TeleVox

TeleVox -- TeleVox is the Newest internet phone application designed to make possible real-time Internet-based "phone calls" with other users -- all for the price of a local Internet connection. TeleVox's extensive feature set includes both half and full-duplex audio, file transfer capabilities, text-based chat, VoiceFonts (cool voice manipulation tools), call blocking, the super efficient RT24 codec designed by Voxware (makes possible high-quality, real-time audio even at low, low rates of 2400 bps), caller ID, and much more. Unlike most of its competition, Voxware offers its software for free. A Windows 95 beta release is currently the only available version but Macintosh and Windows 3.x versions are expected soon. TeleVox continues the advertising motif made popular by its competition (WebPhone and CyberPhone), but TeleVox's is currently limited to its own advertisements. TeleVox sports an attractive interface on par with CyberPhone, but both pale in comparison to that of WebPhone. While still in beta release, TeleVox does lack many features necessary to make it competitive in the 'net phone market, including cross-platform compatibility, the ability to handle concurrent and simultaneous conversations, voice mail/answering machine capabilities, call muting, and message encoding. At this point in time, TeleVox occupies a spot in the middle of the pack for Internet Phone clients. Being a free application helps, but with so many strong competitors, it will likely be tough for TeleVox to carve out a niche in a category that already includes popular clients like the one and only original Internet Phone, WebPhone, CyberPhone, Speak Freely, WebTalk and others. If TeleVox is to make a name for itself, it will have to do so in the very near future. Pros: Impressive array of features including caller ID and call and blocking, VoiceFonts, RT24 codec Cons: Lacks some of the features found in the competitors, interface not as attractive as WebPhone's New: Windows 3.x version released, minor revisions and improvements Version Reviewed: Beta 19 Date of Review: 6/28/96 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud