VoIP news stories on Newser

Facebook Considering Buying Skype

Kevin Spak — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:43:18 CDT

Skype is suddenly the prettiest girl in school now that it’s pushed back its IPO. Google is in talks for a joint venture with the online calling company, and Facebook is considering buying it outright, sources tell Reuters . Skype is expected to rake in about $1 billion if it goes...

Calls Made Via Gmail: 'Loud and Mostly Clear'

John Johnson — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:42:06 CDT

With Google rolling out an initiative to allow Gmail users to make and receive calls , Jessica Dolcourt of CNET decided to give it a spin and found that it was ... pretty good. "We were pleased with the call quality, overall, which we tested with other US callers using landlines and...

As-Seen-on-TV MagicJack Actually Works as Advertised

Kevin Spak — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:37:26 CST

Walter Mossberg is as surprised as anyone to say it, but MagicJack actually works. If you haven’t seen its frequent, hard-sell TV ads, the little USB device hooks your computer to a traditional phone, allowing you to make unlimited calls over the Internet at a nigh-unbelievable rate. The first year...

Secret Google Phone Is Real—Really

Kevin Spak — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:14:59 CST

The “Google Phone” is real—no matter what Google has said—it’s coming next year, and it may be VoIP only. Or at least, that’s the rumor. Michael Arrington of TechCrunch says he’s “absolutely confirmed” the phone’s existence. Google will be have another company manufacture the phone, but it’ll have...

Rejection of Google iPhone App Sets Dumb Precedent

Harry Kimball — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:20:02 CDT

Apple has rejected Google’s application to distribute its Voice application through the App Store, and that shows that Apple is dead-set against innovation, Adam Pash writes on Lifehacker. The official line is that Google Voice “duplicates features already on the iPhone—namely the Phone and Messages app,” but that’s malarkey....

Skype Guys Trying to Buy It Back From eBay

Kevin Spak — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:00:41 CDT

The European wunderkinds who gave the world Skype have been approaching private equity firms in an attempt to buy their creation back from eBay, the New York Times reports. Niklas Zennstrom of Sweden and Janus Friis of Denmark sold the Internet phone service for $2.6 billion in 2005, but...

Skype Expands to iPhone, iPod Tomorrow

Ambreen Ali — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:25:30 CDT

Skype is launching service for the iPhone tomorrow, expanding its popular internet phone operation from computers to the lucrative mobile market. Users of iPhones as well as iPod Touches—which have wifi but no cell connection—will be able to make free calls to fellow Skype users and pay for...

Skype Rolls Out New Biz Service

Sarah Quinn — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:00:00 CDT

Internet calling company Skype is introducing new software for businesses that lets workers on corporate phone systems make calls using regular office phones instead of computer headsets, the Wall Street Journal reports. Domestic and international calls to cellphones and landlines will start at 2.1 cents a minute, and computer-...

Google Voice Buggy but Brilliant

Rob Quinn — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:05:45 CDT

Google's new VoIP service could be more of a "life-changing experience" than a mere Skype substitute, Larry Magid writes in CNET. Google Voice—currently only available to former GrandCentral users but expected to soon cause sleepless nights for the whole telecom industry—offers users a single number to which they...