March 2005

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Nortel Names Kunis CTO; McFadden To Head Research

March 31, 2005

Today, Nortel announced its new Chief Technology Officer, Gary Kunis. He will lead Nortel's strategic vision for the product and technology portfolio. He will report to Gary Daichendt, president and COO. One of the pioneers of the Internet in the 1980s, Kunis has led numerous development and engineering breakthroughs related to IP standards and routing technology. Until 2002, Kunis was the Chief Science Officer at Cisco Systems.

In addition to the Kunis news, Nortel announced that Brian McFadden, a 26-year Nortel veteran and the current CTO, has been appointed to the role of Chief Research Officer (CRO).

The release announcing Mr. Kunis' and Mr. McFadden's appointments can be found here.

Supportsoft Series Surveys Triple Play

March 31, 2005

Every so often, I receive interesting survey results, which I feel compelled to share with you, the readers of my blog. In this particular case, the subject is triple play deployment, and the source of the information is a survey conducted over the course of a recent Supportsoft executive briefing series.

Responding to the survey, 98% of those polled agreed that customer service represents a key competitive advantage for successfully acquiring and retaining customers for triple play services. However, 90% of service providers responding to the survey acknowledge that delivery of triple play services (broadband, VoIP, and IPTV) raised significant customer service challenges.

This dilemma brings into focus the need for service automation solutions to help deal with the added complexity of triple play services. Almost 100% agree that service automation is essential to profitably acquiring new triple play customers.

Bandwidth Shaping In A Wireless Access Point: AirEqualizer

March 31, 2005

APconnections, a Colorado-based supplier of plug-and-play bandwidth shaping products, has just released the AirEqualizer, a self-contained power-over-Ethernet (PoE) wireless access point (AP) with built-in NetEqualizer technology (NetEqualizer appliances are plug and play bandwidth shaping systems designed for voice and data networks). AirEqualizer is designed to allow organizations to control network congestion at the AP, and ensure high-quality connectivity for VoIP and other priority users, thereby dramatically reducing help desk and service calls — without the need for any manual tuning.

“With AirEqualizer, we are changing the economics of delivering quality wireless services,” said Art Reisman, CTO and founder of APconnections. “Built-in equalizing eliminates brownouts and lockups, while at the same time allowing 25–40 percent more users to connect to a single AP.”

In addition to APconnections’ equalizing technology, AirEqualizer comes with standard commercial AP technology, including authentication, billing, re-direction, routing, and firewall protection.

You can find the release announcing this product here.

Juniper Networks to Acquire Kagoor

March 29, 2005

Just got word of this latest acquisition in the VoIP space (release below). Keep an eye on the SBC market to see what happens next...

Juniper Networks, Inc. to Acquire Kagoor Networks

Brings Secure and Assured VoIP To Customers Worldwide

SUNNYVALE, CA - March 29, 2005 - Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kagoor Networks in a transaction valued at $67.5 million in cash, plus options and certain other incentives and equity compensation.

TTI Releases Broadband Powerline Research

March 25, 2005

Virginia-based Telecom Trends International, Inc., a Market Research and Strategic Consulting outfit released a report earlier this week saying that BPL or broadband powerline communications is poised for growth. According to the firm, worldwide service revenue is expected to reach $4.4 billion by 2011.

BPL technology uses the electricity power grid to bring broadband signals into buildings, which of course has interesting potential for applications such as VoIP.

The report, “Broadband Powerline Communications: Ready for Take-Off,” states that Broadband Powerline Communications for access applications (BPL-Access) is well positioned to compete head-on with DSL and cable modem technologies for a share of the broadband access market.

The report estimates that the BPL-Access services market generated $57.1 million in revenue worldwide in 2004, and projects that by 2011, BPL-Access will generate $4.4 billion in revenue worldwide.

The report says that there is no global standard for BPL-Access– each vendor offers its own proprietary solution – but BPL-Access allows the use of existing infrastructure which lowers the cost of deployment, allowing the provision of services at competitive prices The report covers developments. in Broadband Powerline Communications globally.

SONY Launches IPELA Product Line

March 23, 2005

The first thing I noticed when I walked into 550 Madison Avenue was the SONY shop located just off the lobby. My goodness, this company makes some cool toys! I mean, the T-series VAIOs…. These make the perfect gift for any magazine editors on your shopping list… (Our legal department just advised me to say that I’m kidding. OK.

Level 3 Withdraws Forbearance Petition

March 23, 2005

Hi folks, I was out of pocket yesterday and didn’t get a chance to comment on what may yet play out to be one of the more important turning points in our industry’s young history. On Monday evening, Level 3 Communications decided to withdraw its forbearance petition, which asked the FCC to affirm the existing rules for who pays whom and how much for exchange of traffic between VoIP networks and phone networks.

In withdrawing the petition, Level 3 noted the recent change in FCC leadership and how that placed the Commission in the difficult position of confronting a statutory deadline while managing a leadership transition.

While I am not myself a carrier of VoIP traffic (nor do I play one on TV), it seems to me that Level 3 missed out on an opportunity here. Perhaps they had caught wind of the fact that the Commission was set to rule against their petition, and took advantage of a change in leadership at the FCC to gracefully bow out at this time, electing to regroup and come out swinging at a later date.

But with the lobbying efforts put forth by the incumbent telcos regarding this and any other issue that threatens to hurt their ability to make money selling phone service, it’s a dangerous game to back down. I believe that maintaining the status quo, and remaining in regulatory “limbo” is no way to push ahead and shine the light on a new dawn of communications.

Deloitte Issues Global Telecom Report

March 21, 2005

I recently received my copy of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT) Global Telecommunications Index, that company’s analysis of the global telecom sector during 2003 and 2004. This report follows on the heels of a Deloitte’s recent report: TMT Trends: Predictions 2005, which I discussed with Deloitte’s Philip Asmundson, who was recently promoted to national managing partner of that company’s U.S. Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) industry practice.

The Index is part of DTT’s ongoing research and analysis, and the findings are drawn from objective data and performance metrics as well as expert analysis by DTT’s member firms’ team of telecommunications practitioners.

The report finds that from January 2003 to December 2004, the market value of the worldwide telecommunications industry increased by 28 percent, an improvement over the period covered in DTT’s previous report (January 2000–July 2003), which saw the telecom market drop by 69 percent.

No single global phenomenon can be responsible for the rise. In fact every region has its own reasons that reflect the unique nature of industry structure and competitive environment.

According to the report:

The rise in market value for EMEA was a surprise to many — exceeding Asia Pacific’s performance by a significant margin.

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Volo Offers Carriers Nationwide i-911

March 21, 2005

Among the issues holding back acceptance of VoIP is the perceived lack of 911 standards. As we at Internet Telephony magazine have been saying all along, it's simply a matter of time until these issue get worked out. Below, please find a recent news item from Volo Communications and how they are offering 911 service to their carrier customers throughout North America.

Volo Expands its 911 Emergency Service throughout North America

Volo First Wholesale VoIP Provider to Offer Ubiquitous 911 with Must-Have Features and Services

Orlando, Fla. March 21, 2005: Volo Communications, a leading global wholesale provider of advanced voice and data services, today announced it is the first wholesale Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider to offer a ubiquitous 911 solution to CLECs, IXCs, cable and wireless operators, ISPs, and resellers throughout North America.

Level 3 Petition Decision Due Soon (III)

March 18, 2005

Internet Telephony magazine Regulation Watch columnist John Cimko served for fifteen years at the FCC, and currently practices law at Greenberg Traurig LLP in Washington, D.C.

The Level 3 forbearance petition puts the FCC in a bind. Granting the petition would take a key issue off the table in the pending intercarrier compensation rulemaking. But denying the petition, depending on how it’s done, would expose VoIP providers to access charges before the FCC decides how its new unified compensation regime will work and what rules will cover VoIP providers.

Here are three reasons why the FCC is likely to deal with the petition in a way that preserves the status quo until the FCC adopts compensation mechanisms for all carriers, including VoIP providers, in the pending rulemaking.

First, keeping the status quo avoids tying the FCC’s hands in the rulemaking.

Level 3 Petition Decision Due Soon (II)

March 18, 2005

Hunter Newby is chief strategy officer at telx. Here are his thoughts on the pending FCC decision regarding Level 3.

The old way of telecom still generates a lot of cash flow. That cash is used to buy influence in the government, but it can’t stop evolution, it can only slow it down. I believe the US is currently ranked 13th in the world for broadband deployment/use.

Level 3 Petition Decision Due Soon

March 18, 2005

Level 3 filed a forbearance petition with the Federal Communications Commission asking the agency to reaffirm that legacy switched access charges do not apply to VoIP. The petition was filed on January 6, 2004. A press release from Level 3 offers up the details.

Well, the FCC is bound to rule on the petition by next Tuesday, March 22, 2005. Our own David Sims reported on industry buzz that the FCC was set to rule against the petition rather than let the March 22 deadline pass, but in short order, the FCC would then also order a rule change exempting VoIP service providers from access charges.

Unless the FCC gets called in to rule on whether or not Mark McGwire and the rest of his (ALLEGED) steroid using colleagues deserve a place in Cooperstown, it’s a safe bet that this issue will be resolved one way or the other very soon.

In keeping with my recent history of using my blog as a resource for gathering together comments form some of the leading minds of the industry (humbly, mine excluded) I have asked a number of people to respond with their thoughts on what may or may not happen, what they think of this whole scenario, and so on.

First up today is William Wilhelm, Internet Telephony magazine Regulation Watch columnist, and Partner in the firm of Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman, LLP.

Here’s what he had to say regarding the Level 3 petition:

The Level 3 petition is a significant proceeding because it would move the charge for originating or terminating VoIP on the PSTN to a cost-based rate.

Quintum, TMC Announce Contest Winner

March 14, 2005

TMC and Quintum Technologies announced a winner in the VoIP Becomes Reality Contest at the recent Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO. The winner of the grand prize consisting of $25,000 in Quintum Tenor MultiPath switch products and remote install support was Callis Goodrich, an engineer in the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego. One of the more interesting angles of the contest, is that all four honorable mentions were for submissions from outside the United States, a testament to the fact that VoIP is truly a global technological trend, offering solutions for all manner of businesses and all manner of users.

I’ve included the release below.

And the Winner Is....
Quintum and Technology Marketing Corporation Name US Navy Winner of “VoIP Becomes Reality” Contest

Quintum Technologies and TMC announced at the Spring Internet Telephony Conference and EXPO that a U.S. Navy laboratory was selected as the winner of their joint “VoIP Becomes Reality” contest.

The contest submission from Callis Goodrich, an engineer in the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego), described how the Navy’s Automated Digital Network System (ADNS) used Quintum’s Tenor switches to eliminate outmoded, inefficient time division multiplexing (TDM) voice network connections and to converge both voice and data communications over a ship-to-shore satellite link.

The Tenor switching platform reduced network bandwidth required for ship-to-shore VoIP calls.

Somewhere in America Telecom is Just Getting Started

March 11, 2005

Maybe I’ve been living in a cave, because it seems everyone I’ve spoken to today has already heard of this, but I was somewhat surprised by the fact that there is a place in America, where people have yet to make a phone call.

Well, somewhere other than Pearl River, NY.

I received a media alert today, basically telling me that Centennial Communications was going to provide Shaw Louisiana with that town’s first-ever phone service.

Foster Campbell, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner will use Centennial's newly constructed cell towers to call Steve Largent, President of the CTIA — the international association for wireless communications. While to some degree this can be viewed a sstunt to draw attention to that organization’s annual trade show, it’s still amazing to me that there are places in this country where you could not make or receive phone calls.

The event will take place this coming Monday March 14, at 9:00 am CST, and approximately 40 seconds later, residents of Shaw, Louisiana will likely seek to add all their numbers to the National Do Not Call registry.

Shaw is a rural town in Louisiana that has never had any type of telephone service. With the leadership of Commissioner Foster Campbell of the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the efforts of Centennial Communications Corp., the local wireless telecommunications carrier, the residents of Shaw, Louisiana will now have access to modern and reliable telecommunications services. The availability of support from the federal Universal Service Fund ("USF") enabled the construction of two wireless towers in Shaw area, making possible the provision of telecommunications services to the community.

Verizon Recap

A few days ago I blogged about the fact that my house went “off the grid” as phone service mysteriously died; not VoIP service, but my Verizon POTS line.

Turns out the actual copper strung from the pole across the street was old and simply ceased to provide service. Nice guy that I am, I give Verizon the benefit of the doubt on that score.

Leadership. A Trend?

March 8, 2005

I've noticed a bit of a trend in our industry, and I'm wondering if it's simply not a signal that VoIP is maturing. It seems that a number of companies are unveiling not just new products but they are announcing new CEOs and presidents. Examples include companies such as Spirent Communications (CEO: Anders Gustafsson) and SS8 Networks (CEO: Dennis Haar) to name but two. If your company has hired a new president or CEO in the last 6 months, shoot me an e-mail or reply to this post.

Phone Outage? Not Necessarily a VoIP Thing

March 8, 2005

Yesterday Rich Tehrani blogged about the recent Vonage outage.

Well for everyone who thinks this type of thing only happens to customers who choose VoIP providers, I was unable to reach my family on the phone today too. Thing is, my provider is Verizon, and this is my landline we're talking about. Estimated time until Verizon can send someone out to check things out? 24 to 30 hours.

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FCC Enforces Net Freedom In VoIP Port Block Case

March 4, 2005

Looks like the FCC is showing that it has teeth after all when it comes to its stance on VoIP… Under Michael Powell’s leadership, the Commission reached a consent decree whereby Madison River Communications will make a $15,000 voluntary contribution to the U.S. Treasury in response to that company’s blocking of Vonage VoIP ports.

That sentence might also read "The FCC slapped Madison River with a $15,000 fine for screwing with consumers' rights to access the services of the VoIP provider of their choosing."

But that's not the way it read in the press release I received last night:

FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell Commends Swift Action to Protect Internet Voice Services

The Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission reached a $15,000 consent decree today with Madison River Communication, LLC that will ensure uninterrupted Internet voice service on the company’s network.

“We saw a problem, and we acted swiftly to ensure that Internet voice service remains a viable option for consumers,” said FCC Chairman Michael K.

Greg Galitzine's VoIP Authority Blog

March 2005