Nintendo DS hack for SIP VoIP service via WiFi

This January, I began a list of VoIP services for the Nintendo DS, which we know contains a WiFi connection and a microphone headset.

At that time, none of the solutions included support for the popular open SIP protocol. Now, a French developer has released an early version of SvSIP, which lets you make phone calls using your homebrew-enabled DS and a SIP provider. He seems to be actively updating it, and we should see some new versions available soon on his website.

To complete the list, another French developer has been working on DSiP, a rival alpha VoIP client for the DS. The author seems to no longer have time to work on it, but promises to release a working version.

UPDATE 9/19/07: Watch the how-to video if you'd like to see SvSIP in action, courtesy of pjsip.org, the stack upon which SvSIP was ported from:

Jajah or Nonoh? Review the race to the bottom.

Upstart VoIP service nonoh thinks it can save you more money than its predecessor, jajah. Both are phone-to-phone services, which means you just initiate the call on their website, and the service calls both parties and connects them to each other at lower rates than the regular phone companies. This comes in handy mostly for international calls, especially for those countries in which there is a telecom monopoly with outrageous long distance fees.

Bhagaban points out that the service was developed by Betamax, and that there are some amazing deals to certain countries.

For example, you can make free calls to China, Taiwan, and Thailand. Even South Korea and Turkey made the list of free destinations.

Vinay adds:

Nonoh bluntly says we offer better rates than Jajah and well they seriously do. Who on earth gives free calls to countries like Brazil, Japan and Malaysia? I have some countries which can't even dream to be in the free VOIP country list. NoNoh has simply cracked the market with this FREE VOIP calling service

Over at Computerwoche (German) they remind us that nonoh only allows 5 hours of talk time per week, and your credit expires after 120 days.

This 120 day credit expiration limit seems to be a trademark of Betamax, so that you will continue to pay $10 every four months in order to keep making free calls.

Full rates table at http://www.nonoh.net/en/rates.html

Have you tried it? What did you think?

International free calls with Skype on Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, Skype will let you make that special phone call for free, even if she lives in China. That's right, but it's only if you make that free call from the U.S. or Canada. In fact, there's an entire list of restrictions:

4. Offer available to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age and older.
5. To qualify for this offer, you must have downloaded the Skype software and you must have a valid and active Skype user name and account. You will not be eligible for this offer if your Skype account is not in good standing.
10. Skype reserves the right to suspend, shorten or extend, change or cancel part of all of the offer including these terms at any time at its own discretion at any time without notifying you of such changes.

... and so on. So as long as you're an adult resident of North America with an active Skype account and you don't mind that Skype can change its terms at any time, then you can use the VoIP service to call your mother, or anybody else for that matter, absolutely free this Sunday May 13th.

Happy Mother's Day!

Raketu's sexy new look multi-messenger

The last time I reviewed the VoIP multi-messenger upstart, Raketu, I gave my honest opinion that it wasn't quite ready for primetime, but that it held a lot of potential. Well look out now -- Raketu has relaunched their website with a whole new look!

Cartoonist John Kricfalusi of Ren & Stimpy fame has provided Raketu with the sexy flash animations that now drive its brand. The new website features George Liquor, Sody Pop, Bobby Bigloaf, and of course, Raketeena:

Raketu seems to have addressed all my previous complaints about the website interface. The new menu system really improves accessibility and makes its much easier to reach what you're looking for.

The program interface has undergone a few slight modifications too - now v1.021 - but still retains its tiny 3.4 MB installer package! A few bugs have been fixed since its initial release, although I still can't seem to send free SMS messages. That's probably just user error on my part though. Another thing I was having fun with is the built-in Caller ID spoofing (Tools > Options > rakIn/rakOut).

This is now my main program for making SIP calls and free international calls. Now that Skype's free trial is over, (I never really liked the way it hogged system resources anyway) Raketu has taken its place on my PC.

It's still free to dial out to 42 countries after a one-time purchase of $9.95 in credits. (I've used up all my credits except for a few cents, but I'm still making free calls. :-) Unlike some other services, the receiving party does not need to be registered with Raketu. There's a 1 hour limit per call, but then you can call right back. Of course, you wouldn't want to abuse their free service, would you?

They're also promoting their multi-messenger which still lets you chat with your Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ, Skype and Raketu contacts.

Guess what? Raketu is expanding like crazy! They've added online presence and they're currently working on VoIP-in, voicemail, ipTV and Video on Demand! If you're looking for a career, now would seem to be the time to get onboard the Raketu rocketship.

If you'd like to try it out, I'd appreciate if you use my affiliate link to sign up with Raketu. Thanks, and be sure to leave a comment and let me know how your experience turns out!

Second Talk brings Skype to Second Life

VoIP has moved beyond reality into the realm of the virtual world we know as Second Life. Skype Journal announces:

Centric today announced Second Talk, an easy-to-use voice communication system for Second Life. Second Talk "headsets" automatically scan for other Second Talk users nearby, and offer instant voice chat for groups of up to 10 users through Skype, a popular Voice over IP communication platform.
...

While this isn't the first attempt at voice communication within SecondLife, it is probably the first that works with Skype. I know quite a few people who use Skype and SecondLife at the same time (myself included now and then), but not quite like this.

This sounds like it may just catch on among Second Lifers. You can pick up your portable virtual headsets here.

Categories: Second Talk, Skype, Second Life, VoIP, VoIP Service

How VoIP can help your career

Wanna be a hero at your company? Propose a switch to Voice over IP! VoIP has the potential to save costs, simplify tasks, and increase productivity. Read on for more of the info you need to sell your boss on a VoIP system at VoIP News.

Watch out though, because it could also get you fired. A corporate communication system is no game. If you buy into a flawed system, you would probably get singled out as the scapegoat. Don't let it happen. Be sure to fully research your proposal, starting with the guide and resources mentioned in the article.

Oh, and when you get that raise, don't forget who gave you the initial push ... ;-)

Categories: VoIP, VoIP Service

Nintendo DS hacks for free WiFi VoIP calls

Since the Nintendo DS has a built-in microphone and a wireless Internet connection, what's to stop it from being used as a WiFi phone, or the DSphone, if you will?

I've scoured the 'net and found some projects currently underway that claim to do just that, albeit with limitations.

VoiceChatClient is a homebrew application that lets you freely call anyone who also has VoiceChatClient installed on their DS. This hack even adds extra value by transmitting what you write on the touch screen to the other person! VCC requires hacked firmware or some type of passthrough device. (source)

DSpeak has been developed by Nintendo themselves, but aside from a demo at E3 in 2005, nothing more has been heard about this program. DSpeak will reportedly allow in-game and out-of-game chat. And when you speak, an on-screen Mario or Wario avatar lip syncs along! (source)

HelloDS was released some time ago as a proof-of-concept hack, along with a promise of a future version of this homebrew software. Unfortunately, the update has not been forthcoming. The initial version is still available and requires the firmware hack or passthrough. (source)

Metroid Prime: Hunters is currently the most easily accessible option for chatting with your DS buddies. All it requires is the Metroid Prime: Hunters game and a WiFi connection. You might want the NDS VoIP headset too. For this VoIP solution, you just meet the person you want to speak with in the same pre-game lobby and talk. It also works post-game, but not during. (source)

Conclusion: Though this handheld gaming device is certainly capable of competing with other mobile WiFi phones, the current state of Nintendo DS VoIP affairs isn't very exciting. None of the above solutions include support for SIP or for dialing out. However, the demand seems to be out there, so the DS might get to see a true VoIP app yet.

UPDATE 9/14/07: SvSIP, a VoIP client using the open SIP protocol, is released for the DS.

Have you made calls on the Nintendo DS? I'd love to get your feedback in the comments section. Don't forget to subscribe to the feed to receive updates on this subject.