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May 05 A Look at What is New With Free Voice Over IP Providers
Found in: Tips, Software, Pocket PC, Linux,

What you should know before signing up with a voice over IP provider. The information provided in this article is geared toward people who operate a Linux operating system and are interested in converting their Pocket PC into a free Voice Over IP Phone. At the end of this article you will see a comparison chart, which will show the following:

* What operating system/platform do you need? Will you be running a Linux, Macintosh, Pocket PC or Windows Microsoft operating system?
* What is the pricing structure?
* Will you be able to make calls from your computer to a real landline phone?
* The ability to use videoconferencing or not
* Where can you buy it?
* How is the sound quality?

I trolled the Internet for something new, interesting, unusual and perhaps something you’ve never heard about in the Voice Over IP or digital telephone markets. Before going further, I would like to define the following important industry terms:

* What is Voice Over IP?
* What does the term server-side mean?
* What does the term client-side mean?

In a recent article, Peter Wolchak of Backbone Business Technology Lifestyle, interviewed Mario Belanger, president of Avaya Canada to get his perspective on the Voice Over IP market. Mario Belanger said, "Over the next five years, we expect the Canadian telecom market will shift offering fully converged IP telephoning solutions. Globally, there are approximately 400 million business lines and only about 18 million to 20 million are IP based business phone lines, which works out to 5% of the market. We're seeing a dramatic growth in IP telephony we think it will continue over the next five years. Our goal over the next five years is for Avaya's communications solutions to become designed into the offerings from the Canadian service providers. For example, customers will be able to call their service providers in Avaya solutions designed to fit their needs. This is likely not going to happen within five years, but is a longer-term goal." Mario Belanger also shared that the new features such as: meet me conferencing and unified messaging will put Voice Over IP in a competitive advantage over traditional long-distance services.

What is voice over IP?

Simply put, Voice Over IP is the ability to make a telephone call from your computer. The call on the Internet that you make from your computer, Pocket PC, tablet PC or laptop is turned into a voice signal, which is patched into your callers’ regional telephone network. Voice Over IP, digital telephony or Internet telephony is a technology that brings both Internet and the phone together. Internet telephony is an exchange of voice data over a network. Your local telephone company has a dedicated network to transmit voice data. However, with Internet telephony, the voice data streams over a general network, which in this case is the Internet.

Here is what you need to make calls on your computer or Pocket PC:

Plug your landline phone into a broadband Internet router
* Plug the broadband router to your electrical outlet for power
* Connect a cable from your Internet ADSL or cable modem to the broadband router/Voice Over IP phone adapter unit
* Connect a cable from the voice over IP broadband router / phone adapter to a router or hub switch
* Connect your desktop computer, Pocket PC or laptop to a router / hub switch

If you do not understand this information, please click on this link:http://www.broadvoice.com/support_install_SPA2100-bv.html where you'll be directed to a diagram, that visually explains what you need to do to make calls on your computer or Pocket PC.

As a business user, it's important to take into account that there are problems in using this inexpensive technology to make long-distance calls from your computer. Please keep these in mind:

* When making an outgoing long-distance call, you may or may not connect. Voice Over IP is still in its infancy in development.
* If you're using a 56K modem as your Internet connection speed, your voice will have a delay in the connection. You can remedy that by subscribing to a broadband cable Internet service provider.
* Before calling your local telephone company to disconnect your landline, the Voice Over IP technology has a lot of catching up to do.
* What if you need to make an emergency call and call 911? You're not guaranteed 100% that you Voice Over IP call will go through. In my previous article Voice Over IP Comparison, which you'll find by clicking on this link: http://www.symbianone.com/content/view/2123/31/ I discussed how there are full-service Voice Over IP providers, that will allow you to make 911 calls. Both Vonage and Net2phone have this service.
* Another problem with digital telephony is that there is not an E.164 standard like the ones set up to assign cell phone or landline phone numbers.

Eavesdropping On An Internet Telephone Call

Since Voice Over IP is still a developing technology, it's really easy for even a high school student to hack into your system to spy on your Internet telephony conversation. Encryption is not available on Voice Over IP. I wouldn't advise you to throw your Mickey Mouse telephone away just yet!

What Does the Term Server-Side Mean?

The server-side in the Voice Over IP equation would be the Internet telephony service provider. You need to sign up with a Voice Over IP provider if you want to make Internet telephone calls. There are full-service telecommunication firms such as : SIP phone, SIP Broker, Vonage, lingo, AOL, Total Talk, Verizon Comcast, Shaw cable, and Baby Tel, which are Voice Over IP service providers. These providers offer web-based Voice Over IP service for a monthly subscription fee. Some digital telephony providers are free such as: Skype and X-lite Counterpart Solutions Inc. Watch how Skype lets you make Voice Over IP calls to a conventional landline. In this case, you'll only be able to make PC to PC calls. Forget about ordering pizza or Chinese food on a Friday night if you are Skype user.

Pocket PC Voice Over IP - A Surprising Feature

Pocket PC owners, you'll be glad to know there is a company called Counter Path Solutions Inc. who will sell you a single user license for your Pocket PC for only $29.95 USD. It's called a Pocket PC 2.2 Sip SOFT Phone. Best of all, you can make videoconferencing calls if you upgrade to the next level. When you save money by using your Pocket PC to make free long distance calls, it’s like crispy, salty beer nuts - it's addictive! Once you start, you can't stop. To find out how you can use your Pocket PC as an Internet phone, please click on this link: http://www.xten.com/index.php?menu=Products&smenu=PPC. Best of all, you don't even need a headset to make or receive calls using the Pocket PC 2.2 Sip SOFT Phone application.

What Does the Term Client-Side Mean?

There are generally three types of standards or protocols in a typical Voice Over IP solution.

• 1) H.323
• 2) SIP or Session Initiation Protocol
• 3) There are also third-party proprietary protocols used by: Skype, SCCP, CISCO.

What's the difference between the session initiation protocol and the rest of the different standards? SIP stores the VoIP customer's IP address in their own package. This can be a problem when your Linux, Macintosh or Microsoft Windows operating system is behind a firewall.

Both Gnome Meeting and Microsoft NetMeeting use the H.323 protocol. Apple's iChat, SIP phone and Microsoft Messanger use the Session Initiation Protocol(SIP).

Hardware for you - The Client

If you want to have the highest possible sound quality, consider these two options:

1) Purchase a TALKPro USB 100 parrot translator from VXI Corporation for only $129.00 USD. You can call them toll free at (800)742-8588. Their Corporate website is: vxicorp.com. Hours of operation are from 8AM to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Some of the features I really enjoy on this Macintosh certified headset include: volume dial control, the mute on and off button, the quick disconnect switch, Echo reduction, noise canceling technology ensuring higher speech recognition accuracy. Once you start using the VXI talk Pro headset, you'll never consider any other brand name. If you are also a Macintosh user, you'll be glad to know that these headsets are compatible with Macintosh laptops and computers. If you would like to read a recent press release on the talk Pro USB 100, please click on this link:http://www.vxicorp.com/about/Press/2006/2006-04-04.asp. In addition to the noise canceling technology, you'll also appreciate the very high call quality coming through on your TALKPro USB 100 parrot headset. This product comes with a two-year unconditional warranty.

2) In addition to considering your network architecture, look at how much available bandwidth you can access. I tested a Voice Over IP call using a slow dial-up 506K modem. The call was not even, there were dead gaps where I couldn't hear anything from the other caller. The static and connection was really poor and inconsistent. I tested another call using my Talk Pro USB 100 headset from VXI. This time using a high-speed broadband cable connection provided by Shaw cable, the call had clarity, there were no echo sounds, and I could hear the person very clearly through out the duration of the call. I was really impressed. I run a Linux operating system and installed Gnome Meeting on my computer and have found this to the best option.

If you want a use your Pocket PC as a Voice Over IP phone, your best bet is a Pocket PC 2.2 SIP phone from www.xten.net. Here is a comparison chart of four applications, which I tested. Comparison Chart.

	Gnome Meeting	Kphone	Skype	X-Lite
Licence	Open Source / GPL	Open Source / GPL	Proprietary free ware	Proprietary free ware
Operating System	Linux	Linux	Linux, MS windows, Mac	Pocket PC, Linux, MS windows, Mac
Make Calls from your computer to a real phone	Yes	No	No	No. But Pro-version. Possible
3 way calling	Yes	no	no	No. only in Pro-version
Sound quality	Very good, consistent	Good enough for me since I use Broadband connection	Good, sometimes choppy & flaky	The sound was good in both directions, sometimes on a subsequent call, there was static in the speech
Requires Headphones to work	yes	Yes	Yes	No
Protocol	H.323, SIP	SIP	Has their own proprietary Protocol	SIP
Where to buy it?	Gnome Meeting	Kphone Website	Skype Website	Buy it from the Xten Website

You are not bound by a fixed location. Like the old adage, have phone will travel; only now it's the broadband router and phone adapter that travels with you. Simply pack the adapter in your suitcase and at your new destination just plug it into a broadband connection. Say hi to your friends and neighbors back home just by using one of the Voice Over IP providers recommended above. Source: The Linux Journal issue 145.

Source: Rene Tse.

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Nov 20 Album Art and Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
Found in: Tips,

"I have a love-hate relationship with Windows Media Player 10's Sync feature. On one end, it works great. Tracks are compressed to deliver the best balance between size and quality whilst simultaneously being copied over to my Pocket PC. On the other end, it's catastrophic when things fail to work properly. One of these involves that mystical case of missing album art. "Where's my album art?!" - This is a question I see being asked time and time again on forums, newsgroups, and even amongst friends. Yes, welcome to the world of album art gone AWOL.
You soon discover that no amount of hair-pulling makes it work again, and Microsoft's FAQ offers very little help either. Note that Windows Media Player 10 Mobile has issues dealing with album art embedded in media files, so what other options are there?

Luckily, there's a solution. It's a manual fix, but it works. Whether you use the Sync feature or not, the best way to organise your media is as follows:

<Artist>\<Album>\*.*

So, looking at a real-world example such as the Extraordinary Ways album by Conjure One (one of my newly-discovered favourites), your music might sport the following folder structure: \SD Card\Music\Conjure One\Extraordinary Ways\
In that folder, you should have your media (whether it be MP3 or WMA) and your album art (as a JPG file). If you find you have a whole collection of leftover JPG files from a failed synchronisation, find the one you want to keep as your album art and delete the rest. Alternatively, you could pop over to Amazon and download their album art. The most important step now is to rename that album art JPG file as Folder.jpg and ensure that it resides in the same folder as your media (for that particular album). Don't worry about resizing the album art as Windows Media Player 10 Mobile will perform that step automatically. Take a quick look at the screenshot above if you need some guidance.
That's it! Restart Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, sit back, relax, and enjoy your album art the way it should be."
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Feb 01 Backup data solutions for Windows Mobile 5.0
Found in: Tips, Software,

There are quite much reason to get you data deleted or lost - depleted batteries, system errors, etc... In these or some other cases you may need backup applications for the new operating system ( windows mobile 5.0 ), particularly if you often install new programs and/or use misbehaving applications that may irrecoverably crash your system, resulting in a need for a hard reset.

Right now, we can offer you three great applications that can do this job for You. These pocket pc programs with support for WM5 devices are :


Spb Backup

Summary:Spb Backup is a utility for saving your Pocket PC content to a storage card for backup purposes. Spb Backup is based upon the proven cloning technology used in Spb Clone. Thousands of users in enterprise environments use Spb Clone to create exact copies of their "master" PDA devices. Spb Backup creates a self-restoring image file that can be restored even without installing the main Spb Backup application. The backup file can be compressed and password protected with strong 128-bit AES algorithm. Spb Backup offers an attractive and simple-to-use interface.


Sprite Backup WM5 Beta

Summary: Backup your Pocket PC to a Storage Card, CF Card, host PC or Network Share. Fast, simple, reliable.

Detailed information about Sprite Backup Beta At our previous article

Beta version download links Non VGA CAB:
http://www.spritesoftware.com/downloads/SpriteBackup_WM2005_nonvga.CAB VGA CAB:
http://www.spritesoftware.com/downloads/SpriteBackup_WM2005-VGA.CAB



SunnySoft Backup Manager



Summary: Sunnysoft Backup Manager is a strong backup tool for your PDA.

Detailed Applications description and download links here

"
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Jun 11 BaseHueExpress 1.0 Windows Mobile 5 interface changer
Found in: Tips, Pocket PC, Freeware,

BaseHueExpress 1.0 is new application for changing interface settings of WM5 powered device.

The interface colors of the WM5 device is mainly based on a single hue. Most UI elements, such as the Taskbar, the softkeys, buttons, etc., are thus "painted" using this hue, with varying degrees of Saturation and Luminosity or Lightness.

In order to change the UI colors, one can use a registry editor and change the DWORD value BaseHue in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Color.

The accepted value of this DWORD value ranges from 0 to 4294967295. If you choose a value between 0 - 255, you'll get greyscale UI colors. Any other value from 256 above gives you "colored" UI elements.

NOTE:
* Left = move countercloskwise (more precise)
* Down = move counterclockwise (faster)
* Right = move clockwise (more precise)
* Up = move clockwise (faster)

You can download BaseHueExpress 1.0 at Freeware Pocket PC site.

BaseHueExpress 1.0 is another application that does same job as TdyScheme Changer for Windows Mobile Pocket PC.

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Mar 24 Bye 5 minute Sync on Windows Mobile devices
Found in: Tips, Sync, Windows Mobile,

We have previously posted a trick showing how to prevent WM 5.0 and ActiveSync from draining your battery. At the time of writing it was a 6 step process, but now all is made in CAB file for your ease.

The zip archive contains CAB and setup launcher for easy installation plus a short TXT doc. The core file works by setting Cradled value to zero every minute. When nothing is cradled, no synchronization takes place (at least per personal observation).


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Jul 24 Can't take that call ... Ignore with SMS
Found in: Communication, Tips, Pocket PC, Freeware,

The situation is simple - You can't take that call, but don't want the person on the other end to wonder where you are or what you're doing? And here your worries ends. Ignore with SMS is recently released program for Windows Mobile devices, which just needs a a simple button tap and it takes to quickly and easily send that person a text message letting them know you're in an important metting or at the movies.

Ignore with SMS is available for free download at Freeware Pocket PC site.

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Nov 23 Catch Everyone Attention with your Pocket PC and FotoRythm
Found in: Pocket PC, Freeware, Tips,

Probably sometimes when you want to catch someone's attention, but you are in crowded place and don't want to yell, you are wondering what to do. Today there is a solution for this kind of situations.

FotoRythm is brand new freeware Pocket PC application that makes your device's screen to blink rapidly, which easily catch expected person's attention. It is quite good solution if you are in a club or somewhere with many people and you are expecting someone.

FotoRythm 1.0 is available for free download at Freeware Pocket PC site.

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Jul 11 Cheat any game for Palm OS with Unicheater
Found in: Games, Palm, Freeware, Tips,

The Unicheater is a utility that allows to boost or freeze any parameter in almost any Palm OS game, be it money, weapons, scores, resources, or anything else.

The intellectual program algorythm scans memory for the parameters you want to affect and allows you to assign them any value, or freeze them (prohibit from modifying). The result is endless game resources! This is a revolutionary program that changes the whole Palm OS gaming.

Unicheater was tested on Warfare Inc, Legacy, Bejeweled 2, Village Sim, Hellfire, Arvale: Journey of Illusion, Zuma, Medieval Heroes II, Realm Walker, Solskia, UFO: Legacy, Bzzz, Quest of The Hero II, and many more.

The Unicheater is developed by Artem Chivchalov and is availalbe for download at Freeware Palm site.

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Dec 06 Choosing Your Next Windows Mobile Device - Microsoft's vision
Found in: Tips,

I made a list, checked it twice, and surveyed a couple of my colleagues about what features they thought would be nice. The Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 devices are rolling out and—full of good cheer—we're getting ready to buy by the end of the year.The new devices seem to have everything loaded on them but the kitchen sink. I'm sure buying a new device is easier than buying a house, but I approach it the same way. I make my criteria list. I prioritized it. Then, I begin the horse-trading discussion (with myself).

I've looked online at various comparison sites, and most do a pretty good job of sizing up the technical side:
* Screen size: I'd love to have 480x640, 240x320 will do. I've lived with 176x220.
* RAM: The barest minimum is 32 MB.
* ROM: My preference is 128 MB.
* Processor speed: For the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone, I'd like 206 MHz. For a Sprint PPC 6700, 416 MHz.
In this article we'll focus on how easy the device is to use—what it feels like and how it fits into your life.

Sam, our chief research officer, wants a phone, camera, alarm clock, and personal digital assistant (PDA) in one package. Sam speaks about mobile productivity at trade conferences several times a year and needs a device that he can show to audiences to support his statements. For business meetings, he "walks the talk," taking notes or sending text messages when he needs just-in-time data. As for the alarm clock, "Sometimes, figuring out how to set the hotel clock is a real challenge, and you're not sure it will go off in the morning. So I always set my device to wake me up as well." "And there's the coolness factor," Sam admits. "That can help me make a good impression on clients. I want a device that has the latest productivity innovations. Showing PowerPoints with Windows Mobile 5.0 is a good example." Yes, when he got his first device, he was sending text messages from a restaurant. Way cool.

Jill, a market analyst and mother, works at home. Jill keeps her shopping list on her device and also knows how to sync her calendar from two machines. "I need to maintain a work/life balance. By remaining connected with a device I am able to steal moments of productivity; I can access a large database of contacts when I am on the go, or just use it to multi-task while I am at my desk."

I don't work all the time, but I like working anywhere I wish to be – in my office, at the local coffee shop, on an airplane, at the cabin, or with a client. And I don't like to tote a lot of stuff. Both Sam and I are holding out for the best Pocket PC Phone because I want Microsoft Word Mobile, Microsoft Excel Mobile, Microsoft PowerPoint Mobile, Microsoft Outlook Mobile, and MSN Instant Messenger in my pocket.

Here's our take on some of the features you can choose on Windows Mobile 5.0 devices:
* QWERTY keyboard. I'm so done with tap-tap-tap-tap to get an "s" into an IM or e-mail message using a traditional phone keypad. Don't get me started about how difficult it is to type a strong password on it! It’s true, lots of folks around the world are great at one-handed input with T9, but I found I didn't have the patience to train the device to read my thoughts. Give me a classic QWERTY. I do prefer having the option of attaching a foldout keyboard, such as the slick Stowaway. Jill and Sam are both avid IM'ers.
* Storage card formats. The kind of storage card the device accepts is one of the deciding factors for me: Memory Stick (MS), Secure Digital (SD), miniSD, SDIO, Compact Flash? So many cards; so many choices. I keep a little Minolta 5-megapixel camera tucked in my pocketbook. It takes both SD and Memory Stick storage cards but not miniSD, as my current Windows Mobile phone does. I want my new Windows Mobile device to be able to handle the same storage card format; then, as long as I buy Minolta-compatible cards, I can swap out media storage between devices, depending on what I need at the time.
Word of caution: As I found out on a trip, it's not enough to just buy the right format of, say, a Memory Stick. Check the manufacturer's Web site to make sure devices can run the specific storage card model number. Not all Memory Sticks are the same.
* Good battery life. Bells and whistles are fine, but if the battery can't keep the device humming for at least a day of moderate use, it's not playing my song. Long battery life is especially important to Jill. Her first mobile device had AA batteries, which, in a house with small children, were often in high demand.
* High-speed wireless network. Speed matters. Our decision about whether to stay with our current service provider or switch to another provider depends more on which Windows Mobile 5.0 models they offer than whether they support EVDO, EDGE, UMTS, or HSDPA. The service just needs to be fast.
* Wi-Fi. We need to use our devices wherever business takes us. When I went to Ireland last spring, I was glad I had insisted on buying a dual-band device. I could dash off a late night e-mail message from JFK airport in New York to my colleague Pam in Dublin about my arriving three hours ahead of schedule and then call her when I touched down at sunrise in Shannon to make sure she'd gotten the message. I'm also choosing a cellular service provider that makes it possible to use the device as a wireless modem for my laptop.
* Screen. The typical 2.2-inch Smartphone screens are ok, but I much prefer the more generous Pocket PC Phone screens.
* Camera. If we were real estate professionals or claims adjusters, a camera would be indispensable. For Jill and me, it's a "nice to have," rather than a necessity. Sam uses his camera to take phone photos on a trade show floor.
* GPS. Starting this December, every service provider must be able to pinpoint the location of your device. Since they know where you are, you might as well know too. Not a deal-breaker, but nice to have.
* Bluetooth. I'd like to be forever free of fumbling with tiny ear buds and forgo the spaghetti of cables. A Bluetooth headset would make walking and talking a lot more convenient. Beaming content and contacts back and forth is pretty nice, but I've gotten along just fine with infrared transfers. Hmmm. Bluetooth keyboards – that's got my attention.
* Size matters – somewhat. My original Windows Mobile-based device was a Phenon, a nifty little knee-top device by LG that ran Microsoft Windows CE and early versions of Microsoft Office mobile applications. Twelve years ago, the 5X8-inch size was astounding. Now, I can have far more power in my hip pocket. I'll lean towards the smaller devices, but ease-of-use matters more.

There are many more fabulous features, but productivity is our passion. We don't need TV or movies on our mobile devices. Jill admits to wanting games, but for a very practical reason: "to hand off to the kids, to keep them quiet in a pinch." The capabilities of the current Windows Mobile-based devices are awesome, but so far, none of the models I've seen make a decent cup of coffee. There's always next year.

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Jan 15 ClearType & Landscape Mode on Pocket PC
Found in: Tips,

Windows Mobile has supported ClearType for quite some time now. However, the sharp-eyed amongst us might have noticed that when switching the orientation of the device from portrait to landscape mode, ClearType refuses to work, even when enabled. Thankfully, there's a fix, but it involves a little adventure through the registry. If you're well aware of the risks, proceed. If not, you can always use Tweaks2K2 .NET or Spb Pocket PC Tips & Tricks and have it do the dirty work for you.

Remember that there are always risks involved with editing the registry. If you're not comfortable with the idea of risk-taking, ignore the remainder of this post.



In this guide, We use Resco File Explorer 2005. Do note that there are many other registry editors available if you wish to try something different.

(1) First of all, ensure ClearType is enabled. (Start > Settings > System > Screen > ClearType > Enable ClearType).

(2) Now, fire up the registry editor and navigate your way to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\GDI\ClearTypeSettings.

(3) You'll notice a DWORD entry titled, "OffOnRotation". Its default value should be 1 (it might display as 0x1(1), which is essentially the same).

(4) Tap on it and edit the DWORD data value to 0, ensuring that Dec is set as the Base model.

(5) Accept the changes. The "OffOnRotation" entry should now read 0 (or 0x0(0); see screenshot above).

(6) Soft-reset your Pocket PC.

(7) Now, when switching between portrait and landscape mode, ClearType should be enabled in both instances.

many thanks to Darius Wey


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