linuskendall

On Vox: Nice ad, too bad you're not correct

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:35:22 GMT

I just recieved this over my e-mail from Mira and Ola here at Rebtel.
´
Sorry to be a bit of a besserwisser, since I must admit that Telefonica made some wonderful ads. But I doubt they're correct - they don't have the "the lowest call rates from Turkey to Sweden", nor "from Japan to Scotland". We'll be happy to allow you to make your call for the cost of a local one.

Still great ads - just for the wrong company!

Amazing Ad - Telefonica

Amazing ad - Telefonica

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Rebtel launches user development of "Reb Me"

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:22:40 GMT

I hope it hasn't been possible to miss the launch of the Reb Me application by Rebtel. It's got quite a bit of attention like here, here and here. Well, now we're getting ready to get the next version of the application in the works - but what do we want to add to it? We decided to involve the users - so now everyone can join in the development!

The group is called like the app "Reb me":

Reb me

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Rebtel full of 30-somethings on Facebook!

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:06:40 GMT

Me and Björn had a meeting today to introudce Facebook and our new Reb me application to the whole company. It's great to have that much attention obviously, but the funny thing is that right after the meeting I stumbled on this article from madcomments. I guess that some of "our" 30-somethings might recognize themselves! :)

Facebook – Chapter ‘30-something’

http://www.mad.co...

I thought my life would only flash before my eyes when I was facing certain death. Who knew that ...

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: How much information do you share?

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:50:38 GMT

Funny Business - Social networking and identity theft ...

http://blog.canoe...

I'm as bad as anyone else for responding to obvious scam e-mail's, just because I'm interested in seeing how these folks operate. However, a new study out shows that a lot of people out there are giving out way too much information, for whatever the reason ... check it out: BOSTON, August 14 /CN...

I tend to share A LOT of information about myself. I don't know if it could get me in trouble, but I feel that if I live in a country (Sweden) that would gladly publish a lot of information about me (such as passport photos, addresses, credit ratings, etc.) I shouldn't be too worried about what I publish on the internet.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Facebook source code leak - Rebtel blogs!

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:56:53 GMT

Facebook Source Code Leaked

http://www.techcr...

We just received a tip that the source code for the Facebook main index page has been leaked and published on a blog called Facebook Secrets. There are at least two possible ways that the source code got out - the first is that a Facebook developer has sent it out, or the more likely option that ...

A couple of days ago the some of Facebook's source code was leaked. Of course, this is a big story since Facebook has been decisively a closed community when it comes to opening itself to the outside world.

I've been writing about these walled gardens and how they're doomed to cause reactions previously - I think this is just the first to come of "let's open facebook" activities.

Of course we're all very attuned to Facebook news here at Rebtel now, after a couple of months of intensive online presence by me and Björn and now when we've launched our application.

Rebtel people have started blogging about this - check out more by Alex.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Rebtel app first review!

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:55:31 GMT

Get Discount International Calls on Facebook - The Unofficial Facebook Blog

http://www.allfac...

A cool phone service, Rebtel, has launched their official Facebook application. The app allows you to contact your international friends and family for the price of a local call. While this is pretty cool in theory, it doesn’t frequently work. I signed up for Rebtel late last year to try and call...

So, we recieved our first review of the app even before we've actually started publishing it a lot - we've just tried to make a sneak peak to our friends etc.

Even though Nick O'Neil's experiences with Rebtel (from Israel - notoriously a hard country when it comes to fees) haven't been entirely positive. Last year I must admit the service wasn't that good to a lot of areas - but it's got a lot better over the last 6 months.

I hope Nick anyway tried out and liked the app itself, hopefully this review will get us a lot of great feedback to it.

For mself - I've been using the app intensely now for a couple of days and I enjoy the slickness in just clicking to get a number to someone.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Nudgemii - Rebtel does better!

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:33:55 GMT

nudgemii - Facebook Application Reviews and Community Ratings

View site

Looking at one failed way of trying to "create virality" in an application by forcing the user to add it without giving any functionality on beforehand. The nudgemii application has quite a nice idea (being able to send mini-messages to a user's cellphone) but the way they publish it on the user's page before their friends have installed the app is really not that great.

Check it out to learn about some bad examples! We have been sneak starting our application "Reb me" now on Facebook, we'll be happy to have some feedback :)

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Instant messaging over phone - too complicated?

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:08:45 GMT

Fring Now Supports ICQ for Integrated Mobile Chat

http://mashable.c...

That means you can now get Skype, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Twitter and ICQ on fring, enabling you to chat with IM users and mobile phone users. The free, downloadable mobile phone application lets you make VoIP calls over mobile data networks or a wi-fi connection, roaming between GPRS, 3G and...

I still find instant messaging over the phone too cumbersome. It works perfectly fine when it's one on one communication but when it comes to context switching it's just never as practical.

If anyone cracks a great idea on how to manage switching between convos on your cellphone in a slick way - please let me know!

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Maxroam?

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:08:08 GMT

Roam4free V2 at Roam4free

http://blog.roam4...

This has been a far slower process than we expected but is now two-three weeks from launch. I don’t want to give away too much yet but we are changing the name to reflect the global emphasis of the new product and yes there will be data, inclusive SMS global packages, add your own DID’S (numbers)...

Pat Phelan of Roam4Free have been working on a new updated service helping all us unhappy consumers who are spending too much money on roaming. They seem soon ready to launch and I'm looking forward to trying out this. You're going to have the possibility of having several different numbers connected to the card - which can be useful to get the cheapest rates possible. I would get one of these and then connect it to my Rebtel account. Then people could call me wherever I am (using local phone numbers in their countries) and I would use UK or French numbers to call them.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Three cuts roaming charges

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 08:19:37 GMT

blognation UK Mobile » Blog Archive » 3 Cuts Roaming Voice Costs Beyond EU Recommendation

http://ukmobile.blognation.com/2...

3 cutes roaming charges, below the EU recommended limits.

I think Three seems like a company that's at least a little bit willing to challenge the way things are done. In UK they've recently cut the roaming charges to 10p when recieving and 19 when calling. This isn't really cheap, but it's at least way below what most operators charge.

In some other mobile news from blognation they point at some more details around the Truphone court case that we've been talking about here at Rebtel. I think it's interesting to see how Truphone is trying to see themselves as a mobile operator while the incumbents are desperate to have Truphone viewed as a fixed line operator - and thus be able to give them less for the transfer of calls.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Cinnamon buns

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:43:24 GMT

So, to just spice this blog up a bit to not include ONLY social networking and rebtel stuff I'll just add a recipe to cinnamon buns. Here you go!

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: User generated ads - Facebook

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:17:47 GMT

So, CNET has now launched a way of advertising products on your facebook (well, gadgets that is). Basically this builds on the idea I've been discussing previously - that users are happy to promote products that they like at the same time as they're basically putting ads for the products on their profiles. So - how will the "user generated ads" move forward next?

CNET is now on Facebook | Webware : Cool Web apps for everyone

http://www.webware.com/8301-1_10...

Facebook "ads " or well, endorsements.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: More on VoIP clampdown

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:44:31 GMT

VoIP clampdown outside Europe

http://www.telappliant.com/news/...

VoIP being regulated outside of Europe.

If you look at the previous post I made and the Rebtel blog I would say it's not only in such countries such as Bangladesh, India and Pakistan that regulators are tough - even the US has it's share of "old fat cats" want to keep their old revenue sources.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Loosening control good for Rebtel & VoIP

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:16:28 GMT

A lot of domains are taken over by disruptive force controlled by networks of people rather than single entities and it's just waiting to happen to the cellphone industry. In US the operators have control over who can send SMS on the network they even control who can route calls to them and use this power to block VoIP users.

However - it seems that the inevitable change to this is coming - Truphone has recently got a court order that T-Mobile has to stop blocking their calls... Seems like even the mammoths of telecom will need to budge.

Rebtel Blog » Blog Archive » Truphone, T-Mobile, Skype, and the Federal Communications Commission

http://forum.rebtel.com/wordpres...

Post about regulatory rulings on the usage of voip services in US.

I think this is typical to what any industry will have to face as the power moves from huge corporations to smaller startups, communities of users and products that doesn't need as much anymore to be created and spread.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Why me and Björn leaves the Rebtel office some days

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:17:37 GMT

Get away - unleash your ideas - go to the coffe shop, unleash your ideas

7 Reasons to Get Away To Unleash Your Best Ideas - Dumb Little Man

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/07/7-reasons-to-ge...

Get away, out of the office to your local coffee shop to unleash your ideas.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Having something to say

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:18:11 GMT

What strikes me when we've been online constantly when we've been working here at Rebtel is that you always have to have something to say. Engaging in maybe 50-100 conversations be it through blogging, on chat, messaging, etc. you constantly need to keep updating, dialoguing, posting and so on. Me and Björn discussed the feeling of almost feeling strained in having anything remotely intelligent to say all the time :)

I guess this is the challenge in the Age of Conversation. Do check out the book, it's written by 100 bloggers who have each contributed to it. For sure an interesting read, though I've only flipped through the first couple of pages.

Age of Conversation

http://www.ageofconversation.com/

The age of conversation book.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Being in visible in the masses

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:20:42 GMT

Shout

Facebook is a big place. A big, big place. In big places - it's hard to be a single person and stand-out of the crowd, but this is exactly what me and Björn have been trying to do over the past month. I must tell you, it's not an easy thing - we've been out talking to the people we know, deepening our connections with them, getting to know new people, creating groups, publishing content and so on an so forth.

There are a few other people who'd like to be visislbe on facebook - and they've been doing it a bit differently. I'm talking about the major companies putting out ads in facebook - in the feeds, on the sidebar, through flyers and so on. What I'm thinking about is - which approach is the most effective one, the social route taken by me and Björn or the traditional marketing route taken by Verizon, HotChicks.com or other ad posters.

I know which one I think is in the long-run. Mashable seems to corroborate my opinion.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Telia loves Björn

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 09:28:33 GMT

YouTube - We Love Your Operator - Telia, Sweden - Rebtel

There's more love in the air - Telia loves Björn. Here our latest film on Youtube.

The telia dude mostly seemed surprised and didn't have much to say... next up... Telenor! :)

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: We love your operator, Three in UK

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:10:28 GMT

YouTube - We love your operator - Three in Sweden - Rebtel

As a reply to the UK "We Love Your Operator" videos me and Björn decided to head out to on town and make our own. We met up with Three - and oh yeah did they love us back!

The love is all around! :)

Check out the originals as well!

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Free your iPhone - why not use your address book?

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:52:13 GMT

Rebtel Blog

The Rebtel blog.

A week ago Jajah were very proud of how you could use their service through the iPhone. Yeah, it's pretty neat that you can browse to their webpage using your wifi/edge-enabled phone.

However, I feel that it's slightly easier to just use your normal address book. In the Rebtel blog today is a real easy to follow step-by-step guide to do what Jajah asks you - but well without having to go online even.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Ad-based revenues

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:51:09 GMT

Facebook | Flyer Board

Flyers in Facebook - good, necessary or evil?

So, Facebook is constantly expanding the opportunity to increase the amount of ads we see on their site. First we have the ads inside the feeds and then the flyer feature. I can see the flyers be really useful for say student organisations - but currently I have four flyers out of which three are "Adult Friend Finder" softporn sites. Voi, voi, voi Facebook - where is this heading?

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Virtual economies - toppling regimes?

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 10:07:35 GMT

cross-world investment is around the corner - tales from the goatshed

A blog post by Alex about virtual economies.

Alex posted an interesting note on his blog yesterday about an article on virtual economies and their possible implications. This was a comment on a discussion around that Anshechung studios is launching the first cross-world exchange, which allows you to invest in any of several virtual worlds (such as SecondLife and Project Entropia).

I love the potential of these to have an even greater first world impact. The fact that they're inherently extremely hard to control means that they'll be more liberated from government influence and be freer. Currently, though, I'm worried about the fact that these communities are essentially walled gardens and don't interoperate - right now the owners are private companies, it's beyond the reach of any random person to create their own and to be the owner of the content (as it is very much with the internet).

If the global metaverse is not created, based on openness, interoperability and the fact that "anybody can do it" we're going to create a number of universes more free from government influence but instead bound to a handful corporations. In my opinion, not a good way to go. Hopefully these kind of initiatives will help to push these worlds forward.

The original press release.

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Social networking in plain english

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:54:59 GMT

Social Networking in Plain English

A great description of social networking, but in plain english..

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Facebook posts ad in feed!

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:18:07 GMT

Here's something new to me that I just came across - an ad posted in the feed of my facebook page. Here it's Verizon that's got to push their WiFi add into my feed.

I'm not sure I like this from a user's point of view (especially if they're not extremely careful about what they put here and how often), but I can see that it will have a much bigger impact for add traffic - especially when including the Share button, it's actually possible that if this catches on we might have viral ads on facebook... I thought the "application" invitations were pesky - now I have to stand people sharing ads with me?

Facebook verizon ad

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com

On Vox: Marketing videos?

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:15:21 GMT

Marketing Videos Became a Hit in Their Own Right - WSJ.com

Blendtec "will it blend" campaign".

Blendtec was really successfull with their marketing videos - in their campaign "will it blend?". Read & Learn!

Originally posted on linuskendall.vox.com