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Stuart Henshall
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Lycos Phone Beta

March 29, 2006 09:37 AM

Topics: Competitors

I thought Lycos was a search engine. Now it seems they are in the phone business. In a deal that has been structured with Globe7 the Lycos Phone Beta is now available. What's intriguing about this deal is the opportunity to "earn" free talk time through partner offers. Then one look at them put me off. Overall we have another clumsy VoIP client. Sound quality is narrow band, and the usual SIP issues like authenticating your buddies and poor presence information just mimic other "telco" productions. For a Skyper it is a good illustration that UI's (user interface) matter. It also reinforces that all sorts of new content and value creation opportunities are coming to theIM/Voice/Video client.

Lycos is redefining a new path by delivering unlimited entertainment across the globe to your lap. Now you need not browse other websites for information as information will be tunneled directly to you. Watch Globe7 TV in full screen by just double-clicking on the screen.Globe7 TV

So a multimodal media experience is here which includes a telephone. Is there any difference to adding IM and PSTN to MSN Media Player" or "Quicktime"? Integrating the "video" channel is the future. "Dialing" or clicking for content is easy. BTW.. .why can't I add channels already to Skype? Oh that's right it is proprietary! Maybe a deal with Apple is in the works.

Overall, Lycos Phone is beta so I should be light handed with criticism that is easy to dish out until you have to create one of these monsters yourself. As a voice client, it doesn't do it. It's twice the size of Skype to download. Why? Does it contain a desktop snooping agent? I have no idea. Maybe because it is executed in Java? Next, getting it logged in and running was too hard. I managed to make a regular phone call before I made a PC to PC call. The beta came with $1.00 credit. 100 free minutes to the US for those that want it... and the hassle. I'd say it isn't worth it. Money won't buy you happiness in this instance.

lycosphone2.png

Did it work?

Sort of. I couldn't click to call my added buddy. The calls from Bill came in as a "number" rather than name. Maybe it was how I added him to my contacts. The video connected at each end... eg we could see ourselves but no video was exchanged etc.

Your PC is your Phone Download Lycos Phone and start using your PC to call landlines and mobile phones. Get 100 free minutes to US, then earn free talk time through partner offers. All you need to start is a headset or microphone and speakers. Learn More � Lycos Phone Beta
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Comments

Posted by: LEO at April 9, 2006 3:51 AM

i think the lycos phone's sound quantity is so bad.

Posted by: Keith at April 12, 2006 4:43 PM

The Lycos/Globe7 phone client is a pig. It clocks in at 90 megabytes of ram, including their own JAVA VM. I agree that the UI is clunky and cryptic.

I tried making a test call using Lycos but the other party couldn't hear me and vice-versa. Maybe this was because of Totalrecorder, but Skype and Yahoo IM don't have any problem with Total. I think the Lycos software is a piece of junk. Even at $0.01 a minute it is no bargain. I will stick with Skype for now. Lastly, Lycos/Globe7 do not have a client version that runs on Pocket PC, which Skype does. Even Yahoo does not have a Pocket PC client. Skype runs great on my Dell Axim.

Posted by: Jimmy at April 12, 2006 9:56 PM

I cannot more agree with previous comments. Lycos phone is a piece of junk, hogging the system, dropping calls, and the worst voice quality I have ever experienced with any voip phones. Don't waste your time and money, even for free. Regret have tried it.

Posted by: Bob Simson at May 2, 2006 1:12 AM

Hi Guys,

Hey guys i did not find anything wrong with lycos phone , I think it may be not better then skype but i am not with you guys as stated above on lycos phone voice quality. As i am using it from last 15 days for both personal and offical purpose . I did not felt any discomfart from lycos phone. I am glad to say that i have saved almost $40 to $50 from my pocket with the help of their partner offers.

Thanks

BOB

Posted by: Pallab Gupta at May 16, 2006 11:49 AM

I'm not so sure about the comments above. Yesterday I used Globe7 to call a remote place in India, not a metropolis. Not only did I call at 9c/min, I got excellent voice quality with no drops. I would continue with this becuase of their rates.

Posted by: Pranav at July 4, 2006 6:02 AM

I think the quality of voice of globe 7 doesnt match skype, but look at the rates. If you do the cost benefit analysis, Globe7 is much better

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