FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Voiceglo (OTCBB:TGLO), a global, full-service Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications company, today announced the next generation of personal communications with the release of its GloPhone version 2.0, offering users a number of new feature enhancements. GloPhone ([ >>> ] a Web- and PC-based phone service, offers consumers a convenient and affordable way to keep in touch with friends and family throughout the world. Through GloPhone’s proprietary, patent-pending VoIP technology, users have the freedom to make and receive calls to and from any phone, anywhere in the world using a dial-up or broadband Internet connection.

Using real U.S. telephone numbers, GloPhone version 2.0 integrates the technology’s proven reliability, flexibility and superior voice quality with a sleek new handset, exclusive calling features and competitive local, long-distance and international calling plans — providing consumers with the ultimate calling experience. With bundled minute packages that start as low as $9.95/year, GloPhone users now have the flexibility to choose an affordable plan that fits their calling lifestyle and their budget. GloPhone customers also have the freedom to make international calls to any traditional or wireless phone with rates starting at a low 2.9 cents/minute, and can always keep in touch with other GloPhone subscribers with free unlimited peer-to-peer calling.

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By Josh Long

Covad Communications Group Inc. was dealt a blow last year when the FCC voted to phase out rules that require the biggest local phone companies to share a part of their networks with high-speed Internet providers.

Now, the commission may choose to preserve those regulations. Although the FCC voted 3 to 2 in July to adopt interim rules governing wholesale network access to the biggest local phone networks, FCC Chairman Michael Powell is seeking to reach a compromise with the two Democrats, Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps.

As part of the compromise, the commission may keep in place regulations that allow broadband providers, such as Covad, to share the local phone line with the likes of BellSouth Corp. and SBC Communications Inc. Last year, the commission released an order that phased out the requirements over three years.

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Noel Wandera
Nairobi

Kenyans will next month start paying more to ocal calls over fixed telephone lines.

Telkom Kenya yesterday announced that it plans to increase by price of local calls by up to 6 percent.

The highest increment will affect those with private lines, whose tariffs have been adjusted by 16 per cent from Sh7.40 to Sh8.60 for three minutes.

Public Payphone (booths) users will pay an extra 14 per cent when the new price of Sh8 per three minute comes into effect. Previous they paid Sh7.

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Immigrants find lifeline to kin
By Jill Sheehy

You got promoted. Your wife just gave birth. Or maybe you’re just having one of those days where everything is going wrong. Either way, you’ve got to call your mother.

In these days when technology has touched corners of our lives never thought possible, the only question now is how to use it. Getting in touch with your cousins in Kilkenny could mean anything from dialing a few extra numbers to texting their cell phone.

For the Irish, calling «home» is just as obligatory as it is for anyone else, and the combination of technology and increasing demand has made it easier to do so while abroad.

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There is a reason Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helu is called Midas: he takes investments few would touch and turns them into gold.

Lately, his golden touch has been working north of the border. Slim owns 13.5 percent of MCI Inc. (Nasdaq: MCIP — message board), and last week, when the carrier announced a dividend to shareholders, it meant a $68.1 million payout to Slim as MCI shares rose 16 percent on the news.

Slim’s interest in U.S. interexchange carriers is noteworthy. Not long ago, MCI and AT&T Corp. (NYSE: T — message board) were among the biggest competitive threats to Slim’s Teléfonos de México (Telmex), Mexico’s largest phone company.

But Slim began buying WorldCom (now MCI) bonds in 2002, when the company was mired in bankruptcy and financial scandals and most everyone was planning its funeral. Some think that when the price is right for AT&T, he’ll take a chunk of that as well.

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