The iPhone interface for PhoneGnome, iPhoneGnome continues to improve. The latest version is even more iPhone-styled and optimized. The standard m.phonegnome.com site will continue to function as is for other mobile phones. iPhones are automatically detected and redirected to the iPhone interface at m.phonegnome.com/iphone/

The new iPhone interface for PhoneGnome

The new iPhone app for PhoneGnome offers calling using your PhoneGnome account, or, in other words, remote access to your fixed, cable, ooma, Magic Jack, or VoIP phone service. Place calls directly using the iPhone-styled dialer, or by selecting from your My PhoneGnome contacts. Listen to your voicemail with random access, and without making a phone call, directly on your iPhone. You can also send international SMS at low PhoneGnome rates.

David Beckemeyer, leading the PhoneGnome iPhone project, said, ”It’s got a great new look and has some great new touches that will make your PhoneGnome experience on iPhone a bit more fun and a lot more useful.”

The chart below provides a visual representation of PhoneGnome from a benefits and “selling proposition” perspective.

Across the bottom are shown four primary configurations of PhoneGnome service, split between US and International (non-US in our case) and customers using the PhoneGnome-box (add-on device), shown in blue, and those using the service without the PhoneGnome-box hardware.

Within each configuration are the listed benefits to the user corresponding with that configuration.

At the top of the chart is the flowchart decision tree that arrives at one of the possible configurations.

I think from this chart, it make it pretty obvious why PhoneGnome is really hard to message and explain to new customers. First, the four configurations have different value stories. Second, even within a single configuration different customer segments will prioritize and value the benefits differently.

The two blue boxes, labeled “Full Impact” and “High Impact” represent “PhoneGnome 1.0″ – the initial 2005 focus of PhoneGnome, users connecting the box to their fixed-line (home) telephone service to obtain new benefits. Our early research broke these users into three main groups: Traditionalists, Globalists, and Gurus.

Traditionalists value plug-and-play simplicity, safety of real 911, and mostly care about the benefits of cheap calling and telemarketer screening. Globalists have high usage and enjoy the benefit of free and cheap calling, along with voicemail. Gurus are more tech. savvy and value cheap calling, voicemail, telemarketer screening, and other features (softphone, online call logs, etc.)

In late 2006, we introduced “PhoneGnome 2.0″ and the option to use PhoneGnome service without the PhoneGnome add-on device (no hardware). This added the other two configuration options shown on the chart. This expanded the addressable market, but made describing PhoneGnome even more complicated.

From the chart below, it’s no wonder that it’s difficult to boil PhoneGnome down to a single simple sentence – and that’s a recipe for disaster in terms of marketing.

So what would you do? Let us know in the comments below.

Every PhoneGnome box comes comes with 90 days of unlimited email
installation support and warranty service coverage. By purchasing a PhoneGnome Protection Plan with your PhoneGnome box, you can extend your coverage to up to three years from the original purchase date.

Comprehensive service and support

• Extends email technical support from 90 days to up to three years from original purchase date
• Extends hardware repair coverage to up to three years from original purchase date.

Quality and convenience

• Expert PhoneGnome personal technical support through email.
• Repairs performed by PhoneGnome-authorized technicians using genuine PhoneGnome parts.
• Service plans are renewable if submitted 30 days prior to the original plan’s expiration.
• Service plans plans are 100% transferable.
• No deductables – we are committed to cover 100% parts and labor costs on any authorized claim.

Available Plans

Plans purchased within 30-days of original sales receipt
Coverage Term	Cost	Buy
One year – 12 months	$20.00
Three years – 36 months	$40.00
Plans purchased more than 30-days after date of original sales receipt
Coverage Term	Cost	Buy
One year – 12 months	$55.00
Three years – 36 months	$75.00

Learn More About PhoneGnome Protection Plans

PhoneGnome users can now call Skype users using the new OpenSky gateway released by Gizmo5.

If you want to call a Skype user named echo123 you simply call SIP address sip:echo123@opensky.gizmo5.com

Enter the opensky.gizmo5.com SIP address, formatted as above, into the “Quick Call” field on your My PhoneGnome home page, and click ‘Call’. You can also enter the address into a contact in your PhoneGnome Phone Book and dial directly from your PhoneGnome connected handset (for box users) with a speed-dial code.

With the free service, calls are limited to 3-5 minutes.

You can use your PhoneGnome account directly on your iPhone to send SMS at rates that are generally much cheaper than the standard AT&T iPhone rates. This is particularly true for international SMS.

Here’s how:

1. Create a PhoneGnome account for your iPhone number. It’s free. Get a free account here.
2. Sign in to your account at http://my.phonegnome.com and activate the integrated voovox service – start with as little as $5. Go to the Features page and click Low Cost Internet Calling or click this shortcut on your My PhoneGnome home page:
   
3. Open Safari on your iPhone and visit m.phonegnome.com.
4. Sign in with your iPhone number and PIN. Bookmark this page, or save it to your iPhone Home Screen to get back here in one click in the future.
5. Click the Send SMS link

   

6. Enter the phone number (full inernational number) and type the message you wish to send.
7. When the recipient gets the message they will see it as a normal SMS from you to which they can reply normally. Their replies will arrive at your iPhone the normal way.