Record Skype Calls - Easy Audio & Video Call Recording

We have posted before about recording phone calls through a TRX personal call recorder, recording multiple phone lines across a business network with VRS call recording software, or even saving conversations with the Express Talk softphone’s recording feature, but with the advent of internet technology like Skype, what if you want to record a phone conversation on your computer?

Record Skype Audio Calls

The solution to recording your voice-over-IP calls is our SoundTap streaming audio capture software. With SoundTap you can record any audio that is played on or through your PC or Mac, making it easy to record both sides of your conversation; instead of only your microphone input. It is akin to tapping your virtual phone and you can save the audio in .wav or .mp3 format.

Record Skype Video Calls

For video, we suggest you turn to Debut streaming video recording software. Debut is a powerful video capture program that can grab video from virtually any source, including your screen. Make sure your Debut options are enabled to record both video and audio, and then you can easily record your video calls, including Skype, to play back or edit later.

Express Talk is the First Hands Free Softphone

If you use a softphone like Express Talk on a regular basis you've probably noticed how convenient it is to have your phone on your computer. The newest feature added to Express Talk makes it the first and only softphone available with convenient hands-free voice-control, making it even easier to use your softphone on a day-to-day basis.

Version 4.27 of the Express Talk VoIP Softphone released this month added the new Voice Commands feature. With Voice Commands you can use your voice to harness the power of Express Talk while it stays hidden in the background. Not only can you dial any phone number simply by speaking it, you can also call anyone who is listed in your phonebook (home, work or mobile numbers, on any line that you wish to use) by simply speaking their name. In addition to being able to make calls with your voice, you can also answer incoming calls by saying "answer" when the phone rings. Opening the phonebook and dial list are two more things you can now do with your voice, and more features are sure to come.

If you have Windows 7 or Vista, you already have the speech recognition technology on your computer. All you have to do is train it to better recognize your voice and you're ready to go. While the easiest way to use Voice Commands is to let it listen all the time, you can have it only listen for commands when you press the hotkey. You can also configure a system-wide hotkey that uses the key combination of your choice. Express Talk lets you change the words used to perform each command in case you would rather use phrases other than the defaults.

Home Business: VoIP Phone System

Software for Getting Your Home Office Running
(Part 3 of 5)

Another key component to setting up your home office, after your accounting system is in place, is the phone system. You've likely heard about VoIP, which has been growing in popularity, and with good cause. As an entrepreneur the important thing to know is that VoIP can save you a lot of money on phone bills.

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and what that means is that the call information travels over the Internet instead of through traditional telephone landlines. Essentially, the only cost for sending information over the Internet is the Internet connection; the transmission itself costs nothing. That means calls between VoIP users will frequently be free.

The only cost associated with VoIP calls come from connecting to other telephone networks that service cell phones and landlines. Even in this case, there are significant cost savings because the VoIP phone providers can use the Internet to travel long distance, and then switch the call to a standard phone line in the local area of the destination, and you pay only for the local call, eliminating long-distance charges. The benefit to this is that you can increase the reach of your business, because you won’t be worried about your long-distance phone call budget.You business can potentially be more functional—providing new opportunities to increase your productivity and responsiveness.

With that in mind, here’s an example of the cost savings. For your home office, the telephone line and long-distance charges using a traditional landline phone system can cost upward of $100 per month. Compare that to the cost of using a VoIP system, where the total cost can be as low as $3.25 to $4.30 per month, a savings of more than 90%! With those savings, the initial cost of a business-oriented softphone will be paid for in less than a month.

A VoIP phone, or softphone like the Express Talk softphone only takes a few minutes to set up and will work with any VoIP provider. Express Talk is designed for professionals and has all the features you expect from a business telephone including do not disturb, conference calling, and even the ability to record conversations. It can be used with a USB phone to give the feel of a traditional phone, or with a headset, or microphone and speaker setup—which you may already have—making the cost of setting up your office with VoIP only a matter of buying the software.

Next: Phone System Enhancements

How VoIP Works

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, indicating the ability to carry vocals over the internet. Many businesses and homes are switching to VoIP softphones because the price is significantly lower. These lower costs are great, and just knowing that VoIP really can help you save might be enough, but for those inquiring minds out there here is brief introduction to how VoIP works.

VoIP technology takes advantage of existing data networks to transfer calls letting the Internet do most or all of the work. So by paying for your Internet connection you are already paying for the networking capabilities needed to have a VoIP telephone call. This means that many providers will offer completely free phone calls for calls made from one VoIP caller to another, or PC-to-PC calls, because they are handled entirely "on-line." When you want to call someone on a land-line phone, SIP gateway providers can connect you to a local phone service. The SIP provider uses the web to get your phone call as close to the other caller as possible before connecting to a standard phone line. This virtually eliminates long-distance charges altogether, which is why the rates are so much lower.

Advantages of VoIP

• VoIP is very scalable, letting you transmit more than one telephone call on the same broadband-connected telephone line, making it easy to add extra telephone lines
  
• Because VoIP is location independent, you can take your VoIP phone with you wherever you go, provided you are connected to the Internet
  
• VoIP reduces the need for dedicated phone wiring and some of the expensive hardware needed for a complete traditional telephony system
  

Tip: When choosing a provider, it is usually better to pick one who offers service specifically in your area. If you are calling a particular country a significant amount, choosing a provider from that country can potentially further reduce your costs further.

To learn more about the technical side of VoIP you might to check out the VoIP Demystified Video where the good people at HowStuffWorks.com give some more details about how VoIP works and voice information is transferred.

Video Call Support Added to Mac Express Talk Softphone

There are times when picking up the phone is better than writing an email, and a meeting in person is betters till. Video calls and video conferencing are good alternatives to meeting face-to-face when you are separated by long distances. And with webcams and VoIP technology being as readily available as they are today, video conferencing often saves companies money when they previously would have taken a business trip to meet in person.

That’s why we are pleased to announce that video call support has been added to Express Talk for Mac, so that just like the Windows Express Talk, you can make video calls in addition to VoIP phone calls over your computer.

The benefits of having a video phone extend beyond professional use, too. Use video calls to stay in touch with out-of-state friends and family, and to show off those cute kids of yours or your stylish new haircut. It’s easy; simply set up Express Talk with a USB video phone, or use a webcam with your headset or speakers and mic, and start making video phone calls in minutes.

How VoIP Can Help You Save

At this point, everyone knows someone who is using VoIP instead of a regular phone line. But for those without any experience with VoIP, the idea of switching over can seem like a daunting and risky task despite all the companies and users out there touting the benefits. VoIP has a negative stigma to overcome—during its early use calls weren’t always reliable and the quality was often poor. But the technology is constantly improving, and it has become a viable option for companies looking for innovative ways to save.

Not only will VoIP save you money, but using it can potentially make your business more functional—giving you new opportunities to increase your productivity and responsiveness. While actual cost savings will vary, with a reliable softphone like Express Talk, the savings for small businesses can be significant.

Cost Savings

Here’s an example: say a small business has six employees at one location, and several more employees working remotely. For the main office, the telephone line and long distance charges using a traditional PSTN landline phone system could cost about $180 per month, according to some Verizon statistics. Add to that the cost of the additional phone lines for the “virtual” employees not onsite. Regular phone lines for these freelancers usually run from $39.99 to $100 per month, plus taxes, making the monthly phone bill for this business as high as $780 per month.

Compare that to the cost of using a multi-line VoIP system, where the total cost can be as low as $3.25 to $4.30 per-month, a savings of more than 90%! At those prices, the switch to VoIP can pay for itself very quickly.

Functionality Boost

Another one of VoIP's biggest benefits is arguably increased functionality. The Yankee Group estimates that small to mid-sized companies who use VoIP systems are 25% to 35% more responsive to customers.

This increase is attributed to the convergence of voice and data, giving users one centralized system for managing messages sent by phone, fax, email, and cell phones. Reducing the number of channels that need to be handled separately makes checking and responding to messages a more efficient process, so more messages can be answered.

Learn More About VoIP

This is just the beginning. There is a lot more information about VoIP, and if you want to learn more here are several online resources you might want to check out:

• target="_blank"Voip Planet – Product reviews, case studies, and the latest VoIP news
  
• Fierce VoIP – VoIP news, business, security, and technology
  
• VoIP & Gadget Blog – Analysis of the state of VoIP
  
• About VoIP – News and discussion about VoIP
  
• VoIP Watch – A blog on VoIP and video
  

Switching to VoIP Helps Companies Save

In this economy, companies of all sizes are finding they need to tighten the purse strings and save as much money as possible. AdminCorp Limited is one company that has seen significant cost saving benefits from switching to VoIP.

As a business administration outsourcing specialist, AdminCorp manages accounts ranging from small to medium corporations throughout New Zealand. They used to have a hardware setup that was eating into resources between technician and telephone line provider fees. Last year, in order to keep up with technology and find a more cost effective solution, AdminCorp made the leap and switched to a Voice over IP solution.

AdminCorp was already familiar with NCH Software, having used Express Scribe, NCH’s free transcription application, for years. Because of this familiarity, AdminCorp chose to use another NCH Software program, Express Talk, to handle their VoIP phone calls. Express Talk is softphone that lets users make VoIP phone calls from their PC, Mac or Pocket PC mobile phone.

The switch to Express Talk has worked out well for AdminCorp, who saw their costs drop immediately. Recording calls they transcribe for clients has become a much easier task, and they can now transfer between different DID (direct inward dialing) phone numbers with ease. Additionally, they’ve benefitted from the added control they now have over their phone system. Previously they had to give direction to the telephone company, then wait around for the changes to be made. Now, without any outside tech support or service costs, they are able to update their system as needed.

See if Express Talk is the solution for your company. Between the free or low cost phone calls you can make with VoIP, the mobile softphone, video capabilities, professional and easy-to-use interface, and the full range of additional business features, you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Try Express Talk or any one of NCH's computer telephone software applications all with free 14-day trials available so you can make sure they will meet your needs.

iPhone VoIP Applications

Since its inception last year, Apple's App store has evaluate over 200,000 applications and updates. It has been reported that they receive 8,500 new apps a week!

But it still seems their guidelines are a bit unclear. Reviewers check for a variety of things such as: buggy software, crashing apps, use of unauthorized API, privacy violations, inappropriate content for children, and anything that "degrades the core experience of the iPhone."

Recently Vonage announced that their mobile application for iPhone made it through Apple's approval board. How is this possible? Vonage is a VoIP provider after all.

Through Apple's exclusive contract with AT&T they are obligated to follow AT&T's terms of service. This means iPhone apps cannot use AT&T's 3G signal to place calls. It does however leave room for apps to use the iPhone's WiFi signal.

This is exactly what the new Vonage app does. Although it has not been reported what exact capabilities the Vonage app will have, it will only be using the iPhone's WiFi to connect.

As the iPhone's exclusivity may be drawing to a close with AT&T, will the VoIP app approval process be altered?

Would you be interested in a VoIP application like our Express Talk on your phone?

Because of some of the unclear guidelines when we announced plans to start developing for the iPhone Express Talk want' originally on the list, but users of the Express Talk Pocket PC already enjoy the extra flexibility of being able to take their VoIP phone number with them wherever they go, and with the extra business features like transferring calls, call recording and a push to talk intercom.

The jury is still out, but perhaps there will be NCH VoIP iPhone apps on the horizon as well as Express Dictate and WavePad Audio Editor which are already being planned.

VoIP - Locating 911 Callers

Problem: VoIP users who call 911 from hotels and other remote sites sometimes can't be found by 911 operators.

Solution: AT&T's nomadic solution, called Heartbeat, uses its Internet network to track the location of users. When VoIP customers power down, AT&T's network will automatically suspend VoIP service. Once the phone adapter is plugged back in, AT&T will ask the user to verify his or her location. For customers who indicate they haven't moved, service will be instantly restored. If they have moved, they'll be directed to an 800 number or a Web page to register the new location.

Read more about how AT&T Solves VoIP's 911 issue with 'Heartbeat' in USA Today.


Check out ExpressTalk for a free softphone for windows, mac or pocket PC. ExpressTalk works with virtually all SIP providers for low cost calling pc to phone or free pc to pc voice or video chat.

I'm Grateful For

Just came across a nice blog entry about NCH Software from a customer. A linguist who has set up a blog all about things that she is grateful for, and we were honored enough to make the cut recently. You can check out her entry at http://imgratefulforww.blogspot.com/2009/07/nch-software.html.

We do offer several products that are either completely free, or have free basic editions. We do this largely in the hopes that people will be encouraged to try our other products, or will like them so much that they will upgrade to the paid versions as well as recommend our software to others. We are grateful to see that there people out there that appreciate these products, and we hope you all continue to enjoy them.

Some of our favorites include:

• WavePad Sound Editor
• Switch Audio Converter Software
• Prism Video Converter Software
• VideoPad Video Editor
• Express Talk Softphone
• Axon Virtual PBX
• Express Scribe Transcription Playback Software
• And many more.

Check out our complete line of over 80 software applications at www.nchsoftware.com

Did Your Phone System Get Left Behind in the Digital Transition?

Everything today is going digital. The recent transition to digital television in the United States is just one more example of this continuing digital revolution. But what about your phone? Are you still using analog landline telephones or have you already made the switch to VoIP?

VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol is become the digital wave of the telephone future. By taking advantage of the internet to send telephone voice information it is possible to drastically reduce your phone bills, especially for long distance calls.

Another benefit to VoIP is that it makes using telephony software like Axon virtual PBX and IVM Auto Attendant even easier. Products like these are much less expensive and easier to upgrade, scale, and maintain than their traditional hardware counterparts.

Of course these products aren't limited to using only VoIP telephone lines, so you still have the ability to connect and control your regular PSTN lines or a combination of VoIP and analog phone lines from your PC when design the best phone system for your home or office.

Take a look at the complete range of telephony products from NCH Software at www.nch.com.au/phone/index.html

Not sure if VoIP is right for You or Your Business?

With the latest release of Axon, a virtual PBX, we have made it even easier for you to try and test a VoIP system. We have teamed up with InPhonex, so you now have the option to set up a free 14-day trial VoIP account when you are setting up Axon on your machine. So now you have two full weeks to test not only all of the call management features and benefits that this virtual PBX can provide you, but you can trial a VoIP DID phone number as well. So if you have been sitting on the fence trying to decide if you should take the plunge into the world of we hope that this will be the stepping stone you need to try it out and experience all of the benefits that VoIP can provide.

Axon is a fully featured telephone switch that can be used either VoIP telephone lines or traditional analog landlines (PSTN) with the use of hardware adapters such as FXO adapters or telephony boards, or a combination of the two. But in this economy the cost saving benefits of VoIP due to reduced hardware costs and lower phone bills make a strong case for considering the switch, and how better to learn than by testing this easy to use software for yourself. Within minutes you will be able to setup the software and start making phone calls.

Learn more about Axon and Download at http://www.nch.com.au/pbx/index.html