Messagenet is a technology firm with headquarters in Italy, and is involved in the development and online commercialization of Internet faxing, SMS messaging, and VoIP services.
Messagenet Talk is an application that allows you to have unlimited free calls and texts between other Messagenet Talk users. According to Messagenet, it is simpler and faster than Skype. Until now, it has been available on your PC or Mac and on the Apple iOS. On April 11, 2013, Messagenet released the world’s first WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) based smartphone app for Android. It functions as part of a commercial VoIP service.
Today’s release is really a private beta test for Messagenet Talk for Android. It is designed to work with any device that is running Android 2.2 or higher. The really impressive piece is that it does not require a browser or OS that specifically supports WebRTC.
Some of the features that Messagenet says are included in Messagenet Talk for Android are:
- Messagenet Talk enables WebRTC to work with any Android device operating on version 2.2 or later; it does not require a WebRTC-enabled mobile browser
- The app integrates the WebRTC media engine with open SIP signaling as well as with Messagenet's proprietary optimizations for HD voice over 3G, public switched telephone network (PSTN) interoperability, enhanced jitter management and VoIP obfuscation
- The app comes as part of the Messagenet Talk VoIP service, which allows smartphone and PC users to talk and text for free, to avoid roaming charges and to add an extra phone line to their mobile phones
- The development represents Messagenet's first step towards a browser-based VoIP service for smartphones and PCs and signals the company's commitment to a true, open-source communications platform
VoIP technology officer for Messagenet, Emilano Trevisani, said, "There have been lots of demos of WebRTC-based communication systems in closed environments, but never before within a commercial mobile service. But we believe so strongly that this technology is going to rewrite all the old rules for VoIP that we decided to integrate it into our live mobile commercial service before it's supported by browsers on Android."
Co-founder and CEO at Messagenet, Andrea Galli, commented "This app represents another step forward in the effort to integrate WebRTC with smartphone platforms. It is taking WebRTC out of the planning phase and putting it into the hands of the end-user."
The result is that owners of older Android devices can now benefit from WebRTC-based VoIP, even if the browsers on those devices never receive WebRTC support. Trevisani added, "Naturally as soon as the browsers on newer Android devices are enabled for WebRTC, we will extend our full support."
While just about every other company working with similar products such as Skype, Viber and WhatsApp have gone to great lengths to hinder the interoperability of their services, Messagenet is notable for its adherence to open standards. While Skype is the archetypal closed system since it has a tight lid on its protocols, Messagenet employs the open SIP signaling protocol.
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol widely used for controlling communications sessions such as voice and video calls over IP.
As new devices (both smartphones and tablets) come out and camera qualities get better, more people will conduct video conferences on a daily basis. Some of the pilot programs that are out now suggest that business to business and to consumer applications for this new technology are for the most part groundbreaking. The prediction is that video conferencing is expected to take a great leap forward.
For these types of developments to actually move forward and demonstrate real interoperability having an open standard instead of proprietary protocols is the way to go. By building an application that does not require you to upgrade your phone or browser to support WebRTC, yet still get all of the functionality, it shows that Messagenet has its eye on the bigger picture. Messagenet has placed itself firmly in the camp of those who see the tremendous value and potential of a truly open-source, browser-based communications platform.
Edited by
Rich Steeves
