liGo NEWS

Mvox Duo Communicator

Mvox unveiled their Mvox Duo Communicator at DEMOFall ‘06. This wireless headset is also a speakerphone and one touch speech recognition voice dialing which are very practical tools. Noise and echo cancellation is part of its design using patent pending small array microphone technology to allow for clear conversations without the surrounding noise. It can also be connected to a PC via USB or Bluetooth to act as a wireless headset or speakerphone for VoIP applications.The Mvox Duo Communicator can be worn over the ear, slipped to a lapel or simply placed on a surface.

Polycom Bluetooth Conference Phone

Polycom has introduced two new products in the VoiceStation conference phone brand. These two models, the VoiceStation 300 and VoiceStation 500, are 33% smaller than other Polycom models but have the Acoustic Clarity Technology built in for quality, full duplex voice conferencing. The VoiceStation models are intended for audio conferencing in offices and small meeting areas.
The VoiceStation 500 has all the features of the VoiceStation 300 and one additional feature. The VoiceStation 500 is embedded with Bluetooth wireless support. This makes it ideal for conferences using mobile phones with Bluetooth features or using VoIP services such as Skype. If Bluetooth wireless capability is unavailable, an accompanying cable can be used to connect to an applications port on the phone.

Tips For Home Office Success

Among the first things you should do to achieve success in a home based is to set up your home office properly. Craig Binkley of Market Day News says that a home business friendly environment may even determine the level of success your business may achieve. His list includes selecting your office phone.

When it comes to phones he suggests that it is wise to choose a phone system that suits your type of business, though the majority don’t really think about it but matching the functions of your telephone to your needs is a practical step to make; especially if the business relies heavily on the phone. For example, most home business owners opt for a cordless phone. It gives the business owner the freedom to move around his office space as necessary and even see to any household needs without missing those all important calls that mean money in the bank. A fax machine might be a necessary device as well.

For some, phone calls are more of an interruption of their work. Selecting a phone with a built in answering machine would be a good choice to make. This way the business owner can continue working and let the machine capture any messages from your callers. They can always take the call in the middle of the recording if they realize that the call is urgent.

A last tip from Mr Binkley have an old fashioned corded phone handy. This will be really useful in times of power outages.

Choosing the Right VoIP Equipment

If you’re considering utilizing VoIP for your company, working knowledge of the various devices you will need and what your options are in terms of equipment is a vital tool. There are so many options that knowing what different components do can go a long way to help you choose the equipment you truly need.

Soft phone is a term that you will often hear in talks on VoIP. This refers to a software program that people can install on their PC or laptop to make IP calls. Majority of the softphone services are free. Most of them will only allow calls from PC  to PC which are free. Some will charge a monthly subscription fee but most will charge a fee per call made to public switched telephone network (PSTN) such as to land lines or cell phones. An example of this is Skype, which is currently the best known VoIP service.

A software based VoIP service means that the end users need only a computer with an internet connection for your basic hardware. The computer must have the necessary sound card with speakers or earphones to allow you to hear the transmissions from your clients, plus a microphone to input your part of the dialogue.

For corporations, softphones such as ArrowPhone, Gizmo, 3CX VoIP Phone for Windows or SIP Communicator may be better suited for you as these are business oriented software.

While most people are comfortable with using a microphone and headset or computer speakers, there are still those who prefer the experience of actually holding a unit much as they are used to with regular telephony. USB handsets give the necessry physical component to the softphone to those who prefer having a unit similar to what is familiar to them; at the same time the voice quality of PC based VoIP communications is improved.

USB phones are available in many styles. This includes handsets, desksets with speakerphones and cordless phones. Don’t forget to check if the USB phone requires drver software before purchasing it.

41,000 Cordless Phones Recalled by Japan’s NTT

Operations were underway last Tuesday to recall over 41,000 cordless phones in Japan. The reason given is that due to a design flaw, these phones under certain conditions transmit on the same frequency as that used by ships and airplanes for distress calls.

A joint statement was made to this effect by National Telegraph and Telecom East Corporation and National Telegraph and Telecom West Corporation. They also stated that some 41,671 cordless phones sold between 1991 and 1992 are affected. Masaya Suzuki, spokesman of NTT East, said that the phones were sold only in Japan so only the said country is affected.

Buck Up, Gramps: the Gigaset E360/E365

Appreciate function in comfort with the Gigaset E30/E365 from Siemens. These cordless phones come equipped with features that facilitate as well as promote telephony efficiency in great measure, particularly for families with kids and older people.

As cordless phones continue to grow and evolve into multifunctional units capable of attending to a number of tasks, more and more consumer needs are finding units that specifically respond to concerns that arise out of their particular situations. Consider the apparent differences in the communication needs between a single individual and a family with older people or kids in tow. The needs may be similar, in that both require a unit that works well, but the latter would naturally insist on a communication system that’s tougher on the whole or one that incorporates a few key features that make them more accessible for the young and old to manage and operate.
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Convertible Headsets

With VoIP services increasing, you can expect more calls from your loved ones as they too begin to enjoy the benefits of having VoIP in their homes. If you spend a lot of time on the phone, it makes sense to use a headset to take your calls instead of the regular handset or Skype phone. It allows your body to be more relaxed, no crick in the neck from clamping the phone with your shoulder. Some really cool headsets can even be worn one of three ways for your added comfort: like a headband, behind the neck or over the ear.

Plantronics is always a good brand to choose for headsets. They even have Bluetooth headsets available if you prefer a more hi-tech piece. You’ll have quite a selection to choose from.

Universities Banning Skype

Skype is one of the most practical ways to stay in touch with family and friends because of the truly inexpensive cost to make calls. It is also very convenient since anyone can have Skype; the program just has to be downloaded onto your PC or laptop, plug in your wireless headset or Skype phone and you’re all set.

Unfortunately some universities are banning Skype from their campus on the grounds that it consumes bandwidth and is an illegal waste of resources. The University of California Santa Barbara, San Jose University and California State University Dominguez Hills are among those who have jumped onto this particular band wagon.

Take heart though. Not all VoIP services are banned; just Skype. Gizmo project or Wengo are still functioning so you may want to try that out instead.

Skype Mouse Phone

Tools for using Skype like Skype phones are popping out everywhere. It seems like everybody has an idea of how to make using VoIP easier or more convenient. One “cute ” idea to come out is the ASG 142 Skype Mouse Phone from Taiwan based company Sysgration.

The device uses an 800 DPI optical sensor and connects to a USB port. You can easily use the mouse without having to think of accidentally pressing any buttons since these are placed within the mouse. You need to flip it open like a clam shellto make calls.

It has a 1.3 inch LCD display which shows your Skype contact list and your contact’s status. The mic and speakers are built in; and yes, it is a speakerphone as well. Auto detection between mouse and  phone is a key feature. Best of all, it only weighs 100 grams.

There are many really cool Skype phones available but this one is cute as well as practical. Take it for a test run. You might be surprised at its quality.

Introducing Jajah: VoIP on Your Mobile

VoIP is quickly becoming a strong alternative to using either land lines or even mobile phones. The main reason being the lower cost of placing calls using VoIP. Consumers have mainly been limited to utilizing VoIP in their homes, offices or wifi hotspots as their devices or Skype phones require a PC or broadband connection to function.

Jajah Mobile suite is the forerunner of the next step in the VoIP evolution. According to Don Thorson, Jajah VP of Marketing, their new service works with Symbian S60 version 7.x or 8.x and Java based (J2ME) phones. This includes many models manufactured by various companies such as Nokia, Motorolla and Samsung.

The service is intended for the mobile users who make overseas calls. Much like Skype, interested users simply need to download the plug-in from Jajah’s site and start dialing. Registration is free and the rates vary from $0.02 per minute to $0.65 per minute.

While it is unlikely that VoIP will replace land lines or cellular phones soon, it is good to see that integration of the services is fast approaching.