Source: www.voip-news.com
Infonetics is predicting that VoIP will continue to expand. Read about it on VoIP News of the UK.
VoIP Watch reports that Radio Shack is now selling Ooma systems.
VoIP Insider has news of a new Cisco gateway set to be released (and a first look at it).
Source: www.voip-news.com
A new technology is only as good as the knowledge of the person who is using it. In other words, if you can’t figure out how to authenticate your login when FireFox, Vista and fingerprint sensors conspire against you (yes, that really happens), then the technology will be totally lost on you. Honestly.
So learn. Learn about what makes technologies tick. Learn how to get the most out of your technologies. Learn how to make the cost expenditure of something like HD voice actually worth the outlay of money.
And if you are interested in HD Voice, I suggest you read this VoIP-News feature on how to benefit from it.
Source: www.voip-news.com
World Discount Telecommunications is going to deploy Stratus Telecommunications’s ENTICE telecommunications platform. WDT offers landline and mobile long distance services as well as residential VoIP. The company has chosen the technology to simplify the management of different technical platforms by combining them into one, which will also help reduce the costs of operation.
“WDT laid out a clear road map for changing their network infrastructure, and they wisely did their due diligence based on the entire plan rather than taking a piecemeal approach. That led them directly to our ENTICE platform,” said Nathan Franzmeier, President of Stratus Telecom. “Our end-to-end integration delivers the streamlined administration and one-stop source they were looking for, and it remains a major ENTICE competitive advantage for the market at large.”
According to the companies:
The first phase of the project, completed in late 2008, involved installation of clustered ENTICE session controllers to allow more efficient port utilization enabling connectivity to international carriers as well as to handle wholesale routing and billing. The ENTICE solution made it possible to mix IP traffic from multiple gateways previously dedicated to calls to and from a single country to provide a unified routing and billing platform.
The second phase, completed in April, added Dialogic’s CSP hardware to allow interconnection of WDT’s ENTICE switch with its Nortel DMS-250 programmable TDM switch. This portion of the project is enabling WDT to cut costs by transitioning TDM traffic from traditional carriers to IP. Configuration and management of the Dialogic hardware are built into the ENTICE interface, yielding additional savings by consolidating ENTICE/Dialogic administration. The Cisco gateways that the Dialogic CSP is replacing had to be programmed separately.
Source: www.voip-news.com
Broadcom has launched Broadcom InConcert modules that combine Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips in the smallest form factor and also bring best-in-class wireless capabilities to notebook PCs and Netbooks.
“Having shipped millions of single-chip combo products, it’s not a stretch to apply those lessons to create a better solution for PCs,” said Michael Hurlston, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom’s Home and Wireless business unit. “Most notebook designs can benefit from better wireless performance and fewer components, but the sweet spot for InConcert modules is Netbooks and UMPCs. Several of our PC customers are using these modules in their next designs to provide the functionality, style and trouble-free user experience that today’s consumers demand.”
According to Broadcom:
The new InConcert modules expand Broadcom’s industry-leading family of wireless combination products that are driving Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and FM into an array of handheld devices. Although notebooks typically have more board space to accommodate discrete Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips on separate modules, the growing demand for smaller Netbooks and ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) has created the need for more integrated wireless solutions. By combining two of its most popular Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips onto a half mini-card, Broadcom can help PC vendors seize this opportunity by offering proven wireless performance in smaller, more cost-effective platforms.
The two services (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) together will allow users to utilize their machines to their fullest – with VoIP calling capabilities and more.
“Bluetooth and Wi-Fi provide the wireless freedom and enable the mobile applications that Netbook customers want – from fast Internet surfing, to multimedia streaming, to convenient connections with peripheral devices,” said Campbell Kan, Vice President of Acer’s Mobile Computing business unit. “Equipped with Broadcom’s new wireless solutions, our next generation of Aspire One Netbooks will go even further to keep people connected with style and simplicity.”
Source: www.voip-news.com
A new phone service from sipgate claims to be a landline replacement that has all the functions of a phone service including telephone number but it carries no cost for the set-up, the number itself or any monthly charges or minimums. Sipgate one works with any phone (including standard analog ones, mobile phones and VoIP phones). It operates over the internet.
Calls cost 1.9 cents per minute, but calls to other sipgate users and received calls are free as well, giving it an advantage over Skype where you pay for incoming calls.
“There is simply no barrier to people disconnecting their old phone lines anymore. Phone and cable companies have long been pushing voice plans in the region of $25 to $40 per month–which end up being as much as $60 or more with extra charges–and that’s just ridiculous,” said Thilo Salmon, CEO of sipgate. “Even with calls to other landlines and mobile phones, most users will spend less than $5 a month using sipgate one. And for those people only receiving incoming calls on their VoIP phone, the service is completely free.”
I have to disagree with Salmon on there being no barrier to disconnecting old phone lines — if the internet goes down or the power goes out, you will lose your phone service, which is a problem for some people (like parents who want the security of having an analog backup phone with a traditional line so that you can phone anytime in an emergency). Nonetheless, as far as VoIP goes, this sounds like a good deal.
Here’s the benefits:
At no additional cost, sipgate offers a rich feature set designed to make users’ lives easier and more convenient:
– Need to write down a number while driving? Record any phone
conversation by pressing *6
– Want to customize your voicemail? Upload an mp3
– Want your calls to follow you? Have your home, office and mobile
phone ring in parallel
– Left your mobile phone at home? Simply go online and divert calls to
your office line
– Want to talk to friends in an ad-hoc conference? Bridge them with the
touch of a button
– Missed calls while on a flight? A list is waiting for you in your
Source: www.voip-news.com
There is a new suite of performance monitoring service from Tata Communications that offers integrated, end-to-end, network and application performance monitoring in three choices of service: Network Visibility, Application Visibility and Voice over IP Visibility.
“As global enterprises depend highly on their IT infrastructure to deliver quality applications to end-users, they require efficient, end-to-end view of network and application performance. To that end, Application Performance Visibility Service facilitates improved performance and management of all network elements, including managing remote sites from central locations, while reducing costs and delivering detailed reports for wise capacity planning decisions,” said Genius Wong, Senior Vice President, Global IP and VPN services for Tata Communications. “This is especially relevant now during the global, economic crisis.”
Here’s the detes:
Application Performance Visibility Service equips IT managers with in-depth, real-time, historical data on every network site. The service offers comprehensive views across the infrastructure (Layers 1 – 7), that multiple users can share simultaneously to plan capacity, create reports, troubleshoot performance problems, and reduce mean time to resolve (MTTR). Enterprises can monitor events across the infrastructure, including the local loop, port, site-to-site circuit, application, and server performance. In addition, they can test performance of business-critical network applications before rolling them out into production. In-depth visibility options provided by this service can be combined with the Application Performance Optimization Services launched in 2008, which offer optimization, compression, and acceleration features for a complete WAN and application performance management solution.
Tata Communications will be the first Indian-based provider to offer integrated network and application monitoring services.
Application Performance Visibility Service includes cost-effective, scalable architecture based on Fluke Networks’ proven Visual Performance Manager Platform, a complete system for monitoring end-to-end performance of applications and services across the enterprise. While real-time monitoring occurs, this platform archives network, server and application data in a back-end database that delivers a holistic view of enterprise performance with up-to-the-second granularity.
In an effort to help you spend more time with your family and friends, we have recently released two features designed to help you be productive when using Google Voice:
Source: www.voip-news.com
MIPS Technologies has joined the Open Embedded Software Foundation, which works towards standardization and development of Android platforms for embedded devices such as set-top boxes, home media players and VoIP devices.
“With OESF’s goal of creating viable Android-based platforms for embedded products beyond mobile phones, we are pleased to welcome MIPS Technologies, who offers the leading processor architecture in most segments of the digital home,” said Mr. Masataka Miura, chairman of the Open Embedded Software Foundation. “The open source Android platform has the potential to become the platform of choice for embedded products, decreasing OEM development costs and creating new business opportunities. We look forward to working with MIPS to leverage its technology and deep expertise and the broad ecosystem around its processor architecture to speed standardization and development of Android for consumer markets.”
Android, which is known best for its intention for use in things like the T-Mobile G1 mobile phone, can be used across a variety of devices.
“By releasing Android to open source, Google created the opportunity for widespread proliferation of the Android platform, and now the work the OESF is doing will help drive the platform in new directions,” said Art Swift, vice president of marketing, MIPS Technologies. “We look forward to playing a key role in proliferating Android into digital consumer devices such as DTVs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), digital picture frames (DPFs) and set-top boxes. MIPS will be at the core of the Android experience in the digital home.”
Source: www.voip-news.com
There is a new softphone available from CounterPath Corporation that works seamlessly with BroadSoft’s BroadWorks VoIP Application platform. Bria for BroadWorks is based on open standards so it a softphone that works with VoIP, Video over IP, Instant Messaging, Short Message Service and Presence.
“In our continuing efforts to help enable small business and enterprise markets with unified communications (UC), we are pleased to announce this new version of Bria, which is tightly integrated with BroadWorks so we can offer rich, productivity-enhancing capabilities to our joint customers and their end users,” said Todd Carothers, Vice President of Product Management, CounterPath. “The Bria for BroadWorks softphone simplifies and enhances the management of voice communications and was jointly engineered to leverage the power of CounterPath softphone technology and the BroadWorks platform. With this out-of-box solution, our service provider customers will get to market more quickly and cost effectively.”
Here’s the features:
- Using one number for all incoming and outgoing calls, regardless of
phone (BroadWorks Anywhere)
- Viewing call history across all devices
- Connecting easily with colleagues through click-to-call in contact
directory
- Escalating communications from IM, to an audio call, to a video call
- Monitoring status of a workgroup through BroadWorks’ Busy Lamp Field
features
- Using presence to intelligently interact with peers
“The ways in which individuals communicate continue to expand, driving the need to have a consolidated interface to manage each communication method. Bria for BroadWorks unifies personal calling services across any device an individual may use and can be controlled right from the desktop,” said David Bukovsky, Vice President of Products, BroadSoft(R). “Using BroadWorks Device Management and BroadSoft’s Xtended Web Services, CounterPath delivered a softphone that simplifies the deployment process for service providers and provides seamless integration with BroadWorks’ advanced communications features. Our service provider customers now have access to a superior softphone that is specifically designed for BroadWorks.”
Source: www.voip-news.com
MediaTek has released a new chip for USB dongles, handsets and other embedded devices called the MT 7118. The WiMAX Forum Wave2 chip. Additionally, a new handset using a MediaTek chip has been announced as well.
“MediaTek is not only a chip company, but a leader clearly setting its marks as the best WiMAX SoC solution provider. Our expertise in systems is vital to the success of WiMAX. The latest WiMAX SoC and integrated GSM+WiMAX dual mode handsets are only the beginning of our plan to integrate more wireless technology with future electronics,” said CT Chuang, Vice President of MediaTek. “WiMAX industry needs a chip company that possesses the breadth and depth of technology and experience of diverse platforms.”
According to MediaTek:
This is one of the most cost optimized WiMAX handsets in the market today It enables voice over EDGE network and voice/data over WiMAX network, while the USB port of the phone can be used for data connectivity with laptops. It also features a 2.8 inch touch screen and 5M pixel camera. The VoIP engine inside the phone has gone through stringent IOT and field trials for over 4 years, making it the most trusted and risk free dual-mode handset. MediaTek brings its expertise in GSM and software directly into the handset and put together a turnkey solution for operators.
With BOM of less than US$100, this is a truly cost effective solution, without compromising quality and performance, which is essential to enable mobile WiMAX applications in emerging markets.
“WiMAX needs more high-quality, low-cost devices, and MediaTek’s solutions will help enable them, given its track record as a leading mobile chipset vendor. The dual-mode phone based on MediaTek chips should build momentum for WiMAX in key emerging markets, given the device’s combination of WiMAX for high-speed broadband and GSM/EDGE for ubiquitous voice and data services,” said Mike Roberts, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media.
Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com
Google keeps expanding its franchise on world domination by now offering a free directory assistance service called GOOG 411.
You don’t need a computer, an Internet connection, or even the keypad on your phone or mobile device. GOOG-411 is voice-activated, so you can access it from any phone (mobile or land line), in any location, at any time. For free. (*)
Dial (1-800) GOOG-411. Say where. Say what you’re looking for. GOOG-411 will connect you with the business you choose.
If you are calling from a mobile device, GOOG-411 can even send you a text message with more details and a map. Simply say "Text message" or "Map it."
Source: www.voip-news.com
Metaswitch now has the number one position in softswitch licenses. Read about it on TMC.
NextGenTel has purchased the broadband service and VoIP service from Tele2 Norway. Read the press release here.
FierceVoIP reports that Telesphere has raised $15 million.
