Mobile to VoIP bridge

Finally a flexible and affordable mobile to VoIP (Skype and SIP) bridge service was launched at the beginning of this year. As opposed to other similar services, this is the first one focused on simplicity and customization.

Although it is marketed as a mobile to VoIP bridge service, you can use it with almost any classical phone. All you have to do is dial a local access number (or a toll-free number), and after the system recognize your CallerId, type your abroad number.

The interesting part is that you choose the rates by registering your preferred VoIP providers with this service. All your calls will be routed through one of your registered providers according to a dial plan you define.

This is the registration page for you providers. For maximum convenience, you can register more than one account with the same provider. Note that the service doesn’t actually register with SIP proxies because most people have also ATAs at home that use the same service.



The following screen is the one where you define you dialing plan. You basically need to specify just a prefix for each account that you want to use. While on the road, call a local PSTN access number, then your destination number beginning with the prefix for the appropriate account.



For even a simpler way to call abroad family and friends, the service offer the ability to define personal local numbers for those contacts. Just add these numbers to your phone’s address book and you are ready to call. For the other contacts (that you don’t call that often) just dial a generic local PSTN access number.



At this moment the service offers local PSTN access numbers in 40 countries including United States (numbers in 48 states), most western and eastern European countries, Israel and a few others from Asia and Africa.

While in beta the service will be FREE for all users. After that, the service owner announced that will introduce several plans: a free one targeting individuals (ad-supported) and some commercial plans targeting mobile corporate users. The free accounts will not have the possibility to define personal local access numbers. The users of free accounts will have to dial a generic local PSTN access number or the toll free number.

For more information about this service please drop me a comment.

VMA IVVR (Interactive Voice and Video Response) for Skype

VMA-IVVR it’s an Interactive Voice and Video Response project that I start developing recently. VMA-IVVR is a server product targeting Skype and SIP networks. Basically a provider that implements VMA-IVVR will appear on Skype (or other SIP networks) like a regular contact that any user from inside the network will be able to call it for free. Instead of a person to answer the Skype call, VMA-IVVR will pick up automatically prompting the user with a video menu.

Target networks

- Skype
- SIP Networks

Who will benefit from VMA-IVVR?

Any company that wants to expand their legacy audio only IVR system with video content. Imagine giving a free call to Acme. Corporation using Skype and automatically be prompted by a video menu where in an high-quality video a person will welcome you and invite you to touch a key from 0 – to – 9 to choose one menu option. The person in the video may announce the options with voice and in the same time those options being displayed as an overlay image. By using the touchtone keys of Skype the consumer will be able to browse through all menus provided by Acme Corp. finding the information he needs.

Discount sellers. Sellers will greatly benefit from VMA-IVVR to increase sells and display their products on a new channel more interactive than TV and easier to use than Internet. Using videophone (Skype of SIP based) keys the consumer will browse the entire collection of products of a seller that will take advantage of VMA-IVVR technology.

Multimedia content distributors. Imagine seeing an advertisement on Internet saying something like that: “Call freevideo@acmecorp.com from your Skype application or 232-FREE-VIDEO from your Packet8 network to access thousands of free movies.”. Multimedia content distributors will benefit from the high quality multimedia channel provided by today Skype or SIP networks to offer audio and video content to consumers in an interactive way.

Application service providers. Imagine consulting your bank account in a video way from your Skype applications. You’ll be able to view balances, do transactions and more from your videophone keyboard.

With the expansion of Skype and SIP beyond PC borders the VMA-IVVR application will become more and more valuable. An entire category of people not familiar with computers or Internet will be able to access any VMA-IVVR powered system using an easy to use hardware videophone. Hardware videophones are available currently for SIP protocols and are expected to appear also for Skype network. VoIP networks have currently millions of users who will be able to call for free and VMA-IVVR based provider.


Important: VMA is open to accept any contribution or collaboration for VMA-IVVR system. If required an open-source project will be made available to encourage developers to participate in this product. Just leave a comment or write an email if you are interested in this project.