FriendCaller Blog

The browser-based VoIP Java solution supports free and clear live video chats with anyone, anytime or anywhere

Sunnyvale, Calif., July 6, 2011 – C2Call, the pioneer for Java-based VoIP calls via the browser, today introduced a complete browser-based echo-free video calling solution via the FriendCaller Web phone.

C2Call was the first company to leverage the modern operating systems’ Java Virtual Machine (VM) to offer FriendCaller.com’s free WebPhone calls to anyone, anywhere, without requiring users to download software or register. Once again, C2Call is the first company use Java to its advantage to introduce browser-based video calling.

Most browser-based video chat services use Flash enablement to make calls. Until today, FriendCaller was the only VoIP service using Java for browser call capabilities. The company’s announcement today coincides with Facebook’s announcement that it will partner with Skype to offer video calls. Unlike FriendCaller, Facebook’s solution requires an alternative installation flow of various Java plug-ins and exe files for each OS and browser combination. Furthermore, this configuration will not work on the Linux platform. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/notes/philip-su/building-video-calling/10150229123673920.

“Today’s announcement from Facebook is a significant endorsement of Java for large scale video calling and VoIP services, and until today we were pretty much alone in using Java for VoIP,” said Martin Feuerhahn, CEO of FriendCaller developer C2Call GmbH. “FriendCaller’s video calling feature supports an exceptional VoIP calling experience for users of our browser-based WebPhone, enabling them to chat with their FriendCaller contacts, or make free browser-based online video calls to friends who have not yet registered with FriendCaller, using their unique CallMe-Link, all without installing software or plug-ins.”

FriendCaller’s unique CallMe-Link technology makes it possible to connect with friends via free, PC-to-PC calls, even if they haven’t yet registered with FriendCaller. The FriendCaller CallMe-Link is a unique URL link that can be sent to anyone, even if they aren’t a FriendCaller user. When the recipient of the CallMe-Link clicks on it, they will be able to instantly call the sender, via their browser.

Availability

Video calling is currently available via FriendCaller’s WebPhone and Facebook app. Video calling for FriendCaller’s Apple® iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad™ will be available in July 2011, and for Android™ devices during Q3’11.

About C2Call

C2Call is the first company to offer free VoIP phone calls to anyone, without the need to download software or register. C2Call’s FriendCaller is the first and only WebPhone solution that lets anyone make a free call by clicking a link sent via email, IM, social networks, blog or website. C2Call was founded in 2008 by CEO Martin Feuerhahn and CTO Michael Knecht, founders of Actai Networks, the mobile Internet solutions development company. C2Call is a venture-backed company that has generated more than $4 million in revenue since April 2010. Investors in C2Call include Bill Draper, an early Skype investor.

For more information visit www.FriendCaller.com.

-###-

Apple, iPhone and iPod touch are registered trademarks, iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. All other registered trademarks and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Yesterday, from the perspective of FriendCaller’s CEO, Martin Feuerhahn, an article about the new Android Web-based Market was published on our blog. Since, Martin lives in Taiwan, he happened to get the access to the new Android market in Taiwanese language, and discovered the mixture of Taiwanese and English language with incorrect currency listings for paid apps.

Out of curiosity, today we took a closer look at the German Android Market. There is not much of a difference here too, and we also discovered a blend of English and German language; in principle, not so bad, but for a major global player like Google, this is of course an absurdity.

Furthermore, ever imagine yourself visiting a bakery, and being told that a bread costs approximately € 1.16. This is exactly what the currency conversions performed at backend of the Android Market are suggesting; like for example we found all paid apps are tagged with an approximated price using symbol “~“, once their real price in USD is converted into Euros. These odd and somewhat comical prices somehow left us with a little dubious taste.

Another, mainly German-based problem is the payment method offered. Since, the whole idea of buying paid apps is based upon Google Checkout, one needs a credit card to do so which is not popular here, likewise it’s alternate EC-Karte (electronic cash card).

At the moment, we can only hope that Google invests a little more commitment into the development of the Android Market soon.

FriendCaller is recognized by German’s leading weekly business magazine Wirtschaftswoche online edition. Their point of view, shared by many: Most parts of the Internet commerce is dominated by large corporations like Google, Ebay or Amazon and newcomers have to create new categories like Facebook or Twitter did or have to take on the giants by providing better and cheaper service, superior user experience or delivering an establish service idea with a special twist like C2Call with FriendCaller.

In their point of view Michael Knecht, C2Call CTO and me, C2Call CEO, started out backed by Ex-Skype Investor Bill Draper to attack Skype by pioneering browser based VoIP: Much easier to use, nothing to install and enabling really spontaneous conversation through a simple mouse-click.

I find this article well written, Matthias Hohensee is well known for his excellent silicon valley reports. However, in our point of view we do not compete with Skype, they have pioneered VoIP for home use, we simply take Internet Telephony one step further and make it even easier and more spontaneous to use. Our browser based technology creates new application through more open social interactions through the click-to-call approach, something a closed user system like Skype can not do. There it is a must that both parties first install and configure skype, get an user ID, exchange these ID and confirm their online relationship before calling.

The click-to-call (C2Call) FriendCaller approach is simple, only one party has to be a FriendCaller user, the Internet call with the other party is established through a link that can be send via email, IM, posted on a blog or anywhere else on the internet. You can start using it here: FriendCaller.com.

Martin Feuerhahn

Well, this makes it official – we’ve raised $2 million in Series A funding from Draper Investment Company, High-Tech Gründerfonds and Mr. Klaus Wecken, co-founder of KHK Software AG.

Raising this sort of money from a group of such respected investors can certainly be seen not only as a vote of confidence, but also as a sign that we’re on the right track.
We’re especially excited that this fresh influx of funds will help accelerate our expansion, as we have already generated more than $2 million in revenues since April 2010 and now have more than 900,000 users, with an additional 15,000 new users a day. And our FriendCaller app is one of the most popular iPhone apps – ranking among the Top 15 free social networking apps.

Much has clearly happened since the idea for C2Call was born back when our CEO Martin Feuerhahn and CTO Michael Knecht traveled the world on projects and found that each region seemed to have its own solution. That made it impossible to communicate with partners and customers on one platform. They came up with C2Call and FriendCaller to solve that issue.

Now, even someone’s grandma can use FriendCaller because we have what we always set out to develop: a free, easy-to-use and straightforward solution. By making calls free over any Internet-ready device, and by enabling social media and other sites with integrated digital voice communication, we are just getting started.