Wire, the app that is rapidly replacing Skype within the VoIP insider community including many of the VUC regulars, just updated to version 1.4. The new version adds some new ringtones, audio improvements-from guys who really do know audio, and some new messaging and ping sounds to make the app sound different. My experience with Wire … Read more
Earlier this week the VoIP industry learned that Simple Signal, led by dear friend and former client, Dave Gilbert was picked up for $20 million plus some stock. This is very similar to the 75 percent cash, 25 percent stock deal done for the other former Comunicano client, Telesphere was sold for but for a … Read more
A few years back, the Chevalier du Comanderie en Faugeres, deep in the heart of the Languedoc chose to make me a “Chevalier” or Knight for my more than 20 years of promotion of wine in the region. I guess buying the wines from there also for as long didn’t hurt either. Now, on every … Read more
Before I started VoIPWatch, there was GigaOm, and Om Malik. While Om may have taken a massive step back about a year ago from the publication he started, largely to focus on his health and role as a VC with True Ventures, GigaOm was a lighthouse in a storm of breaking news. Those of us who … Read more
Some ten years or so ago my then soon to be wife and I were “shopping” in a French electronics store when she spotted a 5 outlet power strip that was for European plugs. It was one of the best things we ever purchased as it has made dozens of crossings. While I also carry … Read more
Being on Bouygues Telecom’s prepaid means real 4G/LTE with my iPad Air 2. The experience is quick and responsive. Running the Gmail application, the Chrome browser or Safari yields rapid page loading. Services like Spotify sound great, and having 4G on the iPad sure comes in handy when hotel broadband slows down. I’ve even tethered … Read more
I've been a music junkie in need of a fix since I was in 3rd grade. It was 1969 and I joined the Record Club of America and voila, the Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers, Led Zeppelin III, Jesus Christ Superstar arrived and my world was never the same. As time went on my vinyl collection … Read more
Every two years I travel to France to attend a key wine industry event, Decouvertes Vins Rhone. It's an event I have been attending as far back as my days as the Del Mar Time's Wine Critic, as it provided an advance look at what the recent vintages in the Rhone would be delivering well before … Read more
Let’s face it, we’ve all had credit card transactions declined even though we were nowhere near our limits. Usually it has to do with location, as that’s one of the factors that the credit card issuing companies and banks love to use to detect fraud. But, when you’re actually the person who is the cardholder … Read more
I'm in West Palm Beach at one of Marriott's Courtyard by Marriott properties. Years ago their saying when they first introduced this mid priced, business person's oriented property line which transformed the hotel industry was "Designed by Business Travelers, For Business Travelers" because Marriott actually spent time asking the business traveler, who up until then … Read more
