February 2009 Archives

Vipadia announced the release under the GPLv2 of Karaka, the open-source XMPP-Skype Gateway which connects the XMPP and Skype networks.

Karaka is a scalable distributed XMPP transport that bridges instant messaging and presence between a user's XMPP and Skype accounts. This will for instance enable Skype-to-Google Talk instant messaging. In theory AOL's AIM should work, since I believe they also support XMPP. In addition to full presence and instant messaging exchange, it also supports multi-user chat ("conference rooms"). Karaka implements the XMPP standards XEP-0100 for gateway support, XEP-0045 for multi-user chats and XEP-0144 for roster exchange.

According to Vipadia, "Existing Skype interconnect solutions focus on bridging voice even though the primary use of Skype is for instant messaging and associated presence data. Interconnecting with Skype messaging and presence has been a major stumbling block for many who wish to offer Skype interconnection to their network. Karaka bridges the XMPP and Skype clouds, removing this stumbling block by converting Skype messaging and presence to the popular XMPP protocol as used by, e.g., Google Talk."

Karaka is licensed under the GPLv2 and is hosted on Google Code at http://code.google.com/p/karaka/.

Check it out @ http://vipadia.com/products/karaka/.

In 2006, I came across a Network World article, which espoused the fact that Sam Houston State University (SHSU) had switched from the Cisco CallManager IP-PBX to open source Asterisk. I wrote about this news since 6,000 students and faculty were moved off Cisco to the open source Asterisk IP-PBX, which was great news for the open source Asterisk community. This deployment demonstrated that Asterisk could scale and put to rest one of the main complaints against Asterisk.

Well, 3 years have passed, and according to this thread written by Jason Fuermann, who is responsible for SHSU's IP phone system, SHSU has switched back to Cisco from Asterisk. Say what?

EZ Call, Inc. today announced the launch of EZCallerID.com, a new service that provides enhanced Caller ID, also known as CNAM, for VoIP calls. The hosted CNAM service gives you not just the phone number, but the name of the person calling.

Most SIP trunking providers do not provide the caller's name with Caller ID on inbound calls. EZCallerID.com solves this issue by simply having you route your inbound calls to their server. They insert the caller's name and send the call back to your IP-PBX.

How's it work? Simply put, EZCallerID.com connects to the national databases that contain the name associated with each phone number, perform a reverse lookup, insert the CallerID info into the From SIP header and then send the call back to you.

This is similar in concept to my recent article, CNAM (CallerID with Name) on Asterisk using Reverse Phone number lookup, but in this case, no Asterisk PBX is required. It works with any SIP-based IP-PBX. It is a hosted offering, so there is a fee of course, but it's not  expensive. They only charge $0.015 per call (or $1.50 for every 100 calls). The service is available on a pay-as-you-go basis ($10 minimum initial charge), with no recurring charges or minimum monthly commitment.

Head on over to EZCallerID.com if you want to sign-up.

Hat tip to Eric Hernaez for the news tip

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced that it plans to shut down Go!Messenger, a VoIP, video chat, and IM application that launched last February. Citing a lack of interest, Go!Messenger was an intriguing PSP app that leveraged the PSP Go!Cam camera for its video chat capabilities.

Sony explained "Although it proved a popular concept, achieving a significant number of registrations, it didn't gain the number of regular users that BT and SCEE were aiming for."

Go!Messenger will end on March 31. But all is not lost. Skype for PSP still works, but it's too bad Skype for PSP doesn't support the Go!Cam for some Skype-to-Skype video chat action.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Go!Messenger VoIP app for Sony PSP goes bye bye next month (crunchgear.com)
• PSP Go!Messenger No Longer Going Come April [Europe] (kotaku.com)

Rich met with ooma recently to see their latest wares and hear about their current business model. Recently, ooma ditched the 'P2P voice network' idea where users actually "share" their home landline with others and instead became a traditional VoIP broadband provider. Apparently, the privacy issues were too much to overcome, since users were concerns about fraudulent activity happening on their home landline by outside ooma users. I had my own reservations about the business model as well, since they claimed it would take 2,000 strategicly placed ooma boxes in all the various local exchanges to get good local call coverage for free P2P calls.

Besides becoming a traditional VoIP broadband provider, ooma is now going to start offering high-end media phones, that according to Rich Tehrani will in the future feature a picture frame, in-house sensors and cameras. As for what they offer today, in early January, ooma launched Telo, which offers unlimited, free VoIP-to-PSTN (U.S.) calls over the Internet along with a DECT 6.0 cordless phone that supports call screening, MP3 ringtones, 12-hour talk time, HD voice, speakerphone, two-line support, mobile transfer, and intercom. It supports up to eight phone numbers and six phones


                   ooma's Telo phone system with DECT 6.0 handset.

The Telo phone system is expected to be available in the first half of 2009. The next question you're probably thinking is "If it's free unlimited U.S. VoIP-to-PSTN calls, how does ooma make any money?" The answer to that is ooma offers ooma Premier, with advanced features that they hope people will opt & pay for. (See: http://www.ooma.com/company/how_we_make_money.php)

Some of the Premiere features include:

• Instant Second Line allows you to make or take two simultaneous calls from a single phone number
• Blacklists helps you protect your privacy and block telemarketers
• Multiring lets you answer calls from your home phone or cell phone
• Message Screening allows you to listen in as the caller is leaving their message
• Send to Voicemail allows you to transfer a call to your voicemail
• Voicemail Forwarding lets you forward voicemail so that you can listen to it from your favorite email program
• Do Not Disturb allows you to roll your calls into voicemail without ringing your phone
• Personal Numbers allows you to select additional phone numbers in any calling area in the US

The "free" unlimited calling puts them on par with magicJack, but the magicJack is much less expensive (magicJack costs $39.99 1st year, and $19.99/yr in subsequent years). Pricing for Telo has not been announced, but I'm sure it will be much more expensive since the hardware costs so much more. One advantage for Telo is that magicjack requires your PC to be on all the time to make/receive calls over its USB-based dongle. The Telo phone system is a standalone phone that has no such restriction. It's also a multi-line and multi-handset phone platform, so it's more suitable to busy households that require multiple lines or phone handsets.

Check out Rich's post for more on Telo and how the FCC is actually an investor in ooma.

According to The Sun, aeronautical engineer Bernie Bamford was browsing through Google Ocean when he came upon this formation showing a perfect rectangle the size of Wales lying on the bed of the Atlantic Ocean nearly 3½ miles down. A series of criss-crossing lines that looks like a large city enclosed by the a boundary appears in Google Earth. I launched Google Earth myself to see, entered in the coordinates (N31.381 W24.375) and sure enough, there it is.

Now, it could simply be a series of seams in the topographic scans where areas are being tiled together along with missing scan data that has to be interpolated. However, according to The Sun article, Google responded as follows:

Google today claimed the criss-crossing lines were sonar data collected as boats mapped the ocean floor.

But the internet giant said "blank spots" within the lines could not be explained.

So has Atlantis finally been found? Didn't Edgar Cayce, the "American Prophet" say that Atlantis would be discovered soon after the millenium? Anyone got a bathysphere I can borrow? I'll get to the bottom of this.

Related:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10168269-36.html

I was driving to work in my Volvo V70 XC (XC=Cross Country) which has all-wheel-drive and Blizzak snow tires when I approached a T intersection where I had to make a right-hand turn. Now normally a Volvo with AWD and Blizzak snow tires can cut through any amount of snow with no problem. I've driven it through blizzards, so I know.

In fact, there was some light snow on the roads in my neighborhood, but once I got to the main roads, they were completely dry. The road I was on is also well-traveled and appeared dry in most places and wet in others. I didn't realize the "wet" spots I saw weren't wet at all, but were black ice.

I tried to stop at the T intersection, my car's ABS kicked in and the car wouldn't stop. I quickly spun my head to my left to see if I was about to cut someone off. I saw a yellow school bus bearing down on me. I decided to go over to the opposite lane, figuring I'd rather get hit by anything else but a 7 ton bus. I hadn't had time to turn my head to the right to see if there was a car coming from that direction. I had other things on my mind - like a big yellow bus headed straight at me!

Not knowing if there was a car coming from that direction and although ABS was still kicking in, I quickly turned the wheel to the right just in case I could slip in between and be riding the center of the lane - hoping if there was indeed a car coming from the opposite direction, it could ride the shoulder a bit to avoid hitting me. It worked! My car did indeed finally grip and take the center lane. Fortunately, there wasn't another car coming from the opposite direction, so I gunned the gas and rode illegally in the left lane for about 30 ft, just to be sure I wasn't going to get rear-ended by the bus, and then got back into the right lane.

I felt bad for the bus driver who obviously had to brake hard. The bus driver probably thought I was a lunatic for taking the turn without stopping. But I honestly wasn't going fast. I was slowing for the stop sign, but just couldn't stop. Although the bus driver probably saw it was an "out of control" action and I did fishtail a bit - so probably deduced it was black ice.

Wow, another 1-2s later and I was a goner.  There was also a line of cars behind the bus, so even if I avoided the bus, other cars would have hit me and there was an SUV just ahead of the bus. So basically, I was able to slip in-between the gap between the SUV and the bus. What if my wife didn't remind me to take the IPEVO Skype phone to work, which I had forgotten in the bedroom? I actually had to walk back down the hallway to get it.

The mere act of taking the IPEVO Skype phone home last night to test may just have saved my life. Thank you IPEVO & thank you Skype! They say Skype is a cost saver - well now Skype's a life saver!

Today, flaphone (formerly Flashphone) announced that users of their Flash VoIP application can now make a call from flaphone to skype. You simply need to enter sip:skype_username@skype after selecting "none"(global)" for the SIP account. I should mention that flaphone supports multiple SIP credentials, which is a really nice feature. I've been testing flaphone for several weeks now and have been meaning to write up their cool Flash-based VoIP application.

In any event, for my first test call I entered sip:tomkeating@skype and pressed the call button. The call was initiated and the call quality was superb!

You can also use this SIP-to-Skype feature for flaphone's CallMe widgets that you place on your website.

Similarly, Gizmo5 recently launched OpenSky which also enables SIP-to-Skype dialing. However, Gizmo5 calls are free only up to 5 minutes long. For longer calls they are offering a paid service. There is no such restriction that I am aware of with flaphone.

By leveraging Flash, flaphone is cross-platform, has minimal download time, and you can run it from any browser. That and the fast that it supports SIP-to-PSTN calling, SIP URI dialing, and SIP-to-Skype calling, means this is one VoIP app you should check out!

Goober Networks, recently launched CallingAmerica.com, which offers web-based free VoIP calls to any landline or mobile phone in the U.S. or Canada. The Web-based offering uses Flash for the audio output & microphone input. As for the business model for "free calls" CallingAmerica.com uses  advertisements on their website that you must watch before the call is initiated.

I decided to test it for myself to see how well it works. I simply went to their website, entered a phone number, and clicked the FreeCall now button, as seen here:


You'll be presented with a captcha code which you must enter to prove you are human, as seen by this clipped browser screenshot here:

Then, you'll see an ad and a short countdown (15s or less) before you can initiate the call as seen by this clipped browser screenshot here:

The countdown was pretty short, so surprisingly it wasn't annoying. After the countdown, the Flash application confirms your microphone source. Simply by talking into it, it detects the audio signal and then initiates the call. The call quality was pretty good - certainly on par with other web-based VoIP offerings.

I should point out that if you don't register, the calls are limited up to two minutes in duration each. Pretty useful if travelling and just want to make a quick free call. By registering for free at CallingAmerica.com, users can make an unlimited number of calls for a duration of up to 15 minutes. All in all CallingAmerica.com is worth keeping bookmarked for when you need to make a quick free call.

TrapCall offers a new free service that reveals CallerID from those pesky blocked calls from annoying callers that think their anonymity is more important than you knowing who they are. Well the war between being anonymous and knowing "who is calling you" is over - no more blocked CallerID.

It's over, Johnny. It's over!

Nothing is over! Nothing!! You just don't turn it off! It wasn't my CallerID war! You asked to talk to me, I didn't ask to talk to you! And I did what I had to do to win! But somebody wouldn't let us win! And I come back to the world and I see all those maggots with cell phones at the airport, protesting me, spitting. Calling me CallerID killer and all kinds of vile crap! Who are they to protest me?! Who are they?! Unless they've been me and been there and know what the hell they're yelling about!

Not knowing 'who is calling' was a bad time for everyone, Rambo. It's all in the past now.

With apologies to John Rambo and First Blood, one of the greatest movies of all time.

Here's how TrapCall works. When you reject or miss a call, your phone forwards the call to TrapCall's toll free number. TrapCall then unveils the hidden CallerID info (since you can't block CallerID to toll-free numbers) for the missed call and then re-routes the call back to you. Your phone will then see the Caller ID unblocked. If you reject the call a second time, it'll go to your regular voicemail. Importantly, all the caller hears is normal ringing.

The free version does CallerID unmasking and lets you configure caller blacklists. The two paid versions offer additional features, including CallerID names, call recording, and voicemail transcription.

via Wired

While we wait for Digium's official SIP-to-Skype gateway, Nerd Vittles today informed me about his very cool recipe that you can use today to build your own free SIP-to-Skype gateway enabling you to use your SIP-based desktop phones connected to Asterisk to make Skype inbound/outbound calls.

Part of the recipe uses SipToSis - SIP to Skype Gateway Bridge Proxy. SipToSis is a piece of software which Nerd Vittles points out "forms the lynchpin of Gizmo's offering and which lets any Asterisk user create much the same gateway at no cost other than the expense of any Skype Out calls you may choose to make."

Nerd Vittles explains in his tutorial:

When we're finished, you'll be able to call any Skype user in the world from any extension on your Asterisk server by entering either a Skype username or any 10-digit telephone number preceded by an 8 to take advantage of SkypeOut calling rates. You'll also be able to receive incoming calls from any Skype user on any extension of your Asterisk system. In short, what you get is a transparent interface to several hundred million Skype users from your Asterisk server.

In summary, with this tutorial you'll be able to dial Skype users, as well as receive incoming calls from any Skype user! Nerd Vittles' recipe should work on just about any Asterisk-based system. I might have to try this recipe myself later on today. Good stuff!

Skype and Nokia today announced that Skype will be integrated into Nokia devices, starting with the Nokia Nseries. The Nokia N97 flagship phone will be the first to incorporate Skype in the 3rd quarter of 2009.

Skype will be integrated into the address book of the Nokia N97, allowing you to see when Skype contacts are online and perform instant messaging (IM) or VoIP calls.

But here's the real kicker - the Nokia N97 will be able to use Wi-Fi and 3G to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype voice calls as well as Skype calls to landlines and mobile devices. The Apple iPhone on the other hand, restricts VoIP clients to just Wi-Fi VoIP calls and blocks 3G (data) VoIP calls.

This weekend, the NBA and ESPN will utilize Cisco TelePresence technology to create an interactive "in-person" forum to allow athletes and fans to interact using Cisco's videoconferencing / telepresence technology.

According to Cisco, Cisco TelePresence has been deployed on the All-Star Jam Session floor allowing fans to interact "face-to-face" with NBA stars from the convention center's green room and backstage at the arena. On-site Cisco digital signage will provide All-Star programming content and live updates of the NBA Jam Session Trivia contest.

Additionally, ESPN will broadcast exclusive NBA All-Star Weekend reports on the network's popular news shows directly from the Cisco TelePresence system in Phoenix back to ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut.

Here's the full details:

ESPN and NBA Bring Fans Closer to All-Star Game Action With Cisco TelePresence Technology

Cisco TelePresence Technology Will Be Used to Create an Interactive Experience Between Fans and NBA Players and Legends at NBA All-Star Weekend

NBA All-Star Weekend -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) and ESPN today announced that they will utilize Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) TelePresence(TM) technology to create an immersive "in-person" experience that will bring NBA players and legends closer to fans at the NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix this weekend.

Facts:
•    ESPN will broadcast exclusive NBA All-Star Weekend reports on the network's news and information shows, such as "SportsCenter," directly from the Cisco TelePresence system in Phoenix back to ESPN's studio in Bristol, Conn.
•    With the implementation of TelePresence in ESPN broadcast operations, the sports network will be able to deliver a higher level of interactive sports broadcasting for major events happening across the globe.
•    During NBA All-Star, Cisco will deploy two Cisco TelePresence units at the Phoenix Convention Center and one at U.S. Airways Center for the All-Star Game activities. One of the Cisco TelePresence systems will be located directly on the show floor at the All-Star Jam Session allowing fans to interact "face-to-face" with NBA stars from the Convention Center green room and backstage at the arena.
•    Fans will be able to participate in trivia contests and interact with current NBA players and legends, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, Toronto Raptors' Jason Kapono and former Phoenix Suns' legend Dan Majerle, throughout the weekend via the Cisco TelePresence systems at NBA Jam Session.
•    In addition to TelePresence, the NBA will utilize the Cisco® wireless press center for real-time mobile media reporting on multiple All-Star events happening in Phoenix. And as an official technology partner of the NBA, Cisco digital signage, part of the Cisco Digital Media System, will be on-site to provide All-Star programming content and live updates of the NBA Jam Session Trivia contest.

Steve Hellmuth, executive vice president of technology and operations, NBA
"Cisco has been helping the NBA stay connected since 2007 and we're thrilled to extend this interaction to our fans by bringing Cisco TelePresence to the Jam Session show floor. We will be able to provide our fans with unprecedented access to both current NBA players and legends."

Ed Erhardt, president of customer marketing and sales, ESPN
"ESPN is working with Cisco to enhance the NBA All-Star viewing experience for basketball fans. Thanks to Cisco, we'll be able to offer our audience a closer look at the All-Star Game with exclusive interviews via Cisco TelePresence."

Alan Cohen, vice president, enterprise marketing, Cisco "By deploying Cisco TelePresence directly on the NBA Jam Session show floor, we are bridging the gap between athletes and fans, giving basketball enthusiasts a virtual pass to the arena with a unique ability to interact with players in new ways that were not possible at previous marquee sporting events. Building on our relationship with the NBA, we're bringing fans closer to the game, from the boardroom to the locker room."

Related Links:

• Cisco Sports Web Site
• NBA All-Star Weekend Web Site
• ESPN.com NBA All-Star coverage
• Cisco Video - Collaboration and Innovation: Bringing Fans Closer to the Game
• Cisco Video - Houston Rockets Center Yao Ming Using Cisco TelePresence to Field Press Inquiries
• Cisco Videos - The Human Network Effect in Sports
• Cisco Photos - Phoenix Suns Forward Grant Hill Reaches Global Fans with Cisco TelePresence

Garrett Smith over at VoIP Supply has an interesting post titled 'Sick of not making money on VoIP hardware?' He's seeing the glass half empty. I see it half-full, which is why my article is titled 'Want to Make Some Sick Money in VoIP?'

Garrett writes:

Remember the good 'ole days? When you actually made fat margins on the VoIP hardware products you sold.

It was great. You made 25, 30, even 35 points of margin (and that's on top of any services you performed).

Unfortunately those days are long gone. Over the last few years vendors and distributors in the VoIP industry have commoditized hardware and driven margins to the brink of extinction.

Leaving many channel partners frustrated and scrambling to make ends meet. It's not pretty, but you know it's the truth.

Imagine how nice it would be if there was a VoIP hardware channel program out there that provided up to 50% margins, street price protection, marketing funds, rebates and a team of individuals dedicated to your success as a channel partner.

You'd jump at the opportunity to be a part of that right?

What if I told you that there IS a channel program that offers all of this and more. You're not imagining this. This channel program really does exist.

The program? It's from VoIP Supply. Together with QuickPhones we have put together a channel program for the hottest new wireless VoIP product on the market - the QuickPhones QA-342.

Wow, 50% margins on a Wi-Fi SIP phone? Sweet!

QuickPhones QA-342 features a 112 x 64 pixel monochrome display with backlight, 14 hours of talk time and 7 days standby.

Other features include:

• FCC & CE compliant, IEEE 802.11b/g, WEP/WPA/WPA2, WiFi Protected Setup, G.711
• Tested with Asterisk Open Source PBX, Trixbox, Elastix, FreeSwitch and other platforms
• Phonebook
• Call history
• WLAN signal strength level
• Battery level
• Caller ID
• Key Lock
• Contacts
• Clock
• Up to 6 languages
• Auto search & association upto 4 APs

So here's the rest of the offer as explained by VoIP Supply's Garrett Smith:

Today we are looking for 50 47 (three new partners joined today) who want to invest in a product line with a channel program built from the ground up by those who know what it is like to be in YOUR shoes. In exchange for your investment you'll receive:

• Discounts of up to 50% off list
• Street price protection to keep your margins fat
• Sales and technical support to ensure your success
• Market development funds to grow your business
• Volume rebates to reward your accomplishments
• SPIFFs for your organization to incentivize your efforts
  

Go check out his full post here for more info and if interested in signing up to their channel program.

According to In-stat, nearly 31 Million Business IP Phones will ship in 2012. That's if the Mayan 2012 Doomsday Prophecy doesn't come to pass. You know, the one where the Mayan calendar ends on December 21st, 2012 - the same date as the Winter Solstice and when the Earth will be in galactic alignment with the massive black hole at the center of our galaxy, as well as our sun, resulting in a planetary shift. The date 12-21-12 reads as, A-B-B-A-A-B. Since the Hebrew language is read from right to left, this date would read BA ABBA. The Hebrew translation for BA ABBA is "Father comes" or "Father is coming". If you believe in that sort of thing. Here's a History Channel clip about 2012 that might bring out the conspiracy/doomsday nut inside you.

And then there is a Sony Pictures movie titled 2012 coming out this summer, as seen by this trailer:


Anyway, In-stat explains, "Within the business market, corded IP phones remain the standard, and will continue to dominate the enterprise IP phone market through 2012," says Norm Bogen, In-Stat analyst. "However, WLAN and IP DECT phones continue to grow, especially within some specific vertical and geographical markets."

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Cisco, Avaya, and Nortel are leading the market for enterprise IP phones.
• Wi-Fi integration in cellular phones is growing rapidly; however, the majority of Wi-Fi/cellular phones are not designed for VoIP.
• Uniden holds top market share for consumer IP corded phones

The In-stat report points out that the IP phone market is "a tale of two markets" with IP phones thriving in business but as for the home consumer, not so much.  By 2012, 31 million voice-centric business IP phones will ship but the consumer side will be outpaced by businesses more than 10 to 1. Why the slow consumer adoption of IP phones?

According to In-stat, "the nascent consumer market for voice-centric IP phones is being subjugated by the introduction of IP media phones, such as the Verizon Hub and AT&T HomeManager that support both IP communications, as well as delivery of Internet information and multimedia content."

I think they're a little premature in that statement. The Verizon Hub is a cool device, but it literally just came out, so it is not affecting consumers from buying IP phones at home. I think the reason is that consumers are happy with their home cordless phones with built-in answering machines. Some even have the multi-handset cordless phone systems, which allow you to strategically place handsets around the house with the ability to screen callers and remotely check the answering machine without going to the base unit. There just isn't a good reason to purchase a $150-$300 corded/desktop IP phone for the home.

You could argue that a Wi-Fi phone might be a good option for the consumer. Wi-Fi phones are less expensive than desktop IP phones, they're mobile, and they can get you cheaper or even free calling (i.e. Skype-to-Skype calls). But Wi-Fi phones have notoriously bad battery life. A better option in my opinion is a DECT 6.0 phone device with VoIP capabilities, such as the Philips VOIP841 Skype phone. Although there are other WiFi and DECT phones worth a look. I should point out that Wi-Fi phones have the advantage over DECT of sometimes offering a built-in browser so you can access the web.

Let's look at how In-stat defines "media phone" and "why the media phone":

The media phone is a new category of broadband device that combines the power of the PC with the performance of a telephone. The result is an always-on multimedia broadband device that is perfect for accessing online news and weather, viewing videos, and a host of other applications. In-Stat believes that the media phone will complement the PC, TV, and mobile handset, becoming an indispensable 4th screen in the home. Service providers and IP PBX vendors, alike, are introducing media phones because they add value to traditional voice telephones and related services.

                                           Verizon Hub, a sample media phone

I certainly agree that consumers will start to adopt "media phones" in their homes, but only if the media phones are subsidized by the carrier. They'll be too expensive otherwise. It worked for the cell phone market, so it can work for the home as well. There have been plenty of times I wanted to check the weather or current movie times, but had to boot up my PC in order to look up information. Having a media phone in the living room with instant Internet access is a nice feature to have. I do agree with the In-stat report that businesses will continue to be the main driver behind IP phone sales, but I wouldn't be surprised to see traditional phone manufacturers such as Uniden developing cordless IP phones for the home market that offer Internet access.

You can download a free copy of In-Stat's media phone research report: The Media Phone Has Arrived!

Relatedly, the research, "IP Phones Worldwide-On the Desk and Beyond" covers the worldwide market for voice-centric IP phones. It includes:

• IP phone vendor market shares for 2007 and 1H2008, segmented by phone type and consumer versus business
• A 5-year forecast by IP phone type (Corded, WLAN, Cordless DECT, Dual-mode Cellular/WLAN, Consumer, Business)
• Analysis of trends in business and consumer markets
• Profiles of more than two dozen vendors