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Some say trends start Europe and cross the pond over to the US.  It’s true for fashion - is it true for personal communication as well?

According to a study by the EU, Europeans are turning their back on traditional landlines and instead are embracing internet telephony (also called Voice over IP or VoIP) and mobile handsets.  As Ars Technica points out, survey respondents aren’t getting landlines because of a lack of access, but rather because of a disinterest in the service altogether.

It is of no surprise to me that PSTN landlines are going the way of the dodo bird.  They are expensive, non-innovative, and lackluster.  Why should we pay for PSTN lines when a VoIP line can do all the same functions at a fraction of the cost.  If you have a quality broadband connection and QoS, VoIP can be liberating on your pocket book.

Services such as Skype show consumers that voice is just another communication mode enhanced by Internet, just as email transformed inter-office communication.  Therefore, using the net to route the calls is effective and neccesary with today’s communication infrastructure.  In Europe, where telephony termination rates (translation: voice calls are expensive in Europe) are outragously high, Skype has become very popular.  According to the aforementioned study, this is especially true in the blok states of Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland, and Bulgaria, where Skype usage is above 50% of European internet-enabled households.

As an additional note, Skype becomes most inviting when you can use it away from your PC.  I have used a Philips-made cordless phone that uses Skype to route calls. For my review of the Philips VoIP 841 cordless phone, check it out at Web Worker Daily.

In today’s segment of Breaking Silos: how to take get your contacts from mobile phone into Skype for Skype calling goodness.  SkypeSync makes it possible to call all your phone’s contacts via SkypeOut.  As Download Squad points out, the utility uses the SyncML standard which is used by most mobile phones these days.

To check out out, browse to zyb.com and upload your contacts to the web service.  Download, install, and open SkypeSync and use the wizard to export your contacts from Zyb and export them into Skype.  Your contacts will be visible in Skype for outgoing calls and SMS.

These types of utilities are fantastic and break down barriers of having silos of contacts in multiple places.

Note: SkypeSync is currently only available for Windows.

When I’ve spoken about the Skype phone before, I was operating under an assumption. I thought the skype phone would be dual mode. That is, normal cell phone calls would go out over the normal GSM network (like every other GSM phone call), and calls to skype contacts would go out over the 3G network basically as a data, VoIP driven call.

However, news comes this morning from Markus Gobel that this isn’t the case. It turns out that 3, the European cell phone company that carries the skype phone, is merely running iSkoot. iSkoot is a service that acts as a proxy between a normal phone call and the IP network that skype runs on. So basically when you make a call to your skype friends on the new phone, it’s a normal call back to the cell tower, then iSkoot carries it over to the skype network.

This is disappointing because I thought skype was finally moving ahead with making mobile headway and allowing users to use skype on the go. There’s a service I’ve been testing called Fring that works on a Nokia N95 that allows me to do skype calls and skype chats; all over the DATA network, not a GSM call. It works great on 3G and on Wi-Fi but I’ve found that over edge it’s not the greatest connection for a voice call.

According to what I’m reading, 3 UK is going to release the skype phone on Monday, October 29.  I wrote about this before and I’m very excited that this news broke today.  I think skype is poised to cause ripples in the cell phone market, first in Europe, and hopefully North American is next.

The handset will also feature a 2 MP camera and support for video playback.

Hat tip to The Register.

Techcraver N800 Review

Overview:

When I think of Nokia, I think cell phones. Which is why I was surprised when I heard about the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. The N800 is a beautifully designed 3 1/2 inch mobile tablet that allows you to surf the web, chat via Instant Message, and do VoIP calls among many other tasks. The N800 has a lot of onboard hardware including wi-fi (802.11B/G), bluetooth, and a video camera. You can interface with the device using the included stylus, onboard keys, or through its amazing touch screen. The N800 is a follow-up device to the Nokia N770 Internet tablet, which received poor reviews. The N800 has better hardware, fixing a key complaint about the N770 - sluggishness.

Another bonus is the N800 is running a Linux based operating system, meaning external developers can write software for the N800 Tablet. This fact alone makes the N800 a very attractive package. Unlike the new Apple iPod Touch, the Nokia N800 is an ‘open’ device that outsiders can develop software and hardware for. This is very powerful. For example, the N800 came with an FM receiver, but Nokia didn’t ship the N800 with the software to utilize this facility. Someone took it upon themselves to write the software and now you can use the N800 as an FM receiver, adding to its utility.

At First Glance:

The Nokia N800 is a beautiful device. The screen, which is simply stunning at 800×640 dominates the front side of the screen and is surrounded on the sides and bottom by the speakers. On the upper left of the screen are the directional navigation/operation buttons. There is a swing-out stand that allows you to view the N800 on a table when watching media. On the sides of the device you have the pop-out webcam, stylus, headphone jack, power jack, and power/volume buttons. Nokia really took their time to design a functional and eye catching portable computer.

Capabilities:

So you have a mini portable computer, but what can you do with it? The short answer is many, many things, most of which are focused on staying connected. Even though this device isn’t a cell phone, you can make phone calls via VoIP. Out of the box, Nokia has a client called Nokia Internet Call Invitation. In addition to this software, you can install a custom version of Skype and the Gizmo Project has just released a client allowing access to their network. The Skype software integration is of great interest to me and should be to anyone who is a traveler. Think about it. Anywhere you can hop on a wi-fi network, you can have voice calls and instant messaging conversations to anyone on your skype contact list. This ability to add portability to Skype makes the N800 of great interest to me. More on the Skype client below.

Another thing that was really fun to do was to have the N800 be portable with Gizmo Project as well. By pairing Grandcentral and Gizmo Project, I can get phone calls directly to the N800 to my ‘normal’ grandcentral number, allowing me to get regular phone calls at no additional cost. Pretty cool!

The web browser available on the N800 is Opera. This browser is fully functional and allows to display webpages as they are meant to be seen, not scaled down as normal on cell phones or other mobile devices. The N800’s Opera 8 client allows you to zoom in and out on webpages and supports Javascript and plug-ins. It’s pretty cool to be able to watch youtube videos right out of the box with no add-ons! Sure any smartphone can surf the web - but the N800 has Flash built in and a full browser so surfing the web is beautiful on this device.

Nokia also included a fully functional RSS reader and e-mail client which supports POP3 and IMAP4. In addition to email, the N800 supports Instant Messaging via Google Talk, Jabber, Yahoo!, MSN, and Gizmo Project. It should be noted that Yahoo! and MSN access are a feature of the Gizmo Project N800 software.

Aside from Internet connectivity, the N800 offers many multi-media features. It can take 2 SD cards (the same ones that go into your digital camera or PDA) so you can import and play media. The built-in kick stand allows you to put the N800 on a tabletop and comfortably watch a movie, video podcast, or other video without having to hold it in your hand. Also you can play mp3s or virtually any music file. I have read that some people were unhappy with the N800’s video playback, but I found the video to be smooth and high-quality. The speakers are a little tinny and not loud enough, but this would be expected of tiny portable speakers on any electronic device.

Skype on the Nokia N800

One of the main reasons I wanted to evaluate the N800 was it’s special Skype client. Shortly after the N800s release earlier this year, Skype was fast to develop a customized client specially designed for the Nokia N800. Downloading and installing the application is quick and easy. I fired up Skype and was happy to have my skype contact list with me as I walked around my home office. I fired up a chat window and used the N800’s touch screen to type out IM’s. I found this to be a little clunky, but I immediately became comfortable typing and was doing so pretty quickly.

Next up was testing voice quality. There are two ways to make voice calls on the Skype/N800 package - using the onboard mic and speakers and with a special pair of headphones with an onboard mic on the headsets. I called a skype contact using the onboard mic and speakers. The caller said I sounded great, however the tinny speakers on the N800 didn’t relay his voice very well. The caller, to my surprise, said there was no feedback on his end. When I make calls on my MacBook with onboard mic and speakers, people always complain that they can hear their voice and quickly become annoyed with the feedback. Also, skype calls with the included headphones/headset sounded great both for the caller and myself. So, overall the N800 is a fabulous platform for running Skype on the go.

I have two main complaints of Skype on the N800. First, you can’t currently make voice calls using a Bluetooth headset. Knowing the N800 had onboard Bluetooth, I tried to sync it to my Motorola Bluetooth headset to no avail. Through conversations with Nokia and Skype, I found that the Bluetooth onboard is currently only used to pair with a mobile phone for access to mobile data networks. So unfortunately if you want to make a skype call on the N800, you’re bound to being physically hooked up with a standard pair of headphones.

Secondly, even though there is an onboard webcam, Skype currently does not take advantage of this capability for skype video calls. You can do webcam calls with a proprietary Nokia software package, but I’d like to see Skype embrace the webcam on the N800 so make awesome video calls wherever you can get a wi-fi signal.

Conclusion:

I have throughouly enjoyed the N800 in the time I’ve had it. It’s great to be able to get access to the web or IM networks without having to lug around my laptop. Should you buy the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet? Well that depends on what you need in a portable device. If you mainly want a media player and you think it’d be cool to be able to routinely surf the web, then I’d recommend you buy the iPod touch. Especially considering you can use iTunes to keep the iPod Touch and your media in sync between your computer and the portable device.

However if you consider yourself a technophile, the N800 is the device for you. If you are in support of open standards and expandability, the N800 is for you. As of the time of this writing, the iPod Touch does not have the ability to have 3rd party applications added to it. The N800 is built on linux and new apps are being continually being released for it.

The N800 is currently aroud $350 so I think it’s main target audience is geeks who constantly want to be in touch and who are in environments where they are constantly around a Wi-Fi device or have a smartphone that they can get online with.

What are your thoughts? Please leave a comment or call me and let me know!

-Jason

Random thought: I wish there was a synchronization utility for keeping this in sync with a PC, namely my MacBook.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Skype, the darling of VoIP, is taking a very proactive role in mobile communications and are about to release their own hybrid cell/wi-fi phone.  Up until this point, Skype has worked with other parties to bring Skype away from the desktop computer.  Examples of this include:

• partnering to make wi-fi phones with Belkin, Netgear and others
• releasing skype software for Nokia’s N800 and newly release N810.
• developing skype software for Windows Mobile

I recently received a Nokia N95 and have been playing with Fring, an app that allows you to sign into skype, gizmo project, any SIP service, and many more.  Fring works fine over wi-fi and 3G (with AT&T here in the USA), but it does not function well over T-Mobile’s edge connection.

But now, Skype is working with European telco 3 to create a skype phone that will easily transition from 3G to wi-fi, depending on which connection is available.  The skype phone, according to sources, will support HSDPA so theoretically it would work well here in the US where AT&T 3G is available.  Initially the skype phone will be available in Britain, Italy, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Lets keep our fingers crossed for a US release soon.

I’ve recently come across a Nokia N95 North American Edition. Up until this phone, I thought my next phone was going to be an Apple iPhone.

I have a full review coming in the coming weeks, but here are some initial thoughts:

Unlocked: This phone is unlocked, meaning I can use any GSM carrier I want. T-mobile pisses me off? Cya I’m going to AT&T. If I travel to Europe - I can pop in a local SIM and I’m off to the races.

Fully functional GPS: The iPhone has GPS built-in but it’s crippled. With the N95 I can map routes using the onboard navigation software, geocode my photos automatically with ShoZu, and track my workouts with Nokia Sports Tracker.

Video capture: I can take video at 640×480 at 30fps. The iPhone has this capability (with it’s 2.0 MP camera) but again, doesn’t.

VoIP calling: I can make VoIP calls over Wi-Fi or 3G. Gizmo Project, Skype, and Google Talk are now usable on my cell phone.

Yeah the iPhone may be purdy and easier to use. But for me, I want funtionality and the N95, just in the 2.5 days I’ve had it, has eroded my want for an iPhone considerably.

Skype, the darling of software based VoIP products, maybe down right now; but I love what they ARE doing.  They’re communicating to their users.  On their blog they have updated their status multiple times.  After being a victim of Sunrocket’s demise, it’s refreshing to see a company doing it right.

Bravo Skype!  Thank you for being up front with us!