News Archive - June 2007
Chiefs defend slow network for the iPhone
June 29, 2007
On the eve of the Apple iPhone's sale, the top executives of Apple and AT&T defended their decision to rely upon AT&T's slow EDGE wireless data network, rather than a faster network that is less widely available.
Vodafone iPhone deal hinges partly on subsidies
June 27, 2007
Vodafone is in talks with Apple to launch the U.S. firm's iPhone in Europe, and talks partly hinge on volume guarantees and subsidies.
Wi-Fi phones a no-go, Siemens says
June 27, 2007
Handsets that offer only Wi-Fi connectivity have been a failure, according to the U.K. director of home and office communications devices for Siemens
New DyLogic Mirial 5 softphone: HD video conferencing on every desktop
June 26, 2007
Following the launch of its high definition Media Server, DyLogic unveils the new version of Mirial, the first IP desktop video softphone to offer an amazing HD 720p video quality in both encoding and decoding.
June 22, 2007
uawei has been busy this week, announcing a monster GSM infrastructure deal in China, talking of its slowing sales growth in the Asia/Pacific region, and striking reseller deals with video delivery and OSS specialists.
June 21, 2007
Verizon said the telephone company had signed up its 1 millionth Fios Internet customer and now has almost 500,000 Fios TV subscribers. With download rates at an amazing 50Mbps and upload speeds of 5Mbps, all at $40, Verizon definitely has a winner.
Telepresence breaks down communication barriers
June 21, 2007
As organizations become increasingly distributed and overseas outsourcing become the norm, it's not unusual for execs, engineers, or sales teams to find themselves falling victim regularly to long, stressful, and often unproductive hours in transit to attend meetings. Telepresence is positioned to effectively address this problem.
State Regulation of VoIP Services: Get Ready, It's Coming
June 19, 2007
In July, the Missouri Public Service Commission will try to make the case that Comcast's "Digital Voice" VoIP service should be regulated as a competitive telephone service.
June 19, 2007
AT&T Inc. Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson unveiled a new video sharing service for mobile users that will allow consumers talking on cellphones to share cameraphone pictures during their conversation, in real-time.
SIP: The Never-Ending Hype Wagon
June 18, 2007
Today, H.323 commands about 80% of the international long distance VoIP minutes, which is an estimated 15.8% or 49.4B minutes of all international voice communication. Skype has taken 4.4% of the market, while SIP competes with proprietary protocols for the bottom 4% of the traffic.
You Don't Know Jack About VoIP
June 17, 2007
One of the key technologies driving this convergence is VoIP, which has evolved from what many viewed as experimental to a fundamental technology on which businesses from small to Fortune 500 are running their enterprises.
June 17, 2007
People in the United States do not use SMS because the pricing structure makes voice calls cheaper than SMS text messages. Sound strange? It really is and probably one of the biggest examples of old-world telco thinking that still lingers.
Why is T-Mobile UK blocking calls to mobile VoIP start-up Truphone?
June 15, 2007
Mobile carriers are scared of one thing: becoming dumb pipes whose only utility is to carry voice and text. And it is one of the reasons why they are fighting tooth and nail with the mobile VoIP providers, using all sorts of tactics to make mobile VoIP a non-starter.
Satellite companies partner with Clearwire
June 14, 2007
Satellite providers DirecTV and EchoStar Communications said that they are teaming up with WiMax operator Clearwire to deliver wireless broadband services.
Nortel joins with IBM for VoIP
June 13, 2007
Nortel Networks will help small and medium-size businesses move to VoIP and unified communications by combining Nortel applications with IBM System i servers.
June 13, 2007
Alcatel-Lucent is reportedly pumped about the top-line potential of its patent portfolio, with CEO Pat Russo spending a great deal of her time focused on how to extract the maximum payback from the company's combined intellectual property.
June 8, 2007
With idyllic valleys and mountain ranges often a barrier to easy travel or hardline communications across the country, users have begun to embrace VoIP - creating an impressive 87% growth in subscribers last year.
VoIP could be used by terrorists
June 8, 2007
UK police have claimed that the rising popularity of VoIP could be abused by terrorist organisations. Of particular concern is Skype. — I'm curious: if terrorists meet face-to-face, what would be done? Could terrorists succeed in every endeavor by merely meeting in person?
Import Ban Slapped on Some 3G Handsets
June 8, 2007
The U.S. International Trade Commission ordered an import ban on some phones using 3G chipsets from Qualcomm that have been found to infringe on a patent held by Broadcom.
Paradial announces release of RealTunnel 3.0
June 7, 2007
Paradial announced RealTunnel 3.0, adding full support for H.323 and H.460.18/19 firewall, NAT and web proxy traversal.
State Regulation of VoIP Services: Get Ready, It's Coming
June 6, 2007
Next month, in a hearing room at the Missouri Public Service Commission, state regulators will try to make the case that Comcast's "Digital Voice" VoIP service should be regulated as a competitive telephone service.
Apple, AT&T stores prepare for iPhone frenzy
June 6, 2007
With a little over two weeks until the iPhone hits store shelves, Apple and AT&T retail sales representatives say they are preparing for a quick sellout and huge crowds on the June 29 launch date.
Wachovia pilots Cisco TelePresence
June 5, 2007
US bank Wachovia said it was rolling out a pilot program of Cisco's videoconference offering, called TelePresence, to save money by linking its Virginia headquarters with satellite offices rather than flying its people all over the country.
Avaya Agrees to $8.2B Takeover
June 5, 2007
PBX vendor Avaya has agreed to be acquired for $17.50 per share by private equity firms Silver Lake Partners and TPG Ventures in a cash deal worth about $8.2 billion.
Verizon VoIP to power WindowsLive calls
June 4, 2007
Microsoft is adding a free calling service to its online searching service, and will use VoIP from Verizon Business to provide the new feature. Windows Live Call for Free will enable consumers searching www.maps.live.com to find local businesses to make a one-click phone call to many of the advertisers listed there.
In a Hotel Room? Ignore Mini Bar and Use VoIP
June 4, 2007
Charging outrageous rates for the convenience of calling from your hotel room used to be a big money maker for hotels. Not so much anymore. Hilton Hotels seems to be acknowledging that fact with a new program called Stay Connected @ Hilton. It's a service bundle in which guests get wireless high-speed Internet access and unlimited local and long distance calling within the continental U.S. for $12.95 a day.
Nortel: Kissing Avaya Goodbya?
June 4, 2007
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal both reported that Avaya is close to a deal with private equity firms Silver Lake Partners and TPG Inc. for an estimated $17 per share, which would represent about a 6 percent premium over Friday's closing price and would value the deal at around $8 billion.
AT&T and Verizon: The Threat of Mobile VoIP
June 3, 2007
Verizon and AT&T have a problem. Mobile VoIP is coming, with a vengeance. New higher speed wireless technologies like WiMax and CDMA EVDO REV A are being built out. One of the consequences of this is that a wireless connection will be able to support quality VoIP applications. — And it could not happen soon enough with the way customers are extorted by those two carriers.
US: Appeals court ruling upholds Net phone taxes
June 1, 2007
A federal appeals court largely upheld a requirement that Internet phone companies like Vonage pay taxes into a fund to subsidize rural telephone service, but voice over Internet protocol representatives said the ruling isn't all bad.
FCC: Stronger standards, better cellular E911
June 1, 2007
The FCC moved toward toughening wireless standards to help police and firefighters more accurately locate cellular telephone callers in an emergency.
June 1, 2007
IMS might not be the answer, it turns out. Service providers looking to create new revenue-driving applications will instead have to adapt to the Web 2.0 world, using the concept of "mashups" to quickly create new Web-based services, according to some.
VoIP startup Jajah buddies up to telecom carriers
June 1, 2007
Jajah's strategy is to work with telecom service providers so both companies can make money from