VoIP Now

VoIP Roundup - Thur Mar 08, 2007

Skype Founder Janus Friis: Mile-High Bad Boy
Valleywag reported a couple of days ago that Janus Friis, one of the founders of Kazaa, Skype and Joost, and a millionaire by all accounts, got drunk and frisky with his girlfriend while on a Virgin Airlines flight. Get this: his girlfriend is the daughter of Roger Moore. As in Bond, James Bond.

Clearwire IPO Snags $600M
Intel may have come up with WiMax but Clearwire is the company building the networks in the United States. Doing that cost them $240M last year, but their IPO today generated $600M.

RIM's Balsillie Steps Down
Sort of. Jim Balsillie of RIM, maker of the BlackBerry line of mobile communications devices, has stepped down as a Chair of the Waterloo, Canada, company. This is due in part to an error in earnings reporting that will cost RIM US$250M. [Source: Kitchener-Waterloo local TV] Maybe Balsillie can spend the extra time finding a hockey team.

VoIPing For Profit - Skype Prime?

Skype once more releases a feature, Skype Prime [via], that's in direction competition with their developer community. While it's a very exciting feature - which allows you to bill for a Skype-to-Skype call - Skype is once more suggesting that you shouldn't even bother developing anything because they'll just take the idea or partner with someone else.

Then again, Jyve, Bitwine and other similar Extras are completely safe because Skype is charging an absurd 30% of whatever you charge your callers. As one commenter at the Skype Share blog says, isn't 30% a bit excessive. Someone charging $100/h would end up paying Skype $30/h for a call that is otherwise free.

Someone from the eBay side of things must have a plan to make Skype a laughingstock. I can't see Friis and Zenstrom's original team behaving like this. Something like 5-10% is reasonable. There's also Ether, by the way, which you can use Skype with.

Who's Got Muni Wi-Fi?

Municipal Wi-Fi networks are popping all over the world, making connectedness easier for lots of people and pushing the possible ubiquity of dual mode cellular/ Wi-Fi phones (i.e., VoWiFi or VoIP over WiFi). Well, DailyWireless has a great list of the 10 most connected cities in the world, and goes in depth about each city. Note that the first 5 cities or so listed are all in Asia. Most of the rest are in Europe. What's up with North America, then?

Most interesting (to me, anyway): Shoreditch TV, which is a network of 100 public cameras in Shoreditch (east London, UK), broadcasting to the Internet. The idea is to dissuade criminals. Little Brother 2.0? Neighborhood Watch takes on a new meaning. Then again, the UK is considered to be one of the most endemic surveillance societies in the world.

Of course, there are loads of municipal Wi-Fi projects going on in the US and Canada, especially a few big ones in Silicon Valley (42 municipalities over 1500 sq mi).

Interactive Ads On Your Phone?

Where do they get this stuff? Ericsson, the telecom equipment manufacturer wants to push mobile TV while making it worthwhile for carriers. This means running interactive ads on mobile handsets.

Sorry but I don't now or ever want to see advertising on my cell phone, with the possible exception that my carrier not only pays my bandwidth costs but also increase my monthly bandwidth cap for my cellular data plan from 250 Mb to something more reasonable. Otherwise, buzz off already. On the other hand, this Ericsson proposal supposedly will not require extra bandwidth.

Now if that's true, there could be a bit of a mobile TV revolution. If you didn't have to pay to watch mobile TV on your puny handset screen, would you watch the advertising? Fact is, mobile Internet TV still needs some more features/ infrastructure, including larger screens - maybe roll-out style or HUDs (heads-up displays).

Cisco Entering Social Networking?

Cisco, as you probably know, has been a leader in computer networking for a long time. Nuno at 21talks writes about an NY Times article about Cisco buying Tribe.net, a social networking site. As the NYT piece says, it's a cuirious pairing. I can't see why they're getting into this market. But then, I can't understand why Microsoft might be coming out with a Zune phone. (Other than that Steve Ballmer hates Steve Jobs.)

But Nuno thinks it's a good idea, and points out that Cisco previously purchased a social network design firm. Didn't know there were such things. Seems kind of redundant, considering that sites like Ning let you design your own social network for free, and within a few minutes. Who knows. All I've learned is that when a large company buys a web services blog, they have some reason for doing so, even if it's obscure.

Let Your Fingers Do The Clicking

Springwise talks about [via Etel] a digital product offered by Austrian company Herold: 4 million Austrian residential and business phone numbers, loadable onto your cell phone. Do you really need or even want such a product? That's a lot of memory, which could be used for other purposes.

Being old enough to have used computers when they had 128 Mb RAM, and having seen them increase, only to witness software companies producing bloatware, I'm really hoping that this doesn't happen to cell phones. With more sophisticated handsets like the Apple iPhone coming out soon, this is a very real danger. Request to mobile application developers: KISS = Keep it simple, stupid. Don't give us mobile bloatware.

Top Residential VoIP Providers?

Garrett Smith has a list of his choices for the top 10 residential VoIP providers. His criteria for inclusion is service plans, hardware selection, call quality/ reliability, customer service/ support, and overall customer experience and satisfaction.

On that basis, VoIP.com took the number one spot, Vonage third, and Skype fifth. I like his buying advice at the end of the article, which includes "don't pay more than $24.99 per month."

Now, I've heard of all 10 providers and have to admit that it's actually nice that Vonage is in third place, given how their stock has been hurting the past year since their IPO.

What's With Skype - Reprise

Skype is becoming more of a mystery in the way they do things. I'm still waiting for an answer about why I was sent a mysterious email about my "transaction not being completed". This was nearly two weeks after I purchased their North American SkypeOut promo package for US$14.95 (now $29.95). That's fine. I don't care about the money; it's the principle. But that is piddly in comparison to other things they're doing.

Skype has of late being doing strange things re their Extra partners and Skype community developers. First, they approved Bitwine for Skype partner status, despite it's being in beta, and despite Jyve predating Bitwine and not being in beta. Now they introduce SkypeFind, a business directory where Skypers can rate entries. However, an early Skype developer, KonuSH, had already set up a Skype business directory in 2004.

There are other examples of similar situations in 2006, where Skype introduced a feature in  a new version of their soft client that someone in the developer community had already introduced as an Extra. This is disappointing, to say the least, and sends out a bad message. Personally, I'm still hoping that SightSpeed opens up their developer API and doesn't make the same mistakes Skype seems to be making.

VoIP Companies Taking In Profits

A number of VoIP-related companies are reporting profits for recent business quarters. VoIP, Inc., reported growth in minutes for Q4 2006. XFone also achieved a profit in Q4 2006. With the current VoIP boom, other companies are likely to be reporting profits for business quarters in 2007.

Texas Instruments particularly sees growth potential for providing VoIP to SMBs (Small to medium businesses) - a sector that has been slow to adopt VoIP for a variety of reasons including technical issues, project management, lack of skilled workers, and more. Nevertheless, this is a sector that should enjoy healthy growth in near future years - a growth that could very likely be exponential.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Feb 26, 2007

Apple TV Delayed
The shipping of the Apple iTV set-top box is being delayed until mid-March. The IPTV device allows you to wirelessly stream video content from your PC or Mac to a TV screen. I can hear TV junkie geeks everywhere going "damn!"

Some Communications Purchases
Two recent telecom purchases include Broadview Networks Holdings Inc.'s buyout of New York-based InfoHighway Communications Corp and phone maker Ericsson's plans to buyout Tandberg Television.

The Broadview combined company will serve 80,000 SMBs. Ericsson's planned purchase is in hopes of expanding their presence in the IPTV market.

How To Profit From VoIP
SmartBiz has an article with the enticing title How to profit from VoIP, which is actually an overview of Unified Messaging and presence. The crucial point of the article: it can't be done with the traditional PSTN system.

Free Restaurant Wi-Fi?

Not sure how many of you go out to a restaurant expecting to work on your laptop, but First Watch Restaurants in the US seem to think there's a lot of people. So they're offering free Wi-Fi access in their company run restaurants, based on a Specialty Coffee Association poll that suggests 11% of customers choose a cafe based on having Wi-Fi access.

Seriously, there's a huge difference between a cafe and a restaurant. And if you can't put away your laptop or smartphone to enjoy a meal... well, you're lost. I personally can't see this making a difference for First Watch, especially if they're banking on more customers as a result. But if they did it to be generous, then bravo for them, for the fraction of customers who might interrupt their own meal to check their email.

New Skype Integrations: Mindmeister

Skype is appearing in more and more web applications. The latest is Mindmeister, and web-based mind mapping tool that goes one step further than bubbl.us. Mindmeister not only allows real-time shared editing with collaborators, but you can use Skype click-to-call buttons to chat with each other during the edit process. [You can read a more focused review at Mashable.]

As a long-time, hard-core mind mapper myself, it's great that VoIP is enabling new forms of collaboration such as this. For example, there are a great many opportunities for VoIP in e-learning, and mind maps are a more intuitive way to brainstorm, teach or tutor. What I'd really like to see mindmapping combined with Learn Without Limits/ Tutors Without Limits, which does use Skype.

Now that said, standalone mind mapping packages like MindJet MindManager and Mindapp are considerably more robust than Mindmeister. And both allow publishing to a hosted web page for sharing with others. However, apps like Mindmeister allow real-time collaboration. It'll be interesting to see if a company such as MindJet who have a fairly mature tool, start offering competitve web-based collaboration tools. In other words, a convergence of functionality would be very, very nice.

What I'm really wondering, though, is when there will be similar SightSpeed integrations. They really need to open up their API.

What Internet TV Needs: 7 Suggestions/ Concerns

What's listed here doesn't preclude the possibility that some software or web service already does it. This is my list of ideal IPTV (Internet TV)-related functionality.

1. Mobile TV.
   This is fine, but with wearable, comfortable goggles that project a virtual large screen. Little tiny phone screens won't cut it. The goggles are out there. They just need to be married with smartphones and PDAs. (i.e., maybe through     Bluetooth, since cellular data plans are outrageously priced in some countries.)
   
2. Wireless streaming.
   From my computer to my TV, if I want. (Though my computer screen is still larger than my TV, and I use an external TV capture box, which gives better performance than IPTV.) Apple's tentatively called iTV, for the digital living room, is one example.
   
3. Faster Internet connection speeds.
   Let's face it, Joost might be nice (I'm still waiting for a Babelgum invite), but a faster connection would help, obviously. And what happens, for example, when everyone in my neighborhood on cable Internet starts watching at the same time? At that point, I turn back to regular cable TV, as will others. The success of IPTV hinges on much faster connection speeds.
   
4. More bandwidth.
   My cable Internet provider caps me at 6 Gb/mth. I eat bandwidth for breakfast. I can use a Gigabyte in a single day sometimes. But can I buy more bandwidth? Noooooooo. Instead, if I go over in a given month, they'll warn me twice then cut me off until the next month - something I simply cannot afford to have happen, as a freelance writer. And with Joost's bandwidth consumption, this is important. Which is why I've stopped using it, beyond a few beta tests.
   
5. New compression coding.
   Wavelets theory is an ultra-geeky discipline created by brilliant physicists in the 1970s but has roots in studies done in 1909. It's pure, advanced applied mathematics used to model a lot of phenomena, and a math professor told me that even most PhD's in math or physics don't understand it fully.
      
   Data compression of images and video is one application, and depending on the algorithm used, the space savings are phenomenal. The benefit is that a crunched file would download very quickly. The problem is, that massive crunching requires a fairly significant amount of processing power to uncrunch for viewing. It certainly could not be done, with present home computers, in real-time. That is, you couldn't watch streaming video as it comes in over your Internet connection if the video data has been massively crunched with wavelet compression. The alternative is to not compress and have a faster connection, or more powerful graphics cards.
   
6. Quadcore video boards.
   The whole net neutrality debate was sparked, from what I interpret, when Internet providers felt they had to apply a tiered price structure for connections based on expected usage. Fact is, if we suddenly had the billion or so current Internet users all using VoIP and/or IPTV simultaneously, the current infrastructure couldn't handle it. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)
      
   We all probably want faster connection speeds, and they're coming, but will take time to roll out. What could come sooner is a new set of video compression codecs (last point) coupled with high-power graphics cards sporting their very own quad cores or more. If our graphics cards were powerful enough, and we used super-crunched video formats, we might possibly reduce bandwidth requirements down to a point where every Internet user could potentially watch Internet TV simultaneously. (Of course, it'd be nice to have something similar for VoIP communications: a quadcore sound card.)
      
   
7. More content, more choice.
       Video sharing sites already have a great deal of content choice, though not all of it is necessarily watchable. Soft clients like Joost are young yet, but will need - in my honest opinion - a great variety of content, and a pay-per-view model without advertising. And that requires sign-on from production houses.
    

Pretty much everything I've said here could apply to VoIP quality of service as well.

Now That's What I'm Talking About: Vonage Phone Cards

Prepaid phone cards from Vonage? Pat Phelan from Roam4free is calling this a winner guaranteed. I'd have to agree. Vonage is rumored to be offering branded calling cards that either offer free minutes or direct billing. The latter simply means that if you have a Vonage account and go travelling, you'll be able to utilize your calling plans. They'll supposedly be integrating this with the V-Phone memory stick device.

How can this offering not be good for Vonage? It's not an issue of innovation so much as convenience for subscribers. And it's probably more acceptable to some than Vonage Wireless.

Watchmycell: Innovators?

Am I missing something? Watchmycell is a little application than sits in your (Windows) PC's toolbar and lets you know how many minutes of your monthly plan you've used up.

Useful, right? My first reaction was that mobile carriers already offer this functionality: sign in to your account on their website and check. A quick scan of Watchmycell's page reveals the purpose. Read between the lines, and this app is for those too lazy to sign in to their carrier's website. The app does it for you, and continuously.

Really, this doesn't excite me. If you use your cell phone that much that you need to know continuously, get a better mobile plan.

VoIP Roundup - Thur Feb 22, 2007

AT&T + GM Do A Deal
Thanks to a deal with five-year billion dollar deal with General Motors, AT&T will be building worldwide communications services for GM. There's no direct mention of VoIP, but "voice and data applications" integration is part of the deal. [TeleGeography]

Smaller VoIP Providers Consolidating
Smaller VoIP providers seem to be following a consolidation trend, with NYC-based DeltaThree being one of them, acquiring the privately-held Go2Call.com. [Telephony Online] This is a to be expected trend, with VoIP maturing and larger businesses keeping their options open for competing.

VoIP Phones Roundup
PC Mag has a roundup of several VoIP "phones", each different from the other in look and operation. Included is Vonage's V-Phone.

Vonage Going Wireless?

Nuno of 21Talks reports that Vonage is about to start offering wireless services later this year. They'll also be reselling other broadband Internet access.

This might just be what Vonage needs to boost their profile. Ultimately, they're in business to make money. No doubt Vonage's shareholders will be happy with a rising share price. Customer would likely be happy to know that their VoIP provider will be staying in business after all.

If Vonage can do this by expanding their services and products offering, then all power to them. And if they end up being called Vonage Wireless like Nuno quotes some analysts saying, is that going to affect their business? Personally, I kind of like the sound of that. Om Malik, on the other hand, thinks it's more confusing to the market.

What's With Skype?

Late last week, I received an email from Skype saying the my transaction had not completed. Ten days prior to this message (about Jan 30th), I'd bought the US$14.95 unlimited SkypeOut for Canada and the US. I'd previously sent an email to support, and they replied within three business days that, no, everything was fine and that the $2.21 SkypeOut credit showing was for International calls.

Great, I thought. All clear. Then I get this new email around last Thursday or Friday. I sent a query back, but also said how peeved I was, especially as a VoIP blogger. It's now close to 4 business days and I have yet to hear back. I'm even less happy. Especially since the money WAS withdrawn from my PayPal account on Jan 30th.

What's the dealio, Skype? I'm now absolutely certain that my next telephony purchase (VoIP or otherwise)  will not be from Skype. I'm increasingly disappointed with them.

Viacom and Joost Exchange Video Valentines

An email in my inbox (as a Joost beta tester) announces a content deal with Viacom. Very cool. While Joost has two problems, bandwith hog and minimal content, as an IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) client, I'm very impressed with the video quality. And while content is still minimal, there still is enough there for many hours of viewing pleasure, including a great deal of variety.

Now while a lot of the Viacom content is from MTV past and present content, which I don't care much about, it might be kind of fun occasionally tuning in to watch old Beavis and Butthead episodes. Uh hunh hunh huh. But the rest of the Viacom content will likely appeal to a much younger crowd, not me.

Now I'm already a TV and IPTV junkie, but what I would shell out money to see is older stuff that is really hard to find - at least in Canada, and possibly in the US, maybe everywhere. For example, I'm a big fan of the American cartoon Freakazoid,and of a cancelled sci-fi-ish show called Early Edition. There are also 1950s short movies of Batman and Superman that I'd love to see and haven't found on DVD. (Granted, I didn't look very hard.)

Put all this sort of content (let me pick) online and allow payment via PayPal (Skype's sister company) and you've got me. Maybe make it a download of the month club sort of deal, for $9.95/mth, lots of content to choose from. And no ads.

Problem is, Joost streaming video content isn't stored on your computer (that I know of), so I'd have to download again and again. Hopefully they'll come up with a solution for that (straight burn to your computer's DVD drive?). But even if not, the Long Tail suggests that Joost (or someone else) could do very well by keeping the price low and offering lots of choice. And when Apple's iTV device comes out, I'm hoping I can stream Joost content straight to the 40" TV I'm hoping I'll buy myself for Xmas this year.

XM Satellite Radio Gets Sirius About Merger

How could I resist a pun like that? Peter Csathy talks about the pending merger of two Satellite Radio operations XM and Sirius. No doubt radio shock jock is wondering if the merger will affect the hundred plus million or so he got. Damn. Maybe I'm in the wrong business. I'm only offending people in the blogosphere.

Now I've been saying (just to myself, mind) since last Fall that they should merge. Service offerings-wise I think that customers would benefit. of course, for some cell phone handsets, you can already get XM Satellite Radio shows for about $15/m. No expensive XM device necessary.

Of course, whatever the merged company is called, they might consider offering some programming via the Internet. That's if their satellites are IP-based.

VoIP Roundup - Tues Feb 20, 2007

The Virtual Assistant - Take Two
Small business owners now have the option of using Skype-based receptionist/ telephonist services of Varras Consulting. But what if you don't use Skype or want to do things on your own? You can use Spinvox's voice-to-text service to manage your voicemail in text form, or even use it as a transcription/ dictation service.

One Billion Skype Users Can't Be Wrong
Well, there aren't that many users yet, but Skype Journal says that at the current daily rate of downloads, there could be a billion Skypers by 2009. Consider the significance of that number: it's about the number of current Internet users.

Linux Phones Aren't Exactly Cheap Either
A Linux-powered keyless phone, dubbed the Neo 1973 and called an Apple iPhone killer, will be available online early next month. The phone, from a company called FIC, will cost about US$350.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Feb 19, 2007

The Eye in the Sky: Pushing the IP Communications Envelope
There's been a lot of talk about SEDs - service-enabled devices. SEDs will have their own IP address and are thus pingable across the Internet. Now, imagine that you could query a satellite view a web browser. That's what Iridium is planning: satellites that monitor the Earth, taking pictures. And because they'll be IP-based satellites, Iridium can sell services over the Internet to clients who need to monitor, say, a facility.

Privacy Obligations For VoIP and Telecom Providers
The US FCC is rethinking how it will expect telecoms and VoIP providers to handle CPNI (Customer Propietary Network Information) data - or what amounts to call records and subscriber information. This is as a result of the Hewlett-Packard phone records pretexting scandal and similar cases. Privacy and Security Law Blog has more details on some of the new rules that may be imposed.

Cell Phone Been Bugged?
Despite all the issues of communications -related privacy and security, it's unlikely that most of us have our phones or IP communications bugged. But for whatever reason (jealous spouse, insane employer), if you suspect you do, check out Lauren Weinstein's post How to tell if your cell phone is bugged and the accompanying YouTube video Is your cell phone bugged?

VoIP Roundup - Sat Feb 17, 2007

Security and IP Communications
VoIP News has several articles related to VoIP security worth reading: 6 steps to VoIP security, A guide to understanding the VoIP security threat, and 5 ways to secure a wireless VoIP system. The latter is especially timely, what with the expectation of drive-by hacking becoming a threat to unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

Launching A New Generation of Jerky Boys-style VoIP Prank Callers?
I've mentioned the Jerky Boys before, when talking about now-deceased comedienne Lucille Ball doing prank calls. Well Callitfake not only helps budding pranksters, it lets you do it from a browser. What's more, you can type in whatever you want to say and choose the voice it'll be read in. Oh joy. Just what we need.

Now This Is A Really Old School Phone
Not only does Jaht's SkyVogue phone come in classic styling probably dating to around the 1950s, it's a Skype phone with  a USB connection. I can't tell if the rotary dial is functional, but I seriously doubt Skypers with short attention spans have the patience to wait for the darn thing to complete a single turn, let alone add area code and internation calling code.

Skype Gives You The Virtual Human Assistant

Now this is great for small business: an appropriately qualified Skyper somewhere in the world to handle your customer calls. VoIP bloggers have debated VoIP-based telecommuting because the question is one of remote trust: who are you hiring? Who will monitor them? Aside from that, a bit of tweaking and a small but diverse team means the ability to handle client calls in different languages - a truly virtual, VoIP-based team.

A worldwide Skype-based "telephonist" team would essentially act as multiplexers, with each dealing with the customers of more than one client. There is an opportunity here for someone to set up a web services web site to broker VoIP-based business communications services between people to answer calls (telephonists) and companies that need it done. This is exactly the sort of functionality that VoIP/ vVoIP affords that regular telecom cannot.

That said, Varras Consulting is in fact doing exactly that, and the necessary or preferred skills to work from home include being multilingual. Varras is also resolving the trust issue by requiring a non-criminal background and a security check.

Now Varras Consulting is not a VoIP company, so they wouldn't qualify to be in the 25 most interesting VoIP startups, but bravo to them for pushing the edge of IP communications use. Let's hope that Skype call quality is not an issue.

Free FuturePhone International Calls Not So Free

At least not for AT&T, who apparently had to foot a bill for US$2M per month, according to GigaOm. I'm behind on my VoIP reading again, but apparently AT&T's lawsuit against them has caused FuturePhone to slap a huge red sign on their website: "This service is no longer available."

FuturePhone played a sort of telephony arbitrage, setting up a phone number in telco-friendly Iowa, who offers certain subsidies. For whatever it cost you to call the Iowa number, you could terminate your call to an international number for free. I suggest you read the GigaOm article for a clearer explanation, but essential this arbitrage amounts to who foots the call termination costs, and instead of being billed $2,000/mth, AT&T got billed $2M/mth due to FuturePhone's "unlawful practices".

A few other states have similar subsidies for telcos. Gizmo Project's parent, SIPphone, has a VoIP service named area775 based in Nevada.

Be Your Own VoIP Provider

Thinking about getting in one the VoIP provider market? VT White, the private label reseller division of VoIP provider ViaTalk, is offering e-911 (enhanced emergency) services as of Nov 2006. Additional offerings include Tolll Free number origination at US$0.045 per customer. You can resell VoIP as an add on to other web services such as ISP or hosting. The service will be launching in "early 2007."

If you do decide to provide VoIP services to your clients, consider as a loss leader, not as a money maker. There's already far too much competition in the marketplace for small players to make a profit. That said, VoIP service could be a nice add on for your web services customers.

Mino Wireless Valentines Promo

Mino loves you, baby, so they're doing a Valentines promo. Mino Wireless, who hit 100,000 mobile users in August 2006, allows you to make VoIP-based calls from your cell phone using their Java soft client. If you buy $10 worth of calling credit on or before Feb 20th, they give you $2 free credit.

I tried it out in early August last year and the quality was crystal clear at the time, impressing even my father, who'd gotten used to me using the free Skype N. American promo. (At the time, it was free, now it's $29.95 for one solid year of unlimited calls.)

Phones and platforms currently supported: BlackBerry, Palm Treo, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Docomo. They've also added corporate calling rates in Canada and the USA.

Pondering My Next Telephony Product Purchase

It's been over a week since I splurged the princely sum of $14.95 to get a year of unlimited SkypeOut calls within Canada and the US via Skype. Until yesterday, I hadn't tried it yet to see how the quality of calls was doing. I'm happy to say that unlike mid-December, the call I made to my father yesterday was very clear on both ends.

Now the fact that it's been over a week shows you how little I use a phone these days. My cell phone maybe gets used 4-6 times a week. But as I've said, I'm more than happy to spend less than $1.50/month on unlimited long distance calls in North America for when I move to the big city (Toronto).

I'm still debating what else I want to add from Skype's shop, seeing as what I really want won't be available for a while: a Toronto SkypeIn phone number. But when that does become available, I'm going to be grabbing myself a Skype-certified Wi-Fi phone.

As for a cell phone, my Palm Treo 650 will probably be replaced with a Linux-based phone, if I can find one, and only if it has VoIP capability. I figure, what's the point otherwise? As for an Apple phone, I'd get one only if I didn't have to pay the ridiculous price. But it'd still be supplemental to a Linux phone.

The reason? Besides being an old-school Linux/ Unix shell programmer, it appeals to me. It has, I believe, the greatest potential for useful and semi-useful public sensor network applications, which is what I'm hoping to tinker around with once I can set up a lab. Of course, if someone combines this thin, rollable display into a phone, I'll be buying one of them.

VoIP Subscribers To Increase Significantly by 2012

If ABI Research is right, there'll be nearly 270 million residential VoIP subscribers around the world by 2012. Now that doesn't sound like a lot when you realize that there are already about one billion Internet users. Of course, not all of them have Internet access at home, although I don't have a figure handy. So, just my opinion, but 270M is a fairly significant number - certainly a large gain over last year's estimate of nearly 40 million subscribers.

Now VoIP might have been declared having gone mainstream, but this suggests that VoIP isn't going to replace PSTN systems anytime soon. As has been mentioned before, there's over 100 years of tradition to replace. Not everyone is comfortable making calls over their computer, though VoIP Wi-Fi phones seem to be increasing in at availability - and possibly sales.

So now I'm thinking that instead of the residential segment of VoIP subscribers leading the charge, it might actually be the business segment.

VoIP Roundup - Sun Feb 04, 2007

David Pogue of the NY Times appeared on MSNBC recently to talk about options for VoIP service. He emphasized, at the news anchor's query, that we're all headed towards free Internet calling and that Vonage had nerve charging U$25/mth for their V-Phone USB stick for unlimited calling.

Chairmen from both Comcast and Time Warner have been appearing on MSNBC to say how well Triple Play has been working for them. Time Warner Cable is supposed to be spun off later this year, with the hopes of an upcoming IPO.

Om Malik reports that Austria's Jajah wants a 2007 IPO. they have the backing of VC firm Sequoia Capital. Their model of offering VoIP-based (bridged) calls - which are now ad-suported in Europe - will appeal to anyone who wants free or cheap long distance without having to download a soft client.

Joost Bandwidth Issues?

Hmm. Very interesting. Never thought about it until I read about how much bandwidth Joost IPTV might be consuming. It does make sense, consider how high quality the video content I've seen on Joost has been. Quality frames take space and thus increase bandwidth.

This is kind of scary, considering that my cable Internet plan only allows 6 Gb per month, if I'm not mistaken. For someone who tests a lot of software, it's not much, but there are no options for home-based service for me. If I exceed the limit, I get a warning, then I get cut off. Which is disastrous for me, who works all day online.

It'll teach me to read the fine print more carefully on the next application I test. But it does make me wonder how successful Joost is going to be if you can use up 1 Gb in 10 hrs. While it's unlikely I'd watch that enough Joost yet (because of lack of content I'm immediately interested in) to make it an issue, the issue is still there for the future.

I'm not sure that average future Joost user is going to want to be a node in a torrent-style network, and hence bandwidth is a real problem. From a very technical point of view, they could consider using fractal image compression or even wavelets, but those are quite advanced methods that don't necessarily lend themselves to video (fractal compression is a lossy method). Ultimately, it seems to me that Joost is ahead of its time, like Skype was, and that for true enjoyment of IPTV on the larger flat panel TV screens that are coming out, viewers are going to need quad processor computers with souped up graphics processors and Gigabit access speeds.

I Got The SkypeOut

Skype can be confusing in their operations. It's possible that I was too busy to note any message on their end, but after I splurged and spent the princely sum of $14.95 for their promo (unlimited SkypeOut to Canada and the US for one year), my credits only showed a few dollars. I emailed support, and after 3 days (to be fair, they say 24-72 hrs), they clarified that the $14.95 transaction shows as a "delivered" on the final web page after purchase, as well as in a confirmation email.

I guess that makes sense, as the SkypeOut credit displayed in the Skype client applies to International calls. Now that that's cleared up, I'm going to starting testing call forwarding and maybe even some presence options from other companies. I'd like to have a SkypeIn phone number, but there's none for Toronto and area just yet, so I'm contemplating getting a New York City number to use with something like Ether. I can pair that up with SkyNET Tel's toll-free number.

VoIP Roundup - Thur Feb 01, 2007

Cable companies aren't the only ones increasing costs (in this case for TV and Internet service, which affects VoIP costs). Cellular companies do it too. Techdirt writes that phone company service costs are sticky downwards. This means that their prices are more likely to rise than ever go down, even when things such as tax fees are removed.

More iPhone Trademark Issues
Comwave, a VoIP provider who apaprently owns the iPhone trademark in Canada, is threatening Cisco with trademark infringement.

Mobile Phone Subscribers Growing
In China and India, the number of mobile phone subscribers grew at the rate of approximately 39,000 per day in 2006, or over 140 million for the year. That's over 10% of the one billion mobile phones shipped in 2006 around the world. [via Computerworld]

Voice Applications: What The H*ck Is PoIP?

Despite the ridiculous name, PoIP [C|Net] isn't such a bad idea. Attendance at places of worship have decreased, partly because of loss of faith, partly because of busy lives. PoIP, or Pray Over Internet Protocol (though it should probably be "Prayer") lets prayers be broadcast over speakers.

This is really an extension of using VoIP for intercom systems, which some public  schools are now using. But there's a lot of potential here. Maybe an enterprising person of the cloth could take confessions over Skype, with donations made via PayPal. Faith groups could get together and have prayer over Skypecasts. Marginalized faith groups that are spread out over the world (for example, the Baha'i) could synchronize their prayer. There's a lot of potential for wonderful global village applications here.

Unfortunately, Even Skype Can't Get PayPal Payments Right

If you don't already know, the online payments processor PayPal is owned by eBay, who also owns the Skype VoIP soft client and service. I finally convinced myself that the N. American Skype promo, which is only US$14.95 for a full year of unlimited calling, is worth buying. Even though I won't use it much until after I move to Toronto later this year, the $14.95 deal ends in a few days and increases to $29.95 after Jan 31st.

So, with PayPal being a sister company, you'd think Skype could get the payment process simplified. I just went through the process, and clicked on the "pre-approved" checkbox (for simplifying later Skype purchases), online to find that instead of taking money out of my PayPal account, the transaction wanted me to add a credit card. I don't use them, plain and simple. So that means I had to start the whole process over, but without the preapproved setting. Which means that if I want any additional services, I have to go through the process again.

Of course, Skype doesn't yet have SkypeIn numbers for my area (soon to be Toronto), and the promo gives me free calling within Canada and the US for a year, so the point is moot. That is, I don't need the preapproved option yet, but I will. And then again, this is a PayPal problem that I repeatedly encounter when I try to buy subscriptions or give pre-approval for something. That means, with my forgetful nature, businesses lose out on sales from me. I just wish they'd display a clear message saying that that such and such an option requires a credit card.

Lucille Ball: The Original Phone Prankster?

In an episode of I Love Lucy (1950s) running this morning on the Comedy Network, Lucille Ball proves why she's one of the original phone pranksters. Her husband Ricky Ricardo is trying to get the owner of the nightclub he performs at to pay him more money. The owner, played by Gale Gordon, who was Lucy's boss in the later 1960s series The Lucy Show", tells Ricky that he can't match the other offers Ricky has (supposedly) been getting.

So Lucy, her usual well-intending but trouble-making self, teams up with Ethel and Fred Mertz to phone in nightclub reservations under different identities. They arrive at the club all dressed up and then leave when they "find out" that Ricky Ricardo isn't performing.

Not quite as extreme or rude as The Jerky Boys, but probably extreme for the leave-it-to-beaver 1950s. Now I'm wondering how much of the soon-to-be expected VoIP spam is going to be prank calls from the next generation of jerky boys and silly redheads (Lucy). Google's click to call service was reportedly the subject of half-assed nonsense, with pranksters calling up businesses and hanging up.

Of course, as far as I know, you can't spoof your Skype or SightSpeed identity, so it's hard to use either to prank someone. But with click-to-call buttons, you can remain anonymous with some services. So it'll be interesting to see whether click-to-call buttons catch on or not.

VoIP Costs To Increase?

[warning: rant ahead] I'm not sure about cable providers in the U.S., but Rogers Cable in the province of Ontario, Canada, is increasing Internet access costs. Now, up here, cable service is a virtual monopoly by region, so my only choices are cable or high-speed dialup. Both have their pros and cons. I'm not happy with my cable Internet service, and now I have to pay more. The only other choice I have is my wireless data connection through my Palm Treo (through Telus Mobility), which costs $100/m and is limited to 250Mb per month, which I use up in two days of normal surfing.

On a side note, Rogers is also pulling MSNBC, the only TV station I watch during the day, to keep up on the tech industry. They're moving it off the basic cable package to a Personal TV package. So now, if I want to keep up on the tech market, product announcements, stock prices etc., I have to pay an extra $30 or so month to get a 6-pack of TV channels I don't give a damn about. And of course, Rogers is always so customer conscious that they're only taking complaints by snail mail. What decade is this?

So cable companies continue to wield infrastructure control and charge us whenever they want. (Who said the net neutrality battle was won?) I think we're going to pay increasingly more for Internet access no matter what the reason is called. And no matter which VoIP provider you pick, you'll still pay more to the cable companies. Unless of course you choose an alternate provider type such as high-speed dialup, satellite, or powerline. On the other hand, with IPTV clients such as Joost, maybe we won't need our cable TV packages for much longer.

Seinfeld's Kramer Predicted The Future Of Voice?

Didn't catch the title but in one episode of the TV sitcom Seinfeld, crazy Kramer predicts the future (2000), saying that we'll all be on permanent speed dial, and that calls will just come into our brains. This was in response to Jerry's new fling (Lauren Graham of the Gilmore Girls) putting him on her speed dial at #7, after two dates, then moving him to #9. Meanwhile, her stepmother comes after Jerry, ready to defend her #1 spot against Jerry.

Well, I'm happy to report that VoIP means never having to be a position on a speed dial, at least in soft clients. Everyone in your buddy list is #1. Unfortunately, brain-based presence features just aren't here yet, 8 years after Kramer's prediction. I guess we're waiting on a skull USB port first.

IPTV: The Future of Television?

You're asking who the heck am I to weigh in on this? Well, nothing more than a lowly technoblogger and a TV junkie. VoIP is a killer application of the Internet's "tubes" (heh), but with programs like Damaka, Democracy and Joost, IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) is right up there amongst the great Internet apps. What are the pros and cons of IPTV? Let's consider...

• The long tail effect.
     
  • Content producers: This means that marginal viewership in North America is no reason any longer to cancel a show. Some of the best TV shows ever made are now in syndication around the world, and new episodes would no doubt be welcomed. The Internet can and does support small productions. On the other hand, they now have more competition, since the cost of entry and distribution is greatly reduced.
    
  • Viewers: Variety of content beyond what even Digital TV, with it's 600 channels of the same damn thing in 4 time zones, offers. They also have access to obscure content that they may not otherwise see but is valuable to them.
   
• Demographics.
     
  • Broadcasters: Those broadcasters showing full episodes via streaming video on their websites can now determine the approximate location of their viewers via their computer's IP address. They can also segregate viewers, blocking anyone outside a certain geographic area.
    
  • Advertisers: Their paid-for "content" can't be fast-forwarded over using tools like TiVo or DVRs. At least, not that I'm aware of, though this may change.
    
  • Viewers: Blocked from watching content; geographic discrimination. But this isn't really that different than the current broadcasting model.
   
• Custom viewing.
     
  • Viewers: viewers have the pleasure of time-shifting and custom viewing schedules.
    
  • Content producers: Possibly relieved to know that if their regular TV broadcast is up against a big show, people will still be able to view the show later. For example, when I was still helping out at my mother's diner, I could watch TV on my laptop using Orb when it wasn't busy.
   

Now, these are only some of the pros and cons I can think of off the top of my head. What about you? Do you watch TV via the Internet? Or maybe you use a TV tuner card on your computer - the step before full digital Internet TV/ IPTV.

Internet TV: Let There Be Joost

Joost, formerly known as TVP (The Venice Project) is the new P2P (peer-to-peer) Internet TV client from the boys who founded Skype and Kazaa. I got on the private beta test list before the name change and for TOS/ NDA reasons, I haven't written much about software.

Fact is, I didn't really test the old TVP version that I installed during the weeks before Christmas 2006. My cable-based connection in Dec was horribly slow, and my wireless router seems to make slow connections worse (yeah, it's password -protected and uses WPA encryption). So long story short, I tried TVP for a few minutes here and there and never actually saw any video and could only comment on the interface. Well, not really, according to the NDA, I guess.

But now that Joost is into public beta, I figure that I can carefully write a bit about it. Well, it appears that the new version uses a lot smaller executable file size. If I'm not mistaken, TVP was 250 Mb (though I can't remember, and I've wiped the download). Joost is tiny in comparison.

My Internet connection issues must be over as well, as right now, I'm watching the making of the Red Hot Chili Peppers hilarious tribute video Dani California. With the exception of a bit of starting and stopping, I swear I'm watching TV and not Internet TV (aka IPTV). But the stopping and starting is more than likely completely due to my RAM usage being maxed out than any problems with Joost. It also helps that I have a dual processor, I think.

I'm incredibly impressed with the video quality, the simple clean interface, and the variety of content already, including some documentaries and "critical shorts". As a TV junkie since my childhood (anyone remember the TV show Herman's Head? That speaks to me.) Though there's no way I'll be watching the "channel" of the world's stupidest celebrity, Paris Hilton.

Speaking of content, Nettwerk Records, one of my all time fave labels (aside from 4AD) has a channel as well. Nettwerk has always been very forward thinking. Back when the Internet just went public, I found that big labels were very reluctant to even set up a website. I sent Nettwerk an email suggesting they create one, and they responded that they already. Stupid me. I checked it out, and I have to say I'm not surprised they're in the channel list for Joost. Though I am surprised that the David Bowie, who a few years back incorporated himself and sold futures (and even had an ISP for a while), isn't part of this. He and David Byrne are both forward thinkers that I expected here, along with, say, Laurie Anderson.

Now I could write at great length about how groundbreaking I think Joost is, but I have to stop somewhere. Let's wrap up, bad with the good:

• There's no VoIP, though there is Gmail and Jabber text chat.
• The ads are already here and can't be fast-forwarded through. But I assume they pay for the content. T-Mobile and Garnier are some of the ones I saw.
  
• When I shut down my Firefox browser, Joost seemed to grab a huge slice of the newly available RAM. Though when my browser was restarted, it when back to using only between 8-33% of RAM.
• There are loads of plugins, but most don't interest me. (Being able to text chat with others about a channel or video is a cool, web2.0 idea, but I don't have time for it.) I watch content minimize while I research or write articles, so I have to limit my "interaction" time.
   

My external TV tuner card might get less use now, but Joost isn't going to replace my regular viewing of the CSI and Law & Order franchises, not to mention some of the newer comedies, Supernatural, Smallville, and a variety of forensic shows. Will Joost have such content in the future? Who knows? But with my cable company increasing my Internet access costs and removing good channels from the basic package, I'm likely to lean towards watching more Joost. If not, I need to buy a quad core computer and multiple monitors to satisfy my video jones to watch both at the same time.

Now That's What I'm Talking About: Skype-to-Blog

Literally. Are you a blogger that's too busy to type up your ideas? Or maybe you're a slow typist. Just last night, I was lamenting that my 100 or so backburnered personal blog posts couldn't some how be published to text via my voice. Today, imagine my delight when I read at the Skype Journal about Skype-to-Blog, which harnesses SpinVox's voicemail to text functionality via a Skype account and then posts it to Simon Crowfoot's Speak-a-blog blog.

Apparently it only works in English, and best for British English at that. But it's a great, functional voice application and an example of why I love Skype so much. Sure, I love SightSpeed too, but they don't yet have an open API.

The All-New Ford/ Microsoft Car: Now With VoIP + Conferencing

Bwah ha ha ha ha. Just imagine it now: in the near future, all over North America, you'll see drivers talking to themselves.

What they'll really be doing is talking to Sync, the new automobile operating system from Microsoft, to become available in a number of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury models starting in the 2008 model year. Like drivers don't have enough distractions such as mobile phones, now they can talk to a Ford car courtesy of Microsoft? What will Sync do when someone has a case of the road rage?

Couldn't Ford have come up with a better business partner? [NYTimes free reg needed] Like working with a company with operating system software that actually works? Microsoft's the company who in 2006 had 284 unsafe web browser days due to flaws through which malware attacks could be made (and they only issue software patches once a month). Do you really want to be driving a car that runs an operating system created by Microsoft? I'd considered a Ford for a future vehicle, but this move ensures I will never, ever buy a Ford.

Surely Stock Options Steve would have entertained the idea of an iCar. Or one of the Linuxes maybe? Ford Ubuntu. I like the sound of that: able to go where no vehicle has gone, and now with cron tables. You can grep your car. But Ford, being a fiercely loyal American car company, probably thinks Linux is for communists.

Let's just hope that when you have to inevitably reboot Sync, the car's engine doesn't shut off and restart. Unless you're already stuck in traffic Though the full Sync feature list is pretty impressive. Everything is voice-activated and Bluetooth-enabled, hence my quip about talking to yourself. There's VoIP, call waiting, call conferencing, a push-to-talk button in the steering wheel, and transfer of conversations from phone to car. But my feeling is that if a car company builds in conferencing abilities into their vehicles, the country has a serious workaholism problem. Can't wait until the first virus, worm or Trojan hits Sync. Color me unimpressed.

Communication Breakdown: 5 Fake New Year's VoIP Resolutions

VoIP/ IP comm and related companies have made some boo-boos this year, and are probably making some resolutions for the New Year. Here's what they might be resolving to do.

1. Skype. We resolve to put more thought into our business version's design, and actually let bloggers know about new versions ahead of time. Well, at least a day or two.
2. Vonage. We resolve to boost our stock's share price to at least $15 in 2007.
3. Gizmo Project. We resolve to stop being the Rodney Dangerfield of VoIP services and get some respect. And more subscribers.
4. Google. We resolve to think through our click-to-call products before releasing them.
5. Cable companies. We resolve to stop screwing subscribers with ridiculous residential VoIP rates when we're already screwing them on TV subscription rates.

VoIP Roundup - Sun Dec 31, 2006

VoIP Comm Now Mainstream?
Ken Camp points out that VoIP is no longer a niche and that it's gone mainstream.

San Fran Wi-Fi Is No-Fi
At least for now, San Francisco is delaying their citywide Wi-Fi network. Again. This is the network that Google is involved in. The issues come from within city council regarding who will own the network.

US Cellular Network Outages Kept Secret
When cell phone networks have service outages in the United States, they aren't announced. In fact, the FCC ordered "wire line" suppliers in 2004 to report them, but in turn removed them from the Freedom of Information Act. [via VoIP and Enum]

How Do You Define VoIP?

VoIP Central asks what is VoIP: information service or telecom service? This is in relation to a suit filed by the City of Baltimore, Maryland, against Vonage America regarding the latter's avoidance of a telephony excise tax. Baltimore obviously defines VoIP is a telecom service, which I'm inclined to do as well. Vonage say no, thus feeling justified in avoiding a US$3.50/month city tax for each telephony line. The tax was introduced by Mayor O'Malley to pay down the budget deficit.

If you ask me, I think it's kind of high, given how little VoIP monthly subscriptions often are. Even the FCC backed off on their proposed VoIP tax. But this kind of issue will likely be raised over and over again over the next several years, for as long as PSTN systems are around (likely quite some time).

The US Presidential Race: Pushing The Viral Video Angle

Senator John Edwards has already announced his plan to run for the 2008 US Presidential race under the Democratic banner. Edwards is the politician who had experienced a recent faux pas dissing Wal-Mart's labor policies on the same morning that one of his campaigners asked them to provide a (free) Playstation gaming console for one of his family members. Wal-Mart of course told him to stand in line like everyone else. Maybe they thought it had YouTube?

At any rate, he seems to have taken Peter Csathy's advice about video campaigning and had someone post an initial campaign clip on YouTube. Now if every politician listened to Peter, imagine how much in campaign savings they would garner. Wouldn't that show some proof of fiscal responsibility?

[sources: 21Talks]

Mobile Comm: Over A Billion Served?

It's agreed upon in many circles that the next billion mobile customers are going to come mostly from developing nations including India, China and a few other Asian countries and very likely a number of African countries (some are already heavily moving into VoIP and looking at phone number portability). But will these customers be served properly? Will they get what they need for their use? In many of these countries, average incomes make it difficult for everyone to have a mobile phone, whether they need one or not.

Imran Ali has a look at some mobile market studies done by various people - including Jan Chipchase of Nokia - and analyzes some of the findings regarding the sociology behind phone sharing, as well as other related issues.

VoIP Now Doesn't Rank?

Despite the number of VoIP-related "top such-and-such" lists that VoIP Now made it onto this year, it apparently didn't make it onto Alec Saunders' ultimate list of VoIP bloggers, which is based on Text-Link-Ads Blog Juice calculator. But a quick check at Blog Juice shows that despite some of the VoIP blogs mentioned in Alec's list, VoIP Now should actually in the top third of this list. Looks like someone was sipping too much eggnog and forgot us :) Hardly ultimate, now, right? :) Based on Alec's list, we should be in between the current 19th and 20th positions.

These lists are always fun (and a lot of work), but there are so many factors that have to be considered. My own personal tech blog, which discusses voice/VoIP about 40-60% of the time, actually would rank in the bottom third of this list (but isn't mentioned because there's no way Alec would know it). But  my Bloglines subs are low. My Rojo sub list is much larger, though that's not factored in into the Blog Juice calculator. I suspect the same goes for a lot of the other sites list, as I'm surprised to find many great blogs in the bottom third. Didn't Mark Twain say there were three types of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics.

Reading: Some VoIP/ IP Comm Lists

Light Reading presents Heavy Reading's top ten noteworthy tech research findings for 2006. Several them are about VoIP or are directly related. This is one of those must-read lists. While you're there, you may also want to check out bad tech demos, about tech show demos the writer does not want to see in 2007. To supplement these lists, VoIP News has top 10 VoIP predictions for 2007.

In terms of predictions, eWeek's Paula Musich talks about the new roles that VoIP will take in 2007 (via Ken Camp and Luca Filigheddu). She quotes Burton Group's Dave Passmore in sayiing that Microsoft's joint partnership with Cisco, which will allow MSFT "to develop IP PBX functions that can run on any Windows server," and that this "will in 2007 hasten the demise of the hardware-based IP PBX." The gist of what Ken says in response to the eWeek piece is that "2007 is the year to watch the small players, not the big ones".

What small to medium players do I predict might stir the VoIP waters some in the coming year? Gizmo Project. Or at least, that's what I'm hoping. SightSpeed, who are already stirring things up in the video calling arena, with their free video click-to-call web page buttons.

Verizon Will Allows Ads On Mobiles

Subscribers of Verizon Wireless who visit certain websites on their mobile phones will soon find advertising as part of the content served to them [NY Times]. As I've no doubt said before, I'm opposed to advertising if I have to foot the bill. Cellular data bandwidth is not unlimited everywhere, and some data plans are expensive.

So if someone is going to make money off of me, I'd expect that there'd some concession, such as free bandwidth or at least reduced monthly rates. At least the rumored Google phone is expected to be free, to counter the fact that you'll see ads. Or so the rumor says. So, if your cellular provider is planning hit you up with ads, protest to customer support until they either reduce your monthly rate or, welll... You decide.

Funding Free Municipal Wi-Fi

You've no doubt heard or read about all the muncipal Wi-Fi projects popping up across the United States and elsewhere. In some cities, there are several subscription options for different access speeds. In others, it's all free. One question that comes to mind is who is going to pay for the costs of this "free" Wi-Fi? In Portland, Oregon, Microsoft is involved in a full-speed wireless network that'll offer free access in return for showing users paid advertising. Dailywireless asks whether this will work.

My own feeling is that in any given city, some people will be more than happy to have free Wi-Fi, even if they have to watch ads. It's why VoIP subscription models like that of Globe7 could work. However, are there enough such people? Way back in the early 90s, I tried free regional long distance calling in return for listening to ads (pre-Internet) and got sick of wait, the crappy music, and the same old ads. If, however, I had to watch, say, movie or TV trailers for access to the Internet, I might be okay on that. What about you?

If there are not enough people supporting the advertisers of such wireless networks, however, what happens to the city? Do taxes go up? Do they force paid subscription on users? And when people say sayonnara, does the city tear down the infrastructure? That costs money, too.

The concept of free wireless access is relatively new. I'm not sure, but I think it was used by some ISPs for dialup Internet access, though I'm not so sure that succeed as I can't think of any examples. Only time (or indepth surveys) will tell if such payment models will work.

VoIP Roundup - Sat Dec 30, 2006

Who Loves Ya, VoIP?
ISP Planet has a list VoIP carriers and vendors that are "helping to shape and define this industry." [via VoIP News] It shows how much I need to learn, as I haven't heard half of these names.

WiMax In Italy
WiMax might be something you're only expecting in North America, particularly in the US. But the Italian Communications Ministry is offering licenses for sale starting June 2007. [via Red Herring] I guess no Korean WiBro for Italy.

Nokia N-Series vs Treo 700w
I've muttered on about how much of a love-hate relationship I have with my Palm Treo 650 PDA, but I have nothing to compare it to for you. But Ken Camp does have his own comparison of the Treo 700 versus the much ballyhooed Nokia N-series phones. Ken is one of the bloggers selected for the Nokia blogger relations program.

Tips For Shy Online Daters

With New Year's a couple of days away, there'll be a lot of socializing going on, in real or online. Online dating is hot, at least as an application and revenue generator (whether or not people actually have successful relationships or not). But each dating website has to be innovative and break new ground. PlentyofFish.com introduced free memberships and PPC (pay per click) advertising to pay for it. Verbdate introduced (I think) using Skype for willing members to talk to each other online (before video calling on Skype was enabled, I believe). Then Match.com implemented a white-labelled version of Jangl's semi-anonymity voice application.

Great, I say. But to mix metaphors, what good is all that tech if the horse won't drink the kool-aid? Match.com is now giving some tips to camera-shy online daters on how to build a profile of themselves.

Liar, Liar Phone's On Fire

Do you lie? Ever or at all? Seems if you are honest enough to admit your dishonesty, you probably do it on a mobile device such as a BlackBerry. Apparently, technology makes people feel less guilty about lying, but that doesn't extend to email. The poll conducted by UK-based 72 Point, of nearly 1,500 respondents, found that around 75% of them lied via technology. Nearly 70% also said they lied at work, with "being ill" the biggest one.

Interestingly, Karl at Techdirt says some people believe that having to look someone in the eye is why videophones have never taken off. That makes sense, though small screens, slow cellular data networks, and expensive monthly bandwidth plans don't help much either.

Now, what I'd really like to know is whether parents who use SMS txting to chat with their kids lie to them.

Skype Call In Numbers Not In Your Country?

With the impending SkypeOut pricing for the entire world to be revealed at the end of January 2007, you'd think Skype might also try to push their SkypeIn option. SkypeIn is essentially a local phone number. If you get one of these, people can call you on your computer from landlines and mobiles (and from Skype), just as if you had a regular phone number. Well, call quality issues aside, this a very appealing idea to me and no doubt some other Skype users. Except that SkypeIn numbers are only available in about 14 countries.

I sent an email to Skype support recently, and here is part of their response:

Thank you for your dedication to Skype.

We are doing our best to add more and more SkypeIn numbers in different locations. Sometimes there are more difficulties in negotiating with corresponding authorities than we expect, so it takes time to introduce this product in certain areas.

As soon as there are new locations added there will be an announcement on our web site.

We are sincerely sorry for keeping you waiting.

That's a reasonable, polite explanation, though it would suggest that some providers, such as Gizmo Project, are better negotiators, seeing as they have CallIn/ local numbers in 28 countries.

Brunei To Regulate VoIP?

The Brunei Times says that AiTi (Authority for Info-communications in Technology) in Brunei is creating awareness about "regulatory and licensing frameworks of the local telecom industry." This is spurred on by the increased use of unlicensed VoIP providers. The acting CEO of AiTi,  Abdul Mutalib Pehin Dato Yusof, did admit that control would be a challenge. Apparently, soft clients such as Skype would not require registration. Commerical apps would have to be approved by the AiTi.

Of course, Brunei isn't the first country to ban or to want to regulate VoIP and they won't be the last. India recently decided to crack down on unlicensed VoIP providers. And of course the UAE, South Korea and China all have some form of VoIP ban or regulation.

VoIP Roundup - Fri Dec 29, 2006

Stop, Phone Thief!
The Jan 2007 wired has an overview of 4 anti-theft technologies for cell phones: a screamer from RemoteXT, a gait and voice recognition system from VTT, a holster sensor from Research in Motion, and a GPS tracker from NTT DoCoMo.

Stop, Wi-Fi Thief!
If your neighbor has unsecured Wi-Fi just begging to be used, you may want to think twice. Same goes for Wi-Fi at the local cafe. Seems arrests for inappropriate use of Wi-Fi networks is increasing these days. Techdirt has a suggestion: offer the leeches coffee. Makes sense, and generates a bit of revenue. Though I can't see a neighbor doing the same. Maybe you could ask for a cup of sugar?

Stop, Phoneblogger!
Just kidding. ComputerWorld has five fantastic phone tricks to get more out of your phone, including the lowdown on a free phone blogging service called Plusmo.

Expanding E-Learning With Skype Conferencing

Ask any schoolchild and you'll probably find that they enjoy learning about other cultures, other children. A teacher in South Carolina  has a project to hold videoconferences between his class and one in Peru. And not surprisingly, the kids loved it. Me, I was happy to see the moon landing or an eclipse on the "A/V monitors", as we called the the bulky video players way back when. Video conferencing would have been way cool (though impossible back then). So I'm glad to see that teachers are using technology in innovative ways, expanding the global village and simultaneously involving children in a sort of electronic living anthropological experiment.

Hopefully, other teachers will follow suit. Video conferencing has many uses, not the least of which is e-learning/ tutoring - i.e., as a teaching aid.

Skype Roundup - Tues Dec 26, 2006

Skype Journal
One of my fave VoIP blogs, Skype Journal, hasn't been been posted to in several weeks. Phil Wolff commented elsewhere on some technical problems that they are trying to sort out. But I just now looked and it appears the domain expired on the 19th. Jim, Phil, I really hope you guys get this sorted out, as it'd be a bloody shame if you lost the domain. Hopefully you didn't forget, while trying to sort out the other technical problems.

Share Your Music
A Last.fm playlist badge is one of the popular ways that bloggers let people know what music they've been listening to. Now, you can share your Last.fm playlist in Skype 3.0 with an Extra, as well as build a customizable radio for yourself. The Share Skype blog gives more detail.

Disruptive VoIP Pricing To Come
Skype has already announced disruptive SkypeOut pricing for North American users. But they've also let on that there'll be a disruptive pricing strategy for all 136 million users. That'll be revealed Jan 18th, 2007. Will this move forever set the standard for VoIP pricing around the world? We'll know in a few short weeks.

Skype For Business?
With a poor and subdued showing in Skype 3.0 For Windows - Business Edition, many of us VoIP bloggers have been wondering what it's really in store. A recent article quotes VP Mobile + Telecom Services Michael Jackson joking about no Skype trucks in the future (to configure business installations), though there may be independent Skype integrators. Also mentioned is that Skype for business functions will evolve, but that they'll be relying on an "ecosystem of third parties" in the short to medium term. Wait and see, I guess.

Communication Breakdown: Ahem. How's My Voice... Tech?

While Clearwire is pushing WiMax and attempting another go at an IPO, One IP Voice is filing Chapter 11. BCE Inc. (Bell Canada Enterprises) sold its satellite division for $3.4+B, and Nortel signed a $2B CDMA EV-DO contract for 5 years with Verizon Wireless. (Nortel is the Canadian company once known as Northern Telecom that pretends it's American. I think that's because it has so many American shareholders. BCE used to be part owners, but I don't know if they still are.) Google is planning a Google Phone, possibly with Orange, and Linksys/ Cisco beat Apple to the punch with their own registered iPhone brand. Apple's Steve Jobs is expected to announce their iPod Phone in January at MacWorld. Skype announced disruptive pricing for SkypeOut in North America, though they have more disruptive plans after Jan 31st, 2007, for the whole world. More to come.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Dec 25, 2006

Natural Cell Phone Charging
Cellular-News reports three ways to "naturally charge" cell phones, all of which are based on solar and/or kinetic energy recycling, thanks to some techniques developed by ModeLabs Group. The display their technology in three new concept phones: The Yo-Yo, The U-Turn, and The Runaway. The latter, designed for athletes, especially uses all kinetic energy to recharge.

BT Outsources To India
UK telco BT pass some of their big multinational customers to Tech Mahindra in India for support services. Tech Mahindra will get US$1B over 5 years. [via Silicon]

Patent Awarded To VocalTec
A patent for "method and apparatus for transmitting packets" was awarded to VocalTec Communications Ltd, an IP comm solutions provider. What's interesting about this is that according to LightReading, the patent was filed on Feb 2, 1999 but wasn't awarded until Nov 28, 2006. About 7.5 years. The company's portfolio includes 11 IP-related patents.

More Anonymous VoIP/ Voice Services

Jangl may have been the first VoIP/ Voice provider (not sure about that) to come up with semi-anonymous phone numbers intended for the online dating market, but Craigslist has come up with another application for semi-anonymity. As Luca Filigheddu points out, it's not clear who is providing the service. However, the online classified listings market is an ideal application.

Many people who have something to sell or rent probably never bother because they don't want their phone numbers listed. Sure, they could have an anonymous voicemail, but an anonymous phone number is much more immediate. No fuss, no muss; people can get in touch with you directly. And the Craigsnumber is auto-expiring: it ends when the classified ends.

Brilliant idea, but it raises some technical questions. Will they be reusing numbers? Probably. I've never used Craigslist, though I have browsed it. If their listings stay published online after a classified expires, will the number still be visible? If so, what happens when seller B starts getting calls for seller A's expired listing? (Assuming numbers are eventually reused.)

The Craigsnumber factsheet says the service is still in beta (the main page is essentially blank as of this writing). So I guess they'll be working on this. I wonder if Craigsnumber is using Jangl, considering that the latter offers white-labelling of their service.

More Cheap or Free VoIP/ Voice

Just a reminder that Jajah has free calls to 80 countries today, Christmas 2006. Vinay at VoIPGuides weblog also has several posts for free calling:

• 5 free VoIP providers for international calls (one of which is Jajah).
• A hack for free calls through Free Call Planet.
• MediaRing free calls from Dec 20 - Jan 6.

Nuno at 21Talks pointed out that Jajah is also offering ad-supported calling in Europe. This is something that Globe7 has been offering for quite some time, though in their case, you have to watch video ads and trailers. Of course, Google is planning to give away mobile phones in return for your eyeballs watching advertising on the phones.

Free Phone Calls This Christmas With Jajah

It's festive time and you're probably calling friends and relatives across the globe to wish them well. Well, on Christmas Day 2006, Jajah is offering free phone calls, conference calls, scheduled calls, and text messages to any person in 80 countries. Jajah is a web-based service that uses a VoIP bridge, which allows you to use your regular phone (and sometimes mobiles) to call other people. No installed software is used.

Here are the preconditions to satisfy and the steps to follow.

Preconditions that apply

• You need to register at Jajah first (free).
• That you are calling people in countries listed in zone 1, zone 2 and zone 3.
• If you are making a call to or live in a zone 3 country, you can only use a land-line to make the calls. Also zone 3 has no free text messaging.
• The person whom you intend to call need not be a registered user of Jajah.
• You can call friends and relatives at any time (24 hours) on the day of Christmas for free, in your time zone.

Steps involved to make the free calls

1. Log in as the registered user. Make sure your calling number is registered.
2. Enter your the mobile/landline number you are calling.
3. Click on the 'Call' button that appears on the web page.
4. Your phone will ring. Pick it up.
5. Wait until the phone rings at the other end and your intended party takes the call.
6. Enjoy your free call.

Nomadic Workers + The Global Village

Andy Abramson writes about his Working Anywhere project, which, as he puts it, is about the nomadic worker. He talks about how he has to work in a virtual office because of far-flung clients and colleagues. As a former nomadic worker myself, I know exactly what Andy is talking about. At one point, I lived in one city, worked in another, sometimes visited clients in several nearby cities, then hung out in yet another city at the end of the day, where most of my friends lived, oddly enough.

To swing this nomadic behavior, at one point, I had two pagers and two cell phones. One pager and one cell phone had 1-800 toll free numbers (which was allowed at the time; no more) so that friends could call me. The second pager was for work. The second cell phone was mine but had the same area code as work. I had to replace my trouser belt a lot, what with the weight of VoIP didn't exist then, or at least not reliable. And smart phones were just popping into existence. So mobile VoIP was not even an option. And high-speed connections were hard to come by due to poor coverage in my neighborhood, so telecommuting wasn't an option back then for me, either.

Now, I work entirely from home but regularly collaborate with people in at least six time zones across the world. I've been using text mode chat for many years, and it's helps me get by now, too. For collaboration, I have several desktop sharing options including AIM Pro and the Unyte add-on for Skype. And for voice chat, I've used Skype and Google Talk, the two most common VoIP and VoIM soft clients amongst my colleagues. Without IP communication, there'd be no way for me to work entirely from home, away from the rat race, road rage and traffic jams of my previous career. Yay VoIP.

The electronic global village is enabled by IP communications. Though strangely enough, despite the growing e-learning/ e-tutoring and online education markets, there are some things that just can't be done over the Internet: attending live workshops and industry conferences. And that means that despite all this great technology, I'll be moving back to the big city within the next year for that reason.

Yahoo Messenger Share + Collaborate Plugins

Yahoo Messenger 8 allows you to add all manner of plugins. Here are a few focusing on sharing, collaborating, and conferencing.

Untye Desktop Sharing
Unyte's reasonably good destop sharing add-on for Skype is now available as a plugin, Unyte Lyte, in for Yahoo Messenger. Unfortunately, it failed during installation, and after two tries, I'm not going to bother again.

Video Sharing
Found a video on YouTube or Google Video? Share it with a Yahoo Messenger contact in the IM window. Is the irony lost on you? Google, Yahoo's search engine competitor, owns both Google Video and YouTube.

WebEx Co-Browse
The WebEx Co-Browse plugin lets jointly browse the Internet with someone. This is great for shopping or booking travel. Pretty cool in concept. WebEx, I believe, is the company behind the desktop sharing feature in in the recent AIM Pro IM.

ConfreeCall
Need to combine conference calls via a regular telephone as well as the Yahoo Messenger IM? try ConfreeCall. A bit of a tongue twister, but if it gets the job done, great. Any long distance charges to the conference bridge number are borne by the caller.

FCC's e-911 Decision Upheld

Jeff Pulver writes that the DC Circuit Court has upheld the US FCC's decision to require VoIP service providers to offer e-911 emergency calling services. Providers have 120 days to comply, though it's not clear from what date. The presiding Judge Kavanaugh indicated that the requirement is justified even if providers cannot meet the deadline.

The FCC also wants to ban the marketing and sale of any VoIP service that cannot make the deadline. However, the legality of this ban was apparently not ruled upon (other than the Judge saying that the FCC had the "lesser authority" to go ahead with it.

Curiouser and curiouser. If the FCC does go ahead with its ban, this could really tank most soft client-based VoIP providers. They will, I think, have the greatest technical hurdles in offering functioning e-911 service. This could be the leg up that pure play VoIP providers like Vonage need to compete against other types of providers. Vonage already has a growing coverage area for their e-911 service, outdistancing every soft provider I can think of.

Gizmo Project: Local Numbers In 28 Countries

Gizmo Project just sent out an email with an announcement that they're offering local numbers in any of 28 countries, starting from US$3/mth. These numbers can be forwarded to any mobile or landline phone at the "almost free" Gizmo Call Out rates. Essentially, it means that you can redirect your calls to wherever you are, without that costing your callers extra. They'd still pay for any cost of calling to your local Call In number, though.

Now while Skype may have more users than Gizmo Project, the latter is not only based on an open standard, it also offers call in numbers in more countries. If I recall, Skype's are limited to just the US and UK, which is pretty strange considering, for example, that they've got a North American promo that includes Canada, not to mention promos in France and other countries. You'd that Skype would strike while their iron's hot and offer Call In numbers in at least the promo countries. If you're interested in the Gizmo offering, see what countries have local number support. (Also see 6 ways to give your customers free calls and read the item about Gizmo Project and Voxbone combined.)

Friends By Skype

Jaanus snuck in a little tidbit of information on the Share Skype blog indicating that

over half the people using Skype use it to meet someone new.

Very interesting. How do you meet people online? For me, I've mostly met new friends and acquaintances this year via interaction in the comments section of weblogs and community sites, and sometimes through PM (private messaging/ pseudo email at community sites). I have met some people via Skype for interviews, but then, I'm not actively seeking to meet people due to a busy schedule. How about you? (Though I did find four hello messages on my Verbdate profile the other day. Verbdate uses Skype click-to-call buttons to enable members to chat with each other, by opt-in.) How do you meet people online?

VoIP Roundup - Mon Dec 18/06

Design Skype Wallpaper, Win Skype Phone
The new Skype 3.0 lets you add your own wallpaper to create your own customize look. And if you come up with something that you think other Skype users may like, enter it into their wallpaper contest before Jan 13, 2007, midnight, GMT. The best 3 designs will win a US Robotics USB Internet Mini Phone. Here are some sample wallpapers.

Say No To POTS
POTS = Plain Old Telephone System. Time to show it the door.

To Approve Or Not To Approve?
Question: Why go through telecom deregulation in the 1990s to reduce unfair monopolies only to allow still giant telcos to merge in the 2000's? Answer: I wish I had one. The US Justice Dept is being accused of messing up their antitrust business analyses before the approval of two mergers.

Vodafone Gets Huge Fine
Greece's telecom regulator is fining the local Vodafone division 76M Euros for their part in a wiretapping scandal. Ouch.

5 New + Recent Terms In IP Communications

IP telecommunications is obviously a huge area with many facets, and new ones popping up. While those in the industry and some VoIP bloggers may know the terms, the general public likely does not. I often use Google Trends to compare terms and their relative search volumes. Which is what I've done witih some of the terms below. These are terms to watch, because we'll see them mentioned in the media more often.

1. Spot dialing.
   Brian McConnell came up with this to describe make a call over a Wi-Fi hotspot. I.e., as a replacement to Voice over Wi-Fi (which some people call VoWiFi but is rather techy).
2. TVoIP, teeVoIP.
   Ken Camp wrote a very evocative piece called Ken's magnificent Seven for 2006, about what he thinks have been the hot growth areas for IP Comm. He came up with the term TVoIP to represent user-generated content such as that at YouTube and blip.tv. I've been referring to this as a facet of IPTV, though that's probably incorrect.
3. vVoIP, VVoIP, WoIP.
   This aren't new, per se, as there are references to it back to at least 2004, possibly earlier. But Google Trends says there isn't even enough search data for them to show a comparative graph. But there are three ways to signify this, possibly causing confusion. Should we use any of these or come up with yet another one and hope it'll catch on? Video calling works for me.
4. POVS.
   Garrett Smith came up with POVS, Plain Old VoIP Service to refer to any VoIP service mimicking traditional phone calls. I.e., what some people call pure play, when you use a regular telephone with an ATA (Analog Telephone Adaptor), such as with Vonage and PhoneGnome.
5. FMC, Fixed Mobile Convergence.
   Most searches for FMC are probably for one of two companies with "FMC" in their name. (Google doesn't give hard search volumes.) The longer version doesn't register in Google Trends. But true FMC will push dual-mode cellular/ Wi-Fi calling forwards, though maybe it needs a friendlier name.

What do you think about these terms? A bit technical, in some cases. Got any suggestions for alternates?

Communication Breakdown: 5 Growing Pains of Voice/ VoIP/ IP Communications

It's pure coincidence but as I'm working on this brief article, I've just finished hearing Led Zeppelin's classic Communication Breakdown song. Radio 3net has their own 500 top albums for listening for free online. Yeah, 500. And all the classics are there; all you need is Windows Media Player to listen.

That said, this is a brief overview of some of the issues that could make or break how widespread IP communications becomes. Or at least delay ubiquity.

1. Countrywide bans.
   First, numerous countries in the Middle East and some in Asia (China, South Korea) either fully or partially banned VoIP services - except to the status quo providers in some cases. Then India, who recently allowed Yahoo to provide VoIP services, decided they were going to ban outside providers.
2. Jail sentences.
   Seriously?! Vietnam sentenced a South Korean business man to 16 years in jail after he set up five VoIP systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon). It's amazing to think that in the 21st century, there are still people in power who are short-sighted. Or do such people just gravitate to government? Why not absolve him, make him pay a provider fee and a fine, and actually utilize his entrepreunerial spirit? That would actually make sense. This is a similar VoIP crime to what five Asian men did in Namibia, but were out on bail.
3. e911, e999, emergency services.
   Or lack of them. Let's not forget that 911 in the United States was not ubiquitous until, I believe, the late 80s. Still, that's no excuse. In E911 still struggling after 10 years, Wayne Rash says that there's a 16% chance your wireless 911 call won't go through, or that the emergency center won't know where you are. Sad but true. (I didn't know that it's been 10 years since the US FCC mandated e911, aka enhanced 911.) In the UK, they call it 999, and pending regulations by Ofcom (the regulator) could put lives at risk according to ITSPA (Internet Telephony Services Providers Association).
4. Perceived security issues re closed protocols.
   I.e., Skype, which in some cases is the reason countries, corporations and universities have banned Skype in particular.
5. Wiretapping.
   Let's not be naive. Several countries including those considered democracies already have widespread wiretapping in place, whether you know it or not. But Internet tech experts have openly said that architecting a backdoor into VoIP soft clients is not only very difficult but a bad idea.

6 Ways To Give Your Customers Free Calls To You

There are oh so many ways to give/ get free calls via VoIP services and software. But if you are running an SMB (small or medium business), you're really close to the concept of value for money. And you probably want to reduce costs for your customers as well. Here are five ways you can give your customers free calls via web-based voice/ VoIP services, sometimes from anywhere in the world.

1. SkyNET-Tel 1-800 number.
   Forward your SkyNET-Tel toll-free number to any VoIP "call in" number (such as from Skype, Gizmo Project, and SightSpeed), and reduce costs on your end, too. Customers can call you from any phone.
2. Sitofono.
   Pay a flat rate, provide your business telephone number (no mobiles), add a click-to-call button on your website, and voila: free calls to you from your worldwide customers via their computer. That's Sitofono.
3. Sitofono, iotum, and GrandCentral. If you want customers to be able to reach you while you're about, read Andy Abramson's A natural hat trick, about combining these three services to route calls to wherever you are. There's so much going on in features with this trio, though you should understand all options as some may result in charges for some customers, depending on geography. That aside, this trio means being able to change your contact numbers without having to inform everyone, as well as being "found" whenever and however (office, mobile, etc.) you dictate. By the way, Phil Wolff shot a video of GrandCentral in action, and Luca Filigheddu explains some GrandCentral's options.
4. Gizmo Project + Voxbone.
   Brian McConnell gives a great explanation of how you can set up "local" numbers in 40 countries around the world. That means they can use any phone. You can also use just Gizmo Project, but that means that each and every customer would need to register with Gizmo first. (GizmoProject offers free calling in 60 countries.)
5. Skype click-to-call.
   Place a Skype Me button on your website. You will need to have Skype on your computer and so will your customer.
6. SightSpeed click-to-call.
   Now with video support. SightSpeed just released their "enhanced" Version 5.0. But what really excites me is the video click-to-call functionality. Your customers can see and talk to you, and it won't cost either of you anything for the service. Of course, they have to use a computer.

If you really want to cover your bases and satisfy the widest range of customers, use a combination of all of the above. Your total monthly bill will probably still be a lot less than with just regular telephony and an internationally-usable 1-800 number. So as not to clutter your web page, use a single custom "call me" button to link to a special contact page displaying all specific. Your customers will call you to thank you.

VoIP Roundup - Sat Dec 09/06

MIT Runs VoIP Pilot
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is running a VoIP pilot involving 500 users. That's a tiny fraction of the 20,000 phone lines (desk, fax, form, circuits, elevators) at the educational institution, but the IST (Information Services and Technology) department will announce detailed plans in early 2007. [source: The Tech]

GPS Services To Enjoy Huge Growth
Currently in the North American, there are about a half million subscribers to "personal locator" services for their GPS-enabled phones. ABI Research says that this number will grow to over 20M by 2011. sources: Cellular News.

SunRocket Damage Control
Alec Saunders has been talking about the problems he had with cancelling his SunRocket VoIP account, which he tried to do via email and which they refused to accept. However he reported recently that SunRocket's PR guy and contacted him and the matter has been sorted out. The issue is simply that you can't cancel by email.

My 7 Fave VoIP/ WoIP Blogs + Bloggers of 2006

Why so few? That's not to say I don't enjoy other blogs and bloggers. My freelancing means it's a necessity that I subscribe to 1,000 web feeds, and regularly scan 60-100+ websites and weblogs relating to voice, VoIP, IPTV, and IP communications on a near-daily basis - except when I fall horribly behind posting like I have the last two weeks. I can't actually more than scan everything, but there are a few bloggers that I'm eager to read as much as possible.

In no particular order:

• Nuno Bastei@21Talks.
  Nuno blows me away with how many original (but sadly short) posts he does, on a wide variety of topics relating to voice. Where he finds all these cool stories I'll never know.
• Ward Mundy@NerdVittles.
  Ward has tons of great tutorials and utilities, with most of his focus on the Asterisk PBX. Great for other up and coming VoIP nerds who want to utilize the power of the open source Asterisk.
• Luca Filigheddu@ThoughtsOnVoIP.
  Luca's writing about VoIP and IP communications really comes across as very thoughtful and refreshing. It really is like participating in a sort of meditation. (Though Luca, sorry but the new blog colors - meh, not so much. Not as meditative.)
• Peter Csathy@DigitalMediaUpdate.
  Peter challenges you to think, and does he ever know his stuff regarding video VoIP and the incredible value of this functionality. This is a man focussed on one specific niche of IP Comm, and he does it very well.   
• Russell Shaw@IPTelephony.
  I agree with Russell about 60-70% of the time when he goes political on us, but I love reading his extremely informative IP communications posts and topic variety, and respect the research and effort he puts into his articles. Sorry Russell; I refuse to read Huffington Post, so I can't read your blog column there, but I love your IP Telephony.
  
• Om Malik@GigaOm. Om's the man! He breaks a lot of the hottest stories that set the rest of the blogosphere buzzing. And he's got a great crew. It's not all VoIP/ IP Comm, but there's enough, and GigaOm covers the spectrum well.
• Phil+Jim@SkypeJournal. SJ gets my vote for my fave VoIP blog, even if it's only about Skype. There are other bloggers, but Phil Wolff and Jim Courtney seem most prominent lately.

So don't be offended if you're not on this VoIP blog/ blogger list, because I'm still reading you almost everyday, the best I can. With the exception of Om Malik, Phil, and Jim, I've picked singular bloggers, not blogs with multiple bloggers. (But Om did singular blogging before his VC deal.) These are the bloggers that I feel I know the best, and I'm getting to know the others over time.

Show Me The Money In VoIP - Small Business Services

With all the innovative VoIP companies popping up, it's hard to keep track of them all, let alone the ones getting venture capital. One such company is the Canadian-based Natural Convergence, who recently acquired US$10M in Series "C" funds. They've been in business five years, serving SMBs (Small and Medium Businesses) in North America, parts of Europe and the Caribbean. [Light Reading].

Though Natural Convergence has only 10,000 active users, they're catering to a VoIP niche that many other companies have been ignoring: the SMB market. And the "Long Tail" theory applied to IP communications suggests that in terms of enterprise sales, the money might just be in the SMBs. This is simply a numbers game: take the sheer volume of SMBs, multiply by the high expected conversion ratio. Even inexpensive IP PBXes (i.e., under US$5,000) will generate a profit by volume.

On the other hand, the conversion rate of larger businesses and enterprises will likely be smaller, as they have more invested in traditional communications. Thus a per head cost of conversion may be much higher, especially in lost productivity if the implementation is stalled or runs into problems.

Survey Says - Vonage IPO A Dud

Is it a surprise that readers of Light Reading's recent poll IP communication IPOs voted Vonage's IPO (Initial Public Offering) a dud? It's had enough media coverage, and the stock has been a real dog. It's kind of a no brainer, and part of the reason some shareholders petitioned for a deferral in SEC rules. But when asked when who they favored for success on their IPOs, Riverbed Technologies, a company I hadn't heard of, took the lead. For upcoming IPOs, Opnext Inc. took the lead.

Now keep in mind that Light Reading's readers are fairly informed in the area of IP communications, many more so than I. So I'm not suprised to find quite a few companies - many of whom develop IP hardware - on the survey list that I know nothing about. But if you ask my opinion on which soft VoIP company has a lot of potential in the future, I'd have to say SightSpeed, for their video calling and their free video click-to-call web functionality. Of course, to be successful in an IPO, SightSpeed will need to be able to actually monetize their great video VoIP offering, which CEO Peter Csathy blogs about quite often. And his is a great example of quality corporate blogging.

Show Me The Money In VoIP - Stocks

If someone offers you stock in an IP communications business, learn everything you can about it, including whether or not it'll make money. Pretty obvious, right? Well a man in Tokyo is suing an "IP phone" (VoIP) company for not telling him and other investors upfront that they might not make any money. The man, 61, invested millions of yen and is suing for 27M yen. He also wants his investment contract cancelled.

Now if I understand the story correctly, there may be some connection between the company, Kinmirai Tsuushin Inc., and the Japanese underground. That's just what VoIP needs, doesn't it? On the other hand, the man did receive just over 8Mln yen in dividends - less than what he put in. But does that sound like organized crime? There are other lawsuits pending against the company, who collected funds from around 1,000 investors. [via Asterisk VoIP News]

Interesting way to make money, but no evidence of wrongdoing, aside from not openly telling investors that returns were not guaranteed. It's certainly better than the two young Americans who were stealing VoIP service from other vendors and resold around ten million minutes worth.

Click-to-Call Ubiquity - Not Quite There

CNBC TV just ran a segment in which one of their guests said that "most [e-commerce] websites" now have a click-to-call button. Would that were true, that'd be great. But what do you expect when even VoIP supplier/ resellers don't even have click-to-call buttons? That's right, you heard me. Very few of the VoIP sales sites I see have a click-to-call button.

Though if you have a small operation, it may not be the best thing to have. But you should give some semblance of trying. You're probably worried that if you don't have your own click-to-call solution, that using someone else's (for example, SightSpeed's free video click-to-call service) may draw customers away from you. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if some soft VoIP provider out there would be willing to white label their solution for you, if you can't get any sort of partnership going. Anyone know of such a solution? At worst, make sure that your business information is available for Google Maps click-to-call functionality.

On the other hand, the natural evolution of an industry involves the weeding out of competitors who can't compete.

What's IMail?

No, it's not some iPhone alternate device Apple has submitted patents for. It's a combination of IM + email - essentially any email client that allows users to start a chat session with other users. Most popular example is probably Google Mail's in-client (webmail) chat popup. To be honest, in terms of usability, it has to be the worst form of IM available. I love Google Talk's clean, simple IM interface. I despise Google Mail's in-client chat because it disrupts my work. If I'm typing an email and a chat pops up, it's incredibly annoying and screws with my concentration. I don't think any other software (except a certain operating system) could make me fume more.

So I'm surprised that Zimbra plans to do the same [21Talks] sort of thing. On the other hand, if Google integrated the chat some where to the side of the email client, left or right, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. What's more, I'm really surprised that they haven't tied a click-to-call feature directly from Google Mail. Maybe that's something for the near future, given how they've taken a liking to click-to-call VoIP lately.

Unyte vs AIM Pro: Desktop Sharing - I'll Show You Mine

Earlier, I mentioned Unyte, a Skype plugin that allows collaboration (desktop sharing), web conferencing, and more. I downloaded and installed Unyte and took it through a few tests. The interface is clean, and it appears easy to find everything. You can pick through your Skype contact list and decide whom you want to share with (though you need Unyte+ for more than one person). A comparison of Unyte to AIM Pro's desktop sharing is given below.

I tried it in both modes, and it's fairly similar to AIM Pro's desktop sharing features. (I ran Unyte + Skype on my desktop, and another Skype account on my laptop.) The main differences:

• Unyte's interface can be in one of 12 languages, including English. Though to be honest, I never checked for this in AIM Pro.
• Unyte has two modes: a display share only, and a controlled share between all parts. I.e., remote desktop control.
• AIM Pro will let you see the Windows start bar at the bottom of the screen. Unless I missed it, Unyte doesn't have that.
• Unyte is integrated with Skype, so you can easily determine sharing.
• AIM Pro only shares one on one; at least, I don't think you can have a conference share.
• Unyte lets you pick what to share, out of the applications already running. But if you pass control over to another person, theycan start an app by clicking on your desktop icon (remotely).
• Unyte actual shared session runs in an Internet Explorer window on the other party's computer, so they don't need Unyte. With AIM Pro, the shared session starts up in a browser (mine started in Firefox) then switches to a separate window. However, this could still be a browser window, as Firefox allows this through XUL. The documentation says that it'll work with IE, Firefox or Safari on any platform, so it must be defaulting to IE on my laptop.

These are the differences that stand out for me. A few other features are that Unyte lets you quickly click a checkbox to turn off all sharing. You can be selective of which applications you use. The other parties don't need Unyte, as noted above, but they need Skype 2.0 or later. The host can only use Windows 2000/2003 or XP.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed. I can see immediate applications of this, as I hire a few writers from across the world, and I can very quickly give them a live training session.

I haven't tried Skype 3.0 for Windows Beta, so I cannot comment on Skype's own desktop sharing features, or whether they'll affect Unyte in any way. Unyte is Skype-certified, so I'm assuming Skype isn't going to directly compete with their own partners. (More on that once I find out details.)

Dream Phones, Voice2.0, Voice3.0

Luca Filigheddu describes "voice 3.0" for the future, and lists his dream mobile phone, inspired by an engaging post by Ken Camp. The phone would have several VoIP-related services, multiple
identities, video, configuration of availability, remotely stored contact lists, rich presence information and more. Sounds good to me. Sign me up. Except we're going to have to wait a few years for this before more than just us VoIP bloggers are using the term "voice 3.0".

For the present, I've listed my own VoIPmas wishes. Basically, I won't be happy with anything short of a Buck Rogers cellular wristwatch with WiFi for VoIP, Bluetooth (or Wibree), and a HUD (heads-up display) for video in. Not sure about video out, though the wrist watch should suffice. And so exactly what should we expect for voice 4.0? Portable Star Trek-like holodecks?

Unyte + Skype For Desktop Sharing

Skype's latest version 3.0 for Windows already has desktop sharing, but I haven't tried it out yet. Unyte, however, has a plugin that works with Skype - two, actually. One is free and allows desktop viewing. The other, Unyte+, costs $30+/year and allows desktop application sharing, shared control and scheduling web conferencing, etc. It has what appears to be good integration with Skype, as it lets you pick your conference participants from your Skype contact list. You can also select which applications to display/ share.

The free version only allows 1:1 viewing (that is, one person showing their desktop to one other person. Unyte+ supports 1-25 users. You can download both versions for free, though after 30 days, Unyte+ has to be upgraded to a paid version. No idea how Skype's own native support for desktop sharing (in version 3.0) will affect Unyte. It looks quite interesting, and a comparison of Unyte to AIM Pro's desktop sharing will be posted shortly.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Nov 20/06

California Hospitals Implement Multi-Language VoIP Project
A number of public hospitals in California are implement VoIP technology with live multi-language call support in order to serve the large non-English speaking community AT&T is part of the project. Implementation was completed recently. [via TMCNet]

Phonezoo Ringtones Social Network
Diehard cell phone ringtone lovers now have a social network of their own. Phonezoo lets you create your own ringtones, share them with other members, and discover what they have. You can even rate and discuss each ringtone. [via Roam4free] Color me cynical, but do people have nothing better to do, or am I hopelessly out of touch?

How Now, Apple iPhone?
So if Apple really does come out with a so-called iPhone, how do you think it'll operate? Unlocked with SIM cards? Carriers? Daniel Raffel at O'Reilly Emerging Telephony provides his insights, concluding that a carrier partnership might be more painful to them.

VoIP Roundup - Fri Nov 17/06

Free Asterisk Voice Prompts Until Nov 21, 2006
Digium recently changed the deal on their Asterisk voice prompts, so Ward Mundy at Nerd Vittles has generously decided to give away a block of IVR (Interactive Voice Response) prompts, 20 words or less (hyphenated words are multiple) until Nov 21, 2006. If you don't know what voice prompts are, you probably don't need them :)

Verizon Business Conferencing
Everyone's getting into the VoIP conferencing market, and Verizon Business is the latest.

Google Maps Click-to-Call
[UPDATED]Thanks to the new click-to-call integration, you can find a business on Google Maps and then click on the displayed phone number to initiate a call to the business. Of course, you can't do this with Google Talk. You enter your phone number into an available form field on the map result, and a call is initiated. Google's service rings up the business and then you.

Business Skype 3.0 For Windows?

Skype's gone release mad these past few days. First it was Skype 3.0 for Windows Beta, then yesterday 2.5 for Mac Beta. They also released an update for 3.0 Windows Beta, and very quietly, Skype 3.0 for Windows - Business Version. What gives? Why not announce it? Are they shy because they themselves said Skype's not meant for the enterprise? The download page does say that it's only for experienced users, because they're still working on it.

The so-called "business friendly features" include a Windows Installer (MSI), increased security, easy deployment, admin control, and multiple account management from the "Business Control Panel". And then there's the standard features. I'll have to look into these further at some point in the near future (probably after it's out of beta), but this version could go a long way towards assuaging the fears that several companies and a few universities have had about security and other issues. And since it's still free, the monetization will have to come from SkypeIn, SkypeOut, and Skype-certified Wi-Fi phones, I guess.

Now, marrying Skype with an IP PBX, such as Pika Technologies has done, makes sense.

Motorola On Acquisition Trend

Motorola recently bought Symbol Technologies, a well-known RFID equipment manufacturer. Now they've purchased [Law of Mobility] Good Technology, a make of e-mail mobility. Law of Mobility wonders if Moto will buy Palm next, and analyzes that scenario. My feeling is that while they might try, I can't see why Palm would sell, despite recent drops in quarterly earnings. Palm has its own name, built up over several years. Though it might give them a serious advantage over RIM and their Blackberry products.

Caller IP talks about the purchase as well, and mentions Radicati's report (PDF, 2 pgs) that wireless email will take off. But the market will be driven by Microsoft and RIM, according to the report. However, with Motorola's acquisition of Good, things might just change.

Semi-Anonymous VoIP Online Dating

Almost every guy that's ever gone nightclubbing probably has the same goal: meet someone. For whatever reasons. And no doubt some have scored a phone number. Out of those, there are the guys that got a real number and those that got a fake one. If you sit back and think about it, it's understandable. Some guys are relentless, and women generally aren't very confrontational; at least not in the past. So to defuse the situation, some of them hand out a fake number. Well online dating has changed the entire dating game, the environment, the rules, etc., but the objective is essentially the same: meet someone compatible. But for women especially, some semblance of anonymity is desirable. To that end, a new service, MatchTalk, from dating site Match.com, uses VoIP technology from Jangl to set up calls between two members without revealing phone numbers.

It's nothing new; Jangl offers their own semi-anonymous calling. Match.com has just integrated Jangl tech [Alec Saunders] into their offering. MatchTalk sets up a unique phone number between each two members that want to connect, so their own phone numbers don't have to be handed out until and if they are ready. This is a step up from Verbdate, which reveals your Skype username if you allow it to be public. Now if someone just added semi-anonymous video calling, touch, smell, etc., nightclubs might just go out of style. But seriously, long-distance relationships would be easier to maintain.

Recording Multi-Person Conversations For Podcasting

Nick Wilson over at Performancing.com asks about "the quickest, cheapest way to do high quality multiple stream podcasts." Meaning, in this case, recording a VoIP conference call and publishing it to a website as a podcast.

There are hosted services and even some that let you initiate a conference call from their website. For example, Gabcast offers free podcast creation and hosting, but there are some limitations. There are toll-free numbers for the US, but in other places, you might have to pay for a long-distance call.

But in my opinion, the quickest, cheapest way to pull off a multi-person podcast is, arguably, with Skype. For a free solution, a Skype conference call will work fine provided a few factors are satisfied:

1. Everyone is using Skype. I.e., not landlines or mobile phones in use.
2. You shut down any unnecessary apps on each participating computer. (For best call quality.)
3. You all have a broadband connection and are not talking during a busy period locally (late afternoon, mid evening, before midnight).

There are a few other tips for better VoIP call quality.

For recording the calls, there's HotRecorder (HotRecorder.com, US$14.95) which is even geared for podcasters. There's a search function based on the text that you attach to each recording. HotRecorder, if it's running on your PC (Windows XP, 2003, only for now), will automatically start recording when a call comes in on Skype, or you activate it. HotRecorder works on Skype conference calls as well.

For a completely free solution, use the Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net) audio editor (with support for Cubase VST plugins) to record the call. Audacity has to be manually started, but it's easy to edit your audio track afterwards - something HotRecorder does not feature. Audacity runs on Windows, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux.

Also see VoIPcasting: recording VoIP and Podcasting.

How Do You Video VoIP?

If you're using a VoIP soft client such as Skype or SightSpeed, you probably already know that both have a video calling mode. Either party on such a call can view and/or transmit video, assuming that both have cameras. The video mode can also be one directional. So if you're not up to showing yourself on call, you don't have to, but you can still see the other party if they enable video from their end. As Peter Csathy, CEO of SightSpeed, points out, keeping video mode turned off can serve multiple purposes, including allowing you to do other work while participating in a voice call. So there are suitable times for non-video, so you don't have to worry about things such as video calling etiquette.

Putting Your Best Face Forward

If what Ken Camp is saying in Advances in 3G mobile solutions include facial recognition in video, you might want to make sure that you wake up on the right side of the bed. Imagine: your hair is mess, you're bleary-eyed, and depending on your inclination, your face is either unshaven or unmade. And guess what? Your mobile phone doesn't recognize you and won't let you place a call. Damn biometric machines. Always thinking for themselves and getting it wrong.

Of course, I'm exaggerating. You don't have to worry about video calling etiquette for video-based facial authentication. But there are experiments going on that use facial biometrics to control functions on a mobile phone. This includes more important functionality such as contactless payment, access control, and identification. The biggest problem I see with this, which Ken also points out, is environmental conditions (such as darkness) that might give an inaccurate biometric and thus lock you out. It'll probably take a few years for DoCoMo and others to work these issues out. But if they succeed, we'll certainly live in interesting mobile times.

VoIP Systems For Chicago Public Schools

While public schools in Washington state are only using VoIP for their Electrocom intercom system, all of the nearly 700 public schools in Chicago, Illinois, are being converted over to VoIP phone lines over a four-year period by Mitel Networks. Because the new system can pinpoint the room that a call is made from, it will comply with state regulations for e-911 emergency calling. Teachers will also have voicemail, caller ID, and other features. This is considered to be the largest VoIP conversion of any school system in the US.

So you kids better watch out. Who needs parent-teacher night to discuss your troublemaking bottom if those "other features" allow IM chatting between your teacher and parents. But seriously this is good news for VoIP equipment and service providers. In fact, Mitel claims that 95% of all telecom systems they now install are VoIP-based (though not all of their customers are necessarily schools). Rauland-Borg is another player in the school VoIP market.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Nov 06/06

Electrocom VoIP Intercom
First there the VoIP-based home security alarm systems from InnovAlarm, Alarm.com, and others. Now there is Electrocom's VoIP intercom, which they're promoting as a "safety and security solution" for K-12 schools in the US state of Washington. Since data cabling already exists in these schools, installation is minimal. They system works in hands-free mode and allows two-way communication as well as facility-wide paging. [PRWeb via Yahoo News]

Pairing iBlue Mac Mini PBX And Snom VoIP Phones
The iBlue IP PBX from 4s newcom, which is essentially integrated into an Apple Mac Mini, will work with new VoIP phones from snom. Now that's sort of expected considering that 4s newcom is a spinoff of snom. In March of 2005, snom had announced that they were offering a mini IP PBX that could fit into a briefcase.

MyNetFone Satellite VoIP
I've previously commented that satellite VoIP stands little chance against other types of VoIP service. Though I have limited choices for my Internet connection, it actually never occurred to me that there is a market for whom satellite-based Internet, and thus VoIP, would actually be the only option. MyNetFone must have realized this too, when deciding to offer satellite-based VoIP service to rural parts of Australia. ISPhone, by the way, is another Australian satellite-based VoIP service.

UAE To Lift VoIP Ban?

VoIP services have been blocked in the recent past in a number of countries in the Middle East. One of them, Jordan, recently reversed their decision and will unblock Skype in particular. The UAE (United Arab Emirates), however, have held to their ban.

Word is that this ban may be lifted by the TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority). The UAE is blocking Skype and other VoIP services in some of the Emirates, including Dubai. On the other hand, other reports indicate that the TRA has claimed they are not ready to lift the ban just yet. They may be working with Etislalat and Du to license VoIP, but other services, including Skype, would probably remained blocked. That is, mostly legacy/ incumbent telecom providers would be allowed.

Seems to me like the status quo just found a way to remain the status quo - at least in small countries where the powers that be can gain something by blocking and selectively unblocking VoIP. The question is, are they doing this to gain monetarily or so that all calls can be monitored discreetly somewhere in a warehouse? Not to say that larger countries don't do they very same thing, but they don't block VoIP for the entire nation. The interesting thing, if I've understood correctly, is that a very large percentage of the UAE populace is made of foreigners (to them). So having affordable long distance rates to call friends and family is of high importance.

In short, for most people, especially fans of VoIP and VoIM clients such as Skype, AIM, MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger, there's no hope for their unblocking in the near future in the UAE.

[sources: Gulf News, TradeArabia, 7Days, VoIP News AU]

VoIP Support Services Market To Grow

New research from IDC suggests  [CertCities] that the VoIP support services market will reach nearly US$1.3B by 2010. The growth will come partly from the use of non-proprietary VoIP software, which a single company will not have a stranglehold on in terms of services.

This would suggest that OSS (open source software) IP PBXes such as Asterisk will have a huge role to play in the coming years. Since the cost of startup is so much lower for IP telephony, there is likely to be a boom in the number of companies offering plug-and-play add-ons for Asterisk and other OSS VoIP solutions, as well as support. And since the support can be conducted using the solutions themselves (voice calling, video calling), support costs are lowered as well. Look into the future, and voice-recognition -activated animated avatars might be handling the support calls.

VoIP Roundup - Wed Nov 01/06

What TalkPlus Offers
Ken Camp gives an indepth explanation of why TalkPlus is important. They're the mobile VoIP company that just received over US$5M in venture capital. They offer the ability to have multiple phone numbers

You Lose Some, You Win Some
Last year in Q3, Qwest Communications bore a loss in their revenue. This year in Q3, they showed a profit. Earnings were just under US$200M. Verizon Communications also showed a Q3 profit of over 10 times that of Qwest, coming in at US$2B.

Belize: More Skype Blocking
Phil at Skype Journal reports that Belize Telecommunications in Belize (Central America) is interfering with Skype. They have not implemented a full-out block, but some users have witnessed Skype being blocked once in a while.

Save Money While Using Mobile VoIP

Cost is the factor, which has driven VoIP to emerge as the hot technology in the communication industry. People prefer VoIP to the traditional telephony for its cost-effectiveness and advanced features. When you browse the Internet with your cell phone or use Mobile VoIP, it is likely that you will incur high cost. Surely, you will be looking for an option that would give you similar or higher quality at a lower price.

A recent article titled "Pimp My Mobile: 33 ways to sex up your cell phone" at MobalRental.com gives some hindsight on this. Check out #9 'Unlimited cellular data plan', which may serve your purpose. It will help you to know more about getting an 'unlimited monthly bandwidth account'.

Skype For Business?

I missed this announcement from last week. Businesses can now get premium VoIP-based Skype conferencing services through a site called Highspeedconferencing.com. The latter licences a conference bridging service from Vapps. What it amounts to is Skype for business, something people have been wondering if Skype was ready for.

Skype themselves said, late last year, that they were not ready for a place in the enterprise. However, this service seems a step in the right direction. And the price is fair: only US$4.99/month. For that fee, you get moderated services, "hand raising" for conference participants, recording and downloading, high speed conferencing, and more. A regular speed conference call is free, as is a virtual conference room. You can also use regular phones instead of Skype for an additional fee.

[sources: PR Newswire via VoIP Watch]

Video Politicking - Reach-Out Campaigning

Gadget Trail has a list of ten ways to use VoIP that you probably didn't think about [link below]. One of the tips, #4, suggests volunteering with you fave political party, then using Skype to make free outbound calls (to landlines) to registered voters in swing states. What a briliiant way to campaign without spending loads of money. Rock the vote. Save the campaign money instead to pay for the nasty, mudslinging TV commercials. I suppose you could post them on YouTube as well.

Go one step further and use videblogging using SightSpeed (or Skype). Or hold live video interviews that anyone can join in on. Even one-on-one video campaigning could be effective, as Peter Csathy discusses [link below].

The politician that captivates the web-savvy group, and maybe even uses something like Skypecasts or video-conferencing in SightSpeed or IPTVbroadcasts, is a person whose message will get out there, and who has a chance of running for high office. But that person will also be under intense scrutiny, so the best course of action is utilizing a "permission list" to send campaign videos to, if they're precorded. Consider also using "SkypeMe" buttons on a campaign website.

Whatever you do, don't follow step #10 at Gadget Trail to connect the White House with Cuba. Unless you're at a public computer that doesn't require signup of course :)

[sources: Digital Media Update, Gadget Trail via VoIP Telephony Service]

KISS VoIP

Luca riffs off of something Andy Abramson and the New York Times have said: some VoIP phones are difficult to configure. Now I haven't picked up a Wi-Fi phone yet, but judging from my experiences with various desktop and mobile VoIP apps this year, it appears that as I age, my tolerance level lowers for technology and applications that aren't a cinch to setup. Maybe its tech overload from all the research and writing I do, but there it is. I want my VoIP + VoIM simple, and no doubt those less technical than me do as well. KISS = keep it simple, stupid.

As Andy says, if VoIP Wi-Fi phones are not easy to configure, it'll only be early adopters and techies who use them, even if others purchase them. I'm thinking that if the term "VoIP" continues to be used, it might also discourage people. In fact, the NY Times piece is called "Phones for that other system." Some people/ companies are afraid to call it VoIP, preferring terms such digital phone, e-phone, internet phone, net2phone. Jane Hoskyn of Skype even goes as far as saying "Forgive me for rolling out that ugly word 'VoIP'..." I wouldn't go that far, seeing as 'VoIP' is a play on the word 'voice'. But nevertheless, simplicity and consumer-friendly terminology will aid IP telephony adoption.

VoIP Roundup - Thur Oct 26/06

Nextel Wireless Impersonates Speed Racer
Twenty-one metro areas in the US will be getting faster wireless Internet before or by late 2007, thanks to plans by Sprint Nextel Corp. They will be using EV-Do Rev A technology, which is supposed to enable video-conferencing. [via Kansas City Business Journal]

Real Chat In Advertising
Nuno reports that IBM plans to run two-way advertising, which lets you actually talk to them. I wonder if "truth in advertising" will stretch to VoIP.

Easy PBX Management: Just Add Browser
Want to manage your Asterisk IP PBX via web browser? VoiceOne 0.4.0, which is not only web-based but open source, lets you do this.

Comcast Choking?
Comcast may have the lead in cable VoIP subscribers in the US, but reports indicate that they are running into service outages in the Northeastern US. What's more, these outages seem to have started after Comcast started offering VoIP service only a few months ago. Maybe they'd better finish hiring those extra 4,000 employees. I don't have Comcast, but I'm finding that in the last couple of days that many sites with servers in the US have been difficult to reach.

17 VoIP + IPTV-Related Xmas Suggestions

If you are not already familiar with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) or vVoIP (video and voice over IP), it's a means to voice and video calls from a computer. Most VoIP services also let you call to regular phones. VoIP is a great way to save money on long-distance calls, as PC-to-PC calling is free, as is some PC-to-phone calling. IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) refers to a variety of TV-watching services on the Internet, and loosely includes streaming video.

Here's a short-list of some things that might be nice to give as holiday gifts this year, for the VoIPr in your life. I am going purely on specifications and my knowledge, not necessarily because I've tried something (although I have tried some). These are in no particular order, and are not endorsements of any product or service. The suggestions are for both mobile and stationary VoIP calling.

1. VoIP soft phone. There are tons of choices for VoIP software, all free. Some IM (Instant Messaging) clients such as AIM Pro, Windows Live (MSN) Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger also have the ability to call out from computer to regular phones. Google Talk cannot, but if you add Talqer, you can.
2. Calling credits. SkypeOut credits for Skype, or the equivalent for SightSpeed, Gizmo Project, Hullo, etc. This lets you call from your PC/ Mac to a regular phone. Gizmo Project already offers a lot of free calling to landlines in 60 or more countries, but only if the callee is registered.
3. Call-In phone number. A "Call In" phone number for Skype, SightSpeed, Gizmo Project, Hullo, etc. With one of these, people can call you on your computer as they would your regular phone. Skype is limited in the cities that they support; SightSpeed has a bit more variety.
4. 1-800 number. SkyNET has a reasonable plan for internationally-accessible 1-800 numbers, which can be redirected to a VoIP Call-In number. If you live in an area where Skype or SightSpeed (or whatever) do not offer local phone numbers (for Call-In), you can get a SkyNet 1-800 number and redirect it to whatever Call-In number you get. SkyNet also has local numbers, but that means you have to purchase their VoIP calling plan instead of Skype's, etc.
5. Webcam. Mobile video may take a while, but desktop video calling is free and functioning, courtesy of SightSpeed and Skype. MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) even incorporates fan input via SightSpeed, right into the show. My suggestions: For a laptop, get one that clips on easily. For a desktop, get both a flat USB port and webcam with a "snake" cable, so that it's easily adjusted.
6. Microphone. You don't need an expensive one, if you are not doing podcasting. But most built-in mics on laptops are relatively low-quality. Alternately, you might want to give someone a headphone/ mic combo headset (#7) or Bluetooth headset/ earpiece (#10).
7. Speakers or headset.
8. New smartphone or PDA. Pretty much any new Nokia N or E series phones, most of which, I believe, support VoIP (properly). Some PocketPC or Windows Mobile-based devices might as well. I don't know all the specs on the RIM BlackBerry Pearl phone, but it is a cool phone. Many phones will allow "mobile VoIP" services such as EQO or Mino Wireless, etc., to function correctly. These services essentially call you back, once you activate a call, so your cost per call is only your cell minutes, plus the cost of your cellular Internet usage. Of course, if Apple actually releases the iPhone/ iSmartphone, that might be nice, too.
9. Cellular wireless data plan. Great for accessing the Internet from your mobile phone, and making mobile VoIP calls. Just make sure that an "unlimited" plan really is unlimited. Many cellular providers only allow 250 megabytes per month, and cut you off after that.
10. Mobility. Bluetooth earpiece or headset, to give your voipr some mobility around the house or office - or for hands-free operation while driving. Also nice for when it's cold out. You might want to test earpieces, as some chafe the inner part of the ear. A headset is another option, or the Motorola Bluetooth hat, or the Motorola/ Oakley Bluetooth sunglasses. But Bluetooth devices are not only more expensive than regular wired headsets, they eat power for lunch. And mobile phones operating in "find Bluetooth devices" mode will also need to be recharged more frequently. A new Nokia wireless protocol called Wibree may change that in the very near future.
11. Mobility, part 2. Wi-Fi VoIP phone - maybe even a Skype-certified one. That, or maybe a dual-mode Wi-Fi/ cellular phone. These are going to be hot, with all the municipal Wi-Fi projects going on all over the world.
12. Wireless router. If you want to be walking around the house while VoIPing, one way is to use a Wi-Fi phone. Depending on the type, you will probably need a wireless router attached to your broadband Internet connection. Most large office supply or consumer electronics stores have these.
13. VoIP call recorder. You may want to record VoIP calls for posterity, business reasons, or even interviewing or podcasting. HotRecorder is my fave, but there are lots of others. HotRecorder activates itself when a Skype call comes in - and it's supposed to work with other VoIP soft phones. It's only about US$15, but if your budget is running a bit thin, there's the free audio editor Audacity, which has to be manually activated, but works fine.
14. Business VoIP. An iBlue IP PBX, made with a Mac Mini. Great for that Mac-lover who also has a small business and wants to use IP telephony for communications. Or for a larger business (including call centers), there's Pika Technologies' bridge over troubled VoIP. It marries the Skype interface with Asterisk IP PBX.
15. VoIP knowledge. A copy of Ted Wallingford's VoIP Hacks, where he'll teach you to make your own iBlue with a Mac Mini and Asterisk software.
16. Cinema screen. For all the good little boy and girl voiprs, if they've been extra special this year, get'em a 50" Apple display, to watch both IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) and video calls via Skype or SightSpeed, at the same time as the do other stuff on the screen.
17. Plug'n'play VoIP adapter. Know someone who can benefit from inexpensive VoIP calls but does not like/ have/ want a computer? I know a few people like that. For them, you can get plug-and-play adapter/ router that (usually) configures itself once you plug in a broadband Internet connection, your regular phone line, and your regular phone. Of course, if you don't have a computer, why would you have broadband Internet? Well, if you have cable TV, for a bit more money each month, you can have broadband, and all on one bill. Your cable company will try to sell you their "digital phone" plan, but they usually charge a lot more. You'll have to decide.

Happy voiping.

More About Mobile Video Calling

I may never have mobile video calling on my Palm Treo, but several bloggers have been engaged in a dialog about about its possibilities over the past week. Peter Csathy thinks mobile video calling will be big business. Andy Abramson seems to think it'll do better in Europe rather than the USA, which is car-centric. You don't want to drive and call at the same time, but on mass transit, which Europe is more geared to, it's not as much of an usability issue - as Andy says. Luca Filigheddu seems unsure, at least about the success of 3G mobile video calling. Jeff Pulver thinks it'd be rather useful. Ken Camp offers his thoughts.

Now not only are these people VoIP bloggers but they are actually involved in the VoIP/ IP Communications industry. Several of them are CEOs/CTOs or consultants for big clients. As Wayne and Garth might have said, "I'm not worthy to discuss IP communications with them," though not to Alice Cooper. I'm no longer in the telecom industry, except for writing about VoIP. I can only say that I think video calling will be great for anyone on the go who either has the discipline not to use it while driving, or who uses public transit. (Also great for real estate agents, to give guided remote tours, as Peter mentions in one of his posts, and as I have before, possibly elsewhere.)

I gave up a lot of things a few years ago when I changed careers to become a freelance writer, so I don't have a car anymore. My headspace has been either passenger or pedestrian for a good 3+ years. Hence, when I think about mobile VoIP and vVoIP (and technology in general), I sometimes forget about the driving- and- talking aspect. Having once been almost sideswiped by a woman who seemed to be trying to do her lipstick and talk on her cell simultaneously, I've always been cautious about driving and talking, preferring handsfree mode. (Now I have a Bluetooth earpiece, but no car :)

The only thing I can think of as a video analog to Bluetooth is to use HUD (heads-up display) goggles, which is part of my ultimate gadget wish list. Some HUDs are unobtrusive, allowing you to see the road ahead. However, that does not mean that they are not distracting. I cannot see anyone successfully driving and conducting video calls, with or without a HUD. A video display mounted in a car dashboard couldn't possibly be much better. However, at least that way, the video mode could be automatically shut off if the ignition is running - only the audio would function. When the ignition turns off (or switches to "park"), the video would turn on. It's mobile video calling, but probably not in the way that the other VoIP bloggers are talking about. Until our cars pilot themselves on roadways, mobile video calling might not do so well in North America.

Having said all this, I should clarify. Recently, I said I'm not keen on video on mobile. What I meant was watching mobile TV on a small screen. For mobile video calls, which would probably last only a few minutes, I don't see a small screen as an issue, and actually look forward to it.

Why I Now Hate My Palm Treo 650

Okay, this isn't only about VoIP, but it caught my attention. I just noticed that my mobile carrier is offering both mobile TV and mobile radio. They don't support Palm devices, so it now doesn't suprise me that services like Rok/ FreeBe TV, Orb and other mobile TV services don't either. But for $15/mth, my cellular carrier also offers mobile radio, which is really just XM Satellite Radio. Though I'm not keen on video on smartphones, mobile radio is something I'm keen to try but not necessarily buy. That means that after you download the free mobile radio app, and sign up, you've got access to XM's programming. No expensive device to purchase.

A great idea, to be sure, but once again my bloody Palm Treo is not supported. I am seriously regretting this purchase, no matter how much I first loved it. It can't do most of the things that are important to at least try so I can write about them: VoIP (well, not very well; limited), mobile TV, mobile radio. Greatly disappointing. Either my device isn't supported, or my carrier isn't. I hope Palm is paying attention. Instead of making all these new devices, such as the Treo 680, why don't they promote what they have, to get apps working on those devices?

Should Cable VoIP Be Regulated By State?

That's what utility regulators in the US state of Missouri believe, prompting the PSC (Public Service Commission) to ask Comcast for their application for a certificate of service authority. Comcast, who are leading the race for most cable VoIP subscribers in the US, in turn filed a federal lawsuit in Missouri district court against the state's Public Utilities Commission.

It appears that the PSC disagrees with the FCC's decision that VoIP should not be regulated by the states, especially for local cable providers. Cable companies and pure play companies such as Vonage and SunRocket were designated as being exempt from state regulation on VoIP providers. Says Van Eschen of the PSC, local cable operators should not be exempt since VoIP calls are initiated via their facility, which is based in the state of Missouri. Pure plays like Vonage do not have this restriction and are hence not subject to state regulation. Comcast's stance is that, according to the FCC, IP-enabled services connected to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) system is a telecommunications service and hence subject to FCC rulings, not state regulations.

All I can say is that this is one scenario where if state and federal regulations ultimately clash, we'll be left with a dog's breakfast, with some VoIP providers enjoying greater advantages than others. In the US, state regulations usually trump federal, but there has to be some unanimous agreement when it comes to VoIP services.

For too many reasons to list here now, I support the idea that VoIP is a telecommunications service and thus subject to a homogeneous federal ruling. I don't, however, support the FCC's pick-and-choose decision on who is exempt and who is not. Telecom services are telecom services, as far as end users are concerned.

Embedded VoIP: You've Got Gizmo Project In My LiveJournal

FierceVoIP asks, Will bloggers want to talk to each other, referring to the fact that the LiveJournal weblogging  platform now has Gizmo Project embedded into it. Users of LiveJournal (LJ) can see the online status of their "friends" and communicate either with voice or text chat, or leave a message.

If you want to try Gizmo Project for LJ Talk, you'll need a free LiveJournal account first, which involves a ridiculously hard to read captcha graphic (to prove you are human and not a spambot). Then you'll have to choose between two different types of free account or a paid one. (While I like MovableType, a cousin to LJ, I'm not a big fan of LJ.) Finally, you can download the clients (Win 2000, XP = 11.1 Mb; Mac OS X 10.3.9+ = 18.9 Mb). A microphone and headphones (or speakers) are obviously required.

Once you've downloaded and installed LJ Talk, when you run the client, your "presence" will register on your LiveJournal journal pages, to your LJ friends. (This is based on what I can tell from the LJ pages. Since this is essentially Gizmo Project, I have no plan to install it as well.) Now you need some friends to try it on. Go search for and invite people on LJ.

Will you be my friend? If you are like me and have no friends, you can at least use the client to voice post to your LiveJournal weblog, which is a nice feature. If you already have LJ friends, your contact list will be used to populate LJ Talk. I suspect though can't confirm yet that LJ Talk supports click-to-call, whereby someone can click on a "call me" type of button on your LJ journal web pages to initiate a VoIP call with you in your LJ Talk client.

By the way, you can also use a variety of other compatible clients to chat with someone on LJ Talk.

deltathree iConnectHere World Plan VoIP

World Plan is a new VoIP service from iConnectHere, a division of deltathree. As the name suggests, the plan provides international calling at reduced rates. Subscribers can select a phone number from any of twelve countries. Calling plans start at US$6.99/mth. Service features include:

...voicemail, caller ID, 3-way calling, advanced call forwarding and real-time call records

There is also the obligatory free soft client for pc2phone calls, and a Virtual Calling Card that provides toll-free access numbers in 27 countries - allowing you to use you calling plan elsewhere. A $30 signup bonus is given for World Plan, a free broadband plug-and-play phone adapter, and a phone number. See the feature list for more details. [via PRWeb]

deltathree also announced a partnership with telSPACE  to allow MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) to offer VoIP and cellular services on a unified platform. The company won the 2005 Product of the Year for iConnectHere, from Internet Telephony magazine. deltathree has been expanding their presence in the Carribean and LatinAmerica, amongst other places.

Enterprise IP Telephony: It Costs How Much?!

While there are a number of reasons that businesses have been slow to adopt Internet telephony, there are companies doing big deals for enterprise VoIP migrations. Williamette Dental in Midwest USA operates 69 offices in the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washinton. They signed a deal with Qwest Communications International Inc. to set up a data networking and VoIP system over three years. At a cost of US$3.8M. The VoIP system will be used to transfer calls from customers to their call center.

The amount took me aback. That seems like a lot for VoIP. That's just over $55K per office. Now I don't claim to know the costs of traditional telephony systems - despite having worked for a large telecom - but $55K per office sounds like an awful lot. Then again, they may need to lay down coaxial, put in IP PBXes, interconnect offices. configure the software and the system, do any necessary training, and possibly manage the services. There's also the cost of call minutes and reportage, although these will likely be less than for PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) systems.

But the good news for businesses that cannot afford to spend $55K per office is that there are probably probably plug-and-play IP PBX solutions that are SIP-based (open standard) and which cost less than that. One possible option is an Asterisk solution, maybe even the hybrid Skype-Asterisk solution for businesses, from Pika Technologies. I'll try to expand on business options in future posts.

Sightspeed Call-In 800 Numbers

Not sure when this was added, but a quick browse of the Sightspeed website shows that they you can get either a 1-800 or local Phone-In number all over the US. A local US number is US$3.95/mth, which includes free voicemail. A 1-800 number costs only $1.00 per month, plus $0.02/minute for incoming calls. It's only an US toll-free number, though. So they cannot even accept calls from outside the US.

It's not a bad rate for a toll-free number, provided you don't have friends and family outisde the country. Hopefully they'll add support for "international" toll-free numbers, where you can accept calls from (select) other countries. If you are looking for an International toll-free number, try Skynet-tel.com.

Now That's What I'm Talking About: Custom Voice Mails

Not long ago, I was bellyaching about wanting a way to produce different voicemail messages for different callers (based on caller id). In fact, some other blogger mentioned something about wanting one voicemail message for his girlfriend/ wife (both?), another for business contacts, and yet another for friends and family. Well YouMail lets you do this. Their initial application rollout is for Verizon, Cingular and T-Mobile cellular subscribers only. Currently, there is only Windows support, with Mac coming soon. More details at YouMail. (As I'm not a subscriber of any of the above providers, I can't test it.)

I'm guessing that even if YouMail doesn't get into the VoIP niche, someone else will come up with similar features for soft phones. I mean, it can't be that hard. All soft phones already know who is calling, if the caller is at least on a soft phone. Now since I have not explored VoIP soft phone and VoIM voicemail all that much, I may have just missed the fact that some of them already have customized voicemails. I'm wagering that if Asterisk cannot already do this, that it wouldn't be all that hard to do so.

[sources: MobileCrunch, Technology Evangelist]

Virtual GPS

Don't have GPS capability in your mobile phone or PDA? The Navizon Web API from Mexens Technology can pinpoint users by triangulating signals from nearby Wi-Fi access points. This location can then be used as a reference point to show the user additional location-based information such as nearby stores, banks and restaurants.

This functionality could be teamed up with the mobile click-to-call/ pay-per-call that Microsoft and Ingenio are now offering (jointly with Ingenio). It could be a great way to promote local businesses in cities that are offering municipal Wi-Fi. Given that cell phone use is expected to increase all over the world - particularly with dual-mode Wi-Fi/ cellular phones, there is likely to be a market for such services.

[sources: Wireless IQ, Biz Yahoo]

SMS Text Messages In Non-Roman Alphabets

While English might be the de facto language in India, especially for business, and usually the first language taught in most schools there, Hindi is the official language. The script known as Devanagiri, and the language both derive from the dead language Sanskrit, which is a sister language of Latin.

The fact that Hindi is written in a non-Roman alphabet makes it complex to when it comes to computers and cell phones. However, Feedelix Wireless has managed to send the first-ever Hindi SMS message from a subscriber in India to another in San Diego, California. Feedelix's HindiVayuSMS software was used. [via Cellular News]

This of course bodes well for other languages that do not use the Roman alphabet. An alternate method would be for one participant to type in English, and for on-the-fly language translation software to convert to Hindi, even in Devanagiri script. This of course is only a partial solution. Other possibilities are to auto-generate Devanagiri script by translating voice input.

Microsoft's Click-to-Call

Google's doing click-to-call, so why not Microsoft? Ingenio and Microsoft have teamed up to offer a mobile version of click-to-call, which incorporates pay-per-call advertising on Windows Live Search for mobile devices. The pay-per-call advertising market is expected to reach nearly US$4Bln by the end of the decade, for mobile or otherwise. Essentially, advertisers get exposure in Windows Live Search, and if a mobile user clicks their link to find out more information about their products and/or services, then the advertiser pays Microsoft and Ingenio for the call. Example advertisers might be local businesses such as restaurants, hotels, travel agencies. [PR Newswire via Biz Yahoo]

Google Is A Moron

At least that's what you would have to deduce from motor-mouth Mark Cuban's recent comment that "you'd have to be a moron to buy YouTube". Cuban later reiterated his dislike. Well, I've always thought Cuban was a moron and a few other choice words besides. Google will likely prove him wrong with their YouTube purchase. They obviously have something worthwhile planned. I cannot recall them ever buying something without a purpose. Whatever you may think of Google's acquisition machine, Sergey Brin and Larry Page each deserve the title of genius.

By the way, Here is Loren Baker's 5 reasons why Google will buy YouTube - obviously written before the actual buyout announcement. Some of those reasons are why they will not be cancelling their click-to-call project.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Oct 09/06

VoIP Hacks
Congrats to Ted Wallingford on the publication of his book VoIP Hacks, which is out now. It has all kinds of tips to improve call quality, record calls, create special effects, and more. For example, a trick to sounding like Darth Vader. Might be great if a visher calls you. Silence!!! You begin to annoy me!!! I gotta get me to a book store. (Sorry, don't like buying books online, as I like tactile browsing.)

Virtual e911?
Tom Keating has a snortingly funny silly scenario about potential e911 confusion due to the Second Life online RPG (role playing game) having VoIP ability via Vivox and others.

Making Municipal Wi-Fi Work: Thoughts
The Pulvermedia website has a podcast of an interview with Don Fitzgerald, who is in charge of the municipal Wi-Fi project in Frederiction, New Brunswick, Canada. It's apparently the first city in Canada to offer free Muni Wi-Fi, although Toronto will probably be a close second. The interview is part of the series Canadian IP Thought Leaders.

VoIP As A Teaching Aid

VoIP is increasingly being used in a number of ways that traditional telephony never could. One such way is in online tutoring. Using either a VoIP or VoIM soft client, you have access to a host of free (or inexpensive) functionality ideal for remote teaching: text chat, voice chat, file sharing, video calling, conferencing. Some soft clients, such as AIM Pro, also have the ability to do desktop application sharing. There are even a number of options for collecting payment for your time: Ether or Skype + Jyve.

If you plan to tutor online, using VoIP or VoIM software is an ideal way to supplement the learning experience. See more details at 8 reasons to use VoIP and VoIM in teaching.

Click-To-Call Project Cancellation Hoax Revealed

Believe it or not, Google's official Blogspot blog was hacked over the weekend. Some wag posted, in bad grammar and spelling, that Google's click-to-call project was being cancelled. This of course would be odd considering this project is partly in collaboration with eBay. Click-to-call and VoIP SOA in general are too important a new niche of VoIP for a company as large as Google to suddenly change their minds after signing a big deal. It's not necessarily about immediate costs but more market share.

The Google blog has been hacked before. However,  no one is saying it, but it's probably some disgruntled outgoing employee whose access hadn't been terminated. That makes more sense and is less worrisome than if it was some random hacker outside the company. Om Malik wrote about the official stance from Google.

Call Center Fraud In India

Moshe Yudkowsky talks about the "call centre" fraud going on in India, and the British documentary that will air on TV in the UK. The problem is that financial institutions who outsource their call center support are susceptible to employees stealing confidential information, such as credit card numbers, and selling it on the street.

In light of that, maybe using VoIP to reduce call center outsourcing isn't going to be much better. At least not for financial institutions. Because if employees are stealing data at call centers under the noses of supervisors, those working at home might be even more tempted. On the other hand, that does not rule out using VoIP for call centers, where everyone works at a bricks-and-mortar center.

Check Your Skype Credits

Garret Smith asks is Skype stealing your money? Seems another writer, Phil Bowermaster, discovered something in the fine print of Skype's service policy that says Skype credits expire six months from the date of purchase.

This isn't a surprise to me, but it's not exclusive to Skype. several other VoIP soft phone-based services do the same thing. I'm sure I've read it in the service policy of at least three of the dozen or so soft phones I've download. But as I haven't bought any credits from anyone yet, it hasn't concerned me. (Maybe it subsidizes the promos like free French SkypeOut or North American freebies?)

While I don't have to like this clause, it's no different than mobile minutes that don't roll over to the next month or phone cards that expire their credits 30-60 days. In the case of a phone card, however, I can at least give it to a friend. I'm not sure if that is so with VoIP call-out credits. My guess is that this policy is instated so that if you use a lot of credits then have a dry spell, you'll consider getting an unlimited plan next time. Subscriptions are often far more important to a company, even if it means losing a few dollars of revenue. It's the predictability factor.

VoIP Roundup - Wed Oct 04/ 06

GoTalk: Free Happy Hour VoIP Calls
GoTalk is offering new customers free calling to landlines and cell phones during the 6-7 pm slot, provided you sign up for a year. A free plug'n'play adapter is included in the package. [via The VoIP Weblog]

VoIPing For Profit: Skype Moodmessage
Skype has a plugin known as Mood-o-Matic, which displays clickable mood messages. A guest blogger, Hans Blaauw, at Skype Journal is suggesting this as a vehicle for unobtrusive advertising, as a way for Skypers to earn some VoIP calling credits. This might be more palatable to some people than Globe7's plan to have people watch video ads to gain VoIP credits.

IP Telephony Changes Canadian Telecom Market
The Canadian telecom industry is undergoing changes due to new technologies such as VoIP, which allows non-traditional providers into the market. And that of course is a good thing, resulting not only in more choices for consumers but lower prices. The Canadian telecommuncations market, watched over by the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission), also underwent deregulation just like the American market did, and that's what has paved the way for these changes. [via Teleclick]

The Demise of The Blackberry?

I don't believe this for a minute, given how long BlackBerries have lasted and how much their users love them, but.... IDC has release a report saying that BlackBerries cannot last against push email solutions from Microsoft and Nokia. [via Teleclick.ca]

Here's why I don't believe it. The people who use BlackBerry, as far as I'm aware, are employees. Their employers have all the equipment and servers in place. While Microsoft and Nokia may succeed in signing on new business, existing RIM clients are probably unlikely to want to do a wholesale switchover. Unless there was some overwhelming benefit. And not just cost, I'm thinking.

Another factor? RIM stock. I know former RIM employees who became millionaires and retired. One of the founders of RIM set up an incredible science facility in the Waterloo, Canada area, where RIM is headquartered, with $95M of his own money, if I remember correctly. Then the brightest physics minds of the world were invited for fellowships.

It isn't just Canadians, particularly employees, who bought stock. No doubt loads of Americans, particularly executives, bought stock. With Microsoft stock sucking bollocks for about five years now, execs aren't going to let RIM stock decline just because Microsoft or Nokia comes out with a new competitve product. I'm sure of this. When Microsoft had hot stock, I found this same kind of attitude from executives I worked with. I despised Microsoft's strategies back then, but they defended the big M, even though I presented facts as to why they were not the better choice. No luck at all.

So even if Microsoft and Nokia come out with something better, they have a whole "Crackberry" culture to deal with. And with RIM moving into cool phones like the Blackberry Pearl and plans to get into VoIP, they are expanding their potential customer base. They may not have as deep pockets as Microsoft and Nokia, but they're deep enough to, say, make a few strategic acquisitions. And they are a wildly innovative company with a large "fan" base.

More VoIP Advantages Over Traditional Telephony

The Yankee Group has a report suggesting that soft phones (Skype, Gizmo Project, Sightspeed, Hullo) and IMs (Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Aim Pro, Google Talk) are moving into a new voice applications such as click-to-call, an area that tradtional telcos and cellular carriers just cannot follow into easily.

Click-to-call and other VoIP SOA (service-oriented architecture) offerings are gaining in popularity with service providers. Google is already planning a click-to-call service with eBay. Adobe plans to embed VoIP into Flash media players, which are fairly common on some websites - especially with the rise of embedded streaming video in personal and professinal weblog-style websites.

[sources: VoIP Magazine]

SkyNET: Single Geek Male Finds Single Toll-Free VoIP Number

Well, I didn't find it, exactly. After I posted my Single geek male seeks single toll-free number article, Michael Steverson from SkyNET-tel.com posted a comment saying that they can do what I was asking for right now: a single 800 VoIP number. Do my eyes deceive me? Really?

The deal is US$9.99/month for a Personal 800 Number. That has to be teamed with the One Cent Plan, which is $4.99/mth. Calls are then $0.01/minute. While I haven't been as much of chatty kathy lately, if I were to resume my old talk habits of 800+ minutes per month, well that'd still only be 14.98 + 8.00 per month. My old toll-free number cost me about $35/mth, if I remember correctly. So even if I used 1000 minutes per month, that'd still be just under $25/month. There's also the unlimited plan of $23.99/mth (first month free) or the unlimited business plan of $39.99/m.

Coupled with a personal 800 number, that's not a bad deal at all, if I can find a reasonable VoIP call-in number plan and suitable area code, then I'm set. The 800 number requires a local number, but if I can get a local area code with VoIP when I move to the big city, then I'm good. (That might be a problem, as most popular VoIP services do not cover the city I'm moving to, including SkyNET, from what I can tell.) But the 800 toll-free number is apparently good for 36 international locations. People from all of these locations can call the number as if it were local. Man, am I excited. I can finally enjoy vishing and annoying telemarketing calls from all over the world.

Sounds like a deal. Currently, most of my voice chat minutes are local. I've been taking advantage of Skype's SkypeOut free calling promo in North America, to test quality and generally freak friends and family out with my pc-to-phone calling. On the other hand, I did say I was moving. I would still need a soft phone Call-In number for the new locale. If I find one, basically for not more than what I used to spend only a regional 800 number, I can get pretty much what I was looking for: a single toll-free 800 number, not counting a local number. (SkyNET will have their own soft phone in the future. Just a suggestion, but guys/ gals, base it on SIP, so that it can communicate with users on Gizmo Project, iPhox, and others.)

Incidentals: There's a shipping charge of $25 for the free SkyBOX, which I assume is a VoIP adapter for the broadband connection. They're charging sales tax, even though it's the Internet. Maybe it has to do with where I am. And there's a $19.99 activation fee. Okay, I'll stop being a cheapskate. This still seems like a pretty good deal

I'm listening to Roy Orbison, the man with the soothing golden voice, right now as I write this. So maybe I'm a bit sentimental at the moment, but this might just be the beginning of a beautiful VoIP relationship. Thanks, Michael. The only things that worry me are (1) the secure HTTP server certificate on their website has expired. So I hope they'll fix this before I decide to commit to a serious relationship. And for those of you that don't use credit cards, like myself, they accept payment by Paypal. I'm not moving just yet, but when I do, I'm itching to try this. Although if Skype ever gets real mobile support going, I'll have a grand time combining Skype and SkyNET.

Skype From Mobile: SoonR - Take 2

Song Huang from SoonR responded in detail to my original post about Sooner, as well as a post about soft VoIP for mobile devices. SoonR is an application that lets you not only make Skype calls from your mobile phone or PDA, but it also lets you view your desktop applications. Apparently it can render all kinds of information on your phone including Powerpoint slides, AutoCad and Illustrator drawings, and PDF documents.

Except that I couldn't get it to work, other than being able to view my desktop's folders. I couldn't get a simple text file, nor could I use the Skype feature to phone a friend. Actually, I could, but when SoonR called my cell, I was still on data mode and it went to voicemail. So the friend I was trying to call heard my voice mail instead of me.

According to Song's response to my problems with SoonR on my Palm Treo 650, it appears that I missed a few details. Treos are problematic, especially on EV-DO networks. (At least, I think that's the issue. Palm devices using Microsoft Pocket PC don't have the problem.) SoonR allows you to set a delay so that you can switch from data over to phone mode. I missed that. But then, I missed that setting for a few apps. Delays are how Mino Wireless and EQO Mobile both get around the Treo data network problem. (Though at least Mino's is automatic, and EQO might be as well.) So if you are having similar problems with SoonR on Palm OS-based smartphones/ PDAs, try configuring the delay setting.

Now I guess I have to add SoonR to the growing list of VoIP/ voice apps that I have to try or re-try. But assuming that it will work for me now, with all the features it has, it's an incredibly cool application. At least in theory. While it'd be very nice to have access to apps like Outlook, Powerpoint, Illustrator, and PDF, it's like I said about Cognos announcement about running their business intelligence software on Blackberry devices. Basically, the app may be cool, but all of them suffer from the fact that mobile devices typically have such small viewing screens.

What I'd like to see - although I am a geek - is a HUD (heads-up display) that I can connect to my PDA, and a simple interface - possibly a wired glove (maybe even RFID) to actually interact with the application as simply as possible. This is about the only way I'd care about running complex apps or viewing complex data on the go. (That and a better cellular data plan.) Even my relatively large Palm Treo 650 screen won't cut it for me.

Single Geek Male Seeks Single Toll-Free VoIP Number

The VoIP Girl and others recently cancelled their Vonage account. VG is switching to something else. What VoIP service did she switch to? She hasn't decided yet, but it appears she has some choices, including using a virtual number call-forwarded to her softphone. She wants a local number (to her).

This approach could be interesting, but I'd want a single toll-free VoIP number. A few years back, just after I stopped working for a large telecom, I paid for a personal 800 toll-free number through their cellular division. It just happened that I did a lot of commuting: live in one city, work in two others, meetings for personal projects in others, hang out with friends in yet another, promote bands in still more. All in a single day or week. I didn't want people to have to spend a fortune trying to call me.

At first, I had a local cell phone number, but if I took that phone with me out of town and someone called me from my hometown, then it became a long distance charge for them. Then I got a second cell phone but with an area code in the city I spent most of my work day in. But that didn't quite work either. I then switched to a regional 800 toll-free number and my friends and business contacts were very happy. It only cost me about $35 per month, which beat the $200-300+ that I would have spent calling everyone myself. Except some weird politics developed between two big cellular providers and the 800 numbers on mobile phones option was cancelled in my area.

This was a whlie ago. Now I work almost completely from home, and don't travel much at present. Anyone I know that's geographically separated from me has a computer and I talk to them via IM (Instant Messaging), email, or a VoIP soft phone. Most of the time. But being the nomadic wanderer that I am, I'm planning to move yet again. Anyone I know locally right now would want to call me at my new town via a regular phone, not from a soft phone. (Don't ask. Maybe it's something in the water, but I can't convince anyone I know locally to get a soft phone. They don't mind IMs; soft phones they don't understand, or maybe don't like. Oh the shame.)

That means, to save everyone the long distance charges that would occur, I'd want a single call-in number linked to a softphone. Sure, I'll still have my Palm Treo 650, but it'll have a new local number after I move. I want something that isn't going to cost people money. Sure, Gizmo Project has a free 775 area code-based number, but that doesn't give you toll-free - as far as I can tell from the area 775 FAQ.

What I want is a single VoIP plan with a toll-free number attached to a quality soft-phone. Could be wrong, but I don't think anyone has that yet. This means that I'll probably have to get a landline (haven't had one in over 10 years) with an 800 number and forward it to a VoIP Call-In number. This isn't quite the same as VoIP Girl, since she wants a local number. I don't. I plan to be doing a lot of travelling before the end of this decade, for business and pleasure, and a single (toll-free) VoIP number would be best, for friends, family, and contacts. Of course, if I could get this number for fully-functioning mobile VoIP on my Palm Treo, I'd be even happier, and gladly pay for it. And before the end of the decade, please. Then I wouldn't have to worry about which VoIP soft client everyone was using.

Speaking of toll-free numbers, TipMonkies points to a site called Hardtofind800numbers.com. Speaks for itself, I think.

Odds On Vonage

VoIP News has a well-thought out post about Vonage, complete with financials, estimates, and most interestingly the odds on several scenarios occuring. These scenarios are pretty much in line with what I've been saying about Vonage's future paths. Vonage is one of the first (if not the first) VoIP provider to go public, and that automatically raises their profile.

That means they are a threat to traditional telcos from the telcos' perspective for many reasons. And for those countries that regularly wiretap phone calls, VoIP is also a threat to intelligence and law enforcement agencies. CALEA in the US stipulates that regular telecommunications has to have a backdoor for recording calls, even though experts question whether CALEA can be implemented for VoIP.

So the question is why aren't other companies going through the same sort of thing, if VoIP is such a threat? Well, just my opinion, but besides Vonage being one of few publicly-traded VoIP providers (not hardware manufacturers), I think it would be kind of obvious if every VoIP provider was having problems. If there is in fact intentional financial and technical sabotage, it has to be subtle and not widespread..

Japanese-Language BlackBerry In Mid-2007

Teleclick.ca writes that RIM will be selling Japanese-language BlackBerry communication devices by mid next year. Meanwhile, a BlackBerry with an English-language keyboard will be launching this week in the Japanese market - the first BlackBerry for that market. RIM's recovering nicely since settling their big NTP lawsuit and since then, coming out with this new phone and the BlackBerry Pearl, as well as getting serious about VoIP when they bought Ascendent. In fact, they've announced other phones recently, including the BlackBerry 7130g in India and the BlackBerry 8703e with GPS capability. RIM will be announcing their Q2 2006 results tomorrow. As part of that, there'll be a conference call and live webcast starting 5pm ET. Or you can listen to the replay.

VoIP and SOA

With click-to-call and embedded VoIP apps gaining popularity (witness Adobe's plan to embed VoIP in Flash players and Google's deal with eBay/ Skype), you can expect to see more offerings like BlueNote Network's SessionSuite SOA software [eWeek]. SOA, or Service-Oriented Architecture, software is hot in the web services arena. SessionSuite essentially allows developers to build web telephony CRM apps that work together as a suite.

SessionSuite does not require any hardware (other than a web server) to bulid voice data applications with. Software such as this, some people feel, spells the future of VoIP and the beginning of extremely sophisticated voice-based online applications.

More VoIP Crimes

Not too long ago, 23 year old Edwin Pena and his accomplice Robert Moore were arrested for stealing and reselling 10M minutes of VoIP service. Pena recently went on the run and is being sought by authorities for skipping bail. Now five Asian men have been arrested in Namibia for selling VoIP without a license, based on the country's 1992 Postal and Telecommunication Act.

Bail was set at N$3,000 each and was paid. But the group will have to return to court at the end of October and may face jail time. This seems way out of whack. Wouldn't a fine be sufficient? Skype had been told by the Korean government recently that they did not have the appropriate license. No fine was levied, and Skype stopped taking new memberships from Korean citizens.

The primary difference in crime between Pena/ Moore and the five foreign nationals in Namibia is that the former group stole service from other VoIP providers. But they went to great technical lengths to do so, and got away with it for quite a while. The Nambian five were caught when they tried to sell VoIP service to a member of the public.

Additional sources: VoIP News Australia, All Africa, TMC Net.

VoIP Roundup - Fri Sep 22/06

How To Choose A VoIP Provider
Ron King offers some tips on how to select a VoIP provider, and deciding what service is appropriate for your needs. VoIP Lowdown has a brief overview on types of VoIP service, which may help you decide.

VoIP TV Ads Attack Australian Telstra
Television ads promoting VoIP service Soulmate gently attacking Telstra, an Australian telco, will not be blocked according to decision by the Federal Court in Melbourne. Sounds like Soulmate struck a nerve. [via SMH]

German Telecom Converts Contact Center To VoIP
German telecom O2 is migrating its customer contact center platform to VoIP. This will reduce costs for customers of their platform. [via TMC Net]

Could Alarm.com Help Pure Play VoIP?

Yesterday, I reflected briefly on Alarm.com's signing of SunRocket as a partner, who follow Vonage, the first to sign. Like other competitors InnovAlarm and NextAlarm, Alarm.com offers home security alarm services using VoIP for the communications component. Garrett Smith thinks that this sort of additional VoIP-based service might give pure play VoIP providers such as SunRocket and Vonage a bit more competitive edge, by offering their own "triple play" of services, compared to broadband providers.

While I vaguely said something similar, I still feel that cable providers have the edge, especially considering that Alarm.com is target this type of VoIP provider next for partners. PhoneBoy weighs in, basically agreeing, and says any advantage will be minimal because pure plays won't be offering anything unique.

That doesn't mean that there isn't any market for pure play VoIP. Anyone who does not have or want a computer (there are such people) might prefer to opt for a service such as Vonage, were they forced to change from traditional telephony. Or simply want to save on long-distance calls.

Alarm.com Signs Second VoIP Partner

Alarm.com, a home security service that uses VoIP as a means of communication, signed their second partner, SunRocket. Earlier this year, they announced their first partnership with Vonage. [via PC Mag] Vonage recently announced that they would be providing optional VoIP installations courtesy of a third party. Now if Vonage is smart (or maybe Alarm.com?), they'll work out a package deal for customers whereby they can have both their VoIP and Alarm.com's security system installed simultaneously.

While both current partners are "pure play" VoIP providers, Alarm.com is also aiming at partnerships with ISPs next. ISPs, of course, offer "triple play" services: television programming, Internet access, and VoIP. The PC Mag article talks about quad-tier services, which would include cellular phone service, and refers to Alarm.com's service as being like a fifth tier for ISPs.

A similar VoIP-based security alarm service is being offered by InnovAlarm, who will be getting US$10M in venture capital.

VoIP Roundup - Wed Sep 20/06

Cable VoIP Really Gaining Ground
Cable giant Comcast is so pleased with their one million VoIP customers that they are apparently adding 4000 new jobs [GigaOm]. as Om says, it's proof of the success that cablecos will enjoy because of offering triple play services. People want simplicity, and getting a single bill each month satisfies that demand. Comcast only got into the VoIP business earlier this year.

New VoIP Consortium Member: Anue Systems
The University of New Hampshire's Interoperability Lab is overseeing a VoIP Consortium, where members can jointly test products with a VoIP system emulator as well as variety of hardware and software provided by Consortium members. Anue Systems is the latest member. Get more details at TMC Net.

Intel Offering Plug'n'Play VoIP Development Kit
Intel is branching out into other hardware arenas with a development kit for plug'n'play VoIP. The kit, the Intel UPDI (Universal Phone Device Interface), consists of a software framework that is intended as a uniform platform for soft phone and hardware device interfaces. [via MyBroadband] Earlier this year, Intel launched a phone adapter to allow VoIP calls over regular phones.

VoIP Roundup - Tues Sep 19/06

What's Digium's VoIP Business Strategy?
Garrett Smith reflects on what he thinks might be Digium's plan of action for their future. Digium is the company that offers the Asterisk breed of SIP-based open standard IP PBXes and related software and hardware. While they've been giving away their software, presumably to sell their hardware and support services, Garrett thinks that Digium may take a different approach now that they have US$13 M in venture capital. Go have a read.

Cable VoIP Gaining Ground
Vonage may have reached 2 million subscribers for its true VoIP service, but  cable VoIP providers in Canada and the US scored over a million new subscribers in Q2 2006. This isn't it all suprising, since cable companies have the advantage of offering a "triple play" of services, including TV programming, telephony, and Internet access in a convenient bundle.

Summary of Weak + Strong Areas For VoIP
Light Reading has a recap of a report from Keynote Systems of some areas that VoIP is either lagging behind in or ahead of traditional telephony. And if you're in the mood for overview, Andy Oram at O'Reilly Net summarizes the report from VON. Both articles are worth reading.

VoIP Thief On The Run

Steal VoIP, go to jail. Or if you're Edwin Pena, barely out of his teens, you go on the lam, possibly using your 40-foot speed boat, which was paid for by resold stolen VoIP service. Pena was arrested by Miami police a few months back, along with his buddy hacker. They supposedly stole and resold around 10 M minutes of VoIP service and were facing up to 35 years on a couple of charges. Pena skipped bail and is suspected of heading somewhere from where he can't be extradited. Time to bring in the CSI: Miami crew, though I'm not sure they've covered any telecom crimes to date.

These two guys are obviously bright minds, given the way they engineered their whole set up. Had they thought just a bit further, they could have been doing VoIP security consulting and making good money, instead of doing time. Given the shortage of skilled workers in the IP telecom industry, it's a waste. A good mind is a terrible thing to waste; a good VoIP mind even more so.

Online Music Collaboration, VoIP Chatting, and Social Networking: Rype

About two years ago, I was helping a young musician develop some confidence in his guitar-playing abilities. (I had spent several years booking bands for shows and promoting local musicians in the past, so I decided to help this immensely talented young man.) Because we worked conflicting schedules at the time, we oftened chatted using MSN Messenger. in text mode. At that point, I'd forgotten that Messenger had rudimentary VoIP (pc2pc only) capabilities.

When my friend, A, initiated a voice chat, I was impressed. At least for a few seconds, until I realized how crappy call quality was (probably mostly due to my then poor wireless signal). But he pulled out his guitar across town and played for me some of the new songs he'd composed. I reviewed them with him. Despite the quality issue, it was quite a heady experience.

Fast forward a couple of years and VoIP call quality has improved - at least for some soft clients. I lost touch with A, because of his strange work hours, and last I heard, he was a bit disheartened about not being able to collaborate and thus gave up writing new songs. (Unfortunate, because he has the talent to be the next John Mayer or Dave Matthews, his fave.)

His biggest problem was finding people to collaborate with when he was actually at home, on his computer, too tired to go meet with anyone to jam in person. Well, budding musicians will be happy to know about Rype, a desktop application that appears to be the ultimate tool for musical collaboration in the global village.

Rype is from guitar.com, but it's not quite available yet, so what I'm telling you is based on the wee bit of text at the site, and the screenshots. And it really looks impressive. Rype will let you record, edit, and produce music, and has a built-in social network. So I assume that regardless of where you are, you'd be able to find someone awake to collaborate with. And when you do finish a song, you'll be able to sell them on iTunes. Brilliant or what?

This is one of those "killer" apps VoIP, and I can't wait to get my hands on it, even if it costs money. (No indication either way.) And if it's as good as it looks, or maybe even if not, it'll probably spawn a dozen copycats/ competitors. First it was online games using VoIP, now this. What's next?

[Found via Skype Journal, but the actual permalink doesn't work, so I haven't supplied it.]

Vonage VoIP Installations Courtesy of Endeavour

Having never used services like Vonage, I can't tell you about any experiences trying to install any necessary hardware. But I can tell you that even for a long-time computer person like myself, I occasionally run into some weird glitch while trying to install hardware related to my computer - such as my wireless router for Internet access around the house.

So anyone just a little reluctant to use Vonage and similar true VoIP providers will be happy to know that the company will be offering installations [ZDNet IP Telephony VoIP] courtesy of a new deal with Endeavour Telecom. Installation costs start at US$99.95 and are aimed at both residential and business customers. Endeavour field techs will represent themselves as being from Vonage, which will be a psychological plus for most people.

As Russell Shaw says (link above), this deal will be a good thing for Vonage. Not only will this increase the chances of new customers, but support calls will be likely be reduced, and only those customers who feel they need the service have to pay for it. And considering that Vonage is reputedly cutting back on their advertising campaign, despite reaching a 2 million customer milestone, it's little things like this that might make the difference between gaining customers or losing them. Of course, adding services like ReVos long-distance calling packages (courtesy of RNK Telecom) will also help.

Free Muni Wi-Fi In Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh officially has free municipal Wi-Fi in the downtown area as of yesterday at noon. The initiative was started by Mayor Bob O'Connor, who passed away due to brain cancer on Sept 1. It took US Wireless Online only two months to build the 60-site network. The FreeConnect service option allows a maximum of two hours per day at no cost. DayConnect offers faster access at US$7.99/day, $14.95/m, or $119.99/yr. VoWiFi (Voice over municipal Wi-Fi) service is planned for the future. [via Pittsburgh Business Times, Business First]

I don't know if that's a record implementation time for municipal Wi-Fi, but it sure sounds like it is. Wow.

What Is Mobile Phone Number Portability?

While others are frustrated with their inability to move their VoIP, phone, or cellular numbers to a new provider, and industry steering committee in South Africa is asking their telecom regulator to delay their MNP mandate [Cellular News].

MNP, or Mobile Number Portability, would require changes in telecom company business practices. Such practices would, in this case, allow customers to port (move) their cell phone numbers with essential ease.

I think that we'll see more and more countries bringing about MNP regulations. In fact, it probably behooves cellular operators and providers to participate, to get started now, if they don't want to see a mass migration towards VoWiFi-only (VoIP over Wi-Fi) phones. While that's not a reality just yet in most cities, the increasing number of municipal Wi-Fi projects (free or otherwise) is going to help.

Personally, I think dual-mode cellular/ VoWiFi phones are going to boom in sales when that happens. So users would get a cellular signal in areas without Wi-Fi Internet access, and VoIP calling otherwise. If number portability is in place in those areas with muni Wi-Fi, then everyone wins.

Telus Corp To Become Income Trust

Canada's Telus Corp, the next biggest telecom after Bell Canada, plans to move to becoming an income trust, with the intent to improve the stock price. As part of the plan, the yearly trust payout will be approximately Cdn$4/ unit compared to a current per share dividend of just over Cdn$1. Trusts are also tax-exempt, which is part of the motivation of the conversion. Shares will be converted to trust units on a one-to-one basis, provided shareholders vote their approval in January 2007. [via Bloomberg]

Late last year, Telus merged their fixed-line and wireless divisions. This seems to be part of a growing trend of telecoms to present a single brand instead of separate services, as well as to streamline business to cut costs. If traditional phone service revenue is going to decrease dramatically as expected, then moves such as these are better done sooner.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Sep 11/06

Yet More VoIP Acronyms: FoIP - Fax over IP
8x8, Inc., launched their new fax over IP service (aka FoIP) today. [via Sys-Con] They are not, however, the first company with fax support over IP. Other companies already offer support in their IP telephony routers. Companies like Tiger NetCom have VoIP adapters which will support fax.

Atreus Receives IP Telephony Award
Internet Telephony magazine awarded Atreus Systems their 2006 TMC Labs Innovation Award. [via Sys-Con]

New VoIP Services: ROK Viper
ROK Entertainment Group is offering ROK Viper, which they claim is the world's first free no-contract mobile-to-mobile VoIP application [The Engineer Online]. Though the service seems kind of limited as it apparently connects from a mobile phone via Bluetooth to a computer with broadband Internet access. Doesn't seem particularly mobile to me. ROK apparently also created technology for the first mass-produced mobile TV.

Skype Available In More Than 27 Languages
While Skype is officially only available in 27 languages, there are actually translations for Thai and several European languages.The translation work has been done by members of the Skype community.

New VoIP Providers: RNK Telecom

RNK Telecom Inc. of the Massachusetts region is launching [Biz Journals]their new consumer VoIP service, ReVos, which gives subscribers low-cost calls to over 40 countries. They also  get a number of features including a virtual number and IP calls from a cell phone. The company sells both prepaid phone cards and wholesale services. Vonage and Packet8 are both customers.

In the Biz Journal's article, they thank Vonage for "doing all that premarketing". Vonage spends over US$20 M per month in advertising, although word is that their annoying TV ads are disappearing. It's been a while since I've seen one, and at least one other VoIP blogger said the same thing a few days ago.

I guess with the bottom expected to drop out of calling cards, this is a good move. I feel sorry for all the mom and pop stores that are going to lose yet another source of low-margin income. But I don't see them selling VoIP services - unless they get VoIP phone booths.

Mobile Phone Number Portability

Phone number portability is becoming more of an issue for people who tend to move around a lot, obviously. Tom Keating recently talked about his frustrations of moving his stationary phone number to a different VoIP provider. Imagine the problems of trying to move your mobile number. (Everytime I've changed cellular providers, I've had to get a new number.)

In Japan, mobile operators will be allowing cell phone users to keep their phone numbers [VNU Net] when they switch providers. This government-mandated option will not officially take effect until late October, but millions of switchers are expected. Part of the reason for this is that Japan has a very high percentage of mobile phone users (97 M) compared to the population size (127 M).

Portability in this situation is actually beneficial to mobile service providers because of the saturation. Customers have the advantage, but providers also benefit from customers who switch - since the chance of gaining new customers is reduced. Everyone's happy. Hopefully.

Things To Think About When Signing Up For VoIP

I'm linking to Russell Shaw again: he points to Tom Keating's recent frustrating experience trying to move his Vonage phone number to his cable provider. Tom encountered technical problems as well as what he believes are political issues. I'm not entirely clear what he did finally with the phone number, but he did get fed up and dropped his cable provider to go with a more flexible company. Good for you, Tom! Read his article for a synopsis to determine under which scenarios you can move your phone number around between VoIP providers.

While I do 98% of my calling on soft VoIP clients or sometimes my cellphone, I haven't yet signed up for a VoIP phone number. I did, however, get a free call-in number when I signed up for the Hullo VoIP service - which is like a combo of Jajah and Skype. I was actually able to call my computer from my cell phone with it, and as far as I was able to tell, the quality was pretty good. I didn't try it yet, but I'm sure that I could call my Hullo client from Skype this way.

As for cable providers, I have one and only one option because of where I live. But I suppose if I wanted to have VoIP over cable using a regular handset, I could get an adapter and plug my broadband connection through it. Why unnecessarily pay for an additional service I won't need? I'm a very nomadic person and have lost track of how many phone numbers have been registered under my name over 15 years, and in how many cities. I need some sort of global, portable calling number, which only soft VoIP seems able to support at present. Any such number will always work no matter where I am.

What you ultimately choose for your VoIP service will depend on your options and your needs. I work all day at two computers, so I don't need/ want to pick up a phone handset unless necessary. (Haven't owned a landline in about 10 years now.) But for people who want the convenience of a regular phone and the low price of VoIP calls, and who have a broadband connection, a plug'n'play adapter is probably your best best.

If you're prone to being nomadic like myself, check to make sure that you'll be able to transfer your phone number. Ask three different people at the VoIP provider you've selected, and if you don't get consistent answers, run away. Or for convenience, consider a triple-play package from a cable provider. The bigger they are, the more likely they'll be able to pull strings to port the number to your new location.

China's Mobile and Broadband Markets Likely To Exceed India's

Recent talk was that India's mobile phone market would be the largest in the world. But not surprisingly, China might exceed that. The 400 million mobile phones they'll produce this year make up half the world's output and will be used in other countries, but they could just as well be used there, too.

As for India, its come a long way. One East Indian friend joked to me that in India, even the janitor has a cell phone. Which was not meant to be derogatory, but to indicate how far the country has come. Not so long ago, it had daily power outages, but now has the juice to drive cellular networks that include everyone in several financial classes.

However, with the increasing number of middle-class citizens in China, it's more than possible that the Chinese mobile market may exceed India's, where they're focusing on IPTV for some reason. The VoIP market in Asia in general is growing. Though with issues such as VoIP service being illegal in China, I'm not sure if certain types of phones and PDAs are allowed in the country or not.

Even if China and India actually run close numbers for mobile use, broadband use in China is growing at about 80% annually and expected to reach 130 million users by 2010. Part of the increase will be a side effect of hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Given the political situation in China, and the fact that VoIP is illegal there, it might be difficult to understand how that government would allow the estimated 80 million users playing online games. When you run a country banning the use of certain words in print or online, it's hard to let any sort of digital interaction go unmonitored. This sort of atmosphere would permeate into a lot of things, including the way events are handled and technologies deployed.

However, dig deep into the history of the Olympics during the time that Juan Antonio Samaranch was top dog of the IOC (International Olympics Committee), and you'll see that the Olympics actually were repeatedly granted to countries and regions where there was political, civil, and/or social unrest,. The net result of hosting the Olympics in those locales actually improved conditions considerably.

Whether or not this happens in China, resulting in more open government policies, remains to be seen. But if it does, China will likely dominate in Internet use whether, whether mobile or stationary, and there will be an explosion of VoIP services and possibly some innovations.

Avoiding The Fate of Dixon's Freetalk VoIP Service

The Dixons Store Group (DSG) recently pulled the plug [VNUNet] on their Freetalk VoIP service, after barely a year. Oddly enough, they told existing customers they'd be switched over to Vonage, an obvious competitor. The company feels the VoIP market hasn't "lived up to its expectations".

Sure there's a lot of competition, and sure some providers won't survive long. But if they have such a short term view as this, their failure is guaranteed. They can't expect to make money on VoIP in just one year. The revenue potential in VoIP is not in service but in hardware (phones, adapters, IP PBXes), consulting, and enterprise integration. There is also a great deal of potential in voice data applications.

For those companies focused on only a residential market, it's the hardware where you'll make any real money. If you sell only service, you might as well just hand your customer list over to your nearest competitor. Of course, cable providers do have the advantage of being able to offer the triple-play services - TV, internet, telephone. Other types of VoIP providers better be innovative if they want to live long enough in the market to compete.

Can VoIP Reduce Call Center Outsourcing?

One of the primary reasons that so many companies in Canada and the United States ended up outsourcing their call center help was due to a lack of local staff that would do the work for $13-16/hour. But now that nearly half of North American call centers are moving to VoIP by the end of 2007, other companies may want to consider what this means. Robert Poe at VoIP News thinks that VoIP could help keep call centers at home (i.e., in North America).

Now I'm not holding back any punches here. One of the biggest complaints I've heard from some people who have spoken to call center employees stationed outside of North America is that a representative's English isn't always that good. My experience has been, of the outsourced call center people I've spoken to, they seem to know their technical concepts well, but don't always explain things well if they have poor English. That frustrates callers. That's not to say that all outsourced call center employees have poor English. But if you had to wait in the caller queue for a long time, only to get a someone whom you cannot understand , regardless of the language, you'd probably be frustrated too. This person supposedly represents the company whose product or service you're calling about.

It's not an issue of which country a call center rep is from, just whether they can be understood by native speakers of the language that the help service is in. That applies to call centers providing help in any language. For example, I wouldn't expect, say, a native Spanish speaker to be happy to talking to me after a long wait in queue because of my mediocre Spanish language skills.

Getting back to Robert's article, he is saying that VoIP could help keep call centers local, and people could even work from home. While I think that the idea is a good one, I'd have to say that not every person is a good candidate to work from home. There are all sorts of distractions, and it takes a great deal of discipline not to be distracted. I also cannot see call center clients being happy with such an arrangement, unless they hand-picked the representative. Otherwise, the temptation might be for the company to want to pay on a pro-rated basis - say just for the time taken up by actual calls, plus a few hours of guaranteed "on-call" time. If that happens, then it may not be financially feasible for a worker to accept such work (exceptions below).

As well, a proper home office would have to be set up if the employee is to be reimbursed for equipment used, etc. Not everyone is going to want to do this. Which means that virtual call centers using home operators might take a while to catch on, if at all. Large companies would probably prefer the convenience of going with a call center instead of hiring their own reps. (Or they might pay bonuses to existing company - not call center - employees who are willing to handle calls during a specific block of time, from home. Willing employees could be trained for handling irate customers.)

On the other hand, with all the work starting to be available online, anyone who can find multiple streams of income from the Internet, is technically savvy, and has the typically qualities of a good call center rep might find a pro-rated, per call payment exactly what they want. Such an arrangement would give them time to manage their own online businesses, and when a call comes in, they could take it or pass it to the next available person. That way, both sides feeling they are being treated fairly.

From a technical point of view, If call center reps are going to use soft VoIP instead of hard VoIP (such as regular phones hooked up to a VoIP plug'n'play adapter and a broadband connection), then they should be setup with text IM software as well, like Leader's Bank in the United States is doing for their bank reps. I know that when I am discussing writing projects with some clients, they prefer to speak to me, but being simultaneously able to forward URLs or other text information enhances the conversation. Another possibility is to use the video-calling features of VoIP software such as Sightspeed (although it's not the only soft VoIP client with video ability). However, customers may not want to appear on the video call themselves. Either way, there are some rules of video VoIP etiquette to follow.

From a call center's point of view, they might have to change their shift scheduling, maybe make them shorter, say three hours each. This way, they could be more certain that someone was going to be available, and that their mind was focused on what ever product or service they are supporting. So while there is potential in the work-from-home call center model, there are a lot of wrinkles that have to be ironed out.

VoIP Call Quality Now Better Than PSTN?

ITWire has a story which quotes a testing company named Minacom. Minacom is claiming that VoIP phone service "now sounds better and connects faster" than PSTN phone service. This is based on data they collected over twelve months, and only applies to VoIP services offered by cable providers and telcos. The test uses a standard measure called an MOS (Mean Opinion Score). Minacom's test contradicts Brix Networks' recent report saying that quality is declining. However Brix measured opinion on soft VoIP and pc2pc only calls.

Having tried only soft VoIP services, I can't comment on Minacom's findings, except to say that I can see how phone2phone VoIP calls, using a plug'n'play adapter and a broandband internet connection, would be fairly high quality. As for soft VoIP, it's definitely not true. Not in my experience, anyway. Basically, the more software of any type that you have running on your computer, the lower your call quality is going to be.

As laptops tend to have less RAM than desktops, they are the worst for call quality. That's true even if one party in the conversation has a powerful desktop, as I recently found out when calling a friend on his laptop. My laptop with 512 Mb didn't fare much better, unless I pretty much closed all programs. Which is why I switched to making most of my calls on my desktop. High soft VoIP call quality requires optimum computing power.

My experience with my desktop (1 Gb RAM, dual processor) is that pc2pc calls are almost as high quality as regular phone2phone. (As I've said, I haven't tried a VoIP adapter or VoIP phones.) It's when there's a mix of pc and phone in a VoIP call that quality seems to go down. However, according to a couple of people that I've called on both Skype and Hullo, Hullo calls were almost as if I were calling from a regular phone.

So quality from soft VoIP services seems to be increasing, but I think VoIP as a whole has a ways to go yet. Better quality VoIP phones and faster connection speeds would make a difference. We might even find faster microprocessors in VoIP phones, or special VoIP-dedicated chips in the next generation of computers, just like graphics cards were eventually dedicated to computer screen management. A dedicated VoIP computer chip, either in computers or phones, would go a long way towards improving call quality. (If there are VoIP-dedicated chips, I'm not aware of them. Let me know.)

VoIPcasting: Recording VoIP and Podcasting

If you're running Skype and want to record your conversations, VoIP-Sol lists 15 voip recording applications (10 for Windows, 5 for Mac) specifically for Skype. If you are using something other than Skype, there's our posts: Recording Your VoIP Calls and How To Record VoIP Calls - Reader Q+A.

What you do with your recordings is your business, but if you plan to podcast them online and have or plan to use Asterisk IP PBX, here's Nerd Vittles' lowdown for a podcast studio using your phone and a free podcast hosting service called Gabcast. Gabcast lets you record podcasts from a phone or using VoIP.

You can actually use Gabcast from any soft VoIP client that has pc2phone capabilities, so you don't really need a sophisticated setup to make a podcast. I used a cheap microphone and Skype. As long as you follow the rules for good VoIP quality, your VoIPcasts will be of reasonably good quality as well. If you're opting for a very professional production, there are all kinds of audio equipment you could look at, and which I might discuss in the future, if readers are interested.

Gabcast: Free Podcast Creation And Hosting

Gabcast is a new podcast hosting service which lets you create podcast episodes simply by calling one of their phone numbers, from either a telephone or via VoIP. There are three different monthly service plans, with the basic one being free. Setup is easy, and once you've created your podcast channels and epsiodes, you can embed their MP3 player into your website/ weblog with relative ease. (They also have VoIP conferencing, but I didn't look into that.)

They have a list of phone numbers you can use, with a toll-free number applicable to all of the United States, so calling in might be free as well, depending on where you are. You could also use Skype's free SkypeOut for anyone in Canada and the US (until Dec 31st), or Hullo, which seems to be free to anywhere right now.

The basic (free) plan gives you 200 Mb of disk space. Each episode that you record can only be up to 60 minutes in duration, regardless of plan. If you embed an MP3 player on your website, you can allow listeners to leave audio comments, or you can disable that. (See the Gabcast site for more details.)

I tried some of the features of the service, first creating a channel, then using Skype to call in. I recorded a couple of minutes, reading off of a blog post I'd written, reviewed it, then saved it. The same issues of VoIP call quality apply for podcasts made using VoIP, so keep that in my mind when you try this or similar services. Verdict: easy to use, for the most part, and fun - especially when you don't have to pay.

Webacall Per-Second Web Calling

A few years back, some cellular providers in North America decide to offer per-second billing to their customers. It was great for anyone who felt that they were being overcharged for excess seconds in a minute. Webacall is doing the same thing for VoIP. What's your shortest phone call? Fifteen seconds? Imagine getting a phone bill for that. Coupled with already low rates, you're going to save a considerable amount over time - but really only if you are a hardcore gabber.

Webacall has a feature called missed call callback (aka ANI callback) which basically lets you use your account privileges from any phone anywhere in the world, without extra dialup charges. You have a variety of choices for making phone calls, including "triggers" for web and WAP (mobile browser).

This service is similar to Jajah in that it doesn't involve downloading any software. You're just using a regular or mobile web browser, so you can use Webcall with any computer or any WAP-enabled smartphone or connected PDA. But unlike Jajah (if I recall correctly), Webacall also has pc2phone and even (IP) device2phone calling, with the latter basically using any suitable plug'n'play PSTN2VoIP adapter. Pc2phone calling does require a soft client.

I've downloaded the X-lite softphone - it's extremely sexy looking, but the account setup seems overly complicated. You do need to register (free) from the Webacall website first, although anyone who downloads the software might miss that detail and get confused. Note that you need to download the Webacall SIP dialer to use the per second billing for pc2phone. Pc2pc calls to other Webacall users are free.

I have a lot of beefs with Webacall: Despite their attractive website, there are so many services that some users may find it confusing where they should start. There are just too many links on their home page. Keep it simple, and guide people to where they should go. I haven't a clue where I should start. Do I need the SIP dialer? It's not clear. If I just want to evaluate the X-lite softphone, where do I start? Why isn't there even a link to it on the home page? Or should I sign up just before I download it? And why do they need my address and postal code for me to register a free account? If I'm paying online, does it matter to them? What are my payment options? Do I get a few free minutes to try out? Because I'm not paying for a VoIP service that I haven't tried first. Why does the zipcode field during signup only expect 5 digits - most countries other than the US have letters and numbers in their postal codes. And why in tarnation do I have to wait one day for my login information to be sent to my email? Are you kidding me? This is the Internet.

Maybe I'm being overly critical on Webacall, but after evaluating so many VoIP services these past few months, there are some signup details I just get miffed about seeing - especially ones where despite asking for your country, they expect only a 5-digit zip code. Keep it simple, and if I like the software, I'll try some of your other services. Confuse me, and why would I bother, especially when I already have a dozen VoIP soft clients over a couple of computers? Thanks but, I think I'll stick with Skype, Google Talk/ Talqer and Hullo for now. Note to other VoIP providers: keep your home page simple, or at least guide visitors.

BellSouth and Verizon Sent Letters By FCC

Verizon recently announced a new surcharge to their high-speed DSL Internet customers. It appears BellSouth did so as well, and the US FCC sent them letters asking them to explain. BellSouth has reputedly since dropped the surcharge and will be crediting customers back to August 16th. The FCC is still waiting for Verizon to respond. There is the possibility of fines, if regulations have been violated. [via eWeek]

While Verizon at least claimed the charge had nothing to do with the a similarly priced federal charge (USF - Universal Service Fee) that has been phased out, it's hard to believe otherwise, given the timing and price. It's still my premise that they were instituting these fees to cover telecom losses possibly due to the increasing use of VoIP.

Show Me The Money In VoIP - Telco 2.0 Industry Brainstorm 2006

Telco2.0 is holding their Industry Brainstorm 2006 on 4-5 Oct 2006, in the Tower Bridge Hilton, London, England. The organization's theme appears to be "How to make money in an IP-based world." The Brainstorm will hold discussions about "opportunties and threats to profitability", and making money from "Voice & Messaging 2.0", "Advertising-funded Content", "Broadband Connectivity", and more. This event is intended for current industry insiders rather than the general public. However, people considering becoming future VoIP integrators and consultants may want to consider going. Here are the registration details.

I think we'll be seeing more of these sorts of conferences and workshops as VoIP matures, especially in its use in the enterprise, and with a greater demand for advanced voice data applications in CRM (Customer Relationship Management), as well as other uses.

Show Me The Money In VoIP - Yet More Thoughts

Are triple-play services another potential area for VoIP revenue potential? Russell Shaw points to Tom Keating's article about pure VoIP providers (Vonage, etc.) vs cable and DSL VoIP providers. The premise is simple: aren't customers going to be more comfortable giving a company they already know a bit more money, fixed sum, for VoIP services - if it saves them on a large long-distance bill - than giving less money to a company they don't know - or looks bad in the marketplace? I.e., Vonage.

I agree with this assessment, and believe I've already brought it up in the past. Most human beings follow the path of least resistance, and would prefer a minimum of bills arriving in the mail each month. Why wouldn't they want they convenience of a single bill instead of two or three bills from separate companies? It means writing more cheques each month, which of course costs more in bank service fees, etc.

That doesn't mean pure play VoIP providers cannot make a living, but I don't think all the companies in this niche alive today will be around in 2010. Who are you more likely to go with? A company that's been around for at least ten years or a company barely a couple of years old?

Ubiquitous Streaming Video On Your Cell Phone

So, you're walking by a billboard for a new TV show that looks interesting. You want to write down the details, but don't have pen and paper handy. Your head is too full of other things to remember unaided. So what do you do? Pull out your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or PDA, point it at the billboard, and download a 30-second video clip that has all the information you need. No fumbling for a pen. [via Telecommunications Industry News]

This is a real scenario that the United States' CBS television network has created in some New York City train stations. You can stand up to 36 feet away from these special billboards and download clips, provided you have a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or PDA. Telly junkies like me will no doubt be happy with such uses of streaming video. I can't count the number of shows I've missed over the years because I dislike watching a new series from the middle, due to missing the first few episodes. I'd rather wait 3-5 years, when it goes into re-run syndication, to watch the series in sequence. [I admit to being a TV junkie, but I do write about media, so it's kind of a necessity.]

This is different, of course, than IPTV (Internet Protocol TV), mobile TV, video VoIP, or VoIP interaction with TV characters. What I'd really like to see, though, is if I could download TV show information from these billboards, then transfer it from my mobile phone to my IPTV setup to let me pre-program my software to record the show to my hard drive. Now that would be a video junkie's dream come true. How long do you think it'll be before someone comes up with this sort of thing, if it's not already available?

VoIP Roundup - Wed Aug 23/06 - Skype Blotter

On the off-chance that you use Skype and don't visit the Skype Blogs regularly, here's a quick roundup of some recent postings there.

More Free Skype Calls
Skype is currently allowing users to call regular toll-free numbers in certain countries, such as Taiwan, at no charge, regardless of where you are calling from. [via Skype Blogs]

Skype As Political Campaign Tool
Can Skype be used as a political tool? Shashi Tharoor, author and long-time United Nations employee, held a Skypecast last week with WABC-TV New York. Tharoor is currently the UN Undersecretary General and is a potential successor to Kofi Annan's post of UN Secretary General. [via Skype Blogs]

VoIPing For Profit
Gumtree is a classifieds ads community site aimed at the UK market. According to the Skype Blogs, over 5% of listings have a Skype button. Besides the standard listings for landlords, etc., some of them are for language tuition. Personally, I think that Skype, and similar soft VoIP clients, are ideal for this sort of use. The Skype post didn't say whether the tutors are using Jyve to accept payment for their time.

Show Me The Money In VoIP - Even More Thoughts

Tele2 is handing out free wireless phones for customers who buy thirty euros of their Parlino Dial Out service. The phones are supposedly worth about 69 euros (approx. US$87). [via The VoIP Weblog]

Given that my laptop is actually overloaded with text/ VoIP IM clients, I'm declaring a moratorium on downloading more for now, so I'm not going to try Parlino's soft client just yet. However, Tele2 had a bright idea! Maybe some of the frree soft  VoIP companies such as Skype, etc., can learn something from this.

For example, I previously complained that despite my love of Sightspeed, the signup process just to try the client wanted all kinds of info including whether I wanted to buy a phone. To Sightspeed: great product, just take a cue from Tele2. Heck. I'd pay a similar amount of money for dialout if I got a free Wi-Fi phone in the deal. [Just make sure you use something like Paypal as an option.] Same goes for Skype, Gizmo Project, etc.

Hardware is one of the areas of VoIP where the money is. Give customers something tangible to associate with your service, and you might find them using your service more often. It's purely psychological, and just my hypothesis, but if I had a "free" Wi-Fi VoIP phone, I'd probably order more minutes after my initial minutes ran out, unless the call quality sucked. Otherwise, my free gadget would just be sitting around, and we wouldn't want that, would we?

If customers reloaded their callout minutes just once, VoIP soft client makers could probably cover the cost of the phone. If call quality is good and the device easy to use, then you just might have repeat customers. Hardware/ software combo deals like this could really push VoIP use.

New DSL Service Charges For Verizon Customers

Verizon has decided to charge their DSL high-speed Internet customers an extra US$1.20/mth (for access speeds up to 768 kbps (kilobits per second) or $2.70/m (for faster speeds). This will probably come as a surprise to customers who were expecting lower monthly bills based on a FCC decision last year to deregulate DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) service. [via CRM Buyer]

The old government fee for the USF (Universal Service Fund) is being phased out. So Verizon and no doubt other cable providers are taking advantage of it by imposing their own fee. Of course, they're claiming that this new fee has nothing to do with not having to pay the USF fee anymore. Great to know that they're thinking of us.

So what gives? Isn't their monthly service fee enough? Are they really not making any money? (Cable providers are.) Could this new fee be due to expectations that free VoIP over DSL phone calls will clog up their lines? Hmmm. Read between the lines in the CRM Buyer article, and that's what it seems like.

It'll be interesting to see who the next DSL provider is that applies a similar charge to customers' bills, and whether there will be a shift to cable services.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Aug 21/06

[Updated: Wed Aug 30/06]Philips is giving Australian customers a choice for combining VoIP with PSTN. They now have a couple of cordless handsets that either use Microsoft Live or Skype (not both). You do need a PC and a broadband Internet connection to use the phones. [via The VoIP Weblog]

Because Baby Boomers are expected to migrate to specific urban or rural areas over the next twenty years or so, companies like ComSpan will beneft from offering triple play services. [via VoIP Magazine; free registration required]

Asterisk has just released a free voicemail client, Tycho, for Win32, Linux x86, and Mac OS X computers. [via Asterisk VoIP News] I assume Tycho has nothing to do with Tycho Softworks - who offer an open source telephony stack - but I could be mistaken. [CORRECTION: It's in fact Sip-Syndication that has released Tycho, not Asterisk/ Digium. Apologies for the error.]

Show Me The Money In VoIP - Still More Thoughts

Telesyte reports that Australian PSTN telcos will lose more than US$5 in revenue for every US$1 earned. [via 21Talks] So even if they start offering VoIP services, their overall revenue will go down.

As mentioned in our Show Me The Money... In VoIP and More Thoughts posts, the money seems to be in hardware - both handsets and adapters - and integration. But as Fonality is showing, there may also be some revenue potential in VoIP PBXes.

Fonality is a company that makes Asterisk-based IP-PBX systems. While Asterisk itself is free, Fonality's PBXtra has additional features aimed at enterprise. In fact, this is why they are purportedly tops in the Asterisk PBX market. [via GigaOm]

Overall, though, this is still a young market providing a valuable and essential service. Since the service is mostly free or inexpensive, it's everything else associated with the service that will provide revenue opportunities. But my proverbial money's on VoIP data applications. 

Half of North American Call Centers Go VoIP

According to new research from Yankee Group, close to half of North American call centres will have switched to VoIP systems by the end of 2007. [via Asterisk VoIP News]

Given my experience with lousy call quality while calling my website hosting provider lately, I'm hoping that the call centres that do switch use some of the common soft clients. Say Skype, Google Talk or Gizmo Project. But I'm thinking that if they do even use soft VoIP clients, that they'll go the route of Leader Bank and use MSN or Yahoo! Messenger. Which given their new features may not be such a bad thing.

AppCritical VoIP Assessment Tool For SMBs

A new troubleshooting tool from Apparent Networks will help assess VoIP network problems prior to deployment. AppCritical already exists, but a new version aimed at SMBs (Small and Medium Business). [via eWeek]'

The tool is said to have a low-startup curve and requires little training. But at US$40,000, I can't see a lot of SMBs - especially those falling into the "S" category - being able to afford this. What I do see happening is for VoIP solutions integrators/ consultants purchasing the tool and hiring themselves out. Less headache and cost for SMBs.

Show Me The Money... In VoIP - More Thoughts

Ted Wallingford says that others who will make money on VoIP are integrators/ consultants. [Note: Ted Wallingford's VoIP Weblog is moving over to Download Squad. You should also check out his (brief) thoughts about Adam Fisk's dislike of Skype's closed system. (Warning: Adam's article is of a fairly technical nature.)]

Or the money might be in VoIP-based phone booths. [via Andy Abramson's VoIP Watch] Of course, as Andy points out, with so many Municipal Wi-Fi projects going on, could something like payVoIP work?

According to a Synergy Research Group report, IP phones enjoyed a 50+ percent growth over the past year, and nearly 25% growth just from Q1 to Q1 2006. [via eWeek] This supports the idea that the money in VoIP is in the aftermarket. That's my stand and I'm sticking with it.

IM Your Bank Manager?

If you've ever done banking online or by phone, you know that sometimes you run into problems and need some help. But like the IVR (Interactive Voice Reponse) systems of larger banks are not exactly a joy to interact with. A small bank in Arlington, Massachusetts - Leader Bank - realized this and decided to let customers text IM the local branch manager. [via CRM Buyer]

Leader Bank currently only supports AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) but may be adding the Yahoo! and MSN Messenger clients as well. Okay, it's not VoIP, but it's a good step forward in CRM (Customer Relationship Management), which should lead to happier customers. If VoIP support is added, then coupled with data applications, businesses could benefit from the resulting advanced CRM tools.

InnovAlarm VoIP-based Alarm System

It's always nice to see VoIP being used in unique new ways, and that's exactly what InnovAlarm is doing. Imagine home and security alarm systems, but which use Skype or another soft client instead of regular phone lines. The service is in pre-beta. [via Read/Write Web]

The only drawback with this application is that your computer has to be turned on. I'm wondering if there's a market for a similar solution using phone2phone with a VoIP bridge, using hardware such as Digifone's plug'n'play adapter. Phone2phone VoIP calls generally seem to have better quality.

There's obviously a perception that there is a market for InnovAlarm's method. In fact, Read/Write Web reports that the company will be getting $10 M of venture cap in Q4 2006.

Efonica VoIP Service Subscriber Base Growing Rapidly

Efonica, Fusion Telecommunications' global VoIP service now has over 400,000 subscribers since their launch two months ago. Fusion announced this week that they added 150,000 subscribers in the last two weeks alone. (Their consumer, business, and government clients are distributed in over 100 countries.)

The Efonica service allows users to make free calls using Fusion's SIP adapter. Calls can be made from any combination of PCs, internet phones and regular phones. Fusion recently filed for a VoIP patent for their DSP (Directed SIP Peer-to-Peer) technology.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Aug 14/06

Don't know how I missed this, but Digium, the company responsible for the popular open source PBX telephony software Asterisk, received nearly $14 million in venture capital funding. The funds will partly be used for expanding operations with intent of approaching both SMBs and enterprises. [via GigaOm] Om also had an interview last week with Mark Spencer, founder of Digium and creator of Asterisk.

Uvoipia is yet another VoIP provider whose service lets you use your existing telephone handset via SIP-based phone adapter and a broadband Internet connection. The device allows you to also make and receive standard phone calls. The service caters to Canadians and Americans, and has a variety of business and residential rates. In-network calls to other Uvoipia users are free with the UR Phone plan, which only charges a small monthly fee.

Want to make Skype calls with a regular phone handset? VIVOphone has an adapter, VoiceKey, about the size of a Zippo cigarette lighter. Note that you're not using your regular PSTN phone line. Instead, you plug the phone or PBX into the VoiceKey, and the VoiceKey into a USB port on your computer. So you cannot take regular phone calls. You can, however, connect a cordless phone to the VoiceKey [via Daily Tech]

VoIP Roundup - Fri Aug 11/06

The Deputy Director General for Telecomunications at the OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation) in Jamaica feels that VoIP will eventually dominate fixed phone lines. But VoIP industry players there are understating that, saying that VoIP will supplement rather than dominate fixed lines. [via Jamaica Gleaner]

I don't know exchange rates but unlimited calling there costs between 1500-2000 Jamaican dollars per month. Service initiation fees cost almost double that, one time. Sounds like a lot, but apparently, though, this is "low cost".

Daily India has an interesting perspective to the value of VoIP in the home: family ties. The article points out the cost of long-distance calls have a negative social effect: loss of family ties and resulting regret.

A rather heavy verdict, but maybe it's true for immigrants of some countries. It's not surprising that many of the reader questions on this site are basically "how can I call from/to India for free". By sheer population size, India and, to a lesser extent, China will have many ex-pats living elsewhere, say North America, than other countries. Free calls, or at least inexpensive net2phone calls, would give families a stronger bond.

I've asked the question before: when you think of VoIP, who do you think of? Skype? Vonage? Despite the reputed US$20 M/ month that Vonage spends on advertising, and their slogan "VoIP with Vonage", more people might be associating VoIP with Skype. [via Networking Pipeline]

Regardless, I'd choose Skype over Vonage any day simply because of all the extra features, such as video, the ability to plug in Jyve to get paid for my time, file sharing, etc. Although, there are people who would benefit from a basic service such as Vonage.

Cable VoIP vs Pure Play

Apparently cable VoIP is giving providers such as Vonage a run for their money. That's because for a few dollars more per month, customers are getting cable (data + video) plus telephony, as well as other features that pure play VoIP cannot provide. [via CED Magazine]

This IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) architecture promises far more than pure play VoIP. One of the most important expected features, to some people, will be a global phone number, which can be used anywhere and can be called from anywhere.

While Vonage is still in the lead in volume, it's probably due to the extra features why cable companies are leading in new VoIP subscribers, and why one company, Time Warner, isn't far behind in total subscribers.

On the other hand, I know people who do not watch TV or use the Internet, but do have a need for a telephone, without any "global number" feature. There's always a market for basic telephony. It just may no longer be worth the amount of monthly advertising that companies like Vonage are said to spend (US$20M).

VoIPing For Profit - Ether Consulting In Action

I've previously covered Ether, a voice-based (pay-per-call) web service that lets you set up consulting practice with just a phone, email and Internet site. This is not a VoIP service per se, however, you can use a VoIP phone number for accepting calls. (Jyve, on the other hand, offers similar functionality but works over top of Skype.)

I just revisted the Ether site recently, to see what's changed since the got out of beta. On their blog page, I noticed a list of websites using Ether and browsed through them. There are a few using Ether very creatively, but I haven't called any of them to see if they're actually getting any busines. Here are few interesting listings where the charge is not by the hour:

The AdventistPastors has Skypecast podcasts, and advice (presumably spiritual) for parishioners via Ether is billed at $1/min.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, not to be confused with the world-famous musician, has an organization called the Art of Living, which provides a free Ether call, presumably to discuss other paid services.

Can't come up with something for dinner? Enterprising foodie and food-blogger, Greg, is offering affordable recipe help ($2.50 for 5 minutes) or a dinner idea ($1.00/15 min). Truly ingenius. Makes me laugh, but you'd be surprised at how many people have trouble making dinner on a regular basis.

Having job troubles? A severance package lawyer is offering 20 minutes of advice for $95. Need help with with your website development? Tyler Hall charges only $2.00/min for consultation. Can't figure out what gadget to get? Optical Poptitude is only charging $3 for 15 minutes of advice. For on and offline media publishing advice, it'll only cost you $0.35/min from the website Apple Week.

If you couple Ether with a plug'n'play VoIP device such as Digifone, you can bring the cost of setting up and running a consulting business essentially down to nearly nothing.

Digifone Plug'N'Play VoIP Device For Regular Handsets

Digifone UK has a new plug'n'play VoIP unit that lets people make free broadband phone calls using current handsets, without a computer. All you need is a broadband Internet connection, and you're good to go. You'll probably need a broadband router as well, so that you can split the broadband line between the Digifone unit and your computer.

Digifone currently has 3 models. The EL1 (GBP 50) handles one line. The EL2 (GBP 100) is for two lines. For three or more lines, there's the EL4, which is GBP 100, plus GBP 50 per extra line. Prices are inclusive of VAT, postage and handling.

The system is compatible with H.323/ SIP-based terminals and will work with a PBX. The unit itself runs with an embedded Linux operating system kernel. (More details are available by contacting Digifone via email.) According to the detailed specs, you can call PSTN even if AC power fails. The unit is FCC approved, as well as MIC (Korea).

The list of countries for free calls numbers roughly 30 and includes Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, UK, New Zealand, USA (+mobile), and several more European and Asian countries (but no India). This is comparable to Jajah, which requires you to use a computer, and calls are limited to 30 minutes. While Gizmo Project offers free calls to 60 countries, both parties in a call have to be registered.

The Digifone VoIP service is provided by a German company,  Betamax. You're allowed a maximum of 300 minutes per week of free calls. After that, a rate of 0.7 pence (British) per minute is charged (0.8 p/min for British mobile phones, free for British landlines). Call summaries are sent monthly by a customer's choice of email or snail mail (post).

Other countries and rates will be listed on Digifone's website, but I don't recall seeing anything up there yet. There's also no mention of e-911 handling, but I'm assuming that since you can make direct calls to PSTN numbers, that it's not an issue. Whether or not the emergency service will see your number on their call-display I'm not sure.

If you're a communications company, Digifone is looking for licensees anywhere in the world. The EL series has received a number of awards, including Pulver100 (USA), 2004 Mae Kyung Venture Grand Prix (Korea), and Certificate of Technology Evaluation (Fraunhofer Institute, Germany). Just a guess, but I think more devices like these are going to be making telecoms quake but cable providers happy. Get in on the action.

VoIP Roundup - Wed Aug 09/06

Jeff Pulver (Pulvermedia) and Paul Kaputska have just launched Vonosphere, a website dedicated to voice- and video-on-net news. Jeff is a very proactive person who writes letters to politicians regarding issues such as net neutrality. Congrats to both of you on the new site. [via IP Inferno]

The pricey (US$350) new Mylo from Sony, like the HyunWon Boxon, is a combo consumer electronics gadget. But it actually has VoIP, in the form of Skype. [Sony via Engadget, The VoIP Weblog]

Vonage has come up with a way to offer real e-911 access to their customers. The service ties the caller's phone number with a phsyical address. [via Xchange Mag]

Cindy Waxer of TMC Net says that VoIP job opportunities abound. So, she says, forget about become a doctor or lawyer. Apparently,  the second-fastest growing occupation is in the area of network systems and data communication analysis, right through to 2014. Job numbers will increase by 55%.

VoIP in the enterprise to date relies on WANs (Wide-Area Networks), but deployment's been a headache for some network managers. That's because VoIP is a demanding application in terms of network usage and traffic patterns. [via TMC Net] An alternative is to deploy VoIP over MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) networks.

VoIP Roundup - Tue Aug 08/06

Looking for work in the VoIP field? 2it Consulting is looking for a Pre-sales Engineer with Cisco VoIP/ IPT (IP Telephony) experience for one of their clients in the Sydney, Australia area. [via IT Wire]

Jajah has added Australia and New Zealand to its list of free-call countries that can have free phone-to-phone calls using Jajah's VoIP bridge. [via m-net]

The Philippines government has an interest in VoIP and wants to build intranets for its use. Several government agencies are said to be buying switches for installation. Once the VoIP intranets are built, the next step will be to hook into commercial telephony networks in the Philippines, but not until they offer VoIP services as well. [via Inq7] This is an interesting approach, and one I assume the VoIP-over-municipal-WiFi project in Taiwan is considering as well.

Apparently, Skype will have an official version available for MS-Windows Smartphone 2003-based mobile smartphones/ PDAs. (Note: there is already a Skype client for Windows Pocket PC-based devices.) The bonus for owners of dual-mode phones is that they'll have a choice of Skype over either Wi-Fi or 3G - a sort of DIY converged service. [via Red Herring] It'll be interesting to see how fast they'll come out with a Mobile Linux version, once Mobile Linux for PDAs actually exists.

First there were Skype-certified Wi-Fi phones, now Alpha Networks is offering Google Talk-enabled Wi-Fi phones. Google's GMail will also be supported. [via Asterisk VoIP News]

VoIP From A Cell Phone With MINO Wireless

Dr. Watson? It's MINO. MINO Wireless is a new VoIP service for smartphones and PDAs that have cellular wireless data connections to the Internet. Calling between forty countries is supported, for approximately 2 cents per minute. Besides PSTN phones,  MINO works on Java-enabled cell phones, or those with a WAP-based web browser. [via The VoIP Weblog, VoIP Monitor]

Most cell phones/ PDAs that can surf the internet will support WAP. MINO is also carrier-independent, so presumably this service will work for nearly any cell phone or PDA. Right now, they have a couple of promos. For those hesistant to use the service, the software is free and you get a trial of 30 minutes worth of free calls. MINO-to-MINO calls are half-price. If you like the service and refer friends, you'll get US$1.00 for each referral.

As it's my job to test as many services as possible, I signed up. The process is relatively simple, and they seem to support a lot of phone manufacturers. My cellular carrier was not on the list, but the info provided AFTER sign-up shows that GSM phones can download software and CDMA phones can use the WAP site. (This is in fact partially incorrect, as I found out later.)

Since my carrier uses CDMA for the Palm Treo 650 (with 1xEV-DO wireless), I can only report on my experience in that regard. And unfortunately, as seems to be the case every time I try VoIP services on my Treo 650 (CDMA), it didn't work from the WAP browser.

But their website instructions are slightly incorrect (as I found out afterwards). So I went to their regular website, entered a couple of phone numbers I'd be calling from, including Treo's mobile number, then tried a couple of calls. I was finally able to do a PSTN-to-PSTN call successfully, but after several tries, I nearly gave up on involving my Treo in the equation.

Actually, being the stubborn sort that I am, I then sent MINO support an email, and they got back to me nearly immediately. (Thanks to Jim + Ray at MINO for their help.) After a few emails exchanged, MINO Support helped me figure out the right way, at least for my set up.

First, I had to download their Java application and install it to my Treo (despite the signup instructions for CDMA phones). Then, when making a call, I had to wait 30 seconds for the call to connect. What I also had not done is switch my Treo from data to phone mode. Doh!

Finally, using the MINO Java app on my Treo, I punched in the number I was calling and waited until the call connected. Then I switched over to phone mode on my Treo. MINO called me, then dialed my father. Success! I felt like Alexander Graham Bell. Finally, success using VoIP on a mobile device!! I could hear my father clearly, and he could hear me.

In fact, he said that call quality was far better than my previous calls to his landline from Skype. As a result of the call quality, he actually plans to use MINO and some of the other similar services, such as Jajah, for phone2phone long distance use. (Gizmo Project requires that the party you're calling has registered as well, which won't work for him.) However, he's a bit more reluctant to use pc2phone services because he doesn't like the call quality. So to paraphrase a popular candy's catchphrase, quality mobile to phone VoIP calling does exist.

VoIP Call Quality To Landlines Really Does Suck

I've increasingly been taking advantage of Skype's free calling to landlines within Canada and the US lately. To date, I've probably made calls to six or seven people at four different phone numbers. It appears that VoIP calls made to my Internet hosting provider's support line are of the worst quality. At least on their end.

With the exception of one call, I hear the person I'm calling (on a landline) clear and crisp. But last night, while trying to resolve some domain name issues, the hosting company rep repeatedly had to tell me that she was picking up only every other word I said. The conversation ended up taking twice as long as I'd hoped. For Skype calls to other people, though, the callee stated that they thought I sounded distant or maybe in some sort of booth. Quality wasn't great, they said, but it was passable.

On the other hand, a Skype-to-Skype VoIP call with someone half-way across the world was clear as a bell, with a single audio artefact - a slight buzz for a millisecond - and a slightly reduced volume. The other party literally sounded like he was in the same room as me, hence barely a noticeable delay. The person's voice, however, did drop in volume a few times. Which might have been what had happened with my voice when I called my hosting company.

This all contradicts what I said previously about call quality, supporting Brix Networks findings. I think there are a number of factors to consider when determining what kind of VoIP quality you'll experience. There are ways to improve call quality, but if one party is using a landline and the other a computer, quality may be poor.

My observation so far is that if you want to involve VoIP, pc2pc seems to have the best call quality, provided you have a broadband Internet connection. Phone2phone with a VoIP bridge usually does as well. (I tried with Jajah, which offers free calling between registered users. However, I only called myself, with a phone in each ear, so that's not a true indicator.)

VoIP Roundup - Fri Aug 04/06 - Press

Here's a summary of some of the VoIP-related PR we've received recently.

Actiontec Electronics and Azlan have signed a distributor agreement for the Actiontec's VoSKY family of Skype-certified products. Azlan serves resellers in UK and Ireland. VoSKY products include: Chatterbox (plug'n'play USB speakerphone for Skype), Internet Phone Wizard (PSTN/ Skype multiplexer for traditional handsets), Call Center (extends Skype to mobile phones), and VoSKY Exchange (a PBX add-on that multiplexes PSTN/ Skype calls for all phones in an office).

These Actiontec products have already been out on the market for some time. I haven't seen any of them in action, but I'm salivating. Could call center really work on my frustrating Treo 650 (on a CDMA carrier, 1xEV-DO)? VoSKY Exchange could be just the thing to make SOHO/ SMB owners salivate. This information was sent to us by a PR agency, but if anyone associated with VoSKY is reading this, feel free to to send some of this stuff over for, uh, testing. Yeah, that's it. And review, of course.

VoiceOneT is now offering the VoIP-related Click4Me.Net web service. Registration is free, and registered members can talk free from any combo of phone, mobile, or IP phone. Visit Click4Me or Labs.VoiceOne. There is also Click2Me for cell phone users, which requires registration at Click4Me first, and provides a web interface.

Click4Me works similar to a service like Jajah. Unlike Jajah (as far as I'm aware), you can show your availability status. Users can also keep their phone numbers private, block specific callers, or reqire special PINs (Personal Identification Number). Apparently you can also embed the service into web pages, web ads, and emails through the use a hyperlink. The email thing sounds like a great killer app.

How To Make Free VoIP Calls - Reader Q+A

It's not suprising that a lot of readers of this site ask, via the comments, how they can make a free VoIP call from a specific country to another, where the callee has a phone but no computer. So I thought it'd be worthwhile giving a summary of some of the services that have come out this year, in terms of categories rather than specific software.

First, let me answer the question(s) as simply as possible. There are some countries that are less likely to have free calling between PC and PSTN/ mobile phones - not that I've seen. Two of those countries are India and China. Maybe it's because they're the two most populous countries in the world, and few companies want to give up the potential market share.

The only exception I've run across is Jajah (see below), which is currently offering free landline and mobile calling to/from China. But if you run their trial, you can also make a 5 minute call to/from India as well. If I find any other VoIP services that allow free landline calls to/from India or China, I'll write about it on this site.

On the other hand, if both the caller and callee have a computer with a non-dialup Internet connection, you can make all the free VoIP calls you want, between any two countries, with pretty much any softVoIP client. For example, Skype, Google Talk, MSN Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Gizmo Project, etc.

If you want to call or receive calls on a regular phone via a VoIP network, there are SIP-based adapters (hardware). You'll still need a broadband Internet connection, but won't need a computer. But how many people have a broadband connection and no computer? Not many, I'm guessing.

For many countries, there are a few options for free PC-to-PSTN (PC-to-phone, PC2phone) calls, occasionally including mobile. Some are time-limited promos, some are permanent offers. Here are just a couple of options. (I'll not cover everything here.)

(1) Skype just finished a July promo for free pc2phone calls from Canada and the US to Mexico, Japan, and the UK. I'm guessing they'll have other country offers later this year. They also have free pc2phone calls within Canada and the US until Dec 31/06. But if you don't live in either Canada or the US, you'll need to pay for their inexpensive SkypeOut service, which lets you call pc2phone to many countries.

(2) Gizmo Project has a permanent offer that let's you call pc2phone between 60 countries (but not India and China). However, both caller and callee need to register as Gizmo Project users. (This might mean having to download and install the software as well. So if you don't have a computer, you may have to ask a friend. Keep in mind that you are allowed up to, I believe, three phone numbers per registrant, so your friend may not want to help you :)

(3) Jajah allows PC2phone calls free for up 30 minutes. It's unclear exactly which countries are allowed and which are not, as I've read different things. They do have a 5-minute trial call, and their list of countries includes India and China. But when I read their web pages, I see only China included in the 30-minute free calls, between registered users. You should note that Jajah allows you to make phone2phone calls, not pc2phone calls.

This is just a sampling of some of the nice VoIP plans currently available. If you know of others, please feel free to mention them in the comments section. I will try to put together a comprehensive free-VoIP guide, before Christmas time, that points to articles both here and on other websites.

VoIP Roundup - Thur Aug 03/06

Ted Shelton of IP Inferno and VoIP Magazine has been busy and proactive. First he sent a letter to Meg Whitman of eBay, urging her to open up the Skype VoIP protocol. Then he sent a letter to US Senator Dianne Feinstein, and got this positive letter about network neutrality in response.

Dal of Asterisk VoIP News asks, is residential telephony past it's sell date? Both mobile comm and VoIP have threatened providers of regular phone service, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. Analysis from Frost & Sullivan shows that the industry there reached its peak in 2005, and the subscriber base will be growing at a paltry compound yearly rate of about 2.3 percent up until 2012. There are, however, other areas of growth in the business. [via Asterisk VoIP News]

For those of you familiar with RSS (Really Simple Syndication), you know that it's a handy way to consume the content of your favorite websites, especially news sites. Well, here's a leg up on RSS news reader software: one that reads you one minute headline summaries via an Asterisk-based VoIP phone. [via Nerd Vittles] There's also MailCall for Asterisk, which reads you your email by VoIP phone.

New Zealand's Slingshot offers the iTALK VoiceBox to bring VoIP calling to regular home phone users. This is done by connecting a regular phone to a broadband connection via a suitable adaptor device. [via The VoIP Weblog, Scoop]

How Do You VoIP?

What do you find more valuable to you: a smartphone, PDA, or laptop? According to market research firm In-Stat, users of smartphones find those more essential to their business. [via CNS Magazine] However, that's not factoring in how people use VoIP. Given that it's the SOHO (Small Office/ Home Office) and probably SMB (Small and Medium Businesses) owners that are most likely to be the next wave to adopt VoIP, the value of one device over may soon depend on its ability to VoIP.

I know that when I bought my first Palm PDA in Oct 1999, it wasn't "connected". But it was essential to my consulting for task management (no laptop back then), as was my cell phone - especially since I haven't had a land line in about 12 years or longer. Of course, there was no VoIP then, so it didn't matter.

Now that I have a Palm Treo 650, which is a PDA with cell phone and cellular Wi-Fi access, I rarely use it except to actually test VoIP products. But that's primarily because I now work 100% from home. If I were still travelling around, even locally, as I used to for consulting, that'd be different.

So to me, my laptop is more important, as I can move around the house, or go up to the university library to do research. I do most of my softVoIP calls from Skype, mainly because the few people that I speak to who use VoIP only have Skype. The other reason being of course Skype's free calling within the US and Canada (until the end of 2006).

On the other hand, if I could actually find a VoIP service that works on Treo 650 (CDMA network, in my case), I'd be more likely to use my Treo for VoIP  long distance calls outside of Canada and the US. How about you? How do you use VoIP for your business?

VoIP Roundup - Wed Aug 2/06

MediaRing in Singapore will be offering "prefix-3" VoIP phone numbers. These numbers can receive calls from both PSTN and mobile phones as well. [via ChannelNews Asia]

Verizon had just reported a loss of US$500 million between Q1 and Q2 of 2006. A story in today's New York Times confirms this. Verizon is the USA's No. 2 local phone carrier, just behind AT&T. Qwest, the fourth largest carrier, also reported losses due to VoIP/ Internet telephony compared to a year ago. Both companies stated that increased sales of broadband and wireless services dampened the losses slightly. [Aside: As I was about to post this roundup, CNBC TV showed a video segment about New York's over-taxed electric grid, and how Verizon is helping out with hydrogen cells.]

Now here's a company who understands unlimited Internet usage from a cell phone. The UK's T-Mobile is offering rates of less than a penny per kilobyte, with a maximum charge of 1 GBP (Great British Pound) per day. It's all free after that, for the rest of a day. They're also not limiting what sites you visit, but proof of age is required for access to adult sites. Unfortunately, this service is only available for two phones: the Motorola v3 RAZR and the Nokia 6131, with other handsets promised soon. [via The Register]

Infonetics Research, in their VoIP Services report, says that VoIP service revenue has doubled between 2004 and 2005 in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific. In these regions, from 2005-2009, It's expected that US$120 billion will be spent on VoIP services. [via Infonetics]

VoIP Inc. has just launched their VoiceOne Lab Development website as a showcase for their new VoIP technology and projects. [via New Telephony] Interestingly, the project page has something called the gTalk Mobile Client. Should be interesting to see who has the rights to that name, as some people use GTalk to refer to Google Talk's IM client.

Festoon Unity Video + Voice Bridges Skype + Google Talk

Festoon Inc, formerly called vSkype, has relaunched with two voice-related offerings. One is Abazab, which lets you collect video comments on a website or weblog. The second, Festoon Unity, is a WoIP (video + VoIP) bridge between Skype and Google talk.

Festoon Unity runs in the background, activated by a button from either Skype or Google Talk. The callee must also have Festoon installed, as well as Skype or Google Talk. The nice thing about Festoon Unity is that it really does unify Skype and Google Talk, or so they say. I haven't convinced anyone to download it yet, but apparently you can call from Google Talk to Skype.

Hot damn! VoIP intercompatibilty. To a degree. Although there's no mention of Sightspeed or Gizmo Project, both of which are based on the open source SIP standard. But hey, it's a start, and the alliances are forming. Unity is supposed to be supporting AOL, Yahoo! Messenger, and MSN Messenger by some time this year.

On their what's new page, a number of features, both useful and frivolous. Besides intercalling between Skype and Google Talk, the new version (beta) has better lip syncing, faster video, and better audio quality. They also now support most proxy servers, including SOCKS and HTTP. And for conference calls, they've improved group audio for better conversation flow. For the kids, they have video effects collectively called EyeCandy, which basically lets you paste your face in cutouts and pretend you're someone else.

Abazab, which is Festoon's new offering, isn't VoIP, but it does let website owners and visitors communicate with voice and video comments. Festoon is very similar to Grouper [Mashable, Techcrunch], and is aimed at squarely at bloggers, particularly the social spaces of MySpace, Xanga, etc. As long as you have a website/ weblog where you can add HTML code containing a Shockwave/ Flash player, you can use Abazab.

Both Abazab and Grouper look like a whole heck of a lot of fun, and advance the cause of a read/write two-way sort of web. And Festoon Unity advances the search for the holy grail of text/ VoIP IM clients. Bravo.

VoIPing For Profit - Jyve Talking

Like Ether, Jyve is an Internet-connected voice commerce application that lets you consult via phone calls and earn money. Unlike Ether, Jyve is directly plugged into VoIP. In fact, it's an application layer over top of the Skype VoIP IM client.

Jyve's another great idea, like Ether, but they've gone a step further by creating a free searchable , structured directory of "experts" who will consult with you via Skype at a given rate. You can search for listed experts by categories and sub-categories, or by tags. (Ether has a community forum, but no consultant listings that I could see.)

If you're an expert yourself, you can signup, setup, and list yourself on their site, under a variety of categories. They create a "Click & Buy" billing account for you. You can then download Skype and Jyve buttons to post on your website. These buttons display your availability. (Jyve availability can be configured differently than Skype availability.)

Once you get a Skype call from a potential client, you generally spend a few minutes negotiating a price, then use Jyve to switch the free call to a paid call. I think that this feature alone makes Jyve a potentially better service than Ether, since the latter requires two separate numbers to pull this switch off. It's seamless in Jyve - or at least in theory. If you're unavailable for consulting, clients can leave you a voicemail or an email by clicking on the appropriate button on your Jyve listing page.

Jyve-Skype calls can be pre-paid, or metered by the minute, or in blocks of time, etc. You can also sell digital content via Skype's file transfer feature. For example, you may want to record conversations and supply a copy to your clients at a later time. (To send free screen snaps, use TechSmith's free Skype profile for SnagIt. You can also run live screen sharing using WebDialogs Unyte's free Skype plugin. I'm just not sure you can meter either of these for profit. Warning: to use SnagIt for Skype, you must already have SnagIt installed. If not, install the Snagit 30-day demo first, then the Skype profiles version. If you've previously tried the demo and passed the trial date, you're probably out of luck.)

The major drawback to Jyve is that it's purely web- and Skype-based. The calling party also has to be using Skype. So you cannot take calls from a regular phone/ mobile through Jyve. Thus the smart consultant will set up both Ether and Jyve accounts. And like Ether, you're not limited to just talk-only consulting. There are all kinds of professions, including writing, listed in the Jyve experts directory.

So what does Jyve get out of this? They take a 20%, which is higher than Ether's 15%. But in any commission-based industry, 15-20% is pretty standard, unless you're Elvis and your agent is Colonel Tom Parker - in which I case Tom gets 60%. Hmmm. Gives me an idea: Elvis-By-Skype. Need an Elvis to perform for an event? Hook up your speakers to your computer and Jyve-Skype me. Though I think I'd much rather perform Led Zeppelin's Communication Breakdown, or maybe Blondie's Call Me (in Spanish?). Though I'll throw in Electric Light Orchestra's Telephone Line. Hint: voice commerce can be used in a lot of ways, particularly for musicians to communicate with fans, besides corny references to musical communication.

VoIP Roundup - Tues Aug 1/06

Verizon reports that their net revenue for Q2 2006 was down $500M. Part of this had to do with costs involving their FiOS fiber-optic broadband service. The other reason, although it doesn't explicitly mention VoIP, is that the company had a more than seven-percent drop (over a year) "in the number of switched access lines in service", due to customer migrating to other technologies. [via InfoWorld]

Microsoft had egg on their face when a live demonstration of their IVR (Interactive Voice Response) voice recognition software completely misunderstood the demonstrator and, after fitfully trying to interpret what he was saying, actually typed out some gobbledygook about erasing everything. [via CNBC TV, InfoWorld] (Now do you believe me when I say that the domain name wewillassimiliateyou.com - or something like that - was once registered to Microsoft?)

While the software in question  was not VoIP-based, voice-processing is increasingly become a part of popular VoIP packages, typically through add-ons or plugins. Microsoft has also expressed a strong interest in VoIP lately

You know VoIP's about to go mainstream and become a household word when the Motley Fool personal finance and investing website starts talking about VoIP. [via Motley Fool]

In the article, Fool contributor Tim Beyers mentions that in the eight months since using Skype instead of a landline in his office, he's had a lot of dropped calls but ended up with a total (prorated) annual savings of nearly $450. However, he's opted to stick with a regular landline at home, for a variety of reasons. In all, a fairly balanced look at the pros and cons of using VoIP.

The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) describes how one branch of the Health Services Union assessed their undesireable phone system situation and, after considering a number of vendors, went with a US-based VoIP provider, Zultys Technologies.

This is an interesting read because the Union branch was not obviously a candidate for VoIP, especially because there's no need for long-distance calls, and most calls were expected to be inbound from 20,000 members. [via SMH]

VoIPing For Profit - Ether Consulting

Ether is a voice-based service, though not necessarily VoIP-based, that lets you essentially set up a consulting business online, with the help of a phone, email address and website (free-hosted is fine). I'd all but forgotten about Ether until I stumbled across Amit Agarwal's post a couple of nights ago.

Ether is a brilliant concept. They give you a free toll-free number (and personal extension) that clients can call, which you advertise on your website, email, or business card, along with your rates and availability. At the Ether site, you can login and configure your availability throughout a single day. Calling clients will be notified that you are unavailable at present, if necessary.

If a client want to talk to you, they pay upfront, with their credit card, through Ether's billing system, and the call gets transferred to your desired phone number (home, cell, etc.), if you're configured as being available. If you've set a fixed time limit for a call, the call will end.

Your rates can be set by a variety of time periods, including custom (max $1,000 for a max of 120 minutes). You can even specify that minutes are free after a certain duration. So, for example, I could charge for the first 45 minutes, then allow the rest of a call to be free. (Although there's no way that I saw when I signed up for the beta where you could limit the free time. That's something that would have to be managed manually.) If you've set recurring rates, such as $30 for every 15 minutes, the client will be billed before the call can continue.

It appears that you can setup multiple phone profiles from a single Ether account. So if you do a variety of consulting work and have different websites to promote that work, you can post a different Ether extension # and call rate on each site.

Ether went live near the end of June 2006. I signed up months ago during the beta trial. Because of technical and personal reasons, I never got around to actually fully setting up my account. However, I did come across a couple of websites where the owners had set up. One site owner had two profiles/ numbers. One was something like $100/hour consulting. The other was 30 minutes free, available for a couple of times each week, first-come-first-served.

It's a great concept, and I had intended to set up for business. In fact, I even bought my Palm Treo 650, and the calling and wireless data plans, with Ether consulting explicitly in mind. Unfortunately, since I don't have a landline (haven't for nearly 12 years now), that means I have to use up my costly cell phone minutes. Either that or I need to purchase a SkypeIn, TalqIn, or Gizmo Call In type of plan.

So while Ether might be using VoIP in their phone system infrastructure, it's not a VoIP service from the end user point of view. However, if you have a "call in" phone number for Skype or one of the handful of other softVoIP clients, or even a hardVoIP phone number, there's no reason why you cannot enjoy VoIP benefits from your end.

In fact, because Ether also lets you sell digital content to clients via email or by downloading from your website, you could offer extra services. For example, if you are using a SkypeIn number, you can record calls and offer clients a copy for $0, or even a small fee. If you have voice-to-text software, you could even offer a text transcript, maybe in PDF form, for later download from your site - again for free or fee. Additionally, you could offer language translations of the transcript.

You can essentially set up a consulting practice for nearly any type of business (there are a few restrictions) for next to no cost. (For example, you can use a free-hosted site, but I wouldn't recommend it.) You can do followups by email or downloadable documents, if necessary. The options for businesses are endless, even if you don't want to do a lot of talking.

For example, let's say that you do web analytics work, say with a basic package rate of $500. Set up one Ether profile that gives a limited number of free 15 minute calls. Then set up a second profile that provides a 10-15 minute call for $250, but provides the content via email or download at an agreed upon date. (I have yet to see the non-phone Ether interface, so I'm speculating about the email/ download setup.)

That means that a client calls for free and describes what they want done. The call is the equivalent of a free estimate, but in this case, the price is fixed. If they think you can do the job, and you want to, they call back immediately on the other Ether extension, pay for your service up front, and finish providing the project details, etc.

It might take you a week to finish, or whatever, but when you do, the client calls back on the agreed upon date for a second $250 call, and you complete the transaction. The client has their work and your Ether account will have this additional $250, as well as the $250 from the second call. You could obviously get more sophisticated in your setup and break things down into four calls.

Ether takes a 15% commission from each transaction, which doesn't sound too bad for the service they offer. Hopefully they'll consider integrate with a softVoIP client such as Skype (because of it's Paypal connections) or an open source client such as Gizmo Project. For video calling, there's also Sightspeed, which would make it possible to offer consulting services with visual instruction, such as language pronunciation lessons. To summarize, Ether's a great concept, with room to grow in the VoIP arena to become a killer application.

VoIP Roundup #4

Skype will be getting SMS text messaging services courtesy of Mobile 365. The latter company already delivers 2 billion messages monthly. [via Biz Journals] Skype had already added a free SMS service in early 2005.

The Inquirer (British) thinks that Microsoft's real threat is Skype.

With all the inexpensive means of publishing content, citizen journalism is on the rise. People are recording war footage in the Middle East with their cell phones and posting the content to websites, including YouTube.com, as a way to share what the "camera person" is experiencing. Some even write a description, to express all the feelings. [via SF Gate]

New Zealand's Woosh wireless has broadcast rights from Sky TV to provide Internet TV using its WiMax network. [via NZ Herald] IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) is the next frontier in multimedia content over the Internet, with tests being conducted worldwide, including the US, India, China, and elsewhere, supposedly causing fear in cable TV companies.

Market Clarity, a telecom research firm in Australia, has a free online directory listing VoIP providers in that country. [via IT Wire]

Batelco in Bahrain has expanded VoIP calling from five destinations to over 200. They've also reduced rates for their international VoIP-based calling cards. These cards are valid for calls from PCs, PSTN lines, and cell phones. [via Trade Arabia]

VoIP Roundup #3

Michael Kanellos sums up the value of using RebTel's VoIP service very nicely: instead of losing your unused monthly cell phone minutes, use them in international or other long-distance calls using RebTel. They create a bridge service by creating a dedicated local number that saves the caller long distance charges. For $1/week, that's not bad if you tend to put off long-distance calls because of cost.

BT (British Telecom) has been laying out plans to get into the internet telephony business (i.e., VoIP). They're looking to have one million internet phone customers in the next year. The company was formerly a monopoly and originally concerned about VoIP, but has changed its stance.

A Taiwanese government web page says that Taiwan is preparing for a VoIP explosion. The output value of VoIP-related products rose to US$460+ million in 2005, up from about US$370 mln and US$262 mln in the previous two years. A government-funded research institute has set up the ViTA (VoIP Taiwan) Forum to set up VoIP product certification standards in that country.

Arcosoft is offering VONaLink SoloRecord recording software for SIP-based VoIP phone systems, including Vonage. Either soft or hard VoIP services are supported. Calls are recorded in .WAV or .MP3 format, and an audio watermark can be audio to prove non-tampering.

Robert Poe of VoIP News shows why IP PBXs are going to replace their TDM counterparts in the enterprise.

Unlimited Cell Phone Data Plan? - Mmm, Not So Much

Nate Anderson has a great overview of how unlimited "unlimited" 1xEV-DO (=EVDO = Evolution-Data Optimized) wireless data plans on cellular phones really are. He mentions Verizon, but what he says holds true with a lot of providers.

EVDO is the wireless data network that some CDMA-based cell phones use, in a number of countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Canada and the US. (The Wikipedia link above has a fairly comprehensive list of carriers, phones and laptop data cards which use EVDO.)

If you have a smartphone or PDA that uses CDMA, the wireless data plan available is likely to be EVDO-based. If you've purchased, or are thinking of purchasing, an "unlimited" monthly data/ wireless plan, check your provider's fine print. More than likely, there's a bit of text that says you cannot use the service for VoIP, streaming music or video, and several other purposes.

When I called my service provider recently to upgrade to the "unlimited" plan, he told me that not only was that plan grandfathered, it had only ever been available on the laptop data card, not my Palm Treo 650. I insisted that the sales rep had said otherwise, but the rep wouldn't budge. So I ended up witha plan offering only 250 Mb/mth bandwidth, for something like $100/m. Ouch.

Consider that one day, when I had trouble with my regular Internet connection, I used my Palm Treo 650's EVDO connection, via a Bluetooth USB adapter (different from a Bluetooth headset) as a modem, from my laptop. In a regular half-day's web browsing for researching my daily articles, I used nearly 90 Megabytes. In a half day. No streaming music or video. Just one test of VoIP, because I was writing about a service.

Note: CDMA phones cannot use the phone and the wireless connection simultaneously, which usually means not being able to use most VoIP software directly on the device.

Obviously cell phone data plans are not for power web surfers like myself, but it sure would be nice to have options for a bigger bandwidth plan at a better.

SOHO Owners Most Interested In VoIP

A new survey by IDC [via Info Week] suggests that SOHO (Small Office Home Office) owners will be the people driving the consumer adoption of VoIP for next year, in the United States.

According to the survey home offices have typically been early adopters of advanced technology, and are doubly likely to be currently using, or soon adopting, VoIP than other US households. At present, nearly 40% of corporate home offices and almost 24% of home-based businesses have in interest in VoIP - at present or in the near future.

This makes a great deal of sense, considering the potential savings from implementing VoIP either in the home office or on a laptop during business trips. Any business owner who has travelled knows the cost of cell phone roaming charges or even hotel phone bills.

SOHO-based businesses typically have to bootstrap, especially in the early lean years. It just goes with the territory. So the bottom line is that costs have to be cut wherever possible. Since SOHO offices are more likely to be connected to the Internet on a broadband line than a regular household, owners are more likely to be aware of the advantages of VoIP.

However, as mentioned previously, a lot of free soft VoIP clients are not enterprise ready. A business owner who may want to set up a voice menu or some other sophisticated phone interface likely has to go with pure-play VoIP services instead of something like Skype. Though that's likely to change in the next couple of years.

SayNow's Voice Services

In a previous post, I speculated that VoIPing for profit might be something musicians could consider, and that fans would love. This speculation was based on a successful promo that ColdPlay and Skype offered recently, where band members spoke via Skype to the two young women who won the contest.

If you've followed some of the goings on of top popstars and actors, just a couple of years ago, fans were paying for daily voice messages from stars. The voicemails were accessible through a pay-per-minute phone number, and contained the daily goings-on of the star, as well as goofy messages telling the fans how much they were loved.

Well, someone got smart and realized the both the value and the (potential) profit in having musicians be in touch with their fans using voice services and the Internet. SayNow is a free service that lets musicians record voice messages, and for fans to respond to them. SMS messages are used as alerts to indicate new messages from a musician. Fan and musician phone numbers remain private.

The real killer feature, at least for musicians, is a map and head count of where fans are calling from, presumably based on their cell phone number (or possibly their IP address). Imagine the marketing tool that this could be turned into, if a few more layers of web service were added in - surveys, friendly VoIP chats, pre-purchase of tickets, CDs/ DVDs, merch, etc. While SayNow seems to be aimed at Myspace musicians, there seems to be no restriction in that regard, and no reason why only musicians can take advantage of this service.

Odeo is not the same thing, but combining it with twttr (SMS) and Hellodeo (video mail) gives you similar basic functionality. (Warning: Hellodeo displays recently recorded videos, and someone's already put prawn videomail up there.)

Still, none of this is true VoIP, yet I think SayNow shows that there's a  potential market for VoIP calls between celebrities and fans, provided that various safeguards are put in place to protect privacy or other situations. I mean, I'd really hate to have Carmen Electra Skyping me every hour, telling me that Dave Navarro finally succumbed to Rockstar Supernova's charming host Brooke Burke. Yeah, right.

VoIP Roundup #2

TechCrunch reports that SightSpeed 5.0 launched. Yet when I checked the Sightspeed site (10 PM Pacific time), there's a message saying you should return at 9 PM Pacific time. The new version apparently includes place-shifted TV, a new video codec, PSTN out- and in-calling, and more. The beta was available a couple of months ago. Sightspeed is a competitor to Skype, but went one step further by incorporating native call recording as well as video calling and free voice and videomail. [Update: 5.0 is now available for both Mac OS X and Win XP. Unlike Skype, Sightspeed is keeping version numbers for both platforms in line.]

GigaOm points to a post on Andy Abramson's VoIPWatch about a new deal between SixApart and Gizmo Project. The new service would let LiveJournal webloggers VoIP and text IM site visitors. This is in addition to the recently announced Jabber-based text IM that LiveJournal would be adding. These kinds of integration of web services are going to appear a lot more often, as innovative companies like SixApart see the value to the end users.

Benjamin Higginbotham presents a compelling argument for why Skype has not won the VoIP battle yet, saying that while it's great in the C2C (consumer- to- consumer) market, it falls down in the B2B (business- to- business) and B2C markets. Skype did announce late last year, and again recently, that they were going after the enterprise VoIP market. That is despite saying their software was not enterprise grade. Nevertheless, I think I have to agree with Benjamin, as Skype (and most other softVoIP clients) support neither VoiceXML nor CCXML, which would really make a difference for businesses.

Vonage Is Still #1 In VoIP Market Share

Despite the beating that Vonage (NYSE: VG) has taken in the stock market, they are still #1 in terms of pure VoIP service popularity, according to a survey by Telephia.

The survey (PDF, 3 pgs) shows that of all US households subscribing to "pure-play" VoIP services, Vonage currently has nearly 54% of the market. They're followed by Verizon VoiceWing and AT&T CallVantage, each with a distant 5.5%. The remaining providers in the top nine each hold between 0.9-4% of the market share, with tenth place being an aggregate of providers holding 20%. (Given that Vonage supposedly spends $20 million per month in advertising, it's only fitting that they're in first place.)

These numbers only include services categorized as Internet telephony providers, and thus excludes "digital phone" services offered by some cable and telecom companies. Soft VoIP services such as Skype are also excluded. Still, with Vonage so far ahead of at least a dozen companies, there's enough motive to want to bring them down. (What me? Sound like a conspiracy theorist?) I still maintain that Vonage needs to ally themselves with some big player, to save themselves, at least in terms of market valuation.

Telephia conducts performance measurements of both the converging communications and mobile industries. Their survey shows that of the reasons that customers might switch VoIP providers, call quality ranked highest (27.4%), followed by customer service (14.7%) and then plan price (13.4%).

A survey earlier this year by Telephia showed that residential VoIP increased to 3.1% of households compared to June 2005. That number is now 4.1% for Q2 2006.

via PC World, VoIP News

VoIP Roundup #1

This is a roundup of recent VoIP-related news from various sources.

Skype has just released V1.5 for the Mac OS X platform. New features include a new interface and ability to import addresses. Video support requires a plugin, and call recording is still non-native. [via Pocket Lint, Tech Crunch] Unfortunately, great VoIP recording tools like HotRecorder only run on Windows, at present.

Not sure if they'll be as hot as other cute monster novelties, but Verballs double as a USB-enabled hands-free Skype phones. [via Engadget] Apparently they wave their arms and move their lips. Scary.

The previously announced WiFi Skype phone from SMC is now available for US$199. It'll work over any WiFi connection that does not require browser authentication. [via Market News] SMC is one of four companies that recently announced WiFi Skype phones. Others companies include Belkin, Netgear, and Edge-Core.

A report by Telephia says that pure-play VoIP subscriptions are up but network call quality still needs improvement.

Newsday reports that there are over 1100 providers in the US that offer Internet-based phone services, but other than that, Internet phone service could be the future. Which is what I said the other day - all the more reason for softVoIP network compatibility.

For Better Or For Worse - Is VoIP Quality Decreasing?

Brix Networks, a company who makes monitoring tools to test VoIP networks, says that data collected on their TestYourVoIP website indicates that users are rating 20 percent of nearly a million calls tested as being of poor quality. This data spans 18 months.

My own experience is not substantial, but I say quality is getting better, at least in newer softVoIP clients. Over a year ago, I VoIPed a friend using MSN Messenger, which he was also using. The call quality was terrible. Since then, I've either used or briefly tested Jajah, Skype, and Talqer, all on the same laptop, headphones, and cheapo $1 microphone. Talqer had the best call quality. And I'm using a wireless connection. Direct broadband connections would probably offer the best quality.

It is of course to Brix' advantage to publish such disappointing findings. And if I've understood the BusinessWire press release correctly, the TestYourVoIP service is really measuring broadband quality, not actual calls. So the data might in fact be misleading, considering that there are a lot of other factors to consider in VoIP call quality testing.

What's your experience? Are you finding better quality? If you want to test your VoIP, try Brix Network's Google Gadget, which requires you to have Google Desktop Version 4 or higher.

Sources: ComputerWorld, BusinessWire [via FierceVoIP]

Network Inter-compatibility - A VoIP Holy Grail?

According to comScore [via TechCrunch and others], it appears that the Google  Talk IM does not have all that many users. Google Talk is a distant fourth in the list of IM clients. The top three spots are taken by MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and AIM. We're not talking total number of downloads, just number of users.

These numbers indicate that, as of May 2006, there are only just over 339 million IM users of all flavours, out of over 900 million Internet users worldwide. MSN is at the top with about 60% of the market and Google Talk has only 1%.

The numbers appear to be for text IMs only. Consider that for Skype, I've been numbers like 250 million (PDF, 1 page) and 280 million downloads, and 100 million registered users (which was passed in early May 2006). Google is nowhere close to neither Skype nor the top text IM clients. Note: the TechCrunch article points out that the comScore numbers do not include the embedded version of GTalk within GMail. Some GMail users apparently prefer to use the native IM.

Some of the above IMs (in fact, possibly all - I don't know much about AIM) have direct VoIP (PC-to-PC) capability. Windows Live Messenger and the latest Yahoo! Messenger now have VoIP ability as well.

Regardless, the numbers suggest that Skype has to be able to keep up, especially with the announced IM alliance between Microsoft and Yahoo! When their respective IM's become compatible, together they'll have over 83% of the IM market (using current numbers).

With that kind of market share, don't have to swallow their pride and use the open source Jabber/XMPP, but it sure would be nice. That's what Google, Trillian, and several other lesser-known IMs use. Can you imagine an Internet where you can choose your fave IM/ VoIP soft client and connect to anyone? Skype, MSN, Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk.... Nice.

As for Michael Arrington's suggestion (at TechCrunch) that Google come up with a strategy to grab more market share, I recommend they buy Vozin Communications. Their Talqer soft client turns Google Talk into a true VoIP client.

From my point of view, once all the technical kinks are worked out of VoIP services, including e911 and improved call quality, every person on Earth who uses a phone will be using a straight or hybrid VoIP phone or soft client. If they were to all become intercompatible, then these usage numbers might be perceived as meaningless - especially by the marketing engines of the larger companies. This would be a reason for them not to work towards compatibility. Too bad, because we could use more IM/VoIP network intercompatibility.

Aside: If you do a Google Search for "how many Skype users worldwide", you can see how fast Skype downloads increased in 2005. Or you could read Jean Mercier's post at SkypeJournal (about downloads in the US and Canada), which suggests that the number of downloads needs to be filtered for previous users who were upgrading one or more times since they first downloaded Skype.

Crystal Gazing - VoIP Voice-from+to-Text Applications

Marshall Sponder at WebMetricsGuru talked about a colleague of his, Bill Tancer, who injured himself in a cycling accident, temporarily being unable to write for his website. Tancer turned to Dragon Naturally Speaking software as an alternative, which worked out fine. Now of course, this isn't VoIP software, but it got me to thinking. If voice recognition software has come along far enough, it could be harnessed into VoIP-to-text applications. The same goes for voice translation software to create text-to-VoIP applications.

For example, Asterisk is offering MailCall, a free email-to-VoIP application. It reads your email to you over Asterisk-based VoIP phone, and works POP3 and IMAP accounts for numerous web-based and standalone email clients. Imagine the fun listening to your spam email. Psychologists will have a field day studying the effects. On the positive side, text-to-voice could be coupled with voice-to-text to build a VoIP system for users who are hearing-impaired. Such a VoIP-based system would replace the expensive human-generated voice-to-text systems that piggyback PSTN phones.

So far, these examples are for human-to-human interaction. VoIP applications could be used to control the ubiquitous VoIP-controlled SEDs (Service Enabled Devices) that'll be appearing any time now. If you in fact did have a wired home, you could potentially VoIP home to your private web server and control SED appliances, such as the sprinkler. I've said that before, but I didn't think about voice recognition software as part of the bridge for being able to talk to appliances and control them.

Of course, you'd have to use a fairly limited grammar, and have a suitable processor. There are already markup language grammars such as VoiceXML for telephone system menus, but as far as I know, there's nothing for ordering around SEDs. If someone devised a command language wrapped up in XML and made it open source and extensible, in a few years, we might all be talking to our appliances with ease. Dare I say, the same language could be used to ask robot maids to make scrambled eggs in the morning?

Failing a George Jetson existence, if you're interested in building Skype apps, check out the Skype API Intro page, complete with a video. Be an early adapter and be one of the first to start building VoIP-controlled web services. I think voiceWeb/ VoIPWeb will form the next wave after web 2.0.

Your VoIP Says Yes But Your Body Says No

Thousand-person VoIP conferences might not be my thing, but 4- to 8-person video conferencing seems like a manageable sort of meeting. However, despite being impressed by Sightspeed's 4-person video conferencing ability, I'm not entirely sure yet that I really look forward to videophones, VoIP/ WoIP-based or otherwise.

As I've more than hinted at, I work from home, and that means being scruffy and unkempt for most of the week. Regardless of my own preferences, WoIP (Video and Voice over IP, aka video-VoIP) will probably become commonplace when more people have broadband connections (and more RAM on their laptops).

When that does happen, there'll be some etiquette rules to follow. Nuno at 21 Talks has a screenshot of a Japanese poster showing recommended body posture and body language for video conference calls.

Here are my own 5 rules of appearance for home VoIP video conference attendees:

(1) Shave, if you're a guy, and have three or four days of stubble. (Unless you're growing your beard, of course)

(2) Brush your teeth. We may not have SoIP (Scent over IP) yet - thank goodness, you don't have to bathe - but no one wants to see you repeatedly running your tongue over your teeth because they feel furry. And your hand over your mouth isn't fooling anyone.

(3) Comb your hair, for crying out loud. Didn't your mother teach you anything?

(4) Don't get caught with your pants down. Clothe yourself and spare us the view of your ripped wife-beater undershirt and the boxers with something stupid on them - or for women, torn bra and granny panties.

(5) But seriously, make the area of your home that you're working from at least somewhat presentable. What will the neighbors think?

I'm praying that VoIP video calls are not common practice for a while. (At least until I have time to clean my place up.)

TalQer Enhances VoIP For Google Talk

Someone was commiserating on their blog the other day that Google Talk had not had a great deal of success in the VoIP arena - it might have been Charlie Paglee of VoIPWiki blog, and head of Vozin Communications, but I can't remember. So why no full VoIP capabilities from Google Talk?

Fact is, I use Google Talk several times daily to text-talk with friends and clients via the IM. Surprisingly or not, most of these people do not have a mic/ headset; some have no Internet, computer or even cell phone. (My name is not Fred Flintstone.)

That means I have to call my neanderthal friends on their landline. But at present, Google Talk's VoIP capabilities are limited only to other Google Talk users, or those of any compatible softVoIP clients. So Vozin Communications, big fans of Google Talk and its open source code, decided to change that with their Talqer soft client.

Talqer (pronounced "Talker") is a downloadable client that either integrates into Google Talk or can run on its own. If you choose to run it from Google Talk, that client will now have a button to launch the Talqer dialpad.

Talqer keeps a history of your calls and has a mini-phonebook. It's also integrated with MS Internet Explorer, in that you can highlight a number on a web page, right-click your mouse, and select "Call with Talqer". Pretty cool. So why not with other browsers? Firefox integration is coming, they say.

So I downloaded Talqer and installed it to run with Google Talk, then called myself twice from PC to home landline. The quality was amazingly clear, even with my cheapo $1 microphone. But Talqer didn't tell me how much I owed for the call. So I Skyped Charlie Paglee, head of Vozin Communications. The Talqer call had been relatively clear; the Skype call was crackly. (That was actually my first VoIP call on Skype; I've only used the text mode previously.)

Charlie very kindly filled me in on a few details, indicating that new Talqer members get a few minutes free - hence the reason I could make the call without seeing a charge. After a few minutes use, you'll need to buy TalqOut credit, which is similar to SkypeOut, to call someone's landline or cell phone from your PC. Rates are better than Skype's, the Talqer site claims.

Or there's TalqIn, with free voicemail, which lets people call your PC as if you had a regular phone number. For US$3/mth, that's comparable to SkypeIn. A special, time-limited promo gives you a number in over thirty area codes  in Canada and the US for 20% off the annual rate = US$2/m. Two bucks a month for a number? Not bad, I say.

If you're a Chatty Kathy like me, you can opt for UnTalq, which is their unlimited calling plan for calls to Canada (excluding area code 867) and the continental USA (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands). The rate is US$12/mth or $120/yr, exlcuding any applicable taxes. This plan also applies to someone living outside of the valid calling areas but who wants to call those areas.

Just my opinion, but with a seemingly better VoIP call quality and rates that are comparable to or better than Skype's, Talqer could potentially give Skype and other softVoIP providers a run for their money.

Charlie Paglee, by the way, is also the blogger who not only broke the story about the Chinese Skype clone, but got the call from the clone in the first place. He hinted to me during our conversation that Talqer will be announcing some very interesting services later this year. As a fan of Google Talk myself, I'll be watching.

VoIP Providers' Business Model Makes Sense

On VoIPWiki, Charlie Paglee talks about how Skype's business model seems counterintuitive to traditional business models, but is actually working for them. In fact, most softVoIP providers are following the same model.

Their model of giving away the software as well as some of the calls makes a great deal of sense. But in traditional bricks and mortar business it probably wouldn't work. It'd almost be equivalent to car makers giving cars away for free (although even that may not help Ford Motor Co right now) and charging for the gas - provided they had a monopoly on the gas.

Jajah, Babble and lately Gizmo Project are some of the softVoIP providers following along in the same model, allowing not just free PC-to-PC calls, but some other combinations involving PSTN phones/ mobile phones. The model works, I'm thinking, because the Internet, although vast, is essentially a closed system, and any softVoIP provider is satisfying the needs of a different user than hardVoIP providers.

On-The-Fly VoIP Call Language Translation - Sort Of

Language translation on-the-fly is one of those killer apps that there is a demand for, given that free or inexpensive VoIP services have made the world into a virtual global village. Also, VoIP providers are encouraging international communication with their very low calling rates.

Bilingual skills are rare - at least amongst North Americans and others in officially English-speaking countries - so those doing business with customers/ vendors/ partners from other countries often find they need a conversation to be translated. A universal translator may be unachievable, but it's likely to be unnecessary.

What's much more likely is that two people need someone to translate for them. Nuno at 21Talks wrote about a new dual-handset phone from Language Line that facilitates not a machine translation but an on-the-fly human translation of a conversation.

Language Line is a company that has been offering language translation services for 20 years. They were founded originally as a volunteer organization in San Jose, California, by a policeman and a language instructor. They were later incorporated and ownership has changed hands a few times, including AT & T.

Their dual handset phone can be used in a number of ways, although Language Line's intent is that the two people requiring translation are in the same room Each person uses one of the handsets, and the translator is at the other end of the call. Alternately, a non-Language Line translator could be with one person physically and they would use the dual-handset phone to call a person elsewhere.

Customers of Language Line's translation services get the dual-handset phones free of charge, except for a $3.00/mth fee per phone (unlimited phones). Even if you do not need/ want the dual-handset phone, you can use Language Line's services via conference calling - whether VoIP-based or otherwise - at a per minute rate, and for 150 languages - probably the most of any global translation service I've heard of.

Use a relatively inexpensive, potentially free VoIP  conferencing service such as Skype's, and the savings probably pay for the translation services.

SoonR Lets You Skype From A Mobile Phone

SoonR is one of the new breed of web 2.0 applications that integrates another web application. In this case, SoonR has a number of applications that synchronize your PC and mobile phone, one of which lets you make VoIP calls from your mobile phone (to PC or PSTN) using Skype's conferencing feature.

To start with, you must have Skype and SoonR Desktop installed on your computer (with Internet access). Your cell phone or PDA must have a (wireless) data plan, as you have to access the SoonR site from a mobile web browser. There is no PDA software to install.

From the SoonR site, you click on a Skype "buddy" (auto-retrieved) or enter a phone number. SoonR Talk triggers Skype on your computer and sets up a conference call to the person you want to talk to.

Unfortunately, this a complicated way to do things, and you have to leave your computer on, despite their claims that you no longer have to be tied to your PC. I gave SoonR my "gee-whiz not-too-techy" acid test by downloading, installing and following obvious instructions, but without digging into details.  Upon setup of the SoonR Desktop app, it asked me to provide my cell phone number and to create a SoonR account. Did all that, and SoonR sent an SMS text message to my phone. A link from the text msg fired up my mobile browser pointed at the SoonR site, which automatically logged me in.

From the web page on my PDA, I could see my laptop's "My Documents" folder, but for some reason was not able to "get" a simple text file. Also, the VoIP calling isn't quite right - at least not for my Palm Treo 650. Entering the number I'm calling requires holding down my shift key and entering the digits. Except if keep the shift key down, the entry gets messed up. So I have to press down and release the shift key with every digit I enter. Going back to my laptop's Skype and adding the number to my contat list there helps, because a link shows up on my mobile browser. (So make sure you've added the most common PSTN numbers you call to your contact list beforehand.)

But the VoIP calling they've set up seems odd. What's strange is that SoonR first calls my cell phone and then the party I'm calling, via a Skype conference call. Except that I'm using the data access, so Skype gets my voicemail. (This is symptomatic of Palm Treo and certain other makes and models of PDAs and smartphones. They have a problem in that they cannot handle a phone call at the same time that the wireless modem is being used.)

I'm just wondering, though, why the heck SoonR tries to act like it's Jajah? Isn't the point is to save me my cell phone minutes? Depending on what country you're in, you may also have to spend SkypeOut minutes calling your own cell phone, which would not be the case were you calling from Skype on your computer.

Still, I tried calling my buddy with SoonR, and when he answered his phone, he heard only silence, and then some woman's recorded voice with instructions about his message. Effectively, the call was equivalent to my friend calling my voicemail. (Because of the Treo problem.)

So for some PDA users at least, VoIP that functions correctly is still a fable. (I've made other attempts at  VoIP calling from my Pam Treo 650, without success.)

Had this worked for me, it would have been great, during those times of day that I have free minutes on my cell. Still, some people will benefit from SoonR. Unfortunately it's not me.

Do VoIP Services Need Real Phone Numbers?

If you're using VoIP and do not have a "real" phone number to go with it, it may affect your ability to conduct banking or carry on the way you would with a regular phone or cellphone. That's according to Nuno from 21 Talks, who is quoting Brian Youngblood.

Youngblood's experience was that he called customer support at his bank using SkypeOut, and because that person could not tell what number he was calling from, they flagged his account. Unwittingly, he tried unsuccessfuly to pay for lunch the next day with his ATM/ debit card. That's obviously a good thing in terms of banking security, but also an unexpected convenience. Not displaying a real phone number might become a problem for some VoIP services.

Interestingly, I used Skype last night to call my own cellphone and the display said the caller was "0123456". Then I used Skype to call a buddy (one who has no voice mail and no cell phone and never intends to get either) and his display said "long distance - unknown caller". He's probably an extreme case, but seeing "unknown caller", he would not have answered his phone. That's just the way he is. In fact, the only reason he did answer was because I'd called him from my cell a few minutes previous to let him know what I was trying.

I had another experience yesterday with Skype, that may or may not have been because of the "unknown caller" issue. I called one of my website hosting providers - a very large, very well-known hosting provider - to fix a tech issue in trying to sync an existing web domain of mine with a newly purchased hosting plan.

The guy who answered didn't say anything about the audio quality of the call, but he was unusually rude and short-tempered. I'm not big on their atrociously confusing website or their customer service in general, and I only called once before. That was from my cell phone, and it cost me big because they do not have a 1-800 number (they are a budget host after all).

The result was that I didn't get my issue resolved, and cannot do it via email. What could have been a good experience in customer support most definitely was not. (Although I suppose it didn't help that I didn't know the 4-digit pin on my account, which someone else normally manages.) For now, though, I'll stick to email support and filling out annoying, hard-to-find web forms with some companies, or use a regular phone in situations like these.

Who's Making Money In VoIP?

Om Malik paints an interesting VoIP application scenario with an in-beta service called Jangl. Jangl deals with issues of VoIP presence as well as security using a unique bidirectional phone number that allows two parties to communicate without revealing their own phone numbers.

The example Om gives is one applying to the dating scene. Considering that there are online dating services like Verbdate, which integrate Skype's VoIP software to allow people to talk to each other for free, there's obviously a market for VoIP dating applications. But with the way the world is, partial anonymity, or at least security from having to reveal personal info, is a boon. Jangl does this by assigning a phone number between two parties, which acts as a bridge, regardless of the numbers they are using to make the call.

Jangl joins the growing list of new companies that are opting for private financing instead of going IPO. However, history shows that when a VC firm pumps in money, they want to not only make their money back but get a return on it. That's kind of why VCs exist, right?

Jangl is only in beta, so it's yet to be seen whether they can make money from their model. Still, with all the free VoIP options available these days, the ones taking advantage of the Long Tail phenomena will be most likely to succeed. That is, give away parts of your service/ product offerings for free, and hope that a large number of people will use your paid services once in a while. Or if you're lucky, frequently. (Which is why I think that Skype's plan to enter the enterprise VoIP market is a bad idea, besides the fact that their Skype is not enterprise grade.)

But since so much VoIP service is free, it's the companies that give good value-added services at a reasonable price who are candidates for business success.

Here's my jaded prediction: new tech (and web 2.0) companies will continue to stay private for the next year or two, followed by a large number of IPO offerings in the very late 00s, capped by a market crash in 2010. History (i.e., market data and news archives) shows a recession at the beginning of every decade since at least 1970, which inevitably means tech stocks crash and burn. Only those VoIP companies who develop a stable footing in the next year or two are likely to survive, and that means having private funding, instead of suffering the vagaries of the stock market and suddenly finding that cash is low.

Finding The Best VoIP Plans

With all the choices for VoIP service now available, it's probably confusing for newbies to figure out what service is best for them. The questions you have to ask yourself, in finding a good rate and service, includes how you'll use VoIP.

Do you plan to call from your computer to another person's computer (PC-to-PC), to their phone (PC-to-PSTN), from your phone to their computer (PSTN-to-PC), or from phone to phone (PSTN-to-PSTN)? (Note: PSTN = Public Switched Telephone Network.)

The cheapest choice, obviously, is free, which PC-to-PC calls tend to be. Your choices at present include Skype, Sightspeed, and Gizmo Project. The latter uses the SIP standard, which means that users of other VoIP SIP-based soft clients can talk to each other across their networks. Clients such as Skype and Sightspeed cannot do that because they use proprietary systems. There are many more choices than those three, but they are the common ones.

For PC-to-PSTN calls, there are services like Babble.net, who have 3-month promo of up to 30 minutes free for calls to certain countries. Skype has this for Canadians and Americans until the end of 2006. For PSTN-to-PC calls, the target person needs to have something like SkypeIn service, which essentially provides a worldwide phone number.

Then there's RebTel, who've made international PSTN-to-PSTN calls very affordable, especially for mobile-to-mobile phone calls. Jajah also offers a combination of free call options, including PSTN-to-PSTN, and is based on the SIP open standard. Possibly to compete with providers such as Babble and RebTel, Skype is currently offering free weekends in July for calls to certain countries.

You can also use the free VoIP capabilities of some IM (Instant Messaging) soft clients such as Google Talk, MSN Messenger, etc., but they are strictly PC-to-PC and are client-specific.

These are just some options available right now. Keep in mind that most of them currently have poor to no support for emergency calling.

additional sources: Times Onilne UK.

CORRECTION: Despite my incorrect comment above, I have previously correctly stated that Sightspeed is SIP-based. Thanks to Peter Csathy and Andy Abramson for pointing out the error.

Could RFID Transponders Be Used For VoIP e911 Caller Verification?

If you've been following our sister publication, RFID Gazette, you'll know about a new type of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag called RuBee with IP addressing capabilities. This means that if an SED (Service-Enabled Device) is equipped with a RuBee tag, it could be accessed via the Internet. This could be a potential solution for the VoIP e911 problem.

SEDs could be any networked device, including a digital camera, digital toaster, digital lighting system, etc., which can communicate with each other, based on predefined roles. What this also means is that if a transponder with a RuBee tag were devised, it could potentially be used as a means of directing and responding to VoIP-based e911 emergency calls.

Now this is pure speculation, and there are still a lot of technical issues that have to be solved. For example, RuBee-based transponders would have to be stationary and thus not attached to VoIP phones or to any mobile device such as a laptop or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). However, any device used to make a VoIP call would have a RuBee tag to transmit emergency status to the nearest transponder. The transponder would be designed to route the call appropriately.

This means that each transponder would have to be geocoded, possibly in sync to a postal/ zip code grid. Alternately, in cities with Municipal Wi-Fi, e911 transponders could be integrated wherever signal boosters are installed. That at least helps narrow down where a call is coming from, even from a VoWiFi phone. Finally, household or neighborhood transponders could also be made available, for those interested. Of course, in the latter case, you wouldn't want the transponder accessible to just anyone over the Internet. Just speculating.

Microsoft and VOIP

With European Union giving Microsoft a slap upside the head, they've got more to worry about than their share price. Their shares have been fairly level over the past five years, and some people think it's because they have stopped become innovators, with few forays into the newest technologies on and off the web. For example, when you think VoIP, do you think Microsoft?

Back last fall, when they acquired Teleo, it was expected that Microsoft was making a big leap into the VoIP market. What have they done with VoIP since? If past history is any evidence, they'll buy a company with wide presence - often with a free product - and embed their offerings into enterprise applications. That's their thing, their forte. But the web hasn't been about enterprise. If they want to dominate the Internet, Microsoft should take advice from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and give it away, give it away, give it away, now.

I shouldn't be too harsh, though. They did release Windows Live Messenger, with the expectation of upstaging Skype. But early in February, we asked is Microsoft serious about VoIP? Then late that month, they announced a free VoIP app allowing Office users to make free calls on Wi-Fi phones - preferably with the Windows Live Messenger-compatible VoIP cordless phone they teamed up with Philips to launch in January. In March, we were sure Microsoft's serious about VoIP.

So they're obviously trying. Personally, I'm glad they didn't buy Skype (did they even make an offer?) or Sightspeed, else the products might have been buried deep in other offerings. I think they need to consider offering products purely on their own merits, which don't need other MS apps installed to run on.

Babble - More Free VoIP Services

Whoever said there was no free lunch probably didn't expect anything like VoIP. Joining the ranks of free VoIP services like Skype, Sightspeed, Jajah, and Gizmo Project is Babble.net.

As with Yahoo and Google when they first started, people are probably wondering how these VoIP companies are going to make any money. Well, Skype got bought up by eBay and makes some revenue from their per minute plans for calls not qualifying as free (typically between PC-to-PSTN calls, or vice versa). Some are also offering extras for sale, such as VoIP handsets.

Whereas Skype has made any combo of PC and PSTN calls free in Canada and the US, at least until the end of 2006, Babble has a slightly different approach. The first 30 minutes of a call are free, and only during their promotion.

Like Gizmo Project, Babble is using the open SIP standard. Which means members of the Gizmo Project network, and others, should be able to communicate with Babble users. According to Babble's getting started page, not only can you communicate free with other Babble users, you get free voicemail, a "real" phone number (at a cost), and you can watch free Internet TV stations, as well as other features.

The signup page does require you to provide your phone number, as well as some promotional code. Seeing none anywhere, I just entered 1111 and downloaded the Babbled softphone. Unfortunately, it's a RAM hog. And as I write this, I'm connected to the Internet via my cellular data plan (max 250 Mb/m), so I'll try to give a comparison of Babble's softphone against Skype, and other VoIP soft clients at a later date.

Additional sources: TechPlanet Asia [via The VoIP Weblog]

VoIP Dating Becomes Reality

A few posts back, I made a prediction that VoIP with video (WoIP) could be used to set up a new type of online dating. It's actually a prediction that pretty much anyone with an understanding of VoIP or Skype could have made. Verbdate, however, has made it come true (at least for audio VoIP), vying for a piece of the billion-dollar online dating business. [via GigaOm]

Verbdate works pretty much like any other online dating service, except that they've mashed up quite the variety of "web 2.0" Internet services. They've used AJAX (Asynchronous Javascript and XML) coding to speed up the search process. As  well, provided a member has approved it, you can VoIP them for free via Skype. If you prefer to just IM chat, you can specify that in your profile. You can decide whether or not to display your Skype status - online or offline - and even allow people to Skype you directly from your Verbdate profile.

They've also coupled verbdate with Flickr, so that you can post photos of interest. Then there's the Google Maps, whereby you can specify your location. I'm not so sure that it's necessarily a good idea to be too specific. Fortunately, it only goes down to the city level. Surprisingly, despite Verbdate being a Canadian startup, they were unable to display my own city in their list. To top it all off, after you enter your search criteria, you can subscribe to the results using its custom RSS feed.

Verbdate is a fascinating idea that appears to be rather well thought out. Other web 2.0-ish features not commonly found in older online dating services includes a "tag cloud", which gives you a visual weighted list of keywords from a member's profile. For example, one member's tag cloud shows "dancing" to be of importance to her.

In all, an interesting mashup of existing online services, but the navigation could be improved somewhat. If you've been lamenting, like I have, that none of your friends or relatives will download tools like Skype, or even understand it, Verbdate might interest you. It takes chat rooms to the next level, allowing actual chatting. It'll be interesting to see how long it is before someone offers a similar service for Sightspeed, incorporating video VoIP as well.

VoIP Over Municipal Wi-Fi

Telecom companies these days have VoIP to contend with from not one but two fronts. VoIP is already disrupting both landline and cell phone revenues, causing telcos to reduce their prices.

Now, with numerous cities and even countries pushing for either paid or free Municipal Wi-Fi, telcos also have to contend with the potential loss of revenues from their Internet Service Provider divisions. This isn't just an American problem, it's widespread, worldwide issue, even reaching the Pacific islands, which include Fiji, Micronesia, etc.

What's more, telcos now have to deal with the loss of revenues that will result from the use of VoIP over Muni WiFi. In fact, several cities are pushing for wireless VoIP services, including Taipei, Taiwan. American telcos could learn a thing or two from the Taipei WiFly/ EasyCall project. It's the collaboration of the city government and the Taipei Computer Association (TCA), and is overseen by several ITSPs (Internet Telephony Service Providers).

Traditional telcos should be thinking about modifying their offerings to become ITSPs and even collaborating with or buying out existing VoIP providers. Especially if other cities start thinking like the Taipei government, who are using wireless VoIP to replace their PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) for administrative offices and public schools. Their aim is to have 200,000 wireless VoIP phones by year's end.

Obviously, if Taipei pulls this off, and figure out how to handle e911 calls, especially when there are school children at risk, other cities are going to follow suit. And if telcos don't find a way to participate, there's going to be some explaining to do to shareholders. In fact, I'm a strong believer that telcos could play an important role in solving e911 technical issues. If you can't beat ITSPs, join'em.

Rumpelstiltskin and the Level of VoIP Security

Unless you've been sleeping under a mushroom, you probably know that North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-il, stirred from his dormancy and fired off not one but seven missiles, even after several countries cautioned strongly against it. Warnings of this may or may not have been this reason why South Korea suddenly backed off, a few days previous, against blocking VoIP calls by U.S. Forces Korea members.

South Korea had originally planned to block out U.S. calls due to non-compliance to their Telecommunications Business Act. However, at the request of US Forces Korea, they agreed to suspend the deadline.

It all begs the question, however, of how secure VoIP really is that the US Military would allow its individual members to use it. Or why they wouldn't set up Internet access, say, via satellite.

VoIP may generally be considered insecure, but it doesn't have to be. Calls could be encrypted and decrypted on the fly, by caller and receiver, respectively. However, to reduce the lag time on such encryption, the process would have to be done on small packets of sound, possible a few seconds at a time, else non-computer VoIP phones would have an extra processing burden.

Now, without delving into the inner workings of existing VoIP services, I'll hazard a guess that there already is some level of encryption conducted on VoIP calls. However, with encryption laws in the US and Canada being fairly strict (against exportation of algorithms), the level of encryption might actually be quite low.

Of course, the real issue in South Korea is over the ISPs that regular officers use to access the Internet and make VoIP calls. The service provider(s) they use allow unlimited VoIP calling, which the three South Korean ISPs who requested the US military block are upset about.

I seriously doubt, however, that the US Military's necessarily secure communications are being conducted via the same ISPs that individual members of the military are using.

On a related issue, Skype was recently told by South Korea to stop signing up new SkypeOut customers, until Skype adheres to telecom laws - in particular, two e-business codes. In fact, Skype's Korean Market Manager recently issued a statement that Skype was not currently doing business in South Korea.

It's interesting to note that South Korea has been a center of a considerably number of technology trials in both VoIP and RFID technology. Part of the aforementioned restrictions have to do with protecting the interests of South Korean companies.

Sources: Stars & Stripes, ZD Net Korea [via Skype Journal].

Dear Cellular Companies, Stop Bitching About VoIP

Dear Cellular Provider,

Dare I say it? Quit yer whining about not allowing VoIP services on your cellular wireless data networks. If I'm paying you for bandwidth, it's none of your business how I use it. You claim that VoIP is a bandwidth hog and that it's costing you extra to allow such content. But you're more than happy to allow TV/ video and music to be downloaded across the exact same network. And why am I paying ridiculous amounts of money monthly for a measly 250 Megabytes of bandwidth - which you have the balls to call unlimited service. What gives?

Why not just come clean and admit that you're peeved because you didn't think of VoIP first, and that you're now losing money on your outrageous roaming charges and bizarre cellular minute plans that just never seem to quite be what a consumer needs?

Is that the reason you're pulling this nonsense? You know - about not allowing your customers to run VoIP on your WiFi data networks. And is VoIP the reason your old-school telco buddies/ parent companies are against Net Neutrality? Then you're just being big babies. Wa wa wa. Despite your claims, you've already been paid many times over for Internet service. And now you want us to pay again?

Isn't it odd how Net Neutrality only crept up when VoIP started becoming popular? Tsk tsk.

Why not either buy up the VoIP providers or form solid alliances? Didn't you guys ever watch Sesame Street? In the long run, alliances will be good for everyone. Consumers already have a long history of despising "the phone company". Your latest behaviour towards VoIP doesn't help your public relations. Seriously. Think about it rationally.

signed,

sir gab-a-lot

TeliaSonera International Carrier launches VoIP Connect

In order to provide high quality VoIP services to the customers, TeliaSonera International Carrier has introduced a service 'VoIP Connect' that provides carriers access to VoIP technology without any additional investment on infrastructure. TeliaSonera International Carrier is on of the leading telecommunications service providers of Europe.

Rene Timmermans, head of product and business management at TeliaSonera International Carrier says on the new launch,

We are bringing a competitive advantage to our customers, because VoIP Connect makes it very easy for them to offer high quality international voice services to the end users.

The subscribers of VoIP Connect should access to the TeliaSonera network through a gateway. For which, they do not require telephony servers.

Via: [Digital Media Asia]

Ensure VoIP service in Countryside, NTC to firms

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of Philippines has directed the telecommunications regulators to cover specific areas for their VoIP services. NTC will determine these areas. The step is apparently taken to enhance the broadband convergence in Philippines. Particularly, the NTC wants to ensure the rural areas to access VoIP service, the service that reduces international call rates.

The plan is more or less similar one that was imposed by the NTC in 1990s on mobile phone industries. The mobile phone industries acting on the ruling install a certain number on fixed landlines in the missionary areas and other such specific areas of Philippines.

Ronald O. Solis, NTC Commissioner hopes the rollout requirement would help develop local VoIP industry while reducing the cost of telecommunication for the average Filipino.

Via: [TMCNet]

Jajah offers Free VoIP Calls for its Registered Users

Now the Jajah registered users can make free international calls among themselves using the VoIP service of Jajah. The offering came from the Jajah, a web-based VoIP service.

The company calls it Jajah Free Global Calling Plan, the plan that allow the registers customers to make free calls to other users by using any type of phone; softphone, IP phone, conventional landline phone or cell phone.

Although the company claims it global plan, the free services are restricted to some selected countries such as United States, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, UK, Germany, France, Italy and most other European nations.

Via: [VoIP Central]

Verizon Business provides VoIP Security Assessment Service

Verizon Business will be providing an advanced VoIP Security Assessment Service, the service highly productive for the business and government customers.

The VoIP Security Assessment Service also known as the professional service is developed to make out and tackle potential security vulnerabilities connected with customer premises-based VoIP and hosted IP PBX systems from any hardware and software vendor.

A business team of about 300 security professionals supports the Verizon's VoIP Assessment Service that solves the various problems like fraud, loss of service, denial of service attacks, viruses as well as newer challenges associated with the integration and interoperability of VoIP software and hardware.

Via: [Vonmag]

Moroccan Government recognizes Amitelo for VoIP

The Moroccan government has recognized Amitelo for its VoIP products and services. Last week, a conference was organized to demonstrate the VoIP related products and services of Amitelo. Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou, External Investment Director Hassan Bernoussi, presidents of incumbent African telecom companies were present in the conference. The Board of Directors of Amitelo AG were among the dignitaries. Amitelo, headquartered at Zurich made a demonstration of its products at the conference. The company will undertake a pilot on VoIP.

The Moroccan government will take favorable steps for the growth of VoIP services in the country. The government has decided to grant loans for the installment of VoIP. There would be 5,000 new VoIP call shops over the next three years in Moroccan. For which, it will grant EUR 25, 000.00 per call shop.

Driss Jettou said,

The Government of Morocco is with Amitelo, will support Amitelo and will assist Amitelo in any way possible in its economic growth and social undertakings in Morocco.

Via: [VoIP Central]

Rapid Link, Internap provide VoIP service to US Military

Rapid Link and Internap joined forces to provide VoIP services to US military and other niche markets with telecom services.

According to the deal signed inked by two companies, Internap will route the VoIP calls made by Rapid Link's 25,000 military family customers across more than 50 countries in five continents.

David Hess, President of Rapid Link said,

Thanks to Internap's IP footprint, we're able to extend our global reach and avoid building local points of presence in each international market we serve. Plus, their managed routing on Tier1 backbones helps provide the toll quality our customers expect, while the global reach also helps the military personnel because they are frequently deployed to many remote parts of the world. 

Internap Performance IP service technology is recognized by the contemporary VoIP service providers like Vonage and BroadVoice.

Via: [TMCnet]

BT comes with new Total wireless package

BT, the global broadband service provider has come up with a new package what it calls Total package to hit the market. The Total package includes interactive TV, videophoning and other integrated home media services. The new offering also includes VoIP calls with wireless broadband for the residential users. The services are now available in the market. Customers have to pay minimum £24 for the UK-based BT's new Total package to access wireless services in their homes at up to 8Mb. The customers can connect up to 15 devices like radios, gaming boxes and standard computers to the net at once.

It seems that BT's broadband package is costlier to TalkTalk, which offers broadband package for just £21 a month (including free landline calls). However, market experts opine that BT's service is impressive than others.   

Via: [Guardian Money]

BroadSoft forms new team to serve the VoIP service providers

With VoIP market experiencing steady growth across the Caribbean, Bermuda, Latin America and South America, BroadSoft, a leading VoIP application software provider has formed a new sales team to serve the service providers with greater nimbleness.

Led by Alex Fano, the new team will concentrate on delivering the platform to support hosted PBX and IP Centrex services.   Fano who has been well versed with marketing strategies will take the responsibility of account management in Mexico.

Michael Tessler, CEO and President of BroadSoft quoted,

The BroadWorks platform is compatible with both the North American and European-based technologies used in the region. With BroadSoft, service providers can easily offer hosted VoIP services to meet the needs of geographically distributed enterprises, such as multi-site financial institutions, that are typical in the area.

With this new team, BroadSoft expects to dominate the VoIP market of these regions.

Via: [TMCNet]

Loral Skynet launches new SKYREACH VoIP service in Asia

Loral Skynet and Go2Call have come forward to provide VoIP services in Asia to telecommunications and ISP/Broadband carriers, business and government. They announced the formation of their strategic partnership for VoIP at the CommunicAsia 2006 in Singapore. 

As per the agreement, Skynet, a division of Loral Space & Communications will integrate its global Telstar satellite fleet and networked SkyReachSm IP-based service platform with Go2Call's unique VoIP phone technology. It will provide the customers faster implementation of carrier-grade platforms without investment in full VoIP infrastructures.

Asserting VoIP is reshaping the telecommunications landscape, Loral Skynet President, Patrick Brant said,

Our relationship with Go2Call will offer our customers in Asia an unbeatable combination of operational cost-savings and increased speed of implementation. 

Via: [Antara]

Minacom adds MTA-Loopback VoIP Testing

Minacom has added MTA-Loopback VoIP testing to its installed DirectQuality R7 service level test automation platform. The platform facilitates cable operators to test VoIP service quality directly to subscriber-deployed multimedia terminal adapters.

Michel Nadeau, CEO and President of Minacom said,

The DiretQuality R7 service level test automation platform is currently used by Cable MSO's Worldwide for VoIP day-of-install, troubleshooting and service quality monitoring. The addition of MTA-loopback testing offers a highly cost-effective, remote-troubleshooting tool that complements probe-to-probe and responder-based test methods to form a total VoIP quality assurance strategy cable operators use to deliver PSTN-quality VoIP to their subscribers.

Via: [TMCNet]

Tiscali launches VoIP service

Tiscali with its one million broadband lines in England has announced the launch of its new VoIP service. Netphone, new VoIP service of Tiscali is free to download. It allows broadband users to make free PC-to-PC phone calls.

According to the company, the new VoIP service facilitates in sending and receiving faxes, text messages. It can also be used to make calls to landlines.  The company charges one pound a minute for UK landlines while international call rates are 3pound a minute.

Via: [The Register]

Fusion to launch free VoIP service worldwide

Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc., has decided to start its new free efonica VoIP services worldwide in the week of June 19th . The leading VoIP service provider would provide detailed information of the efonica(R) VoIP service and its features on the launching day. 

Matthew Rosen, CEO of Fusion explains,

We have been preparing for this launch for some time, and we are looking forward to sharing what we believe is the next generation of VoIP services.

Via: [TMCNet]

Ten Introduces Mobile IP Messaging Services

Ten has launched commercial services based on voice and mobile internet messaging services, e-mail and MSN Messenger. It is offering an unlimited subscription to MSN Messenger and to push mobile e-mail. The subscription to either MSN Messenger or mobile e-mail services is avail able for €6 per month and one can subscribe to both the services at €8 per month. The service makes use of GPRS and is available on java applications which are downloaded over the air.

It is also offering postpaid voice subscription starting from €22 per month for one hour and has lined up three subsidized phone starting from €39.

Via ovum

Volny to provide mobile VoIP service

Volný has indicated that it will provide the VoIP services to the mobile phone users by the end of the summer. The Czech alternative operator Volný has sought the cooperation of mobile giant Nokia for the launch of its VoIP service. At present Volný is testing the Finnish vendor's E60 and E61 dual-function phones. These phones enable users to make calls over a GSM network as well as connect to the internet via Wi-Fi hotspots to make VoIP calls. Meanwhile, the telco has launched a fixed line VoIP service TelefoNet.

The alternative operators of Czech have wanted to become a mobile virtual operator (MVNO), but they failed to sign a deal with mobile network operator. These operators are GTS Novera, Radiokomunikace and Volný. Now they target mobile VoIP.

Via: [TeleGeography]

Jajah launches Instant VoIP Service

A new web activated telephony service, jajah.com has been introduced. The target users of this service are people who don't have the time or skills to get started with the existing VoIP services. In order to use this service one needs to type the phone number and the number that one would want to call on Jajah's web page and then click the call button and the service bridges the phones.

This service permits users to make long distance and international calls-mobile or landline to most of the numbers for less than two cents a minute. There is no registration fee or monthly fee and there is no prepayment.

Via: [VoIP Central]

Verizon Business prepares expanding its VoIP service in EU

Verizon Business has come up with a comprehensive measure to increase its enterprise-level customer's base throughout the European Union. The leading VoIP service provider Verizon Business is ready to expand its VoIP offerings in throughout the EU.

It has already launched its IP Trunking in five European countries; UK, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands and will be extended to other countries including Ireland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. The IP Trunking serves the need of the business community. It connects the PBX platform to the enterprise data network and public networking using a single connection. Ultimately, it enables the enterprises to establish IP communication infrastructure.   

Via: [Teleclick]

Lingo becomes the first VoIP service provider to offer free calls to Mexico

Lingo has become the first VoIP service provider to offer free calls to Mexico. The leading US internet phone service provider Lingo has evolved a special strategy to offer unlimited calling service to the customers of Mexico. The customers can use their broadband connections to phones to access Lingo's service.

Lingo charges $29.95 per month. The Lingo's VoIP services to Mexico is known as 'Unlimited Mexico', under this plan the American IP giant offers attractive services to its customers.

To create sizable customers for its VoIP services, Lingo is ready to offer free cost service for the first month. Then it will charge the determined price from the customers.

Via: [TMC Net]

Percipia eyes at VoIP Hospitality Market in Hong Kong and China

With a view to enhance market share for its VoIP services for the hospitality sector in Hong Kong and China, Percipia has made strategic partnership with InfoCom Ltd of Hong Kong. Percipia, which has gained distinction for its IP solutions in hospitality sector said that it will set up a liaison office with InfoCom Ltd. The liaison office will keep touch with Percipia and provide local installation and customer support.

VoIP technology is important for the hospitality sector because it helps the hotels and casinos to provide better guest services. Columbus based   Percipia provides VoIP services over 450 customers worldwide. Percipia is globally identified as a Cisco partner. It has implemented its software with Cisco IP phones in about 10,000 hotel rooms worldwide.

Via news2u

Verizon Announces Global VoIP Gateway Service for Wholesale Market

Verizon has come up with three product announcements for strengthening their presence in the wholesale VoIP telephony market. It has made available a global VoIP Gateway Service for the wholesale market.

The company has announced the availability of a global VoIP Gateway Service for the wholesale market. This service enables the wholesale customers to offer full IP Telephony to PSTN trunking services and global termination of calls through one single, scaleable product.

This would result in lower operational costs, competitive wholesale pricing, reduced cost of ownership and access to Verizon’s network and partner relationships.

Via tmcnet

Vonage adds 200 emergency call centres

Vonage claimed that it has now 200 locally run emergency call centres, in 70 counties with E911. With new centres, Vonage can provide more effective emergency call services to the customers. The leading VoIP Company Vonage has now 4500 centres all together.

In the last month it has opened E911 service in 690 PSAPs and 175 counties. The company is working on the guidelines as prescribed by the FCC on E911. The Federal Communication Commission has directed the VoIP service providers to ensure E911 service to the customers.

Via: [TMCNet]

AOL Plans To Launch PC Based Internet Service

AOL is planning to launch a PC based internet service closely tied to its AIM instant messaging service, a move which is expected to expand the web portal’s options for advertisers.

AIM Phoneline to be started this month would be available as an ad supported free service in order to make PC to PC calls. Users would be required to join the paid service in order to make calls to a landline or wireless network.

According to John McKinley, CTO, AOL:

the company plans to make money from Phoneline through search-related advertising, as well as display ads. Initially, subscribers can click on an ad to call the sponsor. Later this year, AOL will provide an ad-supported directory service for looking up businesses and residential numbers.

Via informationweek

TelCove enters Into Agreement with Catholic Charities of Central Florida for VoIP Services

TelCove has entered into a three year agreement with the Catholic Charities of Central Florida for implementing a VoIP voice services solution which includes over hundred stations distributed across six locations.

They support locations which includes one headquarter, regional office, refugee and immigration services center in Orlando and has regional offices in Cocoa, Daytona Beach, Lakeland, Ocala and Winter Haven. It would be really difficult to support such a dispersed set of locations while maintaining support for thousands of clients in need. Therefore it was the need of the hour to have a state of the art voice service with the lowest possible monthly cost.

Via sys-con

Free VoIP for Wi-Fi TV Members

All Wi-Fi TV members would be able to download the new Wi-Fi TV dialer powered by AdCalls at no additional cost to their membership and then their phone charges plummet to zero. One can download the dialer at www.Wi-FiTV.com.

After downloading the dialer one can start calling all relatives and friends while saving money on everything one buys.

According to Al Krauza, President, AdCalls:

The Strategic Alliance between AdCalls, Inc. and Wi-Fi TV truly enhances the business model of both companies. While the AdCalls Dialer can provide FREE Phone and Local Coupon specials to Wi-Fi TV Members, Wi-Fi TV will bring tens of thousands of viewers to the AdCalls Dialer Network. It is truly a relationship that will help our companies grow stronger and faster.

Some of the features of the Wi-Fi TV dialer are:

•    Unlimited free calls to any phone number in U.S. or Canada or any PC in the world.
•    Digital quality sound.

via lightreading

Cimco Launches IP Talk Solutions VoIP Service

CIMCO Communications has launched its new IP Talk Solutions VoIP service. This service provides the most up to date technology for voice and data needs and includes IP PBX/IP Centrex, high speed internet and unified communications and local and long distance calling.

According to Bill Capraro, CEO & President, CIMCO:

We are excited to bring the latest technology of VoIP to our customers. Having the ability to add a robust VoIP solution to CIMCO’s product set, the requirements of our customers will be more easily met with the amount of features, productivity enhancements and cost savings VoIP services can deliver.

The service provides guaranteed call delivery, cost effective mobility for users and enterprise class features.

Via tmcnet

Malsha Products becomes VoX's Master Agent

VoX has appointed Malsha Products as a Master Agent to resell VoX's broadband telephone services. Based in Long Island, NY, Malsha distributes phones and accessories distributor. It has a robust distribution network of 2,000+ cell phone stores across the United States. It has solid experience of successful cell phone retailing.

VoX's basic VoIP service costs $9.95 per month.

Recently, American Cable Services, a Florida-based independent cable operator, announced that it will use VoX's VoIP services as part of its triple-play offering – it includes cable TV and high speed Internet.

Via TMCnet   

Avaya to launch a hosted VoIP service

Avaya will soon transform from a VoIP solutions provider to a VoIP services provider. Sometime this week, Avaya will launch the Avaya On Demand service, which Avaya's channel partners, including XO Communications, Sprint and Cross Telecom will host.

Based on Avaya's Communications Manager IP PBX platform the hosted VoIP service starts at $25 per month per user. The service has 700 call features. It supports onsite IP phones and gateways, including call processing and public switched telephone network (PSTN) termination in the hosting company's data center.

It will cost $5 per month extra for a voice mailbox add-on. Avaya also offers a Contact Center On Demand for small and medium sized businesses and costs from $50 to $150 per month per agent.

Via NetworkWorld

3rd Wave and Rigpa team up to provide VoIP to small businesses

3rd Wave Consulting and Rigpa Tech have recently teamed up to provide VoIP services to the ever-important small and medium sized business market segment.

The VoIP offering will be based on the EM7 Platform, IT ON! and 3G-TX.

3rd Wave claims that the 3rd Generation Telephone Exchange is customized for the small to medium size business.  Users of the service can easily integrate voice mail, call logs, report generation, and e-mail. 

Moreover, Rigpa says that IT ON! for AppExchange is an all-in-one information technology service quality management tool for on-demand providers.

Via TMCnet

The wrinkles in Enterprise VOIP

For many business users of IP-based phones, VoIP calling has still reached the ease-levels of say, the normal telephone. On a complexity scale, VoIP calling are yet to reach the levels of even mobile phones.

Thus, VoIP runs the danger of becoming a novelty, nothing more. For example, veteran users of the service say that making a quick VoIP call is still some time off.  First, you have to boot up your PC/Laptop. Then, you have to correct the PC audio settings. If you are using a Cisco IP system, then you have  to log into the local network to connect with the Cisco CallManager.  You also have to carry a headset.

Via ComputerWorld

Fusion files for VOIP patent

Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc. has recently filed a patent application with the United States Patent Office for its Directed SIP Peer-to- Peer ("DSP") technology. Fusion acquired this technology in February 2006. It is launching the "efonica" brand of softphones and VoIP network

Fusion's patent application describes a VoIP system based on free talk between SIP devices. Moreover, Fusion will integrate its DSP technology into its international network for VoIP calls between all sorts of SIP- enabled hardware including WiFi phones. Please do not confuse Fusion's DSP technology with Digital Signal Processors.

Via Yahoo Finance

VOIP service from Tesco

Tesco's VoIP service in the United Kingdom offers users all the usual VoIP service features that other service providers deliver. So, what is different this time?

First, let us see what is wrong with the service. Tesco's VoIP uses a proprietary VoIP carrier. It is not based on SIP. Thus, users can make free calls to other Tesco users, but they might have to pay extra for calling other VoIP users.

What is good about the service? Well, unlike some other VoIP handsets, Tesco's handset does not mess with your PC's normal sound operation. That means that you can continue listening to some music while you are on a call. Although why you would do that is that is beyond my comprehension. 

Until 14 May, Tesco's VoIP service costs £20, and you pay only £14.97 for the VoIP handset.

Via The Inquirer

e4's new VoIP Provisioning Service for ITSP and VoIP Hosted PBX Providers

e4's VoIP Provisioning service combines best process management techniques and best practices in the industry. The company claims that its services enable clients to use VoIP Provisioning

"as a business" not "within" a business.

Other services from e4 include:

- VoIP Branding – companies can use e4's  VoIP private labeling program to nurture brand recognition with the customers.

- VoIP Warehousing - e4 claims that its service enables low-cost service operation. Customers don't have to bear sizeable overheads involved in maintaining large inventories of VoIP ATA's, (Analog Telephone Adapters), VoIP Gateways and VoIP Phones.

Via TMCnet

VoIP connects a Navajo settlement

White Rock Chapter House, which is a remote settlement, has never had any type of phone service until VoIP came on the scene. The settlement is at 160 miles northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico. To make a call, residents of the settlement drove on dirt roads to the nearest pay phone situated 6 miles away.

The $100,000 price tag for a normal telephone system was too expensive. Now, thanks to a collective effort of New Mexico State Senator and some organizations, the residents set up  a 75-mile microwave connection that now provides and supports VoIP, Wi -Fi access points, and videoconferencing. Cisco Systems provided the routers VoIP phones for use at White Rock.

Via Zdnet

Cost-effective VOIP phone switch from 3rd Wave

Now, good news for business users of VoIP services from Virginia. 3rd Wave Consulting Services, a Virginia-based company, has launched its latest VoIP phone switch product line. The 3rd Generation Telephone Exchange (3G-TX) is designed keeping the needs of small to mid-sized businesses in mind.

3G-TX enables system integration at a lower cost. Users can customize the 3G-TX and seamlessly integrate voice mail, call logs, report generation, and e-mail. No need to say that users can do all of this for a much lesser price than a usual PBX.

In addition, the 3G-TX product line consists of two models, the 3G-TX-P and the 3G-TX-R. A high capacity model that provides several layers of redundancy is also available.

Via TMCnet

New deal between Globe7 Inc and Lycos to increase international coverage

Globe7 Inc and Lycos Inc USA have formed a three-year non-exclusive agreement, under which  Globe7 will power the newly launched Lycos phone service with Voice, Real time Video, IM, and IPTV with Video on Demand.

After this latest deal, Globe7 has expanded its international coverage Across 7 Continents It now covers 187 countries. Moreover, more than 3 million people downloaded the Globe7 Internet2 Soft phone technology. 2 million downloads took place in the previous month alone. Majority of the down loaders came from the following countries: USA, China, UK, Morocco, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey, Vietnam, Poland, India and France.

Via dBusiness News

XO Communications updates its VoIP Services Bundle

XO Communications has updated its XOptions Flex voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services bundle. The highlight of this service update is that it also includes web hosting.

For one flat monthly fee, XOptions Flex's VoIP services bundle consists of unlimited local and long distance calling, dedicated Internet access and web hosting.

More than 3,000 businesses in USA have subscribed to this service bundle.

Via HostSearch

VOIP flaws: Revisited

Supporters of the two opposing gangs of regular telecom companies like SBC never miss a chance to point out the flaws with VoIP services from VoIP providers like Vonage. Let us look at the often-cited flaws.

1.  The VoIP is not as reliable as the regular phone system

2. The quality is somewhat dodgy.

3. There is no 911 service.

4. You can't plug more than one phone into the ATA easily.

I leave it to the customers to decide about the veracity of these flaws.

Via betadot

CompUSA and Bandwidth.com join to provide VOIP services

Bandwidth.com has made a deal with CompUSA to sell VoIP services through CompUSA’s 240+ retail stores across the United States..

Bandwidth.com will target small- to medium-sized businesses, which have 10 or more phone lines at single or spread across multiple locations.

The VoIP offering from Bandwidth.com consists of a VoIP platform provided by California-based Sylantro Systems.  The package includes four-digit intra-network (the company) dialing, an automated attendant and voicemail. The Sylantro VoIP platform supports a wide variety of VoIP phones.

Via LocalTechWire

What is driving Enterprise VOIP deployments?

VoIP services providers see Enterprise customers as the key to success. InfoVista, which is a performance-management software company, has identified the following three key that will drive enterprise VoIP deployments:

1.        Service-centric performance-management strategy.

2.        Tailored-reporting for distinctly different enterprise users.

3.        Real-time, granular snapshot of the user experience.

Via BusinessWire

VOIP primer redux

1. VoIP is now more than voice. Call it MoIP - multimedia over IP.

2. When you hear an echo over a VoIP call, the PSTN"s equipment is to fault. VoIP is geared to give 'equal to or better than' toll-quality voice

3. Whatever internet-based security tools are available for other online applications, you can use them to secure VoIP.

4. Whatever your ISP might say, VoIP requires little bandwidth. Experts say that the most common VoIP encoding schemes require around 100kbs per conversation at most.

5. Before they install, VoIP services, companies must conduct a 'predeployment network audit' of applications and their priority.

6. Experts suggest to go in for full IP based deployment over PSTN based IP deployment. The reason is simple: the IP based solution is distributed in nature. So, even if one node goes awry for some reason, other nodes are working fine.

Via Networking Pipeline

Mobile VoIP from RabbitPoint

RabbitPoint's Wi-Fi based VoIP phone service in Britain £9.99 per month.

The handset that RabbitPoint provides, stores the user's most used wireless connections so one doesn't need to log in every time.

RabbitPoint will introduce a 3G/Wi-Fi handset later this year. Until then users will have to make do with the rather large, unwieldy handset. Moreover, when today, color screens are all the rage; this handset has a mono screen.

Via The Guardian

What do you mean by VOIP quality?

Experts say that the three key measures about determining VoIP quality are dropped calls, blocked calls and Mean Opinion Score (MOS).

Dropped calls:  They happen either because of the mid-call failure of 1. Operator-owned client endpoint or 2. Any of the network elements along the bearer path, or because of a fiber cut along that path.

Blocked Calls: Insufficient resources somewhere along either the signaling path or the bearer path, result in blocked calls.

MOS:  It is short for Mean Opinion Score. MOS is a measures voice quality subjectively. It is directly affected by the codec used as well as the packet latency, packet jitter and dropped packets.

Via Telecom Asia

Securing VOIP

VoIP spam, denials of service and reliable 911 services are some of the most pertinent issues that researchers and vendors must address quickly if this technology is to make further progress.

The National Science Foundation has made a start in this matter.  It has reportedly given a grant US$600,000 to researchers at University of North Texas to create a multi-university test team to study VoIP security. Other participants in this project are Columbia University, Purdue University and the University of California-Davis. Additionally, a group of VoIP vendors has formed the VoIP Security Alliance.

Via ComputerWorld

VOIP in Britain

VoIP is on a high growth curve in Britain. About two million British subscribers have made a phone call using their Personal Computers.  This was disclosed by a recent research report from Continental Research. The research also estimates that another 1.9 million non-users will migrate to VoIP based calling systems within a year,

As expected, 48% of VoIP calls used the Skype service. Microsoft's MSN Messenger came next accounting for 20% of calls. Vonage's service (6%) tied with BT (6%) and Wanadoo came next.

Via betadot

How to gain SMB market share

To succeed in the tough market of VoIP services, one must target Small business owners. Even Skype has become serious about business users for its services and has started a specific plan targeting the SMBs.

This week wholesale-hosted VoIP provider New Global Telecom has started an online 'white paper' series titled "Strategic Market, Acquisition & Retention Techniques (S.M.A.R.T. VoIP)". This series will teach VoIP service providers how they can capture profitable SMB market share.

The online series focuses on three broad areas: market assessment, acquisition of SMB end-users and customer retention. In 2005, New Global Telecom launched a planning guide called, "10 Critical Questions to Ask before Launching into VoIP".

You can access all this information at NGT's Web site, www.ngt.com.

Via xChange

Get Streaming Video VoIP Service at i2telecom.com

i2Telecom International, Inc has introduced i2TV, a high quality streaming Video & Voice over Internet Protocol (VVoIP) broadband service.  You can get i2TV free during the trial of the service at www.i2telecom.com.

The i2TV programming includes major network programming from CNN News, TBS, TNT, TBN, USA Network among others. You can also get all your favorite shows such as Sex in the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld and Monk, as part of i2TV's basic service. i2TV comes pre-packaged  with Microsoft Windows MediaPlayer10(TM) and is compatible with all Windows XP(TM) systems.

You can also get ESPN and ESPN2, Showtime, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, CMT, SpikeTV, TVLand, Black Entertainment Network and E! Television for an additional subscription fee. 

The basic i2TV subscription costs $12.99 a month after the end of the initial trial period.

Via Streaming Media

Ambitous plans of the new VOIP player

BroadIP, a new subsidiary of ASX-listed Broad Investments, has plans to be the VoIP leader in the next 12 months. It recently launched a VoIP service for the residential and corporate market.

You might say that such claims are usual for any new entrant. BroadIP thinks it has an edge with better pricing and better features. It also aims to garner a chunk of the corporate market. BroadIP is offering a $49.99 per month package for unlimited local and national calls. Remember, calls to mobiles are 27 cents per minute). Unlike other VoIP offerings, BroadIP does not distinguish between customers on its own network and those on the PSTN.

BroadIP also offers QoS for voice between customers' CPE and the PSTN interface.

Via ITWire

Do you remember MindSpring?

Let me refresh your memory. MindSpring is an Atlanta-based ISP (Internet Service provider) which Earthlink bought for $4 billion back in 2000.

Now, MindSpring is back in a new avatar, as a VoIP service provider. The new MindSpring service combines VoIP and instant messaging. The offering from Earthlink's subsidiary combines voice calling, instant messaging and provides access to free voicemail and EarthLink Web Mail.

Among other highlights of the new MindSpring service: New sign-ups receive 30 free minutes and the IM is interoperable with Google Talk.

Via Atlanta Business Chronicle

Yet cheaper VOIP

Let me put this first. This bit of fantastic news comes via a Press Release. There is a new VoIP Service Provider in the U.K. market called G3T. G3T has developed a so-called 'e2e' technology that reduces infrastructure costs by removing the need for Proxy Servers / SBC's, and allows direct phone-to-phone calling via a single port. That means the network does not host the calls.

With, its fully-automated 'ePhone's service, G3T says it can beat Jajah on price factor. Well, the good times do not end rolling. VoIP customers never had it so good.

Via PR LEAP

GotVoice now supports VOIP providers

GotVoice provides service and software for email-based voicemail. Recently, GotVoice announced that they now support VoIP services from Boost Mobile, Vonage and Virgin Mobile as well.

This takes the company's VoIP roster tally to 14. Fittingly enough, Vonage was the first VoIP service provider that did a deal with GotVoice.
Moreover, GotVoice's voicemail management services are free for any consumer. GotVouce announced this a month ago.

Via betadot

Interoute will introduce secure VoIP service

European Telecom operator Interoute has ambitions to take on Skype on its home continent. Interoute is going to introduce a VoIP service ala Skype to Businesses. Incidentally, Skype has also introduced a special service for businesses. We had covered that in an earlier post.

Interoute claims that its iSiP service will effectively deal companies' security concerns. The Interoute have termed a special name for security issues related with Skype. They call it the 'Skypemare' phenomenon. Interoute will offer iSiP for around $2,620 per month to companies, with unlimited number of users.

Via VoIPCentral

What is holding back VOIP?

According to a survey of the participants at the 'VoIP for Business' show in London, Quality of service (QOS) is the most common obstacle for enterprises regarding the switch to voice over IP (VoIP). Researchers, including guys from Ovum, say that is more so the case with consumer VoIP applications that are run over the public internet – more than enterprise services.

Enterprises are able to deal with the QOS issue, as they are able to invest in additional hardware and better connectivity capabilities.

Interestingly, less than one per cent of businesses surveyed cited security as an obstacle to adopting VoIP.

Via Silicon.com

Virtual phone numbers from Vonage

VoIP pioneer has launched European virtual phone numbers for those calling Europe.

The European virtual phone number service is priced at £5.99 per month. Users of Vonage's European VoIP services can now get a virtual phone number in addition to their current Vonage number in an area of their choice. Thus, you can get a virtual number for any city where your near and dear ones live.

Pretty neat, huh? This service is great for home-sick folks, too.

Via TechDigest

VoIP wholesaler iVox will provide Wireless VOIP services

The action is hotting up in the promising Australian VoIP market. Apart from the two biggest ISPs, all others are already into the market with their VoIP offerings.

Now, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wholesaler iVox today has signed a deal with wireless broadband carrier Personal Broadband Australia (PBA) to offer Internet service providers a wireless VoIP solution.

iVox's new service will be offered wherever there is no last-mile copper connection to the customers' location.

Via Zdnet

4D Talk's new Business VoIP Service

4D Talk's new Business VoIP Service can provide a viable replacement for existing small PBX or FeatureLine installations for managing and routing calls without any loss in quality.

4D Talk has a special promotion scheme for companies signing up for the service by June 30, 2006. To these early birds, 4D Talk will provide unlimited 2Mbps business broadband and business VoIP for just £49.99 per month instead of the usual price of £69.99 per month.

4D Talk includes all the standard business VoIP features such as voicemail, caller display, caller return, address books, caller ID blocking, number blocking and caller waiting. It also offers non-geographic numbers and fax2email services to business customers.

Calls to other 4D Talk users are free. The company says that its new service is ideal for companies that use up to eight analogue lines now.

Via pressdispensary

Yahoo VOIP Messenger Finally Launched

What took Yahoo so long? Yahoo has launched its VOIP IM service on March 22. It will be available for download on Windows-running systems. The new Yahoo IM client has full inbound and outbound VOIP capabilities.

Yahoo has priced its VoIP offerings keeping Skype full in the crosshairs. Both its Phone Out and Phone In rates are lower than Skype but unlike Skype, Yahoo does not offer Video capabilities yet. Users, ala Skype, get free voicemail for inbound calls. Moreover, voicemail messages are linked from Yahoo Mail.

Via TechCrunch

The new way to sell VOIP services

Like Amway, Herbalife and Mary Kay cosmetics, Lightyear is selling VOIP services using the age-old device of multi-level marketing.

In the United States, if a company focuses on recruitment, it may be a pyramid scheme, which is illegal. On the other hand, a legal multilevel marketing company delivers on its product or service. Lightyear actually provides a service and thus may be in the clear as long as the Better Business Bureau does not receive any complain.

Lightyear sells $24.99 unlimited local and long distance monthly phone service to its customers, who also buy a $49 blue box that that does the Net calling. The Holy Grail market for companies like Lightyear as well as Vonage and others is the fact that as many as 28 million customers may switch to VoIP in the next two years,

Via DenverPost

Ingate & snom successfully demonstrate SRTP encrypted VoIP calling

First, what is SRTP? Well, SRTP stands for Secure Real Time Transfer Protocol. This technology encrypts real-time data as well as providing message authentication, and replay protection. IP Telephony experts consider SRTP great to protect VoIP audio traffic. You can use SRTP together with header compression and it has no effect on the all-important IP quality of service.

Ingate Systems and snom have successfully demonstrated an encrypted VoIP call using SRTP and their products. Ingate Systems and snom already have integrated SRTP support in their products– Ingate Systems' firewall/NAT traversal devices and snom's IP phones, respectively.

Via [Von Magazine]

Free PC-to-Phone VoIP Service from FreeCalls365

FreeCalls365's free PC-to-Phone VoIP Service is supported by advertising. This service was launched recently and it claims to have crystal-clear sound quality and has an easy-to-use telephone dialer.
The dialer screen has advertising, provided by AdCalls, and these ads pay for running the VoIP service.

Read More

Skype Phone from Corega

The Japaneses Company Corega has just released the CG-USBPH01 phone which works with USB 1.1.  The CG-USBPH01 phone also has echo cancellation for better noise reduction on your phone calls. It comes with a CD to help you with the hook-up. It has clean, all-white looks and is priced at $36.

Via Gizmodo

Primus Telecom enters the booming VoIP market

Primus telecom has come up with its own national consumer and business service in order to benefit from the booming VoIP market. It has also launched three new plans with the service. The starter plan comes at a cost of $9.95 per month, the family plan and premium plan at $19.95 and $29.95 respectively.

The VoIP service has been modeled on Primus American broadband phone service, Lingo which features traditional phone service and other features like call forwarding, call waiting, call return and last number redial. The user need not have a PC as it can be connected to a broadband connection.

via [CRN]

Hotmail founder Sabeer Bhatia launching VoIP service

The founder of Hotmail recently introduced a VoIP service for Indian community called VoiFi Beta. It is an instant messaging (IM) service cum peer-to-peer telephony software that will offer calls for Re 1 from any part of the world to India.

The software has a range of features. It has gaming content - "War Zones", "Snakes and Ladders", "Tic-Tac-Toe" and a version of the Indian poker called "Teen Patti".  Users can play games while on IM or voice calls. The software was developed in India, by a Mumbai-based subsidiary of Bhatia's US company VoiFi Technology Corporation.

Via [VoIP Central]

Whaleback SMB VoIP for $50 a month

Whaleback Systems has  just released its new managed SMB 1500 VoIP service.

The SMB 1500 VoIP service turnkey Voice over IP system works best for Small and medium-sized Businesses. As part of the service, Whaleback supplies a complete package - the SIP PBX, the hand sets and the phone service. All this for $49.95/month per seat and a DSL or cable connection.

Preparing for the impending legislation on Cable vs. DSL Whaleback has made deals with the likes of  Comcast to deal with any negative impact from  future legislation.

Via [Infoworld]

Ether launches 'pay per advice' service

After 'click per call', now 'pay per advice' from new entrant Ether. Though this, Ether practically enables bloggers who are experts in their fields to earn money by what they knowledge like VoIP type of Answers.com

Ether's service can prove to be useful for doctors, lawyers, tutors, accountants etc. Ether plans to charge fifteen percent for this service.

Via [VoIP Central]

VisiFone will be introduced at CeBIT

Viseon's VisiFone is the first Digital Home Telephone for VoIP. VisiFone provides broadband digital telephony giving the home owner access to range of features including digital WideBand audio, TV-quality videophone capabilities and on-screen management of VoIP features and preferences.

Visoen will premiere VisiFone at CeBIT, in Hannover, Germany, March 9th onwards.

Via [Voip Magazine]

More customers for Intrado's new VoIP 9-1-1 services

With these newq additions, , Intrado now has 35+ customers for its VoIP 9-1-1  service. One reason for this is the increasing numbers of new VOIP players all of whom must comply with the FCC VoIP E9-1-1 mandate.

Among the new VoIP service providers (VSPs) who rae using Intrado's service include Cordia Corporation (OTCBB:CORG), GlobeNet Carrier Services (Pink Sheets:GLBT), GlobeTel Communications Corp. (AMX:GTE) and Vonics Digital and others. 

This also means that Intrado's service now features more than 1 million Internet telephony records.

Via [BusinessWire]

More VoIP action in Italy

Mobif Bhd, a Malaysian manufacturer of internet surveillance systems, has allied up with Tele VoIP Italia to provide voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology solutions with Tele VoIP Italia's customers in Europe.

Tele VoIP provides discounted long distance services in Europe.

Evidently, the Malasian Company has global ambitions and it has wisely chosen Europe.

The VoIP market in Europe will hot up as more and more people have broadband connections in their homes and offices.

Via [Forbes]

Hutch Voip Service launches in Italy

The Italian unite of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., 3 Italia, has launched its voice over Internet Protocol service (VoIP) in the country.

The VOIP service, called "International No Limit"  costs EUR15 to set up. Users can make calls for EUR0.5 an hour, up to a maximum of 10 hours a day per month.

This new service has come ahead of Hutchison Whampoa's proposed collaboration with Skype.

Read More

Whaleback Systems introduces SMB 1500

Whaleback Systems’ CrystalBlue managed business phone service has been designed for the needs of small and medium sized businesses. The service consists of monitored premises based IP PBX-SMB 1500 and executive IP phones. The voice service also features a local and long distance call package, remote maintenance and monitoring, installation and configuration and twenty four hour technical support.

SMB 1500 transports voice signals over broadband connections via native SIP trunks to drive down recurring bandwidth charges. It is premises based and software driven. It is deployed at one’s location and connected to Ethernet network. It supports up to 1,500 phone station.

via [CConvergence]

Cape Town using VoIP technology to respond to disasters

An emergency management centre based in Cape Town would be using open source VoIP telephony in order to deal with and respond to disasters in the region. Connection Telecom has implemented an Asterisk solution at the provincial emergency management centre based at Tygerberg hospital. It ensures call recording on the platform itself and also permits conference calling. The other features provided by the Asterisk solution are call recording, call queuing and predictive dialing. There are other plans for a wide area VoIP solution which can interconnect other emergency services centers in the Western Province.

via [Mg]

COLT and Avaya come together to transform business voice services with a new IP PBX service

COLT and Avaya have come together to transform business voice services with the new IP PBX service. COLT is partnering with Avaya to provide Europe’s most extensive fully managed IP telephony service in response to business demand for COLT’s predictable flat rate pricing and minimal capes model with the features of a traditional PBX. The managed IP PBX service can be hosted in COLT’s data centers or on the customer’s premises permitting customers to access the benefits and features associated with state of the art IP telephony.

via [MarketWire]

Finnish company VLP launches VoIP based exchange services for companies

Finnish telecom company Vaasan Laanin Puhelin (VLP) would be offering VoIP based exchange services to companies. Combination of voice and data in one network would provide cost benefits to companies in the form of cabling and maintenance costs. As per the new system, company’s exchange would be controlled by VLP and would be located in facilities of VLP. A year ago VLP launched its VoIP services for household consumers.

via [e.Finland.fi]

Earthlink to announce bundled voice and DSL service

Earthlink will be announcing a package of VoIP and high speed internet access within a couple of days. This indicates that EarthLink is offsetting its less profitable dial up unit and concentrating on voice and other services. This would undercut the prices charged by cable and phone companies as a strategy to reduce dependence on its dial up business. The bundled service does not require any installation of additional hardware. The technology is named line powered voice. The service has been already launched in Dallas, Northern California and Seattle. The cost of the service is $ 70 per month for unlimited phone and high speed DSL service.

via [RedHerring]

Skype and Chinagate come together to provide free calls

Skype and Chinagate have entered into an agreement which would allow Chinagate’s members to make free calls using Skype’s internet calling software. The service would be offered through www.skype.chinagate.com.  It is the first Chinese version of Skype outside China and this service would allow users to make unlimited voice and video calls free of charge. The service also includes SkypeOut feature which allows users to call from Skype to cell phones and landlines and SkypeIn feature which would allow anyone to call the user at their SkypeIn number worldwide. Chinagate members need to download the Chinagate/Skype software from the website mentioned above to immediately start making calls worldwide.

via [VoIPCentral]

BT's VOIP Service Outage

Many consumers of BT's VOIP service (U.K.) could not access the service  especially during this weekend. British Telecom has around 22,000 subscribers and potentially a large number have complaints.

BT's spokesperson has denied that the service was bogged down by heavy usage and instead said that it was a "platform-related" problem.

Reverses like these could be a major embarrassment for any telecom operator but hopefully British Telecom will ride out this 'minor' storm.

Via [VoIP Central]

Vonage expands into Oregon

Vonage's VOIP services will now be available to telecom users in Bend, Hood River, Prineville, Redmond and the Dalles, Oregon.

Residents near the Deschutes River can now use Vonage's broadband-based phone service broadband phone service. Vonage customers who live near the Cascade Mountains can now keep their current numbers or choose telephone numbers within the popular 541 area code.

Via [PR Newswire]

Vonage introduces broadband phone service in Ohio

Vonage Marketing has introduced its broadband phone service at Toledo and Sylvania in Ohio. High speed internet subscribers of Vonage will now be able to take advantage of its broadband phone service  which is offering unlimited local and long distance calling option and other features like call forwarding, call waiting and voice mail for a flat monthly rate. Customers residing in and around west end of Lake Erin will be able to keep their existing numbers or choose numbers within the 567 and 419 area code.

via  [PrNewsWire]

Freshtel introduces VoIP wholesale service for Tesco

Freshtel has introduced its VoIP wholesale service for UK based retailer Tesco. This deal has brought Freshtel into international limelight with Tesco taking on BT with a VoIP offering. The starter pack is for £19.97 which includes a handset and calls worth £5. Calls to other Tesco VoIP customers across UK are free, to mobiles it is 10p a minute and a few of the international destinations are for 2p a minute. The agreement to provide Tesco with white label internet protocol telephony service was announced by Freshtel in December 2005.

via [VoIPNews]

Will ENUM provide VoIP directory assistance?

With so many telecom, VoIP and mobile services providers it is increasingly becoming difficult to find the phone numbers as there is no directory assistance available. This problem can be solved by ENUM or Telephone Number Mapping which is an internet engineering taskforce standard for directing internet traffic using traditional phone numbers. This standard integrates E 164 phone numbers with IP addressing using the Domain Name System. E164.org enables to access directory of phone numbers over the internet. A DNS zone e164.org is published by the system and is used by various internet applications. This concept will help in mapping phone numbers to an email address, VoIP address or website. It is to be seen whether the telecom companies will implement ENUM or whether the government would have to step in to provide universal directory assistance.

via [ zdnet ]

NTC receives fewer applications for VoIP service providers

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has officially received only two applications for becoming VoIP service providers. Rules require that VoIP provider must have a capitalization of ten million pesos while resellers need a five million peso performance bond. One of the reasons behind receiving such less number of applications is the high capitalization required. It was done by NTC to discourage fly by night VoIP operators in Philippines. The main reason behind receiving abysmally low applications is the clause in the NTC regulation which requires VoIP providers to interconnect with the telecom companies. VoIP providers feel that telecom providers would drag their feet on the issue of negotiating terms with them.

via [ inq7.net ]

Netspace to offer VoIP

Netspace would be offering  VoIP service in the first half of 2006. The company is currently testing the technology internally. This service would be accessed via a PC based softphone software similar to what is being offered by Skype and other companies. This service is being launched in addition to the existing long distance phone card service. According to an e-mail sent in December by the company, customers would be able to avail cost benefits on their phone bills and the service would not be unattractive and restrictive as that of the competitors

Microsoft plans to enter Internet telephony market

Microsoft announced it plans to enter the highly competitive Internet telephony market in association with MCI. Initially the access to this service would be limited. As per company details users would be allowed to make one hour of calls free of charge on registration. Subsequently users would be charged 2.23 cents per minute for making calls between United States, Canada and other European countries. Links are being set up among more than 220 countries and the prices would be announced during the course of the year.

Videotron's VoIP service connects with customers

Videotron's digital telephone service which was launched year back has earned about 163,000 customers for it and has earned the company top position in terms of provider of this new technology.

There has been also been a significant growth in the subscription base of its digital cable television and cable Internet access services in the preceding year. its customer base has also shot up from 1.45 m to 1.51 m in 2005.

Videotron was one of the first Canadian cable companies to launch VoIP in 2005 and according to company sources it has been an instant hit. The message is crystal clear – customers are loving it!!

"Brahm Eiley, president of Convergence Consulting Group Ltd., said Vidéotron's VoIP numbers for 2005 exceeded his forecast "by an order of about 20 per cent "

US LEC Corporation's VoIP service in Miami

US LEC Corp. has increased the reach of its VoIP service in Miami. Its product Dynamic T executes bandwidth allocation according to traffic type and offers functions such as call management and voice mail. Since the traffic using Dynamic T travels only on the US LEC network, the service provider is able to offer carrier-grade call-quality and also offers 911 service. charlotte.bizjournals.com reports:

US LEC recently expanded into markets in Louisiana, Indiana, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

Read More: US LEC expands VoIP service into Miami

VoIP service by Vidéotron Ltée'

Quebec-based cable company Vidéotron Ltée', which launched its digital telephone service in early 2005, has acquired around 163,000 customers. globeandmail.com reports:

VoIP, while still in its infancy, represents a major challenge to telcos, such as Bell Canada and Telus Corp.

Read More: Vidéotron customers connect with VoIP

D-LINK & Skype launches USB phone adapter to make calls over traditional phones

D-Link and Skype launched the D-Link Skype USB phone adapter which would enable the users to make use of their existing phones and take advantage of Skype’s free calling features. It would be globally available at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $69.99.

It would provide added flexibility in terms of receiving regular and Skype calls using the existing phones. It would also enable to take benefit of the features of the existing phones. This would certainly improve the experience of Skype services.

Residential VoIP service by SunRocket

SunRocket is offering its residential VoIP service at the rate of $ 9.95 per month. The service includes E911, free call waiting, free caller ID, and free three-way conferencing. Unlimited inbound and SunRocket to SunRocket Internet phone calling are other attractive features. The service comes with 200 minutes of global calling.

The offer is aimed at prospective consumers who are aware of VoIP but have still to give it a try. The company has positioned its service as an ideal second phone line that can be used for international calling and as a residential phone service to go with a user’s cell phone. The pricing is inclusive of all taxes, additional phone numbers and enhanced voice mail can be acquired at the rate of $ 3 per month for each. Users can also purchase the equipment for the offer, which is priced at $ 39.95.

e-Sky offers Internet telephony services

Los Angeles-based e-Sky is an Internet telephony company that offers its services in seven countries. Solutions offered by the company cover dial-up, broadband, Internet cafes, customized packages for businesses, etc. btimes.com.my

“The starter pack comes with a value of US$10 (about RM380) and could be topped up like prepaid cards,” he added.

Read More: e-Sky taps Internet telephony mart

Windows Live Messenger service

Microsoft and Uniden have come together for the development of hardware that will allow users to make live calls using the Windows Live Messenger service. The product, WIN 1200 is a cordless handset that can be used with PC’s and landlines as well. It works at 5.8 GHZ and sports a color screen; it is priced at $ 99.99 and is available in the US.

The instrument uses the Web calling service provided by MCI for calling landlines using VoIP. Messenger contact lists can be downloaded on to the phone and individual names can be assigned different ring tones. The Windows Live Messenger service is currently in its beta stage.

ECG upbeat about VoIP growth

ECG is a VoIP company that is into the designing and operation of next-generation telephony platforms. According to ECG, in the next five years 95% of companies will embrace VoIP. i-newswire.com reports:

With growth in the Southeast, ECG was selected to assist Fonix in their VoIP system to enhance the existing program and create more opportunities for the company.

Read More: ECG assists Fonix with VoIP

IP-enabled contact centers in Asia-Pacific

A survey by research firm Frost and Sullivan, carried out at the behest of Avaya, has found that 40% of the contact centers in the Asia-Pacific region are contemplating IP-based telephony and 80% of those surveyed have mentioned an increase in the demand for multi-channel support including voice, e-mail, SMS, and the Web. The research covered more than 1,000 contact centers in Australia, Singapore, China, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, and India.

The report states that stability of IP-technology is not considered to be a barrier in VoIP implementation anymore. Reduced costs and easy to manage networks were cited as prime reasons for deploying IP-based communications in contact centers. zdnetindia.com reports:

Identifying the technologies that contact centers are looking at will give "an idea" of what customers are now demanding, Roy Wakim, Avaya's director of converged solutions and analyst solutions, said in an interview with ZDNet Asia.

Read More: Contact centers in Asia ponder move to IP

New service from Omega-Orion Enterprises

Omega-Orion Enterprises, Ltd. Co is a satellite service provider for SMBs. Its new service offering provides bandwidth speeds that are higher than those of other satellite Internet services. The DOCSIS protocol used by the company supports VoIP and VPN connections. The service has not imposed any download limits on its subscribers. prleap.com reports:

"This is a great service that we are happy to provide to our customers," says Elizabeth Herbst, COO of Omega-Orion Enterprises.

Read More: OMEGA-ORION OFFERS NEW BUSINESS SATELLITE INTERNET SERVICE

VoIP service by L&H Technologia

L&H Technologia, a Brazilian IT solutions provider, intends to start VoIP services in May 2006. It is in the process of developing its VoIP platform. The company is carrying out telecom-related systems integration projects for American Express and SKY. The company achieves 30% of its revenues from the sales of products developed by Quest Software.

0800 service by Voipfone

Voipfone.co.uk, which is an Internet Telephone provider based in London, has started offering 0800 number services with its telecom products. The 0800 calls are charged at 3p every minute and the service costs £4.99 per month.

Dash911 for VoIP providers

Denver-based Dash911 offers E911 for VoIP providers. The company has stated that it has completed the testing of its service and can now offer live E911 call-handling. The service provided by DashE911 is "telephone number provider agnostic". Dash911 plans to launch its 24x7 call center in January 2006 for managing address changes across the nation. webwire.com reports:

"Dash911’s architecture offers coverage to any number, and with our SOAP API interface, we can quickly implement a VoIP provider within ten days."

Read More: Dash911 certified to go live with E911 for VoIP

ZyEdge chosen by PCCW Global

ZyEdge LLC, which is a managed service provider, has been selected by PCCW Global, Inc for handling the company’s VoIP deployments in the US. PCCW Global provides IP telephony services around the world and has been created out of the shuffling between the PCCW International Commercial Group and its subsidiary BtN Access, Inc. businesswire.com reports:

"ZyEdge has repeatedly proven itself to be a valuable asset to our organization," said Patrick Hannon, PCCW Global's President, Americas.

Read More: PCCW Global Selects ZyEdge to Provide U.S. VoIP Services

SippyPhone by RedVoiss

RedVoiss, which is based in Chile, has launched a service SippyPhone that is on the lines of Skype. However, SippyPhone uses SIP as against Skype which uses a proprietary protocol.

SippyPhone can also be interconnected with other VoIP services like Vonage. As its bandwidth utilization is lower than Skype its voice quality may not be as good as that of Skype. tmcnet.com reports:

RedVoiss' aim with the new service is to target the youth market. Mordojovich also believes that SippyPhone will act as an introduction to IP telephony.

Read More: RedVoiss launches VoIP service to rival Skype

Hosted VoIP offerings increase

Hosted VoIP offerings are gaining strength. These offerings typically try to duplicate the PBX offerings. Hosted VoIP provides facilities such as corporate name dialing, voice recognition, personal name dialing, notification services, etc. voip-magazine.com reports:

Then there’s the seamier side, like pay-per-minute voice services one might otherwise associate with 900 numbers that are being developed.

Read More: Hosted Apps for VoIP: Heating Up

Europe more open to hosted VoIP

According to a study by Research and Markets “Hosted VoIP services in Europe”, companies in Europe are more open to the idea of hosted VoIP than companies in America. According to the report, lack of a cohesive telecom infrastructure and the absence of IP-related skills in-house are prime reasons for European companies choosing a hosted VoIP provider. voip-magazine.com reports:

This has given companies a chance to offer solutions to businesses ready to leverage the cost saving components of VoIP communications, but need assistance navigating security issues and gaps in connectivity.

Read More: Research and Markets: European Firms Likely to Outsource VoIP

VoIP over DSL in France

Since the inception of its VoIP over DSL service, Neuf Cegetel has acquired more than 350,000 subscribers. The France-based broadband service provider introduced its service in June 2004. The VoIP service uses the CS 2000 softswitch and 15000 model media gateways provided by Nortel.

VoIP in Brazil

Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A is the largest telecom provider in South America and it will use the hosted solution provided by Net2Phone for providing VoIP services in Brazil. Tele Norte provides its services under the brand name Telemar and it has more than 731,000 customers subscribing to its broadband services.

IPTV by Verizon

Triple-play consisting of a satellite-based video component has been offered for quite some time by local phone companies. However, with the advent of phone companies like Verizon and SBC into the IPTV market, cable companies are gearing to reply to the challenge and they are doing so by offering bundled voice services. networkworld.com reports:

First, when cable operators make the "sale" of voice, that service is "just another part" of the bundle - almost like an HBO or Showtime subscription.

Read More: The 'triple-play' war heats up

BT Communicator offers free calls

In the coming holiday season, users of the BT Communicator will be able to make free calls to landlines across 30 countries. According to BT, it is already offering lower rates than Skype for calls made to landlines via a PC. convergedigest.com reports:

Meanwhile, the price of Broadband Talk, which allows customers to use a normal phone, rather than the PC, has been slashed by up to 50 per cent to just £2 per month for evening and weekend calls or £7 a month for anytime calls and with BTs top two Broadband packages, evening and weekend calls are completely free.

Read More: BT Offers Consumer VoIP Promotions

BellSouth for reselling Packet8

8x8 Inc is reselling its Packet8 service through BellSouth Corp. The service has been named BellSouth Digital Phone Service and is currently available in Gainesville, Fla. The service includes standard features such as caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, etc. lightreading.com reports:

The FastAccess service costs between $24.95 and $46.95 per month, depending on the speed of the connection.

Read More: BellSouth Launches Residential VOIP

Acme provides Net-Net to three companies

Acme Packet Inc. will be providing its Net-Net session border controllers to TeleCommunication Systems Inc, VoIP Inc, and Pac-West Telecom Inc. The Acme Packet session boarder controllers will be used by TeleCommunication Systems for its VoIP e911 location information routing and delivery platform.

VoIP Inc. will use the product to deliver its VoIP services to a greater number of those who are using its VoiceOne network. According to VoIP Inc, the local access points in the VoiceOne network number in excess of 5,900. This gives the network the potential to reach out to as much as 90% of the American population.

The VoiceSource suite of services offered by Pac-West is available in six western states in the US. The company hopes to reach out to more than 50 percent of the population by making its services available in thirty-six metropolitan markets in the US.

NENA revamps E911

The “Interim VoIP Architecture for Enhanced 911 Services” developed by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) is the first significant revamp of E911 design in the past thirty years. It is also the first step in coming up with a standard on VoIP and E911 system interface. telecomweb.com reports:

NENA’s been working on a new design for E911 since 2003, and the new standard was described as only an interim solution, which enables VoIP telecommunications service providers to deliver full E911 service through the current E911 infrastructure.

Read More: NENA OKs Interim VoIP E911 Architecture

Engin and People Telecom come together

Engin and People Telecom have come together in a wholesale partnership to expand the existing VoIP services in Australia. Engin will take over the existing and future VoIP customers of People Telecom. People Telecom’s service was previously available only in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. pcworld.idg.com.au reports:

"We currently have over 1000 on our network, and another 100 have signed up just this week," he said. "This partnership will open VoIP up to a lot of our resellers who would not otherwise have had access to it."

Read More: Wholesale partnership expands VoIP

VoIP calls with Yahoo IM

Yahoo will soon offer US users of its IM service the facility to dial out to traditional and mobile phones. Users will be able to receive phone calls on their IM by obtaining one or more numbers on rent. The numbers are offered at $ 2.99 per month or $ 29.9 per year. In the initial phase only the numbers of the US, UK, and France will be available. It will be possible for non-US residents to get US numbers.

Calls to US-based numbers will be charged $ 0.01 / minute whereas calls to countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America will be charged under $ 0.02 / minute. Currently, thirty countries have been chosen for this tariff. The rates are decided by the termination point of the call and not based on the country where the call originates.

Yahoo has named the feature “phone out”. Prepaid credit is available in slabs of $ 10 and $ 25. There is no time limit for using up the credit. Yahoo has already been providing free PC-to-PC calls and the facility of calling up a telephone number by using the service of Net2Phone Inc.

Yahoo Messenger has had PC-to-PC voice communications for years, and it has offered users a fee-based option to dial out to a phone number using the third-party Net2Phone Inc. service. Yahoo has still to announce the release date of this new version of Yahoo Messenger.

Addtional features for DeltaThree VoIP

DeltaThree has added a callback feature and *88 to its wholesale VoIP service. The callback feature consists of Tel CallBack, Web callback, and SMS callback. *88 allows users to check their account balance. DeltaThree has a reseller program that is focused on call centers, Internet cafes, ISPs, web portals, etc.

VoIP service from TMC

Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) will be offering its own VoIP service to SMBs and residential customers. TMC publishes Internet Telephony and hosts online VoIP classes. It will utilize wholesale VoIP service by Vox to provide its own service.

Total Voice Share from Telephia

Telephia is tracking VoIP under its Total Voice Share service. The service monitors the market shares of wireless carriers, traditional phone companies, and cable companies in US markets like San Diego, Los Angeles, and Charlotte. The market data is divided into residential and business subscribers.

Cisco donates IP videophones

Cisco Systems is donating IP videophones for hospitalized children to experience Christmas festivities, especially interacting with Santa Klaus. voipplanet.com reports:

The children and their families will gather in common areas in the hospitals where the Cisco video telephony equipment will be set up for the calls.

Read More: Connecting Kids With Claus

Juniper products for SLT

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is using the M-series multiservice routers provided by Juniper Networks. This will help SLT to offer advanced IP services to its premium clients. The M-Series routers are being used in place of the legacy gateway routers that SLT was using till now.

The routers from Juniper will allow SLT to offer a range of services such as ADSL, VoIP, and IP VPN services to its business and premium customers and in the process enabling them to avail competitive advantage.

The M-series multiservice edge routing platform provides service providers with the opportunity to implement several money-earning services. Layer 2 services including ATM and Frame Relay are supported by the M-series high-performance platform. It also offers Layer 3 services as well as firewall and data encryption protection.

TCS helps 8X8 with E911 service

8x8 will be using technology from TCS for providing E911 services to its Packet8 subscribers. TCS will provide address verification tools, routing key access infrastructure, and boundary information regarding every PSAP in the U.S. In order that the system works perfectly, it is important that subscribers keep updating their addresses in case of a change in address.

VoIP Direct from InfiniRoute

InfiniRoute Networks has introduced VoIP Direct, which is a managed VoIP peering service. The service offers single aggregated connections to tier 1 carriers. The connections are for linking with other carriers in regions such as Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Eastern Europe. Pre-set thresholds used by the service enable intelligent dynamic routing decisions. The service uses an optimization engine that decides routes taking into consideration jitter, packet loss, and latency. The VoIP Direct service has an SLA and offers 8 T1 or E1 ports for multiple DS3s connections in US and Canada and E3 connections in Europe.

Level 3 offers service to Cable One

Cable One is a US-based MSO and runs 52 cable systems across 19 states. It will employ VoIP Enhanced Local Service provided by Level 3. Level 3 is concentrating its services at those providers that have their own Class 5 feature servers.

Peneo offers a host of services

Peneo Telecomunications was launched in October 2005 and it has an easy sign-in for its VoIP service on its website. It offers free PC-to-PC calling and competitive rates for calls to PSTN. Peneo enables VoIP communication without a PC as it uses SIP technology. Peneo offers its users the facility to connect two telephone lines anywhere in the world and web callback as well. SMS callback can also be used to connect two phones. These facilities help to make phone calls to places where PC2phone services are not allowed.

VoIP for the contact center

VoIP makes the implementation of a single, integrated voice and data network a far cheaper proposition than implementing separate networks. This also reduces the complications that would otherwise arise if separate networks to be integrated.

A major advantage that VoIP offers is the integration of separate functions and the range of functionalities that it offers. IVR in a VoIP environment is less expensive to implement, voice to text translation, multimedia queuing and routing, and IM make VoIP an attractive enterprise application, particularly for contact centers.

The true scope of VoIP will be leveraged when it starts getting used as a platform for supporting a virtual contact center. This will enable the distribution of the contact handling to anywhere in the organization; thereby ensuring that the right person with the right skill set handles the calls. Experts feel that even though having a central point of contact has its advantages, a distributed point of contact could lead to efficient and effective call handling. It may however lead to increased training costs.

Even though VoIP has existed for around 10 years, it has managed to make an impact on the contact center industry fairly recently. Adoption of VoIP has resulted due to the drop in systems prices, sophisticated voice recording and analytics enable contact centers to learn from each call, these features are further boosted by a reporting function.

Integrated Research partners T-Systems

Integrated Research has announced a partnership with T-Systems, which is a part of Deutsche Telekom. The partnership is for a VoIP deployment Germany. tmcnet.com reports:

“We had committed to open the new European office in Frankfurt and this new partnership with T-Systems has reinforced our decision,” said Keith Andrews, CEO of Integrated Research.

Read More: Integrated Research, T-Systems VoIP Partnership

Fonix extends services in US states

Fonix Telecom has made available residential and business VoIP services in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and Utah. tmcnet.com reports:

High-speed Internet subscribers in these three states can purchase Fonix Telecom's Fonix Fone(TM) VoIP service starting at $16.95. Fonix Fone offers local and long distance calling, including features such as call waiting, call forwarding, E-911 and voice mail.

Read More: Fonix Telecom Launches Residential and Business VoIP

One IP Voice Hosted VoIP

Farmstead Telephone Group Inc. will be introducing the One IP Voice Hosted VoIP service in Tier 1 cities across the US. The company expects to do so by January 2006. tmcnet.com reports:

The service provides local, long distance and internet service, along with fully bundled hosted solutions, to small and medium sized businesses.

Read More: One IP Voice Completes Build Out in the U.S.

Pingo

Pingo has lowered call rates to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. tmcnet.com reports:

"Pingo's combination of very competitive rates, great convenience features, and opportunities to earn bonus calling time make it a terrific deal.

Read More: iBasis Lowers Central America Call Fees

IVE

Sony Electronics and Glowpoint Inc. have come together to launch a new version of Sony’s Instant Video Everywhere (IVE) service. Users will be able to access free unlimited video and voice service anywhere in the world. The service will allow an audio or video conversation with up to six participants.

Georgia Aquarium

BellSouth will be providing Georgia Aquarium with all its communications solutions. The aquarium will open on November 23 in Atlanta and will be the world’s largest. tmcnet.com reports:

BellSouth has implemented custom voice, data and Internet solutions as well as a network that supports the advanced life support and security systems at the aquarium facility.

Read More: BellSouth Provides Communications Infrastructure

SoftGnome

PhoneGnome is an appliance from TelEvolution that connects to other SIP devices by using SIP signaling and converts into VoIP. TelEvolution has devised several attractive plans for VoIP service providers to manage calls that have to be routed through the PSTN. TelEvolution now provides SoftGnome along with PhoneGnome. SoftGnome is a service that is charged at the rate of $ 4.95 per month. It allows a user to make calls remotely; the calls appear as originating from the home phone. voipplanet.com reports:

Unlike common analog telephone adapters (ATAs), which it superficially resembles, this heavily engineered system is like an object-oriented programming language, according to Beckemeyer. "Our system puts those building blocks together in different ways to get different results," he said.

Read More: PhoneGnome Shows Its Softer Side

Shaw Trust

Shaw Trust, a charity in the UK that assists the handicapped to obtain work, is tying up with virtual network operator (VNO) Sirocom. The £2.5 m deal is for a period of four years and will link around 200 work-from-home employees and 1,300 office workers. The charity may also move its intra-company communication traffic to VoIP. Currently, it is using the PSTN. The charity is growing at a rapid rate; the deal with Sirocom has resulted in savings and also improved its ability to scale. The move is also significant as the UK government has stated its desire of curtailing its contribution to the incapacity benefits. Currently, the government expenditure on incapacity benefits is approximately £12.8bn.

Net2Phone

Net2Phone is one of the leading providers of turnkey-hosted VoIP services. It has serviced over 100,000 users in both the US and outside. The services it provides include VoIP PacketCable, SIP, and wireless solutions globally. tmcnet.com reports:

In the meantime, Net2Phone requests all its stockholders to defer making any determination with respect to the tender offer until the Independent Committee of Net2Phone's board of directors has made its recommendation.

Read More: Special Committee of Net2Phone

VoIP news

Enterprises are increasingly moving toward an all-IP telecommunications network and assisting them in this endeavor are companies such as Avaya, AT&T, and Alcatel. AT&T will be providing Aegis Communications Group Inc. with an IP VPN network.

AT&T has landed a five-year $ 17 million contract with Aegis under which it will provide Aegis with an IP VPN system using MPLS technology. KONE, which is a leading escalator and elevator company, has employed AT&T for consolidating the communication networks in its 450 locations throughout the world. tmcnet.com reports:

Business communications applications provider Avaya Inc. announced on Monday it was chosen by FTD, a flower delivery service based in Sherwood, Ark., in order to integrate Internet telephony into its contact center operations.

Read More: VoIP Week in Review from TMCnet

MOPH

The MOPH Service Foundation has selected the on-demand solution by Five9 Inc. for a 15-week training program for war veterans. tmcnet.com reports:

In addition to using the VoIP-based Virtual Contact Center for training, the MOPH Service Foundation will also use the service to manage its donors.

Read More: Veterans Trained For Call Centers

Customer Respect Group

A study by the Customer Respect Group (CRG), to be released on November 14, 2005, has compared companies on the basis of the treatment of their customers. tmcnet.com reports:

Based on a perfect score of 10, the telecom sector was given a CRI (Customer Respect Index) rating of 6.7 for the third quarter. This is down from 6.9 in the second quarter. The telecom industry has now lost its top-industry rating to Retail, which scored 7.0.

Read More: Do Telecom Firms Respect Customers?

Belkin Corporation

Belkin Corporation is offering a full refund to customers who are not satisfied with the throughput rate offered by the Belkin Wireless A+G networking products. The refund is being offered as a part of a nationwide program undertaken to assure users of the quality of the Dual-Band Wireless A+G networking products. tmcnet.com reports:

In an effort to provide Belkin customers a clear expectation of actual speeds and coverage, new packaging for these products will explicitly note that actual throughput rates obtained by consumers will be lower than the stated industry standard depending on network conditions and environmental factors such as volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead.

Read More: Belkin Offers Money-Back Guarantee

SBC Communications Inc

During the course of a two-month field trial, SBC Communications Inc, successfully delivered IPTV, VOD, etc to residences in San Antonio. The objective of the exercise was to test the IP-video network technology under real-life conditions. iapplianceweb.com reports:

Project Lightspeed is the SBC initiative to expand its fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods to deliver SBC U-verse(SM) TV, voice and high-speed Internet access services.

Read More: SBC tests IPTV, high speed Internet services

Covad Communications

Covad Communications Group Inc. has been selected by INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine as the best Hosted VoIP Provider, Best SMB Provider, and Top 100 VoIP Provider at the INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference and Expo Fall at Los Angeles 2005. tmcnet.com reports:

Covad was distinguished with three separate awards for its continued excellence in business-class VoIP.

Read More: Covad Communications Recognized with Multiple Excellence Awards

EarthLink

EarthLink will be deploying the media server, application server, and unified messaging products developed by IP Unity for its trueVoice and Line Powered Voice. The collaboration will enable EarthLink to provide further value-added services like audio, video, video mail, etc. voipplanet.com reports:

The Mereon 6000 Media Server enables EarthLink to scale its activities to twice its present capabilities. The beta version of EarthLink’s free soft client Vling was released in June; this was followed by the release of the ATA-based trueVoice in October. Line Powered Voice, which is slated for release in December, will ease the switch to a VoIP environment. Line Powered Voice will allow the user to interface with the existing phone instrument and at the same time enjoy the benefits offered by VoIP. Since the service draws its power from a line, it remains functional even during a power outage.

Read More: EarthLink and IP Unity Enable VoIP

NetSuite Inc.

NetSuite Inc. and Five9 Inc have launched Click-to-Call, which is an on demand application service. NetSuite has graduated from delivering web-based accounting services to SMBs to providing integrated enterprise business application services such as CRM and ERP. Their clients do not have to invest in the installing and maintaining the equipment.

Five9 provides support for outgoing telemarketing operations and incoming call center operations. Their clients are not required to spend on switches and servers. A PC with broadband connection is all that is required to access these services. The collaboration between the two companies is aimed at enabling companies to avail a seamlessly integrated low-cost business application.

Click-to-call is compatible with all phones and does not require USB headsets. VoIP users have their calls routed through the Five9 servers that initiate a PSTN call with the recipient. Clicking on an online number results in the phones ringing at two ends, the caller’s as well as the receiver’s. This means that the caller is actually paying for two calls. This is not the case if USB headsets are used. voipplanet.com reports:

"Traditional IT people think of telephony for CRM applications, but it's valuable even for back-office activities. For example customers that are doing collection calls—you know the finance department typically handles those—but they have a need to be able to quickly run through a call list and just dial through," Pieris pointed out.

Read More: Partnership Voice-Enables On-Demand Business Apps

On Demand Service

The high costs involved in setting up a call center are resulting in a switchover to hosted alternatives. This implies that the hardware, software, maintenance etc that is required for running the VoIP, ACD, call recording services is managed by a third party. tmcnet.com reports:

Of course, such changes won't happen overnight. Only the very brave will abandon overnight the tradition of hosting hardware and software onsite. Rather, companies will test the waters gradually. Applications such as Workforce Management (WFM), in particular, are ideal for the on demand model.

Read More: Customers Are Demanding On Demand

VoIP services in North America

The latest VoIP services report by Infonetics Research states that revenues from VoIP services in North America will grow from $ 1.24 billion to $ 23.4 billion in the period 2004-2009. Subscriber share of the incumbent telcos will increase as they start providing triple-play services and improved broadband access. voip-news.com reports:

"VoIP subscriber growth is skyrocketing right along with revenue growth: we're forecasting triple-digit growth from 2005 to 2006, with 6 million new subscribers a year every year from 2006 to 2008, when there will be over 24 million," said Kevin Mitchell, principal analyst of Infonetics Research and author of the report.

Read More: 3 Providers Dominate VoIP Subscriber Share

TDM Centrex Vs IP Centrex

A Centrex Service implies the outsourcing a company’s internal telephony service to a third party. The service includes toll-free calls within the company, extension dialing, IVR/Auto Attendant, Voice Mail, etc. In a Centrex system, the service provider installs the equipment, dedicated to a number of customers, in its central office or at the customer premises.

In a TDM network, several PSTN lines are grouped together to provide toll-free calls within the company and some basic value-added services. The service provider used PSTN Class 5 switches that allowed scalability without any major investments. However, the TDM Centrex model was not very attractive financially for the companies, more so due to the arrival of entry-level PBXs that provided more features. The flexibility offered by PBXs in terms of changing phone numbers and adding subscriber features is appreciated by industry, particularly, the SMBs.

The IP Centrex Model can be implemented in different ways and is not location dependent. The IP-PBX and the phones can be located anywhere on the network. The service can be managed remotely by the provider regardless of whether the IP-PBX is located at the customer site or the provider site.

The fundamental reason behind opting for a Centrex model is to save on the operating costs associated with owning a telephone network. TDM-based Centrex solutions were implemented over the old TDM switches and hence provided the same telephony features as were provided to the Class 5 subscribers. In contrast, the IP Centrex PBX provides features available in enterprise IP-PBXs. The TDM-based PSTN switches did not originally support partitioning which made the execution of simple tasks such as billing and security difficult for the service providers. The IP Centrex solutions are developed to facilitate partitioning and easy management of multiple customers with multi-tenant implementations.

IP-based Centrex models use centrally based application servers that are scalable and hence more suited for providing a host of value added services. As against this, in a TDM network the servers have to be installed locally, the time-to-market was high and CTI support was not easy to implement.

In a TDM Centrex environment, moving a single user from one place to another can cost a company upward of $ 100. Changes cannot be performed by the organization and adds usually mean investing in additional PSTN lines. Moves, adds, and changes (MACs) are easier to accomplish in an IP Centrex model with negligible investment of time and money. Phones can be added by the users themselves by means of a web interface.

Customers of a TDM-based Centrex have to outsource the maintenance to the service provider. A difficult to use DTMF interface is used by customers who wish to alter configurations. In an IP Centrex solution, the management and monitoring activities are shared between the service provider and the end-user by means of an easy to use web-based GUI. Unlike TDM-based Centrex solutions that could only be provided by the Telco, an IP Centrex can be provided by a Telco, an ISP, or an MSO.

Bandwidth.com

Bandwidth.com has launched a new tool that will allow SMBs to test their organization’s readiness for VoIP. The test checks availability of ports, bandwidth, and the extent of latency. These three elements significantly influence the ability of a network to handle both voice and data.

The launch of the new tool coincides with the release of a report by Savatar. According to the report, SMBs that are keen on VoIP implementation do not get adequate information and support from the major VoIP providers.

The major service providers are waking up to the potential SMB market. Microsoft is partnering Qwest and Vonage has teamed up with TowerStream to make their services available to SMBs that are more than 1.5 million in number.

SMBs in every state in the US can avail Bandwidth’s services as the company has extensive collaboration with wholesalers such as AT&T and Level 3. The company is set to spend $ 4.75 million on improving its service to the SMBs.

trueVoice

EarthLink has launched trueVoice, which is a successor to EarthLink Unlimited Voice. Unlike EarthLink Unlimited Voice, which used technology borrowed from Vonage, trueVoice runs on a network that has been built entirely by EarthLink.

trueVoice is available with unlimited local and long-distance calls at $ 24.95 per month and as trueVoice Basic, which is a package of 500 minutes at $ 14.95 per month. Both offers provide 911 service and are free for the first month. EarthLink has around 1.5 million broadband customers, which it is well-positioned to tap for its new offering.

Voicemail and three-way calling are some of the standard features included with trueVoice. Enhanced call forwarding can be purchased for $ 4.95 per month. This feature enables the user to forward a call to up to five numbers. Call-blocking is a new function that allows the users to block up to ten calls.

The trueVoice startup kit includes a free analog terminal adaptor that is required for the compatibility of non-IP phones with the VoIP service. trueVoice customers are provided with an address book that is kept on the Webmail servers. The contact details stored in the address book are automatically integrated with the voice service.

Selecting a service provider

The first step to selecting the right service provider is to issue a Request for Information (RFI). This is followed by raising a matrix RFP. networkworld.com reports:

One of the ironies of the rapid pace of technical change is that companies often know more about how new technologies can meet their needs than the service providers offering them.

Read More: Hints for selecting your service providers

N-able

Managed-service providers can now use the VoIP service manager launched by N-able Technologies Inc., which is based in Ottawa, Canada. channelinsider.com reports:

N-able is adding the service as another module in its N-central managed services platform, which service providers use to take over IT functions for their end-user customers.

Read More: N-Able Adds VoIP to Remote Services

Hosted VoIP and enterprise-level service

Increasingly, companies are finding out that the services provided by their vendors are not enterprise-strength. There are around 400 VoIP service providers in the US but very few provide facilities to handle the call volumes of a company and services such as IP PBX support, broadband VoIP, etc.

Companies such as Qwest are taking into consideration the customer’s requirements and in October 2004, Qwest introduced IP Centrex Prime, which is an IP Centrex service for companies that have their offices distributed over several locations. Qwest also provides another service known as OneFlex, which enables small and medium businesses use VoIP phones for conference calls and managing functions on their own.

Similarly, the PremierSERV Hosted IP Communication Service provided by SBC Communications is aimed at enabling SMBs to customize the features as per their needs, this includes find me/follow me capabilities. Users can access calls over IP networks and PSTN. SMBs are obtaining their VoIP services from CLECs and regional providers.

The disadvantage with hosted VoIP providers is that they are dependent on the telephone loops and if these are down then the VoIP service is affected. The number of VoIP providers has increased due the low entry barriers in this trade. The level of service offered by the providers is affected by the quality of the instruments provided by the vendors.

According to Infonetics Research Inc., the growth in demand for voice application servers, soft switches, etc indicates that the providers are purchasing the type of equipment that will help them to provide better service. Covad provides services such as virtual PBX, call logs, visual voice mails, etc; SBC provides services such as hosted IP communication, unified messaging, plug and play, etc; Qwest provides services such as caller ID, call waiting, online dashboard, etc.

Inmarsat Regional Broadband Global Area Network

Satellite Communication (SatComm) and HowzitOnline.com are two South African companies that have come together to offer a VoIP over satellite product. The device weighs around 1.7 kg and costs around $ 500. The device uses the Inmarsat Regional Broadband Global Area Network (R-BGAN) to make and receive phone calls. R-BGAN offers speeds of up to 144 kbps, which is faster than that offered by terrestrial GPRS. The R-BGAN service covers large parts of Asia, Africa, and Australia. VoIP calls through this service to the US and the UK can be made for less than 5 cents per minute. The BGAN service, which will be launched by the end of the year, is expected to bring down the cost of communication from remote destinations.

A single phone number

VoIP has the potential to leverage the advantages of IP telephony and give people the advantage of a single telephone number. The advantage is of ease of communication, hopefully in a more cost-effective manner. The advent of web-based telephony has made it easier to configure features like simultaneous ringing. VoIP has the advantage of delivering voice regardless of the platform. With VoIP working on IP as the transport medium, it may not even be necessary to have a single number. Different numbers can be configured to respond simultaneously.

The downside to this may be arriving at a tariff that keeps the customer in mind and also does not hurt the service providers. Moreover, not everyone is going to be keen about the idea of getting tracked by a single number. People often prefer to keep their professional and private lives separate. Thus, the idea may receive different reactions from corporates who will probably be enthusiastic about it and from individuals who may view it with some trepidation. This will decide the acceptance of this concept in the mass market.

VoIP Service for the Katrina affected

Katrina devastated cities in America got back their voice with PingTone VoIP service provided by Proactive Communications. After the violent hurricane destroyed most telephone and data lines, high quality communication was set up by Proactive with ground based satellite systems using Pingtones VoIP phone service. In spite of lack of power, buildings and transmission lines, deserted family members and aid workers were able to keep in touch with the rest of the world using the service.

Proactive has been providing communication infrastructure to far flung and difficult regions of the world like in Iran and Afghanistan. The portable satellite terminals used are very convenient to carry and can be set up at any place.

The PingTone VoIP service that Proactive uses gives amazing voice clarity and other features. The use of phones by Cisco Systems adds further to its quality. This is the first time that such a service has been used as a part of  disaster relief. The results have been very good and encouraging for everyone concerned.home.businesswire.com reports:

Proactive personnel are able to setup portable satellite terminals just about anywhere local, state or federal first responders need them to: tents, a warehouse or even the back of a truck. These "data networks in a box" give workers and residents immediate phone service, email and Web access."

Read more:Katrina First Responders Deploy Satellite VoIP Services from Proactive Communications

First amendment Communications launched free VoIP services

First Amendment communications has decided to expand its business by launching free VoIP services in the market. Its innovative trial offer will be available to 100 members. The users will get a short ad at the beginning of the calls they initiate. After listening the ad, they will be able to use free VoIP service. It will allow them to call anywhere in the US and Canada.

Those interested in availing this service will need to have their own broadband connection. First Amendment Communications will provide the customers VoIP service and adapter. The new service is seen as a revolutionary step towards expanding VoIP beyond the boundaries. prweb.com reports:

Once the trials are complete customers may choose to port their own existing number. When the full service is launched First Amendment plans to offer the option to pay for International calls at very aggressive pricing as an add-on product.

Read More: First Amendment Communications Announces Free Voice Over IP (VoIP) Services

VoIP has taken a giant leap with PC-to-Phone Service

Internet Telephony service has reached a significant phase. More and more companies are offering VoIP technology to their subscribers. The major companies who have taken the initiative of bringing a revolution in the wireless market are Vonage, Skype, Google, Microsoft and i2Telecom. They offer cheap long-distance calls and advanced features to their subscribers at the same time. This was made possible with the arrival of VoIP technology.

PC-to-Phone service is a extended feature of VoIP. Using this service, users can make and receive calls from regular phones on their PCs provided they have a broadband connection. PC-to-Phone VoIP calls are less expensive than the conventional phone calls. startribune.com reports:

One advantage of such services is the ability to make calls through an Internet-connected laptop when cellular service is unreliable. Many people also prefer the convenience of talking while working on a PC; the services can operate while you are doing other tasks on the computer.

Read More: VoIP goes step further with PC-to-phone service

Damovo and N.E.T. joined hands to launch VoIP environment in Brazil

Damovo, a global communications solutions and service provider joined hands with Network Equipment Technologies (N.E.T.) to announce SHOUT VoIP Migration Appliance (VMA) in Brazil. The solutions offered by the SHOUT VMA enable companies to migrate their networks to VoIP environments. For over 12 years Damovo and N.E.T. worked together to provided services in different sectors like Finance, Energy and others. Their partnership is now set to conquer VoIP market.

The SHOUT VMA will allow the enterprises to change their legacy communications systems to a converged IP solution. It will also enable the Call Centres to adopt the new generation VoIP applications. SHOUT is capable in operating in a multi-vendor networking environment. Damovo and N.E.T. are also planning to expand their new VoIP application to the Government and Defence establishments in the country. businesswire.com reports:

SHOUT's multi-vendor, multi-protocol support, combined with its ability to support open standards such as SIP enables enterprises to reduce implementation and capital costs when integrating their existing networks with VoIP technologies. In addition, SHOUT also provides advanced voice encryption features for secure communications, a requirement in some vertical segments.

Read More: Damovo and N.E.T. Launch Platform for VoIP Environment

Wi-Fi VoIP will not make the Telephone Operators redundant; it will enhance the Technology

There is a suspicion all over that VoIP will mark the beginning of the end of telephone operators. But British Telecom (BT) tried to dismiss such fears as unfounded. Though the VoIP is entering into the Cellular market as an alternative to 3G, it is too early to write off the fixed-line operators. VoIP is not a disruptive option. In fact, if we ignore VoIP completely and stay with traditional PSTN, it will not be conducive to the growth of telephony.

BT is now building a VoIP network to offer broadband connections. Instead of charging per minute, it will charge the users on a monthly basis. Some VoIP over Wi-Fi calls will be free of charge to the users. ferret.com reports:

BT has 7,500 Wi-Fi hot-spots in the UK, which will be used as a complementary service to 3G telephony. Dual mode handsets, expected to become available either next year or in 2007, will be able to switch between GSM and Wi-Fi.

Read More: Wi-Fi VoIP will not spell end for operators, BT says

VoIP in Indonesia

Indonesia is all set to embrace VoIP in its wireless market. MOBIF Bhd, a maker of Internet-based systems, has signed up a deal with a distributor in Indonesia, Jogja Medianet that is into sales and purchases of surveillance and telephony products. Jogja Medianet is planning to buy MOBIF's Internet surveillance systems and both the broadband and dial-up VoIP boxes. According to CEO of MOBIF, Indonesia is a big market as many of its citizens working or studying abroad. Thus, VoIP can prove to be a helpful tool to attract more consumers.

The biggest benefit of VoIP is it's cost-saving factor. It can save a lot of money for the consumers and at the same time provide a high quality of communication mode. Mobif's technology allows the calls to be made with fixed-line or mobile phones, by using a VoIP box connected to the Internet. nst.com reports:

The founder of Jogja Medianet, Dani Sudrajat, said his targeted markets for Mobif’s products are educational institutions and the Indonesian Government in Jogjakarta and West Java. Parents can monitor their children in schools using the surveillance systems or make cheaper calls to their children studying abroad through VoIP, he said.

Read More: Mobif confident of mart potential in Indonesia

VoIP is set to conquer the Cellular Market

The growth of public Wi-Fi, Instant Messaging and new enhanced cellular handsets has paved the way for the entrance of VoIP into 3G cellular world. Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messengers have dominated the IM services on the PCs and handsets for a long time. However, with the VoIP gaining momentum they are lagging behind VoIP providers like Skype Technologies in providing excellent features of talks. Recently Skype announced a deal with Handset Manufacturer Motorola to provide its VoIP features on certain Motorola 3G handsets. However, Motorola has not confirmed when it is going to launch the phones featuring Skype client.

The deal between Motorola and Skype has put significant pressure on their rivals to adopt VoIP phone service. Yahoo and MSN have been slower in developing VoIP as their IM clients for mobile phones do not have VoIP service. To bolster its VoIP service, Yahoo recently acquired Dialpad communications Inc. neasia.nikkeibp.com reports:

It's clear that Yahoo is pursuing the international VoIP telephone audience that Skype, with more than 43 million users globally, has come to dominate. The larger question is if, or when, Yahoo will be able to roll-out a VoIP client in mobile phones operating on the cellular network of the largest cellular carrier in the US, Verizon Wireless.

Read More: VoIP Gains Traction in Cellular Market

Service providers, consider these facts before starting a VoIP service

The target markets for VoIP service providers include residentials, SOHO, SMB, and enterprises. Each of these markets has distinct requirements that a service provider can try to address in order to acquire long-term customers. Residentials look for cheaper local / long distance calls and PC / mobile integration. SOHOs require service assurance and PC / mobile integration. SMBs need corporate features at reduced expenses. Enterprises want consistency of service across their offices and the flexibility to outsource their network management. In the US, 50 million homes and up to 55% of the adult population has access to broadband Internet, almost all the SMBs have high-speed Internet connectivity, and VoIP line shipments to the businesses are as high as TDM line shipments . These factors indicate a rapid acceptance of VoIP and underscore the need to select the target market segment intelligently. For service providers, capital and operating costs are major factors in deciding whether to build or buy the VoIP solutions. A managed solution does not offer a great deal of network control and options in product packaging; however, it does enable quicker deployment of systems that have been proven. IP PBXs have several drawbacks that VoIP service providers can capitalize on. IP PBXs are fast becoming technologically obsolete and sometimes require periodic hardware upgrades, the user interface is not very convenient and requires at least a fortnight's training, IP PBXs cannot interface smoothly with equipment from other vendors. Selecting the right distribution channel for VoIP can be a trifle tricky as indirect channels need to learn more about this new service and direct distribution is not a very cost-effective solution. By offering a cost saving in the range of 10% - 30%, service providers can hope to make inroads into the TDM market, in fact SMBs have evinced a strong interest in VoIP upon being offered cost savings of 15%. A service provider should try and leverage the expertise of the network and software vendors that he may work with. They should back their service with dependable SLAs and assist in testing and providing media gateways, customer premise equipment (CPE), etc so that the service provider is up to date with the latest applications available in the market. Before graduating from the pilot stage and going live, a service provider needs to ensure redundancy of the production systems; media servers, network connectivity and other supporting equipment should be tested; User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and troubleshooting procedures should be in place. Since VoIP is unlike a traditional data service and it is different from a conventional voice service, it has its own peculiar engineering issues such as Local Number Portability (LNP); 911, e911, and 800 services; corporate CLEC procedures; call flows; etc. These can be tackled with the expertise available in-house or by partnering vendors.

Katrina has created a debate: the need of VoIP technology during disasters

Technologies such as VoIP can be a major helpful tool during the natural calamities and disasters. The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina proved this. In the wake of Katrina, the focus has been shifted to the need of a better technology for data-recovery procedures and backup systems. One area that is most likely to receive more attention aftermath Katrina is VoIP.

IP phones may be able to prove as a cost-saving factor for the customers during such catastrophes. Risk of communication disruptions is very low in case of IP phones. Using the VoIP system, data and information can be accessed anytime anywhere which is not possible in other normal mode of communications in the situations like Katrina. It will work even if some of the services on the network are not available. informationweek.com reports:

Finally, the whole concept of distributed data centers that can automatically pick up workloads from each other should drive a lot more interest as we develop the next generation of automated server provisioning tools. These tools allow for the configuration and provisioning of a server in a matter of minutes, rather than the days it might take to do the same thing manually.

Read More: Opinion: Katrina Sharpens Focus On Emerging Business-Continuity Technologies

Cost savings with broadband service provider MASERGY

Dallas based Masergy communications offers its customers a feature-laden service at a cost that is approximately 30% lower than its competitors. It offers the following features - virtual private LAN service that is compatible with any access technology that the customer may be using, a secure and guaranteed bandwidth, video conferencing at 30 fps and zero "tiling", IP voice VPN capability, a private IP VPN having security that is equivalent to that provided by a Layer 2 service, and the facility of combining public and private networks on to a single circuit. Masergy uses Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) to regulate the flow of data packets across it global Ethernet WAN service. The company provides network reporting and management tools that are accessible through a web server.

Americable decided to offer VoIP service to the US personnel in Japanese bases

In a significant development, computer users with a broadband connection at Japanese bases, soon will be able to make and receive international calls by paying a nominal monthly rental. They will be able to make and receive calls to the USA and Canada. Americable Japan has decided to offer VoIP service to its customers in Japan bases. VoIP service provider Domatic will activate this service. It will arrange automatic monthly billing. Americable will offer the service to the Americans staying at Naval Air Facility Astugi, Sasebo Naval Base, Yokota Air Base and Yokosuka Naval Base. This service is scheduled to be started in the first week of September.

At the time of registration, an activation fee of $99 is required, which also includes a VoIP device. A monthly fee of $29.99 covers unlimited calls to the United States and Canada. estripes.com reports:

The VoIP devices send a digitized voice signal via the Internet to a data center in the United States, said John McCorts, Americable’s Sasebo site manager. Domatic then routes calls to any phone number in the United States or Canada, he said.

Read More: VoIP long distance to be offered at Japan bases

Y-Tel announced to offer VoIP rate International calls from Cell Phones

Y-Tel International Inc. has announced that it will offer international calls at VoIP rates for its cell phone subscribers. This move is seen as a welcome step to bolster the VoIP market. Cell phone users always pay a premium while calling to international numbers. No using Y-Tel's CellNet product, they will be able to make the international calls by paying much less. It will be a cost-saving factor for them and also they will get better infrastructure such as VoIp, which will improve the quality of the calls.

CellNet will offer its customer a unique customer authentication number. This will provide them access to Y-Tel's VoIP network. After installing the CellNet product, the customers will be able to dial a Y-Tel 800 number, which will allow them access through Y-Tel's VoIP network. americasnetwork.com reports:

Once connected, the customer will be able to make international phone calls from their cell phone for 20 cents above VoIP rates. It's like having a mobile Wi-Fi phone that works worldwide, even while traveling in a car.

Read More: Y-Tel Offers VoIP Rates From Cell Phones

VoIP week review, Google, Skype and Vonage taking major steps to strengthen VoIP Market

VoIP has taken a giant leap forward in the past week. With Google announcing Google Talk and Skype opening up its platform for the online VoIP users, VoIP market is on the rise. Another VoIP carrier, Vonage has reportedly filed for an Initial Public Offering (IPO). According to TheDeal.com report, Vonage's move will help the company to generate a revenue of $600 million.

Google launched an Instant Messenger (IM) service called Google Talk. Google Talk will require the VoIP feature as mode of communication between the users. Google's announcement encouraged Skype to enter the VoIP market by integrating its Application Programming Interface (API) with the IM platform. The unique feature of this move is that Skype is offering this service in 27 languages. tmcnet.com reports:

This is what TMCnet's own Rich Tehrani had to say about Vonage's reported IPO filing: Vonage IPO would be a huge deal in the VoIP market. It is huge because Vonage will be a barometer for the entire VoIP industry and more importantly its success or failure will be amplified a thousands times due to its influence on the companies in this space and the capital markets reaction (or over-reaction) to whatever develops.

Read More: VoIP Week in Review From TMCnet: IPO's and Open Standards Galore

FCC extended the deadline for VoIP Providers

In a significant move, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has extended the deadline for the VoIP providers. Now they will get another 30 days' time to receive the acknowledgements from their customers about the limitation of E911 service. According to FCC reports, about 1.5 million customers of VoIP have received the notifications and made the acknowledgements. But according to industry estimates, more than 100,000 residential VoIP subscribers are yet to respond to the notifications and they need more time. The FCC deadline has now extended till September 28, 2005.

the FCC deadline has created a furore in the VoIP industry, as a sizable number of the customers were not aware of the latest developments. Several companies have earlier requested the FCC to extend the deadline for 90 days. The Florida Public Service Commission also urged the FCC to extend or abandon the disconnection threat. news.zdnet.com reports:

This is great news, said Jeff Kagan, a telecommunications industry analyst. But better would be to find another solution and within the 30 days. While we do need to address the E911 issues, and while users need to understand the problems, cutting off their phone service is no longer an option.

Read More: FCC extends E911 deadline for VoIP users

Google Introduces IM and VoIP services with Google Talk

Google, Internet's most popular search engine, entered into competition with networks like AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo with the introduction of its new product 'Google Talk' on 24th August, 2005 offering instant messaging with VoIP capabilities.

The new product is proprietary and is available only to users with a Gmail account. It's lack of interoperability with other networks makes it less attractive though the company is looking for a federation with other willing service providers. Another drawback of the service is it is still in beta, signing up individuals by invitation alone (other than the US, where one can sign up after authenticating via a SMS text) whereas other large players have adopted the more versatile Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

Google Talk uses an open protocol called XMPP that allows its users to chat up with users of Apple's iChat, Trillian and other third party messaging clients. The VoIP service is good in quality and simple to use but it supports very few third party clients being compatible only with US Internet provider Earthlink and SIPphone. The software runs only on Windows at present, though the company does plan to include both OS X and Linux users in the near future.

According to industry experts, Google may give tough competition to its rivals not only because of an effective integration of its services but also because of it's ability to make its products very user friendly.vnunet.com reports:

"The lack of interoperability is a result of other providers sticking to closed networks. We plan to partner with other willing service providers to enable federation of our services," Google stated.

Read more:Google rings changes with chat and VoIP clients

Nuvio Files Lawsuit Against FCC Emergency Services Requirement

VoIP provides great convenience to people on the move. However, the same mobile aspect of the technology makes it very difficult for the service providers to provide an emergency calling service to their users. In contrast to traditional wired phones, where the fixed status of the instrument helps in tracing the caller of the emergency number, net telephony users could be located anywhere at the time of their calling 911 from their VoIP phones.

The Federal Communications Commission ( FCC) has directed Internet phone service providers to provide emergency call facility to its users by 28th November, 2005. In view of this technology-based limitation, Nuvio, a company that provides Internet phone services for businesses, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, challenging the FCC directive. Cellular companies providing wireless services also face the same problem and FCC has given them a waiver till the time they find a solution to their problem. FCC has not shown any opposition to Nuvio's request for a review of the situation. Nuvio, is hoping for an expeditious settlement of its case by the judiciary so that it can decide on how it can fulfill FCC's directive. technewsworld.com reports:

In a filing with the Appeals Court, the FCC said it is trying to balance the needs of public safety with the limitations of VoIP technology. The agency said it doesn't approve Nuvio's request for an expedited judicial review so that the court can rule on the merits of the case before the Nov.28 deadline.

Read More: VoIP Provider Files Suit, Seeks Clarity from FCC

How to Never Pay a Hotel Phone Bill Again

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol for establishing sessions in an IP network. But if you are like most of us, that means nothing to you. In layman's terms, SIP is a method by which various computers can talk to one another so that they can complete voice calls. The protocol is increasingly being adopted as the standard means by which computers communicate to facilitate VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol. So you can imagine SIP as a common language for new generation operators to speak to connect calls. However, there are no operators there is only your computer (or other hardware) and that of the person you are speaking with. That brings this introduction to some of the many benefits of SIP communication.

The goal of SIP was to provide users with many of the functions and features they typically expect with making phone calls, such as familiar rings, hearing the ring back tone when a call is placed, and the process of dialing a number. SIP goes beyond this however, also implementing a number of advanced features. Despite its’ convenient interface that mirrors that of a typical telephone call, SIP is based on an internet protocol rather than that of the telephone industry. Because of this, SIP is able to work seamlessly alongside other internet based protocols. This has allowed the technology to uniquely establish a user location, meaning that you can tell the IP address or "location" from which a person is making a call, something vital for offering emergency services. It also allows for coordination amongst the various participants in deciding upon what call features will be supported, as well as providing the protocol for call management which allows for adding, dropping, or transferring call participants.

One of the most exceptional benefits of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is its application with Private Branch Exchange (PBX). A private branch exchange is a private telephone network used within an enterprise in which users share a certain number of outside lines for external telephone calls. This provides a significant cost savings to the company because it allows companies to quickly and easily make calls within their institution, as well as save by limiting the number of external phone lines that must be maintained. SIP can extend these cost savings dramatically by offering users free long distance calls worldwide. Once again, because SIP is internet based rather than running over traditional telephone lines, the cost of call transmission are as cheap as say sending an e-mail, that is to say, Free! While PBX is already an efficient use of office resources incorporating SIP into a PBX means taking such savings and capabilities to a new level. Incorporating SIP gives users’ access to free interoffice communications, long distance calls, as well as huge savings in setup and transaction costs. These transaction cost savings are due to the fact that SIP is based on internet protocol allowing for the ability to physically move phones without any need for rewiring or new setup costs. Because that the system is peer-to-peer rather than cog and wheel like hardwired telephony means that there is no complicated setup necessary, but rather users can simply plug the phone into any available broadband connection and without the need for any complicated hardware or software, calls are ready to be made and received.

This brings us to what is potentially the greatest savings that SIP provides. We all hate to have to pay $2.00 for making a simple local call from a hotel room. But for those of us that have had to pay exorbitant long-distance charges from hotels, the level of angst felt reaches new heights. Add to this the fact that often companies require conference calling for their employees, a service that hotels are all too happy to charge a high premium to provide. For companies that have a lot of their employees traveling or practicing in various locales, the overhead costs of making such calls can really put a damper on year end profits. SIP offers a solution to hotel bills, and for that matter all telephone bills whatsoever. Just as sending an e-mail is free whether you are sending that e-mail to a person across the street or around the world, so making a call using SIP from any locale to any other locale in the world is free. All that is needed is a broadband connection. And just as one can send an email from wherever the internet can be accessed, SIP users can make their free calls from the office, the home, or even (gasp) the hotel room. Not to mention the huge savings in regular long-distance charges, the simple fact that long distance and local calls can be made for free from hotel rooms (most of which offer complimentary broadband service) is an enormous long-term cost savings. But add to this the fact that conference calls are available at no additional cost, which can be explained by following the principle that sending an e-mail to many individuals at the same time is just as cheap as one to one communication. Altogether these savings mean that companies who have in the past been laden with high local and long distance phone bills will be able to have their employees keep in close communication no matter their location for free.

SIP goes beyond this, however. Because SIP uses peer-to peer connections there are no extra costs for having hundreds or even thousands of employees making SIP calls whereas the management costs for such a system under traditional telephony would be astronomical. This is never the case with PBXs that utilize SIP in a peer to peer connection format, however, where structural costs do not increase as your business grows and your usage of the PBX increases.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) offers customers of traditional telephony fantastic cost savings, the flexibility to make free calls from anywhere in the world at any time, and the ability to expand a PBX system with no setup costs. Because there is no complicated hardware or software necessary to setup SIP in a PBX, implementing the technology is as simple as having access via broadband to the internet. Due to these benefits as well as innumerable others, expanded use of SIP in PBX and in a variety of other settings is simply a matter of expanded customer exposure to the possibilities of SIP.

Jim Sherman writes about interesting topics such as Mobalex technology.

Telephone Carrier Starts VoIPing

It appears as though the telephone companies are starting to catch on with their VoIP competitors.  It has just been recently announced that Texas Livingston Telephone is going to start offering VoIP services to their customers and bypass third-party providers.  They choose this route so they could continue to service those who wished to upgrade to VoIP connectivity.  If they had gone with third party vendors, there customer base could have been compromised and decline in profit.  Before they could make this transition however, LivTel has been upgrading their networks in order to support video feeds and until recently, voice. I guess if you can't beat em', join em'.  According to PR NewsWire:

"We could have turned on VoIP over a year ago," says Walzel, "when we installed our IP Video network. But we were very reluctant to just hand our customer list over to a third-party VoIP provider. We've worked 100 years to build relationships with those customers.

Read more at: LivTel Offers Its Own VoIP

More Bang For Your Buck

TV, VoIP, Broadband, and Wireless phones for 149 dollars a month.  Ladies and gentlemen, what more do I have to say.  A recent study just unveiled that 31 percent of people were willing to switch from their current providers to sign on for a "Quadruple play" system.  While this doesn't seem like a large percentage, that’s still an estimated 80 millions households.  This then totals to 11,920,000,000 roughly.  Market potential?  You tell me.  Unfortunately, trying to sell the thing may be more difficult than making money off of it.  According to Information Week:

"The challenge is when the sales reps try to explain to Joe Consumer that he needs high-speed Internet access to get 'digital phone'," Lynne Bartos, a senior vice president for the research firm, said in a statement.

Read more: Study: Users Want Wireless Bundled With Access, VoIP, TV

VoIP Found A New Friend

Corporate search giant Yahoo! just announced that it is going to be launching a beta version of their messenger shortly with added features.  They include the ability to synchronize address books, feed typed conversations directly onto webblogs, and will also have VoIP connectivity. It is their first try at the voice technology, and many believe that due to AOL's recent push into the market, Yahoo! was hard pressed to follow suit. According to CoolTechZone.com:

Yahoo’s executives claimed that the company is trying to remove roadblocks that may hinder communication in one way or another. As an example, Yahoo has introduced an address book, which will keep track of contact information amongst Yahoo users. The users will be able to synchronize their address books with others online.

Read more: Yahoo to add VoIP to Instant Messenger

Size At The Expense Of Quality

While the VoIP industry may be growing at an unimaginable rate world wide, ISPs are beginning to feel the weight of live feeding packets.  Sandvine Inc., a UK based company, began doing a survey on the amount of data streaming from ISP sites in light of VoIP’s growth.  From their study, they have identified nearly 1,100 VoIP providers.  There are fears that some ISPs will not be able to handle the steady increase in network usage due to VoIP users and the network will fail.  Because of this, it is recommended that ISPs structure themselves so that the quality of their services is not put in jeopardy and segment their networks to handle voice better.  According to Networking Pipeline:

"ISPs can enhance the broadband experience by prioritizing or reserving bandwidth for latency-sensitive and interactive applications like VoIP," said Sandvine's managing director Chris Colman in a statement Wednesday.

Read more at: Rapid VoIP Growth Threatens Quality Of Service

911 Trial In NYC

Earlier today Verizon announced that it would be allowing Vonage access to its 911 telephone network in the New York City area.  In this change of pace from their earlier stance on VoIP providers, the Baby Bell Company is planning on testing how well the partnership goes before implementing it further.  The major difficulty faced by VoIP is that because the calls can be made from anywhere in the world, it is extremely hard to determine the caller's number and location.  In order to counteract this, 911 must first be routed to routing centers fist so that they can be transfer to the right emergency center for their area.  According to ZdNet:

"We're going to monitor this, work out all the kinks; and if it does prove successful, we'll expand it to other places," Marchand said. "We have no timetable right now for when we'll expand beyond New York City."

Read more at: Biggest Bell to hand 911 access to VoIP operators

VoIP Calls Searchable with HotRecorder

United Virtualities introduced a new computer program on Monday that will give users the ability to record and search voice over IP conversations. The name of the software is HotRecorder and it will work with calls placed with Skype, AIM, Net2Phone, Yahoo Messenger, and Firefly. The free version of the software contains adware, but an ad-free version is available for $15. According to CNET News.com:

"All these VoIP products are getting more mainstream, and they need services to help them be more interesting," said Mookie Tenembaum, founder and CEO of United Virtualities.

Read more: Software lets people search VoIP chitchat | CNET News.com.

GoIP: Google VoIP?

Within 24 hours of AOL's announcement that they would begin to offer VoIP service in the next month, rumors began circulating that Google executives were meeting with several Net telephone service providers behind closed doors at the VON 2005 Conference. David Berlind paints a scene of the future of VoIP once ISP giants such as Google and AOL get into the mix and what effect that will have on the telcos and consumers. He calls the theoretical Google VoIP service GoIP. According to ZDNet:

Somewhere, in the not too distant future, our stationary and mobile handsets will have the colorful Google logo on them. In fact, it will be in a little exterior display and the logo will change by virtue of a Web services XML-RPC call when the logo on Google's home page changes. Wrapped into the handsets, the same way that Windows comes with technologies like MSN and a Media Player built-in (and people complain about it), will be direct access to all of Google's many online services from search to blogging to photosharing to shopping to e-mail to a music sales.

Read more: Will GoIP (Google's VoIP) make the telecos gulp?

Time Warner Offers VoIP for PBX Customers

Time Warner has launched TW Telecom One Solution, a VoIP service for its PBX customers in 21 markets and will expand to other markets later in the year. This new service will offer unlimited long-distance calls for businesses using the metro Ethernet platform. According to InformationWeek:

The first phase of VoIP-based products offered under TW Telecom One Solution are targeted at PBX customers, and include: TW Telecom One Connect, a VoIP trunking solution; TW Telecom One Reach, an IP FX virtual numbering service; and TW Telecom One Forum, a conferencing solution. In concert with this VoIP-based business strategy launch, Time Warner Telecom is offering free VoIP VPN service to all its site-to-site customers in the 44 markets it serves.

Read more: Time Warner Launches VoIP Service For PBXs

Broadwing Adds SIP to PRIorityConnect VoIP Service

Broadwing has announced that it will add session initiation protocol (SIP) support to its VoIP aggregation service, PRIorityConnect. The service currently allows enterprises to terminate VoIP calls to the PSTN. Adding SIP support will eliminate the need for voice gateways. According to Communications Convergence:

"In the past few months we've seen tremendous demand from enterprises and VoIP carriers for a native SIP interface between their networks and the Broadwing network. Broadwing PRIorityConnect SIP will provide the ideal link between Broadwing's powerful local service infrastructure and the next generation VoIP networks our customers are developing," says Mark Pugerude, senior vice president of Marketing and Business Development at Broadwing Communications.

Read more: Broadwing Adds SIP Support To Its VoIP Aggregation Service

Hughes & Net2Phone Plan Satellite VoIP

Direcway broadband satellite will soon offer their customers in Europe and the Middle East a voice over IP via satellite, through a partnership of Hughes Network Systems Europe and Net2Phone. According to TechWeb:

Net2Phone's VoIP service will be enabled through Hughes' DW6040 Voice Appliance terminals on Direcway. "Net2Phone's core competency has always been to layer voice over data networks," said Uri Schechterman, Net2Phone general manager and vice president of sales, in a statement.

Read more: Hughes, Net2Phone Plan VoIP Via Satellite In Europe And Middle East

AOL Testing VoIP Service

Softswitch deployment activity at AOL has spiked recently, lending some credibility to the rumors that AOL may be preparing to launch a residential VoIP service very soon. One source familiar with the company says that the targeted launch date is March 16. According to Light Reading:

AOL's VOIP offering, as reported earlier by Light Reading is riding across Level 3 Communications Inc.'s message board network, the same carrier that powers residential VOIP services offered by Skype Technologies SA and other companies. [...]

But VOIP gives AOL more than just a feature. It makes the service more attractive to carrier partners who need to sell something beyond a basic high-speed data connection.

Read more: AOL Marches Toward VOIP Rollout

Google VoIP Rumors Denied

The Google Job Opportunities page now includes a listing for a Strategic Negotiator, Global Infrastructure to help negotiate the "development of a global backbone network." Some have speculated that Google's intention behind such a project is to develop a VoIP network, which could nicely tie into its advertising network. Google has so far denied the rumors. But according to silicon.com:

Ovum chief analyst Julian Hewett believes that internet telephony could be another such lucrative extension to the Google business model.

"'This would be an obvious development for the world's leading search engine. Millions have downloaded the 'Google toolbar', so why not a VoIP client too? The appeal for Google is obvious: search for something, then 'click here' if you'd like to speak to the company that's selling what you're looking for. Google then collects a fee from the 'sponsor' for each voice connection. Voice calls with very little cost AND funded by advertising," he said in a research note.

Read more: Google to launch VoIP service?

Comcast to Offer VoIP Cable Phone

Cable operator Comcast plans to rollout VoIP phone service to its subscribers by the end of this year. They expect to reach 15 million homes.

According to PC World:

The company aims to sell the phone service not as a cheap alternative to traditional carriers' offerings but as richer telephony that eventually will include features such as unified messaging and video calling, Comcast Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts says.

"It's not our desire to do this to hurt phone companies... We want to build value in the phone," Roberts said at the Citigroup Smith Barney Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference in Phoenix, monitored via a Web cast.

However, he does expect voice to drive revenue at Comcast, which along with other cable operators, increasingly is coming into competition with carriers.

Read more: Comcast Calls on VoIP

AT&T, Texas Instruments VoIP Partnership

AT&T and Texas Instruments (TI) have formed a joint-development pact for the VoIP platform.

According to TechWeb.com:

In a statement, AT&T and TI said: "The combination of TI's market-leading VoIP software and silicon technology and AT&T's broadband telephony solutions will quickly enable communications equipment manufacturers to develop new equipment, such as terminal adapters and VoIP gateways, for use in managing voice services through broadband connections."

The companies added that VTech's 2.4GHz VoIP6322 telephone system is one of the initial products to be available under the auspices of the new AT&T-TI partnership. The VTech device consists of a corded base station and one cordless handset.

Read more: AT&T, TI Team On VoIP Platform

PC Phone with VoIP

In 2005, the Internet will threaten the phone industry like never before, with VoIP becoming more commonplace. Should PC users turn their computers into their phones?

According to the Globe and Mail:

Among the attractions of Internet telephone service, already in an estimated 600,000 households nationwide, are inexpensive, often unlimited local and long-distance calling plans and less red tape when compared to conventional phone service. In addition, many of the Internet phone providers have rolled out new features and options made possible by the decentralized nature of Internet technology.

The growth in new features is attributable to a jump in the number of companies providing Internet phone service (known as VoIP for voice over Internet protocol), each vying for a slice of a growing pie of new subscribers and differentiating themselves on options as well as price. Sorting through these plans may take some time, but it can pay off in the form of greater savings and more features.

Read more: Should your PC be your phone?

VocalNet Announces B-to-B VoIP Program

According to TMCnet.com:

VocalNet, Inc. announced today the continued national rollout of its “Powered by VocalNet” Partner Program which eliminates the costly infrastructure investment and time to market delay associated with VARs providing VoIP & iPBX Services to their Small to Medium sized business customers.

Participating Partners leverage VocalNet’s investment in a State of the Art QOS VoIP Infrastructure, Nationwide Carrier Independent Private Network, Proprietary Class 5 IPBX Soft Switch Technology and Redundant Data Centers.

VocalNet provides two distinct Partner Programs, The Agent Program and the Private Label Program.

Read more: VocalNet Announces National Rollout of B-to-B VoIP Partner Program

AOL Canada to Offer VoIP in Toronto

AOL Canada will begin offering VoIP services in the greater Toronto area over the next few weeks. AOL TotalTalk is a residential service that will be offered to all high-speed Internet users, regardless of whether or not they are AOL subscribers.

According to ZDNet:

AOL Canada plans to offer the service for $16.10 (19.95 Canadian dollars) during a three-month introductory phase and then to increase it to $28.20 a month. Customers will receive free unlimited subscriber-to-subscriber calling and 60 minutes of North American talk time per month.

The service will include such features as locating the VoIP subscriber at up to three locations, voice mail that can be delivered in a traditional fashion or as an e-mail and the ability to use a TotalTalk phone number anywhere that the person can access a high-speed Internet connection.

Read more: AOL Canada to spread VoIP

BT Switches to VoIP Call Center Network

BT has switched its call center network to a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) system.

According to ComputerWeekly:

Reaching the right person to solve a problem can be difficult in a large organisation such as BT, and customers can often find their call transferred several times, each transfer obliging them to explain their problem again.

BT recently promised to make it easier for customers to reach the right person, and so its call centre agents need to be able to transfer calls - and accompanying information about the customer's identity and reason for calling - to the appropriate place.

With the new system, "We can move calls around the business to support BT's 'My customer promises'," said Alf Ellis, head of BT's internal voice solutions.

Read more: BT switches its call centre network to VoIP

SBC To File TIPToP Tariff with FCC

SBC Communications is preparing to file a tariff with the FCC to introduce True IP to PTSN (TIPToP), a new VoIP service.

According to Networking Pipeline:

TIPToP service is a time division multiplexed (TDM) telecommunications service featuring switched circuit interfaces specifically designed for use by a VoIP provider to connect traffic from its IP end users to end users of the circuit-switched network.

According to SBC officials, TIPToP service is not a mandatory offering but voluntary. VoIP providers who choose not to purchase TIPToP service may use other services, "to the extent permitted by existing tariffs and prevailing law, to connect traffic from their customers to the circuit-switched network," according to SBC.

Read more: SBC To File Tariff With FCC For New VoIP Service

SBC Announces Residential VoIP Service

SBC has announced that they will launch residential VoIP service in early 2005. The service is currently being tested in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and San Antonio.

According to the press release at Business Wire:

The service will use IP technology and a DSL Internet connection to deliver not only voice calling but also other enhanced features, such as a Web-based portal and advanced call- management capabilities that make it easier for customers to manage their communications.

"When we fully launch our service early next year, consumers will be able to choose between traditional and traditional plus next- generation voice services from SBC companies," said Randall Stephenson, SBC chief operating officer. "Over time, we expect that VoIP will be a preferred voice service because of the features and benefits this technology enables."

Read more: SBC Communications Announces Launch of Residential VoIP Service; Another Step Forward in the SBC IP Transformation; Full-Scale VoIP Service Rollout Planned for Early 2005

VoIP Applications Market Share Growing

Private VoIP services such as Skype are threatening to run the traditional telephone operators out of business. A new study in Europe indicates that by 2008, about 13% of the western European voice market will be controlled by VoIP operators.

According to VNUNet:

According to the latest report from UK research firm Analysys, over 50 million broadband users in the region could be using private VoIP by 2008.

"The recent rapid take-up of one VoIP application variant peer-to-peer VoIP using free downloadable software from providers such as Skype raises the possibility of the appearance of a critical mass of private VoIP users that could unleash a significant structural change in the voice market by the removal of a large proportion of PSTN revenues," said report co-author Stephen Sale.

The report found that home users are increasingly turning to VoIP for longer calls to friends and family, the core telephony business of fixed-line incumbents.

Read more: VoIP rings death knell for traditional telephony

Lingo, D-Link Partnership Offers VoIP to Business, Consumers

Primus Telecommunications Inc.'s Lingo has joined with D-Link to offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service to businesses and consumers.

According to TMCnet:

Available at Fry's Electronics initially, and rolling out to other major retailers nationwide, the new Lingo VoIP telephone service is bundled with the new D-Link Broadband Phone Service VoIP Router (DVG-1402S/L), providing both a high-quality Broadband VoIP telephone adapter as well as fully functioning home router and firewall.

Introduced back in June of this year, Lingo is a VoIP service that offers unmatched value and geographic coverage. Leveraging Primus' global presence, and a VoIP network that reaches over 150 countries, the new Lingo service offers consumers unlimited calling in the U.S., to Canada, and to Western Europe for only $19.95 per month, something no other broadband phone service provides at such a price.

Read more: Primus' Lingo and D-Link Join Forces to Deliver VoIP Solutions to Consumers and Small Business

Earthlink Announces Free VoIP Service

Earthlink is now offering free VoIP calls to other SIP-enabled phones for its 1.2 million high-speed users.

According to internetnews.com:

"It shows a continuing move towards ISPs adopting and thinking of voice over IP as another application they offer along with online gaming and streaming video and links to special content," said Daryl Schoolar, a senior analyst at research outfit In-Stat/MDR. "VoIP is entering that evolutionary channel of content -- an application provided by an ISP."

It's another feather in EarthLink's VoIP cap, which has more than a year's head start on AOL and MSN.

Read more: EarthLink Offers Free VoIP Calls

OnInstant Releases "Follow Me!" VoIP Call Forwarding

OnInstant's new innovation, "Follow Me!" will allow individuals to have voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls automatically re-routed to any voice-enabled device.

According to webitpr:

Called ‘FollowMe!’, the new feature is part of the latest innovation from OnInstant, and is a major enhancement of the Internet business-to-business communications network. The ‘FollowMe!’ service increases business efficiency and availability by using a unique and patent-pending technology that puts through calls automatically to a sequence of pre-set numbers until connection is established.

‘FollowMe!’ is enabled through an agreement between OnInstant and Level 3 Communications for Level 3’s IP-based voice termination service.

Read more: OnInstant introduces ‘FollowMe!’