An Android-Based VoIP Phone

by Sam Dean - Aug. 25, 2009Comments (5)

Recently we covered five VoIP (voice-over-IP) applications for Linux, and some of the more unusal types of devices that the Android operating system is headed for. In a play on both the concepts of VoIP and unusual Android devices, a California startup company, Cloud Telecomputers, has a touchscreen, desktop VoIP phone running Android that it is aiming at business users. It runs the open "Glass" development platform based on Android, and check out this quote from Ed Zander, former CEO of Motorola: "In 3 to 5 years, all business phones will look like Glass." That seems a little over the top, but this desktop phone does look interesting.

Cloud Telecomputers is focusing on OEMs who want to design around its Glass hardware and software platform, and there is no specific price set yet for Glass desktop phones, but according to LinuxDevices, they'll sell for $600 to $700. You can do a lot more than place VoIP calls on the phone. It has an 8-inch, 800 x 600 touchscreen interface, and HD speakerphone capability, but if you look closely at the photo below, you'll see that it also has a handset on the left. In addition, it supports Bluetooth, voice dialing, voice notes, and you can click to dial directly from Microsoft Outlook.

The phone also has two USB ports, which can be used to take advantage of standard desktop computer functions, including screen sharing. Check out LinuxDevices' story for complete specs on the phone. The estimated pricing seems a little high, but it does look slick, and it's evidence of the many types of directions that the Android OS can head in.
 

 

 


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5 Comments
 

The true benefit of Open Source coming through - take Linux (Android) and apply it to several devices that are going to be mobile ready. Neat.


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What I do not understand is why every phone company whose name is not Nokia or Apple would not want to adopt Android. There are several other options (LiMo for example) that are also free, but Android seems to be the one with momentum.


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When you combine this with Google Voice, you can build some compelling applications. I don't know if a dedicated hardware device as slick as Glass is required but getting VOIP apps to be enhanced with Google Voice and use their API and infrastructure is bound to happen.


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@Anna, that's true, it looks like they will be pushing their API so that software enhancements can be introduced.


Sam


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Sean,

Interesting article and immediately the tech appeals to my geekness.


However, the business side of me wants to puke, as businesses continue to buckle down on their desktop telephone expense. For instance, I work for a telecommunications company and recently we are converting to all VoIP (no more deskphones, just voip via PCs). If a $100 deskphone can't be justified in today's environment, a $600 phone faces an incredibly tougher hurdle.


Perhaps targetting this phone to specific verticals such as finance (realtime widget feeds on markets, or personal video conferencing), but still the expense is hard to justify especially when the trader can swivle to their bloomberg terminal. Perhaps, medical or telemedicine apps might work well for this unit.


thanks again.


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