New Mobile App Enables VoIP Calling From the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for Small Businesses Using eVoice(R).

Customers can now make & receive calls over a data connection from anywhere in the world without using carrier plan minutes.

MARKETWIRE via COMTEX, eVoice(R), a “Radically Better PhoneNumber” and brand of technology leader j2 Global Communications, Inc.

Announced availability of its latest mobile application for Apple(R) devices.

Now, owners of Apple’s iPhone(R), iPad(R) and iPod touch(R) can make and receive phone calls via a WiFi connection or a 3G/4G network using VoIP.

This saves precious cell phone minutes while helping to reduce the chance of dropped phone calls.

Additionally, the new eVoice Mobile App enables iPhone users to keep their personalphone number private by maintaining a separate eVoice line for business use on the same device.

Smart phones and tablet devices are becoming more powerful every day and are starting to replace desktops and laptops as the business tool of choice,” said Mike Pugh, vice president, marketing for j2 Global.

With eVoice and its new app, people can detach themselves from their desk and still conduct business.

Without worrying about cell phonecoverage issues or dwindling minutes.

Essentially, the new eVoice Mobile App transforms an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into a multi-purpose business phone system with powerful features, including:

Make and receive phone calls via a WiFi connection or 3G/4G network

using VoIP.

24/7 auto attendant to answer and route inbound calls professionally.

Multiple extensions for employees, including intercom functionality.

Enhanced voice mail service with transcriptions and audio files sent

to email or text.

Advanced call handling features including call screening.

According to a survey of small and mid-sized business owners conducted by The Business Journals (a division of the American City Business Journals) earlier in 2011, and reported in a press release posted on smallbiztrends.com.

The use of desktops and laptops is decreasing while the use of smart phones and mobile applications is on the rise.

Thirty-seven percent of SMB owners surveyed have used a smartphone or a PDA in the past year a 10 percentage point increase over the previous year.

Another survey conducted in 2010 by market research firm Techaisle found that one-fifth of the small businesses in the U.S., U.K., Brazil and Germany surveyed used iPads.

eVoice Mobile App helps solve the problem of dropped calls in environments notorious for poor connectivity.

Such as a subway, train, basement office or a rural home office.

Many of these locations often have good WiFi connections even when 3G/4G networks are unavailable.

Utilizing the eVoice mobile application with a WiFi connection.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement late last night. “We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anytime, anywhere.”

Microsoft announced in May the deal to acquire Skype.

A final hurdle was cleared last week when European regulators approved the deal.

Skype’s voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services let people hold free video and voice calls over the Internet  Skype charges a fee for “SkypeOut,” which lets Skype users dial ordinary phone numbers, and “SkypeIn.

Which lets people dial an ordinary phone number that actually connects through to a Skype account online.

Both services are useful for bypassing steep international calling rates using conventional telephone service.

In July, Skype had 65 million daily users, the company said last month.

Collectively, they spent 700 million minutes a day on Skype audio calls, 300 million minutes a day on Skype video calls, and 30 million minutes a day on calls with ordinary phones.

Skype CEO Tony Bates now is president of Microsoft’s Skype Division.

Skype products will be integrated into Microsoft products, but they’ll continue to be offered where they are today, Microsoft said.

Skype apps are available for iOS andAndroid, which compete with Windows Phone, and on Mac OS and Linux, which compete with Windows.

Skype was founded in 2003, and eBay acquired it in 2005. An investor group led by Silver Lake Partners bought it in 2009.

Skype also has an important partnership with Facebook that could help each company compete better with rival online services such as Google+ “hangouts,” Yahoo Messenger, and Gmail Chat.

Bates expects Skype growth to increase under Microsoft.

“Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype’s goal to reach 1 billion users daily,” Bates said in a statement.

Today, Paytoo, the mobile wallet solution leader in cutting edge telecommunications and payment services, announced it has entered a strategic partnership with Paymentez.

The all-inclusive, social games and virtual content payment platform represented online and at more than 500,000 point-of sale kiosks spread throughout retail stores and Internet cafes in Latin America.

This agreement brings Paytoo’s services to Paymentez’ network which currently includes Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

With the instant issuance of a virtual Visa card from Paytoo’s mobile wallet, banked and un-banked consumers within these countries are able to access the Paymentez System to pay for games and various other services that Paymentez plans to offer in the future.

Just like with a regular physical Visa card, consumers can now load money onto their Paytoo virtual Visa cards and use it for all types of purchases through the Paymentez gateway.

“This partnership is an exciting development for our company,” said Michel Poignant, CEO of Paymotech, parent company of Paytoo.

“I’m thrilled that we have Paymentez’ cooperation in providing their Latin American online consumers with a virtual card that is extremely safe and easy to use.”

“At Paymentez we’re always looking for ways to help companies like Paytoo to reach and monetize the audience from Latin America.

We really think this partnership will represent an important step in the Latin American way to do digital business,” said Fernando Paradiso, Business Development Manager of Paymentez.

Paymentez’ technology simplifies the collection processes of online and offline micropayment for Zynga, Playfish, Sulake and their many other customers.

About Paymotech
The Paymotech Group was formed in 1999 through its Swiss Holding parent company, Deutsche Börse Group (4PA.DE) and is currently listed on the Frankfurt Stock Market.

Since 2004, Paymotech (and its Paytoo Mobile and Yackie Telecom divisions) offers mobile phone solutions, VoIP, SIM cards free of roaming charges and secured e-commerce payment transactions solutions.

In 2009, Paytoo became the first mobile wallet solution to combine telecommunications and mobile payments all drawing from a single account.

To learn more about Paytoo, visit http://www.paytoo.com/

About Paymentez LLC:
Paymentez, LLC, headquartered in Miami, Florida, is the largest monetization platform of virtual content in Latin America.

With over 4 million registered users, Paymentez has the most experience in online and offline payments in Latin America.

Its network consists of 500,000 offline POS across the region, with that number expected to grow to 1 million by the end of 2011.

Its strategy is focused on increasing conversion rate for its customers and reaching their users where they play. Customers include Zynga, Playfish, Sulake, Artix, Bigpoint, i-Jet Media, and Spil Games.

For more information, visit: http://corp.paymentez.com/home

Broadband and 4G networks spearhead telecommunication market developments Buddecomm’s latest USA Annual Publication, ‘2010/11 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in the USA’, details the fixed-line, mobile and broadband markets in theUSA.

The publication also examines Internet trends and the emergence of new telecommunication services such as VoIP and IPTV. The report also profiles developments in the broader digital economy, including smart energy grids and the nascent e-health, e-government and e-education sectors.

US mobile subscriber numbers increased to over 300 million by early 2011. Although penetration levels are reaching saturation, mobile data revenues increased by around 23% year-over-year to December 2010 and are expected to continue to grow at very high rates between 2010 and 2015.

Increases in data ARPU in particular are largely offsetting the ongoing decline in ARPU for voice services. In early 2011 the US was still trailing its OECD counterparts in terms of broadband penetration, speed and affordability.

Nevertheless, the market is currently witnessing significant investment activity in FttH deployments, DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades, mobile broadband network rollout and municipal wireless broadband activity.

Despite the growing developments in FttH, WiMAX and 3G networks, broadband service in most regions is still generally limited to one DSL and one cable operator. Strong subscriber and revenue growth rates during 2010 have confirmed VoIP’s position as a widely used telecommunications service in the US.

This report contains overviews, analyses and detailed statistics of the US fixed-line, mobile and broadband markets including their sub-markets such as DSL, cable, FttH, wireless broadband, utilities broadband, the Internet, VoIP and IPTV.

SEATTLE, WA – July 30, 2011 – 360networks, a facilities-based wholesale provider of Private Line Transport, Ethernet, IP, and VoIP services, today announced NTS Communications has selected the 360networks Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) Service in support of end user needs between Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas. In addition, 360networks also deployed optical wavelengths for NTS from Lubbock to Wichita Falls, Texas.

NTS Communications, a subsidiary of Xfone, Inc., provides integrated voice, data and video solutions to business and residential customers in West Texas as well as seven additional states.The company operates the region’s largest non-ILEC telecommunications network, with a Fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) platform that supports its voice, video and data triple play offering.

“We needed capacity to key markets, protected circuits, and competitive prices; 360networks’s unique coverage footprint in West Texas gave us the markets we needed,” said Priscilla Rivas, Vice President, Network Administration for NTS Communications. “Its EVPL service provided the pay-as-you-grow solution we were looking for, with the wavelengths enhancing protection in critical markets.”

“We are proud to expand our long-standing relationship with NTS,” said Steve Cardwell, vice president of sales for 360networks. “For customers like NTS needing to go beyond the major metropolitan areas, we provide a one-stop shop with the full line of high quality services to the markets they need, competitively priced, and backed by the high levels of customer service we’ve built our reputation on.”

The 360networks EVPL service is fully mesh-protected for ubiquitous connectivity between major carrier hotels, data centers, Internet exchanges, and neutral peering points across the company’s entire 18,500 route mile footprint. 360networks’s EVPL eliminates the mileage associated with traditional private line services. Customers instead, pay a monthly recurring charge per port in point-to-point or point-to-multipoint configurations.

Because 360networks owns and operates the network, its EVPL customers benefit from a level of reliability and control not available from shared network configurations. Combined with the company’s deep coverage to major metros, as well as dozens of smaller markets, NTS decreases network complexity, improves and optimizes capacity and reduces costs.

About 360networks

360networks is a full service wholesale provider of Private Line Transport,thernet, IP, and VoIP services, on its wholly-owned fiber optic backbone. Its facilities-based network provides deep coverage, spanning 18,500 miles to tier 1 to 4 U.S. markets (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana,Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico,North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah,Washington, and Wyoming) and British Columbia.

Financially strong and a CLEC in 36 states, 360networks helps the nation’s voice, data and web-based application and service providers to quickly pursue next generation strategies, migrate from legacy networks, grow into new markets and services, and increase network diversity. www.360networks.com

About Xfone, Inc

Xfone is a provider of high speed broadband services, including Internet access, digital cable TV programming and local and long distance telephone service to residential and business customers in northern Texas and southeastern Louisiana.

Xfone’s Fiber-To-The-Premise (FTTP) network provides one of the fastest internet connections available. The Company currently has operations in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana and also serves customers in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. For the company’s website, please visit: www.xfone.com.

360networks Media Contact:

Scott R Fincher, Product Marketing Manager

303.854.5016 (p)

303.886.0566 (c)

scott.fincher@360networks.com

June 22, 2011
Adds three new markets and 25 market-capable sites between Dallas and El Paso

SEATTLE, WA – June 22, 2011 – 360networks, a facilities-based wholesale provider of telecommunication services, today announced availability of a new 640 mile route between Dallas and El Paso capable of supporting up to 100G line rates.

This expansion extends the company’s footprint in support of the region’s telecommunications, cable, content and cloud services providers’ growing need for capacity and connectivity for their end users.  These customers can now access 360networks’s more than 18,000 route miles to over 60 tier 1 to 4 markets across 22 states and British Columbia.  The expansion also creates a highly redundant path for the Dallas market, as well as throughout Texas, Colorado and New Mexico.

“Adding the Dallas to El Paso route is a natural progression of our strategy to take customers deeper into the geographic areas we serve while increasing value through redundancy and scalability,” said Brady Adams, chief technology officer for 360networks.  “Look for 360networks to continue to drive value for our customers by expanding our network and services.”

For this expansion 360networks installed Alcatel-Lucent’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) technology enabling Waves, IP, Ethernet, and TDM access in Abilene, Ft.Worth, and Midland.  The route also covers 25 new market-capable sites including Aledo, Arlington, Baird, Barstow, Big Spring, Cisco, Eastland, Ft.Hancock – Alamo Alto, Ft Hancock – McNary, Kent, Loraine, Merkel, Monahans, Odessa, Pecos, Santo, Sierra Blanca, Socorro, Stanton, Strawn, Sweetwater, Toyah, Van Horn, Weatherford, and Westbrook.

“Our next-generation optical technology is part of a converged backbone solution, which means that 360networks can intelligently manage traffic and support their customer’s new bandwidth-hungry applications, such as live-streaming high-definition video, over a fully redundant network,” said Robert Vrij, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Americas region. “The scalability and flexibility of our DWDM network will help 360networks support capacity and connectivity needs as it continues to expand across Texas and throughout its geographic area.”

June 8, 2011

360networks is expanding switched Ethernet edge into 30+markets in Western US in 2011


SEATTLE, WA – June 8, 2011 – 360networks, a facilities-based wholesale provider of Private Line Transport, Ethernet, IP, VoIP and Local Access services, today announced Montana Opticom as the first customer to deploy its new Ethernet Virtual Private Line, or EVPL, service (announced earlier this year as Layer 2 Ethernet). The 360networks EVPL service gives Montana Opticom a more scalable, cost effective and reliable connectivity alternative than traditional TDM or other legacy connectivity solutions.

“To provide high speed connectivity and link our two networks in Montana, there were specific best-in-class technical requirements we needed to achieve, all of which 360networks’ EVPL met,” said Jim Dolan Jr, Montana Opticom, president . “In addition, it was significantly less expensive than the legacy solutions we were considering, and came with built-in diversity, helping us extend the value of our American Recovery and Reinvestment Act award, and helping our customers quickly and cost effectively gain access to connectivity services on par with major metropolitan areas.”

360networks developed its EVPL service for communication service providers, Internet service providers (ISPs), cloud infrastructure and storage providers, co-location providers, content providers, content distribution networks, cable MSOs, and others needing access to a high performance, Layer 2 network.

360networks’ EVPL service is fully mesh-protected for ubiquitous connectivity between major carrier hotels, data centers, Internet Exchanges, and neutral peering points across 360networks’ entire 18,000 route mile footprint. It eliminates the mileage associated with traditional private line services. Instead, customers pay a monthly recurring charge per port to connect locations in a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint configuration. Because 360networks owns and operates the network its EVPL customers benefit from a level of reliability and control not available from shared network configurations. Combined, these factors enable customers like Montana Opticom to decrease network complexity, improve and optimize capacity, and reduce costs.

“Our EVPL service gives Montana Opticom a unique state-of-the-art, high speed connectivity solution on our purpose built Layer 2 network,” said Mike Kozlowski, director of product management for Ethernet services at 360networks. “The configuration helps them cost effectively meet their customers’ needs while improving network performance.”

About Montana Opticom

Montana Opticom, based in Gallatin Gateway, Montana, provides high-speed Internet, digital telephone and digital television services across Montana. Montana Opticom’s fiber optic network delivers Internet upload and download speeds of up to 100mbps, allowing residential and business subscribers to participate equally with the most advanced urban areas in the Internet world of business, healthcare, education and entertainment. Montana Opticom’s Gallatin Gateway Broadband Project will create a 153 square mile fiber optic network in Gallatin County, from Manhattan to Gallatin Gateway, under an award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For more information, please visit www.mt-opticom.com.

About 360networks

360networks is a full service wholesale provider of Private Line Transport, Ethernet, IP, VoIP, and Local Access (T1/DS3) services, on its wholly-owned fiber optic backbone. Its facilities-based network provides deep coverage, spanning 18,000 miles to tier 1 to 4 U.S. markets (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). Financially stable and a CLEC in 36 states, 360networks helps the nation’s voice, data and web-based application and service providers to quickly pursue next generation strategies, migrate from legacy networks, grow into new markets and services, and increase network diversity. www.360networks.com

360networks Media Contact:
Scott R Fincher,Product Marketing Manager
303.854.5016 (p)
303.886.0566 (c)
scott.fincher@360networks.com

On the second Tuesday of May 2011, the planet’s biggest software business disclosed it had begun an agreement to buy the Luxembourg-based entity who created possibly the Internet’s hottest Web-based phone service ever. What price did Skype go for … to Microsoft? Eight point five billion!

Results of a survey of various people from different walks of life regarding the new decade’s most exciting online purchase:

Michael Bowen, who is in the human performance technologist industry based in Florida, says, “My knee-jerk response was unprintable. I guess it lets them play in the VoIP ‘game.’ $8.5B seems steep for an entry into the market; no worse than $50K for a Hawai’i Ironman entry on auction. Yahoo reader mentioned ‘kiss free web-based phone calls good-bye.’ Doubt that, but expect a mash into MS Office/IE.”

Sohaib Alvi, CEO of Sage Consultants based in Pakistan and UAE ponders, “I just wonder what they will do to justify this price and what strategy they could possibly have to make money out of this? Must be something of technical value or some synergy that will save them billions over the next few years. I mean, eBay bought it and then dumped it at some 2 billion dollars loss. Wonder what Gates & Co are up to here? Don’t know much about technology back-end but maybe they’ll offer Skype free with their OS.

At the moment some Skype services are chargeable. Remember OSes are becoming redundant as every app begins to get incorporated into the browser. Or maybe they launch a browser with Skype in it for the mobile users. I think Skype knows something too because they refused Google and Facebook who were also offering them around 5 billion, I read.

I think something has happened that has suddenly made the service that Skype offers the next big thing coming that most of us do not know about.”

Alok Saboo, popular VoIP blogger in California, shares, “Past is not always a good predictor of the future. The amount that MS paid for Skype is open to debate, but, we must realize, that the value that MS paid for Skype, depends on the potential synergies (which is difficult for outsiders to evaluate completely). In addition to the technology and reach that Skype brings, it also provides a great way to engage with the ‘hip’ crowd.”

Joshua Alfrejd, a gadget reviewer from Michigan for Techistan magazine and other online sites relates, “Microsoft has the power, the money, the experience and the respect. Skype is cool. It’s kind of like Level 3 and Amazon have the power, the money, the experience and the respect while DIDX and Pandora Radio are cool. I hope that Microsoft does thinks like MTV is … mixing voice, video, and 3D for music concerts and other kinds of events. Also maybe they can leave the free service as is but also make available a premium service that can be embedded into the current business suite that Microsoft offers. Great move by both parties, and both stand to reap advantages in popularity and new revenue.”

Ayesha Ambreen, Business Analyst at Clary Business Machines in Washington, D.C.,“Microsoft is already sufficient in communication technologies. They don’t need Skype. Microsoft Lync is far more capable in terms of communication. This is rather a defensive move by Microsoft. I think the acquisition is to prevent Skype’s merger with Facebook – birth of a compelling rival in unified communications. The core of Microsoft strategies is unification, and I doubt Skype will fit now or in future. Microsoft is either going to kill Skype or will put Lync’s cover on Skype features. $8.5 Billion spending is anticipated to standout and bring boost to Microsoft unified communication initiative, with no contention and competition in near future. Expand the scope of near … till Facebook or Google will produce a competent communication tool.

Whether incorporated on Browser or Mobile, OS is fundamental. Microsoft Azure is the cloud OS for browser-based communication and is already compatible with Microsoft Lync and Microsoft Communication suite.”

Bryan Capouch from UK counters, “I laughed out loud when I heard it was going to go down. Skype is the Afghanistan of dot-com companies; it will suck life out of Micro$oft just like it did eBay. Eight years now and they’re still not making money!”

Ayesha Ambreen adds, “lol! You are underestimating Microsoft then! Microsoft is known for its well informed and apt decision making. Despite continuous threats from Facebook, Google, Yahoo, and numerous other, Microsoft is the leader because of its strategies that are made for long run and not just impulsive as of eBay.”

Bryan Capouch, states, “Time will tell. Microsoft hasn’t ever innovated anything, starting with their ripping off various other DOSs which morphed into MSDOS. Windows = Mac, Explorer = Netscape, Bing = Google, the list is endless. They were really lucky, and all that’s keeping them going now is the flywheel effect. I’m willing to bet a nickel the world will come around to my point of view on the Skype purchase to anyone who cares to take me up on it!

I will say Skype is a perfect fit for Microsoft in that they are inimical to standards and openness.”

News about Skype: http://skype-news.tmcnet.com/Default.aspx

HOLMDEL, N.J., April, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of low-cost communications services connecting individuals through broadband devices worldwide, today introduced the World Premium Unlimited calling plan. This new offering builds on the value of the popular World plan by expanding the number of countries for unlimited(1) calling from 60 to 80, including unlimited calling to mobile phones in 42 countries.

“People who make international calls to mobiles are frustrated by the huge premiums they pay to their phone company,” said Mike Tempora, senior vice president of product management for Vonage. “World Premium provides these callers with the peace of mind to call any landline or mobile number in 42 countries including Brazil, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia, France, Spain and the UK for one flat price. Customers who use World Premium Unlimited to call as little as one hour a week to mobile phones in countries like Mexico and the UK will save over $400 a year versus the best pay per minute rates from major phone companies.”

The World Premium Unlimited plan is $54.99/month (plus taxes and fees). The service uses a high-speed Internet connection and an existing home phone. For more details on the World Premium Unlimited calling plan, please click here.

About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of low-cost communications services connecting individuals through broadband devices worldwide. Our technology serves approximately 2.4 million subscribers. We provide feature-rich, affordable communication solutions that offer flexibility, portability and ease-of-use. Our Vonage World plan offers unlimited calling to more than 60 countries with popular features like call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail — for one low monthly rate. Vonage’s service is sold on the web and through regional and national retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and is available to customers in the U.S. (www.vonage.com), Canada (www.vonage.ca) and the United Kingdom (www.vonage.co.uk).

Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage® is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.

To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage_voice. To become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/vonage.

(1) Unlimited calling is subject to our Reasonable Use Policy and Terms of Service. All residential plans are based on normal residential, personal use by single-family household members. See Vonage.com for details.

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SOURCE Vonage
News Provided by Acquire Media

Real friends don’t keep secrets, says VonageUK. Techistan agrees and its many friends around the world are waiting for Vonage to offer phone numbers from every country. Share the wealth and advise your friends and acquaintances to apply for one or more of the Techistan International Awards at http://www.tinyurl.com/techistaninternationalawards.