Toshiba Adds VoIP to PCs

securitas writes "PC World/ IDG reports on the new Toshiba SoftIPT SoftPhone software that turns Windows XP-based computers into VoIP telephones. The software features call answering and forwarding, voice mail retrieval and conference calling and costs $200. Now if only Toshiba managed to come up with a version of the software that runs on 802.11 WiFi handhelds like the e800/e805 ... More details in the press release."

Comments

consumer market

[kjba]

It intrigues me that although many people have a high-speed internet connection nowadays, VoIP does not seem to have taken off on that market in any significant way. Any insights on why that is so?

Re:consumer market

[Biogenesis]

Maybe people just dont want to sit at there computers all day long.

Re:consumer market

[milgr]

To get a high speed internet connection at an affordable price, I needed a phone line (I got DSL). I can call anyone in North America without incurring any charges. Why would I want to use VOIP?

If I were to use VOIP, would I need to leave my computer on? I turn it off when not in use to save electricity and cooling (it generates an inordinate amount of heat).

Until people can use VOIP to talk to people who are using POTS, I don't think it will catch on.

So...

[xie]

VOIP technology is being considered by some companies that wish to manage only one network for both voice and data communications in order to cut operating costs.

These companys have to 1st upgrade to systems running XP and they have to be Toshiba brand PC's/laptops and then purchase @ $200 a pop a licence for each peice of software. I could see why they might be waiting to jump on this.

what happens

[way2trivial]

when I use my sprint pcs unlimited data for 10$ a month
for voip- no more voice minutes used.

Re:what happens

[gl4ss]

they won't have that option for quite long then.

unlimited data is just stupid in a device like that(from providers pov).

there was a company that offered unlimited gprs transfers for like ~40$ per month. didn't last(now all providers around here have some service that's like 17e or so per month with ceiling of 100mbyte after which you pay for per mbyte like regularly, which is quite convinient for irc & etc low traffic / high connection time activity from phone), it ended up costing them too much when people really did use it 24/7 like maniacs(well, fuck, that's how they advertised it so can't really blame them).

So what? (and here's what I WANT)

[extra the woos]

I'm not trolling, its an honest question. Why does this matter, the article is very short on details (yes, i read it)... I remember using a mic and speakers and free software that all i had to do was plug in his IP, we connected, and chatted...just as I'm seeing this as, only this includes conference calling and can take advantage of some toshiba hardware...

the article says " It works on both wired and wireless PCs running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP."....

why wouldn't it work on both wired and wireless pcs? am i missing something?

Why would someone buy this instead of some hardware only solution or some "phone" that just uses some free protocols over wireless ethernet?

such features as "conference calling, voice mail retreival" etc...thats not exactly anything new here folks!!!

I a phone with a built in vid cam/little screen, that opens up and is a headset with the screen/cam about a foot in front of my face, uses WIFI and i can wander around the house with, connects to ALL the popular messaging systems (aim msn yahoo etc) and lets them view my webcam automatically (which happens to be mounted on my headset out a foot or so) and automatically displays there webcam on my screen (which is a 1.5 or 2" lcd about a foot in front of my face as well, mounted on the headset), AND if the user i'm talking to is on chat but doesn't have the capability to hear my voice, I want it to do some decent speech recognition, I want my voice to integrate seemlessly into text and get sent to someone's IM client. Dont tell me the technology isn't there yet, a directional microphone can pick up my voice and NOTHING else, and folks, dorm-mates of mine were using dragon dictate to type papers with FIVE YEARS AGO... Tell me that wouldn't be a killer product?

"Toshiba Support" is an oxymoron

[jgaynor]

Now if only Toshiba managed to come up with a version of the software that runs on 802.11 WiFi handhelds like the e800/e805

Toshiba does not provide support for it's customers and even re-negs on advertising promises. Many people will no longer be buying from them - including me, my family and any corporate/educational group that I work for and have purchasing decision power with.

Re:Cheaper to buy a hardware phone!

[ramzak2k]

Just how long before VoiP becomes standardized enough for open source software to be developed ?
Then cost of a software license becomes irrelevant.

Hardware based options are too expensive - think Internation Calls.

My VoIP dream

[swb]

I can't give up my voice line -- I get DSL on it and my wife would never tolerate it.

But what I want is:

A box similar to the Vonage VoIP bridges that you can plug into your IP network and your voice network. It would sit between your POTS phones and the POTS line. Incoming POTS and some VOIP calls would be routed to the phones as usual. But outgoing calls would be routed over VoIP for certain programmable number sequences; either direct dial to other VoIP phones or to other bridges for completion to POTS lines. With the right authentication, incoming VoIP callers would be able to use my POTS line as a gateway to the POTS network.

With one at work and one at home:

1) Mirror my work phone at home
2) Make work calls and make work LD calls using work's LD provider
3) Make personal VOIP calls to home
4) Make personal calls on my home line from the road

With a device at a relative or friend's house, I could theoretically make free LD calls local to their setup and vice versa.

Does something like this exist? It seems fairly trivial, especially if you make analog call routing pretty basic.

Why is this press release/empty marketing on /. ?

[petree]

Two and a half years ago I played with the Cisco version of this product. Just as previous comment spoke about, this is not news, it offers nothing special. In fact, theCisco SoftPhone is not only a standalone IP phone, but it can also be used to control the 7960, 7940 or 7910. Although that was marginally useful, the java app (I can't remember the product name) that let our receptionists use their computers to monitors lines and transfer calls was really cool. Just open up your browser, login and then enter the extension of your phone. Bang instant operator. Once they got into it (3-4 days) they were handling twice the load they were before...it rocked. Softphone was more of a novelty than anything else though. People seem to like the idea, but either a real IP phone (even a barebones one like the 7910) or even the Cisco ATA 186 analog to ip phone adapter is was more useful than a softphone for most people. And if you want to be untethered, check out the Symbol NetVision phone. (Note, it came out two years ago!)

This is all old news. And by the way, no I don't work for cisco, nor do I work at a company that uses IP telephony now.