News Archive - October 2010

In 2005, Microsoft's then-CTO Ray Ozzie wrote a memo, saying the company was at risk if it didn't reinvent itself as a provider of software and computing services over the Web. By March, 90 percent of the company's engineers will be working on cloud-related products, CEO Steve Ballmer said. Revenue from the server unit is expected to exceed $10B within a decade.

Permalink

This article describes how a security manager at a large company fell victim to somebody placing straight-forward SIP calls through the company's gateway, running up a $100K phone bill. Should he claim the title "Security Manager"? This article definitely shows us that the phone companies are still not really providing businesses with reasonable international termination service.

Permalink

As part of its Cloud 2015 project, Intel has announced the formation of the Open Data Center Alliance, a coalition to help standardize the many facets of cloud computing.

Permalink

Polycom announced that its room and desktop videoconferencing systems have been integrated with IBM Lotus Sametime to offer business customers a fuller range of unified communications tools.

Permalink

Cisco announced that it shipped its 30 millionth IP phone, a milestone for the company and the industry. Now, a new focus is placed on video as Cisco leads the charge to revolutionize communications once again.

Permalink

Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie has written a memo that has generated tremendous buzz among the cloud computing community. Ozzie notes the future introduces a "post-PC" era, in which software becomes "continuously available" and devices evolve into "appliance-like connected devices."

Permalink

Skype has asked Nimbuzz, makers of a popular VoIP mobile app, to remove support for all Skype services starting October 31st.

Permalink

A Strategy Analytics' report says that Apple overtook RIM during the third quarter, shipping 15.4 million smartphones compared to RIM's 12.3 million.

Permalink

Videoconferencing specialist and Logitech subsidiary, LifeSize Communications, has released its first in-house developed stand-alone videoconferencing bridge, finally putting an end to criticisms that it is an 'endpoint company' not a provider of compete videoconferencing systems

Permalink

Skype is about to become much more social with the launch of Skype 5.0. The company announced that Skype version 5.0 for Windows will include a deep Facebook integration. Video calling is on the rise (video calling on Skype accounted for approximately 40% of all Skype-to-Skype minutes in the first half of this year), so Skype is giving users a free trial of group video calling. The new version of Skype also features automatic call recovery, which helps you immediately reconnect calls that are interrupted due to Internet connection problems.

Permalink

Video calling is expected to be used by 29 million people around the globe by 2015. Apple's FaceTime video-calling feature will help jump-start the mobile videoconferencing business, but it likely won't spur a full "mass market" adoption within the next five years.

Permalink

Mirial launched the first professional videoconferencing client for Android devices supporting both SIP and H.323 standards, featuring high-quality video conference and optimized in order to get the most out of the mobile networks.

Permalink

Microsoft introduces Windows Phone 7. There are nine Windows Phone 7 devices that will be available in the U.S., from manufacturers Dell, HTC, Samsung, and LG.

Permalink

Could the boom in home videoconferencing services slow down the Internet? Or could this new trend set the stage for significant performance improvements by carriers that provide service to customers using these more bandwidth-demanding services?

Permalink

Cisco Systems announced that it's going to start selling a $599 box that turns living-room TV sets into big videophones. Cisco said that the "umi" device will include a camera and will be controlled by a remote. The service will cost $25 per month on top of the purchase price.

Permalink

The Nielsen Co. reported that roughly 32% of smartphones purchased from January to August were powered by Android. In the same time period, Apple's iOS and BlackBerry's RIM platform were virtually tied for second with 25% and 26%, respectively.

Permalink

The Skype for Android software allows users to make calls to Skype accounts, mobile phones, or landlines. Users can also send and receive text messages via the application when communicating with Skype friends.

Permalink

Skype, the popular Internet video and phone service, has hired a top official at Cisco Systems, Tony Bates, as its new chief executive, according to people briefed on the move.

Permalink

In the new alliance, Avaya is providing enterprise level control and management around Skype so that Avaya customers can manage Skype as a fully supported enterprise communications platform.

Permalink

The experts group working on the ITU-T's next-generation IP Multimedia Communications system will resume electronic meetings to progress the work on this revolutionary new standard.

Permalink