News Archive - March 2006

Is Linux Voice over IP Ready?
March 31, 2006

This article provides an overview of VoIP and then lists some of the most popular VoIP applications running on Linux.
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VoIP Market Expansion Has Implications on Accountants
March 31, 2006

VoIP market leaders are predicting that in the near future VoIP technologies will be embedded in core business software applications, including accounting packages, that are Internet-based.
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IETF Takes On VoIP's 911 Problem
March 30, 2006

The Internet engineering community is making progress on the thorny issue of how best to route emergency communications such as 911 calls over the Internet.
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V is for Vonage...T is for Takeover
March 30, 2006

Will Vonage go public, get bought, linger for a bit, or just go away? These are the questions that are raised and discussed in this article, with interesting details about the company's founder.
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Preparing for VoIP
March 30, 2006

If a member of the IT staff is tasked with the responsibility of deploying VoIP on the corporate data network, what are the practical steps they must go through in order to get there?
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EU roaming-charge initiative irks operators
March 29, 2006

The European Union's decision to bring out legislation forcing mobile companies to slash roaming charges has drawn fire from the industry, which is vowing to fight the proposals tooth and nail.
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Skype coughs up to UK phone snag
March 28, 2006

Skype faced service outage issues in the UK this past week and those continue to persist, apparently. Users also complained at the lack of communication from the internet telephony outfit.
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Australia: Consumers group call for tighter control of VoIP providers
March 28, 2006

The Consumers' Telecommunications Network (CTN) is calling for enforcement action "to ensure VoIP service providers comply with all applicable regulations and legislation, specifically legislation to halt misleading and deceptive conduct and advertising." — ... and ensure that they retain those higher than reasonable per-minute phone charges through the incumbent carrier?
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Worldwide Carrier Grade VoIP Equipment Reaches US$2.4 Billion
March 28, 2006

VoIP port shipments exceeded that of digital switching in 2005. While the digital switching market experienced a drop of almost 30 percent in terms of ports shipped in 2005, the VoIP market saw a strong growth of over 151 percent. — Port? What is a port in the VoIP world? Odd marketing term, I guess.
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House lawmakers offer bill to aid telecom video
March 28, 2006

U.S. House Republicans have offered legislation aimed at easing the path for telephone carriers like AT&T and Verizon Communications to enter the subscription TV business.
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Secure SIP for the Enterprise?
March 28, 2006

Interoute announced the launch of iSip, the first genuinely secure corporate VoIP service for business.
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VoIP profits prove elusive
March 28, 2006

Internet telephony subscriber numbers will rocket this year as more Australians sign up for VoIP, but the proportion of subscribers paying for the service will drop from the end of 2006 as users become more canny with their calling.
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StreamCast names Skype, Kazaa in lawsuit
March 27, 2006

StreamCast Networks, creator of the Morpheus file-swapping software, has filed a lawsuit naming Kazaa and Skype Technologies, among others, as defendants.
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Nortel Targets Services for Growth
March 27, 2006

Nortel reinforced its commitment to growing its services business by unveiling a sweeping simplification of its integrated services and a series of new commercial services offerings.
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New Internet telephony players emerge
March 27, 2006

The Internet telephony market is getting more crowded as two more companies launched new services in the U.S. market.
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River City Internet Group to be Agent for Voice Peering Fabric
March 24, 2006

River City Internet Group announced that Stealth Communications has accepted River City Internet Group as an Authorized Agent for Stealth services including The Voice Peering Fabric.
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Alcatel set to buy Lucent in $34 billion merger
March 24, 2006

Alcatel is in talks to buy smaller U.S. rival Lucent and create the world's biggest network equipment maker, the latest in a wave of consolidation in the telecoms industry.
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Wanadoo UK chalks up 150K VoIP users
March 23, 2006

Wanadoo UK has signed up 150,000 VoIP users over the last year, the company reported.
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FCC Helps Verizon's Enterprise Game
March 22, 2006

The FCC has excused Verizon from a host of regulations in such areas as pricing, privacy, and the unbundling of enterprise broadband facilities.
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Yahoo launches instant-message phone in U.S.
March 22, 2006

Yahoo said it is launching a service in the United States that lets people make phone calls through the company's instant messaging software.
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China bans VoIP until 2008
March 21, 2006

China has just suspended the issuance of VoIP permits until 2008.
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Siemens, Nokia build faster T-Mobile network
March 21, 2006

Siemens and Nokia are equipping T-Mobile's mobile phone network to speed up third-generation services such as Internet surfing and downloading movies in Germany and Austria.
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AT&T next to seek business broadband deregulation
March 21, 2006

AT&T said it will swiftly follow the lead of rival Verizon and ask the FCC to lift regulations on its broadband data services for business clients.
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Lucent, Nokia in Play for Siemens
March 20, 2006

Lucent and Nokia are among a number of companies to have shown an interest in merging with or buying all or parts of Siemens Communications Group, according to industry sources.
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Mobile VoIP - not so disruptive
March 20, 2006

Mobile IP telephony won't sound the death knell for greedy mobile operators and their healthy profits.
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Wireless VoIP Phones Can Learn A Lot from Plain Old Cell Phones
March 20, 2006

Wireless VoIP is the latest in next-gen telecom, but it has a ways to go to provide the same capabilities and reliability as plain old cell phones.
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China to open up VoIP market?
March 20, 2006

Speculation is growing that China could be about to relax restrictions on its VoIP market.
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Patton ships tiny VoIP adapter
March 20, 2006

Patton Electronics Company is shipping an ultra-miniature analog telephone adapter that it claims is the world's smallest.
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Data Tech Labs Opens New London Facility
March 20, 2006

Data Tech Labs announces opening of its new, state-of-the art hosting facility in London, UK. Recently, they also made an H.323 softphone available that works behind NAT.
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SIP provides unifying force for messaging
March 20, 2006

After a decade of promises, the unified message application is finally coming of age. — It will still be coming of age for the next 10 years, given the number of problems that still exist with SIP.
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Vodafone to offer fixed-line services
March 19, 2006

Vodafone's chief executive Arun Sarin plans to offer fixed-line services such as broadband internet and VoIP over phone lines alongside the company's traditional mobile service.
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Nice Debuts Active VoIP Recorders
March 17, 2006

Nice Systems made its latest VoIP active recording solutions available this week.
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Verizon Merger Rumors Send Qwest Up
March 17, 2006

Rumors of a Verizon acquisition of Qwest swept through Wall Street this week, causing Qwest stock to spike up dramatically Thursday.
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Notebaert: Qwest Won't Block VoIP Traffic
March 16, 2006

Qwest Communications CEO Richard Notebaert on March 15 voiced his company's commitment to "net neutrality," saying his company would never block traffic or degrade network performance as a way to maintain competitive advantage. — But... read the next paragraph...
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Microsoft details VoIP and video plans
March 16, 2006

Microsoft unveiled details of plans for VoIP and video products offered through Windows Live services that will include new VoIP phones and a click-to-call feature for address book names.
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VoIP: Are we there yet?
March 16, 2006

Even in these times of rapid technology development, changes in consumer behavior can be a maddeningly slow process.
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CompUSA, Sylantro Garnish VoIP for SMBs
March 15, 2006

CompUSA, Bandwidth.com, and Sylantro Systems say they're teaming up to offer a complete hosted VoIP service for the small and medium-sized business (SMB) market.
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Securing VoIP Devices
March 14, 2006

This whitepaper discusses the security challenges posed by VoIP communications in wired and wireless devices such as VoIP servers, gateways, telephones, and mobile handhelds.
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VoIP Holds a Pep Rally
March 14, 2006

Firms offering voice and video over the Internet are meeting to tout themselves as telco replacements. — Many will try, few will win. As I've said many times before, the same carriers here today will largely be the same carriers here tomorrow.
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Vonage, Skype Seen Leading VoIP Adoption
March 14, 2006

VoIP in U.S. homes is gaining traction—and Vonage, Skype, AT&T, and Google are among the market-share leaders. — We love Google as much as everybody else, but Google leading? Google is behind others in VoIP in our opinion.
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VoIP Gurus Seek New FCC Emergency Rules
March 14, 2006

Two VoIP entrepreneurs have asked the FCC to consider new rules for handling communications in disaster situations.
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D-Link Launches First Flip-Style Mobile Wi-Fi Phone
March 14, 2006

D-Link introduced the industry's first flip-style mobile Wi-Fi phone that will ship with a full-featured softphone, allowing users to make free calls anywhere in the world where there is open Wi-Fi access.
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Sprint: Still Going Beyond 3G
March 14, 2006

Sprint Nextel says its next-generation, mobile multimedia network is still on track, on time, and it will happen — even as the carrier is plowing through a sea of radio access technologies in the meantime.
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New IntraISP 7.0 to be Showcased at Spring 2006 VON Conference and Expo
March 14, 2006

NTRAISP announced the 7.0 release of IntraISP, a comprehensive billing & business management portal for ISP, WISP, BPL, IPTV, Web Hosting and VoIP providers.
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VoIP security found wanting
March 14, 2006

Most Australian organisations do not have adequate security measures in place when they install VoIP telephony.
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Microsoft and RADVISION Sign Licensing Agreement to Provide Live Communications Server-Compatible SIP Toolkits
March 13, 2006

Microsoft and RADVISION announced a licensing agreement that will enable third-party developers to integrate the communications capabilities of Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 with additional SIP communications platforms.
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Open Source Collaboration Meets VoIP
March 13, 2006

A new partnership between Zimbra and Asterisk is helping to bridge the gap between text- and voice-based collaboration.
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Cisco's Linksys unveils SIP-based VoIP gear for small businesses
March 13, 2006

Cisco division Linksys launched a package of SIP-based VoIP gear this week, aimed at small businesses and home-office power users.
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Is Your VoIP Hosted PBX Provider Blind to Your Troubles?
March 12, 2006

A recent survey conducted by Emprix revealed that more than one third of all VoIP service providers, which includes Hosted PBX service, are unable to recognize they have a service quality problem until a customer complaint is received.
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VoIP 1, telecoms giants 0: an upset in the group of death
March 12, 2006

Cheap web-based phone calls are tempting consumers, and now companies are being targeted in a threat to the big boys.
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T-Mobile Offers Seamless Mobile Broadband Connections with Nortel Wireless Solutions
March 10, 2006

Nortel has been selected to expand T-Mobile's wireless core network with new capabilities designed to bridge the operator's commercial UMTS wireless network with WiFi networks to provide seamless communications for subscribers.
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VoIP Prompts Carrier Backlash
March 10, 2006

Carriers plan to challenge VoIP "poachers" with services to win back defecting small businesses and test the market's economics.
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Netcentrex and France Telecom reach a total of 1 million residential VoIP lines
March 10, 2006

Netcentrex and France Telecom have exceeded 1 million lines in commercial service across 5 countries at the end of 2005.
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What's Next for Bill Gates? Videoconferencing?
March 10, 2006

Bill Gates talks about how advances in video coding and software technology will help pave the way for videoconferencing that looks better than what you see today.
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Nortel delays filing yet again, plans to restate results
March 10, 2006

Nortel Networks said that it would delay filing its 2005 annual report until April 2006 and restate results from certain prior periods to fix accounting mistakes.
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Quality still an issue for VoIP hopefuls
March 9, 2006

Quality is still a concern for businesses that are considering deploying VoIP.
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Lucent Managed Services Lands Sprint
March 9, 2006

Lucent has landed Sprint as the first known Tier One carrier in the world to begin offering hosted business VoIP via managed services.
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Philips Adds VoIP
March 9, 2006

Philips launches the SOPHO IPC 500, a complete IP-PBX communication solution which provides the latest VoIP technology for small and medium-sized businesses.
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Verizon to use new tech to slash costs
March 9, 2006

Verizon hopes to reduce the cost of installing its Fios fiber-to-the-home network by using existing cable wiring in homes to access high-speed Internet, IP telephony and IP-based TV services.
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BellSouth Faces a VoIP Choice
March 9, 2006

VoIP provider 8x8 could be in danger of losing its most high-profile customer after AT&T merges with BellSouth.
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Skype targets small businesses
March 9, 2006

Skype announced Skype for Business, which consists of new hardware, improvements to programs and a Web site dedicated to small businesses.
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Mirial UMTS from DyLogic enables direct PC to 3G handset calls
March 8, 2006

DyLogic announced the international launch of Mirial UMTS, the first and only video softphone natively working on both Circuit Switch (3G UMTS, with H.324M) and Packet Switch (IP, with SIP or H.323) networks.
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Shaw Communications fires back at Vonage claims of unfair 'VoIP tax'
March 8, 2006

Shaw Communications fired back at Vonage Canada, which claims Shaw is charging its Internet subscribers a "thinly veiled VoIP tax" that makes it tougher for others to compete with the cable company.
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VoiceCon: Avaya CEO says VoIP may not lower costs
March 8, 2006

Avaya CEO Don Peterson surprised some IT managers at VoiceCon Spring 2006 today by declaring that they should not deploy IP telephony expecting to lower communications costs. — He should have added, "Unless you purchase third-party SIP phones."
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VoIP heading for mainstream
March 8, 2006

VoIP will take off this year, according to a new survey, with 54% of respondents believing there are more advantages than barriers to its adoption.
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Verizon Adds VoIP to Call Center Service
March 8, 2006

Verizon Business has added VoIP to its Contact Center service, enabling more flexible and scaleable services that will save money for its enterprise services.
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Will AT&T Become Ma Video?
March 8, 2006

With cable franchises, content buying power, and a wireless powerhouse, AT&T will significantly add to its video services potential with its $67 billion bid to buy BellSouth.
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Yahoo, Siemens enter VoIP partnership
March 8, 2006

Yahoo and Siemens announced an agreement designed to allow people using Siemens' Gigaset cordless telephones to make free PC-to-PC calls and inexpensive calls to traditional and mobile phones.
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Dealing rooms warm to VoIP
March 7, 2006

Business continuity requirements are set to drive the uptake of fully-converged voice over IP networks on the trading floor from zero to 54% within the next three years.
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Canada: Vonage protests special fees on VoIP telephones
March 7, 2006

Vonage Canada wants federal regulators to investigate what it calls a "thinly veiled VoIP tax" by one of its competitors.
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Net phone providers describe E911 obstacles
March 7, 2006

Federal regulators have spent much of the past year prodding Internet phone providers to link their customers to the enhanced 911 system, but accomplishing that goal is no small feat, industry representatives said.
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Have meeting, won't travel
March 7, 2006

Next time you're sitting in an airport departure lounge, take a look at the business travellers around you, then ask yourself: how many really need to be there?
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RADVISION's Click to Meet for Microsoft Live Meeting Enhances Hosted Web Conferencing
March 6, 2006

RADVISION announced that its enterprise collaboration software—Click to Meet for Microsoft Office Live Meeting— will be deployed by Allstream, the Enterprise Solutions division of Manitoba Telecom Services and a leading Canadian communication solutions provider.
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Vonage Founder's Windfall
March 6, 2006

Jeffrey Citron, the ex-CEO of the Internet phone company, hopes to make it big when IPO time comes.
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Irish VoIP numbers could be exploited overseas
March 6, 2006

The advent of VoIP could result in a situation whereby Irish phone numbers could be assigned - and exploited financially - by users anywhere in the world leading to possible over-capacity issues if not properly monitored.
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Cisco Teams With Microsoft, Citrix On VoIP, Realtime Communications
March 6, 2006

Cisco Systems has formed partnerships with Microsoft and Citrix Systems to better integrate VoIP and realtime communications with enterprise applications.
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AT&T Deal Could Spur Cable Buys
March 6, 2006

AT&T's bid to buy BellSouth will definitely spark lots of fear and loathing among competitive carriers. But analysts believe the move might also kickstart a new wave of consolidation amongst the cable MSOs, and it could mean some rocky times for satellite TV providers, too.
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VCs Dialing VoIP Startups
March 6, 2006

Venture dollars continue to flow into the VoIP start-ups. The latest company to raise big dollars is Blue Note Networks of Tewksbury, Massachussets.
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AT&T: 10,000 jobs cuts post merger
March 6, 2006

AT&T, which has agreed to buy BellSouth Corp. for $67 billion in stock, said it expects to cut some 10,000 jobs between 2007 and 2009, once the acquisition has closed.
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Cisco adopts IP telephony standard
March 6, 2006

Cisco said it will add support for SIP to its IP PBX software, CallManager 5.0.
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Dial VoIP for Vulnerability
March 6, 2006

VoIP offers great savings in long-distance calls. But without extensive safeguards, VoIP can expose your phone system to the havoc affecting the rest of the Web.
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Commercial possibilities of VoIP
March 6, 2006

As things heat up in the VoIP market, with new players and, to some extent, new technologies making their presence, there is concerted effort to improve security and performance while opening up new commercial opportunities.
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AT&T, BellSouth to Merge
March 5, 2006

AT&T and BellSouth announced an agreement to merge the two companies, a combination that will create a more effective and efficient provider in the wireless, broadband, video, voice and data markets.
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VoIP business is booming in the U.S.
March 5, 2006

Last year was a breakout time for Internet telephone services, with the number of U.S. subscribers more than tripling to 4.5 million and industry revenue surpassing $1 billion.
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VoIP phone using Bluetooth to be in markets soon
March 5, 2006

A Bluetooth-enabled internet telephone for Skype users, the TRENDnet Clearsky, will hit the markets in the U.K. in April 2006.
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Video Pushes IMS Decisions, Report
March 3, 2006

Operators don't yet know what the IMS-enabled killer application will be, but most believe it will involve video.
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PacPhone Secure NAT Friendly H.323 Softphone
March 2, 2006

PacPhone is a FREE H.323 soft phone that supports AES 256 voice encryption (interoperable with standard H.323) and is also the only softphone that supports digital certificate authentication.
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VoIP Quality Issues — Are they Really a Thing of the Past?
March 2, 2006

The VoIP market is undergoing rapid expansion, with the improvement in voice quality making the platform more attractive to telecom carriers and enterprises aiming to cut costs and utilize greater bandwidth.
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Business looks at VoIP phones
March 2, 2006

The use of VoIP technology to cut fixed-line phone costs is set to double in France this year to reach 30-40 percent of traffic and is flourishing across Europe.
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Philippines: Globe Telecom steps up drive vs illegal voice calls resale
March 2, 2006

Globe Telecom is cracking down on the unauthorized resale of international voice calls, which the company says deprives it of over P1 million in potential monthly revenue. — It is amazing how some countries try to fight technology and try to impede people's ability to communicate for the benefit of big business.
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Technology Facilitates Caller ID Spoofing
March 1, 2006

In the last few years, Caller ID spoofing has become much easier. Millions of people have Internet telephone equipment that can be set to make any number appear on a Caller ID system.
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TelTel raises $8M — promises better VoIP service
March 1, 2006

The Santa Clara company has raised $8M from venture backers, is finally blowing the covers off its plans, and thinks it can take on Skype and others by partnering with other telephone companies.
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