VOIP: we need some kind of Meebo mashup
There is no necessity for me to use VOIP, it would simply be one of those things that would be ‘nice’ to have. For me to be able to call my brother at university for free, to speak to my relative in America for free, for example. The draw for me is the cost, nothing.
I currently don’t use VOIP. For two good reasons, Skype and Windows Live Messenger. I have a few contacts who would use Skype as their preferred VOIP provider, others would rather use Windows Live Messenger as it is tied into their primary instant messenger service.
With the release of VOIP phones you are no longer required to sit at a computer while making a call, or even have your computer switched on. Skype have released a mobile version of their software allowing Windows Mobile devices to make VOIP calls over their internet connections, and you can guarantee a Microsoft equivalent is in the pipeline.
I was enticed into getting a cordless dualphone that would allow me to make and receive both landline and VOIP phone calls, until I realised that there currently isn’t a dualphone that will support both Skype and Windows Live Messenger VOIP providers. Meaning that it would have to purchase two dualphones, one for each provider. Ludicrous.
This is why we need some form of mashup like Meebo but on the VOIP phone hardware, or alternatively for both Skype and Windows Live Messenger to use the same standards so that they are hardware independent.