Skype just released version 4 of their client. They made a lot of improvements, including better video calls and a better layout of the contacts and conversation screens. Remember, it’s a beta version, so don’t go traveling without a backup copy of the previous (non beta) version just in case something doesn’t work right!

Skype 4.0 beta

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GigaOM has a nice comprehensive article about 7 applications that let you make (cheaper) VOIP calls using your mobile phone. They cover the usual suspects like Skype and Fring, but also several I hadn’t heard of yet.

If you are heading abroad this summer, or just like to tinker with your phone and make cheap calls, then you won’t want to miss this article.

Source: GigaOM

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If you make a lot of calls abroad (and I mean A LOT), then this plan may be interesting. $9.95 for unlimited international calls to most of the world.

You’ll need to run the numbers carefully as there may be cheaper alternatives for you. Magicjack for example only charges 2 cents per minute to most of Europe (and no more than 2.5 cents for the other countries Skype lists), that’s a whopping 500 minutes till you reach the $10 Skype want (or 8 hours of international calls).

If you call that much to numbers abroad, then you should get the other party to signup for Skype as well so the calls can be free.

NEW YORK (AP) — Skype, the Internet calling subsidiary of eBay Inc., is introducing its first plan for unlimited calls to overseas phones on Monday.

The plan will allow unlimited calls to land-line phones in 34 countries for $9.95 per month, said Don Albert, vice president and general manager for Skype North America.

The countries encompassed include most of Europe, plus Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

Calls to domestic land lines and cell phones are included as well, as are calls to cell phones in Canada, China, Hong Kong and Singapore, but not cell phones in other countries.

Skype has already been selling unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada for $3 a month. It is expanding that offering with another plan, for $5.95 per month, that gives free calls to Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, and a discount on calls to other places in Mexico.

Source: NY Times (via Flyertalk)

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Hidden away in the Vonage Alpha Labs is the "Vonage Talk" application.

This all-in-one call/IM client is not the same thing as their existing V-phone product, and apparently it works with ANY Vonage account. I tried it myself, and calls go through instantly and clearly.

Audio is supported through any Windows audio device, so you should even be able to use a Bluetooth headset (if correctly paired to your PC).

The application also has support for MSN, Yahoo, AIM and Google Talk instant messaging clients.

I’m extremely impressed with it, it’s released as open source, and it is free of charge for any Vonage customer.

Vonage Talk allows a Vonage customer to enjoy Vonage’s world-class phone service through their PC. Vonage Talk provides an intuitive, easy-to-use interface to meet all your communication needs. Place calls, receive calls, and pick up your voicemail too.

In addition to making calls, Vonage Talk allows you to chat with your friends while logged into all of your IM accounts at once including AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and Google Talk. Best of all, Vonage Talk is included at no extra charge and calls made using this feature enjoy the same great rates as your other Vonage calls.

Every great inventor has their own special way to keep track of great ideas. Here at Vonage, we put our great ideas into practice. You can even help us make them better by letting us know what you think. Step inside and play awhile.
Vonage: creative minds making the voice over network age…timeless. Go ahead… experience Vonage the Alpha way!

UPDATE: someone asked in the comments whether incoming calls are announced.

Yes; all incoming calls show up in your taskbar with a popup, and still ring on your phone or any other device you have it set to ring on (with Simulring).

Imagine being able to turn on your notebook in Japan, login to your Vonage account, and have it ring there at the same time as it rings at home, without having to change any settings in your account! Sure, VOIP has always been possible with Vonage, but it was a paid service and was never as well integrated with your regular adapter as this program.

You can find the Vonage Talk application here.

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Remember Magicjack? I wrote a review about this great VOIP device a few weeks ago. If you were waiting for the right moment to buy one, then this is it.

1saleaday (another woot clone) has the Magicjack on sale for just $29.99, that is $10 off the regular price.

Remember; that purchase price gets you the VOIP adapter AND an entire year free domestic US calls AND a local phone number.

Purchase link: 1saleaday

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I’ve finally found an iPhone application that works, looks good and is extremely handy when on the road. Meet Vonagent.

Vonagent lets you control some of your Vonage features directly on the iPhone.

You can enable (or disable) call forwarding and Simulring. You can change the forwarding number, turn on do not disturb and even download and listen to voicemail directly on the phone.

If you have multiple Vonage numbers you can simply select the correct one in the program.

When you receive a voicemail, a small notifier pops up next to the battery level indicator in the top bar, tap it once and Vonagent opens.

All in all, a brilliant application. It’s great to have direct access to my Vonage account without having to mess around in the browser. Being able to change my forwarding settings in seconds instead of minutes is a great time saver.

To install Vonagent you’ll need a "jailbroken" iPhone. Please read the instructions on their site for the installation instructions.

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Any other readers using VOIP and becoming increasingly annoyed with the taxes? My first invoice back in 2004 had one line of taxes ($0.27).

I’d like to think that Vonage is forced to charge these taxes, but can’t help think most of it is just a "tad frivolous".

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