Here come the Flash phones. Most Web-based phone services require a separate application like Skype or Gizmo. Or, like Jajah, they use the Web primarily to initiate a call on a regular phone. But Flash-based Web phones are bringing VOIP calls directly to the browser. Last month we covered Russia’s Flashphone. Now another SIP-based Flash phone is coming out of India’s TringMe, which launched in October with a click-to-call widget. (Update: See also Ribbit).
The TringPhone, as it is called, really is more of a technology demonstration than a full-fledged service. TringMe is hoping to license the technology to VOIP providers and help make Web-based telephony as simple as visiting a Web page. It already works with any existing account on a SIP-based phone service, and can be configured for pretty much any VOIP provider. I tried out a demo of the TringPhone, and it completed a call to my U.S. cell phone. Starting later today, the TringPhone should be available on TringMe’s Website.
The startup is also working on a mobile VOIP service that will let you make SIP calls from your phone’s browser over a 3G data network. That one probably won’t be based on Flash.
Brilliant. I tried their earlier widget. Great stuff and clear voice but wasn’t of much use since they are in beta and gives away limited phone credits. I haven’t tried this but I should be able to use it with voipstunt for free calls .. will request an invite. I liked the idea of not tying up with single provider.
I have been following TringMe and have interacted with the founder. Happy to see that they are building a platform and releasing services like these on it. Now if only they can publicly open up and not stay in invite-only beta for too long. Eventhough, it\’s a nice technical solution, what kind of apps is TringMe or others thinking to develop on this?
Neat idea. I like the concept of using a phone from a browser and not tie myself to an application and this seems to fit quite well.
It’s a good idea, but it’s not really a generic SIP client built in Flash. According to the diagrams at http://blog.tringme.com/tringm.....terprises/ your calls make a stopover at their server first. The privacy concerns over having your unencrypted calls routing through a 3rd party provider seems like a pretty big hurdle to adoption.
@Andy, isn’t it true for every voip service? Not a big concern really.
I have been a tringme user and have been happy with their widgets so far. Their voice quality is excellent and this definitely takes it up a notch.
@Karim, a true SIP implementation done in Flash wouldn’t necessarily require an intermediary to connect to an enterprise’s existing VoIP platform. Besides, there’s one notable competitor that doesn’t have this vulnerability — the existing phone network.
ZunePhone is coming and will dominate from day 2!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
OMG, a voip flash phone, and it’s so awesome looking. thanks TC!
I’ve read here http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/to.....atures.asp that russian flashphone supports inbound/outgoing calls using your SIP accounts now, so it very interesting to compare these startups. Advantage of flashphone is that their beta test is opened for everyone, no need for invites
Frankly, russian flashphone worked only once and never again, quality was bad. This is much better.
Tried both russian flashphone, and this one, quality of russian flashphone was much better, and it’s easier to use. But this is also very promising.
I tryed both, haven’t experienced any probs.
Slick looking phone. I was looking for something like this to replace activex control on our new website. We will try to integrate tringphone. It worked on all browsers i tred.
VoiP battle has just begun - jajaj, jaxtr, grandcental, tringme and now zunephone – anyone doing business here?
Hi Erick, when you say “Flash”, what do you mean?
Do these applications run within the Adobe Flash mobile or laptop engines? Or is there a connection to “flash” memory? Or does the word come from something else?
(I suspect it’s the first, but the bodytext is not clear.)
tx, jd/adobe
Jesus christ. This is news? This is innovative technology?
DIALPAD DID THIS IN 1999. I remember using it from my dorm room.
This is pathetic.
DIALPAD DID THIS IN 1999. I remember using it from my dorm room.
But it wasn’t in Flash and didn’t do it via VOiP!!1! This is web 3.0!1!!!!
@JD, as a key member of TringMe team, if I may respond to you question, the references to “Flash” in this article are to “Adobe-Flash”.
At this point, TringPhone and other TringMe widgets, all meant for web-telephony can work in any flash-enabled browser. We have working prototypes of the functionality on mobile devices but I can’t disclose many details here yet :). Feel free to write back to me if you want more details.
@Anil Rao, their are a couple of business models (licensing, partnering etc) that we are currently working on. But we are completely convinced that ubiquitous calling, connectivity, ability to use any VoIP providers and in general opening up the VoIP world will definitely happen.
@Megan, let us know how we can help you.
@Tom, as BlogReader has mentioned, our technology is Adobe-Flash based and uses VoIP. One can customize TringMe to work with any VoIP provider. Do read http://blog.tringme.com in case you are interested in knowing other details.
In general, TringMe team appreciates comments and criticisms for TringPhone (& other TringMe widgets). Thanks much
Regards,
Yusuf
17: Actually, I thought it was Flash. No? Java? Well, whatever. If you really want a ludicrous widget-capable VoIP app, the Gizmo project is built in in XUL, I believe.
And Dialpad didn’t let you choose your own SIP server, but then again neither will anyone who buys and resells Tring’s service.
As with pretty much everything else on TC these days, this is just an interface sitting on top of a genuinely great but not-actually-new technology (SIP, in this case). Are you really telling me that a user will buy and install a mic/headset combo on their PC, but will be unwilling to make the extra commitment of installing a native app? It’s ludicrous.
I can imagine firms buying this as a skinnable click-to-call app. But that’s a pretty small market, and of course RingCentral, GrandCentral, Skype and who knows how many others are already there.
Yusuf, I have already mailed bizdev@tringme.com a few mins back and awaiting a reply. We are interested in utilizing your technology. Can you setup an invite for us ASAP?
Great Idea. Fantastic concept. I can’t wait to try it.
I guess posting comments in TC helps you get an invite quickly
Yusuf, I used TringPhone and was very happy with the voice quality - nice job! Given the voice quality you are offering, why can’t TringPhone provide this service to consumers directly ? Why are you allowing a user to configure VoIP providers settings or letting VoIP providers license tringphone? I mean, wouldn’t the former option make more business sense from a revenue perspective?
I guess posting comments in TC helps you get an invite quickly
Yusuf, I used TringPhone and was very happy with the voice quality - nice job! Given the voice quality you are offering, why can’t TringPhone provide this service to consumers directly ? Why are you allowing a user to configure VoIP providers settings or letting VoIP providers license tringphone? I mean, wouldn’t the former option make more business sense from a revenue perspective?