Vonage has added European access to their Premium Unlimited $25 and Small Business $50 plans. The international calling fees to the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain will be waived for these plans. Good news for international callers!
Check out ZDNet’s article for more information.
I can, its just that nobody I know uses Skype. The other part of it is that I’m not a chatty person anyway – but the technology and concept is so cool to me that I wish I could. I’ve set up an account and checked out the service, and it is really neat.
I wanted VoIP years ago when I got my first taste of it with NetMeeting. At the time, I even tried to use it with one of those early Connectix QuickCams that you attached to the parallel port (seriously). Now that the reality of VoIP and desktop video conferencing is nearly ubiquitous, the challenge is not as great as it once was.
So whats the next really cool, tough challenge for the technology buff to play with?
This post over on Om Malik’s blog has me thinking of how simple it has become to start a different spin on practically anything. Take VoIP for example, with open source PBXs like Asterisk anyone could start a new “skype” like service focusing on whatever aspect that they believe to be important to their niche market.
Just thinking of that one possiblility is intriguing in the possibilities of having. For example, a private VoIP system for your social organization like a club, or community. Something that would cater to the unique needs of your group’s requirements.
Another aspect of the open source movement that is now possible, is the ability for anyone to take on the roll of an entrepreneur, building a business using common, high-quality open-source components. The focus of a given business can now be on the services, support, and price instead of the technology underneath.
I have to admit that I’m a big Microsoft fan in most everything that they do, but Om’s article really has gotten me thinking this afternoon. It has opened my eyes to the real possiblilities out there, along with the many high-quality “web 2.0” services that have cropped up lately. From free hosting at Microsoft’s Office Live, to GMail, to free Blogs & Wiki’s, the new business models can be built on standardized blocks and the main thrust of one’s energies can be targeted on your market or audience rather than the parts needed to run the business.
Of course it makes it hard on people like me – I’m a technologist, I’m in the industry for the technology, it is very hard to come up with something new or improved that people will want, or that someone else can do much better.
Still having the opportunities and tools available is a huge improvement over the previous entry-price to startups.
The Wireless Report has an interesting post about mobile and VoIP communications taking over the world. I agree that the trend is moving in that direction, but what is fascinating to me is how long our country takes to catch up to the rest of the world. Our providers and the media do a great job of covering up what new options there really are for us to use and move to. To save money and gain flexibility – it’s only the web-savy “power-users” and folks in the IT industry that are “in-the-know” as it were.
While I find this very disappointing, its good to see these options start to pick up here in the U.S. – and I think the traditional telephony providers are dreading this very trend. How they will fight it I’m not sure, but I’ll put forth my $.02 and suggest that they simply provide the fastest, cheapest, biggest communications pipe to my house. That is all I want from them, I’ll find my content places that are focused on content, not as a means to attract me as a broadband or infrastructure customer.
Via: The Wireless Report
Vonage, the inovative broadband phone provider announced the selection of Mike Snyder to become the next CEO, overseeing day-to-day operations of the company. Vonage founder Jeffrey A. Citron was promoted to Chairman and Chief Strategist, focusing on expanding the company’s products.
😢
“We are not enemies but friends.”
Live your life.
Completely.
Without fear.
Live it with Love, compassion, empathy, tolerance and joy.
Treat every person with the kindness, respect and dignity they deserve by the very virtue of being a human being.
Out riding this rainy, wet spring. Got 1,000 miles on the clock with more to come this season. #IMRG #IndianMotorcycle
Watching early seasons of #GoldRush. Fun seeing @GoldrushRick in season 3! Hope his new season is off to a good start!
Oh yes I did! https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRDO9ogSO0/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1kha5yzhjq3ot
