Welcome to my VoIP & Gadget Blog. My name is Tom Keating and I've been in telecom/datacom since 1994 when I joined Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC), a publisher of VoIP news, call center & CRM news, as well as other telecom information. My interests in computers started at the age of 12 in 1982. My first computer was a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer (CoCo) and I subscribed to Rainbow Magazine which covered the CoCo. Growing up a computer geek, I pursued computer science in college and graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut.
In 1995 my boss, Rich Tehrani offered me a new challenge - create a labs that tests CTI Computer Telephony Integration), the precursor to VoIP, as well as call center products, and other telecom products for TMC's magazines. So in 1995 I created CTI Labs, which later became TMC Labs - one of the leading sources for unbiased opinions and reviews in the VoIP, call center, datacom/telecom industries. They say it's unusual for a programmer/engineer to have decent writing skills, but fortunately I have been blessed with an engineering mind along with a knack for writing.
I've written articles for CTI Magazine, Communications Solutions Magazine, Telemarketing Magazine, Planet PDA Magazine, Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine, and more.I wrote the world's first VoIP review for a print publication - a review of the VocalTec Internet Phone VoIP software, which you can read more about in my VoIP History blog.
In 1996, I helped launch Internet Telephony Magazine - the FIRST magazine covering VoIP, IP telephony, etc. and still considered the premiere news source for the VoIP industry. Back then, the carriers laughed at us when we asked their opinion of whether we should launch this VoIP magazine. I'm never one to say "I told you so", but look who's laughing now!
In addition to my CTO & VP titles, I'm also an Executive Technology Editor (journalist) writing articles for both Internet Telephony Magazine as well as Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine - and of course I wrote for this blog. One of my "claim to fames" was breaking the major Skype outage story before the mainstream media or other bloggers. In a follow-up post my prediction about the cause of the issue, namely Windows Update, was proved to be correct. I've broken other stories and I've done extensive reviews of many VoIP products.
I hope you enjoy my blog and be sure to check out my Photo Gallery.
If you need to reach me, you can use the Contact form in the menu above.
In 1995 my boss, Rich Tehrani offered me a new challenge - create a labs that tests CTI Computer Telephony Integration), the precursor to VoIP, as well as call center products, and other telecom products for TMC's magazines. So in 1995 I created CTI Labs, which later became TMC Labs - one of the leading sources for unbiased opinions and reviews in the VoIP, call center, datacom/telecom industries. They say it's unusual for a programmer/engineer to have decent writing skills, but fortunately I have been blessed with an engineering mind along with a knack for writing.
I've written articles for CTI Magazine, Communications Solutions Magazine, Telemarketing Magazine, Planet PDA Magazine, Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine, and more.I wrote the world's first VoIP review for a print publication - a review of the VocalTec Internet Phone VoIP software, which you can read more about in my VoIP History blog.
In 1996, I helped launch Internet Telephony Magazine - the FIRST magazine covering VoIP, IP telephony, etc. and still considered the premiere news source for the VoIP industry. Back then, the carriers laughed at us when we asked their opinion of whether we should launch this VoIP magazine. I'm never one to say "I told you so", but look who's laughing now!
In addition to my CTO & VP titles, I'm also an Executive Technology Editor (journalist) writing articles for both Internet Telephony Magazine as well as Customer Interaction Solutions Magazine - and of course I wrote for this blog. One of my "claim to fames" was breaking the major Skype outage story before the mainstream media or other bloggers. In a follow-up post my prediction about the cause of the issue, namely Windows Update, was proved to be correct. I've broken other stories and I've done extensive reviews of many VoIP products.
I hope you enjoy my blog and be sure to check out my Photo Gallery.
If you need to reach me, you can use the Contact form in the menu above.
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Cisco ATA-186 firmware and other VoIP stuff
Dear sir ,
I was very impressed with your explicit explanation you gave on internet telephony. I would like you to help me in this project that I am about to carry out.I would like to set up a couple of cyber cafes in Africa. I am in discussion with some ISP to provide
wireless broadband internet connection. They want me
to go through them to buy calling cards to make
international calls. Is there any way we can bypass,given I can download a firmware to have a directinternet connection.
I would appreciate you helping out please.
If you need further information, I will be more than
willing to provide that,
Thanks in advance.
I have a few comments to make about the live TV setup. First of all if you are multicasting you will have problems over the internet. Most ISPs do not facilitate multicast routing on their networks.
I HAVE on many occassions send unicast signals using vlc without problems. You may wish to contact your ISP to see if their are options to improve your uplink connection
Haresh Thevathasan
I really like your article about VoIP, found it very informative. I am doing a research paper on VoIP, and would like to quote you on Vocaltec being the "first pioneer of VoIP". I could not for some reason find your name in your bio? Again, the article was very informative, appreciate your help.
Jason Luetzow
I would like to put a banner on this site and spoke to you briefly before you went to a meeting about it. the site is http://www.i-voip.co.uk
can you let me know if this is possible?
thanks a mill.
Just a note - your "about me" page doesn't referance your name except for in the URL. This was a little frustrating as I gathered referances for a school paper on VoIP...
Are you aware of a Fredrick Rice in the VOIP technology in the beginning of that technology?
Mr. Keating,
I am in the process of gathering information and establishing contacts for a VOIP startup that I have thinking about for some time.
I would be able to give you some more information if you could contact me directly on my email address and send me your contact information.
Regards,
Nirav Mehta
Very nice site, I'm an Asterisk & Voip fan and I find it very useful.
Thanks
Tom,
You have posted some very useful information and fixes for the headset industry, especially wireless headsets. We actually learned a lot from your blogs.. thanks!
Tom,
What a great man you are, what a talent. really impressing. your blog looking good and i have gathered lots of information by spending just few minutes.
Now this blog is in my bookmark list. may i recommend your blog to my friends and some my students ?
Wish you all the best.
Thanks for such a wonderful blog,
Kannan.