A Flexible VoIP iPod, iPhone App

I’ve been researching various voip options, both for my home phone service and my iPod. Phone service is SOOO expensive. It’s crazy, how expensive it is! And cell phone service is even more expensive. I just don’t understand why, after all these years, service is still so pricey. Voip, or Voice Over Internet Protocol, is a digital voice service through a computer. And now, it’s also through the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. I have an iPod Touch– a very basic one– that I love. I’d like to look into getting an iPad or iPhone sometime in the near future… but I dislike paying the sky-high prices for cellular service.

There’s a terrific new app I have heard about called Line2. It’s gotten a good review from PCMag, and is available on the AppSafari’s site. It’s touted as a “very flexible” iPod Touch voip, although it can be used for voip iPhone and iPad. There’s a good video at the site. Looks very easy to use.

It is expensive, $15 a month. But that’s still a lot less than cell phone service ($70/month for the most basic plan), and there’s no long-term contract. Of course, voip is more of a supplement than a full-fledged phone plan… but still, it’s a great option. And Line2 apparently is able to make calls when the cell service signal is weak or non-existent. That’s pretty cool.

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Posted in computers, electronics, networking. Tags: , , , . Comments Off »

Speek Your Mind- Free Teleconference Calling

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Speek. All opinions are 100% mine.

Wow, social networking and teleconferencing is really growing! I’ve been on a mission for finding various (free) web-based telecommunications programs. On is network chat (still searching), another is VoIP (getting there), and another is something that kind of mixes the two. I dislike Google. Talk very mush; Skype is so-so (too many doodads and buttons), but here’s a new thing I found: Speek.com! This looks terrific!

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It’s a program comparable to Skype and GoogleTalk. Speek handles cell phone calls, landline calls, and VoIP calls! Speek prides itself on speed and reliability, too, saying that your call will start on time, every time. That’s cool!

If you are interested, you can click here to register for private beta. I’m checking it out already. I have registered (easy to do). I already tried dialing out a conference call (it worked!). I think this is perfect for the small business– you can’t beat the price (free) and Speek is really convenient. You can even schedule calls. Nice.

Speek will import your contacts from Gmail, AOL, Yahoo, or even a CSV file. Speek so far is pretty simple and NICE and easy to navigate. It’s still in beta, so some things are still in the works, and feedback is extremely important. Check it out, give it abuzz, and leave feedback. I think Speek will be better than Skype. It’s definitely friendlier, easier to navigate, and they seem really willing to listen to consumer feedback. They’ve got a new app, too– be sure to give Speek a try! I think Speek looks neat!

Visit my sponsor: Talk up our private beta

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Posted in business services, chatty, free stuff, Internet. Tags: , . Comments Off »

Reviewing Cell Phones

I am new to the world of cell phones. I love my laptop and my digital camera, and that’s it for me, right now. I have the TracFone cell phone (don’t laugh!). I know it’s so lame. I’ve been looking at cell phone plan deals and prices recently, because I am considering giving up my landline and going completely mobile. I DO NOT want to use TracFone as my main mobile (they charge by the minute, making AND receiving calls). It would cost me more to maintain my phone service that way than a landline or a basic cell phone service with a flat rate.

Because I use Verizon internet service (and I am changing that soon, too– I’ll have more about that later), I’ve first started my search looking at free Verizon phones. Eh. Verizon wireless is OK… they seem to be the biggest wireless company but I do wonder if they are the best. My stepmom has had some issues with them… but I have a relative who works at their calling center and she raves about Verizon! I’ve heard great things about free T-mobile phones from Clark Howard…  and other relatives have all sorts of phones. There are free at&t cell phones and free Sprint phones in the mix, too. I have NO IDEA which way to go.

What do you use? Would you consider eliminating your landline and going completely mobile? If you could make a recommendation or give a warning, what would you say? I’d love to hear, because I know I have to dump the TracFone someday (soon), but I don’t know what to choose.

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