VoIP laying waste to spies' phonetapping strategies

By

Stuart Dredge

on February 1, 2008 Comments (0)

The BBC's Spooks TV drama isn't realistic. There, I've said it. Why not? Well, you never see an investigation where the team sit around their computer lab weeping because a suspect's using Skype rather than a fixed line or mobile phone.

See, the growing popularity of VoIP is posing problems for real-life spies, judging by the UK security services' latest Intelligence and Security oversight report: "One of the greatest challenges for GCHQ is to maintain its intercept capability in the face of rapidly evolving communications technology," the report says. "This relates in particular to the growth in internet-based communications and voice over internet telephony."

Of course, the security services spend much of their time now trying to head off terrorism, and phonetapping plays a big part in that. No wonder they're worried. Perhaps they'll have to try to refocus their energies onto bugging the actual laptops and/or PCs of suspects...

(via PC Pro)

CES 2008: iriver no longer satisfied with MP3 market, UNIT2 to take on your whole living room instead

By

Al W

on January 10, 2008 Comments (0)

Games consoles, TVs, media centrer PCs – they all have one thing in common. They want TOTAL DOMINANCE of your lounging space. Well so does iriver and it will soon be using its UNIT2 to get it. It’s calling itself an all-in-one multimedia home networking device, which is a lot easier than calling it what it really is: an MP3 / MPEG4 player, SMS messager, video streamer, DVD player, TV viewer, text messaging system instant messenger, portable video chatter, web browser, news reader, emailer and phone.

The main body of it is a (roughly) 7” screen that detaches from the main body – which also hooks up to the TV – holding the speakers, USB ports, SIM card port and various video inputs. You can carry this around your house within a 60 feet range. It is a touchscreen device running a Linux operating system that hooks up to the net, so there’s full web browsing and all manner of widgets to use. I’m guessing it will be a homebrewer’s dream come true. The built-in camera also lets you make video calls and chat to people. Or you can use it watch DVDs or DivX videos and listen to MP3’s streamed straight from the base station.

CES 2008: Skype coming to Slim and Lite PSPs

By

Al W

on January 7, 2008 Comments (3)

Confirming one of the more concrete rumours from last week – made all the more believable by the fact that Sony had itself mentioned it on its own CES page – Sony is demonstrating its upcoming Skype update for PSPs. A new firmware upgrade, expected to be arriving later this month, will include a full Skype system allowing for PSP to PSP calls, PSP to PC calls and PSP to normal phone calls as long as you have Skype credit, which you can purchase direct from the PSP software.

As we suspected, the arrival of Skype heralds a new peripheral, which Sony was demonstrating a prototype of. The new headset has a tiny boom mic and the ear pieces fit over the ear rather than in the ear like the normal set of buds. The new headset will be arriving at the same time as the firmware update and the Sony rep informed me that there is actually nothing stopping third party peripheral manufacturers from making their own Skype PSP headsets at the same time.

The major drawback is that PSP Skype is only compatible with the Slim and Lite PSP 2000 series, which has the enhanced RAM and processing power. How Sony is going to ensure that only PSP 200s receive the Skype firmware upgrade remains to be seen.

Sony

CES 2008 Special Read all our coverage from the show in our CES 2008 category

Skype gives you the option to wander with the Freetalk wireless stereo headset

By

Dave Walker

on December 19, 2007 Comments (1)

Yes, you might look like you work in a call centre - but if you want to speak to your net buddies via Skype at the same time as tidying up the room or making a cup of tea, the Freetalk wireless stereo headset does make sense.

It's an exclusive to the Skype shop, allowing you to talk and listen up to a range of 20m away from your PC, all the time in 'CD audio quality'. That's down to a new type of wireless technology by AvneraAudio that eliminates interference from the connection. And of course, if you are not Skyping, you can use it to wirelessly listen to your music or audio from a DVD.

It retails for £49.99, with a Skype voucher for up to two hours of SkypeOut calls thrown in.

Skype Shop

Solwise launches V500-DS - PC-less Skype DECT telephone

By

Dave Walker

on December 5, 2007 Comments (0)

Phone bills a bit high? Maybe you should pick up something like the V500-DS from Solwise, then get your mates to buy something similar.

It's a DECT telephone which allows you to connect onto both PSTN and Skype networks. It is embedded with Skype software, meaning that when it is connected to the internet via broadband, you can make Skype-to-Skype calls or Skype In/Out calls to fixed line numbers. If the phone is connected directly to the internet, a PC is not needed at all. You can also receive standard or Skype calls, identified on the 1.5-inch colour screen. When receiving an incoming call, the digital display will clearly show the Skype contacts’ details, status and profiles. Skype credit balances can also be viewed on the screen.

Other features include voicemail, call forwarding, hands free talking, keypad backlighting and polyphonic ringtones. Expect to pay just under £70.

Solwise

Linux-based WizPy plays MP3s and videos, offers web browsing, e-book reading, VoIP...

By

Katherine Hannaford

on December 3, 2007 Comments (2)

A Linux post so soon after the other one this morning? Blame the ASUS eee PC, which has brought the OS from geeks' bedrooms into the mainstream public eye.

This WizPy device is a music and movie player, and also records audio, plays FM radio, offers web browsing capabilities, e-book reading, and...VoIP phone-calling. Is there anything it can't do?

With 4GB of USB flash memory, and running on Linux, this is a geek's dream come true. And at $290, let's hope it converts to £145, in which case I'm snapping up TEN.

Linux WizPy (via Red Ferret)

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Calling German criminals - use Skype for clandestine convos, as the police can't track you down!

By

Katherine Hannaford

on November 23, 2007 Comments (1)

Some TOP SECRET news has been leaked from Germany today, involving Skype, criminals, and the German police. Sounds intriguing? You bet your bottom dollar it is.

Currently, German police are not able to distinguish where calls are being made on Skype, due to the encryption used in the software. It appears criminals and terrorists are using the free VoIP service frequently over there in Deutschland, but police aren't able to catch them due to the top-notch security features enabled in the technology.

Fring launches VoIP widget for social networks and blogs

By

Stuart Dredge

on November 23, 2007 Comments (21)

VoIP firm Fring has continued its expansion with the launch of fringME (there's an exclamation mark on the end of that too, but if I ain't doing it for Yahoo, I ain't doing it for Fring either - they should be pleased they get the capitals on the end frankly).

Anyway, it's a VoIP widget that can be embedded on blogs, social networking profiles, online auction listings and other websites. That third category may or may not include eBay - I'm guessing they'd take a dim view of people using VoIP technologies other than Skype.

So, if you install the FringME widget on your site, it lets people see if you're online, launch an IM chat session with you, and if you're using Fring on a GPS-enabled handset, people can even pop up a Google Map pinpointing your location. Don't worry, you can switch this feature off if you value your privacy. FringME is free to use, and available now.

FringME website

Skype strips users of London SkypeIn numbers

By

Stuart Dredge

on November 22, 2007 Comments (0)

The PR disaster of Skype's recent outage is still fresh in the memory, but now the VoIP company is courting further controversy by withdrawing hundreds of 0207 SkypeIn numbers from British users.

In an email, the company says: "We're very sorry to tell you that we have to change your SkypeIn number. As some of you may know, we get SkypeIn numbers from a variety of telecoms suppliers. Unfortunately, we have to return some of the 0207 SkypeIn numbers to one of our suppliers of London numbers."

It's not great news, especially if you use your SkypeIn as your main business number. Skype has apologised, and according to PC Pro is offering all affected users a new SkypeIn number that'll be free for 12 months, with free voicemail.

(via PC Pro)

Hulger channels the 1920s with their Sophia VoIP handsets

By

Katherine Hannaford

on November 14, 2007 Comments (0)

The Hulger phones we've featured in the past have all been decidedly retro, but this Sophia model? Gorgeous, and so much more classic than their previous styles.

Unfortunately the '20s-era phone is being sold in a limited edition number of ten, and cost a whopping $215 each. But if you can hunt one down (try eBay if they're all sold out), you'll experience full Bluetooth power for your PC and Mac, to work alongside Skype, or even connect it via Bluetooth to your mobile phone. Alternatively stockists Design Boom are selling a similiarly-retro handset, the Astor, which may take your fancy, as it's in a nice pearly blue shade.

Hulger phones at Design Boom (via Style Hive)

Skype partners with Logitech for high-quality video calls

By

Katherine Hannaford

on October 31, 2007 Comments (0)

Skype's been busy of late, pairing off with every company willy-nilly. I'm guessing the frequent partnerships are eBay's attempt at finally making money from their acquisition of several years ago, as I'm betting this deal with Logitech has made them millions and squillions.

Skype has made a gross claim that one in four calls on the VoIP service are video-calls, so it's natural for them to choose a peripherals company renowned for their excellent webcams. From now on, users will be able to make high-quality video calls using just the latest Skype software, broadband connection, a PC with dual core processor and one of three special Logitech webcams.

Choose between the Quickcam Sphere, the Pro (intended for use with laptops), and the Pro 9000, and when the Skype software comes out of Beta and into the public realm sometime in November, you'll be staring at your friends' enlarged pores in high quality format whether you want to or not.

Skype | Logitech (via Shiny Shiny)

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3 Skypephone - fully-featured 3G handset with Skype built-in

By

Dave Walker

on October 29, 2007 Comments (0)

Mobile operator 3 has teamed up with Skype to launch the 3 Skypephone - which lets you make free Skype to Skype calls and send free Skype instant messages from your mobile phone to other Skype users no matter where they are.

It is claimed to be the first time an operator has offered a mass market device that is tailor-made for free calling over the internet from a mobile. The handset uses Qualcomm’s BREW platform to enable Skype to work with core handset features such as address book and messaging. And it has all the other features you would expect, including a 2MP camera, MP3 player, mobile TV and internet, Bluetooth and expandable memory via microSD card.

It comes in black or white, with blue or pink trim and is available in the UK from 2nd November for £49.99 on a PAYG tariff or free on a contract.

3 website

Tech Digest competition: win a Tesco Internet Phone Stickphone!

By

Katherine Hannaford

on October 19, 2007 Comments (0)

You might've seen Alex's video review the other week of the Tesco Internet Stickphone, which allows you to use their internet phone service with your computer or laptop. If you did, you would know all about the competition we're running from today, then, where Tech Digest are giving out two of Tesco Internet Phone’s Stickphones, and our friends at Shiny Shiny have two to give away as well.

Any interested parties who'd like to win a Tesco Internet Stickphone, hit the jump and find out just what you have to do in order to win one of these brilliant prizes.

LINDY introduces combined optical mouse and VoIP phone

By

Andy Merrett

on October 18, 2007 Comments (0)

LINDY has launched its latest multifunction gadget, the optical mouse with built-in VoIP phone.

It comes with speaker phone functionality and a headset for hands-free use, with the mouse remaining fully functional when a call is in place.

Though it looks much like an ordinary mouse, it flips up to reveal a keypad and LCD. Its built-in microphone allows the mouse to be picked up and used like a normal phone handset, should you so wish. The optical mouse tracks at 800dpi.

LINDY's main reasoning for combining these two gadgets, which at first look might seem a rather odd pairing, is that it's what consumers want. “Finding space for everything on your desk can be difficult, which is why combining peripherals is always popular with users. The simplicity of the mouse and its clamshell design makes it perfect for use both as a mouse and a phone, without compromising the functionality of either,” commented Stephen Fawcett, Senior Product Manager of LINDY Electronics.

It certainly helps to save on USB ports.

Available now, priced at £29.99, and compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

Product page)

Tech Digest competition: win a Tesco Internet Phone Stickphone!

By

Katherine Hannaford

on October 15, 2007 Comments (0)

You might've seen Alex's video review the other week of the Tesco Internet Stickphone, which allows you to use their internet phone service with your computer or laptop. If you did, you would know all about the competition we're running from today, then, where Tech Digest are giving out two of Tesco Internet Phone’s Stickphones, and our friends at Shiny Shiny have two to give away as well.

Any interested parties who'd like to win a Tesco Internet Stickphone, hit the jump and find out just what you have to do in order to win one of these brilliant prizes.

Posh Prezzies bring back Prohibition-era style webcams and VoIP phones

By

Katherine Hannaford

on October 12, 2007 Comments (0)

Who doesn't want to feel like a character in George Clooney's Good Night and Good Luck black and white film? Grab your flapper-dress, top hat, and a couple of '40s-style peripherals for your computer, from Posh Prezzies.

The web-cam on the left may only have 300K pixels, but gosh does it look good. £30 gives you 15 frames a second, and connects to your PC via USB 1.1. Combine it with an 'On The Air' VoIP phone, compatible with PCs only. It takes 2AA batteries, and will set you back just £18. All you need now to complete the look is George Clooney himself, sigh.

Posh Prezzies

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eBay overpaid for Skype (says Skype founder as he's flying his personal jet)

By

Katherine Hannaford

on October 10, 2007 Comments (0)

eBay may have acquired Skype in October of 2005, but it's taken several years for stories to emerge that the $4.3 billion they paid for the VoIP company may've been a little too high.

And you'll never guess who admitted to it - Niklas Zennstrom, co-founder of Skype. That's it, Niklas, gloat two years later, once you've banked all the cash, atta boy. Apparently eBay feel they haven't earned quite as much as they would've liked from the acquisition, and recently trimmed close to $1.2 billion off the purchase price after they earned just $90 million during the second quarter of 2007. Perhaps it's time for expenses such as private jets and company cars to be curbed, eh eBay?

Skype (via Wired)

Shiny Video Review: Tesco's VoIP USB Stickphone

By

Katherine Hannaford

on October 5, 2007

Who knew Tesco offered quite so many products alongside their groceries and mobile phones? They've branched out into their very own VoIP service, and released a USB 'Stickphone' which retails for £19.97 from Tesco stores, and various price plans available from just £5 a month.

Take a look at the video review to see Alex's thoughts on the Stickphone, and for her announcement regarding a special competition starting next week where we'll be giving several away to some lucky readers.

Tesco Internetphone

eBay protects their Skype-ownage and removes JAJAH VoIP widgets from listings

By

Katherine Hannaford

on October 5, 2007

It looks like eBay has finally cottoned on and realised that because they now own the VoIP service Skype, allowing sellers to link to a rival VoIP provider in their auctions, JAJAH, probably isn't the smartest thing they can do if they want to make money from their acquisition.

eBay has just suspended sellers' rights to use the JAJAH widget in their auctions, and sent out an email to all relevant sellers stating "The listing was removed because it violated the eBay Inappropriate Links policy ... links or other connections to live chat systems are not permitted."

Sony and BT announce Go!Messenger wireless communication package for the PSP

By

Dave Walker

on August 23, 2007

BT and Sony has unveiled details of Go!Messenger, a wireless communications package for the PSP, which will launch in January 2008.

GoMessenger! will offer 'high quality' video calls, voice calls and instant messaging from the console, via any wireless access point (home or out and about) via VoIP. The software will be available to all new and existing PSPs, downloaded simply from the web or shared between users. For messaging, a new on-screen keyboard will be available, with a headset and Go!Cam video camera also on sale.

BT will launch the product initially in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, before extending to the remainder of Sony's global market. More on this nearer the launch.

BT website