Vyke

Infobox_Software
name = Vyke



caption = Vyke PC interface
developer = Vyke
operating_system = Microsoft Windows and Mac
genre = VoIP
Internet Phone
Mobile VoIP
SMS
license = Freeware
website = [https://www.vyke.com www.vyke.com]
Slogan =

Vyke Communications (Vyke A/S) 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 WiFi 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. [ [https://www.vyke.com/Vyke-Labs.jsf] ] Apple Mac computers and platforms are also able to use a specialized dialer for Mac-to-phone calling. [ [http://www.dialercentral.com/. Choose Mac lite from options.] ]

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 [ [http://www.myvoipprovider.com/option,com_myblog/show,60-free-voip-services-free-softphones-and-free-did-numbers-from-around-the-world.html/Itemid,130/ My VoIP Provider - Free and almost Free VoIP services] ] . Vyke for mobile sends text messages over the mobile operator's data channel [ [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/19/vyke_launches_text/ The Register - Vyke moves VoIP battle to SMS] ] .

1. Background

Vyke Communications PLC is a publicly traded company on the London AIM. The company has offices in Iceland, USA, UK and Malaysia with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The company became a Nokia preferred partner who entered into a global distribution agreement with Vyke to distribute Vyke Mobile-VoIP in October 2007. [ [http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/ "Nokia distribution agreement for Vyke mobile Voip service.” Retrieved 18th August 2008] ]

Founded in 2004, Vyke began as Maskina - Oslo, followed by the acquisition of Maskina - EHF in Iceland. These were then combined into Maskina Communications Incorporated in the USA. From here, a reverse merger with Tower PLC followed by a name change to Vyke Communications PLC led to their listing on the UK stock exchange on 27 June 2005. [ [http://www.vykecorporate.com/index.php?id=20/ Admission document available here.] ] As of August 2008, Vyke Communications PLC shares have been listed at between 0.495 GBP - 2.10 GBP over the preceding 12 months. [ [http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/ Vyke share prices. Retrieved 18th August 2008.] ]

2. Products / Features

2.1 Mobile-VoIP

Vyke Mobile-VoIP is proprietary software that allows users to initiate and receive phone calls via WiFi or WLAN. Currently only Nokia phones are supported. 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 Nokia mobile phone. This effectively makes for a more portable VoIP calling system then 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 28th March 2007 with a promotional release on 5th December 2007 from more than 9500 hotspots in the London metropolitan area, UK. [ [http://www.fiercewireless.com/ "Vyke launches full commercial mobile VoIP service from more than 9,500 hotspots and metropolitan area networks.” Retrieved 18th August 2008.] ]

2.2 Vyke FreeTxT

Vyke FreeTxT is proprietary software that allows users to send and receive SMS via WiFi 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. [ [http://www.gadgetspeak.com/ "A quick look at FreeTxT from Vyke.” Retrieved 18th August 2008.] ] 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 FreeTxT is available free of charge from the Vyke website [ [https://www.vyke.com/freetxt.jsf/ Vyke FreeTxT Download] ] and is compatible with S60 supported mobile phones. Once installed the user has the option of being on or offline, sending SMS via the Vyke IP network or their usual mobile phone provider, but may only send via their mobile phone providers usual data network. When travelling outside the coverage of the initial mobile phone provider’s network it is necessary to reinstall the software in order to select a local network provider. This limitation may be resolved after Beta testing is concluded and is a known bug. [ [http://www.vyke.com/ Vyke FreeTxT Beta testing] ]

Vyke does not charge for SMS’s sent between two users with the software installed who are both online at the time the message is sent. If the recipient is offline at that time, or does not have the software installed, then a fee will apply. The cost of sending the SMS is therefore limited to the cost of the data transfer of the user’s mobile phone provider instead of the SMS cost for the same provider.

Vyke FreeTxT was released on the 22nd July 2008. [ [http://www.it-director.com/ "Free/cheaper texts for Vyke users with the launch of FreeTxt” Retrieved 30th 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 callback 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. SMS may also be sent in this way if Vyke FreeTxT is not supported by the user’s mobile phone, however the usual Vyke SMS rate applies unless sending SMS to an online Vyke user via Vyke Pro. Vyke Lite 2.0 attracts the usual Vyke SMS charge.

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 20th June 2007. [ [http://www.voip-news.co.uk/ "Vyke launches free mobile text messages” Retrieved 18th August 2008.] ]
Vyke Lite was released on 6th September 2007. [ [http://www.smstextnews.com/ "Vyke release Vyke Lite.” Retrieved 18th August 2008.] ]

3. Company timeline of events

4. Board of directors [ [Available from http://www.vykecorporate.com] ]

5. Usage and traffic

To be added.

6. Issues

6.1 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, vishing by VoIP and VoIP attacks against service providers. [ [http://www.voip-news.com/ "The Top 5 VoIP Security Threats of 2008.” Retrieved 10th February 2008.] ] Of these, only VoIP eavesdropping is of significant concern to Vyke products and services. [ [http://www.circleid.com/ "Examining Two Well-Known Attacks on VoIP.” Retrieved 10th February 2008.] ]

6.2 Emergency numbers

Emergency calls are not supported by any of Vyke’s products.

6.3 Quality of service

Quality of service is not guaranteed and dropouts, broken connections and compression distortion can be observed by users.

6.4 Customer service

Vyke provides email based customer service only.

6.5 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. [ [http://www.theregister.co.uk/ "Mobile industry group leaps into VoIP debate.” Retrieved on 30th June 2007.] ] Attempts were made by various mobile phone providers to block the technology with limited success. [ [http://www.theregister.co.uk/ "Vyke moves VoIP battle to SMS” Retrieved 11th September 2008.] ] No attempts to block Vyke FreeTxT have occurred as at the 12th September 2008.

7. System and software

to be updated

7.1 Unsupported functionality

* Voice call encryption.
* Conference calls.
* Server side address book storage.
* Address book import tools from Skype, Yahoo! Messenger etc.
* Answering machine test call.
* Online chat.
* Instant messaging.

8. Awards

Vyke was awarded the 2007 Internet Telephony Product of the Year Award by Technology Marketing Corporation. [ [http://www.sipcenter.com/sip.nsf/newsview?open&type=News&docid=WEBB7AUKNY/ Vyke Award from TMC] ]

9. See also

* Skype
* Yahoo! Voice
* AIM Phoneline
* VoIP
* List of commercial voice over IP network providers
* Comparison of VoIP software

10. References

11. External links

* [https://www.vyke.com/ Vyke Main Website]
* [http://www.vykedirect.com/ Vyke Direct]
* [http://www.vykecorporate.com/ Vyke Corporate]
* [https://www.vyke.com/rates.jsf Vyke - Calling Rates]