Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X is now available for free download. Features added in the version are: group video calling, HD video, group screen sharing and full compatibility with Mac OS X Lion.

New features

Skype’s group video calling allows you to add two or more people to a video call to get together face-to-face. Skype Premium subscription is required.

Besides group video calls, Skype 5.3 also supports Group Screen Sharing, where you can share your computer screen (presentation, photo, etc) with everyone on the call. This is yet another Skype Premium only feature.

For you who do not subscribe to Skype Premium, the HD quality video call in Skype 5.3 is a free feature. HD webcam is required to get high definition video.

Skype 5.3 has been designed to work with OS X Lion. The minimum requirement is Mac OS X 10.5.8.

Click here to download Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X

Skype 5.3 for Mac OS X Supports Group Video Calling is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

There are a couple of updates from Google this week: Page Speed Service, Google Chrome version 13, Gmail phone call. Also, A new extension MuteTab solved an annoying problem: tabs making sound. By the way, Skype for iPad is now available for free download. Nokia changed the way they named the phones.

Check out the stories after the break.

Google introduced Page Speed Service to automatically speed up loading of your web pages by rewriting your web pages, applying web performance best practices and serves them to users via Google’s servers across the globe.

Google Chrome version 13 now added new features: 1. “Instant Pages” — pre-load Google search result before you click it. 2. Print Preview — preview print page using PDF viewer and “print to PDF” feature.

Gmail phone call now support 38 new languages and lower call rates to over 150 destinations. Call credit now available in 4 currencies (Euros, British pounds, Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars).

MuteTab is a Google Chrome extension which helps you to find tabs that are making sounds, and option to mute them (including background tabs)

Now you can download Skype for iPad on iTunes App Store, it’s free.

Nokia to name their phones with number only, no letters. Simple rule: the larger number, the more advance and more expensive it is. (at last, now I can understand Nokia phone models!)

Remains: Page Speed Service, Chrome 13, Gmail Phone, Mute Tab, Skype for iPad, Nokia new naming is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Google released Google Talk Video Chat but it is for Android only and not available for iPhone and iPad. Vtok fills the gap and enable Google Video Chat for iOS users.Vtok is a free mobile application for iPhone, iPad 2 and Android phones to make free video and voice calls to your Google contacts when they are using Google Video and Voice chat on their Mac and PC computers. In order to make mobile-to-mobile Google video call, both parties need to use Vtok on their mobile devices.

Vtok is free, no account to sign up (use your Google account), and works over Wi-Fi and 3G.

The following the is the Vtok introduction video:

Vtok Enable Google Talk Video Chat for iPhone, iPad 2 and Android Phones is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Since its arrival in the market, VoIP has undergone a lot of developments. Now it is being used in many large corporations as the only calling service. Here I would like to discuss the most popular VoIP apps for Linux.

Ekiga

It was previously known as Gnome Meeting. It can be downloaded free. We can enjoy videoconferencing and VoIP calls through Ekiga. All H.323 compatible hardware and software can be used with Ekiga. We can use it with UNIX also. To use Ekiga, we should have SIP account. Meanwhile, to make PC to phone calls, you should have account with any VoIP service provider. Although Ekiga people recommend Diamond card Worldwide Communication Service but there are many other VoIP service providers like Vonage, Axvoice, Broadvoice etc.

Gizmo5

It was earlier known as Gizmo Project. This is free software for pc to pc calls. Like other applications, it also has features like call recording, missed calls, messenger style text messages etc. It can be used for computer to phone calls too.

(Editor note: Gizmo5 has been acquired by Google on November 12, 2009)

Skype for Linux

The most commonly used VoIP application is Skype. It has approximately 500 million users across the globe. The reason behind its popularity is that it is built on the basis of another VoIP service and users do not have to deal with the complicated SIP settings. Although, Linux version of the product is not as comprehensive as that of windows but still it is useful for the people who want to use it on Linux. However, there are many who fail to detect camera with Skype.

Empathy

This software is like an universal client for various instant messengers or chat software. Nearly all the chat software features are included in this software. This software is included in Gnome in its 2.24 version.

Twinkle

Twinkle is the most popular Linux based SIP software. It supports Linux only and it is an open source SIP client. We can use two lines simultaneously in Twinkle. It offers 3 way conference calling facility. It has in band as well as out of band DTMF. STUN support for NAT traversal is also available. It is available as a Firefox extension also.

KPhone

This SIP user agent is also used for Linux. It supports IPv4 and IPv6. Kphone supports NAT-traversal STUN. It offers SRTP encryption for voice.

Check with your VoIP provider

The point to remember is that only software is not enough if you want to make VoIP calls. You have to subscribe with some VoIP provider also. There are several VoIP providers like Vonage, Axvoice and Skype etc. Some VoIP providers recommend particular software for their service. Before you install the software, you should ask your service provider if any particular application is required for their application.

Guest post: This article is written by Mr. Zach Ripples. Blogging is his passion and he has been doing this since he was an O level student. His favorite topic is VoIP technology. Currently He is working for Axvoice – Internet Phone Service Provider in USA and Canada.

[image courtesy of Florian Seroussi]

6 Popular VOIP Software for Linux that You Might Not Know is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Fring is about bringing freedom to mobile communication. It provide us the benefits of the internet combined with the user-culture of mobile telephony.

What is Fring?

After the introduction, do you really know what fring is? Yes! It’s simply a free mobile VoIP application that enables free mobile internet calls and live chat (IM) to other ‘fringsters’ and PC-based services. These including Skype, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Twitter, using free Wi-Fi or your 3G or GPRS instead of expensive mobile airtime charges.

So, what does it means? It means we could IM (instant message) with friends from Skype, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN, and Twitter even we are on the bus with this single application – Fring !

How Fring works?

Picture describe better than thousand words. As explained on the picture, fringsters always communicate with fring VoIP gateway and that is the reason why it is Free! Then Fring gateway will send your data either to another fringter or IM service.

It is simple, no hassle, no charges from fring. You might need to pay some fees if you are using 3G or EDGE or GPRS, but it’s totally free if you use Wifi

How to use Fring?

Register yourself at Fring. You will get an SMS with a Fring download link. Download the free Fring software using your Symbian or Windows Mobile compatible handphone. Then, follow the user guide to fring up your life!

My two cents

I want to fring up my life with my mobile phone, but it is just a Sony Ericson T290 that only have basic specification. Since my mobile is not in the list of compatible handphone, I can’t do testing on Fring and let you know how well it perform.

If you have a compatible mobile phone, please try it out and share with us here.

[Contributed by: AhTim , the author behind AhTim.com, is an IT techie that have a dream to become a full time blogger. He blogs for dream, for fun and hopefully for life!]

fring, IM, mobile

Let’s Fring up your life! is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Today I received a call through Skype from a friend at a company in China, except (that) he told me he was not using Skype to call me. His company has successfully reverse engineered the Skype protocol and he wanted to call me in the United States to see how it worked between physically distant IP addresses. We talked for a little over nine minutes before the call dropped. Then I called him back using my Skype and we spoke for another three minutes.

[Read Skype Protocol Has Been Cracked]

My two cents

Definitely not a good news for Skype, but Skype would not let anyone release a compatible Skype client. I think Skype will update their protocol soon.

crack, skype, voip

Skype Protocol Cracked is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

If you’re in the US or Canada, you can use SkypeOut to call any landline or mobile number in both the USA and Canada for free.

If you’re in the US or Canada and calling any other country, OR if you’re in any other country and calling landline or mobile numbers in the US or Canada, the standard SkypeOut rates apply.

[Read Skype Blogs]

The offer is valid until the end of 2006.

Skype phones

• Linksys Cordless Internet Telephony Kit for Skype
• Skytone USB Speakerphone with LCD
• USB Internet Phone with skype

My two cents

Cool! It’s an attractive promotion! Skype wants to replace traditional phone services?

audio, free, internet, mobile, p2p, phone, skype, skypeout, software, tools, voip

Free SkypeOut Calls (US and Canada) is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

• Call normal phone easily with new SkypeOut Easy Dialing
• Create Skype friends group
• Share contact details among Skype group members
• Send SMS messages
• Call Microsoft Outlook contacts

Skype 2.5 BETA

download, freeware, skype, software, voip

Download Skype 2.5 Beta is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Therefore, I plan to get a Skype VOIP wireless phone for mom at coming Mother’s Day.

Why wireless?

There are already many USB VOIP phones for Skype but, with the USB phone, you are required to sit nearby your computer because of the wire length limitation.

With wireless Skype phone, you can talk to your Skype pals anywhere in the house, such as on the sofa, in the toilet, and so on. It is an ideal gadget for my mom who prefer to talk privately.

Linksys Cordless Internet Telephony Kit for Skype (CIT200)

Linksys Cordless Internet Telephony Kit is a wireless VOIP phone with a USB base station that connect to your PC. You don’t need to sit in front of your computer to talk to your Skype friends.

Once you plug the USB base station to PC, the handset can read and display your skype contact list with build-in illuminated display. The distance range is 300 meters for outdoor and 50 meters for indoor.

Price: Get discount price at Amazon.com

Product page

Netgear SPH101 Skype WiFi Phone

Netgear SPH101 Skype WiFi Phone is the world’s first wireless(WiFi) Internet phone. Netgear SPH101 Skype phone has pre-loaded Skype software, you can make free Skype calls wherever you are, as long as you have access to WiFi network. No PC is needed!

Price: Get discount price at Amazon.com

Product page [via Ideal Gadget]

My two cents

Linksys Cordless Internet Telephony Kit is great. It allows you to talk with Skype friends without sitting in front of computer. But, Netgear SPH101 Skype WiFi Phone is even better!

Unlike Linksys wireless phone, you don’t even need a computer to use Netgear SPH101! It is an all-in-one Skype wireless phone, all you need is only a WiFi network.

Since my home is WiFi networked, I would buy a Netgear SPH101 Skype WiFi Phone for my mom, eventhough it is much expensive one.

Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It’s free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers.

cit200, handset, linksys, netgear, phone, skype, sph101, voip, wifi, wireless

Skype VOIP Wireless Phone for Mother’s Day is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.

Internetcalls.com is the company. It offers free International landline calls to over 45 countries and unlimited talk time!

How to get start?

Goto InternetCalls.com and download the free Internet Calls software. Register a free account and start calling for free.

OK, it may sound like a scam. I was told by a friend who have using it for months for his company marketing calls. Read on for details.

Are you sure it is FREE?

Well, not really.

Free account can make free landline calls for one minute only. In order to make unlimited landline calls, you need to top up your account. The credit deposit will stay untouched as long as you are calling to free destinations (read on following) and remains valid for 120 days. My friend topped up his account with 10 EURO (11.90 USD) and he could start making unlimited free calls.

That means, 120 days free unlimited landline calls to free destinations will cost you only 10 EURO. It’s very cheap, isn’t it?

What are the free destinations?

Here is the current country list of free landline calls:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela.

How is the call sound quality?

My friend told me that the InternetCalls sound quality is “acceptable”.

My two cents

I am not sure how long time it will survive. If you or your company spend a lot money on International calls, InternetCalls.com is worth a try. It is only 10 EURO, afterall.

Have you tried InternetCalls? Please share your experience.

P/S: The other website, voipstunt.com has the same offer. It is actually from the same company (see the “About us” page).

[Thanks riatechnology for the link]

internet call, internetcalls, voip, voipstunt

InternetCalls.com – Make FREE Internet Phone Calls is an article from: LiewCF Tech Blog. For more updates, please follow @liewcf on Twitter, join Facebook page and subscribe free newsletter.