Technology, Culture, Commentary on the Internet Revolution

Ribbit Enables Browser VoIP

by Mike Abundo on August 13th, 2007

One of the few reasons to keep desktop IM clients despite the proliferation of Web-based alternatives is the lack of VoIP in those alternatives. All that changes today with Ribbit, an Adobe Flex component that enables VoIP.

The RibbitPhone Component will give Rich internet application developers the ability to make and receive calls, record/send and receive voicemail, as well as add and manage contacts.

Our goal in sharing this revolutionary technology with other developers is to help fill a huge void in web applications today; the ability to make true ‘one-click-calling’. The ability to click on a number within a web application and connect the user without delay or download is an unprecedented feature. Many existing and upcoming applications will benefit from this functionality, ranging from e-commerce and reservation sites to mapping and local services applications.

Ryan Stewart got a demo, and his jaw’s still on the floor.

The widget allows you to dial any phone and answer calls to your phone right from the browser. As part of the service you can specify a number to dial from which then shows up on the caller id of the person you’re dialing. There is a messaging feature built into the application so that anyone can call your number and it will ring both on your phone as well as inside the browser application. You can answer it from the app and use a microphone to talk. If you aren’t there, the system tracks your messages so you can see a list of them and play them back individually. It sounds like they’ll also be offering a transcribing service so you can get an email with both the sound file attached and a text version of the message.

I’ve already migrated all my email and nonvoice IM to my browser. I can’t wait to migrate my calls there, too.

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POSTED IN: Adobe, VoIP