Skype has veen available for Mac users for a long time now. It has recently reworked it video quality for higher definition pictures at 25 frames per second. However, it still offers 1-to-1 video calls only, which is finally not really conferencing. ooVoo is one alternative, and one of the most prominent players in the video conferencing industry. 1-to-1 video calls are free with ooVoo, but users can make calls to up to 6 persons for $18 a month, and to 3 persons for $8. ooVoo has its HD version for Mac, and is therefore in direct competition with Mac's in-house iCall. But ooVoo is better entertained and goes round problems more smoothly, although it is a little heavy on resources. They are now working on a Linux version.

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When we talk about Wi-Fi, apart from talking about wireless Internet, we also talk about how it is limited to a cafe or station, in a radius of only dozens of feet. Novatel has made a breakthrough towards Wi-Fi location independence - because finally, anything wireless should ultimately be free from location dependencies.

MiFi is a slim and ultra portable device that generates a Wi-Fi hotspot within a radius of 30 feet, allowing up to 5 devices to connect. The most interesting thing about the MiFi is that it can be carried in the pocket or bag and can therefore give Wi-Fi connectivity anywhere there is cellular 3G coverage, be it in a car, train, plane, the beach or the forest. Read MiFi Review

Skype makes the news again this week - it has released its full-fledged Windows Mobile phone software (downloadable from this link), which was in beta so far. Also, Apple approved Skype 1.1 for the iPhone and iPod. But Skype isn't just making people happy; it is causing disappointment too.

Since I reported on Skype and Blackberry some time back, observing that contrary to what was announced by Skype, no Skype client has been released for BlackBerry, I kept receiving comments from disappointed BlackBerry users, most of whom have been expecting Skype for BlackBerry since a long time. Alex commented today, "I think this is rubbish. Yes, there was a call for beta testers on the skype lite forum for Bold owners. However, that was all, and the suggested release date passed by, and NO update at all." I suggest patience, wishing that a reaction comes from inside Skype itself. Meanwhile, Blackberry users can benefit from the advantages of VoIP through other services like Vopium, Truphone, Yeigo, Raketu etc. Find a list of those applications there.

Blackberry is the most popular smartphone for enterprises. Yet, it has been lagging behind in terms of VoIP implementation. This is mainly due to a lack of adequate solutions and applications for RIM's machines. Blackberry is nowadays knowing unprecedented popularity, and many VoIP providers are including it into their supported handset lists.

Agito, an enterprise communication solutions provider, aims at capitalizing on Blackberry's position on the enterprise market. Up to now, enterprises using Blackberry have had to content themselves with incomplete and often expensive solutions. Agito now provides a Blackberry solution that includes PBX functionalities in its RoamAnywhere router and an intelligent VoIP application for Blackberry handsets. This way, calls are shifted from cellular to Wi-Fi, thereby saving a lot on business communication. Other benefits include enhanced mobile PBX capabilities, with some PBX functionality present on Blackberry handsets, unified communications benefits, low investment on hardware, among others. Learn more at Agito networks, where you can find a webcast and a video as well.

Mobile VoIP telephony is looking out for its independence from restrictive Wi-Fi and expensive 3G, although it is nice and and at times economical to be able to use them from time to time. Nimbuzz is among those that believe that VoIP should be available everywhere, not only within 3G and Wi-Fi networks. Nimbuzz wants to be a truly mass-market application. It is a mobile social communication application that allows VoIP calls and chat across many IM platforms and social networks. It has the advantage of running on all Internet-capable handsets and can smartly shift between Wi-Fi, 3G and mobile networks.

Now Nimbuzz works together with Voxbone, which is a provider of worldwide, local and toll-free numbers. Voxbone has its own own private intercontinental VoIP network, over which it offers the numbers. The Nimbuzz-Voxbone partnership can be very powerful for us users. When Nimbuzz adds the DID numbers to its service, mobile VoIP - with its tremendous advantage of mass saving on phone calls, plus the features - can be offered outside Internet connectivity areas and 3G networks in more than 50 countries. You get to do that with any handset that is Internet-enabled. Nimbuzz hasn't been very talkative about that, but watch out for the release.

Switching to Google Voice might be less than smooth for most, and squarely costly for many. This is because the ubiquitous number you will get won't be the one you already have, which everyone knows. Google figured this out, and is working on addressing the issue of number portability. They intend to offer number portability as a general feature with Google Voice. This will imply that you can take your home or even mobile number to be registered as your Google Voice number. Read more

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Many are impatiently waiting for Google Voice to go public and give out numbers for life. To recap: when Google Voice launched, taking over from GrandCentral, the service opened solely for existing GrandCentral customers, and we members of the public were asked to wait. Some are even going to Google's site to check everyday. However acute be your zeal, that is not necessary, as you can submit your email address for an invitation when the service goes public.

Google recently reserved 1 million phone numbers with Level 3, which has been supplying phone numbers to them since the beginning of the Google Voice service. The sources did not mention the purpose of grasping that many numbers, but this could suggest a considerable expansion of the Google Voice database. So, will you and me have a place in there? I don't know whether I should wonder on whether invitations have reached the million, or on how many millions have requested invitation.

"We have heard loud and clear that our users want Skype on whichever smartphone they choose to use, " says Scott Durchslag, COO of Skype. Blackberry users are becoming quite fond of Voice over IP, mostly since it allows them to save tremendously on mobile calls, and maybe partly because of Obama's attachment to his own RIM machine. Tons of Blackberry users have requested to have Skype on their phones. There has been a release on skype.com anoouncing a Skype lite client for BlackBerry by the end of May, but so far, nothing has happened. It might be that the product is still under construction. Meanwhile, there are many other tools that can allow you to make free or cheap calls on your BlackBerry through VoIP.

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Last week, we asked ourselves whether it is worth using VoIP on Facebook. How about sharing with us your own experience with using voice communication on Facebook? How do you go about voice communicating there? Do you use a VoIP application? Do you think there should be more of these? Or do you think sharing instant messaging names (Yahoo, MSN etc.), and sharing other contact info like Skype name, phone and mobile numbers is just OK? Have your say there.

Up to now, there is no fax software that allows users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and even Windows 7 to send and receive fax messages on a VoIP network or a VoIP phone system. To resolve the issue, a new fax software has been developed by FaxBack, a company that specializes in VoIP fax solutions. This fax software, called the VoIP plug-in for Microsoft Fax, is a carrier class solution and not a simple shareware product. It is available for free and can be obtained from FaxBack’s site.

The most interesting thing with this fax software is that it allows you to send and receive fax messages on your VoIP system for completely free. The main drawback is that it cannot work simply on a computer, but it requires a VoIP phone system or a VoIP gateway that is supports SIP and T.38. So, it is intended for businesses and small companies having a VoIP network. The FaxBack fax software is certified by Microsoft and leading carriers including AT&T, Qwest, and Global Crossing, among others.

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