News Archive - November 2005
Cingular tests unlimited calls to AT&T home phones
November 30, 2005
Cingular said it is testing a service that allows unlimited calls between its cell phones and the home phones of AT&T's local telephone customers, in an bid to improve customer loyalty.
November 30, 2005
The market for VoIP services in Asia is expected to grow at rate of around US$1 billion per year between 2005 and 2009 to more than US$10 billion, as the number of users more than doubles.
November 30, 2005
Changi Airport among the first in world to offer VoIP phone services
November 30, 2005
Passengers at Singapore's Changi Airport can now enjoy cheaper international telephone calls.
Israel: Ministry to crack down on illegal VoIP usage
November 30, 2005
November 30, 2005
The next 12 months will be critical for the future of the IMS, as carriers begin to deploy IMS-specific systems and determine whether it can deliver on its promises.
November 30, 2005
It now appears that most of the "bring-your-own-access" VoIP providers have fallen well short of meeting the FCC's tough new E911 requirements.
Dinosaur takes center stage at Ohio Supercomputer Center
November 30, 2005
November 29, 2005
Bank of Queensland is considering introducing internet protocol telephony to about 2000 staff and using it to set up virtual classrooms for branch staff.
Speakeasy Home VoIP Increases Worldwide Calling Area
November 28, 2005
The world just got a whole lot closer with the major expansion of Speakeasy's calling area for its residential VoIP service, which with customers receive their broadband connection and phone service with unlimited local and long-distance throughout the U.S. and 22 countries.
Northrop Grumman to deliver $51 million IP conferencing net for DoD
November 28, 2005
The U.S. Department of Defense this week picked Northrop Grumman to build its $51 million IP video conference network, based on hardware and software from Cisco and Radvision, network services from AT&T and technology from other partners.
November 28, 2005
VoIP security is getting a lot of attention these days, as Internet telephony grows in popularity and its vulnerabilities become more publicized.
VoIP Providers: Heeding the Call?
November 28, 2005
While Internet phone services are catching on rapidly, quality and reliability are still suspect. The pressure's on to fix the problems.
Cisco, Siemens Gain On Nortel In VoIP Market
November 28, 2005
Radvision gets $8 million defense contract
November 28, 2005
RADVISION said defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. selected its video and audio equipment to use in a media conferencing platform it is developing for the US Department of Defense.
November 28, 2005
Time's Up for VOIP E911 Compliance
November 28, 2005
The FCC order requiring full VoIP E911 service takes affect at midnight Monday, and most experts say it's likely that some providers of residential VoIP have fallen short.
Google using Time Warner Telecom for VoIP?
November 25, 2005
It is rumored that Google has started testing "Click-to-Call" which links potential buyers to advertisers via phone, but the "third party" who provides the communication services is still unknown. Could it be Time Warner Telecom who will be providing VoIP services?
November 25, 2005
Emergency providers are warning the public not to assume 911 will work with a system that allows a computer to be used like a telephone.
Tiscali wins court ruling vs Telecom Italia over ADSL, VOIP switching
November 25, 2005
Toshiba readies WiFi VoIP phone
November 24, 2005
Philippines: NTC rules say VoIP firms must pass through landline firms
November 24, 2005
Companies planning to offer cheap overseas calls via VoIP have to pass through the networks of fixed-line carriers, according to guidelines the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Companies continue to adopt VoIP in spite of its inherent security flaws
November 24, 2005
Research commissioned by Viatel has found that 43% of IT directors still believe that VoIP networks are inherently insecure. This figure rises to over half in the financial services and manufacturing sectors (56%). However, it is significant that despite this continued concern over the security of VoIP, companies aren't being put off adopting the technology with two thirds saying they don't see the perceived security issues as a deterrent.
Surf and Artesyn Partner to Offer Triple-Play
November 23, 2005
Surf announced that it has partnered with Artesyn to develop open architecture, Triple-Play (voice, video, and data [fax/modem]) media processing solutions.
November 22, 2005
The VoIP market in Asia is growing by $1 billion per year, and is expected to reach more than $10 billion by 2009.
Cisco buys VoIP management firm's technology
November 22, 2005
Cisco this week followed up its mega-acquisition of cable box maker Scientific-Atlanta with a much quieter acquisition, buying software for managing IP PBX deployments from Digital Fairway, a maker of carrier and enterprise voice/video management software.
VoIP Chip Market To Rocket 600% By 2009
November 22, 2005
China taking help from US Verso Technologies to block VoIP
November 22, 2005
China has taken technical help from a US based company named US Verso Technologies to block applications used for VoIP communications in the country.
Sprint Nextel buys reseller for $4.3 billion
November 21, 2005
Sprint Nextel has agreed to buy wireless affiliate Alamosa Holdings for $4.3 billion in cash.
Security commitment of VoIP vendors questioned
November 21, 2005
If your company is planning to exploit the incredible power, flexibility and cost savings offered by VoIP, there is something you should know: VoIP people don't think like IP people, so security is going to be a nightmare.
SMBs Sitting on a VoIP Wall of Worry
November 19, 2005
U.S. proposes VoIP tax for rural broadband
November 18, 2005
Two congressmen have proposed levying a tax on broadband and VoIP as a means of funding rural broadband expansion.
November 18, 2005
Avaya announced that for the third quarter of 2005 it has been identified as the global market leader in Enterprise IP Telephony Revenues and Port Shipments. — See the same claim from Cisco.
Skype to make U.S. retail debut
November 18, 2005
Net telephone service Skype Technologies is set to make its first appearance in a U.S. retail store.
Open-source Asterisk VOIP software improved
November 18, 2005
An update to the open-source Asterisk IP telephony platform was released this week, offering better legacy telephony integration as well as improved call-server clustering and voicemail support, the producers of the technology say.
Mobile industry tests the Wi-Fi airwaves
November 17, 2005
The mobile industry is ramping up for a new generation of cell phones and services combining the long-distance strengths of traditional cellular service with the short-distance, low-cost advantages of Wi-Fi.
Cisco Systems Reaches Number One Position in Worldwide Enterprise Voice Market
November 16, 2005
Cisco Systems is now the number one supplier in the global enterprise voice market, including both IP and traditional circuit-based systems.
Sony Offers Instant Video Everywhere
November 16, 2005
Working toward the ultimate goal of making "everything possible video-capable," Sony has partnered with GlowPoint to launch Instant Video Everywhere, a consumer-oriented Internet telephony option that offers free video VoIP calling capability worldwide.
RADVISION and Microsoft Team to Enable Quick and Easy Videoconferencing for 3G
November 16, 2005
RADVISION has announced that it will team with Microsoft to jointly demonstrate multimedia visual communications connectivity between Click to Meet™ for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server and 3G mobile devices at the 3G World Congress and Exhibition 2005.
November 16, 2005
One of the last major vendors yet to announce a 3G partner in China, Lucent has bagged a deal with local vendor Datang Telecom Technology for TD-SCDMA, China's home-grown standard.
Court Refuses to Delay VoIP E911 Deadline
November 15, 2005
A federal appeals court refused to delay new Federal Communications Commission guidelines requiring Internet telephone companies to provide reliable 911 emergency call service.
Cisco enters citywide wireless market
November 15, 2005
Cisco has developed a new series of access points, called the Cisco Aironet 1500 Series, that can be used for citywide Wi-Fi deployments. These new access points can be deployed on rooftop, light posts and power poles.
MPEG LA Issues Expanded AVC Patent Portfolio License
November 15, 2005
MPEG LA issued a revised AVC Patent Portfolio License expanding coverage to include the AVC Fidelity Range Extensions (FRExt/AVC), in addition to the other AVC/H.264 profiles currently included in the AVC/H.264 video standard.
November 15, 2005
VoIP industry members are cautiously optimistic about the appointment of Deborah Taylor Tate to the U.S. FCC to take over the Republican seat vacated by Michael Powell when he left the agency in March.
November 15, 2005
Cable MSOs appear to be the main thrust behind rapid growth in U.S. VoIP, and it may be their low-tech approach to selling the service that is giving them that edge.
November 15, 2005
It lets users take and view photos and videos, listen to music, watch TV. In short, it seems as if the handset is on the verge of becoming the 21st-century Swiss Army Knife: a do-it-all gizmo that's in everybody's pocket or purse.
Lucent May Have Advantage Over IMS Rivals
November 14, 2005
Cisco Launches Small Business Initiative
November 14, 2005
Hoping to capture a larger slice of the small-business market, Cisco is launching a bundled offering that will combine data, Internet telephone and other services in a single platform for companies with fewer than 100 employees.
Samsung Introduces First WiBro Mobile Phones
November 14, 2005
Samsung is going to demonstrate WiBro mobile phones at the APEC conference next week. — This is actually very significant, as it highlights the very real possibility that 3GPP-based technologies, including IMS, may be made obsolete before they are ever deployed.
RADVISION Initiates the H.460.17 Standard for Secured Communications over NAT/Firewall Traversal
November 14, 2005
RADVISION announced its role in the development of the recently standardized NAT/Firewall Traversal standards, and its commitment to the swift implementation of them into the RADVISION product portfolio.
VoIP minutes in Central, Eastern Europe to quintuple in 2005
November 14, 2005
The era of VoIP telephony is beginning in Central and Eastern Europe. Compared to 2004, the number of VoIP minutes will more than quintuple this year and more than triple in 2006.
Is an SBC/BellSouth Merger Next?
November 14, 2005
Now that the Verizon acquisition of MCI and the SBC acquisition of AT&T are headed for completion, some believe it is only a matter of time before SBC acquires BellSouth. The reason: the two RBOCs' joint ownership of Cingular.
Police bust international telephone call racket, arrest five
November 13, 2005
In India, police have busted an international telephone call racket by arresting five persons in the city, involved in routing telephone calls from US to Indian subscribers bypassing the Department of Telecom (DoT).
Intel pushes WiMax around the globe
November 10, 2005
Intel announced a slew of new investments that build on its global vision of wireless networks over citywide areas, a setup also known as WiMax.
November 10, 2005
November 10, 2005
Skype is adding 170,000 users a day. Virtual companies and Canada's carriers are hustling to get involved. Internet telephony is transforming the telecom world.
Intel-Based Commercial WiMAX Networks Under Way With 24 Carriers Worldwide
November 9, 2005
Thirteen carriers from around the world are now deploying the world's first fixed WiMAX networks based on Intel Corporation WiMAX technologies, delivering high-speed broadband access to businesses and residences from Germany to Guatemala.
November 9, 2005
A major industry research organization in has recommended companies either find a way to secure Skype or ban its use.
Lucent to build BellSouth VoIP element
November 9, 2005
VoIP Services Enabling Video Calls
November 9, 2005
Maybe it's time. After false starts ever since its 1964 introduction to the public at the New York World's Fair, maybe video telephone service is finally poised to take off.
VoIP No Longer for the Underdog
November 9, 2005
The telehone industry's old guard emerges as leaders of "new telephony," and they can thank federal regulations.
Verizon plays hardball on pricing
November 9, 2005
Verizon has reduced rates on its traditional telephony service to new lows as it tries to compete with cable companies who are now offering telephony as part of their own packages.
Next-generation videoconferencing goes surfing
November 8, 2005
A new twist on an old idea has consumers and businesses taking action on video communications over the internet with the ease and convenience of regular telephone services.
November 8, 2005
Less than a week after a Senate committee passed a bill that relaxed some of its VoIP E911 compliance rules, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission said that VoIP providers will not be required to cut services to customers that are not fully covered by E911 service.
VoIP Subscribers Want More Than One Line
November 7, 2005
By the end of this year, there will be approximately 3.9 million VoIP lines in the U.S., representing an impressive 300% growth rate from 1.3 million lines at the end of 2004.
Telefonica International Wholesale Services Interconnects With Acme Packet
November 7, 2005
Acme Packet announced that Telefonica International Wholesale Services is deploying Acme Packet's Net-Net session border controllers to deliver its business VoIP trunking services.
November 7, 2005
NexTone Secures US$35M in Additional Funding
November 7, 2005
Videophone Boom Calling Radvision
November 4, 2005
Radvision just reported that its profit more than doubled in the third quarter to $3.9 million, from higher revenue of $19.1 million during the period. Behind the stock's strength are recent announcements from Radvision that its technology has been integrated into Microsoft's Live Communications Server and Live Meeting to provide these platforms with multiparty videoconferencing capabilities.
Lucent in the Lead for Verizon IMS?
November 4, 2005
Lucent appears to be the favorite to score a convergence infrastructure deal with Verizon, after recent IMS wins at Cingular and SBC.
E-911 Bill Gives VoIP Firms Access, Time to Comply
November 3, 2005
VoIP: It's Not a Car or a Brand of Vodka
November 3, 2005
VoIP allows for cheap Internet calls and is an exciting technology, but most people don't know about it.
November 3, 2005
Microsoft is acquiring a small Swiss VoIP company in a move designed to speed up the software titan's effort to unify different forms of communication online.
November 3, 2005
A handful of VoIP providers will announce on Thursday that they are banding together to promote the use of Internet telephony.
November 3, 2005
Vonage is preparing for an initial public offering that could raise $600 million and also is exploring a sale to a larger company for at least $2 billion.
November 2, 2005
Marratech announced that, with the newest changes to its Marratech Manager Web-collaborations solution, it has become the only integrated Web-based, real-time collaboration solution to enable the inclusion of participants on multiple platforms in a traditional video conference. The company's most recent update to its Marratech Manager software made Marratech the first real-time collaboration provider to introduce integrated H.323 standard for Windows users.
Nokia says smart-phone market to double in 2006
November 2, 2005
Nokia said it expects the market for smart phones to double next year and launched three new premium models it hopes will take advantage of that growth.
Nokia: Mobile TV networks ready by mid-2006
November 2, 2005
Mobile phone giant Nokia expects mobile TV networks using its chosen standard to be up and running by the middle of next year, allowing people to watch live TV broadcasts on their cell phones.
November 1, 2005
November 1, 2005
As soon as the enterprise opens up VoIP to the Internet, they put a potentially huge security hole in their network.