New Philips Internet Phones

Phillips Electronics has announced a new VoIP phones. One that works with Skype, called VOIP 321 and one for Microsoft's Live Messenger, named VOIP 433. The names of these devices are not too sleek but the looks are :-)

Both Internet phones work also as regular, PSTN land line cordless phones. These also include big back lit, monochrome LCD screens displaying among other things - which contacts are currently on or off line. The buttons are back lit too and the color of the display model at the Las Vegas 2006 Consumer's Electronics Show - is a nice metallic silver.

Microsoft has released the MSN Live Messenger with VoIP

MSN Live Messenger is finally and officially out of beta and released to the public for free as it was with its previous version.

The new messenger sports a new graphics design and layout while keeping its previous cool functionality. The new awaited features include the VoIP internet phone to and from landlines and cell phones, synchronized audio and video and one click access to blog and email.

This messenger is a part of the slew of new Microsoft products being gradually released under the name Live which is going to include the all new 64 bit Windows Vista , Office Live, new Hotmail email and new Outlook Express.

The software engine in the messenger is based on code designed by Logitech International SA.
The Live Messenger is available for download from http://get.live.com/messenger/overview

Skype getting activated on eBay

It has been nine months since eBay has purchased Skype for $2.6 billion. And yesterday eBay has announced that it is ready to include the Skype phone on 14 of its auction listing categories. These were selected to be those that might demand the biggest amount of interactivity between the buyer and the seller which could be facilitated by a quick and free computer phone conversation.

Many eBayers are excited about the new internet phone feature while some are apprehensive about putting the Skype button on their listings because of the prospect of being flooded by phone calls.

Another service that eBay is currently testing, called eBay alerts,will be able to place cellphone calls to buyers, alerting them to status of their bids.

Google is also currently testing a 'click-to-call' advertizing service.

Cheap VoIP From Voipcheap

Here is a new twist on the free internet phone calls to landline phones. A company called Voipcheap gives certain amount of free landline calling to the following destinations:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

So these internet call landline destinations qualify for 300 free minutes a week once the user deposits some real money to their Voip Cheap account. That amount expires after 90 days and is not refundable or transferrable.

The system requirements for Voip Cheap are very basic:

Minimum System Requirements:

• PC with Windows XP or 2000 (with Service Pack 2)
• 300 Mhz speed of the central processor
• 128 Mb RAM memory
• 10 MB free hard drive disc space
• Sound Card
• Headset or microphone and speakers
• Internet Connection with minimum 64 Kbit/second up and downstream.

Optimum System Requirements:

• PC with Windows XP or 2000 (with Service Pack 2)
• 1 Ghz speed of the cnentral processor
• 256 Mb RAM momory
• 30 MB free hard drive disc space
• Full duplex sound card (most cards made after 1998)
• Headset or microphone and speakers
• High Speed internet connection (such as Cable or DSL)

The Voip Cheap internet calling software is free to download and the dialing out very simple: 00 + Country Code + Area Code + Local Destination Phone Number