The nimble "Buzz" is getting louder

The Netherlands based Nimbuzz is the latest among internet communications startup companies that have started gaining a lot attraction. Nimbuzz is in addition to supporting already popular IM/chat services such as Skype, Windows Live, Yahoo, Google GTalk... also like Rebtel focusing on cheap and easy to user international mobile phone calls. Nimbuzz has their gateway locations around the world in places such as New York, Amsterdam and Hongkong supporting around 35 countries. What I find in particular interesting is that Nimbuzz is the first company actually addressing the vast majority of already available mobile phones that can download and run a Java application. This is a first step in a phased opportunity to finally move towards mobile VoIP thereby once and for all killing the old telecom operator approach to voice calling and in particular billing. More about to follow in a separate article.

Today, the drawback is related to cheaper or too old mobile phones supporting Java J2ME apps using MIDP v1 and operator preloaded phones you cannot easily change.

Since Nimbuzz is working on Java application that is using VoIP, it will be interesting to see what is in store for us users coming from competitors.

Mobile Mail for Everyone, One click mobile international calling

From the last Mobile Monday (MoMo) Sweden event before summer, Ken Imamura from MoMo introduced MoMail's Lars Aase, VP Marketing presented their free mobile phone email solution. MoMail provides a solution where you can check your email from Google, Yahoo or work and get your copy to your mobile phone as well as on your MoMail web. MoMail is a very smart and compact service allowing you to use it on most phones regardless of screensize and memory. MoMail also remembers where your email came from so when you reply to your Google email, your gmail address will show up.

Rebtel's CEO, Hjalmar Winbladh presented Rebtel's service for making mobile international calls using local phone numbers. You can add your friends phone number, get a local number and call your friend. You pay a small fee per minut and as an option if your friend is within one of the 48 countries supported and your friend also get a local phone number, you don't pay Rebtel anything for the call. Rebtel's service is similar to the UK based, Hype but is easier to use with its two call method choices and it does not "piggy-back" on Skype.

The CEO of Squace, Aage Reerslev presented the personalization and easy to navigate the web solution based on a "square like" screen layout where you can tag and bookmark and store and share with your friends how you use the web from your mobile phone. Squace is also working on how to simplify the use of Rebtel services by using the Squace frontend.

I also met with people from YaYa Productions, Adimo (mobile services and solutions) and Mobile Sorcery (mobile software solutions).

Next MoMo event is a 2-day event planned for early fall.

Squace Launch - The MyStuff way for Mobile Phones

Mobile Monday (MoMo Sweden http://www.mobilemonday.se/) is arranging a meeting a the mobile start up company Squace this Monday June 16 at 5pm. If you are not aware of this but you will be in town, use this opportunity to come and see Squace in action and listen to the CEO Aage Reerslev. Squace is a cool new service that lets you design your stuff as a mobile site, tag info, network with others.

As a part of MoMo meeting, you will also get an opportunity to listen to Rebtel 's CEO, Hjalmar Winbladhand their interesting mobile international calling by replacing (depending on your country location) the international phone number with a local number.

I also want to point out, please feel free to contact me for a discussion about your company needs. Contact me, see http://www.lidforss.com/ for details.

PS. Also, remember to register for this MoMo event, space is limited!