Luca writes [1] about connecting to VOIP over the Ribbit Developer Platform, a Flash API. Recently released, this set of libraries is made available by Ribbit [2], (billed as "Silicon Valley's First Phone Company") is useful for connecting to VOIP. Luca goes through creating an example application, demonstrating the simplicity offered by the Ribbit API for the addition of VOIP services to RIAs.

I expect a lot of interesting applications to use voice routing and VOIP functionalities. Whenever you see a movie from depicting the future, they always have interesting voice applications that can do everything. We've already seen applications like customer service help and targeted sales use voice or chat. Now we will see a whole lot more. Such applications have been in the realm of large established players with hordes of developers that have the capacity to weave through complicated software. Now that the playing field is open to smaller, more creative shops, expect timely and relevant applications to meet needs both existing and emerging.

Ribbit are running a contest right now. The best app wins $2500. This is serious money and the competition will be creative and stiff. For contest details: http://developer.ribbit.com/blog/?p=54 [3]

DW