February 21st, 2007

You are currently browsing the articles from the VoIP Digest written on February 21st, 2007.

Digg to support OpenID

Breaking News

OpenID, the open decentralized user centric digital identity platform is getting big awfully fast. A few days after AOL announced its support for the system, Digg, the San Francisco-based social news website is looking to jump on the bandwagon, and start supporting OpenID.

While OpenID got a big boost from AOL, the identity system has benefited from early support by small Web 2.0 start-ups. Six Apart, Technorati, Magnolia

Kevin Rose, co-founder of Digg, is about to make this announcement at The Future of Apps conference sometime later today and will be giving out more details. The support is likely to be in place later this year, Rose said. We did not talk long enough to fill in the gaps but will update the story in a few hours. Those pesky intercontinental roaming charges are not good for a long telephone interview.

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Written by Om Malik on February 21st, 2007 with no comments.
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Skype Pro bundle goes live; early-bird €5 credit with purchase

I talked with Stefan Öberg yesterday about today’s Skype Pro launch. The call reminded me that, despite the 500 million downloads that brought Skype to where it is today, downloading is weird. Using a phone, something with buttons you hold to your ear and mouth, is our mainstream human behavior. It’s not enough to succeed at getting people to download Skype.

The sweet spot Skype occupies is being nibbled at from three sides.

First are those who are building live communication into the web. No client to download, just flash, a browser, a headset and a webcam. 

Second are those who are turning VoIM (voice over instant messaging) into a feature of other software. VoIM is being built into virtual worlds, customer service systems, Internet television networks, and eBay seller tools.

Third are the gadgets. Mobile phones, hybrid phones, desk stations, cuddly toys. Generations are conditioned by thousands of calls to hold something to the sides of their faces for telephony. Gear that’s directly attached to the Internet without a PC lets people get some of the benefit of VoIM without bothering to change their behavior.

Skype Pro will help Skype with the gadget crowd. The pricing plan is much closer to the all-you-can-eat plans associated with landlines. So Skype Pro and a phone with embedded Skype will be easier to buy, to set up, try, and adopt. 

Key points of today’s announcements:

Where:

I find it ironic that Luxembourg, Skype’s country of incorporation, isn’t on the list.

Money:

Stefan says Skype’s stats show most SkypeOut calls run 20 to 30 minutes, so the connection fee shouldn’t affect most users.  

While the return on voice mail might justify the service, all the exclusions means Skypers must still know what kind of line they are calling. 

With so many people using mobiles as their primary numbers, I’m not sure this will save you much on SkypeOut service.

Marketing:

See also:

Full release below:

Written by Skype Journal on February 21st, 2007 with no comments.
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Here’s another example of Vonage’s delusionality

Not a word, I know, but maybe it'll catch on and become one. Like Stephen Colbert's "truthiness."   GigaOM's Paul Kaputska is so spot on with his erudite points about why Vonage has not become a more serious player in the SMB (Small and Medium Business) segment. "While Vonage still does offer a Small Business Premium […]

Written by Russell Shaw on February 21st, 2007 with no comments.
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