T-Mobile isn’t the only contributor in the Haiti situation. Google, Vonage, Skype are offering Free VoIP Calls to Haiti. Ricky sent us in an interesting post on the Google Voice Blog this morning. It looks like Google is doing its part as well providing free calls to Haiti for the next two weeks using Google Voice.
“It’s impossible to watch the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake without wondering how one can contribute in helping the thousands of families who lost everything in this disaster.
Google set up a disaster relief page, which includes information and resources for anyone interested in helping out, and the Google Voice team also wanted to respond in our own way.
Particularly in the wake of such a catastrophe, for people in the US who have family in Haiti, it is critical to stay in constant contact with your loved ones, provide moral comfort, and offer daily updates to friends and family in Haiti.
Showing posts with label googlevoice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label googlevoice. Show all posts
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
SIP vs XMPP or SIP and XMPP?
History
SIP was invented to provide rendezvous for session establishment and negotiation on the Internet. XMPP (or Jabber) was invented to do structured data exchange such as synchronous or active presence and text communication among group of people. XMPP evolved from instant messaging and presence, whereas SIP evolved from Internet voice/video communication. Later, XMPP added support for session negotiation using the Jingle extension, and SIP community added extensions such as SIMPLE to support instant messaging and presence.
Technically comparing SIP and XMPP is like comparing apples and oranges because the core protocols serve different purposes: session randevous/establishment vs structured data exchange. On the other hand, because of the extensions invented in both the protocol worlds, SIMPLE and Jingle, they now have overlapping functions, and can be compared. When one compares SIP vs XMPP, actually the comparison is SIP/SIMPLE vs XMPP for IM and presence and/or SIP/SDP vs XMPP/Jingle for session negotiation. Even though the goals of the two sets of protocols are converging, there are fundamental architectural differences that I will enumerate in this article. There are other articles on SIP vs XMPP [1, 2, 3].
SIP was invented to provide rendezvous for session establishment and negotiation on the Internet. XMPP (or Jabber) was invented to do structured data exchange such as synchronous or active presence and text communication among group of people. XMPP evolved from instant messaging and presence, whereas SIP evolved from Internet voice/video communication. Later, XMPP added support for session negotiation using the Jingle extension, and SIP community added extensions such as SIMPLE to support instant messaging and presence.
Technically comparing SIP and XMPP is like comparing apples and oranges because the core protocols serve different purposes: session randevous/establishment vs structured data exchange. On the other hand, because of the extensions invented in both the protocol worlds, SIMPLE and Jingle, they now have overlapping functions, and can be compared. When one compares SIP vs XMPP, actually the comparison is SIP/SIMPLE vs XMPP for IM and presence and/or SIP/SDP vs XMPP/Jingle for session negotiation. Even though the goals of the two sets of protocols are converging, there are fundamental architectural differences that I will enumerate in this article. There are other articles on SIP vs XMPP [1, 2, 3].
SIP in the view point of Google, Microsoft, Yahoo
In our last post, we discussed how GTalk2VoIP brings SIP capability to your instant messengers. Continuing our discussion with Ruslan Zalata, co-founder or GTalk2VoIP, today we will talk about SIP strategies of Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. The interview extract follows (AS – Alok Saboo; RZ – Ruslan Zalata):
AS. GTalk2VoIP is essentially filling a gap by bringing SIP services to the ubiquitous instant messengers. Why do you think, Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo are not providing such a service themselves?
RZ: It’s about four years have passed by since we started our service. During all this time we cannot help hearing that Google, MS or other Biggie “just almost ready to deploy” a SIP/VoIP service, which will definitely kill ours and make whole consumer VoIP business seamless. Perhaps one day one of the biggies will finally come up with such a killer service, yet there are some obstacles I believe different to each company, preventing them from starting a killer VoIP service. Here are my personal thoughts:
AS. GTalk2VoIP is essentially filling a gap by bringing SIP services to the ubiquitous instant messengers. Why do you think, Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo are not providing such a service themselves?
RZ: It’s about four years have passed by since we started our service. During all this time we cannot help hearing that Google, MS or other Biggie “just almost ready to deploy” a SIP/VoIP service, which will definitely kill ours and make whole consumer VoIP business seamless. Perhaps one day one of the biggies will finally come up with such a killer service, yet there are some obstacles I believe different to each company, preventing them from starting a killer VoIP service. Here are my personal thoughts:
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Google's next target: Unified communications
Unified communications has been a technology specialty of networking vendors for years, but Google Inc.'s recent forays into voice communications and collaboration could drastically upset the competitive landscape.
It's not as if Google Voice and Google Wave, which are both launching later this year, will kill related efforts by companies like Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp. and others that are heavily involved in unified communications, but Google seems to have the competition scrambling already.
Witness today's comment by Doug Dennerline, Cisco's senior vice president of collaboration software: "Google Wave validates what we've been doing for two years [with the Webex Connect collaboration offering]," Dennerline said during a webconference with reporters and analysts. "We are going to invent and reinvent. You'll see cool things from us."
Anybody who has followed the computer industry for long knows that when a vendor says another company has "validated" them, it really means, "Yes, they are clearly in our living room, and we are making sure they don't move in permanently." Dennerline was careful to imply that Cisco is up to the Google challenge and would "invent and reinvent" to stay competitive.
While Google Voice and Wave seem more focused on consumers, with tools for instant messaging, e-mail and social networking, Dennerline was quick to point out that "social networking is important to enterprises, too."
It's not as if Google Voice and Google Wave, which are both launching later this year, will kill related efforts by companies like Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp. and others that are heavily involved in unified communications, but Google seems to have the competition scrambling already.
Witness today's comment by Doug Dennerline, Cisco's senior vice president of collaboration software: "Google Wave validates what we've been doing for two years [with the Webex Connect collaboration offering]," Dennerline said during a webconference with reporters and analysts. "We are going to invent and reinvent. You'll see cool things from us."
Anybody who has followed the computer industry for long knows that when a vendor says another company has "validated" them, it really means, "Yes, they are clearly in our living room, and we are making sure they don't move in permanently." Dennerline was careful to imply that Cisco is up to the Google challenge and would "invent and reinvent" to stay competitive.
While Google Voice and Wave seem more focused on consumers, with tools for instant messaging, e-mail and social networking, Dennerline was quick to point out that "social networking is important to enterprises, too."
How Gtalk2VoIP brings SIP capability to your instant messengers?
We talked about GTalk2VoIP earlier as wonderful solution to SIP-enable your plain vanilla instant messaging client. GTalk2VoIP is an interesting service, bringing SIP service to your instant messenger. If you have not tried GTalk2VoIP, I would strongly urge you to try the service. While the service is great, we were not sure how the folks at GTalk2VoIP manage this feat. However, I was recently able to speak with Mr. Ruslan Zalata, co-founder of GTalk2VoIP, and he was kind enough to share some insights into the service and other technical details about how GTalk2VoIP brings SIP capability to your instant messengers. The interview extract follows (AS – Alok Saboo; RZ – Ruslan Zalata):
GTalk2VoIP_logoAS: For the benefit of our readers, can you introduce yourself?
RZ: My name is Ruslan Zalata, I’m a co-founder of GTalk2VoIP, Inc., one of the developers of GTalk2VoIP service and a piece of mobile VoIP (mVoIP) software called Talkonaut.
GTalk2VoIP_logoAS: For the benefit of our readers, can you introduce yourself?
RZ: My name is Ruslan Zalata, I’m a co-founder of GTalk2VoIP, Inc., one of the developers of GTalk2VoIP service and a piece of mobile VoIP (mVoIP) software called Talkonaut.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Google launches Nexus One smartphone
Google has launched its much-anticipated debut smartphone, the Nexus One, confirming speculation that it will sell the handsets both via carrier partners and independently via an online e-tailing strategy.
The GSM-based Nexus One is now available in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and the UK. Google is selling an unlocked version from $529 (€368), and is also approaching carriers to stock the phone.
From today Google is selling the handset via this new direct online sales channel. The online sales channel will be the host for a range Android phones to be progressively added to its site. “The Nexus One is the first in a series of phones to be brought to market through this store,” Google said.
In the US, T-Mobile USA has agreed to sell the Nexus One for $179 on a two-year contract, and Verizon Wireless plans to follow suit in the future.
Vodafone will sell the handset to its customers in Europe, Google said but did not reveal how long that period of exclusivity will last.
Google product management VP Mario Querioz said “we expect to add more operators, more devices, including from Motorola and other handset manufacturers as well as more countries to this program - we will bring the web store to more countries.”
He also confirmed that Vodafone in Europe will also be added to the Google store site and to the new model from spring 2010. “We’re working as quickly and hard as we can to ensure the store is ready for business but also to make sure we offer the different flavors of the phone through these different operators later this spring.”
Just as the market rumors indicated, the handset has been developed by HTC to Google's specifications. It is powered by Google's own Android OS, and includes a 1-GHz Snapdragon chip.
"The Nexus One belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call ‘superphones,’ with the [onboard] chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago,” Google VP of engineering Andy Rubin said.
The GUI includes shortcuts to Google services such as Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Voice. The handset sports UMTS, HSPA, GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Rumors of a Google phone have been circulating for years, but some observers had expressed doubt that Google would risk alienating handset makers at a time when the Android OS is just beginning to gain traction.
Selling the handsets unlocked, and therefore removing the element of handset exclusivity, might also discourage operators from subsidizing the phone. But these appear to be risks Google is willing to take. For more information visit telecomseurope.net
The GSM-based Nexus One is now available in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and the UK. Google is selling an unlocked version from $529 (€368), and is also approaching carriers to stock the phone.
From today Google is selling the handset via this new direct online sales channel. The online sales channel will be the host for a range Android phones to be progressively added to its site. “The Nexus One is the first in a series of phones to be brought to market through this store,” Google said.
In the US, T-Mobile USA has agreed to sell the Nexus One for $179 on a two-year contract, and Verizon Wireless plans to follow suit in the future.
Vodafone will sell the handset to its customers in Europe, Google said but did not reveal how long that period of exclusivity will last.
Google product management VP Mario Querioz said “we expect to add more operators, more devices, including from Motorola and other handset manufacturers as well as more countries to this program - we will bring the web store to more countries.”
He also confirmed that Vodafone in Europe will also be added to the Google store site and to the new model from spring 2010. “We’re working as quickly and hard as we can to ensure the store is ready for business but also to make sure we offer the different flavors of the phone through these different operators later this spring.”
Just as the market rumors indicated, the handset has been developed by HTC to Google's specifications. It is powered by Google's own Android OS, and includes a 1-GHz Snapdragon chip.
"The Nexus One belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call ‘superphones,’ with the [onboard] chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago,” Google VP of engineering Andy Rubin said.
The GUI includes shortcuts to Google services such as Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Voice. The handset sports UMTS, HSPA, GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Rumors of a Google phone have been circulating for years, but some observers had expressed doubt that Google would risk alienating handset makers at a time when the Android OS is just beginning to gain traction.
Selling the handsets unlocked, and therefore removing the element of handset exclusivity, might also discourage operators from subsidizing the phone. But these appear to be risks Google is willing to take. For more information visit telecomseurope.net
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