Greg Galitzine : Greg Galitzine's VoIP Authority Blog
Greg Galitzine

November 2005

You are browsing the archive for November 2005.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 23, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I for one have so much to be thankful for this year. Here's wishing you all a safe, healthy and happy kick-off to the holiday season!

VoIP Service Provider Market Heats Up

November 22, 2005

According to the just released DITTBERNER's Worldwide Q3 2005 NGN Shipments Analysis, over 27.3 million media gateway, softswitch and integrated VoIP ports were shipped during the quarter. That amounts to a 67.8% increase in the worldwide VoIP port shipments over the previous quarter.

Huawei Technologies dominated the quarterly results shipping 12.36 million VoIP ports, displacing Nortel from the top spot. Siemens� maintained its second place gaining 16% of global market share.

AirSet Integrates Skype for Group Collaboration

November 18, 2005

Airena, Inc., this week announced the integration of its AirSet personal information management and group collaboration service with Skype to bring Internet telephony and chat to AirSet groups.

AirSet is a Web and mobile "Lifeware" service enabling users to manage all their groups, all in one place, and access the data from anywhere. The solution provides an Ajax-enabled suite of group collaboration tools including a shared calendar, address book, to do lists, blogs, and Web links. AirSet's BREW and J2ME clients turn any mobile phone into a remote control for your life by synchronizing over the air to AirSet contact, calendar, and list information.

IBM Enters IMS Game

November 17, 2005

IBM today announced IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystems) offerings to help telecommunications service providers transition to Next Generation Networks.

According to the release, IBM offers telecommunications industry clients pre-integrated business solutions that are based on an architecture which integrates IMS with existing service environments.�  The solutions are fully tested and designed to meet carrier grade quality standards. The IBM IMS architecture is built on components to reduce integration costs and leverages the IBM SPDE framework for continuity of Service Delivery Platform (SDP) evolution along with SOA and Web Services where appropriate. The solutions also enable service providers to evolve their current environments with predefined roadmaps that are customized to their specific requirements.

Nations Agree To Let US Manage the Internet

November 16, 2005

The Associated Press is reporting from Tunisia this morning that negotiators from over 100 nations have agreed to leave the United States in charge of the Internet’s root servers and addressing system.

According to the AP, “The World Summit on the Information Society had been overshadowed by a lingering, if not vocal, struggle about overseeing the domain names and technical issues that make the Internet work and keep people from Pakistan to Canada surfing Web sites in the search for information, news and buying and selling.”

The report quoted U.S. officials who said that instead of transferring management of the system to an international body such as the United Nations, an international forum would be created to address concerns. The forum, however, would have no binding authority.

The deal leaves essentially maintains the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) as the managing entity.

TMC Adds 2 New Magazines for '06

November 16, 2005

Rich Tehrani let the cat out of the bag yesterday, with regard to TMC launching two new magazines in 2006. I'm very excited about the opportunity to help produce these two publications that will be dedicated to two of the hottest areas in our industry: SIP and IMS.

I'd like to get a little ahead of the game and provide you with a "sneak peek" at the editorial calendars for both magazines. Here is what we will be focusing on in SIP Magazine for the first three issues:

JANUARY
What is SIP?

Yankee Survey Finds Immature Consumer VoIP Market

November 15, 2005

Caught wind today of a new Yankee Group survey. The Yankee Group’s recent Technologically Advanced Family (TAF) Survey reveals consumer trends and analysis regarding voice over IP.

Here’s the release:

Yankee Group Reveals VoIP Trends in 2005 Technologically Advanced Family Survey

Consumer confusion challenges VoIP adoption

Boston, MA, November 17, 2005 — Yankee Group today announced additional results of its 2005 Technologically Advanced FamilySM (TAF) Survey, which reveals crucial consumer voice data and analysis for industry players wishing to capture the buying power of early adopter consumers, as well as mass market, late mass market and laggard market segments.

Key survey findings include:

  • The VoIP market remains immature.

NTU Blasts UN's Bid To Govern Internet

November 15, 2005

Non-partisan is one of those terms that makes me chuckle. Not taking sides is by definition taking a position, albeit an alternate one. I’m always reminded of the Rush lyric, “…If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.”

I saw a news item today from the National Taxpayers Union (a non-partisan group), regarding tomorrow’s United Nations meeting in Tunisia to plot strategies for a new worldwide Internet governance structure. The NTU has published an "Issue Brief" warning that such schemes could choke political freedoms and soak taxpayers.

Lucent, IDC Web Seminar on The Future of VOIP

November 14, 2005

I’ll be moderating a Web seminar tomorrow, Tuesday, November 15, 2005 entitled “Moving to the Future with VoIP.” The Webinar will feature Chris Miller, Distinguished Member of Consulting Staff, VoIP Services at Lucent Technologies and Will Stofega, Research Manager VoIP services from IDC.

The speakers will explore the market conditions, economic factors, and emerging applications that are driving a network migration to a VoIP infrastructure. The discussion will also present Lucent client-based examples of VoIP Readiness Assessments, Security Plans and Migration strategies that provide an insight into real-life situations and issues any network operator can use.

Attendees can expect the Webinar to cover the following areas:

  • Understanding the importance of a methodology for implementing VoIP and the need to address a number of key elements including technological readiness and security.

Gates Warns of 'Sea Change'

November 9, 2005

According to the Associated Press, Bill Gates recently warned his executive team of a massive and disruptive “Sea Change” due to the tech industry’s shift to an Internet-based software and hosted services model.

According to the AP report, in an e-mail to top executives, dated Oct. 30, Gates urged company leaders to "act quickly and decisively" to move further into the field of offering such services, in order to best formidable competitors. "The next sea change is upon us," Gates wrote.

"This coming 'services wave' will be very disruptive," Gates wrote.

Lucent Moves Ahead With IMS

November 8, 2005

Lucent Technologies today announced that BellSouth has selected elements from Lucent's IMS-based (IP Multimedia Subsystem) solution, including network integration and technical support, to be the platform for BellSouth's Voice over IP service for residential customers in its nine-state territory.

Today's announcement is the third announcement in North America in three weeks involving elements of Lucent's IMS-based solution. Lucent recently announced Cingular and SBC as customers.

Lucent continues to make IMS a priority, and Wall Street has taken notice.

Internet Voice Campaign Announced

November 3, 2005

Go figure.

While I was busy writing my previous post on the need to focus on promoting VoIP to consumers, I get an e-mail from the VoN Coalition touting it’s just announced Internet Voice Campaign. I guess there must be some truth to what I said about getting consumers over the hump and convincing them that VoIP can be right for them. Timing is everything.

Senate Committee Approves VoIP Bill

November 3, 2005

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee voted to approve legislation that would among other things,� prevent the shutting off of VoIP service for providers who failed or were unable to comply with the FCC’s November 28 deadline. S. 1063, or The IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005, passed Committee unanimously.

As reported on the US Senate Commerce Committee Web site, the bill, S. 1063 has three primary objectives:

� 

First, the bill provides authority and guidance to the FCC so that they can craft a comprehensive scheme to address 911 and E-911 services.

VoIP Peering in 2006

November 2, 2005

Stealth Communications is hosting the first Voice Peering Forum today. The event features experts from leading global companies discussing the latest innovations and implementations in VoIP.

TMCnet’s Executive Editor Robert Liu is covering the event (read his synopsis here) as is Rich Tehrani, TMC’s president and VoIP evangelist.

Rich Tehrani breaks down the event on his blog today.

Roam From Home With SoftGnome

November 1, 2005

TelEvolution just announced SoftGnome, a virtual extension solution designed to go hand in hand with the company’s PhoneGnome solution.

SoftGnome is designed to enable PCs, PDAs, and WiFi handsets to be connected to a PhoneGnome equipped landline telephone.

Andy Abramson has much more to say about the solution here.

According to David Beckemeyer, founder and CEO of TelEvolution, “SoftGnome is an extension of PhoneGnome that you can use virtually everywhere.

WEBINAR ALERT: Enhance Your Business With Microsoft Speech Server

November 1, 2005

This Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 1:00 pm, I will be moderating a Web seminar entitled Enhance Your Business With Microsoft Speech Server.

As an attendee you will learn about new opportunities to enhance your business with Microsoft Speech Server. Our presenters Scott Wieder, Director of Market Development, Brooktrout Technology, & Jonathan Russo, Sales Director for Viecore, Inc., will discuss major trends in speech that are making this technology an excellent investment with an attractive ROI.

You will hear an overview of Microsoft Speech Server as well as how an increasing number of enterprises are experiencing the business benefits that speech-enabled voice response applications can deliver: increased cost-savings, higher customer satisfaction, and enhanced revenue opportunities.

Featured Events