Counterpath, makers of the Bria softphone client have launched Quick Conference, an apparently easy-to-use audio conferencing server.

When deployed, Bria (and presumably other SIP standard) users will be able to dial a four digit number to create a conference on the Quick Conference server.

Quick Conference features web-based administration, IBM Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook calendar integration and remote management via PDA.

S60tips.com has an updated article listing VoIP applications suitable for use with the S60 smartphone platform.

Listed and reviewed in the article are Nokia’s own Gizmo, Truphone, EQO, Skype, fring and Yeigo
.

The article updates an earlier review of S60 Voice over IP applications.

gigaom.com carries word that the big global Telcos such as AT&T, British Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, NTT etc could be working together to create a ‘Skype rival’ for 2009.

No real detail or grit is given on the product although I would hope that it would be a SIP or at least standards-based system unlike Skype which is uses a proprietary method.

The service is said to be designed to ultimately be available for mobile devices with 3G or 4G connections so presumably the model would be direct connection or client/server connection rather than Skype’s P2P routing model.

Some more detail over in Om Malik’s article.

Nokia just has announced it’s new 6300i handset.

The 6300i, developed (inevitably) from the Nokia 6300 now includes WiFi connectivity and a Voice over IP capability. Nokia’s developer site suggests that the handset will communicate on the SIP protocol for VoIP with the potential to make such calls over either GSM or local WiFi networks.

The 6300i is set to ship to ‘select markets’ in the second quarter of 2008 with a MSRP of €175