IConnectHere

IConnectHere was the consumer-facing communications brand of Deltathree, a company focused on Voice over Internet Protocol services. The brand offered Internet-based telephone products for consumers and businesses, with an emphasis on international calling and alternatives to conventional fixed-line and mobile tariffs. Its service portfolio included broadband Internet phones, PC-to-phone calling, mobile dialers, calling cards, and local telephone numbers that could be used to receive calls in selected markets. The brand emerged from Deltathree's earlier work in Internet telephony. Deltathree was founded in 1996 and demonstrated a direct telephone conversation over the Internet in March 1997. By June 1999, its PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone services were commercially available. IConnectHere was introduced in September 2001 as a service positioned around rates that were lower than Deltathree's earlier offerings. The launch placed the brand within the rapidly developing consumer VoIP market, where providers sought to use Internet connectivity to reduce the cost of long-distance and international calls. IConnectHere's product model combined software, network services, and access plans. Customers could use a PC-to-phone dialer to place calls from a computer to regular telephone numbers, while mobile dialer applications extended the service to supported smartphones and mobile operating systems. The brand also promoted broadband phone equipment, including a Linksys adapter, and offered Pay as You Go World Plans with local receiving numbers and international or United States calling options. These offerings addressed users who wanted a software-based calling service as well as users seeking a more conventional telephone experience over a broadband connection. Deltathree expanded the brand's reach through integrations and related services. In December 2001, it announced that IConnectHere's PC-to-phone service would be made available to users of MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger in 17 countries. In 2007, Deltathree and Panasonic introduced JoIP, a communications solution that allowed owners of compatible Panasonic Globrange phones to place lower-cost international calls. In July 2010, Deltathree launched JoIP Mobile, a downloadable VoIP dialer intended for smartphones and initially supporting platforms including BlackBerry OS, Symbian, Android, and iPhone. The brand ultimately ceased operations. Deltathree discontinued IConnectHere service on August 1, 2017. As a result, IConnectHere is best understood as a defunct historical VoIP and international-calling brand rather than an active telecommunications provider. Its history reflects the transition from early PC-based Internet calling toward mobile applications, broadband adapters, messaging-platform integrations, and hybrid software-and-telephone services.

IConnectHere developed as the consumer division of Deltathree, a company established in 1996 to provide Internet-based voice communications. Deltathree demonstrated a direct telephone conversation over the Internet on March 14, 1997, illustrating the technical direction that would shape its later services. Its PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone products became commercially available in June 1999, before the IConnectHere name was introduced. The IConnectHere brand and service launched in September 2001. It was presented as a lower-cost calling option, particularly for international and long-distance communications. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional telephone infrastructure, the service used Internet connectivity and software or broadband equipment to connect customers with ordinary telephone users. This model enabled several access methods, including computer-based calling, broadband phone devices, mobile applications, calling cards, and local receiving numbers. An early expansion of the brand came in December 2001, when Deltathree announced plans to make its PC-to-phone service available to users of MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger in 17 countries. The initiative connected IConnectHere with widely used consumer messaging software and represented an effort to make Internet calling accessible through platforms that customers already used for online communication. Deltathree continued to develop related communications products during the following decade. In 2007, it worked with Panasonic on JoIP, a service that enabled users of Panasonic's Globrange phones to make inexpensive international calls. JoIP combined the familiarity of a regular household handset with the cost structure of VoIP. In July 2010, Deltathree launched JoIP Mobile through a dedicated mobile service. The downloadable dialer was designed for smartphones and was identified as supporting BlackBerry OS, Symbian OS, Android, and iPhone devices, with additional platform support discussed in connection with the launch. IConnectHere also offered a PC-to-Phone Dialer and mobile dialer applications as free client software. The service portfolio included broadband phone adapters, including a Linksys device, and Pay as You Go World Plans with local numbers for receiving calls in different parts of the world. These offerings indicate that the brand operated across both prepaid and access-plan models, serving customers who wanted international calling flexibility rather than a conventional single-location telephone subscription. The service was discontinued by Deltathree, LLC on August 1, 2017. No later operating activity is identified in the supplied reference material. IConnectHere therefore occupies a historical position in consumer VoIP: it began with computer-to-telephone calling, expanded through messaging-platform access and dedicated hardware, and later incorporated smartphone applications before being retired.

• 2017

  Service discontinued

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree discontinued IConnectHere service on August 1, ending the brand's active operations.

• 2010

  JoIP Mobile launched

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree released a mobile VoIP dialer for supported smartphones and mobile operating systems.

• 2007

  JoIP introduced with Panasonic

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree and Panasonic launched JoIP, enabling lower-cost international calling through compatible Panasonic Globrange phones.

• 2001

  IConnectHere launched

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree introduced IConnectHere as a consumer VoIP service offering lower calling rates than its earlier service offerings.

• 2001

  Messenger integration announced

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree announced IConnectHere PC-to-phone access for MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger users in 17 countries.

• 1999

  PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone services became commercial

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree made its PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone services commercially available in June.

• 1997

  Internet telephone demonstration

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree demonstrated a direct telephone conversation carried over the Internet on March 14.

• 1996

  Deltathree founded

  [1]IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org

  Deltathree, the company behind IConnectHere, was established as an Internet telephony provider.

A low-cost, Internet-based alternative for international, long-distance, and mobile telephone calling.

• VoIP software

  PC-to-Phone Dialer

  A client application that allowed customers to place calls from a computer over the Internet to conventional telephone numbers. It represented one of IConnectHere's core access methods and was later associated with integrations for MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger users.

• Mobile VoIP software

  Mobile Dialers

  Downloadable applications that extended IConnectHere-related calling services to mobile devices. The broader Deltathree mobile offering supported several platforms, including BlackBerry OS, Symbian OS, Android, and iPhone.

• Broadband telephony

  Broadband Internet Phones

  Internet-based telephone services intended to provide a more conventional calling experience over a broadband connection. The offering was complemented by broadband phone equipment, including a Linksys adapter identified in descriptions of the service.

• Prepaid international calling

  Pay as You Go World Plans

  Flexible calling plans designed for international and United States calling. The plans were described as including local receiving numbers in locations around the world, allowing customers to combine calling access with geographically specific telephone numbers.

• International calling

  Calling Cards

  Prepaid or account-based calling products within IConnectHere's international communications portfolio. They provided another access route for customers seeking lower-cost long-distance and international calls.

• Consumer VoIP solution · 2007

  JoIP

  A communications solution developed jointly by Deltathree and Panasonic. JoIP enabled owners of compatible Panasonic Globrange phones to make lower-cost international calls while using a regular-style telephone device.

• Mobile VoIP · 2010

  JoIP Mobile

  A mobile VoIP dialer launched by Deltathree in 2010. It was designed for installation on smartphones and was described as supporting BlackBerry OS, Symbian OS, Android, and iPhone devices.

• 2017

  Discontinue IConnectHere serviceOther

  Background

  After operating as Deltathree's consumer VoIP division, the service reached the end of its documented operating life.

  Action taken

  Deltathree, LLC discontinued IConnectHere on August 1, 2017.

  Aftermath

  IConnectHere became a defunct brand and no longer provided its calling, dialer, calling-card, or local-number services.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch JoIP MobileProduct launch

  Background

  Growing smartphone adoption created an opportunity to move Internet calling from computers and fixed broadband adapters to mobile devices.

  Action taken

  Deltathree launched a downloadable JoIP Mobile dialer for supported smartphones and mobile operating systems.

  Aftermath

  The service extended the brand's technical direction into mobile VoIP, although the IConnectHere service was later discontinued.

  Source

• 2007

  Develop JoIP with PanasonicProduct launch

  Background

  Deltathree pursued a way to bring lower-cost VoIP calling to users who preferred regular household telephone hardware.

  Action taken

  Deltathree and Panasonic launched JoIP for compatible Panasonic Globrange phones.

  Aftermath

  The initiative connected Deltathree's VoIP services with a consumer electronics device ecosystem.

  Source

• 2001

  Launch IConnectHere as a lower-cost consumer VoIP serviceProduct launch

  Background

  Deltathree had already commercialized PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone Internet calling and sought a consumer brand focused on inexpensive calling.

  Action taken

  Deltathree introduced IConnectHere in September 2001 with rates positioned below its earlier offerings.

  Aftermath

  The brand expanded its portfolio through computer dialers, mobile applications, broadband equipment, calling plans, and local receiving numbers.

  Source

• 2001

  Extend PC-to-phone calling through messaging platformsStrategy

  Background

  Consumer messaging services provided a large potential distribution channel for Internet-based voice communications.

  Action taken

  Deltathree announced IConnectHere PC-to-phone access for MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger users in 17 countries.

  Aftermath

  The announcement broadened the brand's intended access points beyond standalone dialer software.

  Source

1. 1IConnectHereen.wikipedia.org