UK-based Palringo (funded by Prime Technology Ventures) has pioneered the concept of Vocal Instant Messaging as the basis for a communications service that allows individuals, communities and businesses to communicate instantly and effectively at low costs across mobile phones and PCs.
If you do not understand what is written above, just see Palringo as a way to transform a normal mobile phone into a walkie-talkie. So, instead of typing in a SMS message, you can simply talk to your Palringo enabled phone and the user on the other side will directly hear what you are saying. People also refer to this technology as ‘Push-to-talk’ (PTT). Currently some operators around the world are beginning to offer PTT functionality, but this is still only for corporate clients.
A friend of mine recenlty recommended this service. I would say the service itself is great, but Palringo will have to improve its useability (as almost always with new services). It will now have to prove itself and create a hype around the service (just like Skype did) before all operators start offering this service.
Key features of Palringo include:
» Voice: use your mobile to chat with friends by speaking or texting
» Messaging: leave messages even when contacts are not connected
» Availability: Instantly see status of contacts
» Interoperability: Connect to users of popular PC IM systems
» Open: Works independent of your mobile service provider
» Presence and group PTT/Chatting is also supported.
If you have experience with Palringo, just drop a comment! A possible competitor, but not quite doing the same, is also already out there. That company is called Fring (mobile VOIP). Personally I except a lot from this company.
Filed under: Internet ideas
