Microsoft Sets Its Sites On Google Talk

[Vishal Gupta 4]

Microsoft is about to announce that it is acquiring an Internet start-up called Teleo. Teleo is developing a voice over IP technology that is similar to what is found in Skype and the new Google Talk.

Sources say that Microsoft intends to integrate this technology into an upcoming version of MSN. Teleo's voice over IP technology revolves mostly around making calls to normal phones. Presently, Teleo offers a monthly $4.95 service that allows users to make calls to traditional phones for 2 cents per minute world-wide. It also provides users with their own unique phone number that allows users to call them via a regular phone (imbound calling). In essence, users receive their own universal net phone number and users can call it with their regular phones.

Other features include being able to insert click-to-call commands in email and webpages, conferencing, call forwarding, voice mail, and more.

The acquisition puts MSN in a more direct head to head competition with Skype and Google's recently released "Google Talk". When these features will first show up in MSN is anyone's guess.

[ashoksoft 83]

Hope thatz fast ... considering ur own question (when we chatted...) we might be after all be able to make calls to each other's fone ... over the net!

Cheers

Ashok

[Ashokjp 15]

The intresting part is having a tel no on net, to which people can ring up through land line, that too without much infrastructure..

[Vishal Gupta 4]

Microsoft announced it has acquired Teleo Inc., a provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software and services that enable people to place phone calls from PCs to traditional phones while delivering this technology in unique ways through a variety of software and Web applications. Combining the technology and expertise of Teleo with Microsoft’s existing VoIP investments in MSN is expected to help advance efforts to connect people to the information and people that matter to them ultimately enhancing the integration of rich voice capabilities throughout MSN communication and information services, including MSN Messenger.

What is Teleo?

Founded in 2003, Teleo’s initial beta offering, also called Teleo, allowed customers to use their PC to make VoIP calls to cell phones, regular phone or PCs. Through its integration with Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer, the Teleo service also facilitated “click to call” dialling of any telephone number that appears on screen – such as within a Web site, search results or e-mail.

What has happened to the Teleo beta?

Teleo has discontinued its beta offer.

How will customer data collected by Teleo be used by Microsoft?

Customer data collected by Teleo will only be used for resolving billing and technical issues and will not be used for marketing purposes without the customer’s consent.

What does Microsoft plan to do with the Teleo service?

Microsoft plans to incorporate and expand upon Teleo’s technologies, integrating them into the MSN services infrastructure, with plans to ultimately deliver new VoIP consumer applications in future releases of MSN services, such as MSN Messenger.

Where can I use VoIP services now?

The new version of MSN Messenger allows users to talk to each other online, PC to PC, with no call charges. Additionally, if both users have a webcam installed they can also have a full screen video conversation – all this, and much more, completely free of charge!

[deepu 0]

Microsoft is trying to play the old game which it played against Netscape with Google now!!!

[vb86 0]

pc2phone should be made free.

[linuxguy 0]

Microsoft is trying to play the old game which it played against Netscape with Google now!!!

39673[/snapback]

that was netscape. this is THE GOOGLE