SkyQube Squared Shakes Up International Calling

Max Matakino writes "CNet.co.uk has stumbled across a very interesting box indeed out at CeBIT: 'The SkyQube Squared from Qool Labs is a VoIP gateway that enables you to forward calls and messages made to your mobile phone or landline via SkypeOut to another number anywhere in the world.' This means that if you receive a call to your house phone while you're in China, you can get it forwarded to a Chinese cell phone or telephone for the relatively very cheap price of a SkypeOut call. I'm guessing wireless carriers aren't going to be happy about this one."

Comments

Asterisk, Cheap Calls

[jeff_schiller]

You should also check out http://www.latenightpc.com/blog/archives/category/ asterisk/ for a couple of tips on how to set up an Asterisk box with VOIP gateway...

Re:Asterisk, Cheap Calls

[antarctican]

Yup, that is definitely an option and the one I use. In a slightly modified way.

I can voip in to my home machine from anywhere then bounce the call out my home phone line which I have a very good long distance package on (cable company provided voip actually...). This effectively lets me access the local telephone network plus make long distance calls from anywhere I have an internet connection.

Technology is wonderful.

Definitely cool

[ByteMePlenty]

I have a colleague in Chennai who picked up each and every call from his girlfriend to his Chennai mobile - "when he was in San Jose, CA". The bill was $8000/-. The company paid the bill but wtf If he didnt know about international roaming charges, I bet he wouldnt have heard about this beauty either. ByteMePlenty

On the contrary...

[SpectreBlofeld]

"I'm guessing wireless carriers aren't going to be happy about this one."

It really won't make a difference. When you forward a call from a mobile you're still using your airtime so your provider gets what they want. Overseas roaming charges originate from the expensive roaming agreements with the overseas provider, not from your carrier. It's the provider in Thailand or where ever whose network you're using that charges your carrier for the usage.

Cool product, btw.

Poor Slashvertisement title

[OlivierB]

If you're going to do a slashvedrtisement, especially one as obvious as this (nothing really new and exciting, has been done a million times by people with a PBX or any normal phone who can fwd their calls to their skypeIn number who in turm forwards to your PAYG throwawy SIM card.).

The right title should have been "SkyQube Squared shakes Up International Roaming charges".

This article was especially poor in substance and novelty.

And don't expect to see this thing explode the sales chart. It'll most probabl be +200 dollars given that it has GSM radio.
Geeks only. 2000 units shipped tops. 800 will be sold and we'll all call it a day.

I want my Trixbox + Nokia N95

[SpzToid]

Sorry folks, but for my time and money, I want total client/server control. So I'll go to Nerd Vittles and download myself a Trixbox (in a CentOS VMware image). It'll do it all, and the docs there are great, including how to migrate to real hardware should you want.

For SIP (etc.) clients, I'll take a Nokia N95 please, which is a fancier version than the nearly 1.5 year old Nokia N80i, but with better specs.: DVD video plus GPS/maps. (Otherwise, the N80i, for about 375 euros) will connect you via 802.11 to your Trixbox, plus offers a 3.2 MP camera, good video, and syncs to Lotus Notes or Outlook (but using Windows software, I have yet try; the N95 is yet-to-be released). For client-side software, go to Project Gizmoand get your SIP client for your little phone.

Notes these phones will not be bundled with any carrier plans.

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You can't be ahead of the curve if you're stuck in a loop.