Recently in VoIP Category

I just received this interesting news item from the George S. May International Company:

CARE to Use Fidelio VoIP Services for Communications With Worldwide Teams

May, a management consulting firm headquartered in Park Ridge, Ill., is making an initial in-kind donation of $30,000 in new VoIP equipment and services to humanitarian organization CARE. This project will result in deployment of Fidelio VoIP technology for voice communications and information sharing among CARE offices internationally.

In today's release, Israel Kushnir, president of G.S. May International, explains how CARE will use VoIP:

"The unique Fidelio approach to VoIP allows CARE to create its own Private Network. This network provides audio communications, plus access to any digital document or program on the computer that is being used for the call. The Private Network allows CARE to conduct conference calls, web seminar training and offers videophone capabilities. Fidelio also can be used to call any traditional land-line telephone or cell phone through the use of a low-cost online calling card."

Today's statement describes CARE as:

"... one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations fighting global poverty. In 70 developing countries, CARE helps poor communities create lasting solutions to their most threatening problems. CARE’s integrated projects include emergency relief, community rehabilitation and longer-term projects in areas such as education, health and small-business development."

AB -- 5/3/05

Veraz Networks announced today that it has released an addition to its Any IP Enhanced Applications Solutions family to provide a turnkey prepaid services solution for service providers. Veraz's release from today is available on TMCnet at:

Veraz Networks Offers Prepaid Services Application Solution Maximizing Service Provider’s Enhanced Services Reach

Veraz says the platform's capabilities include "online credit card validation for recharge, multiple languages, multiple currencies, fraud control and an extensive set of real time rating features."

Veraz's release quotes Kevin Mitchell, Directing Analyst at Infonetics Research on the value of prepaid VoIP solutions for service providers:

"VoIP is attractive to new and established service providers as they are actively seeking to keep their costs low while effectively competing in the market with new, differentiable services. Prepaid solutions based on VoIP can allow carriers to address new market segments and be accomplished more quickly and economically than traditional ways. Aiming to help carriers with rolling out new services, Veraz turnkey Prepaid solutions complements their core softswitch and gateway offering."

AB -- 4/26/05

ViseonMedia announced today that The Weather Channel Interactive will provide video and data for VisiFone Multimedia users as part of a consumer pilot in late 2005.

ViseonMedia's news release is quoted below:

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VisiFone VoIP Media Channel to Provide WeatherChannel, News, Information, and Entertainment Content

San Francisco, CA - April 25, 2005 - ViseonMedia, a subsidiary of Viseon, Inc. (OTCBB: VSNI) and exclusive provider of TV-quality content to VisiFone Multimedia digital home telephone users worldwide, today announced that The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc, which produces the top-10 web property, weather.com, has agreed to provide its award-winning local, and national weather information for use as part of a U.S. VisiFone consumer pilot slated for late 2005. The new VisiFone Multimedia digital telephone for VoIP is capable of displaying fully interactive video and digital audio without the complexities of a personal computer, in addition to being a digital telephone/videophone. The Weather Channel Interactive will deliver selected video and data content to ViseonMedia, who will in turn format and distribute the content to VisiFone homes throughout the United States. The Weather Channel Interactive joins Discovery Networks and Fox News Channel in the pilot. Additional content providers are slated to come on board in the next few weeks.

"We are pleased to participate with Viseon in its innovative pilot program by providing weather content in the new VisiFone service targeted to VoIP customers. From our pioneering cable network to our successful Web site and broadband products, we have always stayed on the forefront of the evolving media industries. We welcome the VisiFone initiative as a promising new way to offer our weather information to consumers and to continue to be the anytime-anywhere weather information source as new media platforms emerge," said Jody Fennell, vice president of business development at weather.com.

"We are tremendously pleased to include The Weather Channel in our VisiFone lineup," said ViseonMedia President and CEO J.D. De Haseth. "The Weather Channel is the world's most trusted source of weather information, according to recent studies. And after more than 20 years on cable and 10 years on the Internet, The Weather Channel products available will be the primary weather destination for VisiFone users."

ViseonMedia will deliver weather, news, information, and entertainment programming to VisiFone users around the globe. Content providers will ultimately include cable channels, local and national broadcast networks, web portals and print media. Consumers can choose to view personally customized news, sports, weather, and entertainment as well as control the features of their VoIP services directly on the screen of their VisiFone. ViseonMedia interactive programming on the VisiFone is not designed to replace the television or the web portal experience. Instead, it is a dedicated third screen within the home where consumers can automatically view personalized information on their schedule.

According to International Data Corporation, 3 million users will have VoIP service in 2005, reaching 27 million users by 2009. For further information, please see the company websites at www.viseonmedia.com and www.viseon.com

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AB -- 4/25/05

Kingston Communications announced today that it has created Affiniti, a communications integration business, forged out of its own Business Services division and two companies it recently acquired, Omnetica and Technica. Kingston describes the new entity as "a powerful force of network and storage expertise, telecoms knowledge and business experience."

Affiniti will provide secure voice, data, video, wireless and storage solutions directed toward helping companies implement converged communications. Kingston says that the new business unit has partnerships with Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, Nokia and Check Point to help it deliver its services and that it owns a 2,200 km national broadband network for delivery of Wide Area services.

Peter Halls, director of Affiniti, says that Affiniti's goal is to help companies develop "truly connected enterprises" for greater workforce effectiveness and customer service.

AB -- 4/20/05

Campus TeleVideo, a provider of cable TV services to 125 educational institutions, will be reselling Vonage's broadband phone services under a new reseller arrangement. This press release gives details:

Vonage Announces Partnership With Campus TeleVideo

The deal includes services at UCLA, Penn State, University of Georgia and Rutgers. This excerpt gives an idea what services will be available:

"Subscribers will be offered Vonage's full array of calling plans, which include many of the standard telephony features like caller ID, call waiting and voicemail and a number of proprietary features at no additional cost. These features include web-based voicemail, area code selection, online account management and bandwidth saver as well as a host of others. Campus TeleVideo's customers selecting any of Vonage's calling plans will also benefit from significantly reduced international rates (i.e., London and Hong Kong are 3 cents per minute, Tel Aviv is 4 cents per minute)."

Also, this excerpt from the release's boilerplate provides useful details about Vonage's market presence:

"With more than 550,000 lines in service, Vonage continues to add more than 15,000 lines per week to its network. Over 25 million calls per week are made using Vonage, the easy-to-use, feature-rich, flat rate phone service. Vonage's award winning service is sold on the web and through national retailers like SAM's Club, RadioShack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, Fry's Electronics, Office Depot and CompUSA."

AB -- 4/14/05

This interesting article emerged this morning on The Moscow News:

Russian Govt Moves to Outlaw 2000 VoIP Operators

The article is vague about exactly what the Russian government has done to outlaw VoIP, but it seems to imply that entrenched telecom interests have been influencing the government to put restrictions in place that make it hard for innovators and entrepreneurs to operate in the VoIP space:

"The recent conclusion reached by analysts is that bigger operators like Rostelecom or MGTS (the Moscow City Telephone Network that also entered the VoIP market last December) are trying to get rid of the smaller operators by means of administrative resources, or connections.

"Representatives of VoIP-providing companies believe that the commercial abuse of administrative resources is obvious from a recent government resolution, dated March 28, 2005 that brought into effect an order from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications on electricity networks. The experts say that by setting unachievable liabilities and limitations the document actually prohibits the provision of VoIP services."

The article says that participants at the Russian Internet Forum in March sent an open letter to Russian President Putin, which said, in part:

"The main problem that the VoIP industry of Russia has to face is regulation. The state regulators of Western Europe and the USA see stimulating new technologies as a priority and support the development of VoIP as the main revolutionary technology on the market. At the same time, the instructions designed by the Ministry of Information of Russia and approved by a governmental resolution on 28.03.2005, actually prohibit the provision of VoIP services, forcing operators to turn the traffic towards national and international telecom companies.

"The business of more than 2,000 Russian VoIP operators with a total turnover of about $300 million PA has been proclaimed illegal and forced to shift to unauthorized — that is, tax-free — schemes of work. Legislation to turn market traffic towards national and international telecom companies is a serious violation of the principle of free competition and is, in fact, a monopolization of the telecom market in favor of one or two major companies. The instructions were designed by the Ministry neglecting the opinions of the market participants and without an independent analysis."

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AB -- 4/5/05

A joint announcement came out today from western Canadian telecommunications company TELUS, Cisco Systems ,and the Vancouver International Airport Authority about the completion of an IP communications system throughout the airport. The project involved deployment of the Cisco Intelligent Airport Solution and integrates voice, video, data and wireless communications.

The complete release is available at:

Vancouver International Airport Takes Flight with Cisco IP Communications

However, here is a substantial excerpt which gives a good idea of the impressive scope of this application of IP technology:

Utilizing technology from Cisco Systems and services from TELUS Business Solutions, the advanced network integrates voice, video, data and wireless communications into a single, airport-wide communications system. In addition to supporting 1,100 Cisco IP phones, 1,000 close-circuit cameras and more than 1,500 television screens, the Cisco Intelligent Airport Solution is powering a series of innovative services -- from common-use terminal equipment and self-service check-in kiosks, to wireless baggage reconciliation and wireless access for business travelers.

"In 2005, more than 16 million passengers will travel through Vancouver International Airport and every one of them will benefit in some way from the IP-based technology we are deploying," explains Kevin Molloy, chief information office and vice-president of Simplified Passenger Travel at the Vancouver International Airport Authority. "We're using innovative, network-based applications to make traveling as seamless and efficient as possible for airlines and their passengers."

IP-based innovation is already having a profound impact at the airport. Initial evidence reveals that self-service kiosks are driving capacity by 250 - 300 per cent. For example, 85 per cent of Air Canada's domestic passengers check-in using self-service kiosks. In addition, Vancouver International Airport consistently scores high in passenger satisfaction surveys. In 2004, it was rated the number seven airport in North America in the annual AETRA survey of international passengers.

According to Gilles St. Hilaire, vice-president of Western Canada at Cisco Systems Canada, Vancouver International Airport is a global leader in using IP-based services to transform its operations. "By migrating from 23 disparate networks to a single, integrated, multi-service communications environment, Vancouver International Airport has built the dynamic network foundation to drive innovation."

"In 2000 TELUS embarked on a strategy to 'unleash the power of the Internet' to deliver the best solutions to Canadians at work, at home and on the move," says Joe Natale, president of TELUS Business Solutions. "That strategy is very much behind our efforts to work collaboratively with partners like Vancouver International Airport and Cisco. Our ability to create next generation applications demonstrates just how far that vision has come and, far beyond cost efficiencies alone, the tremendous innovation IP technologies drive and enable."

Industry-Leading Innovation

"We have built a network that can handle future growth and incorporate innovative, new applications as they become available. By taking advantage of network-based services to drive efficiency and capacity to new levels, we will be able to avoid building costly new facilities for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games," explains Molloy. "For instance, self-service kiosks will be strategically deployed at hotels, train stations and other facilities throughout the greater Vancouver area. This will allow Olympic visitors to check in for their flights before they even leave for the airport."

Vancouver Airport's integrated network and ongoing IP strategy is enabling a number of industry-leading services, including:

-- Common-use Platforms: Instead of using proprietary equipment, Vancouver International Airport has developed a common-use platform for the check-in process, from traditional airline counters to self-service kiosks. The common-use model is significantly more flexible and efficient, driving increased passenger processing capability and improved use of space.

-- Self-Service Kiosks: Vancouver International Airport was the first airport in North America to introduce common-use kiosks and continues to lead the industry in their deployment. The airport introduced the kiosks in November 2002 as part of a registered International Air Transport Association (IATA) beta program leading to the ratification of the IATA Common-Use Self-Service standard in June 2003. The airport now has 60 kiosks located throughout the terminals. To further extend these capabilities, check-in kiosks are being installed at off-airport locations, including car rental facilities, downtown hotels, conference centres and even cruise ships en route to Vancouver via satellite connection.

-- Wireless Baggage Reconciliation: A highly secure, campus-wide Cisco wireless network is enabling a wireless baggage reconciliation service that allows airlines to scan and track baggage using the wireless network. Vancouver International Airport is one of the first North American airports to endorse wireless baggage reconciliation.

-- Nexus Air: Vancouver International Airport was chosen as the only airport in North America to pilot Nexus Air, a joint program of U.S. and Canadian border agencies which eases the process of flying to and from the United States for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Nexus Air uses biometric iris recognition technology that enables passengers to bypass border line-ups by using automated kiosks to answer questions similar to those an inspection officer would ask when coming into Canada or leaving Vancouver for a U.S. destination. Nexus complements the Canpass Air program, which uses the same technology and can be used for members returning to Canada from U.S. and international destinations.

Mission-Critical Communications

TELUS Communications, a Cisco Gold Certified Partner, took the lead in designing, testing, deploying, and supporting this advanced IP network. Working closely with the airport's technical team, TELUS and Cisco provided a smooth migration from the airport's traditional Centrex environment to an advanced and highly secure Cisco IP Communications implementation.

The Cisco Intelligent Airport Solution is a flexible, scalable and intelligent network solution specifically designed for the air transportation industry. The network is fully fault tolerant and supports all of the airport's mission-critical communications and applications on a 24-hour, seven-day per week basis. It provides reliable and highly-secure network connectivity for internal operations as well as those of various airport tenants, including airlines, baggage handling operations and retail stores.

For more features, news, videos, and photos relating to the Cisco 2005 Partner Summit visit http://newsroom.cisco.com/partnersummit/.

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AB -- 4/4/05

I just wanted to pass along from David Sims, one of our technology reporters, a response he received from one of our readers who appreciated David's article from March 23, 2005, titled "Texas AG to Lasso Vonage."

The article reported on the lawsuit filed against Vonage Holdings Corp. by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Abbott claims that Vonage misrepresents the type of 911 emergency service it offers.

This comment is from reader Thomas Junker from Houston, Texas:

TMCnet has a new article by our Network Management columnist Robert Messinger, who writes some of the most practical, readable content on our site. Just wanted to call attention to this contribution, as it might be particular helpful if you are considering a VoIP project for a small business:

IP Telephony for Small Business: When Failure Is Not an Option

AB -- 3/23/05

Looks as if Level 3 has decided to take the pressure off the FCC by withdrawing its petition asking forbearance from liability for PSTN access charges for VoIP services. See this release that appeared tonight:

James Crowe Comments on Withdrawal of Level 3 VoIP Forbearance Petition

AB -- 3/21/05