VoIP Now: My 8 Fave VoIP/ Voice Ideas + Ideamakers

December 06, 2006

My 8 Fave VoIP/ Voice Ideas + Ideamakers

Xmas + New Year is a time for journalistos/ bloggers to navel-gaze. It's that "what have I done with my life this year" sort of thing. But I'd rather speculate on "what has the VoIP industry done with itself lately?" So here are a few ideas that get me thinking about the possibilities... whether I've tried them or not. In no particular order...

Nokia blogger relations.
Kudos to Andy Abramson for the great work. While he's a VoIP blogger himself and has his finger on the pulse of the industry, it's still a lot of work. It's great for everyone: readers, bloggers, and Nokia. Just remember to include us next time, Andy :) Hopefully other mobile tech companies will follow suit do the same kind of thing.
Apple iPhone.
Yeah, I know it's not out yet, but if it has, say, Mac OS X on it, I'm already salivating. For Xmas turkey, I want Apple with my stuffing. Just make sure, Steve, that it has a camera on the front (unlike my Palm Treo 650) and a large screen for videos. At least 3.5" diagonal. And if VoIP bloggers are lucky, there'll not only be VoIP/ VoIM on the iPhone, but Apple will hire Andy Abramson (or someone else) to manage relations with us bloggers.
Linux phones.
iPhone in one hand, a Linux phone in the other. The Mobile Linux Initiative (MLI) is on. What you could do with a Linux phone, in terms of customization. (Insert Homer Simpson ecstatic gurgling sound here.) I'd be calling myself on the darn things. You might even be able to install a mobile webserver on it. Or Asterisk? (Not sure of either.) I want one!
Jangl.
Jangl's voice services are a brilliant idea, and would greatly serve a particular niche - those who want a throwaway number for casual interaction. No need to give out your real number. Dating is one market, but there are others. I'm still waiting for that interview, Tim :)
Talkster.
I haven't written about Talkster for technical reasons, but loads of other VoIP bloggers have. It's VoIM on mobile phones, with some additional exciting upcoming features. Though I'm still waiting for that followup interview, James :)
Sitofono.
Very cool. Luca Filigheddu and AbbeyNet are offering Sitofono, based on a click-to-call service model. Pay a flat monthly rate, post one of these on your website, and customers can call you toll-free. Brilliant. These are sprouting like mushrooms on some VoIP blogs.
Asterisk PBX. Yowzah. Can you say "inexpensive, fully customizable VoIP IP PBX for small business" boys and girls? I thought you could. That's Asterisk IP PBX. Read Ward Mundy's Nerd Vittles and Dal at Asterisk VoIP News. (Yeah, I linked to them already, but so what?)
SightSpeed video click-to-call. Wowzah. Can you say "free video click-to-call for anyone" boys and girls? I knew you could.