VOXOX Blog

It's no secret that everyone and their mother has a cell phone (no seriously, check out the last stat) and there's certainly no denying that we rely on our mobiles for more than just calls. We look to our devices for everything from simple text communications; to instant GPS navigation; to checking the @replies on our Twitter; to cashing checks; to scanning QR codes for coupons; to... OK you get it, right? We use our phones for pretty much everything. Here are some hard stats from DigitalBlogBuzz.com that will help you wrap your mind around just how huge the mobile industry is:

• 70% of the world's population now have a mobile phone and in places like the US, that's 9 out of 10 people.
• Americans spend 2.7 hours per day socializing on their mobiles - that's more than twice the time they spend eating, and over 1/3 of the time they spend sleeping each day.
• 86% of mobile users are watching TV while using a mobile phone.
• By 2014, general mobile Internet usage will overtake desktop Internet usage. Already in 2011, 91% of mobile Internet access has been used to socialize (compared to only 79% on desktops).
• Gaming, weather, and maps top the list of how people use their mobile phones
• While 85% of kids own a phone, only 73% own books

Women between 35 and 54 are the most active group in mobile socialization

As we become more and more attached to our mobile devices, it's no doubt these numbers will continue to climb. New gadgets, technologies, and apps are coming out everyday and keeping us connected in ways we never thought possible. If you're feeling overwhelmed with all the new networks, techy lingo, and not to mention, keeping track of all your different user names and passwords, head over to Voxox.com where we can help simplify your communications!

Topics: Telecommunication Trends

Do you remember your first AOL screen name or the excitement you felt after having downloaded a song on Napster sans background radio commentary? Well, I certainly do. Those were highlights of my middle school years and my first entrance into the world of social media (before we called it social media, of course).

Back then, parental controls on sites were fairly unheard of, and because it took ten loud minutes to dial-up the Internet connection, it was no secret when us kids were surfing the world wide web via the family computer. While I spent most of my time online trying to build my musical shrine to Justin Timberlake and showcasing my coveted CutyGrl14 screen name in chatrooms, my older sister was in the habit of downloading "risqué" rap songs that she would play in secret when my parents weren't home.


Well, come to find out, secrets don't last forever, especially when you're 12, and my sister's dirty rap obsession was out of the bag. I was automatically guilty by association, and probably to scare us out of doing anything wrong ever again, my dad had us sit and listen to the lyrics with him. I admit, it was pretty traumatizing listening to Khia's "My Neck, My Back" with my dad, but it made me realize that the Internet isn't just a place to score free music and have fun with your friends, it is an open source of information available to everyone, regardless intent, age, gender, etc. and can be dangerous if not used appropriately.

Although Napster is long gone (thank you Metallica) and exposure to music unintended for my little ears has not significantly affected my ability to function as an adult, the precedent falls along the same lines as why parental controls are now available on anything from TiVo to cellphones; why social networking sites have age requirements; and why some scientists worry that pre-adolescent use of these sites, which have been linked to Internet addiction among adults, could be damaging to children's relationships and brains as they mature. So, how are parents handling their child's entrance into this high-tech world? A recent study by Retrevo.com revealed some interesting statistics about parents and their attitude towards social media, technology, and other aspects of the digital age:

• 79%  of ALL  parents allow texting during family meals

• 64% of parents of teenagers allow texting during family meals

• 8% of parents are okay with kids under 12 having a social media page; 30% think 13 - 15 years old is the right age, 36% say 16-18, and 26% believe over 18 is appropriate

• 12% of parents ban social media as a form of punishment, 18% ban all Internet usage and 47% talk with their kids as a form of discipline

• 48% of parents on Facebook are “Friends” with their kids

From these stats alone, it's obvious that  social media and tech devices are increasingly penetrating our daily lives and are no longer intended just for teenagers and adults. Networks such as Disney's Penguin Club and WebKinz are catering just to kids as young as 5 and mimic sites like Facebook with in-app games and social capabilities. The long-term effect social networking and increased use of gadgets will have on children is hard for scientists to say for sure, but the reality is that we're living in a technology driven world and that's not going to change anytime soon.

Care to share your thoughts or tell us how you handle your child's online life and gadget use? Let us have it right here or on the Voxox Facebook page. Can't wait to hear from you!

Topics: Telecommunication Trends

Ever wondered what a video call will be like in 2025? Will there be facial recognition technology that interprets emoticons in video to text? Or meta data that describes exactly what you’re trying to say?  Or real-time text suggestions that impact how you speak with other parties?

Topics: Telecommunication Trends, Voxox, Events

Topics: iPhone, Telecommunication Trends, Voxox

Topics: Communication, Telecommunication Trends, Voxox

While tinkering around the internet the other day, I stumbled upon an article from TechCrunch outlining the Geosocial Universe of 2011 and instantly thought, "This must be shared this with the world." So, here we are.


What is a Geosocial Universe you ask? It is the virtual landscape of social networks and how many registered users each network has. Similar to how our Earth's landscape changes, the Geosocial Universe changes as well. First it was MySpace, then Facebook... so what's next? New networks are cropping up all the time, and we're always looking for a different way to communicate. Call me a geek, but it's really interesting how many people are connected via social media - a member of  Facebook alone has potential access to 629 million individuals! Even sites you and I may not have heard of have more subscribers than I ever imagined.



Check out these stats from TechCrunch to get a better idea:

• Facebook: 629 million registered users with almost 250 million people accessing the site via mobile

• Qzone: China’s version of Facebook, Qzone, has 480 million registered users

• Twitter: 200 million registered users with nearly 40% of people tweeting via mobile

• Email: Hotmail still dominates, but Gmail's popularity is gaining fast

• Yelp: Yelp tops 50 million unique visitors per month, and  it's made moves to team up with OpenTable

• Foursquare and Gowalla: These geographically based medias are still growing

• Smartphones: 21.8% of all mobile devices are smart phones, with Nokia on top the list in sales

For all you visual folks, take a look at this infograph that outlines the number active users on the top 19 social media sites. (P.S. I'm sure you can't miss that big blue bubble indicating 5.3 billion cell phone are used worldwide - that's 77% of the world's population!):

Photo Caption Credit: TechCruch and JESS3

Crazy stuff, huh? I can only imagine what these stats will be next year, or even six months from now. Are you registered on any, or maybe even all of these networks? If you fall into the latter, Voxox can help keep all your buddies, friends, fans, and followers organized by integrating them into one interface where you chat, Tweet, post, call, fax, update, email, and a ton of other cool things. According to Entrepreneur magazine (6/11 issue), "next to Skype’s limited, walled garden approach, Voxox is a cross-platform love fest." But don't take their word for it, try the "love fest" out for yourself!


Have opinions? Hit us up on our Facebook page or comment here.

Topics: Telecommunication Trends, Voxox, VoIP

Topics: Telecommunication Trends, Voxox

Topics: iPhone, Telecommunication Trends, Voxox, VoIP, SMS

Most of us do our part to help out mother nature and make our planet a little greener. Companies are "going green,"  recycled tires are used for paving roads, blue trash cans are commonplace, and the reusable bag revolution is taking over! All of these changes are important, but there is much more we can be doing to save our planet!



Check out a few ways Voxox can help you reduce your footprint:



1. Send files electronically rather than printing.



2. Text or chat instead of snail mail - instant gratification, plus no emissions from mail trucks and no wasted paper!



3. Use the Find Me feature to forward Voxox calls to any number on any phone, allowing you to telecommute - saving fuel consumption and lowering green house gas emissions.



4. Send and receive e-faxes rather than paper faxes, plus you'll get them right to your desktop!



5. Best of all, Voxox lets you do all this from ONE device, your computer! No need to buy seperate equipment and furthur contribute to manufacturing pollution.



There are a thousand ways to reduce your impact on the planet, but Voxox technology is one that lets you stay connected while being environmentally concious. If you don't have Voxox, try it out for free... it won't hurt, especially the planet!



Share with us what unique things you do to keep the planet green. Happy Earth Day everyone!

Topics: Telecommunication Trends, Voxox

Topics: Telecommunication Trends