In an article published by Indiatimes Infotech the news item discusses about the new phone services coming up to make use of VOIP and to take on Skype. We had discussed about one such company Jajah, in our April 2007 issue. The news companies offer free or very cheap phone calls to many countries; however, they have yet to offer services to/from India.
Excerpts from the two-page article:
E-mail to bypass phone charges
REUTERS [ THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007 01:49:16 PM]
“PLEASANTON: Jangl Inc, one of a new class of Web-telephone calling companies, is introducing a way to call over the Internet that bypasses traditional phone networks and uses e-mail to provide privacy from unknown callers.
The service allows users to place calls as well as to send text messages or send or receive voicemail -- all via the Internet, rather than voice networks.
It helps consumers place long-distance calls, globally, to anyone with an e-mail address and a phone, for about the cost of a dime.
Jangl, now available in 31 countries in Europe, North America and Hong Kong, is a novel system tied to e-mail addresses, Web links and virtual voicemail that conceals the complexity of remembering lots of different phone numbers…….
The past year has seen the rise of Web-calling start-ups from Jajah to Jangl to Jaxtr to Grand Central -- all inspired by the success of Skype, which so far has wooed 200 million users for free or low-cost calls between computers and phones.
Newer rivals to Skype are seeking to improve on ideas from decade-old dial-around services where callers use complicated phone numbers to bypass long-distance charges. They are using the Web to add sophisticated new features…….
The advantage Jangl offers over other Web-calling alternatives is that calling numbers remain private. Callers who you don't know go straight to voicemail on Jangl's site. Callers you no longer wish to hear from are easily blocked.
For users of social networks like MySpace or Facebook, who are often stereotyped as being shamelessly unconcerned about their privacy, the Jangl service gives them control over who calls them -- similar to how instant message systems like AIM, Yahoo or MSN allow users to keep in close touch with buddies, but help them hide from or block unwelcome contacts.”