| VoIP & Gadgets blog - Latest news in VoIP & gadgets, wireless, mobile phones, reviews, & opinions
I just received this interesting email about an interesting electric scooter.
Quick news to share. If you're attending CeBIT, you should check out CIRPACK - they're yet another solutions provider offering a Triple Play solution, which is a technology that I am very very high on.
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Andy gave me some high praise on my "A Close Look at P2P VoIP" panel at Internet Telephony Expo.
In any event, I just wanted to clarify one point that Andy made about Skype.
If you are a world-traveler who needs to be able to swap your SIM between countries, or just want to use your phone in the US with your current GSM service plan, we now have a Treo 650 smartphone for you. You can purchase an unlocked GSM Treo 650 smartphone direct from palmOne.com for $699.
So whether you're traveling around the corner or around the world, you'll be able to carry all the essentials with you -- right in your pocket.
I'm still catching up on email and voicemail from being away from the office for a week attending Internet Telephony Expo - which by the way was a resounding success. I'll link to some photos in my next blog entry. I don't want to hijack the point of this blog post though, so here's the news I received last night, but was too busy spending time with my wife to blog it. Hey, even geeks have lives too!
ok, one more bit of Internet Telephony Expo news before I hit the sack and get up in 5 hours for my flight back to CT.
Nuvio Corporation, a leading provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), today announced it has launched Enhanced 911 (E911) services for its NuvioCentrex product, the company's full-featured hosted IP Voice solution, available to broadband providers, cable operators, CLECs and VARs through Nuvio's private-label partner program. The company currently offers E911 in over 1,500 rate centers servicing over 2,700 cities nationwide and will deploy this feature in additional markets as demand warrants.
Nuvio's E911 calls are routed as emergency traffic and provide computer-based caller information to emergency personnel at local Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). Through its service, 911 calls are automatically transferred to the PSAP and the operators are presented with the person's telephone number and location, ensuring that callers receive the same response they are accustomed to from traditional 911 services.
As VoIP gains acceptance and regulation issues are debated, the requirement for VoIP providers to offer E911 services remains unresolved.
Interesting release to share, especially since I believe ENUM will continue to play a more and more important role in VoIP...
According to an email they sent me, they state, "today marks the world's first massive deployment of a carrier ENUM tree. e164.info is pleased to announce the immediate availibility of more than 100 million subscriber numbers spread over more then 160.000 prefixes in 8 countries already fed into the tree by its members."
THE CARRIER ENUM EXCHANGE
e164.info interconnects 100 million phone numbers through VoIP
Starting today, e164.info offers public access to its voice over ip (VoIP) interconnection service. Traditional local exchange carriers and VoIP service providers connected to e164.info, benefit from cost savings by shifting their long distance calls to the internet.
Just a quick news release to share that was announced at Internet Telephony Expo...
For Immediate Press Release: 23 February 2005
Become a Global Telephone Company, in an hour with Didx.org
On the day of Internet Telephony Conference in Miami
Florida by TMC http://www.tmcnet.com/voip/conference/m05/
, Super Technologies Inc DBA Super Phone, a Pensacola, Florida based Next
Generation Telephone Service Provider has announce the alpha release of
Didx.org , which is a global DID/DDI Numbering Market Place.
DidX.org will allow any and all internet based or conventional telephone
service providers to offer Nationwide and Global telephone services, no matter
where in the world they are.
DidX.org will take all the extra inventory from all the global telephone
service providers, and will provide them a marketplace to sell or exchange
there did numbers.
DidX will also give them the web
interface and a software to allow them to offer all the millions of didx stock
phone numbers in hand. What this will do is make any small local telecom look
like a huge international phone company like AT&T or SBC.
Currently DidX.org is a Here to serve the new nextgen telephone companies as
well as old giants.
There was lots of moaning and groaning last night at Internet Telephony Expo at precisely 8:05pm. Let me explain. The exhibit hall officially closed at 8:00pm and Michael Genaro, TMC's VP of Marketing gave the exhibit hall 5 extra minute before dimming the exhibit hall lights to clear everyone out.
The immediate response when he dimmed the lights in a jam packed exhibit hall? A CHORUS of "awwww" and other sighs of disappointment filled the air.
As mentioned in my previous blog entry, I just got out of the "A Close Look at P2P VoIP", which I moderated and included Skype, Popular Telephony, Teleo, and Nimcat Networks as panelists. It was one of the best most dynamic sessions I've ever attended and I don't say that just because I was moderating the session. No one wanted to leave the room even when the Q&A was finished. Many of the audience members came to the front of the room to personally speak with the P2P VoIP panelists or myself.
I just got out of my "A Close Look at P2P" session. I'll comment on the session in my next blog entry. First, I want to break the news that Popular Telephony now has the ability to traverse firewalls. The news isn't going to hit the "official" wires until late today or tomorrow.
Cnet reported that Time Warner Telecom on Wednesday announced new Internet telephony services targeted at businesses. What they neglected to mention is the news was announced at Internet Telephony Expo - no big deal. I'm just a tad annoyed that I knew this news was coming out, and in fact have a meeting scheduled with Time Warner Telecom tomorrow. I specifically asked Time Warner Telecom last week to make sure I got the scoop on the news I knew was coming.
This is non-show related, but a very fascinating release nonetheless. Hmm, that's twice today I've used the word "fascinating" - one of Spock's favorite one liners. Must be the Star Trek Marathon I watched a few days ago. Anyway, this is a pretty cool release discussing how students build a home powered entirely by the sun.
Below is a copy of the press release NYIT STUDENTS BUILD THE HOME OF THE FUTURE.
More Popular Telephony news. On a related note, I'm moderating the P2P VoIP session tomorrow, which includes Popular Telephony, Skype, and others. Can't wait!
EWOOPHONE BECOMES FIRST VOIP SERVICE PROVIDER IN CHINA
TO MARKET VOIP P2P SERVICES USING PEERIO SERVERLESS TECHNOLOGY
Miami, FL and Sophia Antipolis, France, February 23 2005 - Popular Telephony, the telecommunications middleware company and creator of Peerio - the innovative technology for server-free, peer-to-peer communications, today at the Internet Telephony conference in Miami, FL announced that China-based Ewoophone will be the first VoIP service provider in Asia to offer PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone VoIP service using Peerio serverless technology.
Voxeo Corporation today announced its new line of standards-based turnkey communication servers today. The new VoiceCenter Fusion Server product consolidates seven previously separate platforms into a single, integrated communications solution.
Voxeo claims that it's VoiceCenter Fusion Servers are the first turnkey telephony platforms to offer VoiceXML IVR, CCXML call control, speech recognition, speech synthesis, call conferencing, call recording and a PSTN-to-SIP Voice over IP (VOIP) gateway in one integrated, rack-mount server. All of the Fusion Server's capabilities are built around the SIP VoIP standard, enabling rapid integration with both existing and new PSTN, PBX, and VhIP deployments.
I reviewed Epygi Technologies Quadro 4X product when it literally just came out - it may have even been a beta version, I don't recall. Epygi is offering a "discounted show special" at Internet Telephony Expo. Yet another reason why you should attend this show - the discounted VoIP products you can get. Of course, I get these VoIP products for free - it's called the "Tom Keating VoIP Blogger Special". Actually I write reviews for Internet Telephony, so maybe I should call it the "Tom Keating Internet Telephony Reviewer & VoIP Blogger Special"
Epygi Technologies Lowers Price 25% on Quadro 2x For TMC Internet Telephony Conference and Expo
DALLAS, TEXAS (February 22, 2005) Epygi Technologies, Ltd. announces consolidation of its entry level IP PBX products into a single product offering, the Quadro 2x IP PBX.
I just received the following pitch... (followed by my comments below)
Human resources departments spend an inordinate amount of money each year trying to streamline labor management processes. Due to human error from manual processes, many employees are getting away with working very few hours. Companies are looking for a variety of technology solutions to decrease labor management, thereby, increasing productivity.
Thanks to the advances in technology and phones, specifically IP phones, they can now be used to help with labor management processes and help companies save money and time overall.
Check out Rich Tehrani's blog entry from yesterday about Popular Telephony announcing Commoca and Texas Instruments agreement to embed Peerio in color IP Telephony terminals. The news was made to coincide with the "opening day" of Internet Telephony Expo. I can't wait to see Popular Telephony's product live in action on the exhibit floor!
I would have blogged Popular Telephony's news yesterday, but I was too busy trying to get these damn Linksys WRE54G wireless expanders/extenders to work so I could extend the WiFi range at Internet Telephony Expo. Yes, in addition to VoIP blogging, writing TMC Labs reviews, and managing TMC's computers, I along withVahid Hashemian are responsible for configuring the show's WiFi network. So you know who to complain to if WiFi doesn't work. Maybe I shouldn't have admitted to being the WiFi guru?
Interesting news from a Latin America-based VoIP company which is launching a new service at the Miami-based VoIP show I am covering. I find it fascinating how many Latin American companies come to the Miami-based Internet Telephony Expo to launch new products and services. I've been to all the past Miami Internet Telephony Expos and it seems like year after year this show draws a stronger Latin American presence.
Sure, the Los Angeles-based Internet Telephony Expo draws several Latin American companies and I've seen a few Latin American companies at VON, but neither of these shows have the massive number of Latin American companies and even Latin American attendees. I've looked at the attendee demographics for the Miami show and the number of attendees from Latin America is staggering!
This was worth sharing. More positive VoIP news...
Worldwide Carrier VoIP Equipment up 36% to $1.7B in 2005 and North American Subscribers Grow 1M to 17M 2004 to 2008
February 23, 2005-Worldwide service provider next gen voice product revenue totaled $1.71 billion in 2004, a healthy 36% gain over 2003, setting a new high, according to Infonetics Research's quarterly market share and forecast service, "Service Provider Next Gen Voice Equipment."
Infonetics projects revenue to reach $5.9 billion in 2008, a five-year CAGR of 36%.
"We're starting to see strong equipment sales translated into tangible services," said Infonetics Research's Kevin Mitchell, directing analyst and author of the report. "For instance, there were 1.1 million residential/SOHO voice over IP subscribers in North America in 2004--with almost half coming directly from MSOs--and we expect that number to soar to 17.4 million by 2008."
"North America was a hot spot in 2004 as carrier adoption moved into the big time, and we expect Europe to start taking shape this year," Mitchell continued. "As we move deeper into the 21st century, it becomes more apparent that IP networks are the next gen networks for all forms of communication.
$1.7B1 billion VoIP minutes served by Veraz Networks per month? Nice! Not to rehash the recent past, but I can't help but be reminded of Dvorak's claim that VoIP isn't ready for primetime. (see http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/voip-blog/galitzine-vs-dvorak-on-voip.asp)
Here's an excerpt of the release:
Veraz Networks Records Strong Worldwide VoIP Sales Growth in 2004
Network and Enhanced Service Solutions Deployed in 30 countriesFebruary 23, 2005-Veraz Networks announced that its VoIP solutions have been deployed in 30 countries, representing both complex network environments and newly deregulated markets.
This is an interesting release if only for the simple fact that its claiming a 2% drop in enterprise routers purchased. I have to wonder if VoIP will be the "shot in the arm" that will boost the enterprise router market. There will be more and more "converged devices" that feature an integrated router, firewall, VoIP gateways, SIP Registrar, WiFi, and maybe even integrated 3G or WiMAX. So maybe Cisco's outlook, (the "big enterprise boy on the block") isn't so bad afterall.
I'm here safe and sound in sunny Miami. I'm currently sitting in on the "SIP's Role in Open Source" speaking session which is moderated by Rich Tehrani. I missed a few of the speakers since I arrived in the middle of the session.Right now SIPfoundary is speaking about GNU and GPL.Well, I'm a good multitasker, but I should listen to the rest of the speeches. But I'll post one bit of news before I sign off...
ISN Telcom, the Miami based CLEC, has deployed Kagoor's VoiceFlow session border controllers for its ipFONE VoIP service (see release below).
Some interesting news...AudioCodes and Vail Systems have partnered with Microsoft to SIP enable Microsoft Speech Server 2004
Here's the release:
AudioCodes and Vail Systems offer SIP-enabled product bundles to enable Microsoft Speech Server 2004 deployments.
February 21, 2005 AudioCodes (NASDAQ: AUDC), a leading provider of Voice over Packet (VoP) technologies and Voice Network products, and Vail Systems a leading provider of SIP-based IP telephony platform technology, speech application solutions and hosting services today announced availability of a set of SIP-based product bundles to enable development and deployments for Microsoft Speech Server 2004. The new product bundles consist of the newly certified version of the Vail SIP Telephony Interface Manager (TIM) for Microsoft Speech Server 2004 and either an AudioCodes TP260/SIP or an AudioCodes Mediant 2000 Voice over IP Media Gateway. These bundles offer Microsoft Speech Server developers and integrators a combination of software and hardware products that are ready-to-deploy, leveraging SIP to enable high performance, distributed and scalable speech applications.
"We're pleased to see two premier vendors partner in enabling SIP-based speech applications", said James Mastan, director of marketing for Microsoft's Speech Server product group.
Ahhh yes, these two Ingate releases below are but the first of many VoIP-related announcements to be made at Internet Telephony Expo... Let the massive amount of VoIP news announcments begin!
I leave my house at 4:45am (fun fun) - for a 7:29am flight, so this will be may last blog entry until I get to Miami. Hmm, "this will be my last blog entry" sounds 'dire' doesn't it?
I head out to Miami tomorrow for Internet Telephony Expo and this trip couldn't have come at a better time. for two reasons. One, it snowed today, which means I will be doing some back-breaking snow shovelling sometime today - so I will be glad to enjoy Miami's warmer climate. Secondly, my Mitsubishi 3000GT died on Saturday while attempting to teach my wife how to drive a stick shift.
Check out this interesting release about this City Network's line of "cordless phones with VoIP capabilities". They offer multiple handsets but it doesn't appear they support multiple VoIP trunk lines - that is you can have 8 handsets, but only one person can use a VoIP trunk at a time.
I've said this a bazillion times before, but it bears repeating - what I'd like to see is a cordless VoIP system that allows you to define multiple SIP registrars (Line 1=Vonage, Line 2=Packet8, Line 3=CallVantage, Line 4=Vonage 2nd account) and then the device would perform least cost routing to choose the cheapest provider to initiate the call. Or if all are unlimited plans, this would at least allow multiple users to dial out simultaneously.
Hat Tip to Linux Devices for this i3 micro technology news...
i3 micro technology claims that its new Mood 130 is the first high-performance IP set-top box to provide video streaming for under $99. Housed in a very compact (6.69 x 4.21 x 1.10 inch) enclosure and running embedded Linux, the Mood 130 provides "triple play" services to users: Internet access, VoIP, IP television, and on-demand entertainment, along with MPEG-1 and -2 video, and MPEG-1 audio streaming.
The Mood 130 is a "carrier grade" set-top box (STB) that meets the quality and security requirements of "both incumbent operators and demanding residential subscribers," according to Jan Werne, CEO of i3.
HEAT 8.3 now integrates with FrontRange ITSM and supports .NET. I was informed about this news last week, but I have been busily preparing for my speaking session at Internet Telephony Expo and trying to complete some reviews. In any event, considering FrontRange has several leading CRM solutions (GoldMine is another one besides HEAT), I thought this news was blog-worthy. So let me share what Frontrange shared with me.
I just received an interesting email from Bryan Elliot at NextAlarm.com. In the email, he states that NextAlarm is a small, innovative company offering alarm monitoring services for homes and small businesses. Bryan states, "In the same vein as ADT and Brink's, but we offer Internet features which are far ahead of the pack, and we also offer services at a substantial discount compared to the 'big boys'."
Bryan mentions the issue of DTMF digits not properly being transmitted when using VoIP which affects alarm systems. He states, "Of particular interest to home & small biz VoIP users (and by extension, subject matter for your blog), is the well-known problem of switching to VoIP service (such as Vonage) when you have an alarm system.
Microsoft is recalling power cords on 14.1 million Xbox consoles worldwide, following reports of injuries due to defective electric components.
The company announced the recall today, saying it is aimed at protecting the consoles from electrical component failures that can pose a fire hazard. So far such failures have been reported in 30 consoles worldwide, causing minor injury or property damage, Microsoft said. Seven customers reported burn to their hands. In rest of the cases, the defect caused smoke damage or minor damage to a carpet or entertainment center. "In almost all instances, any damage caused by these failures was contained within the console itself or limited to the tip of the power cord at the back of the console," Microsoft stated.
The recall covers Xbox consoles manufactured before Oct. 23, 2003 in all regions except continental Europe.
My Plextor 708a DVD burner died a few months ago - like the day after the 1-year warranty expired - Murphy's Law... It was a Christmas gift from my wife and if I recall it cost like $350 two years ago. I've been hesitant to replace it since I just assumed they were still pretty expensive, but a recent trip to CompUSA and I find some, shall we say "generic" Taiwanese "no name" brand DVD burners for like $75. I've experienced bad things when trying to buy cheap CD burners, like buffer overruns, buffer underuns, etc.
Get Lex Verizon's Smallville Sweepstakes
I admit it, I'm a Smallville fan. I guess that's better than admitting to being a Jerry Springer fan, right? Actually, Smallville, which seems targetted at a teenage audience actually draws a considerable adult audience as well, so I shouldn't be ashamed to admit I'm a Smallville fan.In any event, I was watching Smallville last night and saw the "Get Lex" Verizon Smallville Sweepstakes.
Interesting analysis from the Cato Institute regarding government, DRM/copyright, and P2P (peer-to-peer networks).
WASHINGTON - Recent controversies over file-sharing and copyright policy have spawned hot debate in the courts and the halls of Congress, but a study issued today by the Cato Institute argues that government interference in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks would hinder technological evolution. A better solution, according to the report, would be for government to step aside and allow the market to find a solution through digital rights management (DRM).
In Peer-to-Peer Networking and Digital Rights Management: How Market Tools Can Solve Copyright Problems," Michael A. Einhorn and Bill Rosenblatt illustrate how P2P technology and DRM can coexist peacefully in a market system, essentially quashing the complaints of consumer advocates who argue that DRM puts too much control in the hands of copyright holders.
"By preserving property rights made possible through new market techniques, DRM encourages producers to innovate because they are more certain of an eventual reward," the authors argue.
Last night I received an email from an irate Skype customer pleading for me to come to their rescue. Apparently, the woman was double-charged on her checking account, contacted Skype's billing department via [email protected], and hasn't heard "boo" yet from Skype. I couldn't ignore a damsel in distress, so I contacted one of my contacts at Skype, but she was on vacation. I will be speaking with Skype's CEO, Niklas Zennstrom in about a week during the P2P VoIP panel I am modering at Internet Telephony Expo, so I can ask him them what his thoughts are on not only her billing issue, but other complaints I have been hearing about as well.
Logitech ViewPort AV 100
Logitech's new ViewPort AV 100 includes a VGA video camera, integrated microphone with acoustic echo cancellation (which I found out today uses Global IP Sound) and a Bluetooth wireless headset, connected via USB. Logitech's ViewPort AV 100 seems squarely targetted at the business enterprise, as a video conferencing solution, which is new to Logitech since they are best known for their webcams targetted at home users. The specs include: VGA CCD sensor with 3x digital zoom, 50-degree field of view, 30 frames per second and near-CD quality sound, even over low bandwidth connections.Other features of the Logitech ViewPort AV-100 include:
According to ExtremeTech, content protection company Macrovision plans to announce on Tuesday that it has developed a way to eliminate the vast majority of DVD copying - that is using DVD "ripping" software. I'll be honest, I've "ripped" DVDs to my Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) 2005 PC's hard drive.Â
The reason I "rip" to my hard disk is two-fold. For one, it lets me play a movie using the MCE remote control without getting up from the sofa and inserting a DVD into the player. Secondly, I've learned from experience, that not everyone treats DVDs/CDs with the same care that I do. I've lent CDs and DVDs in the past to friends/family and they've come back with scratches that cause the music to skip/stutter or the DVD movie to jump to an entirely random location of the movie.
Â
Should I be forced to go out and purchase the same movie I already have in my movie collection and that I've paid for? Doesn't the Fair Use Act allow me to make reasonable backups of my CDs and DVDs? Apparently, not... Or at least the Fair Use Act is at odds with the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. The DMCA was used to help bring down 321 Studios which offered DVD ripping/DVD backup software program.
Looks like Actiontec's long-awaited Skype Internet Phone Wizard">Skype-enabled Internet Phone Wizard is available. I literally just received this email:
It's rare that I share a TMC press release. Actually, come to think of it, I don't think I ever have. Well, this press release is certainly worthy of a blog entry. Digium's Mark Spencer is going to keynote at Internet Telephony Conference & Expo. Probably best known as the founder of the popular open-source Asterisk IP-PBX platform, Mark will no doubt share some interesting insights on "open source telephony".
Very interesting release from Radvison which involves Microsoft's upcoming intergrated communications client code named Instanbul as well as Microsoft's Live Communications Server...
RADVISION BRINGS 3G VIDEO TO
MICROSOFTâS DESKTOP MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS OFFERING AT 3GSM WORLD CONGRESS
RADVISION 3G Video Telephony Gateway and iVIEW Desktop Conferencing Platform Bridge PC Desktops and 3G Video Phones into Seamless Multimedia Communications Architecture
3GSM World Congress, Cannes, France (Hall 2, Stand E23) and Fair Lawn, New Jersey, February 14, 2005 -- RADVISION (Nasdaq: RVSN) today announced that it is publicly debuting its powerful 3G video services solution for the Microsoft desktop multimedia communications architecture in a live demo in the Microsoft stand in Hall 1 at the 3GSM World Congress.
This integrated RADVISION/Microsoft demonstration will feature real-time video calling between 3G video handsets and PCs running Microsoftâs upcoming integrated communications client, code named Istanbul.
Eagle Broadband (AMEX: EAG) and GlobeCast, a subsidiary of France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) and the world's leading satellite services provider, joined forces and today launched IPTV Complete, which they claim is "the industry's first, turnkey IPTV services solution that enables both incumbent and new broadband providers to rapidly deliver 200+ channels of the highest quality IP video anywhere in America." I guess they didn't read my Triple Play cover story in Internet Telephony Magazine, which I also blogged in my Triple Play article preview, which talks about a Triple Play company called Pannaway, which offers a turn-key IPTV Triple Play solution. I have a scheduled conference call with Eagle Broadband to clarify some questions I have about their Triple Play solution, so I'll update this blog entry when I find out the answers. In the meantime, here is the news about IPTV Complete...
Additional facts about IPTV Complete:
⢠Saves $1 to 2 million or more in up-front capital expenditures required to design, purchase and install an IP head-end and video network infrastructure ⢠Reduces the time to market for a new IPTV service from the industry average 12 to 18 months to 30 to 60 days ⢠A profitable, lower risk service deployment model that greatly reduces time, effort and costs ⢠Leverages an advanced, satellite delivery transport infrastructure which allows incumbent and new broadband providers to add high quality video to their existing voice and data offerings to complete a "triple-play" services bundle ⢠Enables telephone companies, municipalities, utilities, universities, real estate developers, multiple dwelling unit owners, and other providers, to deliver the highest quality IPTV video over their broadband networks including Fiber-to-the-Home, Premise of Node, DSL, etc.
⢠Multimedia Research Group is projecting the global IPTV market will grow from 2 million subscribers in 2004 to 26 million in 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eagle Broadband and GlobeCast Join Forces and Launch IPTVCompleteTM, the First, Turnkey IPTV Solution That Enables Broadband Providers to Rapidly Deliver More Than 200 Channels of IP Video Anywhere in America
HOUSTON and MIAMI -- February 15, 2005 -- Eagle Broadband, Inc. (AMEX: EAG), a leading provider of broadband, Internet protocol (IP) and communications technology and services, and GlobeCast, a subsidiary of France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) and the world's leading satellite services provider, announced today they have signed a multi-year agreement and are launching IPTVCompleteTM, the industry's first, turnkey IPTV services solution that enables telephone companies, municipalities, utilities, universities & real estate developers to rapidly deliver more than 200 channels of the highest quality IPTV video services anywhere in America.
Skype, the Internet telephony software provider, said on Monday it had reached a cooperation agreement with Motorola, the world's third-largest handset marker, aimed at increasing its penetration of its key wireless market. This is big news that was announced at the 3GSM show in Cannes, France. The reason it is big news is that we need the cellular manufacturer "big boys" on board to offer hybrid/combo WiFi/3G/cellular type devices (multiple wireless networks supported) that support VoIP clients, such as SIP, or the popular Skype VoIP client.
In fact, I've recently ranted about "one trick pony" WiFi phones and my desire for combo devices, so I was pleased to read that interest in combination cell and VoIP phones is growing from handset makers, according to executives attending the 3GSM Show. Unfortuately, the cell phone carriers are not too happy with these hybrid devices since they can go around their networks and thereby avoid charges.
Another Instat VoIP report to share...
Businesses Likely to Embrace IP Telephony in 2005 - But, Are Needs Being Met?
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., February 14, 2005 - A significant number of businesses, large and small, are expected to fully embrace IP Telephony, which harnesses the power of the Internet in business communications, over the course of this year. According to new research from In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com), more than 30% of firms, even those with less than 100 employees, are interested in and, more importantly, planning to adopt IP telephony solutions in 2005. However, the research shows that businesses needs for IP voice networks vary greatly and that there is a growing need for "small office" solutions, which are hard to come by.
I already knew Teleo was using Global IP Sound's technology before the news was announced today since both will be in my P2P VoIP speaking panel at Internet Telephony Conference & Expo.
But now that the news is "official", here's the scoop... Teleo has introduced a personal, portable VoIP service for $4.95/month that allows click-to-call and mobility for Voice over IP that leverages Global IP Sounds renowned VoIP codecs. Teleo, a San Francisco-based VoIP provider, unveiled its new software and service at the DEMO@15! conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.I received an email from David S. Isenberg (formerly of AT&T) over the weekend asking if I could plug a conference titled "F2C: Freedom to Connect", which runs March 30-31st in Washington, DC. It's basic premise? "F2C is where communications policy meets networking technology, network economics, networked applications, and network construction and operation. F2C is dedicated to the proposition that strong networks build strong democracies, and vice versa."
Looks like Lucent is pushing strongly into the cellular market by offering a converged software solution that integrates Openera's Mobile IMS Client with Xten's  X-PRO SIP "softphone" application along with integrating it with Lucent's own IP Multimedia Subsystem. This will allow the delivery of VoIP, "push to talk", video, and more.
Check out the release...
Lucent Technologies Announces Agreements with Two Companies to Deliver VoIP and IMS-Enabled Services Via Mobile Devices And PCs
MURRAY HILL, N.J., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lucent Technologies today announced it will integrate software solutions from Openera and Xten Networks (BULLETIN BOARD: XNWK) with Lucent's industry-leading IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) convergence solution to support the delivery of voice over IP (VoIP) and new converged "lifestyle" services -- across a variety of wireless and wireline networks -- to mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and personal computers (PCs).
Borderware has announced a product to help protect VoIP from hackers... If I am reading this release correctly, they claim to be the first "SIP-aware" firewall. There are many H.323 -aware firewalls out there for sure, but I could have sworn there already existed at least a few SIP-aware firewalls, i.e. have the ability to inspect the packets coming into the firewall and distinguish SIP voice traffic from regular data.
Had to share this release. I was bemused to read that VoIP has reached the coldest, darkest, farthest reaches of the Earth!
Og Vodafone to Offer VoIP Services with Cirpack MultiNode
Fixed & Mobile Telco Deploys TISPAN-Ready Infrastructure Enabling Migration Path to IMS
3GSM World Congress, Cannes, France, February 14, 2005 â CIRPACK, a developer of next generation voice switches for operatorsâ infrastructures, today announced that Og Vodafone, the alternative fixed & mobile operator in Iceland, upgraded its wireline voice switching infrastructure with Cirpack MultiNode. Og Vodafone can now provide legacy POTS & ISDN services as well as voice over IP and IP Centrex services from the same switching platform, further optimizing operations and enhancing service packages.
With Cirpack MultiNode, Og Vodafone has the ability to deploy multiservice access networks compliant with the TISPAN architecture, an industry initiative targeting seamless integration of legacy wireline phone services with an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Leveraging Cirpackâs open architecture and compliance with IMS standards, Og Vodafone can offer innovative voice over IP services to residential and business customers and now has its networks ready for delivering convergent services including fixed and mobile networks.
âOg Vodafone has been using Cirpack voice switches for several years and we have always been impressed by the flexibility and the reliability of the platform.
Let's recap the mega-mergers, shall we? SBC & AT&T, Nextel & Sprint, and now according to MSNBC its Verizon and MCI? According to MSNBC, which quotes the Wall Street Journal, "Merger talks between Verizon Communications and MCI Inc. have advanced, and the two companies could announce a deal in the next few days, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday."
So who's next in this telecom mega-merger mania? It's certainly entertaining to watch, so break out the popcorn!
I was just informed that Internet Telephony Conference and Expo is sold out! (the exhibts/booths are sold out that is - still room if you want to attend)Â Rich told me it's up 100% from last year. Wow, this is amazing. I can't wait to go to the show, it's just 11 days away.
Remember my BlackBerry 7270 blog entry? In that, I wrote:
The BlackBerry 7270 supports VoIP telephony that essentially extends desktop phone functionality to a BlackBerry wireless handheld allowing the user to place and receive calls on the go. It utilizes SIP-based call control to deliver standards-based interoperability with IP-PBX and traditional corporate telephony equipment.
Hmmm, I wonder if it will work with SIP-based ITSPs or SIP-based softclients like XTENâs? It would be very interesting if you can simultaneously receive email and make a free VoIP call over the WiFi connection.
TiVo may get all the headlines and they certainly have a rabid following, including geeks who modify their units, add additional hard drives, and perform other tweaks. But I'll tell you, I would not trade my Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition 2005 PC for a TiVo. I'm hooked baby!
Especially when you consider that TiVo decided to betray their customers by ADDING their own commercials -- check out the storm of controversy in the tivocommunity.com forums. I believe TiVo adds popup ads AS YOU FAST FORWARD through commercials.
Merrill Lynch reported that it will install IP PBX and phone gear from Avaya and Cisco with the U.S., Brazil, Australia and Japan headquerters installing an Avaya IP-PBX supporting 10,000 employees and their branch offices using Cisco IP phones with a centralized Cisco IP-PBX that will support 14,000 financial advistors.
When a huge financial firm like Merrill Lynch puts its trust in VoIP and sees it as a secure technology when you consider all the possible liabilities due to the multi-billion dollar transactions they do daily, one has to stand up and take notice...
It is also significant because Merrill dropped Cisco as it's VoIP provider for 7,500+ workers in its New Jersey headquarters and in Japan in mid-2003 due to security concerns. I guess Merrill Lynch got over that mental hurdle or Cisco and Avaya did a great job selling them.
Empirix builds some of my favorite testing tools that I use in the labs, so it's worth sharing their latest release...
Press Releases: VoIP, Network
Testing & Monitoring
ORLANDO, Fla. â Feb. 7, 2005 â Empirix Inc., a leading provider of integrated test and management solutions for VoIP, contact center and Web environments, today announced the industryâs first comprehensive solution for ensuring successful deployment of enterprise Voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure and applications. The Hammer® VoIP Test Solution for Enterprises allows enterprises to reduce risk and speed the rollout of VoIP services and IP telephony applications (such as messaging, speech self-service, conferencing and CTI) by accurately assessing how their infrastructure and applications will perform as a live, enhanced IP service.
Empirix has more than a decade of experience testing VoIP network infrastructures, operational carrier networks and enhanced IP services, and has been the market share leader in those areas for the past three years[1]. Hammer VoIP Test Solution for Enterprises combines that expertise with the companyâs deep experience in enterprise voice and Web environments.
Traditionally, enterprises deploying VoIP have performed network readiness assessments and/or used test tools supplied by VoIP equipment vendors. By enabling enterprises to test applications running on VoIP networks in their own environments, Empirix provides a more comprehensive approach, and the capability for enterprises to perform upgrade and migration testing on an ongoing basis.
I think this press release speaks for itself. Volo doing its best "Nah nah nah" to its competitor Level 3.Â
Volo 'Reigns' on Competitor's Parade with Big Win from VoIP, Inc.
Volo Winning Customers with Proven Soup-to Nuts Turnkey Solution
Orlando, Fl. Feb. 10, 2005: Volo Communications, a leading nationwide wholesale provider of advanced voice and data services, announced today that VoIP, Inc. (OTCBB:VOII), a leading provider of IP-based voice solutions for Internet service providers, telecommunications services providers and cable consortiums, has selected Volo's VoiceOne⢠carrier-quality broadband voice services solution to expand its footprint nationwide.
Someone spotted my recent word-spotting blog entry (pun intended) and emailed me about anouther word-spotting solution. In my previous blog entry, I joked about the CIA and NSA being able to eavesdrop and perform wordspotting on conversations. Well, if I am reading the press release correctly, it appears that the CIA is using (shhh!!! don't tell anyone) CallMiner for word spotting.
This ZDNet article quotes analyts at Infonetics Research about how slowly WiFi phones are being deployed. In the article, it states, "Despite suggestions that 2004 would see mass take-up of Wi-Fi phones, analysts are now saying said that it will be 2009 before they become economically viable for the market as a whole"
Hmmm, a pessimistic view of a VoIP niche? Oh no, trashing my beloved VoIP! Which way should I go?
AT&T CallVantage announced their CallVantage Small Office Plan yesterday..
Here's the release in case you missed it...
February 8, 2005 - BEDMINSTER, N.J. â AT&T announced today the immediate availability of its
AT&T CallVantage® Small Office Plan targeting Small Office/Home
Office (SOHO) workers with a broadband phone service that delivers tremendous
calling capabilities and cost benefits to help them grow their business.
This feature-rich, two-line offer includes unlimited local and long-distance
calling throughout the U.S. and Canada, plus the ability to send and receive
faxes for $49.99 per month.
âThe Small Office Plan is a robust solution for small-office communications,
providing substantial savings over traditional telephone services and increasing
productivity through advanced features,â said Cathy Martine, AT&T senior
vice president for Internet Telephony.
This Userful, Inc. press release pasted below is very interesting.Basically it allows you to turn one Linux computer into ten Linux computers.Sounds like a Citrix competitor - only on the Linux platform.Although, one major difference is that Citrix is pretty much all software (except the server) and then uses a softclient to connect to the Citrix server which transmits all the keystrokes, mouse movements, pixels, etc. over an IP network.
Conversely, if I am reading this release correctly, this solution requires that you put 1 video card per remote PC.So if you want 10 clients, you need 10 video cards? Aren't VGA cables typically only 5 feet long?
Volo Communications Selects Brooktrout's IP Technology for its VoIP NetworkÂ
NEEDHAM, Mass., February 9, 2005 -- Brooktrout Technology, Inc., a leading supplier of media processing and call control products, today announced that Volo Communications, a leading nationwide wholesale provider of advanced voice and data services, has selected Brooktrout's TR2500⢠high density IP platform for its VoiceOne⢠Network. The VoiceOne Network provides end-to-end voice, data and IP application services to carriers, service providers, CLECs and cable operators.
I was wondering why my MSN Messenger wouldn't logon today. Well apparently, I wasn't the only one experiencing an outage with MSN Messenger.
Microsoft confirmed today that a "significant" number of its MSN Messenger users have been experiencing intermittent outages for about a day.
Microsoft remained vague on the nature of the outage, blaming it on an "isolated issue that we've located in the data center," according to a company spokeswoman and would not elaborate on when service would be restored. Microsoft said the outage is affecting MSN Messenger users across many countries, but Microsoft would not disclose the number of users affected.
This latest outage comes just days after security monitors discovered the Bropia worm was using MSN Messenger to spread. The Microsoft spokeswoman denied the outage was caused by the worm.
Dear Tom Keating:
Whether you refer to it as Voice over IP or IP Telephony, the technology, particularly when delivered as a managed service, gets down to communicating, collaborating and competing more effectively, no matter the size of your company.
ÂCisco Systems and Covad Communications have put together an on-demand video that reviews the VoIP/IP Telephony landscape and gives you the answers you need. "How Your Business Should Look at VoIP" will cover topics such as:
 Increasing operational efficiency with IP Telephony  Creating a more connected workforce  Customized versus "one size fits all" solutions  Why managed IP Telephony  Moves, Adds, Changes (MAC's) and Security  Web-based user and administrative dashboardsRegister today to view this on-demand video and a VoIP/IP Telephony Portal that features white papers, presentations, case studies and an interactive IP Telephony Solutions Designer. Qualified registrants will receive a complimentary VoIP assessment offer.
ICQ 5 is out with some VoIP features..But it's just push-to-talk walkie-talkie-style half-duplex 1990's technology. Ho hum.. boring!!! I thought we were beyond this half-duplex nonsense?
The only time I want to see half-duplex is on a walkie talkie or one of those annoying Nextel cellphones with the push-to-talk feature.Scratch that - I only want to see half duplex on walkie talkies.
Interesting Instat report to share...
Wireless VoIP Gaining Traction in Business Market
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., February 8, 2005 - Wireless VoIP implementation is beginning to occur in the business market, according to In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). In a recent survey of more than 300 mid-size businesses and large-enterprises, 23% of decision-maker respondents said that they had already deployed wireless VoIP, in some manner, and another 30% said that they were planning or evaluating the implementation of the technology within the next six to twelve months.
Wireless VoIP presents carriers with a lucrative new opportunity if they market the service smartly. "It is important to remember that VoIP is a technology and not a product," says Becky Diercks, In-Stat analyst.
Interesting partnership between Borderware and 3Com that aims to bring an "all in one" security solution that encompasses email & data PLUS voice. This is perfect for the SMB (small to medium business) that can't afford a Network Security Manager. It apparently handles Denial of Service attacks as well.
Check out the email + two related releases.
New Siemens SIP-based IP phones launched today.
Siemens optiPoint 420 Family of SIP Phones Has Programmable Self-Labeling Keys and Other Features to Improve Productivity and Reduce Costs of Moves, Adds and Changes BOCA RATON, Fla. â February 7, 2005 â
Siemens Communications, Inc., today announced a new line of IP telephones: the optiPoint⢠420 family. Adding to an extensive portfolio of easy-to-use, cost-effective and flexible telephone models, the Siemens optiPoint 420 phone family has programmable self-labeling key (SLK) technology that gives users rapid, real-time access to frequently needed features and lines. With adaptable, snap-on options â such as a touch-screen display module (DSM) â the optiPoint 420 family is designed to maximize user efficiency and help organizations reduce the costs of moves, additions and changes.
Interesting Cnet article which talks about an alliance being formed by VoIP service providers called "VoIP Security Alliance" which aims to prevent VoIP spam, SPIT (spam over Internet telephony) or whatever you want to call it.
What's interesting is this quote, "With little evidence to suggest a problem, however, the 22 member companies of the VoIP Security Alliance run the risk of provoking the digital world's black hats."
Hate to break it to ya, but if black hats or spammers can make a buck via VoIP spam, then they're going to do it regardless of an organization/alliance being formed.
The almighty dollar and greed will drive VoIP spam. Still, I do agree that this may be a case of crying wolf before the wolf has actually left its cage. But everyone seems to be prognasticating VoIP spam will happen one day, so I suppose it's better to get the best minds in VoIP together and figure out what to do before it happens.
Now if only the SMTP designers better thought out the potential for email spam... Then life would have been good...
Alliance wants to beat spam to Net phones | CNET News.com
Napster Do the Math Commercial
Did you see the Napster Superbowl commercial? In the Napster commercial they show the cost of 10,000 songs via Napster vs. buying 10,000 songs via iTunes. Since iTunes charges $1 per song for $10,000 total and Napster charges a flat-rate unlimited monthly subscription fee, it's easy to see who "supposedly" wins this Superbowl battle...
Iâve been using MTGoogleSearch for Related Entries on my MovableType blog - and unfortunately some of the related entries have UTF-8 characters in the URL titles which changes my webpageâs default iso-8859-1 encoding to UTF-8. If at least one of the Related Entries URL titles has a UTF-8 character, this causes funky characters to display in the blog body. That is, all of my em-dashes, quotes, apostrophes, etc. in the blog body are messed up.
65% Performance Boost & 10GigE Support Demonstrate Benefits of Open Arroyo OnDemand ArchitectureÂ
PLEASANTON, Calif. - February 7th, 2005 - Arroyo Video Solutions, Inc., which recently unveiled its first product, Arroyo OnDemand, - an industry-leading, open architecture solution for video on demand (VOD) - is today announcing two industry firsts. First, Arroyo is announcing support for native 10Gigabit Ethernet (10GigE) interfaces, delivering unprecedented levels of scalability to meet ramping VOD demand.
Another interesting Instat research report you can buy claiming that wireline (a.k.a. landline) services continue to decline. Heck, I could have told you that for free! Between cell phones, and broadband VoIP ramping up, who needs landlines anyway? (911 issues not withstanding)
Check it out - they even cite VoIP in the research report...
With "blockbuster telecom mergers" all the rage in the news and the blogosphere, I thought it would be worth sharing Instat's take on it...
Top Telecom Brands Battle it Out for Business: AT&T and Verizon Rank High
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., February 1, 2005 - Today's business telecom marketplace is more competitive than ever. Â Major providers, both fixed-line and wireless, are merging, cable operators are attempting to increase their reach into the business market and systems integrators are targeting the budding managed-services market. Â As such, survival in this industry will hinge on products, prices and preference, and not necessarily in that order.
VoIP testing tool news release to share...
-----------
Navtel's VoIP Performance & Scalability Test Platform Now Combined with an SIP Expert Analysis Tool!
(PRWEB) February 3, 2005 -- Navtel Communications Inc., a leading developer and provider of test equipment for the laboratories of network equipment manufacturers and operators have announced the immediate availability of "SIP Discovery".
Email Apocalypse?
I was just reading a ZDNet article written by Molly Wood titled "Email Apocolypse Now!", which states, "Steve Linford, director of U.K.-based SpamHaus, which compiles antispam blacklists, says the problem is tantamount to a coming e-mail apocalypse. He told ZDNet UK, "The e-mail infrastructure is beginning to fail. You'll see huge delays in e-mail and servers collapsing.Some quick interesting news to share...
For Immediate Release Contact: Gregory L. Rohde
Feb. 3, 2005 202-292-4603
[email protected]
FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy to Address Hill Forum to Address E9-1-1 Implementation and Federal Funding Shortage
Washington, D.C. FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy will keynote a Hill forum sponsored jointly by the Congressional E9-1-1 Caucus and the E-9-1-1 Institute on Feb.10. Commissioner Abernathy will address implementation issues facing E9-1-1.
Interesting story on ZDnet. Basically, SBC cried foul that VoIP service providers such as Vonage were able to get 10-digit phone numbers at a cheaper rate since Net phone providers are exempt from the regulations that the carriers have to go through. Basically, VoIP service providers are able to get telephone numbers directly from their the North American Numbering Plan Administration where as carriers had to go through more complex and expensive regulatory procedures.
The SBC division selling VoIP services argued that it wasn't fair and that since the calls actually use the Internet they are off-limits to any regulation.
The FCC agreed and granted SBC a waiver.
Compare this quote from an analyst firm today:
"The global handheld market continued to slide in 2004, with shipments slipping to below 10 million for the first time since 1999, according to a new IDC report."
with this quote from another analyst firm from 2 days ago:
"A research firm says device manufacturers shipped twice as many smartphones last year as in 2003"
The first quote was from a Cnet article citing an IDC report titled, Handheld market free fall continues , while the second quote was from Canalys, an analyst/research firm which was cited here.
I find it fascinating that one research firm claims handhelds are slipping, while the other claims that smartphones are growing when essentially smartphones are handheld/cellphone hybrids. Smartphones and handheld PDAs are essentially the same market. Of course, maybe that's the point.
Wow, according to Infonetics, cable VoIP subscribers jumped 900% from 2003â2004 and double-digit growth in equipment spending is expected through 2007.
Any VoIP naysayers still want to claim VoIP hasn't arrived? Anyone?
Check out the full release:
BOSTON, Massachusetts, February 2, 2005â The number of cable VoIP subscribers in North America jumped 900% between 2003 and 2004, from less than 50,000 to close to half a million, while cable broadband subscribers grew 26%, from 17.7 million to 22.4 million, according to Infonetics Researchâs latest report, Cable VoIP Equipment Market Outlook, which includes subscriber and VoIP equipment revenue forecasts through 2007.
Veraz, a VoIP solutions provider, just announced a new wireless network compression solution that enables wireless carriers and service providers to use VoIP to lower OPEX, when required to transport calls over leased lines. This requirement is quite common when interconnecting sites across regulated borders. By using Verazs Wireless Network Compression solution, wireless operators are able to dramatically lower their operational costs when using highly compressed VoIP to transport calls.
Check out the release:
Veraz Networks Launches Wireless Network Compression Solution Enabling Wireless Operators to Avoid Expensive Leased Networks
SAN JOSE February 2, 2005 Veraz Networks announced the launch of its new Wireless Network Compression solution that allows wireless carriers and service providers to benefit from VoIP, when they are required to transport calls over leased lines.
Since I use testing tools in the labs all the time to test VoIP products, I have a strong affinity for good testing tools. GL Communications has an excellent line of telecom testing tools - everything from T1/E1/T3/OC-3/STM-1 analysis to VoIP Analysis/Simulation and Voice Quality Testing. I've used GL Communications' equipment in the past and in fact reviewed their DCOSS v4.0 product in 2000.
Well, today they announced the release of DCOSS 5.10.
That's funny... I came across an announcement I didn't hear much about in the VoIP blogosphere - that is Citel acquired MCK Communications last week. MCK Communications "pioneered" the idea of "remote voice extenders" (along with Datarace - now defunct I believe) - and their later models leveraged VoIP.
I've tested MCK's remote extender products in the past, which basically are remote extenders to remotely extend your office extension.
I've always been fascinated with word spotting analysis. -- You know, the ability for the NSA to overhear you say, "Let's kill the president" on the telephone and then mysteriously three hours later the Secret Service shows up at your door. Not that that has ever happened to me. : )
Ok, maybe that scenario is a bit mythical, but the NSA & CIA do have some interesting technology to eavesdrop on conversations and perform wordspotting.
Interesting multi-point conferencing product from SPIRIT that claims that a dozen people can talk simultaneously without any clipping.
SPIRIT announces industry's first software for true Multi-Point Conferencing
TeamSpirit enables dozens of participants to talk simultaneously during IP conferencing
February 1, â SPIRIT (www.spiritdsp.com/voip), the leading supplier of embedded software products for digital voice communication, announces industry-first Voice Engine for true multi-point conferencing.
The main feature distinguishing TeamSpirit from other alternatives on the market is the multi-point mode that enables dozens of users to participate in a conference simultaneously. It doesnât matter how many participants take part in the conference, their speech still remains clear and easy to understand even during simultaneous talk.
