Recently in Unified Communications Category

A new website ocsforum.com aims to offer a hosted OCS 2007 R2 lab environment for online training and learning. According to Tom Cross, CEO of TECHtionary.com, "OCS-Office Communications Server R2-Release 2 Labs are intended to provide specific "personal training" on specific OCS topics and allow users to test concepts, ideas and strategies in a non-production environment."

Tom told me he plans on adding SIP gateways to the hosted environment to enable PSTN termination for a more realistic testing lab environment.

Tom Cross runs the popular OCS 2007 training classes at ITEXPO. He told me the Miami ITEXPO classes are larger than the previous show in Los Angeles, demonstrating increased interest in OCS 2007 training.

If you're interesting in playing with OCS 2007 R2, but don't want to spend the time installing and and configuring the various server components, heads on over to ocsforum.com. It's a bit early in the site development, so drop Tom a line if you want to play with OCS 2007 R2.

Plantronics today unveiled a phone handset optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. The new wideband .Audio 1100M USB phone handset features a standard, 10-key dial pad combined with call-answer and call-end keys, a visual ring indicator, a speakerphone activation key and ringer volume control. A headset jack is also available on the handset for users who want a hands-free option.

The Plantronics MCD 100 USB speakerphone, also announced today, is an option for those conducting group conference calls via Office Communicator 2007. It provides 360-degree room coverage so more than one person can participate in a PC-based audio conference. To achieve call clarity, the MCD 100 includes acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression and equalizer algorithms embedded within the product.

The timing of the new product launches is perfect since Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 launches today at 9:30am PST.

Pricing and Availability
The .Audio 1100M, a USB phone handset, has an MSRP of $79.00. The MCD 100, a USB speakerphone, has an MSRP of $179.00.

D2 Technologies is demonstrating a complete reference design for WiMAX mobile phones at ITEXPO. D2's mCUE communications user interface claims to be the industry's first turnkey software solution for quickly delivering mobile WiMAX devices to market

D2 Technologies, a market leader in embedded IP communications software platforms, today announced that private demonstrations of the industry's first complete reference design for the creation of WiMAX mobile phones are available at ITEXPO East 2009 in Miami, Florida from February 2-4, 2009.

Built around the company's breakthrough mCUE converged communications client, the reference design provides manufacturers with a powerful turnkey software solution for quickly developing and delivering WiMAX handsets and similar portable devices to market. The reference software implementation is running on a dual-mode mobile platform running Linux on a Texas Instruments OMAP-based processor; this version is available immediately, with additional implementations on the Google Android and Microsoft® Windows® CE/Mobile platforms coming in the second quarter of 2009.

ITEXPO attendees as well as those attending the 4G Wireless Evolution Conference collocated with ITEXPO East, can arrange for a first look at the WiMAX mobile phone reference design utilizing D2's mCUE by contacting the company during the show.

"The industry is pouring tremendous resources into the creation and delivery of a WiMAX infrastructure, and manufacturers will need a fast and cost-effective way to develop mobile devices that take advantage of the greater bandwidth, range and other benefits of this technology," said Doug Makishima, vice president of marketing and sales at D2 Technologies. "Our mCUE platform offers these companies a quick, easy and affordable path to the delivery of converged, unified WiMAX communications devices."

The reference design provides all of the components necessary for manufactures to quickly field WiMAX-compatible mobile devices, from the underlying voice engine and communication protocols to the complete user interface. The embedded softDSP VoIP engine includes all of the required CODECs, error correction, PLCs, jitter buffer, DTMF, RTP/SRTP session keys, and other related technology. The complete communication support includes the IMS-SIP protocol and other IMS-, VCC- and 3rd party-related services and protocols required for voice service, IM chat and presence over WiMAX, as well as multi-radio, multi-network seamless voice call handover. The user interface elements, which are customizable for specific OEM and service provider requirements, include a contacts address book with presence and IM chat capabilities for a true unified communications experience.

The reference design showcases D2's mCUE solution, which pairs an innovative, patent-pending communications user interface with the company's vPort MP VoIP software platform to address the needs of OEMs and service providers delivering integrated UC and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) functionality. mCUE provides a complete embedded software framework for multi-mode mobile devices for enterprise, carrier and consumer use, such as dual-mode Wi-Fi - and now WiMAX - enabled smartphones.

Mobile devices with mCUE provide users with advanced presence-based and push-to-x control of cellular and VoIP calls, PBX feature activation, IM, email, SMS and other features typically only available on PC-based unified communications soft clients. Its revolutionary user interface, built on top of a multi-identity, multi-session, multi-protocol engine, enables flexible interoperability with multiple communications services such as enterprise IP PBXs and UC systems, and commercial VoIM services like Google Talk, Yahoo!, MSN, AIM, and others. It is highly adaptable to any network deployment scenario for Enterprise UC/FMC services or consumer-oriented converged communications services offered by IMS, pre-IMS or legacy service provider networks.

According to The Times of London, rumors are that eBay wants to sell Skype after paying $2.6 billion to acquire Skype back in 2005. I wrote back then a few times that I thought eBay overpaid for Skype.

Let's assume the rumors are true. Who would be a potential buyer? Microsoft? While Microsoft would be an interesting buyer, they just laid off 5,000 employees. Laying off 5,000 people only to turn around an shell out hundreds of millions of dollars for Skype just doesn't make sense.

Who else in the tech sector might be plausible then? Of course the obvious answer is Google, but even they had a terrible 4th quarter and are rumored to have cuts/layoffs in the works. Besides, what would Google do with Skype? Google already offers Google Talk, even though it doesn't nearly have the penetration that Skype does. Google also loves standards and hates proprietary software/hardware with a religous zealotry. So buying Skype, with it very proprietary software architecture would be an anathema to Google.

Still, Skype could finally give Google a huge userbase in IP communications. I guesstimate at most Skype is worth maybe $250 million, but I'd have to run the numbers again. I honestly haven't looked at Skype's profit and gross numbers in awhile. But with voice minutes rapidly approaching "free", the real value for whoever buys Skype might be "paid" enhanced services and applications. But then Skype has to be careful not to tick off 3rd party developers by competing against them.

Perhaps the best buyer for Skype just might be Apple. I've written about a possible Apple/Skype partnership before, but it bears repeating:

Perhaps in partnership with Skype, Apple could allow VoIP over a 3G/4G data connection but Apple gets a cut of all revenue generated. Apple tends to change industry paradigms and break new ground. Certainly, Apple enabling a wide-scale VoIP over 3G/4G data connection would be a huge paradigm shift. Doubt AT&T would be happy though - nor other wireless carriers for that matter.

Essentially, Apple and Skype would form their own large-scale worldwide carrier network (using VoIP with termination) without all the fuss of maintaining an expensive carrier infrastructure nor customers dealing with yearly contracts, early termination fees, etc. Apple and Skype would be very competitively priced versus the traditional wireless carriers. Although Skype has been hugely successful, it still primarily is software app that runs on computers. Sure there are plenty of Skype hardware devices, but nothing of the scale that Apple could bring to bear. Apple and Skype working together is the perfect partnership in my opinion and it would send shockwaves throughout the entire wireless industry.

If eBay is indeed shopping Skype around, I think that's great news for Skype. I never thought much of the eBay/Skype deal and I think Skype lost their mojo soon after the deal. I heard the corporate cultures were just too different. It'll be interesting to see is Skype can "mesh" with another tech company's corporate culture.

With ITEXPO just one week away, Rich has a good roundup of some of the happenings going on at Internet Telephony Conference & Expo taking place in Miami, Florida. Aastra, Adtran, Dialogic, Digium, and Microsoft are just some of the companies exhibiting at the show. And don't forget Digium Asterisk World is co-located with ITEXPO!

Several prominent VoIP bloggers will be there, including Andy Abramson, Dan York, Jon Arnold, Ken Camp, Greg Galitzine, Rich Tehrani, and of course, yours truly. I'm sure there are others as well, but I'd have to check the press registration list and I'm pretty busy today.

Hope to see you in Miami!

Verizon VoiceWing customers received letters in the last couple of days saying, "We regret to inform you that effective March 31, 2009, Verizon will no longer offer VoiceWing. At that time, all VoiceWing service will be terminated". Rumors of VoiceWing's demise have been circulating, especially with Verizon FiOS (Voice, Video/TV, data) a much more profitable long-term business than single-play VoIP. I should add that Verizon stopped marking VoiceWing last year.

Verizon VoiceWing uses a locked Linksys PAP2 ATA, but the letter says they don't want the ATA back, once again fullfilling prediction #2 in my 2005 VoIP predictions.

I wrote:

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

It would be nice if Verizon included the PIN for the ATAs to allow customers to switch to another VoIP provider. Of course many VoIP service providers offer free ATAs with a one-year contract. Still, do we really need millions of working ATAs sent to the landfills? No very green if you ask me. I should point out that VoiceWing is actually a cooperation service with Deltathree.

Perhaps not so coincidentally to Verizon killing off VoiceWing, is this lawsuit filed on December 5, 2008 by Centre One against VoiceWing for patent infringement. Oh the sweet irony if Verizon, the ones who sued Vonage practically to death, would themselves have given up on the VoIP industry over a patent lawsuit! Still, I'm doubtful the patent litigation was the cause. I think Verizon sees bigger fish to fry in their FiOS fiber-to-the-home offering and single-play VoIP just isn't that profitable to them.

As I wrote a few days ago, Verizon plans to launch the Verizon Hub. I just learned the Verizon Hub will launch February 1st. As I also was the first to point out, my source told me that the Verizon Hub is essentially the same thing as the Verizon One (created by OpenPeak), which I wrote about in March 2007. In my post from a few days ago, I wrote, "One of my sources told me that the Verizon Hub is the same thing as the Verizon One, but apparently Verizon changed the name to the Verizon Hub deskphone."



The Verizon Hub is the evolution of the Verizon One. As part of that evolution, I hope they no longer restrict you to surfing specific websites. Or if they do have to limit it, I hope the list of allowed websites includes YouTube, Digg, Yahoo! + Mail, Gmail, Google, MSN, and Hotmail. The device sports a touch-screen interface for surfing, checking the weather & traffic, and more. It also allows users to make PSTN phone calls via its POTS connection (no VoIP ), access email, search the web, view a calendar, stream music from the web, and view photo images from a digital camera - essentially making it double as a digital photo frame when not in use.

Update: It is VoIP. I found some documentation that mentions attaching a 911 sticker to the phone (E-911 compliance laws) as well as how to hook up the device. It only mentions Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity - no mention of connecting a RJ11 wire to a wall jack. So obviously it is VoIP. My source says is it is VoIP using SIP on the backend.



It sports a WiFi and an Ethernet connection, so I'm not sure why they didn't include VoIP support. At least make it work with Verizon VoiceWing, which is Verizon's VoIP broadband service. Though I have heard from another source that it will support VoIP. I'll get to the bottom of this and let you know. As mentioned in the above update, it does do VoIP. My source says they are leveraging SIP and he believes it is using VoiceWing, but needs to confirm.

It also has visual voice mail, an address book, and even audio directions which the Hub can send to Verizon Wireless phones.

I was hoping it might include a femtocell to improve signal bars in locations with a weak Verizon signal, but alas my sources tell me it won't include femtocell. It will however run on any broadband connection and features tight integration with Verizon Wireless services. It also can integrate with Verizon FiOS and let you control your FiOS TV service from this device.



Update: 2:50pm Just to reiterate - it is VoIP. I found some documentation that mentions attaching a 911 sticker (E911 compliance laws)  to the phone as well as how to hook up the device. It only mentions Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity - no mention of connecting a RJ11 wire to a wall jack. So obviously it is VoIP. My source says is it is VoIP using SIP on the backend.

Price: $199.99 after $50 mail-in rebate. $34.99/month fee with unlimited calls anywhere in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Update: 1:58pm: Found some more info from a source
It appears that the Verizon Hub will have the ability to upload photos to http://verizonwireless/hub (currently unavailable). You will be able to port your existing number by calling 800-922-0204. The home screen widgets will give you quick access to Missed Calls, Voice Mail, Messages--Text, Picture and Video, Call Forwarding, and Time & Weather. You will also be able to view movie listings, showtimes, and even video trailers. Yup, the Verizon Hub supports video. You'll even be able to purchase movie tickets from the phone. It also supports Verizon V Cast, which enables you to watch popular video clips of news, sports, and more. It also sports a Chaperone feature that lets you track where your kids are via their cell phones.

Update 11:47am They just put this on the news wires. No mention of VoIP.

Verizon Wireless Reimagines the Home Phone

In a dynamic move sure to rattle devotees of plain old home phones, Verizon Wireless will introduce the new Verizon Hub on Feb. 1. Only Verizon Wireless can launch a new touch screen home phone system designed to replace old-style home phones with a souped-up home communications system, bridging wireline and wireless connectivity in one simple service, that runs on any broadband connection whether supplied by Verizon FiOS Internet or DSL or any other high-speed service provider.

Innovative Verizon Hub Helps Manage Busy Lives and Helps Users Stay Connected to Family and Community

In a dynamic move sure to rattle devotees of plain old home phones, Verizon Wireless will introduce the new Verizon Hub on Feb. 1. Only Verizon Wireless can launch a new touch screen home phone system designed to replace old-style home phones with a souped-up home communications system, bridging wireline and wireless connectivity in one simple service, that runs on any broadband connection -- whether supplied by Verizon FiOS Internet or DSL or any other high-speed service provider.

Families with active lifestyles and virtually anyone who wants to stay current and connected need a tool that helps manage their communications, contacts and calendars simply and smartly -- all from one easy screen. The Verizon Hub is poised to help pave the way for people to stay in touch and up to date with the information they need to navigate their increasingly busy days and nights.

"The Verizon Hub reinvents the home phone system that's been centered on your kitchen counter for years. We're bringing huge new functionality to a common household device that will unlock its true potential. And in the process, Verizon Wireless is updating the tools busy families can use to manage their lives," said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer at Verizon Wireless. "The Verizon Hub is going to change the way you think about what you want and need your home phone to do. Whether you're thinking about getting rid of your home phone or can't live without it, now is the time to try out the Verizon Hub."

The Verizon Hub uses your existing broadband connection, and it's quick to get it up and running. It will work with any open broadband connection from virtually any broadband provider -- telecommunications or cable -- anywhere in the United States.

Out of the box, the Verizon Hub will have all the calling features users expect from the most advanced home phones, plus visual voicemail and robust contact list management. Verizon Wireless has also added exciting messaging options, including text message calendar alerts and audible turn-by-turn directions delivered to Verizon Wireless phones from the Verizon Hub -- with just a few simple taps on the screen.

Information will be at a family's fingertips, literally from an easy-to-navigate touch screen with clear icons on the Verizon Hub. Families will start and end their days with nuggets of customized information from the Verizon Hub:

• Check local traffic and weather in the morning before leaving the house
• Update your calendar and automatically receive a text when an appointment changes or as a reminder not to be late
• Get directions to the new site when the location for soccer practice is moved
• Find the number of the new pizza parlor to order a pie
• Preview the trailers from an upcoming movie that you might want to take the family to over the weekend, then purchase tickets using the Verizon Hub

Families on the go can access all the information and functionality of the Verizon Hub remotely from a companion Web site, even adding calendar entries for family members and inputting new contacts from the Web site. The home-based Verizon Hub is instantly updated.

Verizon Wireless customers who bring the Verizon Hub into their homes can connect to popular applications including VZ Navigator(SM) and Chaperone(R), as well as incorporate their wireless devices through text, picture and video messaging between wireless phones and the Verizon Hub. New and exciting V CAST content will also be available on the Verizon Hub, and when not in use, the Verizon Hub doubles as a digital picture frame displaying all of your favorite photos.

More details on the Verizon Hub, including pricing and service plans, will be available in the coming days. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, please visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Back in March 2007 I wrote about Verizon VoiceWing VoIP FiOS service with a brand new phone called Verizon One, sporting a touch-screen, stylus, Internet access, VoIP, and more. It's pictured here:



Well, according to Boy Genius Report, it appears that a new product called the Verizon Hub deskphone is launching and is even in Verizon stores with a "do not open until further instructions order". I looked at the Verizon Hub pictures and it looked identical to the Verizon One. One of my sources told me that the Verizon Hub is the same thing as the Verizon One, but apparently Verizon changed the name to the Verizon Hub deskphone. It's possible it has additional features. Building in a femtocell into the device would be nice, to help extend and improve the range of your cell phone in poor coverage areas. My source wouldn't confirm nor deny that it has femtocell capabilities.

As I previously wrote about the Verizon One/Hub, unfortunately, the Web browsing experience is tad limited, since you can only get specific Web content that Verizon has enabled. Some of the approved web content includes categories such as news, weather, and movie listings. But if you try and browse a site not listed, you're out of luck. I even joked, "perhaps Verizon doesn't want people going to Yahoo! Yellow Pages and bypassing Verizon's 411 directory assistance at $1.75 a pop! (not sure exact figure). But I'm sure there plan is to find partners and advertisers for the Verizon One device. Still a neat little gadget even if they do "lock" down the browsing experience."

The Verizon Hub (formerly Verizon One) will handle regular phone calls, but it was designed for VoIP.  The cordless phone, which doesn't look nearly as "cool" as the rest of the device, will work with Verizon's upcoming VoiceWing VoIP service for FiOS. It also sports a touch screen with stylus and it will require a two-year contract at $29.99/month as seen by this Verizon Hub search.

There is a potential problem where Office Communicator Phone Edition powered devices can't update to new firmware versions hosted on a OCS 2007 R2 Enterprise Edition pool running on Windows 2008. You'll see HTTP Error 500 19 errors in the Internet Information Services (IIS) logfiles when attempting to upgrade Office Communicator Phone Edition firmware URLs on Windows 2008

Jens Trier Rasmussen has the workaround.

Don Witt, President of cyLogistics, theorizes that the stock market meltdown and slowing economy will actually spur faster VoIP growth in an article he penned for TMCnet.

He writes, "More and more executives will be under the gun to cut costs. There are a number of ways to cut costs but one way to cut costs tends to jump out at you -- the PHONE BILL. This will force many companies to take the digital/VoIP plunge. As a result, VoIP sales will increase significantly over the next year or two."

He adds, "The stock market crash has effectively pulled in the VoIP growth curve by 6-12 months or more! As identified in the Post-Melt Down chart, VoIP sales may increase by 200-300% over previous forecasts. Thus, next year's VoIP growth can be expected to jump from 4% to 8% or 12% or more next year."

Of course theories, and pretty chart graphs can be made to make anything look good. Is the VoIP industry truly headed towards faster growth in this economic climate? I tend to agree with Don. There are indications that not only enterprises, but also municipalities and schools are deploying VoIP to save on costs.

In fact, I recently came across one town right here in Connecticut (Enfield), which recently deployed VoIP, resulting in dramatic savings -- and not just in phone charges, but also in ongoing maintenance costs. According to the article, "Previously the schools and the town each had its own independent tech support team. Today a staff of three network support employees manages a network consisting of more than 29 remote locations and over 4,000 networked devices." Obviously, VoIP isn't just about saving on long-distance charges. A consolidated voice & data network in Enfield, CT has resulted in reduced support costs and lower TCO as well.

While one example doesn't make it the rule, I do think companies, municipalities, etc. are looking to cut costs and VoIP is one sure-fire way to do just that.