Why Google Doesn’t Like its Phone Bill

WHEN you call Grandma on her farm in Iowa, your long-distance phone company pays her local phone company an access fee. That’s fine. It’s much higher than elsewhere but few calls go to her and her neighbors, so the fees don’t add up quickly. And it’s a business-to-business transaction. You, the caller, aren’t even aware of the fees paid on your behalf.

But Google is aware. It has entered the long-distance phone business, having introduced this year a service, Google Voice, that includes the ability to make free long-distance calls anywhere in the United States. It knows that access fees are a part of the phone business. But it quickly noticed that a few numbers in sparsely populated areas were accounting for a disproportionate percentage of Google Voice’s total costs.

In a company blog post last month, Google said some rural phone companies partner with “sex chat lines and ‘free’ conference calling centers to drive high volumes of traffic” in what is called “traffic pumping” in the telecom industry.

“People are on the phone for hours — Grandma wouldn’t be on all day,” said Richard Whitt, the Washington telecom and media counsel for Google, in a recent interview.

The F.C.C. regulates the access fees and permits rural phone companies to charge high ones, on the assumption that call volume will be low and that the high fees are needed to support phone service to rural residents. In a traffic-pumping operation with high call volume, however, the local phone company collects the high access fees and splits the bonanza with the partner.

The Google blog calls the fees “ludicrously high.” Instead of being charged a half-cent to 3 cents a minute to have one of its Google Voice calls connected to a local number in these places, Google was assessed 12 or 14, or even 25, cents a minute, Mr. Whitt said.

High fees, as well as high call volume and calls of long duration, meant that Google was not paying typical wholesale prices. In effect, it was being held up by rural highwaymen working with accomplices who pulled in a high volume of calls.

All nonlocal carriers are victims of the same racket as Google. Robert W. Quinn Jr., a senior vice president at AT&T, wrote in August to the Federal Communications Commission about what he called this “industry plague.” AT&T won’t sympathize publicly with Google, however, because it fears that Google is a competitive threat.

For Google, traffic pumping was unbearably maddening. The company decided in August to block Google Voice calls to destinations that had high call volume and a small population. One of the numbers blocked is for a free conference call service based in Redfield, S.D. Northern Valley Communications, the local phone company that handles that number, is in a legal battle with long-distance carriers that have refused to pay access fees to companies they accuse of traffic pumping. “‘Traffic pumping’ is a term fabricated by long-distance carriers who are trying to paint us negatively because we have higher access rates,” said James Groft, C.E.O. of Northern Valley.

Most rural phone companies are older, “incumbent” local carriers and participate in the payments system managed by the National Exchange Carrier System, which prevents abuse, said Joe A. Douglas, its vice president for government relations. “Payments are adjusted downward as minutes go up. Therefore, there’s no incentive to pump traffic,” he said. But a relatively new category of local phone companies, called “competitive” local carriers,” such as Northern Valley, falls outside of NECA’s purview.

Most Google Voice features handle incoming calls. The service provides a phone number that connects to voice mail or can forward calls to landlines and cellphones. It can also record calls, customize greetings for particular callers and transcribe voice mail. Beginning last week, it could also be an alternative voice-mail destination for a user’s cellphone voice mail.

Small technology companies are also affected by traffic pumping. ZipDX, a telephone conferencing service based in Los Gatos, Calif., charges its customers for its service and must compete against free services in rural areas that are funded by the access fees charged to outside phone companies. David Frankel, the company’s founder, said, “The F.C.C. should say to everyone, ‘If the only purpose of what you’re doing is to rake in access charges, it’s not O.K.’”

A spokesman for the F.C.C. said it had resolved some concerns and “begun an inquiry into what further steps can be taken to prevent both incumbent and competitive carriers from gaming intercarrier compensation rules.”

THE F.C.C. has caught one break: it’s not facing a united front of very large, unhappy complainants. Instead of extending its hand in solidarity to Google as a fellow victim, AT&T went on the attack. In a letter to the F.C.C. last month, it contended that Google was blocking calls not only to sex chat lines, but also to others, like an ambulance service and a Benedictine convent.

Google has responded with improvements in its blocking technology. Instead of blocking by phone number prefix, it blocks only individual numbers, and fewer than 100 nationally are restricted, it reported to the F.C.C. in a filing last week.

It’s only an improvised solution, however, to the problem of traffic pumping, which the F.C.C. should root out. In the meantime, calls to Grandma and to the Benedictine convent now go through; those to highwaymen do not.

Psychology: “If there were not any killer games, gunmen would read Nazi lectures”

US psychologist Peter Langman votes against the prohibition of so-called “killer games”. Gunmen are homicidal maniacs, games with explicit contents would not bear the blame.

Peter Langman, psychologists for 20 years now, focuses on juvenile patients. He analyzed alltogether ten files of so-called “school shooters” in the United States. So what does he see as a reason for rampage?

Actually, he does not blame games at all: “Millions of teenager are playing computer games in their freetime and they are harmless”, says Langman. “Of course, Eric Harris (one of the gunmen of Columbine High-School) was amazed of brutal games, he loved Doom, but also brutal movies. However, this was not the reason but more a consequence of his illness.”, Langman continues. An what would happen if killer games are prohibited?

“If these games were prohibited, potential gunman would aquire different media material, for instance books about Nazis”, Langman mentions in an interview with the German newspaper (Spiegel Online)

According to Langman, gun rampage by teenagers does not have to do much with mobbing, brutal games or problems with women: “These pupil gumen were mentally ill – psychotic, psychopathic or traumatized.” Eric Harris for example was pschopathic and sadistic. He wanted to lay violent hands on his fellow men. He hated the world, the civilization and was totally amoralic. “He wished that he was or could be god – to decide on everyones life. In his diary, he wrote about planting houndreds of bombs, capturing air plans and attacking New York. That was way before September, 11th”, so Langman.

Kipland Phillip Kinkel,who injured and killed multiple pupils on Mai 21st in 1998 also heard voices. Voices that instructed him to kill himself and others. According to Langman many gunmen suffer from paranoia and schizophrenia.

Kinkel also thought that the US government would plant microchips into humen’s brains.

habe sogar geglaubt, die US-Regierung würde Menschen Chips ins Gehirn pflanzen.

Windows Phones as iPhone and HTC rival?

Microsoft yesterday unveiled a new generation of phones from leading manufacturers and mobile operators that offer an intuitive user interface, powerful Web browsing, and access to an online library of downloadable services and applications. Windows® phones — a new brand for phones running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system — are now available in retail stores worldwide in a broad range of styles and prices.

The new phones were shown at press events in New York, hosted by Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, and in Paris, where Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer showed off the new Windows phones. They also announced the availability of two key services platforms for the new phones: My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. My Phone is a free service that helps people back up and manage photos, applications and other content from their phone or PC, as well as restore information in the event of a lost phone. Windows Marketplace for Mobile is an online library of business and leisure mobile applications — as well as games — that customers can buy and download directly to their phones.

Windows phones are designed to keep people connected to their business e-mail, calendar and contacts, as well as helping people stay in touch with friends and family with voice, instant messaging, photo and video sharing and social networking.

The launch of the Windows phone brand signals a major evolution in the company’s mobile strategy from being purely a platform provider to delivering both a great platform and end-to-end experiences and choices through software and services, including a broad portfolio of applications and support from the developer community. The branding will also make it easier to find Windows phones in stores.

The new phones are available with a wide variety of styles and features, including full physical QWERTY keyboards, touch screens or both. Windows phones offer more choices of mobile operators and phone styles than any other mobile platform on the market. Manufacturers include Acer, HP, HTC Corp., LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba Corp.

The HTC Pure, for example, is engineered for one-hand use, and has a touch screen, a 5-megapixel camera, expandable memory and ambient-light sensor. The HTC Tilt 2 features a high-resolution, 3.6-inch widescreen display and full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, GPS technology, and gravity, proximity and ambient-light sensors. And the Samsung Intrepid features a slim design and full QWERTY keyboard, plus a touch screen for added flexibility, stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, a 3.0-megapixel camera and GPS technology.

A Single Phone for Work and Play

Windows phones offer the familiarity of Windows software, with mobile versions of Windows Live, Microsoft Office, Windows Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. People can access their work and personal e-mail accounts, surf the Web, look at a PowerPoint presentation, read a Word document or review an Excel spreadsheet.

The phones come with enhanced touch capabilities, including the ability to recognize a standard set of gestures, and Internet Explorer Mobile, a new, more PC-like browser that comes with Adobe Flash Lite support for better rendering and can log onto secure Web sites, so users can bank online or connect to their corporate networks.

With Windows Live on their phones, users can keep track of friends through Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or Windows Live. They can upload photos and videos taken with the phones to a Facebook or MySpace page, or have video chats with friends. And they can have access to all their e-mail accounts — Windows Live Hotmail, Yahoo! mail, Gmail, Outlook Mobile and more — with auto updates so they don’t have to keep signing in to refresh.

My Phone and Marketplace

Microsoft is supporting the new phones with two new services. The first, Windows Marketplace for Mobile, is an online library of business and leisure mobile applications — as well as games — that customers can buy and download directly to their phones.

The second service, My Phone, lets people sync and back up information on their phones — such as contacts, appointments, messages, photos and videos — to a password-protected Web site. The free service is especially useful when a phone is lost, which happens 12 million times per year in the U.S., according to Microsoft surveys. My Phone premium service can ring the phone, even if it’s set to vibrate; show on a map where the phone was the last time it synchronized with the network; remotely lock the phone if it’s been stolen; and even remotely wipe the phone’s memory to protect personal data. If people need to replace the phone, My Phone can transfer to the new phone all the data that had been backed up from the lost phone.

People can personalize their Windows phones, outfitting them with apps and games from Windows Marketplace for Mobile. They can personalize the wallpaper on the home screen with their own photos and colors, or designs created by top designers such as Isaac Mizrahi, then further customize the home screen with widgets and plug-ins that show updates from their favorite Web services, tweets, sports scores, stock quotes, news, weather reports, etc.

Windows phones offer greater value, choice

Todd Peters, senior vice president for Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Marketing Group, said the value of Windows phones lies in Microsoft’s ability to give people a great experience regardless of location or device. “We are deeply committed to the three-screens strategy (PC, phone, television) and to delivering great end-to-end experiences for consumers,” he said. “When you look at the assets we have – ranging from Zune to Xbox to Outlook to Internet Explorer – we’re providing people with elegant end-to-end experiences, and connecting them to things that matter the most to them.”

Peters added that Microsoft’s depth of consumer offerings positions the company to better serve customers. “When you look at the assets we have – ranging from Zune to Xbox to Outlook to Internet Explorer – we probably are best position to provide our end users with a seamless transition between their work life and their play life,” he said.

Microsoft worked extensively with phone manufacturers to make sure that phones were equipped to allow users to make the most of Windows Mobile technology. The company’s partners are expected to deliver more than 30 new phones in more than 20 countries by the end of the year, says Stephanie Ferguson, general manager of the Business Experiences Team in the Mobile Communications Business. “Not everyone wants the same model or the same service provider,” Ferguson says. “We give people choice.”

The Windows phones were unveiled by Bach during Microsoft’s Open House, a consumer media event held in Manhattan’s Seventh Regiment Armory, a massive, fortress-like brick structure built in 1879 and now home to a brigade of the New York Army National Guard. For the Open House, Microsoft created spaces throughout the Armory’s domed central hall that mirror various aspects of our lives, including a park-like setting complete with playground and treehouse. Attendees could try out the new phones and see for themselves how easy it is to multitask when you have the right tools.

“Our lives increasingly have become this complex mash-up of our professional and personal worlds, so we need a better way to connect to the people we care about and an easier way to connect to the information that matters to us,” Bach said during his welcome at the Open House.

Ballmer hosted a simultaneous event at Microsoft’s campus in the Paris suburb of Issy-Les-Moulineaux. “These phones are only the beginning of a stream of mobile innovations that will be coming from Microsoft and our partners,” he said. “Over the coming months you’ll see a regular drumbeat of exciting new devices from our partners and updates to our software to keep pace with evolving customer demands around browsing, touch and multi-touch capabilities, to name a few. So stay tuned.”

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/default.mspx

New project done

Yesterday, I launched the new website of my company (inline-service). inline-service IT-solution GmbH is market-leader in the production of building automation, fire prevention and personal security applications. Therefore some real-time products exist that support workers all around the world. Only requirement: A mobile phone. Please visit the site and leave some feedback. If you are interested in some of our products or if you just have any questions, please feel free to leave me a message. The link to the website can be found in the menu.

How to Root the HTC Hero with Windows 7

Hi folks,

as I wanted to install the HTC Hero on my Windows 7 workstation, I encountered some issues installing the ADB driver. So I searched for a solution and finally figured out how to root the Hero on a Windows 7 machine.

In order to get HTC Hero synchronizes with Windows 7 computer:

1. Download the latest version of HTC’s sync tool for the HTC hero (HTCsync)
2. Install the downloaded program on your machine. At this moment, your computer is still not capable of  recognizing the HTC Hero, so don’t panic.
3. Manually update the HTC respectively ADB drivers, using the Windows Vista drivers.

To install Vista drivers just download one of the archives below either for Windows 7 32-bit or Windows 7 64-bit. Extract the archive to C:/Program Files/HTC/HTC Drivers/Vista_x86 or C:/Program Files/HTC/HTC Drivers/Vista_x64. Afterwards go to the device manager. Hit Start and Pause on your keyboard or do a right click on your computer icon and select preferences. There you can select the device manager on the left side of the window.

Now, on the top of the list, you find an icon ADB marked with a yellow exclamation mark, named ADB. Right click on the icon and update drivers. Perform a manual update by choosing the folder where you just extracted the drivers. The device will install now. Unplug and Replug your HTC Hero again and the drivers will be updated and you are able to use the sync tool.
HTC Driver for Windows 7 (32-bit)

HTC Driver for Windows 7 (64-bit)

Lucas Arts Adventure Revival

Already 20 years ago,  Star Wars and Lucas Arts could have created a game in the style of Indiana Jones or Monkey Island. Unfortunately, Lucas Arts did not develope one. But now, 20 years later a fan took care of this topic.

Stacy Davidson is a bi fan of the classical Lucas Arts adventures and she loves Star Wars. If nobody – however for what reason – is interested in developing a Star Wars adventure, it is time to do it on your own, thought Stacy and started the work on Han Solo Adventures that should remind people of the cool oldschool games with Indiana Jones, but only with Han Solo instead of Indy as main actor. That’s the reason how Han Solo Adventures was born. Now the first screenshots and a video appeared. Up to know Lucas Arts was not quite happy about fan projects like this one but we are hoping that Stacy is allowed to finish her work.

ar Wars und LucasArts – das hätte schon vor 20 Jahren geniale Adventures á la Indiana Jones oder Monkey Island geben können. Gab es aber nicht. Jetzt hat sich ein Fan der Sache angenommen.

Intel Atom Processor Developer Program for Mobile Devices to Spur New Wave of Applications

To encourage the creation of innovative applications for Intel® Atom™ processor-based products, Intel Corporation today launched the Intel® Atom™ Developer Program for independent software vendors (ISVs) and developers.The program provides a framework for developers to create and sell software applications for netbooks with support for handhelds and smart phones available in the future. Through the program, developers seeking to reduce overhead and streamline the creation of new applications may also license development tools and application modules directly from other independent developers and ISVs.

“We want to fuel the growth of Intel Atom-based products designed for the mobile lifestyle,” said Renee James, corporate vice president and general manager, Intel Software and Services Group. “The netbook has become one of the most popular consumer devices in the market today, but its true potential has been limited by applications that are not optimized for its mobility and smaller screen size. The Intel Atom Developer Program provides a great opportunity for developers to create useful and inventive applications that will unlock a netbook’s potential while opening a new sales and distribution channel.”

To provide the broadest choice of applications across platforms, the Intel Atom Developer Program will support multiple operating systems and run-time environments. Run-times enable developers to use a single code base to support multiple device platforms and avoid extensive reprogramming, thereby reducing development costs and time-to-market. Run-times such as Microsoft Silverlight allow developers to access multiple classes of customers and deliver rich applications for Windows and Moblin-based environments using a single toolset, Visual Studio and the .NET Framework.

“Using Silverlight’s cross-device, cross-browser, cross-platform technology, developers will be able to write applications once and have them run on Windows and Moblin devices – expanding the reach of Silverlight applications to more consumers, regardless of whether the device they’re using is a PC, TV or phone,” said Ian Ellison Taylor, general manager, Microsoft Client Platforms and Tools.

“The Adobe Flash Platform enables developers to create and deliver the most compelling applications, content and video to the widest possible audience,” said David Wadhwani, general manager and vice president, Adobe Platform Business Unit. “We expect the Intel Atom Developer Program will be a great way for the flash platform community developing on Adobe AIR to monetize their AIR applications and we are working closely with Intel to deliver the necessary technology to enable this opportunity on the Atom platform in the future.”

The program offers a streamlined and transparent process that will take the developer from application creation through testing and, finally, to the go-to-market stage. Intel is working with netbook original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other partners to create application storefronts through which validated applications will be sold.

“Customer adoption of our Intel Atom-based netbooks is exceeding our expectations,” said Jim Wong, president, Acer IT Products Global Operations. “Acer is excited to see Intel’s effort in bringing new and innovative applications to netbooks and will use the Intel Atom Developer Program framework to open an application storefront.”

“The Intel Atom Developer Program is an integral element of providing a holistic netbook experience for our customers,” said S.Y. Shian, vice president and general manager, Asus System Business Group. “Asus sees this new development model as an opportunity to encourage developers and ISVs. Asus plans to offer an application store based on this framework in order to make exciting applications available to our customers.”

“Dell is passionate about providing value for developers,” said John Thode, vice president, Dell Small Devices. “The Intel Atom Developer Program will open a new world of innovation and business opportunity for developers and we look forward to working with Intel to foster the creation of exciting new Windows and Moblin-based netbook applications.”

Developers can learn more about the program, APIs, validation process and application store framework through appdeveloper.intel.com. Applications for ISV and software developer memberships are currently being accepted. Members will be given access to tools and resources that will aid the pre-development process. The Intel Atom Developer Program software development kits will be available to members in late fall.

Future Prospects: Mobile VoIP Could Transform Mobile Landscape

Mobile VoIP is moving beyond its initial function as a new mechanism to get inexpensive international calls, reports In-Stat. While Mobile VoIP still poses a direct threat to operator voice revenue, it also represents a dynamic new capability that promises numerous applications. In-Stat projects that by 2013 Mobile VoIP applications will generate annual revenues of $32.2 billion, driven by over 278 million registered users worldwide.One new application integrates Mobile VoIP into a unified mobile interface to social networking sites. In another new development, MVNOs and 3G operators without legacy networks are using Mobile VoIP to more cost effectively add voice to data offerings. In yet another scenario, a few carriers are using a form of Mobile VoIP, UMA, to support better indoor coverage and off-load macro networks.

“Applications such as Skype and Vonage have influenced users to think of voice as a data application,” says Frank Dickson, In-Stat analyst. “The increasing penetration of Wi-Fi in mobile devices was the beach head that Mobile VoIP applications needed. As user habits are being shaped by rich on-line communication experiences, mobile carriers control over devices and data applications is waning. Mobile carrier attempts to slow the spread of on-line Mobile VoIP are proving challenging as well.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Activities associated with early Mobile VoIP successes are likely to influence LTE operator voice plans in ways that potentially favor IMS.

• While the EMEA region has more Mobile VoIP related revenue currently, Asia Pacific will be the largest regional market by 2013.

• Dual-mode handsets will approach nearly 400 Million units shipped in 2013.

• Revenue and users associated with Mobile VoIP will be distributed among online Mobile VoIP services, 3G-Based Mobile VoIP offerings, and WiMAX/LTE Mobile VoIP offerings.

The research, “Mobile VoIP—Transforming the Future of Wireless Voice” (#IN0904428MCM), covers the worldwide market for mobile VoIP. It includes:

• Analysis of VoIP’s impact on the mobile market.

• Forecasts for Mobile VoIP-associated revenue by region through 2013.

• Forecasts for Mobile VoIP users and annual usage by region through 2013.

• Profiles of Mobile VoIP start ups: Fring, JAJAH, Nimbuzz, Vopium, Yego, and Defi Mobile.

• Profiles of VoIP providers: Skype, Google, Vyke, and Freshtel Holdings; and MVNO/MVNES: Zer01 Communications, Truphone.

• Profiles of WiMAX providers: Scartel, Clearwire, and KT Networks, and of mobile carriers: T-Mobile, Cincinnati Bell, Rogers Wireless, and Orange.

Bootleg Report: Where They Come From and Why People Use Them

Where does a bootleg come from? The answer to this question is shown in the pyramid above. The picture demonstrates the way a bootleg goes before it reaches a “customer”. The root of a bootleg is in most of the cases a single person but never an organization. As supplier devlared is any person that provides illegal material for example screeners or games. The raw material is transmitted to so called release groups. Anyhow, release group is not an appropriate name since release groups do not release anything. Release groups convert received materials like analog video tapes to a digital version of the illegal copy and put the byte stream on a server. The location of these servers are well kept secrets and they are known by the release groups only.

Most of the release group members are just consumer and do not provide any materials to third persons. Other members share stuff like the devil was behind them. That’s how the bootleg reaches the real “consumer” and is uploaded to file sharing networks or illegal download servers. There it is accessible for anybody who knows how a search engine like Google works, or Edonkey, or Kazaa or whatever they are called.

At this point to massburning just a small step is left: A person that downloads illegal content normally burns the material to CD or DVD and “borrows” the media to a colleague and the colleague “borrows” another colleague and the bootleg goes around.

Customer Details

Nobody will never be able to answer the question whether bootlegs harm the gaming industry. Is it possible that software pirates are potential customers? Maybe!

Following reasons for playing bootlegs exist:

• A demo version of the game does not exist, despite gamers want to test them
• An original game does not provide bonus material compared to a bootleg
• Products are often released to early. They have a minor quality and they are buggy.
• Registration of an original game requires presonal data that a user does not want to transmit.
• Sharing and Resale is often not possible
• Software pirating is often seen as bagatelle (almost everybody does it)

Whether a pirate becomes customer or not varies according to the quality of the product.

CamBuddy: Photo manipulation on Android 1.5

CamBuddy - Restyle your pictures

In the publication section you can find now a download link to a project of my girlfriend Larissa and her colleague Matthias. The application represents an image manipulation software that can be installed on any device featuring Android (Cupcake 1.5) such as the Google G1, HTC Magic or HTC Hero. The project was selected to be one of the winners of the Austroid contest featured by T-Mobile Austria. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.