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Earthlink Mindspring VoIP for internet telephone conversations, voicemail, buddy lists and conferencing is backed by Sip Phone
Get 30 minutes of free voip calls. Earthlink's VoIP offering is MindSpring, with a combination of voice, buddy list, instant messenger and more. MindSpring is not a replacement for your normal phone service. You cannot dial normal telephone numbers with this service, including 911 or any other emergency service.
MindSpring is in Beta and Live Phone Networks is testing the product. Since Earthlink is the interface for many DSL providers such as Sprint, Earthlink has a registered subscriber base. How many of those users will adopt MindSpring is yet to be seen.
To install MindSpring you must have the Microsoft .Net framework in place or you must download .Net as part of the MindSpring installation. Even on high speed DSL or cable modem Microsoft's .Net framework is not a small installation. You must reboot after the installation. In the beta we are testing the first screen after rebooting does not have a logo or instructions, but it does have a prompt. Likely to make users leary, this screen does not tell you what is trying to install itself on your computer. Is it MindSpring, the .Net framework, or some spyware? Earthlink needs to clarify. Continuing the installation of MindSpring, we are greeted with a screen prompt for username and password. Unfortunately the screen fonts are not proportional to the prompt area. We are sure this will be fixed in the next beta.
Given the requirement for .Net framework and the fact that you cannot dial outside of SIP to SIP networks we are not impressed with MindSpring. Will we see MindSpring In and MindSpring out, similar to Skype?
MindSpring will obviously evolve into an interface for Earthlink Voice - a service similar to Vonage with unlimited calling to anywhere in the US and Canada for $29. The website for Earthlink Voice is here and the website for MindSpring is here. Both links open in new windows so you won't lose your place. The sales pitch from Earthlink is "MindSpring, our exciting new service that lets you make calls and send instant text messages using your computer to anyone else using MindSpring—FREE. MindSpring combines all the benefits of Free Online Calling plus fantastic new features like enhanced CD-quality sound, instant text messaging, and a cool, easy-to-use interface. Just click on a friend's icon in the MindSpring window and choose whether you want to call or send a message—it's that easy."
Recent consumer surveys show young people prefer text messages to voicemail, as learned from the cell phone industry. VoIP interfaces such as MindSpring, Skype, and others provide text chat to hedge their bets. As far as a full featured VoIP internet telephone goes MindSpring is not there yet. Look for more from MindSpring when it comes out of beta testing. If you want VoIP peering, multiple lines, VoIP to PSTN - plain switched telephone network - and free inbound calls from any PSTN telephone wait until MindSpring matures and look elsewhere.
