damaka 2.0 with Video launched

News Update
Latest release of damaka adds free integrated video calling. damaka Video allows users to see the contacts they are calling using a webcam. The latest release also includes Weather Forecasting for US cities.

damaka's developers have done an awesome job. The quality is incredible and is better than Skype, Yahoo & MSN.

Codecs... what are they?

codec

Short for compressor/decompressor, a codec is any technology for compressing and decompressing data. Codecs can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both.

In telecommunications, (short for coder/decoder) a device that encodes or decodes a signal. For example, telephone companies use codecs to convert binary signals transmitted on their digital networks to analog signals converted on their analog networks.

"Compressor-Decompressor" or "Coder-Decoder," which describes a device or program capable of performing transformations on a data stream or signal.

Learn more about codec on wikipedia

Big eBay Users Shun Skype

Looks like eBay chief Meg Whitman has plenty of selling to do herself.

Russell Shaw points to a story in TheStreet.com that claims that “Big eBay users shun Skype”.

The original article quotes the executive director of a group of high-volume eBay sellers as saying that "Skype doesn't give me a capability that I already don't have." Apparently this based on informal conversation with members. Of course it is not clear why they should feel this way.

The story doesn’t give enough supporting evidence for their claim. Nonetheless, I feel that eBay sellers can use third party VoIP tools as well instead of Skype. So I feel Skype is not going to change much the landscape for eBay.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Today is Thanksgiving Day. In US of A, this is a day when families gather (whether they want to or not), offer thanks (some heart-felt, some fake), share a festive holiday meal (I don't really like Turkey that much), and watch a football games (How about them Cowboys?)

Looking back at 2005, I have a lot to be thankful for - my parents, my wonderful girl-friend for taking such great care of me, my friends and my buddies @ damaka.

I think I have achieved a lot this year - both at personal & professional front - and this would not have been possible without the love, inspiration, help & support of my family & friends.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone!

Band of Brothers

VoIP providers, EarthLink, Google, Pulver.com, Sonus Networks and Skype, have created a group, called the Internet Voice Campaign, a part of the VON Coalition, to increase adoption and use of voice over IP.

Read the story

Happy Diwali 2005

Today is November 1, 2005 and I am celebrating an Indian festival - Diwali. It also called the festival of lights and on this Indians all over the world clean and decorate their homes, light up candles and fireworks, exchange sweets and gifts with their friends and loved ones, pray to the Goddess of Wealth and Education (along with other Deities) for blessings and prosperity.

To learn more about Diwali, click here.

Best wishes to you and your family for a very happy Diwali.
May the festival of lights brighten up your life in every possible way!

Happy Holidays!

Some Diwali pictures:

• Celebrating Diwali
• Deities
• Fireworks
  

Happy Halloween 2005

Today is October 31, 2005 and I am preparing for the trick-or-treaters. Its cold and rainy but I am sure the charm of dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door for trick-or-treating will not dampen the spirits of the kids and their parents. My friend's daughter will be a parrot. Another 4 year old cutie will be an IPod (this is the extent of Apple's infliuence on people's lives)

Be good to the tiny tricksters ;-) BOO


Happy Halloween to you all.
To learn more about Halloween, click here.

VoIP Growing Astronomically, $23.4 Billion By 2009 Projected

According to a report by Infonetics, released on wednesday, VoIP service is predicted to grow 18-fold -- from $1.24 billion in 2004 to $23.4 billion in 2009 -- representing total revenues of $62 billion to be spent on the technology over the five-year period.

Read the story on Yahoo News

Return of dot com boom?

Michael Copeland and Om Malik of Business 2.0 magazine have written a wonderful piece for CNN Technology. According to the authors, "Startups are hot -- again. Valuations are nuts -- again. Fortunes are being made -- again."

I agree with them. Look at the insane $4.1 billion Skype-eBay deal that has all the pundits and analysts scratching their heads. Rupert Murdoch was eyeing Skype after acquiring Intermix Media for $580-million.

I quote from the article:

• Corporate IT spending, both an engine and an indicator of tech industry health, was up 9 percent through the first half of 2005 and is expected to rise 7 percent more in 2006.
• Internet advertising, $9.6 billion last year, was up 26 percent in the first half of 2005 and is projected to hit $12 billion for the year
• Google is sitting on more than $7 billion; Yahoo has about $3.5 billion. Microsoft remains the cash king with almost $40 billion on hand. A lot of that money will be earmarked for strategic objectives—acquisitions

I am not sure if Startups are really hot or not. But Valuations are definitely nuts -- and yes, again. We are beginning to see Fortunes being made -- example Myspace, Skype.

Whether this becomes Internet Boom 2.0 or Bubble 2.0, remains to be seen. I think we can all use a boom right now ;-)

Read the complete story - "Tech's big comeback"