Archive for December, 2007

Real World Use of Grand Central

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Grand Central is a great idea that is pretty well implemented. Trying to integrate the capability is not always as easy as the idea. Screening calls and directing to any phone is a great concept that theoretically should lead to a number for life, or at least for a while.

The challenges that arise immediately after embracing the concept are all about implementation within existing telephone use. Repelling all kinds of marketing and whatever call center attacks sounds great– except they already have your landline number. One way I thought to work around this is to give your friends the new number (Grand Central number) and convert them to that number. This would, at least get the people you care about migrated to a new contact.

Now if I can get contacts that I want to hear from on my Grand Central number, I can then use the features to figure how to manage those calls. Obviously, for changing or adding “real” numbers in the future you are now liberated. You could screen by having this new number ring at multiple numbers as a first signal that it is coming through Grand Central. Now when at home a call on landline that does not also ring you cell phone can be identified as non-Grand Central, so it much more likely to be a dreaded call center invasion. It’s not the same as truly screening but it can keep you from lurching toward the landline when it is not warranted.

We can help further identify and announce your caller with our ringtone software, RipIt & RingIt. If you have Grand Central call your home phone (or mobile also) and your SkypeIn number. At your PC RipIt & RingIt can be set to announce a caller with whatever audio file you wish. Now a call from a known caller will be announced by your PC while still ringing and you can pickup the call at whatever phone you like. Check the prices on SkypePro/SkypeIn and you will be surprised how cost effective this can be.

Posted in Product, Skype, Tech Life, Telephony | 52 Comments »

Group Calling — That’s What We Meant

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Duh. It’s one of those moments when you realize your shirt tail is hanging out at an event where that is not what you want. It wasn’t a serious fashion faux pas, but we have been talking of PontiVoce setting up conference calls. PontiVoce is far handier because it does not require others to dial in, you simply call them all at once. What were we thinking? That is a group call, not the way we tend to consider conference calling which can be somewhat awkward process. Mostly the fact that conference calling even has a process is what we eliminate. Just call.

This became too obvious when I was looking at network versions from new comers offering group calling. (Foonz & Lypp) That was my wake-up to include group calling as one of the PontiVoce functions. My bad on that one. While these options cost much more for many uses there is not much difference. We offer a straightforward personal empowerment solution. Today it is still just $5.95 and it is yours. We could pretend that we needed to charge you each month and you would think it was a bargain, but we do like to feel good when we look in the mirror.

So now you can make group calls, using someone else’s conferencing bridge configured to make group calls– and pay them for the privilege, or just do it yourself. Because we built on Skype we stuck ourselves with the conference calling name, since it is built using what Skype logically calls conference calling. When we got through with it it was group calling. You could even say it converts your PC into conferencing bridge and telephone gateway, but that is more than users need to think about.

Nothing else is PontiVoce, so we are challenged to describe it. (It crudely translates to voice bridge.) It is a very flexible platform for accessing your Skype PC from a phone or from a remote Skype client by whoever is authorized to do so. You can call from your mobile to use Skype for whatever you could do from your desk. Call your Skype contacts, any phone and call any group of them, hence the nomenclature issue. Make conference calls– oops, group calls from your mobile otherwise not practical. Make low-cost or free calls anywhere to Skype contacts. Because services can be at a flat rate the opportunity for savings is great. Enabling others to share your account can be a boon depending on the circumstances of your family or friends. We do hope that military families and international families where there is a need can take advantage of this capability.

Don’t mind that we call it conference calling. We have been set straight. Group calling it is. My street cred as a phone geek has been damaged, but I still know more phone tricks than you. Next, a look at Grand Central.

Posted in Product, Skype | 364 Comments »

Free Phone Service Offered by Santa Claus – with Support from the Easter Bunny

Friday, December 21st, 2007

We all want such Santa Claus services and vendors line up regularly with every variation of free. One might have thought that when the Internet bubble burst we would be over this, but we love Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Unfortunately none are in the phone business, or real for that matter. Ultimately there must be responsibility. –And who better than you to take charge.

One of the core values of TeleVoce is putting users in charge. This week John Dvorak was blogging about his attraction for shrink-wrapped software versus hosted solutions. John can certainly be accused of being a curmudgeon on many issues, but his arguments are clear. He goes so far to say that free services cannot be trusted which does not mean there is no value, just that you cannot presume the value to be permanent.

As far as free (or as some like to say, nearly free) phone calls are workable, their value may be ethereal but useful for whatever you get today. This is a different proposition than Dvorak’s discussion about stored photos, which is a very permanent issue. Free calls usually have so many asterisks (not Asterisk) that there is always some price to pay whether it only works for some, or certain kinds of calls, or isn’t really a phone call but a voice message. The fact remains that the user is not in charge of the result.

Of course, this is why many just pass by these offers. At TeleVoce have chosen to build on Skype services. This includes free (or really, prepaid) elements built on your Internet connectivity and phone service, but results in cost effective options that can be exploited—today and tomorrow.

The net result of TeleVoce-Connected calls is that you are using resources that you own or control. We help you get the most in utility and value. Some things are free, but you are not dealing with a mystical deal with the devil to have a conversation. It is your conversation, using resources that you are aware of, not some magic network billing, ad supported call or a subsidized call good until– it’s not. Exploit free alternatives where it may work for you, but there is sound logic in finding tools or services that offer a value from day to day, and month to month.

Posted in Product, Skype, VoIP | 13,621 Comments »

Facebook Final Exam at Stanford

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

A huge crowd (600) attended the Stanford students final presentation of their Facebook projects. Interest in Facebook could not be much higher here in Silicon Valley. The students shared key results and insights even though only 2 1/2 minutes were allowed for each of 25 3-person teams.

The experience reiterated much of what is known with specific statistics. While many have made fun of the mundane and silly apps on Facebook, the users define what works and this class brought evidence to support that. As a group (when we log on to Facebook anyway) we are lazy and do not want any complication. The apps that were direct and simple found wide adoption. Forcing users to invite more friends was essential for rapid growth.

Just like everyone like the home run, attention has been on the kissing and hugging type of apps. There were apps created with noble objectives (and there are many others on Facebook) and while they did find an audience, these apps could not produce wild growth. One indication was that new Facebook users were joining to participate in this class of apps. Of course this is the kind of benefit Facebook sought in opening the platform, but it is a good indicator for the power of some of the more noble apps.

Reference was also made to the value of simple apps like hugs and kisses. These found worldwide adoption, in one case every country but North Korea found users. That BJ Fogg is looking to the role of persuasive technology in advancing world peace does not look so far-fetched when seeing what can happen from a single classroom.

We appreciated the information sharing as we are preparing our own Facebook applications. Social networking is an experience that cannot be understood by pooh-poohing from the sidelines. I was a participant in a classroom experiment when at Stanford and found that rewarding. This was a great experiment and congratulations to the Stanford students and all who allowed and supported this class. Here is a link to some of the best information. (I was so impressed and had so much fun I blogged on my personal blog also.)

Posted in Product, Social Networking | 752 Comments »