Tag Archives: VoIP

Google integrates calling phones feature into Gmail

If you have a Gmail account, you can now call your friends and family from it.  A new button labeled “Call phone” is now visible at the top of your chat list.  Click it and a dial pad pops up; you can dial a person by entering their phone number or contact name.  After some initial test runs, I am happy to report that calls sound nearly crystal clear on both ends (far better than on Skype).  If you have a Google Voice account, you can easily tweak settings so that you can both send and receive phone calls on your cell phone, too.  Read more about that here.  “For at least the rest of the year” calls made to the U.S. and Canada will remain free of charge.  International rates are fairly cheap; they start as low as .2 cents per minute.  You will be able to purchase additional credits through Google Checkout.  Check out the full list of international rates here.  Before you can start using the new “call phone” feature inside Gmail, you must download the free voice and video plugin for your browser if you haven’t done so already.  Once that’s completed, you’re all set!  Give it a try and remember that calls made within the U.S. and Canada are free…so what are you waiting for?

[Via GoogleBlog]

Fring brings video calling to iPhone and iPod touch

Fring, a popular VoIP  application in the Apple App Store, now allows its users to put their cameras to work by enabling video calls with other cell phone/computer users.  But alas, the iPhone lacks a front-facing camera and so Fring is forced to limit the video calling to a one-way show.  Fring developers are ready to incorporate two-way video conferencing once “a front camera is placed on these.”  The one-way video calls work over Wi-Fi, between Fring-Fring and Fring-Skype callers.  Remember, though, you must have the iPhone 3GS in order for the video calling to work.  (I mistakingly tested it out on iPhone 3G and was quickly disappointed.)  Anyway, this is cool stuff.  Granted, video conferencing capability has been around for some time with Nokia devices, but now it’ll start hitting the mainstream folk with iPhones and iPods touch.

Be sure to look after the break to find a Fring commercial that shows all this in action.

[Via Engadget; Gizmodo; Fring Blog]

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