Recently in VoIP Category

A new Java-based click-to-talk solution from Mexuar Communications, a private UK company, promises to deliver browser- and platform-neutral, free IP call capabilities for commercial websites.

The Corraleta Technology SDK enables development of click-to-talk functionality on any website, allowing visitors to use their Web browser and PC to make free calls and talk with sales or contact center support staff. Other possible applications include click-to-call buttons that trigger callbacks from support staff to a specific telephone number, emails embedded with click to call functionality, and pay-per-call online banner advertising.

The Corraleta SDK uses Java to deliver VoIP across multiple browsers and 3rd party, white-label applications, providing platform-agnostic integration between traditional phone systems and core business applications, whether on the company internal network or on the Web. This contrasts with rival solutions that use ActiveX and work only with Windows platforms and the Internet Explorer browser.

In addition to enabling IP calls, the Corraleta SDK can also delivers information about the user’s online experience to the merchant’s customer service agent when the call is initiated. The agent software can display this information directly or use it to trigger lookups in company databases to retrieve details such as customer records, purchase histories, etc.
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Only three VoIP players "made list" on the current Deloitte 2006 Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing companies in North America.

To determine the fastest growing companies, Deloitte calculated the revenue growth percentage over five years, from 2001-2005.

Cbeyond came in at #22, M5 at #54 and Broadsoft at #99. M5 made the list in no small part due to its blazing revenue growth of 4,445% -- more than double the average increase of 2,145% among the 500 companies on the list.

 

With TeleGeography's new Enterprise Network Pricing Service, companies will be able to get an accurate breakdown of WAN service costs and find out how competitive their price is, and carriers can determine how their prices compare to the competition, where their best margins are hiding, how to create a discount structure, and find out at what price customers will upgrade to a VPN service offer.

The Enterprise Network Pricing Service delivers current market rates for MPLS VPN services, dedicated Internet Access, and Retail Private Line services on a global basis. This analysis provides insight into typical network pricing structures, levels of customer interest, leading service providers, and varying conditions across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

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Packet Island recently introduced a new software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution designed to target the VoIP lifecycle management needs of VARs and SMBs deploying the open source-based Asterisk IP-PBX. The PacketSmart for Asterisk solution is based on Asterisk software agents and purpose-built micro-appliances that work with the highly scalable PacketSmart SaaS platform, hosted at a Tier-1 data center. The solution has three distinct functions, including network assessment for VoIP, VoIP troubleshooting, and ongoing VoIP SLA monitoring.

The Asterisk software agents perform continuous monitoring of all VoIP calls terminating at the PBX, while the micro-appliances are complementary to the software agents, and can be easily moved around the network to isolate and troubleshoot network issues affecting VoIP quality.

During the deployment planning phase, the micro-appliances can be used to simulate live VoIP traffic on an SMB's network, to identify and fix problems before the Asterisk VoIP deployment. After Asterisk deployment, the Packet Island software agent that is left installed on the Asterisk PBX continues to collect detailed quality metrics that can be used by the SME and VAR for SLA monitoring and to isolate and troubleshoot transient VoIP quality issues. Continue Reading...

Rich Tehrani's humorous plug today about a new Mac-based IP-PBX draws on a post by Andy Abramson that provides a sketchy outline of the offer.

Since my inbox contained a release about the iBlue product this morning, I thought I'd add to the fray by adding some details of the product.

The company behind the iBlue is Berlin-based 4S newcom GmbH -- a spin-off of Snom Technology AG.  The iBlue is based on the 4S IP PBX, a SIP/software-based IP PBX. In order to use the Mac Mini as an IP PBX, the software is is booted off of an iPod Shuffle, which has been engineered to host the complete system, including the OS and IP PBX. Supposedly the system is so compact that even on the smallest 512 Mb iPOD Shuffle, there's enough room left for 4 hours of music.

Once the system is booted off the Shuffle, it can be installed on the Mini's built-in hard disk, while the Shuffle can be saved as a backup in case of emergency. Continue Reading...

While roaming the aisles of the show, I came across one of the more intriging products I've seen all week -- a new key system/PBX gateway that lets SOHO and small businesses access Skype's VoIP service to make and receive free and low-cost long distance phone calls worldwide.

Called the VoSKY Exchange, from Actiontec Electronics in Sunnyvale, CA, the solution is apparently the first Skype-certified solution that allows businesses of 10-300 users to take advantage of Skype's service. The gateway can add up to four outgoing Skype lines to a Key system or PBX without requiring any changes to the equipment, phones, or user PCs, and allows all the phones extensions connected to the PBX to use Skype.

I've seen a small but growing number of companies coming out with innovative solutions that are designed to essentially "extend" broadband telephony services such as Vonage and now Skype and allow small businesses to take advantage of these low cost services, and I expect to see several more emerge in the coming months.
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This past Tuesday and Wednesday, I had the pleasure to moderate and speak on a number of panels with a number of well-regarded and incredibly knowledgeable individuals, including Jon Arnold, principal of J. Arnold and Associates; Ron Gruia, Principal Analyst and Program Leader Information and Communications Technology at market research firm Frost & Sullivan; Richard Grigonis, Executive Editor of the IP Communications Group at TMC; Andy Mercker, Director of Marketing at Sphere Communications; Ray Hernandez, Managing Partner at VC firm ROTH Capital Partners LLC; and Ken Camp, speaker, writer and consultant who also blogs about IP communications technology at IPadventures.com.

I want to thank all the above profusely for their time, invaluable insights and for making the Summit a truly enjoyable experience.

For a great review of the first session on "The State of Industry: Focus on the Corporate and Government Enterprise Marketplace", check out Richard Grigonis' article ITEXPO West 2006 Powers Up, State of the Industry Discussed. Continue Reading...

Readers of this blog know I'm a big fan of EQO, based in Vancouver, BC.

EQO made waves early on due to its innovative service/software that basically Skype-enabled a host of mobile phones so that users of these phones can access their Skype buddy list, and make and receive Skype calls.

Recent news from the folks up North is notable -- EQO has released the latest version of EQO Mobile, a product/service that delivers online communities to mobile phones, enabling users of social networks such as MySpace, Friendster, Tagworld, Hi5, Xanga and Multiply to exchange web-to-phone, phone-to-web and phone-to-phone text and picture messages with their online buddies. In addition, EQO Mobile now enable users to use AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! IM, GoogleTalk, Jabber, as well as Skype on any one of more than 300 mobile handset models from vendors including Nokia, Motorola, Palm, and Sony-Ericsson.

EQO Mobile incorporates rich new community features enabling users to add friends and see what they've posted from their mobile phone. It also allows users to include a call back phone number or IM screen name as part of an EQO message, enabling the recipient to start a conversation using a simple click-to-call or click-to-IM feature.

The new version of EQO Mobile is available for free at www.eqo.com.

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By now I hope all of you have heard about the IP Communications Business Summit, a new workshop that's been added to the agenda at the upcoming Internet Telephony Conference and EXPO in San Diego.

In case you missed the email blasts, TMC and yours truly (RCG) are presenting this unique workshop to help educate the investment community -- including venture capitalists,
investment bankers, financial industry analysts, M&A specialists, angel investors and any other interested parties -- about the leading industry trends and market drivers in the hopes of ultimately identifying attractive IP communications companies.

The discussion will be feisty, informal, and hopefully fun and illuminating for everyone.

And since admission is free with any registration plan, you have one less reason to not check it out!

Summit Speaker Update:

We recently added notable industry analysts and bloggers to the panels, including Jon Arnold of J Arnold Associates, Ronald Gruia of Frost and Sullivan, and Ken Camp of IPadventures.com.

In addition, Ray J. Hernandez, Managing Director, Investment Banking at VC firm ROTH Capital Partners, LLC, has agreed to present a session described below:

Valuing Voice over IP Services:  A Public Market Perspective
October 10, 2006, 2:15 pm -- 3:00 pm

Certainly one of the most exciting things about the IP communications market is the growth of new businesses offering Voice over IP services.  Indeed, there is still a vast amount of untapped market potential in the industry, and the dramatic rebound of the economy together with renewed confidence in the industry’s prospects has helped the growth of Voice over IP services across all market sectors. As Voice over IP services providers build their businesses, they will want to know how much their businesses are worth.  In this session, you’ll learn about how Voice over IP is being valued in the public markets and what adds to and detracts from building value in a Voice over IP business.  

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For a while now, I've been wondering if the time is right for VoIP and the retail store concept to come together -- if "VoIP Stores" that serve as technology showcases, demonstration centers, and retail storefronts for the array of VoIP and IP communications solutions make sense in today's marketplace.

I'm musing about a concept similar to the Apple Stores, or the Sony Style centers -- located in a few major cities in trendy locales frequented by many business people. The VoIP Store could have on display live, working demos of SOHO, SMB, and large enterprises systems, services and applications, and provide in-store sales consultants that can help step interested parties through the technology -- and the sale.
What do you think? Am I onto something, or am I just nuts?! Continue Reading...