Vyke
Encyclopedia
Vyke Communications is a Voice over IP
telephony company with a focus on Mobile VoIP
and IP SMS
using S60 supported mobile phones
without the need for additional hardware. Vyke allows users to make telephone calls and send SMS over the Internet via their mobile-handset, computer or a normal fixed or landline.
Vyke offers free calls and SMS between connected users by utilizing existing Wi-Fi
and wireless zones, existing mobile phone provider Internet networks and proprietary software. Calls and SMS to users who are not online, or do not have the same program installed on their mobile phones, are available for a fee. Additional services available to Vyke subscribers and customers include more traditional VoIP technology such as computer–to-phone calling, callback (where two nominated numbers are connected by Vyke via SMS, computer-initiated or callback number request), computer-based SMS and several other initiatives in development but available for Beta-testing through Vyke Labs. Apple Mac computers and platforms are also able to use a specialized dialer for Mac
-to-phone calling.
Vyke offers free calls with only a one time connection charge to countries such as the United States, Canada and most countries in Western Europe
. Hence it falls under the free or almost free VoIP providers . Vyke for mobile sends text messages over the mobile operator's data channel .
A reverse merger with Tower PLC lead to the company being listed on the London stock exchange on 27 June 2005. This was followed by a name change to Vyke Communications PLC.
In 2008 Vyke Communications PLC took over Callserve, a telephony company with similar solutions to those of Vyke and years of experience in the industry.
In April 2011, after running into financial problems, Vyke Communications PLC went into administration. The following month TIH Ventures Limited, a private equity firm with an emphasis on telephony solutions, bought the rights to Vyke and its business.
. Currently it is supported by Nokia phones, BlackBerry and the iPhone. Calls are free between connected, online users. If the recipient is offline, or does not also have Mobile-VoIP, then calls attract a fee. The user’s mobile phone acts in the same manner as a traditional VoIP computer-based call, or a call made from a soft-phone, but is instead made and received on a normal mobile phone. This effectively makes for a more portable VoIP calling system than traditionally used. Calls that do attract a fee are charged at the same rate as a Vyke PC/MAC-to-phone call.
Vyke Mobile-VoIP was first released on 28 March 2007 with a promotional release on 5 December 2007 from more than 9500 hotspots in the London metropolitan area, UK.
Vyke became a Nokia preferred partner who entered into a global distribution agreement with Vyke to distribute Vyke Mobile-VoIP in October 2007.
Vyke SMS is charged at a global rate. Thus it makes no difference whether the recipient has the Vyke software installed or not, or what the origin and destination of the SMS are geographically, the price of the SMS will always be the same.
Vyke SMS, originally calles Vyke FreeTxT was released on the 22nd July 2008.
utilizes ANI callback
services to connect two phone numbers. The user initiates a call by calling the ANI callback number from their mobile or fixed line, sending an SMS from their mobile phone and using Vyke Pro or Vyke Lite, two proprietary software programs to facilitate connections, or sending a data request either from a computer or from the Vyke Pro and Vyke Lite 2.0 programs. Vyke Pro is not supported on all mobile-phone devices but Vyke Lite 2.0 does work on most mobile devices.
The user is then ‘called back’ and then the second leg of the call is connected to the nominated destination number. In this manner, a user may nominate any two numbers to be connected. A fee applies for the service and is calculated based on the two numbers being connected. Mobile phones are charged at a higher rate then fixed lines.
If the call is connected to a user’s mobile phone and they are outside of their normal mobile telephone provider’s network, then an inbound Roaming
charge will be incurred.
Vyke Pro was released on 20 June 2007.
Vyke Lite was released on 6 September 2007.
by VoIP and VoIP attacks against service providers. Of these, only VoIP eavesdropping is of significant concern to Vyke products and services.
(QOS) is not guaranteed and dropouts, broken connections and compression distortion can be observed by users.
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
telephony company with a focus on Mobile VoIP
Mobile VoIP
Mobile VoIP or simply mVoIP is an extension of mobility to a Voice over IP network. Two types of communication are generally supported: cordless/DECT/PCS protocols for short range or campus communications where all base stations are linked into the same LAN, and wider area communications using...
and IP SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
using S60 supported mobile phones
S60 platform
The S60 Platform is a software platform for mobile phones that runs on Symbian OS. It was created by Nokia, who made the platform open source and contributed it to the Symbian Foundation. S60 has been used by mobile device manufacturers including Siemens mobile, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Panasonic...
without the need for additional hardware. Vyke allows users to make telephone calls and send SMS over the Internet via their mobile-handset, computer or a normal fixed or landline.
Vyke offers free calls and SMS between connected users by utilizing existing Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
and wireless zones, existing mobile phone provider Internet networks and proprietary software. Calls and SMS to users who are not online, or do not have the same program installed on their mobile phones, are available for a fee. Additional services available to Vyke subscribers and customers include more traditional VoIP technology such as computer–to-phone calling, callback (where two nominated numbers are connected by Vyke via SMS, computer-initiated or callback number request), computer-based SMS and several other initiatives in development but available for Beta-testing through Vyke Labs. Apple Mac computers and platforms are also able to use a specialized dialer for Mac
Mackintosh
The Mackintosh or Macintosh is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made out of rubberised fabric...
-to-phone calling.
Vyke offers free calls with only a one time connection charge to countries such as the United States, Canada and most countries in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
. Hence it falls under the free or almost free VoIP providers . Vyke for mobile sends text messages over the mobile operator's data channel .
1. Background
The company was founded as Maskina in 2000 in Reykjavik, Iceland. In the early 2003, there was merger between Maskina and Viva Technologies. This, however, did not last long as on the 31st of December of the same year Maskina was purchased from Viva Technologies by Maskina AS.A reverse merger with Tower PLC lead to the company being listed on the London stock exchange on 27 June 2005. This was followed by a name change to Vyke Communications PLC.
In 2008 Vyke Communications PLC took over Callserve, a telephony company with similar solutions to those of Vyke and years of experience in the industry.
In April 2011, after running into financial problems, Vyke Communications PLC went into administration. The following month TIH Ventures Limited, a private equity firm with an emphasis on telephony solutions, bought the rights to Vyke and its business.
2.1 VykeMobile
Vyke Mobile-VoIP is proprietary software that allows users to initiate and receive phone calls via Wi-Fi or WLANWireless LAN
A wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...
. Currently it is supported by Nokia phones, BlackBerry and the iPhone. Calls are free between connected, online users. If the recipient is offline, or does not also have Mobile-VoIP, then calls attract a fee. The user’s mobile phone acts in the same manner as a traditional VoIP computer-based call, or a call made from a soft-phone, but is instead made and received on a normal mobile phone. This effectively makes for a more portable VoIP calling system than traditionally used. Calls that do attract a fee are charged at the same rate as a Vyke PC/MAC-to-phone call.
Vyke Mobile-VoIP was first released on 28 March 2007 with a promotional release on 5 December 2007 from more than 9500 hotspots in the London metropolitan area, UK.
Vyke became a Nokia preferred partner who entered into a global distribution agreement with Vyke to distribute Vyke Mobile-VoIP in October 2007.
2.2 Vyke SMS
Vyke SMS is proprietary software that allows users to send and receive SMS via Wi-Fi or their mobile phone provider’s data networks using their existing mobile phone. The purpose is to reduce SMS costs by taking advantage of the lower cost for data traffic compared to individual SMS charges. The program runs in the background of the mobile phone interface and is effectively invisible to the end user. Existing address books, inbox, outbox, drafts and other SMS folders remain unchanged and are integrated into the program automatically. Vyke SMS is available for download, and is an integrated part of the Vyke Mobile application. Once installed, the user has the option of sending SMS via the Vyke IP network or their usual mobile phone provider.Vyke SMS is charged at a global rate. Thus it makes no difference whether the recipient has the Vyke software installed or not, or what the origin and destination of the SMS are geographically, the price of the SMS will always be the same.
Vyke SMS, originally calles Vyke FreeTxT was released on the 22nd July 2008.
2.3 Vyke PC-to-Phone, Mac-to-Phone
Vyke PC-to-phone allows users to call mobile phones and landlines locally and internationally for a fee. The user downloads the Vyke dialer or the Mac dialer and, provided there is credit on their Vyke account simply enters the number plus the country code and is connected. Headphones/speakers and a microphone are required to use this service.2.4 Vyke Callback, Vyke Pro and Vyke Lite
Vyke callbackCallback (telecommunications)
In telecommunications, a callback occurs when the originator of a call is immediately called back in a second call as a response.- International calling :...
utilizes ANI callback
Automatic number identification
Automatic number identification is a feature of telephony intelligent network services that permits subscribers to display or capture the billing telephone number of a calling party. In the United States it is part of Inward Wide Area Telephone Service . ANI service was created by AT&T for...
services to connect two phone numbers. The user initiates a call by calling the ANI callback number from their mobile or fixed line, sending an SMS from their mobile phone and using Vyke Pro or Vyke Lite, two proprietary software programs to facilitate connections, or sending a data request either from a computer or from the Vyke Pro and Vyke Lite 2.0 programs. Vyke Pro is not supported on all mobile-phone devices but Vyke Lite 2.0 does work on most mobile devices.
The user is then ‘called back’ and then the second leg of the call is connected to the nominated destination number. In this manner, a user may nominate any two numbers to be connected. A fee applies for the service and is calculated based on the two numbers being connected. Mobile phones are charged at a higher rate then fixed lines.
If the call is connected to a user’s mobile phone and they are outside of their normal mobile telephone provider’s network, then an inbound Roaming
Roaming
In wireless telecommunications, roaming is a general term referring to the extension of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. Roaming ensures that the wireless device is kept connected to the network, without losing the...
charge will be incurred.
Vyke Pro was released on 20 June 2007.
Vyke Lite was released on 6 September 2007.
4.1 Security concerns
The top 5 threats to security for VoIP technology in 2008 are Denial of service attacks on VoIP networks, VoIP eavesdropping, Microsoft office communications server, VishingVishing
Vishing is the criminal practice of using social engineering over the telephone system, most often using features facilitated by Voice over IP , to gain access to private personal and financial information from the public for the purpose of financial reward. The term is a combination of "voice" and...
by VoIP and VoIP attacks against service providers. Of these, only VoIP eavesdropping is of significant concern to Vyke products and services.
4.3 Quality of service
Quality of serviceQuality of service
The quality of service refers to several related aspects of telephony and computer networks that allow the transport of traffic with special requirements...
(QOS) is not guaranteed and dropouts, broken connections and compression distortion can be observed by users.
4.5 Controversy
With the introduction of Vyke Pro, Vyke came into direct competition with more traditional SMS mobile services by providing a mobile-phone client that allowed SMS to be sent using data transfer instead of via the mobile phone service providers’ usual networks. Attempts were made by various mobile phone providers to block the technology with limited success. No attempts to block Vyke FreeTxT have occurred as at the 12th September 2008.6.1 Unsupported functionality
- Voice call encryptionEncryptionIn cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
. - Conference calls.
- Server side address book storage.
- Address book import tools from Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, etc.
- Answering machineAnswering machineThe answering machine or message machine, also known as the telephone answering machine in the UK and some Commonwealth countries) and previously known as an ansaphone, ansafone, or telephone answering device is a device for answering telephones and recording callers' messages.Unlike voicemail,...
test call. - Online chatOnline chatOnline chat may refer to any kind of communication over the Internet, that offers an instantaneous transmission of text-based messages from sender to receiver, hence the delay for visual access to the sent message shall not hamper the flow of communications in any of the directions...
. - Instant messagingInstant messagingInstant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
.
7. Awards
Vyke was awarded the 2007 Internet Telephony Product of the Year Award by Technology Marketing Corporation.8. See also
- SkypeSkypeSkype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
- Yahoo! VoiceYahoo! VoiceYahoo! Voice is a Voice over IP PC-PC, PC-Phone and Phone-to-PC service , provided by Yahoo! via its Yahoo! Messenger instant messaging application. Yahoo! Voice uses the Session Initiation Protocol , GIPS codec and the Dialpad engine for voice transport...
- AIM Phoneline
- VoIP
- Comparison of VoIP softwareComparison of VoIP softwareVoIP software is used to conduct telephone-like voice conversations across Internet Protocol based networks. VoIP stands for "Voice over IP". For residential markets, VoIP phone service is often cheaper than traditional public switched telephone network service and can remove geographic...