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When VoxOx was released last November, it was hard to deny that the communication tools it offered were impressive. Multi-protocol chat, VoIP, some rudimentary e-mail updates, and an SMS-callback feature to initiate international calls for the cost of a local call were all rounded up under one roof. It had a problem, though: stability.

VoxOx 2, available for Windows and Intel Macs running Leopard but no longer for PPC Macs, truly looks like it's fixed the stability issue. Along the way, its publisher TelCentris, has gifted it with a robust Personal Assistant feature, a super-address book that attempts to collate all your contact info under one pane, and fax support--unexpected, but there it is. VoxOx 2 can fax.

VoxOx's Personal Assistant lets you manage multiple phones from one number.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

Perhaps most importantly, VoxOx 2 comes with claims of more stable back-end support. The best features in the world won't matter if the program crashes or the feature dies mid-use. TelCentris improved the server support by becoming a universal Competitive Local Exchange Center, owning its own infrastructure, according to Kevin Kertz, CTO and co-founder of VoxOx.

This bore out, at least with the SMS Callback feature. When you register your cell phone number on VoxOx, you're provided with a phone number to text message. Send a note to that number with the number of the phone you'd like to call in the body of the message and you're soon connected but via local numbers for both parties. After the launch of the first version, this feature experienced frequent failures, but at least for today it worked well.

The Personal Assistant is the strongest new feature, and encompasses a wide range of tools.

Notably, it doesn't offer transcription, as Google Voice does. However, Google likewise lacks many of the features in the VoxOx Personal Assistant. When a person calls the free individual phone number that VoxOx provides for you, VoxOx can be set to turn on your personal assistant. Depending on which options you've selected, you can have the PA try to find you at numbers that you've entered, take voicemails, screen calls, and customize ringback and hold waiting music. You can also personalize responses for individuals or groups in your address book, or add a recording of your name.

VoxOx 2 emphasizes your contact list in the new interface.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

This service worked flawlessly, and the options panel for configuring everything was clear and easy to understand. I was expecting a much more chaotic interface, given how many different moving parts are involved, but that wasn't the case at all. The only catch, of course, is that you must give out the VoxOx number for the Personal Assistant to work.

There's a Web-based option for VoxOx for users who want or need to manage their communications from the cloud, but it's not as slick as the Google Voice interface and logging in was buggy when I tested it.

Other new features include several skinning choices for instant messaging, drastic improvements to the previously horrendous IM logging, support for Twitter, Facebook IM and MySpaceIM along with Google Chat, Jabber, Yahoo, AOL, MSN, ICQ, and Gadu Gadu. Users can update statuses and avatar pictures from within the VoxOx Contacts window, which has been moved to a frontal position as it is in other IM clients. There's a CID Spoofer for when you place a call from VoxOx but don't want your number to appear in the recipient's caller ID, and there's the super-address book.

VoxOx's revamped apps keep users focused on the tools they need.

(Credit: Screenshot by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)

It's a searchable contact list that collates IM, e-mail, and phone contacts under one pane. It's not quite where it needs to be yet, with IM broadly supported but e-mail limited to Yahoo Mail's address book. There's planned expansion for importing address books from Gmail, Mac's Mail.app, Outlook, AOL, and Microsoft's Hotmail, but that hasn't arrived yet.

Future plans include opening an SDK for developers, mobile device synchronization, and an iPhone app.

Users are currently given 100 points for signing up, and can earn an extra 120 points for each user they recommend. Points can also be purchased from within the VoxOx interface at 100 points per dollar. VoxOx has made its all-in-one feature set its key selling point, so hopefully the stability problems that the program has faced in the past will stay there. It could be an incredible boon to users to get all these toys from one provider, and largely for free.

The first 200 CNET readers who sign up for VoxOx 2 will receive 1,200 free VoxPoints, which equals 1,200 free U.S./Canada calling minutes (or free texts). VoxPoints are also redeemable for international calling and texts at various rates. In addition, CNET readers to sign up within the first 48 hours of the VoxOx 2 launch will receive 200 VoxPoints--double the standard amount of free points given to new users upon sign-up. New users must sign up and SMS verify in order to get their free VoxPoints. To take advantage of the special CNET deal, go to http://signup.voxox.com/cnet2vox.

Update: VoxOx has extended the deal from Thursday, April 9, at 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PDT. Also, $5 normally buys 500 VoxOx points, not 250 as previously stated.

Multiprotocol chat client VoxOx is offering a deal to CNET readers until 2:30 p.m. PST on Thursday, April 9. If you buy $5 worth of VoxPoints, instead of the usual 500 points, CNET readers will get 1,500 points. This is triple the number of points VoxOx is offering readers who sign on through VoxOx's own site. Each point converts to 1 minute's worth of talk time. New users will still receive the additional 120 free points, and can earn another additional 120 free points for referring a friend.

I reviewed the cross-platform VoxOx back in November, and it's been slowly improving on its potential to compete with better-known VoIP and multiprotocol chat clients. The most unique feature that it offers is CallBack, which users can initiate either from their computer or an SMS message to make international calls for the cost of a local one.

The program still struggles with stability and sluggish start-up times, and that makes it a hard sell. Still, if you need to talk internationally from your local cell phone, VoxOx offers an inexpensive solution. To take advantage of the promotion, enter "cnet1000" without the quotes when you download and install the program.

(Credit: Jajah)

Internet phone company Jajah can turn the iPod Touch into an iPhone. (Download from CNET Download.com.)

The company, which competes with other low-cost Internet calling applications such as Skype, announced Thursday a new application that will allow Touch users to call and text messages using a voice over IP network instead of a carrier's cellular network.

All that is needed to start making calls is the Jajah application, the latest version of the iPod Touch, a microphone headset, and a Wi-Fi connection. While the Jajah service can reduce calling costs up to 98 percent, the fact that it must be connected via a Wi-Fi network limits where it can be used. For this reason, it's unlikely that the Jajah-enabled Touch would really steal business away from the iPhone, which is a full-fledged mobile phone that operates over a traditional cellular network.

Jajah plans to sell the application as a "white label" service. This means that it will license the application to wireless operators and non-wireless operators who offer it under their own brand instead of a standalone Jajah application. It's unlikely the service will be offered for free. Instead, service providers might offer the application for $10 a month.

The application could be very useful for iPhone users too, especially those wanting to make low-cost international calls from their iPhones. But it's not clear yet whether Apple would allow the application on its App Store, since it essentially bypasses the carrier network. Skype, which also provides free and cheap Internet calling, is not available on the App Store. That said, iPhone users can access Skype functions and users through other applications such as Fring and Truphone.

(Credit: Fring)

Windows Mobile may be an ugly stepchild of mobile platforms, but among more ambitious publishers, it hasn't been forgotten.

Months after adding file transferring abilities to its Symbian version, Fring, a free VoIP communication company, is conferring this and other features to an updated versions of Fring for Windows Mobile.

In addition to sending images, audio, and video files to friends on Skype, SIP, Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, and ICQ, the latest version of Fring for Windows Mobile also packs on support for add-ons, an indicator message as contacts type out an IM response, and long-overdue privacy settings.

The interface is also freshened, and owners of recent HTC phones like the Touch Diamond will get to speak to pals on VoIP from their earpieces, particularly useful when driving.

Windows Mobile users are going to like the sudden attention, but those who have switched to BlackBerry are going to wonder where the love is.

What if Digsby and Skype merged into one seemingly all-powerful VoIP and messaging communications tool? It's a question which, according to San Diego-based telephone company TelCentris, can be answered by VoxOx.

VoxOx, currently for Windows and Intel-based Macs with plans for Linux and PowerPC Mac versions to be released within six months, incorporates features that have not yet been seen all rolled into one package. It's got multi-protocol chat abilities, bolstered by messaging support on the most popular social-networking sites and support for short Web mail reading and writing. It offers a telephony service that includes call encryption; mobile-to-mobile calls initiated by either SMS or via a Web site; a free personal-assistant-style call-forwarding service; and a system for earning minutes by watching ads or responding to surveys.

The main interface of VoxOx intentionally mimics the iPhone.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Entering public beta Monday, VoxOx is able to do all this because the software is being developed by a telephone company, says TelCentris' CFO Michael Faught. "Part of allowing users to take control of their interconnected lifestyle is to allow them to click a button and fire out an e-mail."

One of VoxOx's aims, he said, is to make it as simple as sending an e-mail to initiate any kind of communication. When people are forced to use so many different programs to complete similar tasks, "it has become unmanageable."

Part of that simplification process includes making VoxOx's API open source, said TelCentris' CEO Bryan Hertz. They hope to create a similar open-source community that can build out features for VoxOx that they might not have the time for or even consider. This is a playbook page that Skype also uses to great effect: Skype has several hundred "extras" that most likely have not hurt user interest.

TelCentris' interest in expanding what it can do also comes from its current customer base. Hertz notes that the company provides services to more than a dozen phone companies, and provides hosted phone services to dozens of small to medium businesses globally, with customers ranging from the Philippines to Brazil.

In addition to the features listed above, VoxOx offers 120 free minutes of call time to all registrants at the U.S. rate; a free U.S.-based phone number; international calling; pay-by-minute upgrade plans; voicemail; customizable hold music; video conferencing with VoxOx contacts; two-way text messaging; and tabbed instant messaging for MSN, ICQ, AOL, Jabber, Yahoo, and Google.

To ramp up interest, VoxOx offers all users an additional 120 free calling minutes to every person they recommend who signs up. Users can also watch short advertisements or fill out surveys to earn additional minutes. They've got a sweet deal going for CNET readers, too:

VoxOx's keypad allows for on-the-fly VoIP.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

"The first 500 users to sign up for VoxOx through CNET will receive 1,200 minutes of free calling to U.S. and Canada phone numbers. The 1,200 minutes equal 1,200 'Vox Points.' These Vox Points are also redeemable for international calls at varied rates. Vox Points do not expire, and in coming months, Vox Points will also be redeemable for free gadgets, such as a Bluetooth headset and ATA box."

Click here to take advantage of this offer.

Users can currently share files up to 100MB via a generated download link that they can then share via e-mail or instant message. Mobile access is available from a mobile browser, iPhone, and WAP, with a planned native iPhone app.

Other planned features for the near future include an ATA upgrade for physical home phones, a personal assistant, fax support, the ability to route inbound text to VoxOx or your cell phone, video conferencing with non-VoxOx contacts, untabbed IM, group chat IM, Away message defaults to Social Status, Facebook IM support, and additional IM protocols. VoxOx hopes to incorporate support for LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube on the social-networking side, and Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook, and Mac contact importing.

When you install VoxOx, it's hard not to note that the main Home interface looks like an iPhone. That was intentional, Hertz says. "The interface is skinnable, but the default looks like that for continuity with smartphones," Hertz said.

From there, square icons with rounded corners and highlighted by bright colors take you to 15 program features: contacts, a keypad for on-the-fly dialing, your calling and chat history, account settings, a setup Wizard, Call-Back, Reach-Me, Vmail/Fax, Hold Music, Vox Points, Updates, Invites, Web Portal, Mobile, and the Help button, which jumps to the Web forums, the FAQ, user guides, and videos. Paying users get voice and e-mail support, too.

Call-Back lets users initiate landline and mobile calls from either their computers or via SMS.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The Call-Back feature is what sets VoxOx apart from other VoIP services. Call-Back has two tabs in it, one for Web-initiated callback and one for starting the callback with an SMS. Under the Web callback, you set the country, country code, and area code and phone number for the number that you want to be reached at, and then enter in the settings for the person you're trying to call.

Hit Initiate Callback at the bottom of the pane. VoxOx will call you from a local number. Pick up and you'll hear ringing through the earpiece as if you've dialed a number. That's VoxOx calling the person at the second number you entered from a number that's local to them. When they pick up, you'll be able to talk as if you've made a long-distance call but without the long-distance charges. The process is simpler than it sounds, and in three tests the call quality for both me and the person I was speaking to was fine. There were no instances of tinniness or echoing.

Initiating the SMS Callback is, in some respects, even easier. Once you set your cell phone number in the interface, you send a text message from your phone to the number 1-323-649-9139. In the body of the message, you must type in 011 followed by the country code, the area code, and the phone number without any hyphens.

The default chat interface.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Shortly after, you should receive a phone call from the permanent VoxOx number that you've been assigned at the top of the main VoxOx interface. Answer it, wait a few seconds, and you'll hear ringing. If you're lucky, the person you're trying to reach won't be freaked out by the unfamiliar local number that's calling them and they'll pick up. I tested this with friends in Sweden and Australia, and again encountered no tinniness, no echo, and no delays.

Unfortunately, I did encounter one angry wife who did not think highly of me waking her up in the middle of the night. My attempts to blame misremembering the time change from Boston to Melbourne on VoxOx were strangely met with extreme derision.

A Home button at the top of the pane makes it easy to jump back to the main interface. The next feature, Reach-Me, lets users configure multiple call-forwarding numbers, as well as set the number of seconds one of them can ring before jumping to the next number. You can also set the number of seconds the dialed number will ring before Reach-Me kicks in, and whether your multiple call-forwarding numbers will be attempted simultaneously or in order.

The Contacts interface.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Given how much it can do, I expected VoxOx to be a massive piece of bloatware. Surprisingly, the installation process took around one minute, and at launch it was using around 90MB of RAM. This jumped up to around 380MB while running eight simultaneous chats and a telephony session--a bit high, but not outrageously so. The computer I tested it on had 2GB of RAM, and was running a fully loaded Firefox, an RSS client, and a jukebox, so I wasn't expecting great performance. However, VoxOx smoothly jumped from pane to pane and there was no sluggishness in its response time.

As you can tell from the list of planned features above, VoxOx is still very much in beta. Many of the features that will make it stand above its competitors haven't been fully rolled out yet, so it's a little hard to judge on its merits as it is. Because it encourages such heavy cross-pollination between cell phones and computers, it'd be great if there was a way to import cell phone contacts. You also cannot, as of yet, begin an SMS Call-Back and have it forwarded via Reach-Me to a different phone.

Even with those drawbacks, VoxOx looks to force changes in the telephony and instant-messaging market that favor users more than they do now--as long as we can all remember what time zone we're calling.

Cross-platform and instantly familiar-looking, Gizmo5--also known as the Gizmo Project--is trying to make in-roads against the domination of other VoIP and telephony programs.

Gizmo5 supports multiclient IM chatting, as well as standard VoIP.

(Credit: Gizmo5)

Gizmo5's interface is compact and rectangular, with tabs on the top just below the Menu bar and a series of ancillary commands like Chat and Add Contact available at the bottom. There are very few differences between Gizmo's design and its biggest competitor's. A little originality could've gone a long way here.

Also similar to Skype, Gizmo provides free VoIP for computer-to-computer voice chatting as well as text chatting. It also allows for computer-to-telephone voice chatting for both mobile phones and landlines. It has one feature that Skype lacks: it lets you conference call with multiple PCs by entering in a random, shared number. Overall, the sound clarity and quality was excellent, with no lagging nor echoing. Gizmo also says it provides asymmetrical chat-client VoIP, so you can use Gizmo and your headset to talk to somebody on Windows Live or Google Talk. I couldn't get that feature to work, but it's a smart idea and hope it gets debugged soon.

Overall, Gizmo's got some good stuff and some room for improvement. If you despise Skype or are just interested in alternatives, you might want to give this one a try.

Skype for Windows and Mac is well-regarded for offering stable, free VoIP to other Skype users and affordable computer-to-phone calls, to both landlines and cell phones. Call quality still varies depending on your Internet connection and what else you're doing with it while using Skype, although the latest version indicates some progress in ameliorating that through audio engine tweaks.

Since the introduction of free long distance to U.S. cell phones, Skype may have dropped a bit in popularity for domestic calls. For international purposes, though, it's still the standard and extremely popular. Newer features include conference calling with as many as nine people, video calls, the ability to hide incoming call avatars, and a browser plug-in that turns phone numbers into embedded Skype hyperlinks. There are also Skypecasts, throwbacks to the party-line multiperson telephone conversations from the mid-20th century. Whether you're dialing up friends, family, or talking with clients across the globe, it's time to stop calling them and start Skyping them.

Skype 3.8 for Windows gives users the option of hiding avatars on incoming chat requests.

(Credit: Skype)

Skype for Windows upgrades a bunch of back-end and minor features aimed at improving user experience, most notably tweaks that should improve call quality.

For users who regularly suffer from excessive background noise or dropped calls, the changes to the audio engine should cut down on those problems. Vista users who suffered from their screensavers turning on during video calls should suffer no more.

Also, incoming requests will no longer display profile images, a boon to those who mix their Skyping with their office hours and don't want that NSFW image of their hottie's avatar popping up. Other notable improvements include updates for the Firefox and Internet Explorer plug-ins, better native configuration for firewall and router settings, and a fix for the bug that was causing Skype to crash during file transfers.

An upgrade for the Mac version of Skype is due soon.

This morning I've been playing with the prerelease version of Fring's talk software for the iPhone. It enables users to place VoIP calls in place of their plan minutes, giving people a cheap international calling alternative to their carrier's expensive per-minute charges. The one caveat (besides the need for a "jailbroken" handset) is that it requires the thick river of data only available over Wi-Fi, which means you won't be able to make or receive VoIP calls without being in range of a hotspot.

Besides VoIP, the app excels in instant messaging. You can live text chat with buddies on MSN Live Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo, as well as post and read messages to and from Twitter. Fring also lets you do voice chat with MSN, Google Talk, and ICQ.

To instigate a call, you simply have to hit a large green call button after hitting a buddy's name on the Fring contact list (see photo below). There's no minute counter, hold button, or anything else you might be used to with a regular phone--it's just a quick and dirty call that with a good connection sounds downright decent.

If a buddy is on one of the chat networks that includes voice chat, you can skip the finger strokes and use your voice instead.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The one service I ran into problems with was Skype. The app lets you plug in your Skype credentials and hook up your phone to your account--a move that enables the use of SkypeOut minutes to make calls to landlines. Some of my Skype contacts would show up, but not all of them, even when they appeared online in the desktop application. I also was unable to place an outgoing call to a landline using SkypeOut, despite being able to call up someone on my Skype buddy list using the free Skype-to-Skype connection.

What makes Fring particularly unique is that will run in the background, so you can hit the home button and do something else while the IM and telephony continues to send and receive data. It's something that won't be possible from the apps found in Apple's directory later this year since Apple is not letting third-party applications run as a background process--a stipulation of the iPhone Human Interface Guidelines that were released with the first version of the SDK.

Whether or not this application will be included in Apple's hand-picked directory later this year is doubtful. Giving paying AT&T customers an easy way to save some money that comes out of the pocket of the telecom giant is probably not in Apple's best interest, which is why I think the company released this as a direct download instead of trying to go official channels.

[via TechCrunch]