December 2004 Archives

Just thought I'd share this email I received from Telic.net. THey're offering a free 100 minute trial using their platform based on SIP.
The email from them is as follows...

	Use 's managed VoIP platform to roll-out a SIP Phone service in days. To demonstrate the advanced end-user features and ease of use our platform enables, we invite you to try it out for yourself. Simply browse to http://users.xvox.com and create your own demo account. All products are controlled - from provisioning to invoicing - using a single web interface. All web interfaces can be white-labelled to your specifications. We also give you access to our applications through published SOAP XML webservices allowing you to create your own unique services. Our multi-protocol (supporting both SIP and H323) platforms use a carrier-grade Solaris architecture with mirrored Oracle databases and redundant call processing facilities in NY and LA, all of which are supported by our 24x7 Network Operations Center. With , you get all the functional benefits of owning a softswitch, debit platform, high-end billing solution and other applications without the investment, risk or responsibility of operating a complicated and constantly evolving technology platform. Key Features      • Solves subscriber provisioning, customer care and billing issues.      • Open XML interface and published webservices allow you to design your         own user interface, and share information with any number of related         systems, including existing order entry and OSS systems.      • Supports any SIP compliant CPE and allows service to commence as soon as        the equipment is powered on. Continuous compliance testing ensures        compatibility with the ever-growing list of SIP CPE vendors.      • No need for public IP adresses. Sophisticated network-based NAT traversal        techniques minimize complications associated with allocating IP addresses to        thousands of phones, without STUN.      • Integrated voice banners enable unique branding and highly-targeted        marketing campaigns. Paperless billing option and online payment processing        improves margins through reduced transaction costs. Since 1999, has provided managed VoIP applications to carriers and service providers alike. Our solutions give companies the tools that enable them to deploy carrier-grade VoIP services quickly and with little or no upfront investment. Other revenue generating solutions include:             • Pre and Post-Paid Calling Cards               • PC-to-Phone                • Wholesale (Tandem) Softswitching         • Callback Plus, we can also host any third-party application developed to vXML specifications.
	For more information or for an online demo of the system, please contact info@telic.net +1 212 400 8181 ext. 1010

There was one prediction I left off my 2005 VoIP Predictions list. While I did say Microsoft would try and get back into VoIP after previous failed attempts, I mostly talked about Microsoft's VoIP "software" plans, i.e. Longhorn perhaps with more advanced Live Communications Server (LCS) functionality. Well, I neglected
Microsoft's embedded hardware division. Microsoft will surely push their embedded hardware division quite hard into the VoIP space. Look for third-party phone manufacturers to embed Windows CE .NET into their VoIP hardware phones in 2005. Symbol, Samsung, Texas Instruments and Casio are but a few phone manufacturers that have already announced plans to use Windows CE .NET in their VoIP phones.  Microsoft has recently been pushing its latest version of Windows CE .NET 5.0 which has several enhancements to enable VoIP integration. In fact, expect Microsoft to push even HARDER at the upcoming CES show which is only a week away.  I'm sure there will be tons of Microsoft partners showing off their latest VoIP wares using the CE .NET platform.

In case you didn't know, Windows CE .NET uses the VoIP industry-standard Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol, which provides a uniform platform for voice, instant messaging, and video. Because SIP separates the signaling from the hardware and media components of the phone, applications and services running on the phone can be dynamically updated and managed. Further, the latest version of Windows CE includes an integrated Telephony User Interface (TUI), a VoIP Application Interface Layer (VAIL) with extensive call control functionality, an interface to access contact and calendar data on Microsoft Exchange servers, advanced provisioning capabilities, and a complete network layer stack that facilitates VoIP-enabled device development and infrastructure integration.

While these "smart phones" with large LCD displays and Web browsers and integrated email readers are really cool, I don't think they will do well in residential deployments (except for the casual techie geek like myself). Many of these devices are "desktop" phones which means you'd have to be sitting by the phone to use the web browser. In my house I have one desktop phone which I never use since it's not cordless. I refuse to be tied down to the location of the phone. Now, certainly a cordless "smart phone" based on Windows CE .NET with a LCD display might be pretty handy -- though the LCD screen would be much smaller so its portable. I certainly can envision checking email from a cordless "smart phone" while in the yard, watching TV, etc.

On the other hand, these Windows CE-based smart phones can certainly go after the lucrative business VoIP handset market where it probably makes more sense right now. For one, Cisco is making a killing selling thousands of phones with millions of their hardware IP desktop phones already deployed. Secondly, when you are in an office, your phone is on your desk just a few inches away, so you do have ease of access. Of course, you probably could just use your PC for browsing, but you do get some cool integration features such as Outlook integration, call control, screen-pop, and more when using a Windows CE smart phone device. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft can make some in-roads into Cisco's dominant IP phone position in 2005, but check out some of the Microsoft's phone manufacturer partners below that are going to try and give Cisco a run for their money!

Here are some of the VoIP devices that are currently available using Microsoft Windows CE .NET. P Phone (Netsys) Video Conferencing Terminal (Atrium) Dual-Radio Phone (NEC) IP Phone with Microsoft Outlook Access (Inter-Tel) Video TV Station (ZTE) IP Phone (LGE) VoIP Gateway (Reddline Sys.) VoIP Scanner (Intermec) IP Screen Phone (Broadcom) Pocket PC with Third-Party Softphone (Mitel) Video Conferencing Phone with E-Mail (Wooksung) IP Phone with Browser (Samsung)

VoIP security is often overlooked.Too often us VoIP bloggers get caught up writing about the latest cool feature added to Vonage/Packet8/CallVantage, etc., or the latest VoIP gadget or toy.Unfortunately, VoIP security just isn't a sexy topic.

But as VoIP deployments continue their meteoric rise both in residential and business, VoIP security is going to become much more critical.

Here's a good primer on VoIP security that came out in the latest issue of Internet Telephony Magazine that you should go check out:
Internet Telephony Feature Article: How Secure Is VoIP?

p.s. If you don't subscribe to Internet Telephony Magazine, you should.It's free (in print form) in the U.S.And if you are international, TMC recently launched a digital PDF version that you can download.It contains all the same graphics, charts, architecture diagrams as the print magazine. It even includes the advertisements if you are so inclined to check those out.Actually the ads are pretty important. I learn about a lot of new VoIP companies that often launch their product within Internet Telephony Magazine, since it is the first VoIP magazine (launched in 1996).Seeing ads is also a gauge of the company's financial strength and well-being before you 'plop' down cash on a company that may not be around in a year or two.

VOIP Security Tips
- Encrypt VOIP traffic and run it over a VPN.
- Make sure that server-based IP-PBXs are locked down and protected against viruses and denial-of-service attacks.
- Make sure you've properly configured and tightened policies on your firewalls for the best security. Check to see if your networking and security vendors support SIP and the H.323 voice protocol. (SIP is more important these days)
- You may wish to segment voice and data traffic by using a virtual LAN. This will limit the threat posed by packet-sniffing tools and minimize disruption in the event of an attack.
- Use proxy servers in front of corporate firewalls to process incoming and outgoing voice data.

Check out these interesting VoIP Security resources:

VoIP Security

VoIP Security article.
VoIP Security Conference
VoIP Security News
VoIP Security Challenges In Enterprise And Service Provider Networks
VoIP Security: Stakes Get Higher As Deployments Grow

Also, here's a sample article within Internet Telephony Magazine discussing VoIP security just to demonstrate some of the great VoIP security articles you can read if you subscribe to this magazine:

VoIP Security Challenges In Enterprise And Service Provider Networks

With most major telecommunications carriers currently in the process of readying voice-over-IP (VoIP) services for mass deployment, it's clear that IP telephony is finally headed for prime time. However, the promise of mass VoIP consumption also increases the risk for widespread security violations, spawning a new sense of urgency to plug potential security holes now before hackers wreak havoc on corporate voice networks.

Until now, VoIP security hasn't been a particularly volatile subject since most IP voice traffic remained on local and wide area enterprise networks. But as VoIP usage becomes widespread, enterprises and home users will become subject to the same security risks that have affected data networks. This is largely due to the fact next-generation voice networks are IP based and all IP protocols for sending voice traffic contain flaws.

In particular, service providers who offer business class services, including voice VPN, IP Centrex, and hosted IP PBX services, face a raft of challenges. First, they must find an acceptable method for sending VoIP traffic through enterprise firewalls, which can inhibit and even block VoIP packets due to their inherent security functions. Without a viable solution, VoIP calls remain essentially unsecured, subject to security breaches including snooping, denial of service attacks, and tapping. Moreover, unsecured IP telephony networks are vulnerable to packet flooding by hackers intent on causing service disruptions that vary in intensity from system crashes and throughput problems to system slowdowns and voice quality degradation.

FINDING THE ANSWER
In an attempt to solve VoIP security questions, enterprises and service providers have considered a variety of technologies, including IP phones with embedded security mechanisms, private or virtual LANs, intelligent routers with integrated firewalls or new protocols such as the proposed STUN standard, and voice proxy firewalls. However, for the most part these remedies have been woefully inadequate.

Placing IP phones in the enterprise without using a firewall is highly risky. Though many have integrated security mechanisms, including authentication requiring a user name and password, they can be easily hacked. Plus, they utilize public IP addresses, which also are vulnerable to unwanted intrusion.

Deploying a VoIP solution on a private LAN behind the service provider's own firewall is unacceptable due to the fact that most enterprises must utilize a certain number of public IP addresses, which are also vulnerable to security breaches. And most WANs used between the provider and the enterprise are based on global IP addressing, which presents a similar danger. In addition, service providers that combine traffic from several enterprises on the same network (i.e., Metropolitan Area Networks) are placing those customers at risk, since it is possible for an individual with access to one of these enterprise LANs to hack into the network of another.

Some service providers have met the problem by leveraging a private IP addressing scheme for phones and public IP addressing for all other networked devices. In this solution, phones would be connected to one virtual LAN (VLAN) and devices such as PCs, switches, and routers would be connected to another VLAN. This allows enterprises to send and receive VoIP calls in a secure manner using their own firewalls. Unfortunately for service providers, the complexity of managing separate private and public IP addresses for every customer and configuring IP phones for each user causes operational headaches and increases expense.

New voice aware firewalls have also been come under scrutiny. However, such equipment is mostly in the development stage and no available products support all VoIP standards, leaving enterprises that use them open to the same vulnerabilities previously discussed. Plus, the cost of replacing existing firewalls with new platforms is a very expensive proposition.

SECURING ENTERPRISE TRAFFIC - SECURITY IS CRITICAL
A far better solution involves deployment of voice proxy firewalls in the service provider's network. Though other solutions exist, such next-generation platforms present a highly effective and cost-efficient alternative, enabling providers to ensure safe passage for voice traffic sent to their customers' networks.

Voice proxy firewalls support Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP), and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) end points and are especially effective when deployed in pairs for redundancy, with one device active and the other passive. Multiple pairs can be deployed for increased scalability.

In a paired configuration, an IP telephony application server in the service provider's core network continuously monitors both voice proxy firewalls and switches between them in milliseconds in the event of service disruptions such as dropped calls. Using this solution, customer premise equipment (CPE) such as IP phones and access gateways are able to function in enterprises to full capability behind any standard, commercially available firewall. This is possible due to the voice proxy firewall's ability to control command and voice packet streams sent between the provider and customer.

During voice transmissions, all command and voice packet streams that flow between both entities pass through the voice proxy firewall, which inspects each packet and replaces embedded (private) IP addresses and ports with new (public) IP addresses/ports representing the voice proxy firewall itself. Thus, real time protocol (RTP) voice packets can be delivered to customer access gateways and IP phones existing behind enterprise firewalls.

SIMPLE CAVEATS
Generally the voice proxy firewall requires no configuration on the part of the enterprise, but rare exceptions exist. Some very large enterprises with firewalls set up to deny outbound communication must be configured with a single entry, allowing traffic to be delivered to the voice proxy firewall IP address. In addition, some firewalls cannot consistently keep MGCP and SIP sessions open during idle traffic times. In most cases, this problem can easily be remedied by setting the time out value to five minutes. However, firewalls that lack the ability to alter the time out period cannot be used.

Service Provider Solutions
Voice proxy firewalls also provide powerful firewall capability for service providers, enabling them to prevent hacker attacks and service disruptions that can disrupt their own networks. This is accomplished via access lists and stateful packet inspection accomplished via packet validation and packet throttling, all capabilities that are integrated into the voice proxy firewall.

Access lists limit who can make calls and help prevent service theft by those with network access. Using access lists, only packets from the specified IP addresses can penetrate the voice proxy firewall. Note that this method only applies to boot packets. Access lists enable network managers to assign various access levels to employees, for example, allowing them to make local and long-distance calls, but not international calls. Remote users could be assigned a very low access level since external users present a high security risk.

Packet validation checks for valid source/destination IP addresses and forwards packets only after they pass the test. RTP voice packets are scanned for valid source/destination IP addresses and command packets are parsed and checked to determine their validity. The packet validation process prevents malformed packets from entering the IP telephony application server and unnecessarily consuming CPU resources.

Packet throttling enables network managers to set a parameter corresponding to the number of boot packets per second that are allowed passage through the voice proxy firewall. This allows them to prevent packet storms from reaching the IP telephony application server.

THE DOOR TO NEW SERVICES
Deployment of VoIP technology opens a new world of communications for enterprise customers. By transporting voice traffic over packet-based networks, service providers can launch new high-margin services, including virtual PBX and IP Centrex, which promise enormous value and lower costs for enterprises. However, before opening the floodgate of new services, providers must find answers to VoIP security questions. By addressing these issues now, providers of IP voice services can avoid the security problems data providers solved the hard way, enabling them to increase profitability, lower management and operational costs, and enjoy a much more rapid return on investment.

Wal-Mart has agreed to sell the Soyo Group's VoIP telephone handsets, pre-loaded with 150 minutes of calling time, over its e-commerce Web site.

Ironically, I was going to make a prediction in my 2005 VoIP Predictions that Walmart was going to get into VoIP. But I actually blogged this prediction back in November (Walmart Crushes AOL and adds WiMAX, WiFi, VoIP), so I thought it was best not to repeat myself. Besides I had a nice round 10 predictions, so an 11th would have screwed it all up!

Anyway, check out the full Walmart VoIP offering here:
You Can Get Everything - Even VoIP - At Wal-Mart

I've been thinking about making predictions for 2005 for some time now. I had a few ideas jotted down back in November but just never got around to compiling everything together and then sitting down and writing my VoIP predictions. Well, with only 9 more days until New Years Eve and then 2005, I guess I can procrastinate no longer.

Here are my Top 10 VoIP predictions and ponderings for 2005.

1) VoIP providers will continue to run to the FCC (a VoIP proponent) for protection from the big bad bully RBOCs, ILECs, CLECs, etc. as they try and lobby Congress to regulate VoIP. It will be a fun battle to watch.

2) VoIP providers will continue to harp that the government shouldn't impose any regulations on VoIP and that the industry should be open & free, while simultaneously VoIP providers will continue to alienate their customers by password-protecting and locking the customer's ATA (analog telephony adaptor), thus preventing customers from easily switching to another VoIP provider and using the same ATA. This is hypocrisy at its worst! Customers will continue to be left with useless ATA "bricks" which eventually will make it the local landfill when they switch to a better VoIP provider.

3) With millions of customers using VoIP and with the ability to now easily switch to another voice provider and keep your existing phone number, more customers will switch to the best value, which means more ATAs will make it to the landfill drawing attention from the EPA. Rather than let the EPA regulate recycling of ATAs, in 2005 VoIP providers will offer a rebate or discount to "turn in" your old ATA so they can recycle it. It can even be a selling point to get you to switch from a competitor - "Be green! Send us your old VoIP ATA and we will give you the first month for free!"

4) 2005 - The Year Triple Play took off
Other than WiMAX, the Triple Play has got to be one of the most hyped technologies of 2004. Well, watch out in 2005. The Triple Play will take off in 2005, you can bank on it. I examined one Triple Play technology provider (Pannaway) in the labs recently and the technology is ready. The technology used by them is ADSL2+, targeting the DSL providers (typically phone companies). This company already has some actual deployments - not trials - across the country. I did a test drive of Pannaway's product last week and plan on writing the first ever product review of a Triple Play offering in an upcoming issue of Internet Telephony Magazine.

Service providers that can bundle and package several services all rolled into one will have a competitive advantage over those that do not have those capabilities. Vonage is one example of a company that cannot offer Triple Play since it doesn’t own the broadband pipe into the home – it merely rides on top of the broadband pipe using the IP protocol.

Cable companies and DSL providers (often carriers) on the other hand are in prime position to one-up Vonage, since they own the broadband pipe, they can ensure QoS for converged voice/video/data and thus offer an all-in-one package at a lower overall cost than Vonage. This essentially gives the carriers the opportunity to enact some revenge on Vonage for stealing customers and helping to drive long distance margins way down. Vonage and other “Single Play” VoIP service providers could be in trouble in 2005, so although I don’t see a lot of consolidation, it’s possible Vonage could try and attempt to be bought out.

5) Return of the Jedi (Return of telemarketing calls to switch providers) Remember the days when MCI, AT&T, etc. would call you at home and ask you to switch phone carriers and they'd often bribe you with $50 or even $100? Have you noticed that the volume of these calls has dramatically gone down? In fact, I haven't received a "switch carriers" phone call in over one and a half years! Want to know why? It just costs too much money for the carriers to pay a call center agent to call you and get you to switch. The conversion rate isn't that great to begin with and with the ROI going way down with the price of voice minutes tanking, it just doesn't make sense. Of course the Federal Do Not Call list could have something to do with the call volume drop as well. But does this mean the end of telemarketers trying to get you to switch?

Unfortunately, I don't think so. There is a loophole in the DNC that lets companies call you if they have done business with you in the past 6 months, which surely will be exploited. As I mentioned in Prediction #4, the phone companies will soon offer Triple Play voice/video/data. If the phone companies don't already have you as a DSL customer, they could in the near future have you as an ADSL2+ TV customer. If they have you as a customer in ANY of the Triple Play offerings, they can call you and upsell you on the other services. So if you are one of the millions of DSL users, watch out in 2005! Your DSL provider WILL BE calling you to offer you TV access bundled with voice and/or data.

This is a huge competitive advantage for the "big boys" to go after Vonage, which has cut into the carrier's marketshare. I suppose the Triple Play offering is one way of striking revenge against Vonage and the other Internet phone providers.

6) The Empire Strikes Back Phone companies (The Empire) will go after the cable companies' TV business just as the cable companies have successfully gone after the phone companies' voice and data business. This is related to my Triple Play prediction, but I just had to work Star Wars somewhere into these predictions.

7) Colleges ramp up on VoIP
When I was in college 11 years ago they just added Ethernet to the dorm rooms. Too bad VoIP didn't exist back then as I often had $100 phone bills. But that's nothing. Many students had $200-$500 phone bills due to the ridiculous prices charged by colleges. Most colleges built their own phone system acting as their own little phone companies so they could charge students a "premium" and rake in the profits. Well, the colleges are really starting to hurt with cell phone market penetration as well as students using Skype and other VoIP solutions. Many colleges spent millions on their legacy phone systems and haven't recouped that investment. Well, if you can't beat em' join em'! Many colleges have already started deploying VoIP, often giving the students a Cisco IP phone or other IP phone to use. You can expect more of this in 2005. Fortunately, the easier administration (as compared to traditional PBX/phone systems) as well as the ability to partner with less expensive VoIP termination providers such as Level3 could make the colleges more competitive and with good margins.

8) Cities become their own phone companies
You will start to see more cities not only offering high-speed wireless broadband using WiMAX and other high-speed wireless technologies, but you will start to see cities offering their own phone services as well. Just think of the loyalty they can build! If I have my choice between paying a private VoIP company based in New Jersey versus paying my local town, heck I'll give the money to my local town. My local town can simply send out an ad in one of those "coupon mailers" that most of us in the country receive and say, "Use us as your phone company and your property taxes will go down." SOLD! End of story. I'd drop my current VoIP provider in a heartbeat! I'd tell my neighbors to join so we could reduce our property taxes and they in turn would tell other neighbors in the town. The old "peer-to-peer" system if you will! : )

I predict if cities wise-up and become their own phone companies, this could be the most revolutionary changes in the telecom industry ever. Instead of a few dozen phone companies you could have thousands of phone companies - with each town being its own phone company.

9) VoIP Spam + 1st VoIP spam lawsuit
2005 will mark the first really bad VoIP spam incident. Often referred to as SPIT (Spam Internet Telephony), I predict someone looking for a quick buck will send automated recorded messages (.WAV file) to thousands of SIP addresses. If the VoIP call is IP-to-IP and never touches the PSTN, the stringent laws governing the PSTN won't apply. The first lawsuit will ensure, and the spammer will win since VoIP is still classified as an "information service" not bound by the Federal Do-Not-Call rules. The DNC law will be amended as a result. Perish the thought, but the FCC may be forced to reclassify all VoIP calls (IP-to-IP, IP-to-PSTN, PSTN-to-IP) not as an "information service" but as a telecom service bound by all telecom regulation. It's a scary thought and not necessarily a prediction.

10) Microsoft tries its hand again at VoIP
Let's recap - Microsoft develops NetMeeting, which has VoIP & video capabilities, but doesn't really capture the imagination of the market. Microsoft launches MSN Messenger with VoIP features and video, and although many people use MSN Messenger, it's primarily used for instant messages. Yet another Microsoft VoIP failure. Next, in the Fall of this year, Microsoft pushed Live Communications Server (LCS) which boasts VoIP with SIP capabilities and collaboration features. It's a good product, but very complex to install and requires integration with Active Directory.

I foresee Microsoft taking another shot at the VoIP market. I predict Longhorn, which has had its deadline pushed back several times will have some nifty VoIP features. Longhorn was supposed to come out in early 2005, but word is it won't come out until 2006. I predict even if it does come out in 2006 that we will see betas in mid-to-late 2005 that demonstrate some cool VoIP capabilities.

I should point out that Microsoft does have one VoIP success - the XBOX Live service, using Level3's backbone and which lets gamers talk trash over the Internet as they frag one of their buddies.

Another point to ponder... SBC and Microsoft Corp recently announced a $400 million, 10-year agreement that calls for Microsoft to provide the software SBC will use to provide television services to U.S. consumers. The technology will let the company deliver 1,000 or more new TV channels, far more than cable-TV providers currently offer. But could this be Microsoft's Trojan horse? Microsoft getting paid to develop the software to provide digital TV services - no doubt a Triple Play-type offering and using ADSL2+ is my guess. So what's to prevent Microsoft from using the experienced gained and then launching their own Triple Play offering? Of course, Microsoft doesn't own any last-mile copper connections (phone wire or coax) to the home, but with Microsoft's cash they could buy the last mile or simply deploy high-speed wireless.

That's all my VoIP predictions for 2005. 2005 will be a great year for VoIP, and that's not a prediction, it's a fact. It's an exciting year ahead and I'm proud to be covering one of the most exciting and perhaps the hottest technology on the market today.

Vonage announced a deal with Compusa to offer Vonage's broadband VoIP solution. The funny thing is I thought Compusa ALREADY was offering Vonage. Could have sworn I already saw a press release about this. I guess so many retail stores are offering so many various VoIP providers it's hard to keep track!

Here's the release...

VONAGE® TO SELL ITS LEADING BROADBAND TELEPHONY SERVICE AT COMPUSA

Vonage is now available in Over 8,000 Retail Outlets Within North America

Edison, N.J., December 21, 2004 - Vonage Holdings Corp., the leading broadband phone company, today announced CompUSA will offer Vonage's service in all of its 200 plus nationwide stores throughout the United States and online at www.compusa.com.

High-speed Internet customers, who have a standard telephone, can sign up for Vonage service by purchasing one of two Vonage starter kits at CompUSA, featuring Linksys devices. These devices will allow customers to make calls in the U.S. and Canada for one low, flat monthly rate starting at $14.99. The devices are competitively priced and offer the consumer a $50.00 mail-in rebate, ninety days after the Vonage service is activated.

"CompUSA's national roll-out of Vonage's service is evidence of the transformation of the telecommunications industry and the need to make broadband telephony more readily available to the general consumer market," stated Dave Goodwin, vice president, Retail Sales Channel for Vonage. "We are looking forward to a successful sales relationship with one of the nation's leading retailers of technology equipment."

Skype has signed up some more call termination providers for their SkypeOut service - this time with Cable & Wireless and Luxembourg's B3G Telecom Technologies.

Skype already has deals in place with iBasis, Level3 and Teleglobe, who now provide global termination services for its SkypeOut service, which lets users make calls to PSTN landlines.

I couldn't help but get a kick out of this release from Cablevision from yesterday...

Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) today announced that its Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable (VoIP) service had surpassed the 250,000-customer milestone. The fastest-growing facilities-based VoIP service in the nation, Optimum Voice on average has been adding approximately 1,000 new customers per day within Cablevision's New York metropolitan area system.

"Optimum Voice has established itself as a value-priced and highly-reliable voice service in the New York metropolitan area, and the consumer response has been outstanding," said John Bickham, Cablevision's president of cable and communications. "Clearly, a diverse and growing base of customers have embraced the ability to make unlimited calls across the U.S. and Canada at one low price, while taking advantage of a growing list of innovative calling features."

I mainly take issue with the bolded parts. First, they claim they are the "fastest-growing facilities-based VoIP service in the nation". Ok, I'm not sure if I buy that, but OK, I'll take them at their word.

But then they BLEW IT when they said Optimum Voice has established itself as "value-priced", when in fact they charge one of the priciest monthly fees of any VoIP provider - $34.95/month!

On top of that, the press release claims that Cablevision announced that the standard monthly price for Optimum Voice would remain unchanged at $34.95 in 2005.

Wait a second here. Everyone else in the broadband VoIP world is in a price war and Cablevision isn't joining the party? What gives? I guess there 250,000 people who don't mind over-paying for phone service. It's the same old story...

Well the French wouldn't be the French if they weren't protesting something - whether its President Bush, the war in Iraq, English dominance in business & culture, or something else to complain and protest about. Must be a French thing.

So, anyway, I found this story about French staff members from Wanadoo protesting over the quality of their VoIP calls interesting. Check it out.
Wanadoo.fr staff strike over 'buggy' VoIP service | The Register

I haven't seen any news about FTTH (Fiber To The Home) and VoIP solutions. If you think about it, most of the news about VoIP has been about VoIP over cable broadband or DSL broadband connections, not fiber. So I was pleasantly surprised when I came across Telco Systems, which has an Outdoor/Indoor IP Media Gateway for Voice, Video and Data services convergence and FTTH applications.

They claim that "the BATM/Telco Systems GW-282 series Integrated IP media gateway is the most efficient, flexible, and powerful device in its class." According to Telco Systems, it’s capable of supporting various combinations of 2, 4 and 8 analog voice lines (VoIP FXS ports), 8 or 16 10/100BaseTX Ethernet ports and optical Fast/ Gigabit Ethernet uplink. The GW-282 gateways cover the spectrum of requirements for the enterprise VoIP environment and remote connectivity for Fiber-to-the-Home/Apartment (FTTH/A) applications.

Some other info from their website:

Fiber-to-the-Home/Apartment (FTTH/A)
The GW-282’s flexible architecture enables it to be an IP gateway platform that supports a wide variety of optical fiber uplinks, it can be configured with either a Fast or Gigabit Ethernet transceiver. One unique advantage of the GW-282 is supporting Single Fiber using Bi-Directional transceivers, thus saving 50% on fiber cost.

The GW-282 can be deployed indoors (residence or business) or outdoors in an environmentally controlled cabinet (Outdoor rugged solution). This cabinet provides separate lock-secured access gateways for the Service Provider and end user. The cabinet is designed to support Automated Meter Reading and is equipped to support battery backup for providing Lifeline POTS. The outdoor version of GW-282 has optional support of RF video.

Voice (VoIP), Video and Data convergence
The GW-282 series is a great CPE solution for Service Providers looking to deliver voice, video and data over fiber to the end user. The GW-282 series support 802.1p QoS, 802.1q VLAN tagging, Spanning Tree Protocol and IGMPv2. The GW-282 supports all current VoIP signaling protocols including SIP, MGCP and H.323. Other protocols are optional and can be enabled. Soon, VoIP support will be delivered with an optional VoIP upgrade kit. This adherence to standards allows users to have maximum interoperability with existing network infrastructure.

Small Medium Enterprises (SME) usage
The GW-282 series is the ultimate solution for Small Medium Enterprises. Users can easily set up phone calls through the IP network while simultaneously using the gateway as a high-bandwidth enterprise network connection.

Manageability
GW-282 can be managed by SNMP, HTTP, Telnet, local terminal and download of configuration and new software by DHCP server. In addition, the GW-282 series, as all BATM/Telco Systems IP platforms, support BiNOSCenter, the BATM/Telco Systems EMS/NMS Element/Network Management System.

Benefits and Features
Integrated Voice (VoIP), Video and Data IP media gateway
Indoor and outdoor (rugged) versions
Integrated 100/1000 Mbps fiber- SFP uplink variety including:
• 100BaseX of MM, SM and Bi-Directional
• 1000BaseX of pluggable SFP (miniGBIC)
Special options including: EPON, CWDM, DWDM
Voice ports – 2-, 4- or 8-port versions
Enhanced Video capabilities
Data 10/100BaseTX switched ports - 8- or 16-port versions
Full support for ITU H.323, MGCP and SIP, MEGACO optional
Enhanced L2 switching capabilities
Wire speed performance
Integrated Web server
Automatic tone generation: Dial, Busy, Ring-Back
DTMF detection and generation
Voice activity detection & prioritization
IGMP Snooping
Automatic configuration (BOOTP)
Remote maintenance
Special features on Outdoor unit:
• Built in charger + Battery Back up
• Extended temperature
• Meter reading
• Lifeline POTS
• Many more...
Call Waiting
Caller ID display
3-way calling (Conference)
Last call redial
Distinctive Ringtones
Call transfer
DND (Do Not Disturb)
Call forwarding
Block/Accept last call
Redial last call
Auto Redial
Caller Identify on Call Waiting

Now if only I can convince Telco Systems to get fiber installed to my home I can do a review of their product.

Gary Morgenstern from AT&T sent TMC an email regarding AT&T CallVantage's new features.

The AT&T email states:
This is the single largest introduction of new feature and capabilities to AT&T CallVantage Service since its initial launch last March 29. With the addition of 'AT&T CallVantage Plus,' (the sub-account capability referenced), 2nd-line and Call Filtering, subscribers are able to configure a very sophisticated suite of customized capabilities that trump any competitive services to date. Taken in total, we have now matured AT&T CallVantage Service to a feature-rich offer in just 9 months.

Hmmm..."trump any competitive services to date"? Nothing like a good marketing or PR person that knows how to write good copy, eh?

Below is the full AT&T CallVantage release. One interesting feature is the Record & Send,' which "blasts" a recorded message to a maximum of 20 phone numbers. This is kind of like an automated predictive dialer (though predictive dialers in the traditional sense connect you to a live person). Hmmm, does this then make every AT&T CallVantage user a potential telemarketer? Well with only 20 numbers, I'm sure they won't run afoul of the DNC (Do Not Call List). Plus I'm sure this feature will be used for personal and not business. Though perhaps one day AT&T will offer a business version of CallVantage with unlimited predictive dialing capabilities. It will be like Centrex all over again except with much more advanced features. Already IP-Centrex solutions exist, but I digress...

Anyway, check out some of the new features in CallVantage.

AT&T Makes AT&T CallVantage Service "Family Friendly"

Innovative Service Delivers an Industry First and Many New Capabilities

FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2004

BEDMINSTER, N.J. - AT&T said today it is introducing a number of exciting new feature enhancements to AT&T CallVantageSM Service, including immediate availability of the industry's first sub-account capability that provides up to nine distinctive telephone numbers along with the ability to manage each as a separate calling experience while sharing the same line.

In addition, the company is debuting additional new features and services, including a second-line offer, support of facsimile machines and some modems, call filtering capabilities, a record and send feature and more.

"With the introduction of these innovative new capabilities, AT&T CallVantage Service is now poised to provide subscribers a truly differentiated calling experience," said Cathy Martine, AT&T senior vice president for Internet Telephony. "With AT&T CallVantage Plus, everyone can receive calls when and where they want providing each user a completely customizable experience on the calls they receive. No other provider currently offers this level of control."

The new features are the latest in a series of innovations AT&T promised to deliver to this popular Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. These new premium capabilities include:
'AT&T CallVantage Plus,' that provides each user a distinctive telephone number and the ability to manage their individual experience on the calls they receive. This enables as many as nine individuals the ability to configure the features like 'Do Not Disturb' and 'Locate Me' to receive calls when they want and where they want. It also provides a discrete 'Call Log' for each user and personal voicemail. The monthly cost is $7.49 per additional user.

'2nd Line,' service is now available and must compliment the primary line's local and long-distance bundle for $29.99 a month, or the local only plan for $19.99 a month.

'Call Filtering,' an exciting new capability that when combined with other AT&T CallVantage Service features provides the ability to direct calls based on who is calling. For example, using 'Do Not Disturb' users might elect to send calls from friends directly to voicemail, while allowing calls from children always to ring through. The monthly charge for this feature is $1.99.

'Record & Send,' makes repetitive calls easy and convenient so that classroom 'moms,' soccer coaches and the like can record a message and quickly deliver it to as many as 20 separate phone numbers. Record & Send is free during this introductory period depending on the calling plan and whether it's used for long distance or international calls. This feature will cost $0.49 per use beginning in February 2005.

"While some of these new capabilities are priced a-la-carte, we are also introducing a number of new features to enhance the already feature-rich calling experience at no additional cost," said Martine. "This will help ensure our customers that they're receiving the very best broadband calling experience at incomparable value."

The service enhancements being added to the existing AT&T CallVantage Service platform at no additional charge include:

'Fax and Modem Support," now makes it possible for most commonly used facsimile machines and some modems to interoperate with AT&T CallVantage Service. It may also work with some Personal Video Recorders and satellite TV systems.

'Safe Forward Number,' automatically activates a prescribed location to deliver calls whenever there is an interruption in service due to conditions such as a commercial power outage that may affect the ability to receive calls. The 'Locate Me' feature does not need to be active for this automatic redirection to take place. (This feature is currently available only to customers with a D-Link 1120 TA connected directly to the modem.)

In addition to these new features, the company also introduced today additional service enhancements that include:
* 'International Calling Support,' that now makes it possible to mix international locations with existing features including 'Call Forwarding,' 'Click to Dial,' 'Locate Me,' 'Phone Book' and 'Speed Dial;'
* 'Locate Me VIP List,' that provides the option of forwarding all calls, or only a select group of numbers;
* 'Phone Book Import/Export,' provides synchronization of up to 250 names to Microsoft® Outlook, Outlook Express and Palm PoweredTM handhelds;
* "Set your Time Zone," makes it possible to select and customize the time zone associated with features such as 'Call Logs' and 'Conference Calling.'

Just as important, responding to consumer feedback, the company unveiled a completely redesigned Internet Home Page to support the service. The new page provides instant access to the features used most and to search on the Help and FAQ sections of the site.

Additionally, the company announced the end of its introductory calling promotion that offered 'Personal Conference' at no additional charge, and renamed the feature 'Conference Calling.' Effective immediately, all 'Conference Calling' calls will be billed at $0.35 per minute.

All of these new features and capabilities are available immediately.

Introduced in late March, AT&T CallVantage Service is now serving consumers in more than 170 markets in 39 states and Washington, D.C. The service, which works with a customer's broadband connection, provides a complete calling solution that provides unlimited local and long-distance domestic calling, including calls to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, unlimited calling to Canada, discount rates for international calling, and a suite of advanced features for $29.99 a month with the first month free to new subscribers who sign up before January 31, 2005.

Under its AT&T CallVantage Local Plan, customers receive unlimited local calling and access to the entire AT&T CallVantage Service advanced feature set for $19.99 per month. All local toll and long distance calling and feature use in the U.S. and to Canada will be billed at $0.04 a minute.
To learn more about AT&T CallVantage Service, consumers can visit http://www.CallVantage.com, call 1-866-816-3815 extension 70339, or visit one of its valued retailers.

Take the super-hyped WiMAX wireless technology and team it up with the super-hot VoIP technology and what do you get? A super-pumped hyped-up press release...

But hey, WiMAX and VoIP are a perfect match, so if WiMAX lives up to its hype, this bit of news could be important.

Wi-LAN and Quintum Technologies have teamed to provide VoIP via wireless broadband. Now enterprise. ISPs and service providers can now implement VoIP with a high speed wireless broadband backhaul connection. Wi-LAN and Quintum now provide a one stop shop for those looking to implement the latest communications technologies. This includes design and installation of the PBX connection, VoIP gateway and wireless point to multi-point system.

The Wi-LAN backhaul uses their latest "pre-WiMAX" solution that is guaranteed upgradeable to "certified" WiMAX.

For Immediate Release

Quintum Technologies Partners with Wi-LAN To Provide Wireless VoIP

VoIP Wireless Solution Reduces Costs and Enables Rapid Widespread Deployment.

EATONTOWN, NJ December 15, 2004 ­ Quintum Technologies, a leading innovator in VoIP technology, has partnered with Wi-LAN Inc. (TSX:WIN), a global provider of market-leading broadband wireless communications products and technologies and charter member of the WiMAX Forum, to offer their secure wireless high-speed communications solution to businesses, telecom service providers, and government enterprises.

Wi-LAN specializes in high-speed Internet access, data network extension, and wireless data and telephony backhaul, utilizing its high quality broadband wireless products and industry-leading technologies. Wi-LAN broadband wireless solutions provide multiples of E1/T1 capacity lines with Voice over IP capability, can span distances of up to 75 km, and can achieve throughput of up to 288 Mbps.

The solution enables Next Generation Service Providers and WISPs to penetrate new markets by allowing them to bypass the incumbent telco to provide value added services such as voice and high bandwidth data services to customers who need secure and robust networking. Wi-LAN’s easy to install, industry leading wireless network products along with Quintum’s patented MultiPath Architecture provides the ability to simply integrate into existing voice and data networks while providing failover and redundancy that cannot be achieved utilizing traditional VoIP gateways.

Enterprise customers can securely connect multiple locations with both data and VoIP Services. Quintum’s ability to integrate with existing PBX and IP networks, coupled with Wi-LAN’s simple to deploy products allow for a highly available and low impact deployment.

"The Quintum Tenor products provide Wi-LAN with an easy, cost effective solution for our customers to deploy wireless Voice-over-IP networks," said John Seliga, Vice President of Marketing of Wi-LAN. "This unique solution allows us to deploy Tenors on both the customer premises and service provider access points, minimizing the disruption to the existing network infrastructure that is common with traditional VoIP gateways."

The Tenor’s unique MultiPath architecture allows it to be easily installed in line with the existing voice switching and IP routing infrastructure both on customer premises and at service provider POPs. The administration of call routing rules are transparently managed. Additional Tenor capacity can also be added incrementally as required, providing the scalability necessary to support growing call volume.
"Wi-LAN’s VoIP solutions offer a much needed alternative to traditional land line PSTN networks," said Charles Rutledge, Vice President of Marketing for Quintum Technologies. "Tenors work seamlessly over both types of networks and offer flexibility to service providers that no other VoIP equipment can."

About Wi-LAN Inc.

Wi-LAN is a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, offering businesses, including telecom service providers, and government enterprises, effective, economic and secure wireless high-speed communications solutions. Wi-LAN specializes in high-speed Internet access, data network extension, and wireless data and telephony backhaul, utilizing its high quality products and industry-leading technologies.

Wi-LAN is the chair company of the OFDM Forum (www.ofdm-forum.com) and a charter member of the WiMAX Forum (www.wimaxforum.org). Wi-LAN's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WIN." Detailed information on Wi-LAN can be found at http://www.wi-lan.com.

About Quintum

Headquartered in Eatontown, NJ, Quintum specializes in voice-over-IP technologies that bring reliability and voice clarity of public telephone networks to Internet telephony. Its Tenor VoIP MultiPath switch product lines are designed to help businesses of all sizes achieve a risk free migration to a converged network. Quintum’s Tenor product line offers a wide range of unique features that differentiate it from other VoIP solutions. These features include real time PSTN failover that eliminates risk from poor IP Quality of Service, MultiPath call routing allowing easy installation into existing data and telecom environments, and transparent communication across NAT (network address translation) firewalls. Quintum Technologies sells its MultiPath switches worldwide through its direct sales force and a network of resellers and distributors. For more information call 1-877-SPEAK IP (1-877-773-2547), 732-460-9000 outside the US, or visit http://www.quintum.com

As an iPod user myself, I found this bit of news a bit disconcerting. Basically, Apple Computer has updated its iPod software so that songs purchased from RealNetworks' online music store will no longer play on some iPods. Apple basically updated the iPod firmware to block the playing of songs downloaded from RealNetworks. The move could render tunes purchased by many iPod owners via RealNetworks unplayable on their music players.

RealNetworks has marketed its music store as the only Apple rival compatible with the iPod, following RealNetworks discovery of a method to let its customers play their downloaded tunes on Apple's iPod.

Apple criticized RealNetworks' workaround, called Harmony, calling it "hacking" and warned that songs purchased on RealNetworks would likely "cease to work with current and future iPods."

Interestingly, many rabid iPod fans have come to Apple's defense, essentially supporting the notion that you should only be able to download music from Apple's online music store using iTunes software. Personally, when it comes to technology I believe in a free open market away from proprietary technology. This is much better for the consumer in the long run. The more a product becomes a common commodity (what Apple fears), the lower the cost for the consumer. So if downloading songs becomes a commodity that you can download from one of any of a dozen music download websites, then the price will go down due to competition.

This reminds me of the inkjet printer companies that put chips in their ink cartridges to prevent aftermarket ink cartridges from working. Then at least one company (Lexmark) tried to sue under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act). Lexmark lost the lawsuit and of course now aftermarket ink cartridges continue to thrive. I somewhat understood and had sympathy for the ink jet printer companies. They lowered the price point on their printers to the point where many were actually losing money and only making a profit from the ink cartridges.

But Apple has no excuse. I paid >$350 for my iPod which I'm sure had a profit margin for Apple.

Apple should have no right to control what type of music I decide to put on my iPod. Again, I bought and paid over $350 for my iPod, PERIOD! So it's mine! So take your stinkin' paws of me iPod, you damn dirty APE/APPLE!

Some avid mountain climbers decided to do a test drive using Skype over a satellite data connection (RBGAN satellite modem). Since they were charged per megabyte and not per minute they did some rough calculations to see if there were still any price savings using Skype over a data connection over satellite as opposed to a voice connection over satellite. But regardless if they save any money, to think of a mountain climber wearing a bluetooth headset communicating with a Skype client on a PDA or smartphone is just too cool for words!

Although according to this article they were using a laptop, so I assume they made Skype calls from the laptop when they were camped in a tent. It would be even cooler if they could be actively climbing and make/receive Skype calls using a more portable device in their pocket.

Of course talking while climbing could be more dangerous than cellphone drivers. But the way I look at it, mountain climbers are a pretty crazy bunch.. so that's one way to help eliminate the 'crazy' gene from the human gene pool - my sick form of Darwinism. I'm kidding of course...

Go check out the article:
VoIP High - SKYPE over Satellite

Just thought I'd share this bit of news from an eWeek article.

Apparently, the Hotmail founder, Sabeer Bhatia (who sold Hotmail to Microsoft for $400 million) has some plans for VoIP -- with a planned launch date in March 2005.

The full story can be read here:
Hotmail Founder Has Lots More in Store