News Archive - October 2006
FCC to clarify rules for powerline broadband
October 31, 2006
The Federal Communications Commission is expected to clarify any regulatory uncertainty that may surround broadband over powerline technology.
Vonage loss narrows, revenue more than doubles
October 31, 2006
Vonage reported better-than-expected third-quarter results as it added more subscribers to its VoIP calling service. Vonage now has more than 2 million subscribers, adding 204,591 subscribers in the last quarter.
RADVISION Recognized for Its Pioneering Efforts
October 30, 2006
RADVISION has been named as the recipient of the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Competitive Strategy Leadership Award for its significant gains in market share in 2005 and distinctive market strategies in the Asia Pacific videoconferencing infrastructure systems market.
October 30, 2006
This article discusses management of the VoIP PBX, and proposes that it be treated as another service which should be comprehensively managed by the network administrator. It will demonstrate how Voice connectivity relates to data networks and how to effectively and securely implement a PBX within the context of a network infrastructure.
VoIP expansion to grow at 25 per cent per year
October 30, 2006
With the VoIP market expected to experience a strong expansion through the remainder of the decade, this segment has become a key growth driver for telecom equipment suppliers.
Cox Digital Telephone Now Offered in All Cox Markets
October 30, 2006
With the recent launch of telephone service in Santa Barbara and Palos Verdes, Calif., Cox Communications has officially launched VoIP service in all Cox markets, serving more than 1.9M homes and 150,000 businesses.
VoIP revenue expected to halve till 2011
October 27, 2006
IDC predicts that increasing competition in the VoIP space is expected to see revenue growth in the phone and IP PBX sector slow to half its current rate over the next five years.
Nortel Networks gets back on track
October 27, 2006
Canadian telecommunications equipment maker Nortel Networks has had a tough couple of years, but its new executives say they've cleaned house and are ready to get back to business.
VoIP, hackers, botnets among challenges cyberprotectors face
October 26, 2006
A legal system rife with outdated laws never designed to cope with such new technologies as VoIP is just one of the worries facing Stephen Treglia, chief of the technology crime unit in the district attorney's office of New York's Nassau County.
October 26, 2006
Making phone calls using VoIP seems not only inexpensive, but so very modern. It lets you make voice calls over the Internet to anywhere in the world for pennies; no old-fashioned phone company required.
Cisco spends $31 million on mobility start-up
October 25, 2006
Cisco Systems is expected to announce plans to spend $31 million on a small start-up called Orative, a move meant to help Cisco extend its Unified Communications software to mobile devices.
Comcast Suffers VoIP, Broadband Outages
October 25, 2006
Comcast Digital Voice customers in New Jersey reported problems with their VoIP service earlier today after the MSO completed what it termed "routine maintenance" on its cable plant last night. Subscribers said they lost phone service for several hours as Comcast technicians scrambled to locate the problem.
Time Warner Taps Siemens for NGN VoIP
October 23, 2006
Time Warner Cable selected Siemens' NGN voice feature servers to help accelerate VoIP deployments of Time Warner Cable's Digital Phone service, now in use by 1.6 million of its 14.4 million U.S. subscribers.
October 23, 2006
Vonage announced that its customers can now dial 511 from their Vonage phones, at no charge, to receive local traffic reports from their area 511 systems.
The 'I see you' videoconference
October 23, 2006
Polycom's new RPX RealPressence is an entire specially designed videoconferencing room, with drop ceilings, projectors, cameras, ceiling-mounted microphones, the works. Compatible with any H.323 system, the new system takes videoconferencing to a whole new level.
October 23, 2006
Cisco unveiled a videoconferencing package called Cisco TelePresence Meeting that is designed to bring a new level of quality to videoconferencing, so that participants feel like they are actually sitting in the same room with people who may be half way around the world.
3Com Releases Enterprise VoIP Phone
October 20, 2006
3Com has released a new $415 cordless VoIP phone using SIP targeted at business customers who tend to move around the office a lot in their jobs.
Global Crossing Introduces Ready-Access Video
October 18, 2006
Global Crossing announced it has added a new video that service dramatically improves the effectiveness of collaboration services by allowing users to simultaneously display presentations and high-quality video, combining the benefits of videoconferencing and Web conferencing into a powerful, single-screen experience for the end user.
Free VoIP calls on wi-fi Nokias till year end
October 17, 2006
Truphone is launching a free download for Nokia's N80 phone in the next few days, following the launch last month of a download for Nokia's E series business handsets. Calls to other mobile handsets using the Truphone software are free of charge, as long as both handsets are within wi-fi hotspots.
October 16, 2006
DyLogic announced release 2.2 of its PSE 3G Gateway, an open-standard and protocols-compliant appliance allowing connectivity between 3G and IP networks, now available in a new version engineered on business environments' purpose.
October 16, 2006
Many organizations are making the move to VoIP as part of their network deployments. As they make the move, they usually find that they must find the right VoIP expertise to make that happen.
Dubai: Possible lifting of VoIP ban hailed
October 14, 2006
This week's announcement that the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) is considering lifting the ban on VoIP has been met with general praise from the telecom industry, primarily from those calling for greater competition and a better deal for consumers.
Nortel Demonstrates IPTV, IMS Services over WiMAX
October 13, 2006
Nortel demonstrated real-time, multimedia IPTV and IMS services over a live high-speed, 4G WiMAX network at the WiMAX World trade show in Boston.
IPO News: Acme Soars, Neuf Preps
October 13, 2006
AcmePacket's starting price was $9.50, already a significant leap from earlier this week when the original price range was set at between $6.50 and $7.50. With 11.5 million shares, about 20 percent of the stock, being made available, the company raised $109 million, giving it a valuation of about $545 million. Closing price on the first day: $15.91.
Fox uses Treo's live video to cover plane crash
October 13, 2006
When a single-engine plane crashed into an Upper East Side apartment building on Wednesday, Fox News Channel delivered early live video to its viewers from the crash site using a handheld mobile phone souped up with streaming video.
FCC vote on AT&T/BellSouth merger postponed
October 13, 2006
The Federal Communications Commission canceled its meeting Friday in which it was supposed to vote on the proposed $80 billion merger of AT&T and BellSouth.
October 13, 2006
The FCC rules requiring additional taxes for VoIP are pushing the tax rate for VoIP far higher than traditional telecommunication services.
Comcast files complaint against Missouri PSC
October 12, 2006
Comcast has filed a complaint against the Missouri Public Service Commission in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, asking the court to prevent the state from seeking regulation of its VoIP service.
October 12, 2006
Thomson is the latest company to fly the convergence flag with news of a new product combination that pulls together two of the industry hot technologies — VoIP and IPTV.
Throw away your PBX: Why Asterisk may be the VoIP future of your network
October 12, 2006
Here's your network's dirty little secret: Your PBX is old and outdated, and if you want to bring it into the modern era with IP telephony and VoIP, you're going to have to spend a bundle. Specialized switches and hardware and proprietary systems don't come cheap, and they might not even offer all the telephony features you're looking for.
October 12, 2006
Nortel is supplying Shanghai Telecom with Carrier Ethernet equipment that incorporates Provider Backbone Transport (PBT), the controversial new flavor of Ethernet that is exciting a great interest and dividing opinion within the telecom world.
VoIP/Voice Communications Category Profile
October 11, 2006
If you want to sell a VoIP phone system, bear in mind that the world belongs to Cisco Systems. For the second year since the VARBusiness Annual Report Card survey started including the VoIP/Voice Communications category, Cisco has dominated the field with overwhelming partner satisfaction scores in Product Innovation, Support, Partnership and Loyalty.
Video a killer app in more ways than one, says Cisco's Chambers
October 11, 2006
From the perspective of Cisco CEO John Chambers, interactive, high-definition teleconferencing that's so sharp you can see the sweat on the hand of a poker player will deliver both the perfect storm and a perfect spring day to IT. Even as it forces network capacity upgrades, it's going to cut corporate travel bills, enhance customer contacts and boost productivity, he said.
Switzerland tests VoIP wiretap software
October 11, 2006
The Swiss Government has reportedly been testing surveillance software that could enable it to eavesdrop on VoIP communications.
SingTel to Deploy WiFi, Offer VoIP
October 11, 2006
SingTel is planning to install 2400 hotspots across Northern Singapore by May 2007 through which it will offer free Internet access and unlimited VoIP calls for a fixed monthly fee as well as TV over broadband and location based and other services.
AT&T Goes Long Distance in India
October 11, 2006
AT&T has secured the first long distance licenses in India offered to a foreign carrier, even as the country's government investigates it for illegally operating services there.
Skype lands Wi-Fi access deal in Europe
October 11, 2006
Skype's Internet calling service will soon be accessible at the Cloud's Wi-Fi hot spots across Europe, according to the two companies.
Cingular sues telemarketers for unsolicited calls
October 11, 2006
Cingular Wireless said it filed three lawsuits in a U.S. federal court against telemarketers to stop them from making unsolicited and illegal calls to Cingular customers.
AT&T, BellSouth merger passes antitrust test
October 11, 2006
AT&T and BellSouth got the green light from U.S. antitrust authorities on Wednesday to move forward with their proposed $67 billion merger, which will create the largest phone company in the United States.
What you need to know about VoIP peering
October 10, 2006
As companies install VoIP systems, they're looking for ways to keep more of their voice traffic on IP networks to avoid the toll charges associated with the Public Switched Telephone Network. VoIP peering among carriers promises to make end-to-end VoIP calls a reality.
BandTel, Pingtel and Ingate Join Forces to Offer The Total VoIP Solution to Deploy SIP Trunks
October 10, 2006
BandTel announced it has teamed with Pingtel to develop a bundled, plug-and-play, pre-configured solution designed to deliver seamless installation of SIP trunks and the security, redundancy, interoperability, and scalability demanded in mission critical environments. — One cannot use those adjectives and SIP in the same sentence...
October 10, 2006
LifeSize announced a new suite of enterprise-class video network infrastructure products designed to provide network interoperability, and deliver feature-rich, reliable and high quality video and multimedia communications across distributed organizations. The new products are LifeSize Gateway, LifeSize Gatekeeper and LifeSize Multipoint, with LifeSize Gateway and LifeSize Gatekeeper available today and LifeSize Multipoint available later this quarter.
Cisco enhances unified communications portfolio for SMBs and enterprises
October 10, 2006
Cisco Systems has rolled out phase two of its unified communications plan. The company has implemented several product enhancements, but it has also launched a new IP phone.
October 10, 2006
The separation of the control and services planes is a significant step, Alcatel COO Mike Quigley said, "but it's not going to solve all the problems. IMS is not necessarily going to make things any simpler. The simplification that comes with deploying a single network infrastructure is being offset partly by some greater complexity" that comes with IMS. — We could not agree more. Not only will the complexity increase cost, but it puts carriers back into the rut they have been in for decades in not being able to quickly provide new kinds of services and capabilities.
October 9, 2006
Newer services that offer SIP trunking are taking hold in the marketplace this year, even as service providers continue to deal with the reality of non-standard SIP.
Would you like to supersize your VOIP?
October 9, 2006
McDonald's is apparently experimenting with VoIP in order to take customer orders at drive-thru windows, with those taking the orders perhaps far away from the restaurant.
VoIP Ranking by Subscriber: Q2 2006
October 9, 2006
VoIP is increasingly dominated by the cable companies, challenged only by eBay and a few independents.
The hidden crisis in VoIP people are only whispering about
October 9, 2006
After the innovators and the acquirers, new lines of technology businesses tend to attract the mediocre-skilled, hordes who have read about business opportunities for that industry in some magazine and remortgage their homes to start up what they naively view as the path to riches.
October 9, 2006
Smart-phone sales have already increased by 75.5 percent in the last year to 37.4 million units, and will grow by a further 66 percent during 2006.
October 9, 2006
The deployment of a next-generation network strategy based on the IMS blueprint will "deeply impact France Telecom and its way of working," a senior executive from the carrier said.
Dubai: Telecommunications body defends ban decision
October 8, 2006
While many lament the end of internet telephony in the UAE, the decision to ban access to the services has been defended by the country's telecommunications regulatory body and the UAE's telecommunications service provider.
Dubai: VoIP block angers residents
October 8, 2006
Access to most VoIP services provided by companies such as Skype, are blocked in areas in the UAE and residents and business people have lambasted the loss of a service that has helped to connect people worldwide.
Amazon Adopts Pingtel's Enterprise Solution
October 6, 2006
Pingtel announced that Amazon.com has selected Pingtel's SIPxchange ECS for enterprise deployment.
T-Mobile outlines plans for 3G network
October 6, 2006
T-Mobile USA said Friday it will spend roughly $2.66 billion over the next couple of years to deploy a 3G wireless network.
T-Mobile reverses its VoIP ban
October 6, 2006
T-Mobile has reversed its ban on voice over IP — but only for customers on premium contracts.
October 4, 2006
Hoping to ease the transition for small-medium business (SMB) customers using VoIP, Intelliverse has enhanced its Talking Planet Business program to let service providers bring their own private label to market in as few as 14 days.
BellSouth and Avaya Team to Deliver IP Telephony to Businesses
October 3, 2006
BellSouth announced that it has entered into an agreement with Avaya to resell Avaya IP telephony solutions to businesses. Customers can now work with BellSouth as a single point of contact to address telephony, messaging and contact center requirements using Avaya's broad portfolio of IP-based solutions.
Beguiling but Beware: AJAX, VoIP
October 3, 2006
Some of the slickest new technologies online —