TMCnet News
Launch: Tellme's Very Creative Voice Services for SkypeTMCnet VoIP Minute Watch Columnist
Tellme Networks Inc. launched seven new consumer voice apps built on Tellme for Skype today. Consumers that call the apps will be using an entirely IP service, with Skype providing IP transport and Tellme providing the VoiceXML browser to reach the app. These new services are live on Tellme's network today and can be found by visiting the Skype Developer Zone online.
The new services were created by independent VoiceXML developers participating in the Skype Voice Services Program and built using Tellme Studio, Tellme's VoiceXML developer resource. The Voice Services Program allows developers to build voice apps using Tellme Studio and then submit them to be published to the Skype community. The first very creative voice applications include SoundSlam, which is based on the concept of slam poetry where anyone can record a piece of music, a poem or any audio recording and the community votes on how good it is; World Time gives the current time for any country; Numerology offers daily, monthly and yearly readings; Ringfo gets you the best prices on products available on Amazon.com; OmniScopes are daily new age well-being messages; NotMyNumber places a call to get you out of situations when you need an excuse to leave; and Body Mass Index, which calculates a caller's body mass index and gives personalized health info based on their input.
"The partnership with Skype gives VoiceXML developers an audience to showcase their services. From a technology standpoint it's a step to fulfilling our vision of completely bridging Internet and telephony by having an IP voice application run on IP transport, creating a completely IP-powered call," said Rick Levenson, SVP of Service Delivery at Tellme.
The apps will be free to callers through March 13, 2006, after which the voice apps will have nominal fees charged to a users' SkypeOut account, which will be shared by the developer, Skype and Tellme.
It it's great to see how many developers are expanding the reach of VoIP services to incredible lengths! Just yesterday, the VoIP Minute Watch reported on how Netopia Inc., a broadband gateways and service-delivery software provider, released the latest version of its Timbuktu Pro software for both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. The new version now enables users to remotely view and interact with individual desktops through any Internet connection. Timbuktu Pro 8.6 also integrates with Skype. Additionally, the new Macintosh version of Timbuktu Pro can now be run on the new Intel-based Macintosh computers.
Timbuktu Pro 8.6 for Windows and Macintosh integrates with Skype, allowing users to connect and remotely control machines while conversing and collaborating with other Timbuktu Pro users, all through a Skype "tunnel." Timbuktu Pro now integrates Skype's API to automatically navigate through routers, firewalls, and NAT devices. Users can now search for, speak to, and collaborate with other Timbuktu Pro users through their Skype contacts. They can even launch a Skype call from within Timbuktu Pro.
Tellme Networks, Inc.
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne Torres' columnist page.
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