The current influx of new technologies for VoIP and Web 2.0 aficionados has made keeping track of who is worth checking out and who is not rather difficult. There are dozens of new services every week and each one has something “new” to offer that the others do not. There are certain issues in particular that new companies look to address. Five of these companies stand above the rest as possible next wave internet sensations.
Grand Central
Grand Central’s pull is an ability to link numerous phone numbers to a single account, so that whenever that account number is called, all of the phones listed in that account will ring simultaneously until one is picked up. The company uses the phrase “one phone number for life”, but really it’s a fancy way of connecting any future phone numbers you may get to a single central number. A GrandCentral account allows users to check their voice mail, make calling blocks, record live calls and much more.
Jangl
Similar to how Craigslist and other internet forums have made it possible to contact a user without actually knowing their email address, Jangl allows an individual to receive a phone call without their phone number being handed out to just anyone. Instead, a user with a Jangl account gives an email address attached to their account. The caller then enters the email address into Jangl and is given a masked, random phone number to call which will connect to the user who is trying to hide their true number. Jangl will then send the call through to your number or record a voice mail. Even if a user does not have a Jangl account, they will record the message and send the voice mail to the user’s email inbox. These features are being integrated into Social Networking profiles and blogs to allow users and commenters the ability to call you directly from a profile or webpage without you needing to reveal a phone number.
Jaxtr
Jaxtr allows both numbers to stay private. A user enters their own phone number into a widget posted on a website, blog or profile. Jaxtr then connects the user to the phone number associated with that widget, keeping both numbers private. At the moment, Jaxtra boasts more than 100,000 users and has a Facebook widget already in place with more than 6,000 users.
JAJAH
Similar to both Jangl and Jaxtr, JAJAH uses anonymous calling technology to connect two people over the internet. Users can decide how other users are permitted to contact them though, choosing only to allow voicemails during the day or emails during the evening. JAJAH also offers VoIP style service that connects you to any phone number via VoIP for 2.8 cents a minute.
TxtDrop
TxtDrop’s new service also relies on widgets, this time for text messaging users via the internet, utilizing the internet or Mac OS X and
As to how these companies can honestly make money, it is a common question that few know the answer to quite yet. However, as Google recently purchased GrandCentral for $50 million and other companies are beginning to see revenue arrive from subscription based services and usage fees; the market for companies that solve real world problems is existent. It’s just a matter of proper application, necessary demand and quality product.
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