Orange Labs Profile: RebelVox

RebelVox is a company that is launching a live voicemail application to resolve the problem of communicating while having no network coverage

RebelVox was set up and privately funded by Tom Katis who had become frustrated at voice systems including phones and Skype, because although they have attributes, they are not perfect.

Whether you use Skype or a mobile phone, you have the same problems. These are that if you want to call someone, you're interrupting them because they have to answer, even though it might not be convenient for them to answer. It's also irritating that you can't make or receive calls when you're out of network range.

Live chat is not convenient to all people at the moment and this is essentially what mobile phones and Skype are.

Another big issue is with voicemail. Although if the person receiving the call may be out of range or doesn't answer you can leave a voicemail, you never know whether the person you're leaving a message for will listen to the voicemail or even if it will get to them. We need reliable voicemail delivery.

RebelVox is essentially instant voicemail. The company has produced an open source product called Voxer.

It's different to voicemail - more like email - because it switches on and off when you do/don't have reception, and you can reply when you want to rather than having to answer a call instantly.

Katis has described it as a hybrid protocol. It's efficient, live communications.

The application is used across mobile and PC. The computer interface (either on Mac or PC) is similar to Skype's 4.0 PC interface with a conversation history on the left and current activity on the right.

The application converges and IM interfaces, as you can type messgaes if you don't want to talk, but anyone in a conversation or conference call can record messages too that you can listen to when you want. If you want to talk live, you can simply click on a button and start talking to anyone involved in the call live either using the phone network or VoIP.

If you're using the application on your phone, you're faced with exactly the same interface and if using on the iPhone, you can use it with the same bubble interface as on threaded messaging.

The concept of the application is almost the same as voicemail - everytime you want to call someone and they're not available or can't answer, you leave a message and they can listen when they're free. They can then instantly reply when they're free.

Voxer is available across all platforms and on all device because it's open source.

The alpha application will be available for partners to test during July, but RebelVox is already developing new features including the ability to transcribe voice messages into text so those on a a call can jut read them if they're too vusy to talk.

However, Katis says that there are lots of problems with transcription applications at the moment and before this is an option they need to find a more accurate transcription program.