most intensely followed unconfirmed product in Apple's history -- and that's saying a lot -- the iPhone has been announced today.
Yeah, we said it: "iPhone," the name the entire free world had all but unanimously christened it from the time it'd been nothing more than a twinkle in Stevie J's eye (comments, Cisco?). Sweet, glorious specs of the 11.6 millimeter device (that's frickin' thin, by the way) include a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 touchscreen display with multi-touch support and a proximity sensor to turn off the screen when it's close to your face, 2 megapixel cam, 4GB or 8 GB of storage, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP, WiFi that automatically engages when in range, and quad-band GSM radio with EDGE. Perhaps most amazingly, though, it somehow runs OS X with support for Widgets, Google Maps, and Safari, and iTunes (of course) with CoverFlow out of the gate.

A partnership with Yahoo will allow all iPhone customers to hook up with free push IMAP email. Apple quotes 5 hours of battery life for talk or video, with a full 16 hours in music mode -- no word on standby time yet. In a twisted way, this is one rumor mill we're almost sad to see grind to a halt; after all, when is the next time we're going to have an opportunity to run this picture? The 4GB iPhone will go out the door in the US as a Cingular exclusive for $499 on a two-year contract, 8GB for $599. Ships Stateside in June, Europe in fourth quarter, Asia in 2008

Google Launches Google News Mobile

Google has announced the addition of Google News to their mobile offerings, bringing the informational goodness of Google News to cell phones, train stations, and waiting rooms all over the country. On the Google News Mobile site Google says that “You can access top headlines, browse through news categories, or search for exactly the stories you want - all in a phone-friendly format that’s easy to read and navigate. All you need is a web-enabled phone.”
Like most Google offerings, Google News Mobile is debuting in Beta mode and also like Google News, Google News Mobile works by sending the end user to sites which are hosted outside of the Google MoBorg - making it a news gateway. Currently Google News Mobile is only available for access to English language news sources, but Google is planning on expansion.
Unlike the desktop browser based version of Google News, Google News Mobile does not list all of the sites in the Google News index.
Instead, Google News Mobile links only to publishers with pages specifically designed for viewing on mobile phones - which is plenty reason for publishers to now offer a mobile friendly version (more info for publishers and indexing their sites in the Google News Mobile FAQ).
If users have a PDA, Smartphone or a phone or mobile device that can view HTML pages, the entire Google News index can be accessed in the same way as the traditional desktop version.
Google News Mobile now joins Google Mobile’s application of search services including Google Local Mobile, Google Search Mobile, Image Search Mobile, SMS and Google Personalized Homepage for the mobile.

Samsung Latest To Unveil WiFi Mobile Phone

Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones are seen as having potential to spread mobile Web use by giving phone users more options and price points for that connectivity. Wi-Fi could offer a more cost effective way for users to access the Web from mobile devices by minimizing the air time used to go online.

Staking its claim to leadership in the converging worlds of mobile computing, Web browsing and cellular communications, Samsung has become the latest handset vendor to roll out a WiFi-enabled phone.
Samsung said it will make its SPH-M4300 available in its home market of Korea later this month. In addition to being able to access the Web via WiFi Internet connections, the device features a 1.3-megapixel camera and a 2.8-inch LCD and will run on the Pocket PC operating system made by Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) .
Samsung has taken to testing products in Korea before rolling them out onto the worldwide market, something it is eager to do to keep and gain market share in an increasingly competitive environment.

Skype Delivers Mobile VoIP

Skype Technologies has officially launched its VoIP software for handheld devices. Skype for Pocket PC 1.0 lets users of PDAs that have both Wi-Fi wireless local area network connectivity and the Pocket PC OS make unlimited calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot.

Voice over Internet calling is now available for PDA users, with Skype Technologies officially launching software designed for handhelds running the Microsoft Windows Pocket PC operating system.
Initially offered in a beta version earlier this year, Skype for Pocket PC 1.0 lets users of PDAs that have both Wi-Fi wireless local area network connectivity and the Pocket PC OS make unlimited calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot.
The software can be downloaded for free at the company's Web site. Customers are advised to purchase a headset.
First Laptops, Now PDAs
This is essentially a mobile version of the company's global VoIP service based on peer-to-peer software, and also delivers instant messaging without voice over GPRS wide-area networks. Conference calling is also available.
Skype for Pocket PC enables cross-platform voice calls to other Skype users running Skype for Windows, Skype for Linux or Skype for Mac OS X. Among the features are a global directory and end-to-end encryption.
Now that laptops have been VoIP-enabled, PDAs are following suit. SoftAir Microsystems has licensed an application from San Jose, California-based HelloSoft that adds VoIP capability to its line of products for PDAs and notebooks.
VoIP for the Masses
Cisco and Nortel also provide VoIP over wireless local area networks, but using a peer-to-peer connection is a new twist. "Skype is delivering VoIP to the masses," said IDC analyst Alex Slawsby, "providing voice communications on a mobile device or a PC."
Internet calling software for PDAs is a step toward taking greater advantage of Wi-Fi technology in handheld devices, he told NewsFactor. "It will get even more interesting when this is brought to mobile phones, enabling operators to move beyond wide-area networks and into local-area networks," Slawsby said.
Because this software is based on peer-to-peer technology, the service is limited to small groups of users, said IDC analyst Will Stofega. "Who you can talk to is what it's all about, and the big wireless carriers are still working on that."
Stofega compared Skype to VoIP startup Vonage, noting that such companies provide a valuable service by drawing more attention to Internet-based calling and pushing other service providers to explore the technology.

what is fring?

fring™ is a free mobile VoIP software that lets you talk and live chat (IM) using your handset's Internet connection instead of costly mobile airtime (GSM) minutes. fring enables free mobile calls over Wi-Fi Internet access or your GPRS, EDGE or 3G Internet data plan.
fring lets you easily communicate with all your fring, Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™ , Twitter and regular phone contacts from one, integrated contact list. fring also supports SkypeOut and hundreds of SIP-based services such as GizmoProject, VoipCheap, VoipStunt, Free World, even from non-SIP enabled handsets, enabling cheap local and international VoIP calls to contacts’ PCs, mobile phones and landline numbers. fring is also enhanced with real-time contact availability (presence) so you can see who’s available before dialing.
All you need to use fring is a 3G handset (see list of supported devices) with Internet connectivity that is already available from your mobile service provider (how do I know?) or through your nearest Wi-Fi hotspot. fring does not require any proprietary hardware or airtime, and works with phones purchased through any mobile operator. fring can be simply downloaded into your handset via SMS received from another fringster™ or from our website download page – it’s as easy as downloading a ring tone.
fring roams seamlessly between Wi-Fi and 3G networks while bypassing traditional mobile voice and SMS text messaging services mobile-to-mobile calls, mobile-to-landline calls, and mobile-to-PC calls including integration into Skype, MSN Messenger and Google Talk wherever you are. The patent-pending peer-to-peer mobile VoIP technology delivers full-duplex voice quality with rich internet functionality and maximum network efficiency.

Using SIP with Nokia Series60 and Asterisk

Mobile Internet Calling Made Simple Now you can enjoy crystal-clear phone calls over the Internet using the new Nokia N80 phone and Gizmo VoIP. If you have access to a WiFi connection, you can save money by using the Internet to connect your call instead of using your mobile phone minutes. No roaming or out-of-network fees. Make your calls from anywhere in the world to anywhere for just a few pennies a minute. Simple to configure, inexpensive to use.

SIP Account Configuration: Go to Tools - Settings - Connection
- SIP settings -
Create the following profile
Profile Name: fonosip
Service Profile: IETF
Default Access point: (your WLAN AP name)
Public user name: sip:812345@fonosip.com
Use Compression: No
Registration: " When needed "
Use Security: No
Proxy Server: sip: fonosip.com
Realm: fonosip.com
User Name: 812345 (your sip number)
Password: [You Fonosip password]
Allow loose routing: Yes
Transport Type: TCP
Port: 5060
Registrar Server: sip:fonosip.com
Realm: fonosip.com
User Name: 812345
Password: [Your Fonosip password]
Transport Type: TCP
Port: 5060
Then go to connection - Internet Tel. Settings -
Create a new profile for "fonosip"(812345xxx),
name it "fonosip"
In Connectivity - Internet tel. - Preferred
profile - Choose "fonosip"
Then go back to Connection - SIP settings -
fonosip and change the Registration from
(when needed) to (Always on) now your phone
will register to the Fonosip network.
Default call type: To switch between normal GSM calls or VOIP calls, navigate to Tools->Settings->Call->Default call type. Select Cellular to make normal calls to the phone number or Internet to use VoIP to call the number or address\ .

T-Mobile bans VoIP from super-3G service

T-Mobile UK has announced a flat-rate version of its data tariff, aimed primarily at business users.
The release of Web'n'Walk Professional coincides with the introduction of a new data card, which will take advantage of T-Mobile's upcoming next-generation 3G service.
Not only is it the first HSDPA-enabled data card to be offered by a major network in the UK, but it's also quad-band and has integrated Wi-Fi. T-Mobile is currently offering the card with a voucher that allows free use of its Wi-Fi hotspots for 12 months.
The company's HSDPA trials are currently in their internal phase, with no set date as yet for external trials. The service is expected to be rolled out in late summer, with its coverage mirroring the mainly metropolitan footprint of the provider's current 3G network.
"We're trying to focus on where we already have 3G coverage, to build strong in-building coverage," Rob Langton, T-Mobile UK's data marketing manager, told ZDNet UK.
T-Mobile anticipates that the first phase of HSDPA will see consistent speeds of around 1Mbps with the possibility of 1.8Mbps, but hopes for speeds of over 7Mbps by the end of 2007.

Mobile VoIP

Voip Mobile or 'Mobile Voice over Internet Protocol' is the application of voice over IP technology to mobile handsets.
The term is : VoIP Mobile... VoIP Mobile requires a mobile handset that supports, at minimum, high speed IP communications. Most commonly this is using Voice over WiFi or VoWiFi, but the same protocols (typically SIP or jabber) can be used over any broadband IP-capable wireless network connection such as the various 3G standards, EVDO rev A (which is synchronously high speed - both high speed up and down), HSDPA or potentially WiMax.
VoIP Mobile will require a compromise between economy and mobility. For example, Voice over WiFi offers free service but is only available within the coverage area of the WiFi Access Point. High speed services from mobile operators using EVDO rev A or HSPDA with probably have better audio quality and capabilities for metropolitan-wide coverage including fast handoffs from mobile base station to another, yet it will cost more than the typical WiFi-based VoIP service.