AIM calls from TringMe

Today, AOL will launch Open Voice APIs to enable developers to integrate the AIM Call Out Service into softphones and SIP-enabled devices. According to AOL, the APIs will "provide third-party developers and VoIP device manufacturers with open standards protocols that will enable them to easily integrate the AIM Call Out service into softphones, as well as SIP-enabled hardware and cell phones with wi-fi connectivity." The APIs directly integrate with AIM Call Out, which is AOL's "SkypeOut" PSTN low-cost dialing service. AIM Call Out is built right into AIM, a popular instant messaging client that used to be and perhaps still is the #1 IM client. Skype may or may not have surpassed AOL in total users, but regardless, AOL dropped the ball when they let Skype's voice functionality help erode into AOL's formerly dominant IM market share. Many users are loathe to run multiple IM clients, so many switched from AIM to Skype because they could get IM, plus voice & video -- all in a single client. Why bog down system resources with multiple IM clients? I will say AOL has done a good job of beefing up the feature-set of AIM, but one has to wonder if Skype's momentum is unstoppable. That said, there are still several popular IM clients hanging around, including Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger, which added interoperability / federation a few years back. What I'd really like to see is interoperability & federation between all IM clients, VoIP clients (using SIP), video clients (using H.264), etc. But that may be a pipe dream, especially since Skype, Inc. doesn't want to jump on the SIP bandwagon anytime soon. In any event, Steve Murphy, Senior Vice President, AOL said, “By opening up our voice communications gateway to developers we’re furthering the mission of AIM which is to facilitate the world’s real-time conversations. We’re building on the popularity of the Open AIM program and opening up the AIM Call Out platform, enabling open standards voice communication services to proliferate in the marketplace." The AOL Developer Network provides third-party developers with direct access to AOL's technology platforms and open APIs. AOL stated the available open APIs, tools, and documentation for services such as AOL Video Uploads, Open Xdrive, Truveo, Userplane, MapQuest, Winamp, OpenAuth, and others, can be viewed at http://dev.aol.com. Tags: AIM, AIM Call Out, AOL, Open Voice APIs, Skype, VoIP Related Entries AIM Call Out Update - Oct 29, 2007 AIM Call Out Launches - Oct 26, 2007 TringMe Now Works with AOL/AIM - Apr 30, 2008 Skype 3.8 for Windows - Apr 29, 2008 OnState, the Skype Call Center functionality Enabler, Used by B4 Consulting - Apr 30, 2008 Skype Launches Unlimited Flat-Rate International Calls - Apr 21, 2008 Plantronics SupraPlus HW251N-USB Wideband Headset - Apr 11, 2008 Skype and other VoIP Apps on Mobile Phones - Apr 01, 2008 OctroTalk Launches - Mar 31, 2008 SippySkype SIP-to-Skype Gateway - Mar 07, 2008 Read more…

Thanks to ZDNet for publishing a quick rundown of the specs for the new iMacs launched today. Having moved from PC to the now almost-current iMac and the fabulous new MacBook Pro, you have to tip your hat to Apple for just getting better and better ... Tags: Apple, iMac, MacBook Pro, ZDNet Related Entries Taking a Slice Out of Apple's Time Machine - May 02, 2008 JAJAH Mobile VoIP client for the iPhone - Apr 02, 2008 Skype and other VoIP Apps on Mobile Phones - Apr 01, 2008 VoIP on Apple iPhone a No Go unless over WiFi - Mar 11, 2008 Microsoft mashup of SOA and UC (Unified Communications) - Feb 11, 2008 Touchmods VoIP App for the Apple iPhone Sparks Controversy - Feb 08, 2008 iPhoneGnome VoIP app for Apple iPhone - Feb 01, 2008 Bye Bye Unlimited Flat-Rate Internet - Jan 18, 2008 RIM Garners 10% of Smartphone Market - Dec 20, 2007 Launch of VoIP on iPod touch now official - Dec 18, 2007 Read more…

Today, I was downloading my financial information from various banks and credit cards and had difficulty loggiing on or downloading information from several of them. On Citibank's website I was able to logon, but couldn't successfully download the Quicken Web Connect file containing my 'recent activity'. This has never happened to me in the 8 years I've used Quicken with Citibank. About 15 minutes later I tried again and it worked. However, I then logged onto Bank of America where I have a few accounts. I was able to logon, but when I try and view detailed account info, I get this web server error: Internal Server ErrorThe server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@mbna.com and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error. More information about this error may be available in the server error log. Yeah, just what I want to see. My bank running a web server that "encountered an internal error or misconfiguration". Yeah, I know this is a generic error message, but still, banks of all websites should have 100% uptime with no errors. So anyway, I then try my other Bank of America account and same error as above. Frustrated, I head on over to Discover to download it's account info to Quicken. This website wouldn't even let me logon! Now what in blazes is going on here? This is THREE major financial instutions that I'm having trouble with ALL ON THE SAME DAY. That's when it hit me. Today, the IRS is wiring out the tax rebates to millions of Americans (early I might add). My guess is that the government's computers are overwhelming the banking network or the bank's computers. Gee isn't that special? Hope my tax rebate doesn't get lost in the digital ether. Anyone else experiencing issues? Let me know. Tags: banks, financial institutions, IRS, rebate checks, tax, taxes Related Entries FCC taxes VoIP? C'mon! - Dec 15, 2005 FCC Displeased with U.S. Broadband Deployment Rate - Apr 18, 2007 FCC approves new VoIP taxes - Jun 22, 2006 Tax VoIP to fund USF? Bah! - Jun 02, 2006 Tax my Mobile Phone no more! - May 25, 2006 USF tax and long-distance - Feb 07, 2006 Comments on this Entry: (Bruce Kusenda on Apr 28, 2008 6:57 PM) I too attempted to access my Bank of America credit cards' (2) information and was unable to open the link at B of A. The attempt was made at 10:30 am and again at 3:50 pm, 04.28.08. There was no previous activity that may have altered any signal at this end. I'll try again tomorrow hoping it is a temporary glitch. (Kellie on Apr 28, 2008 8:34 PM) I'm having the same problem with my Bank of America account, so you're not alone. Read more…

Net2Phone Lowers Price on VoIP ServiceNet2Phone is lowering prices on VoiceLine residential broadband phone service. Read more…

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