July 2008 Archives

NewTeeVee has been bursting with startup news this week, including news from a bunch of new companies that have barely been mentioned elsewhere, if at all.

Here they are:

• Onecast/1cast
• Zadby
• Anvato
• GoAnimate

Anybody care to venture a guess on what any of these companies actually do?

No, well then, check out the nice summaries of each on GigaOM.

Now it looks like Dish Network will be giving us true 1080p HD!

In its press release, the company says that in addition to a host of 17 new national high-definition channels, it will also offer pay-per-view movies in 1080p. The first, available on Friday, is I Am Legend, the Will Smith sci-fi film.

While the satellite company may be the first to sell 1080p content, they're not the first to announce it. Those honors go to DirecTV; on Monday the company said it would launch an additional 30 national HD channels by the middle of August, bringing its high definition total up to 130.

Meanwhile, the Dish says it will have 100 HD national channels by Friday, and DirecTV announced it will also offer 1080p pay per view programming later this year.

Both companies imply that their 1080p offerings will look as good as Blu-ray discs. DirecTV says its titles are in "the same format used by Blu-Ray HD DVDs." Dish is even more direct, (so to speak), calling its offerings "Blu-ray disc quality."

Read more in the New York Times.

Dynolicious utilizes the accelerometer built in to your iPhone or iPod Touch to sense the motion of your vehicle to calculate performance statistics including 0-60 acceleration, 1/4 Mile Elapsed Time, Lateral G's, and Horsepower. Is this not the coolest Apple App ever? I would have headed over to the Apple App Store to buy this app pronto, except I no longer drive a high-performance Dodge Viper - I now drive a pokey Volvo.

Here's a photo of my beloved 2001 Dodge Viper at a Cape Cod motel before it was totalled by a 24-year old pharmacist one month after I sold it to him.


Anyway, the sampling data is sampled as many as one hundred times per second, to get a detailed picture of your car's acceleration. This information is then used to determine the speed of the vehicle and the distance travelled. The site explains that due to the unique hardware integrated into the iPhone, this can all be done with no setup, wires, or extra equipment like traditional accelerameters.

According to their web site, "Unlike other accelerometer-based performance meters, Dynolicious uses the advanced data-handling and display capabilities of the iPhone to make the most of your performance testing."

Further, Dynolicious maintains a history of test runs, showing you averages and trends in your results. Dynolicious also allows you to enter modifications performed to your vehicle, and will instantly show before-and-after results to easily identify gains or losses.

Here's some screenshots:




Specification/Features breakdown...

Performance Measurements

• 0-60 MPH
• Other Speed Tests (0-10 MPH through 0-100 MPH in 10MPH increments)
• Quarter Mile Elapsed Time
• Quarter Mile Trap Speed
• Elapsed Time and Trap Speed for standard intervals (60', 330', 1/8 Mi, 1000')
• Lateral G's (current and peak)
• Braking G's (current and peak)
• Wheel Horsepower
• Estimated Engine Horsepower

Results Presentation

• Realtime Speedometer and Graphs
• Realtime graphical skidpad display
• View results for latest test run or any saved run
• View averages based on vehicle, date, or modification
• Compare results between vehicles, dates, or before-and-after modifications

Configuration

• Rollout 0" to 24" (separate settings for 0-60 and Quarter Mile tests)
• Stores vehicle weight and drivetrain efficiency in your vehicle's profile
• Calibration routine gets the maximum accuracy possible with the built-in accelerometers

Accuracy

• 0-60 MPH: +/- 0.08 sec*
• Quarter Mile: +/- 0.10 sec*, +/- 1.5 MPH*

*Results based on preliminary testing. A detailed accuracy analysis using professional timing equipment at a regulation dragstrip will be posted soon.

Skype just released a new beta of 4.0.called Skype 4.0.0.155 Beta 1 for Windows. Just remember there are some caveats to using Skype 4.0 beta. Read here for more.

Here's what's new / fixes:

30.07.2008 Skype 4.0.0.155 Beta 1 for Windows

• change: Firefox Skype plugin updated to version 2.2.0.94
• bugfix: Video mood and instant messages did not work when user had Flash Player 10 installed
• Localizations updated

Also, here's what was fixed in the prior version of the Skype beta:

09.07.2008 Skype 4.0.0.150 Beta for Windows

• bugfix: Renaming a contact did not work correctly

• bugfix: New audio device notification was sometimes wrongly presented for SoundMax devices

• bugfix: Incoming chat notification was played when it should not have been
• bugfix: Changing ringing device also changed speakers
• bugfix: No sound was played when sending a chat message
• bugfix: It was not possible to remove echo123 from the contact list
• bugfix: Skype sometimes crashed when recording voicemail
• bugfix: Getting Started Wizard sometimes misbehaved after making a test call

Go grab your new copy here.

BREAKING!
A source is telling me that Level 3 Communications and Packet 8 are having a system-wide network outage for the last 30 minutes. Level 3 is a huge provider of VoIP termination and I believe Packet8 uses their network for termination. Other VoIP service providers (Vonage?) will also be affected if indeed Level 3 is having an outage. I'm trying to confirm this as I type this.

I'm currently on hold (5min so far) for Packet8's technical support and sent my contacts at 8x8 an email. I'll update this post when I find out more.

Update: Just talked with Packet8 technical support and indeed they are experiencing outages. They also confirmed they use Level 3, so it appears Level 3 is the cause. Contacting Level 3 next. Stay tuned!

Update: 1:13pm
This from my source of the outage who I asked to keep me aprised of when service was restored. The outage seemed to have occured from approximately 11am EDT to 12:15pm EDT (1hr 15min long). He makes a good point about some VoIP customers being medical offices, which are obviously greatly affected by any sort of extended outage.

Yes... I am an IT Management and Communications consultant - a few of my customers are Packet8 customers (mostly medical offices, which poses many potentially dangerous situations when phones go out).

OK - As of 12:15pm EST Level 3 has restored their servers and service has been restored.

PS - great blog, thanks for putting this out there... Looks like a few companies need a crash course on Crisis Communications Management and Planning - "keep you publics informed"... (feel free to blog that too.)

Update: 1:34pm
Just spoke with Packet8. The issue was due to a Packet8 database crash at Level3's data center. Level3's NOC itself did not experience an outage. Also, stuff was failed over and business customers experienced NO outage - only residential. I'll upload a recording of the call that explains everything in just a minute.

Here's a mp3 recording of my conversation with Packet8 representatives.

Highlights of the conversation:
Packet8 was able to failover their business customers immediately. They were not affected at all. They prioritize the failover of their business customers over their residential. The residential customers would failover after 15 minutes or if they rebooted their device.

Medical offices should not be affected if they use the business plan unless they use the softphone application or if they violate the ToS (terms of service) by going with the cheaper residential plan. (which shouldn't be used for business)

Today, SimpleSignal is announcing that it has successfully married Microsoft Exchange 2007 with its BroadSoft-based Hosted PBX offering to offer a  new solution called SimplyMobile. SimplyMobile offers some really cool features, such as the ability to listen to emails from any phone -- even a mobile device by leveraging TTS (text-to-speech). Also, it features the ability for users to use voice commands to call the people who emailed them.

They espouse the ability to be driving and listening to your emails and then verbally deleting them. So as you commute to the office, instead of having 200 emails to read when you arrive in the office, you only have 50. Definitely a useful tool for multitaskers like myself. Guess you email fanatics won't need to be checking your Blackberry at dinner any more.

SimplyMobile also allows SMBs to use voice commands over a mobile phone to make changes to their Outlook calendar. For instance, if you are running behind for an appointment so you want to push it back 15 minutes. You call into your SimplyMobile unified communications service and move the appointment back. Exchange then sends out an email notification of the change to the meeting participants.

I like how SimplyMobile uses Active Directory as the center of user provisioning. Because it is a part of Exchange Server 2007, users can take advantage of usernames, full names, and department names that are already in the system. Additionally, incoming calls are automatically synced with Exchange contact information; instead of just seeing a phone number, the name of the person leaving a message is also displayed. Any user listed in our on-line Self-Service Portal can be quickly enabled for Hosted Unified Communications.

Full release after the jump...

3CX has announced the release of a totally free new VoIP softphone called 3CX VoIP Phone that allows users to make and receive calls from their computer using SIP-based VoIP providers or SIP-based IP-PBXs. This free SIP softphone client isn't the first "free" softphone on the market. That distinction belongs to Counterpath's popular X-lite SIP softphone. However, I'm glad to see more free SIP softphones on the market.



In fact, I'd like to see free SIP softphone clients for Windows Mobile and the iPhone. Counterpath, had one for the PocketPC but they discontinued it. Of course, you can install fring, which includes a SIP client, and you can IM or call Skype, MSN Messenger, ICQ, and Google Talk. fring is compatible with Symbian 8, 9.1, 9.2, Windows Mobile 5 & 6 and UIQ handsets. GizmoProject and SJPhone are two other options that work on several mobile handset models. I'd also like to see more standardized video softphone clients so you can have videoconference calls from your mobile phone to someone running a softphone client on their PC or Mac.

In any event, one of the key features of 3CX VoIP Phone is its integration with Microsoft Outlook. Users can launch calls directly from their contacts' list within Outlook by just right-clicking on the name of the person they wish to call.

Nick Galea, CEO at 3CX said: "3CX VoIP Phone is great for businesses that wish to have an easy to deploy, business-level VoIP soft phone. Because it is free, the usual hassle of administration of client licenses is avoided. The free editions of other VOIP phones do not have key features such as call transfer or the ability to put a call on hold.

Nick put a "green" spin on using softphones over hardphones when he said, "VoIP Phones are an interesting option for businesses - they are easy to administer and environmentally friendly. Hardware phones require additional electricity, administration and desk space."

3CX VoIP Phone of course somes with a dial pad, buttons for transferring or forwarding calls, put calls on hold,  accept, reject or ignore calls, and more. You can also review your history of calls.

Features of 3CX VoIP Phone

• Supports several SIP profiles
• Shows personal call log/history - ideal for salespeople
• Message Waiting Indication (MWI)
• Supports G.711 (A-Law and u-Law), GSM, iLBC and Speex codecs
• STUN support for NAT/firewall traversal
• Installation provided as MSI for easy deployment

The new 3CX VoIP Phone can be downloaded here.

Printing CD and DVD labels can be a chore. It often requires special labels and only certain printers can accept CD/DVD labels. Certainly burning CDs and DVDs has become more popular so users are looking for quick, easy, and fun ways to label and decorate their CD/DVD collections. I have an Epson printer at home that doesn't print the size labels I need, so I resort to using a black Sharpie pen and hand scribbling on the CD or DVD. And when I had "scribbling" I mean scribbling! I have the worst handwriting. One other problem with the various label stickers you can run though a printer, is you have to align them perfectly, they look cheap and they can gum up CD drives if the label starts to bubble or fray. Further, sticky labels are quick to print, but they take forever to peel off, and stick on (even with a stomper), and would often jam in the disc drive.

Well, to the DVD/CD labelling rescue comes the Dymo DiscPainter, a pint-sized printer that you simply stick in your CD or DVD media into the drive, use their software to add graphics & text, hit print, and the DiscPainter spins the DVD/CD as it prints. It's pretty cool how it prints in a circular fashion starting from the inner ring outward. I found myself staring at the spinning media through the clear windows as it was being printed just to watch the image grow outwards. I guess I'm easily amused. As it spins it prints an amazingly good 600dpi, a pretty decent resolution.

Below is a shot of the printer sitting on my desktop PC with two printed CDs. The one in the printer is one of my with my daughter Megan and the other is a promotional photo of the new Toy Story Mania! Disney World attraction. Now when you do go to Disney World and take some home videos you can burn the video to a DVD and have a pretty graphic printed on top - perhaps using one of the photos from the vacation trip itself.


The Discus for DYMO software was very easy to use. Adding graphics and text was a snap. Here's a sample of me adding the Dark Knight poster image:

The software gives you fine control over the image, including the size, the rotation, and even the opacity. Essentially, you can also control the "opacity" of the image so that it fades into the background with the text more prominent. You can also draw freehand, add shapes, and more.

Here's another sample showing the Toy Story Mania image:

The software lets you set the print quality (draft, normal, best) and the ink density (matte1 - matte5, glossy 6 & 7, and color 8 and color 9). Dymo's DiscPainter CD/DVD software makes printing fun and easy. The DiscPainter includes a USB 2.0 cable, AC power supply, three inkjet printable discs, and a full-color ink cartridge.


Currently, the DiscPainter resolution is around 600dpi, and not 1200dpi as some reviews have reported. DYMO told me they are working on updated drivers and firmware so that the 'Best' print quality is even more crisp and clear. That will be available for people who want it probably by the end of summer (probably as a download online)


Dymo states that the DiscPainter's ink cartridge is good for about 100-CDs. A full cartridge is included in the box, and spares are priced at $39.95 or basically $0.39 cents per print. Perhaps a wee-bit on the high side for ink, but it's fair price to pay for have the coolest looking DVD/CD collection on the block! Just three printable CD-Rs are included (no DVD+R or DVD-RW) with the DiscPainter to get you started -- but you can buy more inkjet-printable media online. Surprisingly printable discs aren't that much more expensive than non-printable discs.


Pros:

• Small footprint and no accessories or trays to keep track of
• Easy to use software
• Very quiet
• Fast print speeds 1-2 ,minutes per CD/DVD
• Ink dries quickly (some printers require 24 hour long drying times.)

Cons:

• It's only a 4 color system not 6
• Single cartridge system even for black, the most common color used. So if black runs out you throw out the entire cartridge.
• Bit pricey - $279 retail. Though it has come down in price. Amazon has it listed for $249.88

Conclusion
Overall, I was very impressed with the Dymo DiscPainter. I liked its speed, easy-to-use software, and its small footprint - easily fitting on top of any computer. Users looking for near-professional looking CDs and DVDs will enjoy the results of this printer. Several online retails carry the Dymo DiscPainter, including Amazon, which currently lists the DiscPainter for $249.88

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Finally it seems like somebody in the PC business besides Apple has grabbed the idea that style matters -- the message is in the medium, so to speak ...

Dell's smallest, most personalized and most environmentally responsible consumer PC, the Studio Hybrid, launched today; that's it in the photo at left.

Available immediately at www.dell.com/hybrid, the PC's new unique shape and size can be personalized with six optional, external jewel-toned color or bamboo sleeves.

Dell also unveiled two new Inspiron PCs, including the Inspiron 13, a sleek and stylish sub $800 13-inch laptop perfect for students heading back to school, available starting next week at Wal-Mart. (So much for that much ballyhooed direct model.)

The Inspiron 518 desktop, available immediately at www.dell.com, is designed for everyday family multi-media activities, like catching up on favorite TV shows via the Internet, playing online games and storing and accessing music playlists and digital images. 

See what else is new here by checking out the Dell press release.

Hey, hey, hey ... Sprint Nextel was dealt a major blow in its early-termination-fee case when a California judge ruled it would have to pay $73 million. Bad news for Sprint ...

... but good news for us! The decision could bode poorly for the various trials that are taking place throughout the country, as well as the attempt by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make wireless carriers exempt from these state court cases.

"This ruling sounds the death knell for the industry's petition seeking a preemption ruling from the FCC -- a ruling the industry has never been able to win in court," said Scott Bursor, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. 

Read more about it at CNN Money.

VoSKY today launched a high-density T1/E1 PBX-to-Skype Gateway. Who needs SIP trunks when you can have 23 or 30 simultaneous Skype trunks?

Though I'd like to see a 100% software-based gateway solution for IP-PBXs, since like Skype, they run on the IP network already. Still for traditional PBXs with T1/E1 interfaces, getting a PBX-to-Skype gateway to migrate away from expensive per minute charges on the traditional PSTN makes a lot of sense. Often the biggest cost of migrating to a 100% VoIP network is not only the IP-PBX but the plethora of IP phones you have to purchase. Some companies may not have the budget for it, but they still want to cut costs. One way to do that is by switching to IP trunking - whether it's SIP trunks or Skype trunks.

Of course, I should mention that many IP-PBXs also come with T1/E1 hardware cards, so VoSKY's gateway would still work on them as well. But like I say, I'd like to see a 100% software-based solution with no TDM interface card. Essentially, I'd like to see an appliance that sits on the network and can connect directly to an IP-PBX over the IP network rather than the TDM interface and simultaneously it connects to the Skype network. It would essentially be a Skype-to-SIP gateway, similar to these Skype-to-SIP gateways I've mentioned.

Anyway, check out the news...

VoSKY Introduces Industry's First Skype-Certified, High Density T1/E1 PBX-to-Skype Gateway for the Enterprise Market

Based on VoSKY's next-generation enterprise-grade Linux platform, the new VoSKY Exchange Pro VIT1/E1 enables businesses to benefit from Skype's dramatic cost savings and enhanced communication features.

Sunnyvale, Calif., July 29, 2008 - VoSKY, the market leader in developing Skype for business solutions, continued its acceleration of Skype deployment in the business environment by adding the VoSKY Exchange Pro VIT1/E1 to its award-winning PBX-to-Skype gateway family. Based on VoSKY's latest enterprise-grade Linux platform, the VoSKY Exchange Pro VIT1/E1 enables medium to large-sized enterprise organizations to cost-effectively migrate to Voice over IP (VoIP), and enjoy dramatic cost savings up to 90% over traditional telco trunks.

The new solution marks the industry's first enterprise-grade T1/E1 PBX-to-Skype gateway to achieve Skype certification - underscoring its unmatched performance and reliability in the market. Skype certification ensures complete interoperability with and optimal performance of all Skype features and services. The plug-and-play appliance is also fully certified and endorsed by key PBX vendors to further simplify integration in the enterprise environment.

The VoSKY Exchange Pro VIT1/E1 seamlessly integrates with existing corporate PBXs with T1 or E1 digital interfaces, allowing businesses to take advantage of Internet Telephony without replacing their existing network infrastructure. With a VoSKY Exchange gateway, employees can make and receive Skype calls from their regular office phone - no Skype software, computers, or headsets are required. In addition, the stand-alone, 1U rack-mountable appliance is easy for telecom/IT managers to configure and manage.

VoSKY's latest gateway can support up to 30 concurrent Skype calls using E1 ISDN PRI or up to 23 calls with T1 ISDN PRI, providing scalable performance for enterprise applications. Companies can take advantage of Skype's newly launched Unlimited World plans for ultra low cost international and long distance calls to customers and business partners. Multiple VoSKY Exchange gateways can also be set up in dispersed office locations to enable free calling between colleagues in different coasts, countries, or continents.

In addition to low cost Skype trunking, VoSKY's Web Click-to-Call optimizes online sales and marketing efforts, by incorporating both direct web click-to-call for Skype users and call back for non-Skype users. Another value-added application is remote access where remote workers and frequent travelers can tap into the company phone system from wherever they are - allowing them to talk to the office for free, place low cost international calls, and access the same call control functionality as if they were sitting in the office.

"As the world's largest VoIP network, Skype's scalability, reliability, security, and voice quality make it a perfect fit for demanding enterprise applications. By combining our next-generation Linux platform and T1/E1 trunk support, the new VoSKY Exchange Pro VIT1/E1 ensures that even large organizations can easily benefit from the huge cost savings of VoIP service without a complex or expensive infrastructure upgrade," said David Tang, VP of Global Marketing at VoSKY.

The addition of the VoSKY Exchange Pro VIT1E1 completes VoSKY's PBX-to-Skype portfolio to meet the needs of companies of all sizes - from SMBs to large enterprises. VoSKY Exchange gateways seamlessly integrate with legacy and next-generation telecommunications equipment via industry standard analog FX/FXS and digital T1/E1 interfaces.

About VoSKY
Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, VoSKY is the global leader in empowering businesses to leverage Skype, the world's largest VoIP community with more than 338 million registered users. The company's proven, enterprise-grade solutions create new opportunities for small-to-medium size businesses (SMBs) and enterprises to reduce communications costs and improve productivity. VoSKY Exchange, the company's flagship product, is an award-winning PBX-to-Skype application gateway that seamlessly integrates a company's phone system with Skype. This plug-and-play platform is compatible with any existing TDM or IP PBX phone system.

VoSKY is a wholly owned subsidiary of Actiontec Electronics. In addition to its headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA, VoSKY maintains branch offices in Colorado Springs, CO; Basingstoke, United Kingdom; Beijing, China; Bogota, Colombia; Shanghai, China; and Taipei, Taiwan. For more information please visit the VoSKY website at www.vosky.com.

Came across DIDx (DIDXchange) CEO Suzanne Bowen's blog today, where she mentions that DIDXchange is sponsoring the Code Zone Reception on Tues PM Sept 23 at Astricon and also "giving a lightning talk with some of you on DIDX and IAX2."

She includes a sign up link to http://www.didx.net/astricon2008/, but the link doesn't work.

Anyway, she's offering an interesting survey with the chance to win a $100 gas card or $100 American Airlines voucher.

"Whether you are using IAX2 or SIP or both, please reply to this survey asap. Just copy the Qs and paste them to me on email or on Facebook message with your name, company, if you have a DIDX account ... include that number, cell phone and email for contacting. Each person who uses IAX2, SIP, or a combination AND also DIDX who answers this survey fully with complete contact information to me on Facebook or my regular email will be entered in a drawing for $100 gas card or a $100 American Airlines voucher."

Considering it's $15 per checked bag, and $100 per piece for the 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags, this $100 voucher won't get you very far if you're a heavy packer. Nevertheless, the $100 voucher will offset some of the costs to attend Astricon, which takes place September 23-25th in Arizona.

So what's the survey? Here's the questions:

- do you use IAX2, SIP, a combination, or other? please describe.
- what is the efficiency gain or loss from using IAX2 if you use it?
- how do your IAX2 vs. SIP customers differ in QoS, call setup time, complaints, etc.
- what roadblocks has IAX2 helped you overcome?
- what roadblocks has IAX2 introduced?
- other issues relevant to you and your customer/vendor's use of Asterisk and IAX2

In the same blog post Suzanne mentions a DIDx-sponsored party at Internet Telephony Expo taking place September 16th-18th. Ya know, I didn't realize how close Astricon and ITEXPO were. Astricon is more "niche" since it is Asterisk-focused while ITEXPO covers all IP communications including Asterisk, but I would have liked to have seen Astricon and ITEXPO co-located. One less trip for me to the West Coast and the two shows are very complementary. I should go talk to Rich Tehrani about trying to partner with Astricon in for future events. (though I do see we are a media sponsor at Astricon)

In any event, Suzanne writes:

Sept 16-18, 2008, Internet Telephony West 2008, Los Angeles, CA
Sign up at http://www.tmcnet.com/voip/conference for free expo plus passes and discounts on conference passes. See past videos and pictures of past ITWest conferences at http://didx.net/itexpowest08/!

DIDX is a media sponsor of ITWest 2008 and an exhibitor at booth 153. Please respond with your name, email address, cell phone and DIDX account number if you'd like to meet up for a business development meeting, just for you. Watch for another email about the DIDXchange party during ITWest 2008!

Cool,  I like parties. Am I invited?

Buck Rogers and James Bond used jetpacks, and since the 1960s, several real jetpack designs have been built from metal, plastic and propellant. None has flown more than a minute.

Now a New Zealand inventor, Glenn Martin, plans to unveil today what he calls "the world's first practical jetpack" at the EAA AirVenture, the gigantic annual air show in Wisconsin. It's personal flying taken to the very personal level.

Martin, who has spent 27 years developing the devices, said he hoped to begin selling them next year for $100,000 apiece.

"There is nothing that even comes close to the dream that the jetpack allows you to achieve," said Robert J. Thompson, the director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. He called it "about the coolest desire left to mankind." (As quoted in the New York Times.)

Read the whole incredible New York TImes story here.

(And thanks to MSN Tech & Gadgets for the Bond image.)

Seems like everyone and their brothers and sisters is writing or blogging about the launch of a new search engine today that apparently digs even deeper into the Internet to bring more accurate searches.

The new SE, called Cuil (and pronounced "Cool") has a different look, with more text after each returned search, rather than Google's list of links and links and links.

On my first searches, very fast results, but with mixed results -- some odd balls, some right on the money.

So, you try it, and see what happens.

Oh, and get back to me on it, will ya?

www.cuil.com

Thilo Salmon of sipgate, makers of a SIP-based client that works on the Apple iPhone, wrote me today regarding sipgate vs. T-Mobile Round II, which was soundly won today by sipgate after a German court issued a preliminary injunction against T-Mobile Germany. (See Round I - T-Mobile VoIP Shenanigans - AGAIN!)

Thilo told me, "I thought you might like to learn the we did not go down, but fought back. T-Mobile Germany not only bans VoIP, IM and VPN usage, but also caps data on their iPhone plans. Funny enough, one could say that T-Mobile Germany is blocking T-Mobile USA. Still, we felt T-Mobile is misleading their customers, as they hide this fact in their fine print and found supporters for this claim."

He added, "On our request the regional court of Hamburg (Landgericht Hamburg) has issued a preliminary injunction against T-Mobile Germany, Apple's exclusive German partner. As of today the company is barred from advertising their iPhone plans as "open internet access with unlimited data" ("Freier Internetzugang mit unbegrenzter Datenflatrate") on pain of penalties of approx. $390,000 (250,000 Euro) or six month of imprisonment per incident. T-Mobile does not allow the use of their iPhone data plans for use with VoIP, IM and IP-VPN services and throttles bandwidth beginning at 300 MB per month in their smallest plan."

Ouch! So now T-Mobile may not advertise free Internet access with the iPhone. That's gotta sting!

He continued, "While this might look like round #2 of sipgate vs. T-Mobile the issue at hand here is much broader. T-Mobile is spearheading a movement of networks to undermine the generally assumed principle of net neutrality. Such broad restrictions on the accessibility of internet services are frightening - in particular, since T-Mobile chose to specifically ban those services, they are selling at a premium: Voice, Chat and VPN."

Score a huge win for sipgate and net neutrality advocates!