Carolyn Schuk : VoIP Princess Blog
Carolyn Schuk
| News and views on the world of IP communications from the VoIP Princess, Carolyn Schuk.

May 2010

You are browsing the archive for May 2010.

Another brick in Google's VoIP wall

May 18, 2010

This morning Global IP Solutions announced that it has entered into a $68 million buyout agreement with Google. Add that to Google's February, 2010 announcement that it was undertaking an "experiment" to build 1-Gbps FTTH networks, and it's clear that Google has plans to become a serious telecom infrastructure player.

In the last two years, Google has made several forays in the voice market. After buying VoIP startup GrandCentral in 2008, Google went on to buy the peer-to-peer softphone Gizmo5.

Another brick in Google's VoIP wall

May 18, 2010

This morning Global IP Solutions announced that it has entered into a $68 million buyout agreement with Google. Add that to Google's February, 2010 announcement that it was undertaking an "experiment" to build 1-Gbps FTTH networks, and it's clear that Google has plans to become a serious telecom infrastructure player.

In the last two years, Google has made several forays in the voice market. After buying VoIP startup GrandCentral in 2008, Google went on to buy the peer-to-peer softphone Gizmo5.

FCC's Modest Broadband Oversight Proposal Not Cause for Hysteria

May 17, 2010

I checked in this morning to see how the FCC's latest Net neutrality proposal last week was faring with the unhinged fringe.

Fox News, with its customary fair and balanced perspective, offers "FCC Goes For Nuclear Option - Seeks To Control Interent," and "Genachowski's 'Third Way' Is a Washington Internet Takeover."

Over at Whited Sepulchre we have: "The announcement last week by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski that the agency planned to assert authority over the Internet raises all kinds of red flags...Every street in America should look like one of Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution Rallies."

FCC's Modest Broadband Oversight Proposal Not Cause for Hysteria

May 17, 2010

I checked in this morning to see how the FCC's latest Net neutrality proposal last week was faring with the unhinged fringe.

Fox News, with its customary fair and balanced perspective, offers "FCC Goes For Nuclear Option - Seeks To Control Interent," and "Genachowski's 'Third Way' Is a Washington Internet Takeover."

Over at Whited Sepulchre we have: "The announcement last week by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski that the agency planned to assert authority over the Internet raises all kinds of red flags...Every street in America should look like one of Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution Rallies."

Skype slights Mac community, Dan York bristles

May 13, 2010

Mac users just don't get no respect, as Disruptive Telephony's Dan York points out today in his kvetch about Skype's video group calling: Mac users need not apply for this Windows-only beta.

Oh sure, we'll get a separate-but-equal version "later in the year," Skype says. They just neglected to mention which year.

Much of Skype's success can be attributed to individuals who use it, like it and go on to insinuate the service into their work lives.  It's certainly not Skype's talent for PR.

May 13, 2010

Mac users just don't get no respect, as Disruptive Telephony's Dan York points out today in his kvetch about Skype's video group calling: Mac users need not apply for this Windows-only beta.

Oh sure, we'll get a separate-but-equal version "later in the year," Skype says. They just neglected to mention which year.

Much of Skype's success can be attributed to individuals who use it, like it and go on to insinuate the service into their work lives.  (It's certainly not Skype's talent for PR; I was once dis-invited to a Skype event when someone realized I was a journalist, not a system integrator.)

Microsoft Kin: Another Misadventure in the World of Can't

May 5, 2010

I just read a review of the Microsoft's - what was it called? Now I remember - Kin at PC World

It seems that the Kin is the dumbest smartphone in a competitive lineup of contemporary devices that almost-but-not-quite do things. 

"You can't watch Web video, you can't send photos or video on Twitter," writes PC World's Jared Newman.