Call Worldwide using Google Talk (Gtalk)

Posted on February 6, 2008 
Filed Under Announcement, Launch, click-to-call, milestone | 13 Comments

TringMe now allows making calls from Google Talk (Gtalk). As you know, natively, Gtalk doesn’t support making phone calls. This is yet another feature which underlines TringMe’s core philosophy of not requiring any software installation for purposes of using TringMe. If you already have Gtalk installed, then with this capability, making a worldwide call to any phone or SIP URI from Gtalk is as simple as sending a message using Gtalk. Calls made from Gtalk can be terminated on all devices that TringMe currently supports.

TringMe continues to innovate in providing connectivity between heterogeneous end-points based on calle and caller’s convenience including IMs, Web, Landline and Mobile Phones.

Although this feature is currently under test and is scheduled to be commercially released by February end, it’s available for you to try it. Please note that you will need to sign up at TringMe with a gmail ID so that we can associate a TringMe account when you make a call from Gtalk (signup with TringMe using same email id as Gtalk). As you may already know, worldwide calling rates offered by TringMe are very competitive and almost half than Skype or other VoIP providers.

To make a call, all you need to do is send a message to tringme@gmail.com from Gtalk. Please note that you would have added tringme to the list of friends in Gtalk already.

In all cases, you will get an inbound call from TringMe and once you answer, the call to the intended party will be initiated. This also opens a new way for developers to integrate core TringMe functionalities using Google or Jabber APIs.

TringMe also demonstrated MobileVoIP at an even in India last month – some details are here 

Enjoy the new way of making calls. Let us know how you liked this new service. We look forward to your suggestions and feedback.

13 Comments

TringMe at HeadStart 2008

Posted on January 22, 2008 
Filed Under Announcement, Demo | 11 Comments

HeadStart held in Bangalore, India was one event which we were anxiously awaiting since TringMe was one of the five companies that was selected to demo at HeadStart’s Mobility and Communication segment.

Even though, TringMe’s platform has been in use since the launch of TringMe, it was only a day before HeadStart that we had formally announced the availability of the platform christened “TringSwitch” to the world. Although we were confident about our ability to demonstrate TringSwitch with multiple termination options, it was imperative that the live demo go as well as we planned it to be.

We started the demo and in the allocated time, demonstrated several combinations of phone calls - Web-to-IM (Gtalk), Web-to-Mobile, Mobile-to-Mobile over Mobile VoIP, Mobile-to-IM(Gtalk) over Mobile VoIP as well. Due to the time limitation, we have to conclude speech recognition demo half way after showing the initial screen.

In fact to make it more interesting and interactive, for our Web-to-Mobile we called one of the audience member and a panel member. After the demo, several attendees and media came by and congratulated us on the demo-gone-well. A lot of them were very excited to see the Mobile to Gtalk connection since the other way (IM to phone) isn’t a new idea. Audience was quite excited and encouraged us all through by applauding at successful demonstrations. At the expense of being bold, we believe that the demo went quite well.

We would sincerely like to thank HeadStart for giving us a platform and all the organizers - Prof. Suresh(IIM), Kesava, Aditya, Manasi, Puneeth, Kalol & others - who helped us in every which way. It was a well-planned and well-executed event and we are glad to be having been a part of it.

11 Comments

Are you paying double for your phone calls?

Posted on December 3, 2007 
Filed Under Disclosure, click-to-call | 27 Comments

Some of you might have used a web based click-to-call service - essentially a callback service which calls you back and then connects you to calle?

Have you noticed that you are really being charged for two calls to use such a services. Let me walk you through a call’s sequence for such a service

On top of the two calls charge, if the origination or termination points are mobile devices, you and the other party pay for cellular airtime as well (if applicable).

With TringMe, there will only one leg of call in a call connection - the leg between TringMe and the calle - if the calle uses a phone. If calle is using Gtalk or similar service, then the call is completely free of charge. In any case, caller connects to the service using IP connectivity. TringMe doesn’t force you to use a PC only but you can use it from your mobile device using Mobile VOIP.

With our recently launched TringPhone, one can make web-based worldwide calls using any VoIP provider. This service is built on TringMe platform and utilizes the same benefits.

With atmost a single call charge, the convenience of using TringMe from mobile device with the freedom of using it from where you want makes it a strong offering.

27 Comments

TringMe Introduces Flash Enabled Web-Based SIP Phone - TringPhone

Posted on December 3, 2007 
Filed Under Announcement, Launch | 24 Comments

TringMe announces first completely user configurable and ligh-weighted flash-based SIP phone branded as TringPhone. The service is the first of it’s kind and it separates it from any other services claiming to be web-based SIP phone service for the following reasons :

  1. TringMe’s offering can work with any SIP/VOIP provider by merely providing the standard SIP parameters.
  2. TringMe’s offering requires absolutely no client side software installation and has a very familiar dial pad look-and-feel.

The core value proposition of this offering is the convenience of using web-based telephony with the freedom to use any VOIP/SIP provider. We strongly believe that this will open up new ways for people to stay connected from any part of the world in a cost-efficient manner.

TringPhone opens up the possibility of using any PC with a flash-capable browser as a VOIP client for making worldwide calls. In essence , it gives the user a choice of using the best VOIP provider (based on cost, service etc) without being forced to use a desktop or proprietary client side software. TringPhone also isolates users from seemingly advanced SIP client settings (e.g. NAT traversal (STUN), Firewall) which a user maybe required to set when using a desktop SIP client. Switching between VOIP providers is as simple as changing the configuration all from within a browser.

We believe that this may create new dynamics and can fuel intense competition amongst VoIP providers to eventually benefit users. To test waters, we have been talking to few VoIP providers about their interest and they have shown interest in getting into click-to-call or web-based telephony market. However, either technological barriers or cost has constraint them so far. As it is evident, there are tons of VoIP providers, only few are able to offer web-based telephony (tringme) and web-activated-telephony (Jajah, Jaxtr etc.). With TringMe’s technology open and available to all providers, the technological barrier is surpassed and hence should enable any VoIP provider or reseller to offer web based telephony services with competing prices. Users should be able to choose cheapest or most convenient provider and get a complete web-based VoIP offering.

TringPhone also provides pre-configurable option which will enable VOIP providers to offer fully pre-configured SIP phone widget (i.e. configured to the VOIP provider’s parameters) on their website. Although SIP has been around for a while to be used as a basis for Internet telephony, using it requires users to download the right SIP phone client, configure the VOIP provider settings correctly and troubleshoot issues on the client end which may be tricky in some instances, especially to a non-tech savvy user. With TringMe’s solution, VOIP providers can provide a completely pre-configured and ready to use SIP phone widget right-away to its users eliminating any configuration needs from the user.

TringMe demonstrated this capability to a few VOIP providers and they were very excited about this offering and the impact it can make on their business. Given the convenience offered to the user, VOIP providers are excited as this may have an overall increase in the usage of VOIP minutes much like the cellular world wherein the availability (& not necessarily the need) of a cellular device increased the voice mins ARPU.

If you are an enterprise or a VOIP provider and are interested in the above solution, leave us a comment or contact us at bizdev@tringme.com

24 Comments

TringMe Mobile: Embrace Mobile VoIP

Posted on November 14, 2007 
Filed Under Announcement | 136 Comments

Update:  TringMe MobileVoIP Application is now available at http://blog.tringme.com/tringme-announces-the-availability-of-mobilevoip-application/

We are extremely excited to share that one of the most asked features on TringMe, the ability to use it from a mobile device, is now available. To be precise, TringMe now allows one to receive calls and voicemails using the underlying cellular internet/data connection (e.g. GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, EVDO or even Wi-Fi) for FREE. For most of the phones which have a built-in SIP stack (e.g. most of the recent smartphones), absolutely no download is necessary. One can merely use the internet browser to use TringMe right away.

TringMe’s mobile VoIP doesn’t require any hardware upgrade, works on mobile devices of from operators and best of all, doesn’t eat into your airtime charges.

Please note that one can make worldwide calls at an extremely low price once we have the credit management system in place. With this capability, TringMe users can make free phone-to-phone calls to other TringMe users.

To top it all, not only can you receive calls from the web but also from phone and Gtalk as well. The ability for someone to reach me on my mobile from several communication devices like Gtalk and Phone throughout the world and in a cost-optimized way makes it a compelling solution - this is what true and cost efficient mobility should perhaps be.

Even though we are in early stages of development, we couldn’t resist ourselves from opening this feature to a limited alpha testers. Initially, we plan to activate it only for users from those countries where we do not support phone termination yet. However, we will also enable for key testers and other VoIP enthusiasts.

If you would like to try this functionality, please send us a mail to get your invite for TringMe’s Mobile VoIP.

136 Comments

TringMe’s Personal Toll-free and Intelligent Call Routing Solution

Posted on November 7, 2007 
Filed Under Announcement, Launch | 8 Comments

[ “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” – Western Union, internal memo, 1876
“I think it’s going to be a huge interconnection of all of these system, including, over time, some derivative of cable TV and some derivative of the current public telephone system.” - Marc Andreessen – in recent years ]

Our world is growing connected by the day and the need for people to stay connected with each other is only increasing. Gone are the days when a whole family shared a phone. Now, each of us has multiple phone numbers, instant messenger IDs and other forms of connectivity options.  While that gave us flexibility in terms of more connection points, it also increased the complexity in the overall system wherein someone interested in reaching me might need to know all these connection points (notice a typical email signature with all kinds of phone numbers listed there). To make it more complicated, my availability on all my connection points could be time-varying and place-varying (for e.g. I am available on my office-phone from 9:00AM-6:00PM).  When home, I may prefer to be reached on the landline instead of cell-phone to save my cell-phone airtime. If I am working on my PC, I would prefer to be reached on Gtalk instead of phone since it’s convenient for me to converse from my PC while I continue to work.

It would be ideal if the caller can be spared from knowing the complexity of calle’s reachability matrix of connection-points. In other words, if the caller could call only one connection point and the call can be intelligently routed to a the calle’s best availability device, it eases the burden of establishing a connection from the calle to the caller’s end – that exactly is TringMe’s ‘Intelligent Call Routing’. Now imagine if the caller can use a toll-free mechanism to reach to the caller on any of the above-mentioned connection-points, regardless of either’s geographic location.

This is where TringMe can help. TringMe already offers enterprise toll-free solution at much lower cost and many additional features not found in traditional telephony or toll-free solutions. Although toll-free service is generally associated with enterprises, TringMe’s toll-free solution can be applied very well to implement personal toll-free solution for an individual or a family’s need.

A few of my friends who live in US often buy skype credits for family members back home so that the family members can reach them. In one case, the family members are spread in various cities of India (Parents in Bombay, Sister studying in Delhi and some close cousin in another part of the country). My friend ends up buying separate skype credits for parents, sister and the close cousin. He was instantly able to see value in TringMe’s toll-free offering. All his family members can use TringMe to call him using single widget and he can mange the credit on single account rather than maintaining multiple. On top of that, he can use credits for other TringMe features as well  and control dynamically where he or she can be reached. Sounds Interesting?

TringMes’ toll-free solution is flexible enough to be applied to other scenarios as well:

These are just a few of the scenarios, but the possibilities are endless. Let the creativity flow and tell us how you (would like to) use TringMe. Do let us know what’s missing to make your scenario work ..

8 Comments

OpenSocial Application Update - Orkut, Ning, MySpace and more …

Posted on November 5, 2007 
Filed Under OpenSocial | 2 Comments

Two minor updates based on feedback we received on our OpenSocial Orkut Application.

As usual, we look forward to your feedback.

2 Comments

TringMe Rolls Out OpenSocial Application for Orkut

Posted on November 3, 2007 
Filed Under Announcement | Leave a Comment

TringMe Rolls out Orkut application using today announced Google OpenSocial API (here, here & here). TringMe’s orkut application will allows you to add TringMe to your orkut profile in just two simple steps.

Read more

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TringMe announces public beta of its Live Phone Widget

Posted on October 31, 2007 
Filed Under Announcement, Launch | 1 Comment

TringMe announces public beta of its live phone widget. TringMe phone widget allows you to receive calls from your website or profile visitors - directly from the web. So far, TringMe has released voicemail widget for public beta and restricted phone widget to key testers only.

To use TringMe phone or voicemail widget, just login to your TringMe account, copy TringMe widget code and paste it to your website. Do not forget to set appropriate call forwarding option in your profile (option - ‘Send my voicemails and calls to’) There is no restriction on the available talk time for receiving calls on phone and it is only limited by the phone credits in your account. In case you choose to receive calls on Gtalk, the available talk time is limited to 3 minutes per call.

As always, we look forward to feedback and suggestions.

1 Comment

TringMe launches Toll-free Platform for Enterprises

Posted on October 24, 2007 
Filed Under Announcement, Enterprise, milestone | 9 Comments

TringMe announces availability of web-based toll-free platform for Enterprises. Key advantages of TringMe’s toll-free platform over the existing traditional (e.g. 1-800 numbers in USA) toll-free solutions are to allow enterprises to deploy toll-free services at extremely low cost and also offer worldwide reachability.

As we had mentioned in the last post, we are almost ready to release public beta of live phone widget, one of the most asked features of TringMe. In brief, live phone widget enables a user to make a phone call by merely clicking on the widget. We have been giving it to a limited set of testers so far and we are quite happy with the results.

Enterprises and call centers have shown keen interest in TringMe’s technology, especially to compliment their existing toll-free (e.g. like 1-800 numbers in USA) services by using TringMe widgets. TringMe is the easiest way to stay connected on the web, no numbers to dial – just push and talk. Leveraging this capability to implement a single click to connect to customer support can enhance the usability and value of an enterprise in the eyes of its customers. Enterprises can not only improve overall interaction with customers by providing web based toll-free access, but at the same time save drastically on telephone cost to offer such a service, a win-win situation for both the parties. In addition, unlike normal toll-free service that is limited within a geographic region, toll-free calls using TringMe can be received from worldwide users.

Advantages are obvious and easy to visualize – enterprises can setup their complete sales & support system or call center in almost no cost that replaces or complements existing toll-free service. Enterprises can also expect better response as customers do not have to dial any number neither do they have to spend on airtime if they are using cell phone (1-800 numbers are subjected to airtime charges). Imagine a customer, reading your sales pitch on your website, can merely by a press of a button talk to you at absolutely no cost, neither to you nor to customer. Enterprises can introduce custom announcements or integrate IVR with TringMe to offer a consistent and complete experience.

TringMe’s toll free platform can route calls to the existing enterprise infrastructure – SIP server, PBX that manages the enterprise wide telephony. Here are a few ways an enterprise can use TringMe to provide web-based toll-free accessibility:

TringMe route calls to enterprise SIP sever. A key benefit for the enterprise would be to offer free web based call at absolutely no cost thereby eliminating major telephony (and possibly infrastructure) costs.

If the enterprise does not have its own SIP server, TringMe offers a hosted solution. TringMe will offer dedicated or shared server for enterprise use depending on the individual requirements, thereby offering a competitive price.

Alternatively, TringMe can route the web calls to enterprise’s chosen destinations including PBX, landlines, cell phones or even Gtalk, Skype (Skype support is coming soon).

TringMe offers all necessary features for enterprise level call management, including call hunting, call queuing, resource loading, alternate call routing, etc. TringMe solution enables enterprises to create as many real and virtual extensions as required. To provide a consistent user experience, most of the features available via 1-800 toll-free lines (e.g. music on hold) are available via TringMe as well.

As always, we look forward to feedback and suggestions. Please write to us bizdev@tringme.com if you are interested in using TringMe for your enterprise.

9 Comments

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