Source: www.voip-news.com

Sorry. Not happening, Revonet.

A federal justice struck down an attempt by Revonet, Inc. to end a lawsuit filed by Covad Communications. The lawsuit alleged that Revonet misused Covad’s VoIP customer lead information, selling it to other customers.

“We are very pleased that the Court has allowed us to continue pursuing our objective of holding Revonet accountable for its actions,” said Doug Carlen, Covad’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Revonet apparently sold VoIP customer leads that we generated on our own to other companies, including our competitors. Because we made a considerable investment in the development of these leads, we
felt compelled to take action.”

Revonet, based in New Canaan, Conn., provides sales information products and services. The lawsuit by Covad was filed in Nov. 2006 in Washington, D.C.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Well, Mr. Michael Blumenthal, the Attorney General of Connecticut is at it again. 

Once again, he is initiating stupid tactics in which he is trying to prevent the phone company from deploying its  utility boxes for U-verse.

Here are previous posts about Blumenthal and his antics in trying to derail AT&T’s initiatives to offer U-verse to the citizens of his State.

Draw your own conclusions.  Under the veil of doing his job, this is all politically motivated.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

I use client Truphone and my T-Mobile HotSpot @ Home services a lot because they help flatten the phone bill and keep things manageable. I also make lots of use of the Skypephone when I’m somewhere I can use it, like the UK.

So in seeing this report about some market research from ABI I can’t but be anything but more than a cheerleader here. This is so accurate in perspective that its got to be something the incumbent wireline guys are worried about.

The experience of WiFi VoIP using Truphone and TMO the last two weeks from inside my London apartment and elsewhere was very good. Only downside I saw seemed to impact TMO where they seemed to have less control of the media and I would suffer from latency when the apartment’s broadband was being slammed.

When you take the ABI report and add in some thoughts from other analysts like Dean Bubley, plus commentary from the land down under’s Jo Best of ZDNet/AU you have to realize that FMC is not just someone’s dream, it’s someone else’s reality.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Memo to all the AT&T Board of Directors:

In advance of the AT&T annual meeting on Friday, April 25, ya’ll are invited to my house to check out a real life deployment of U-verse.  Just let me know when you are coming to town and I will arrange for your transportation…meaning I can pick you up and bring you back to your hotel. 

Then, we can go to the Starbucks in my neighborhood, which is the first one of its kind in the U.S. to have iTunes up and going on AT&T WiFi.

And finally, we’ll top things off, I would like to treat you to a free milkshake at our editorial offices at the Olmos Soda Fountain.

In order to qualify, you must identify yourself as being one of the following.

Gilbert F. Amelio, Lead Director
William F. Aldinger III
Reuben V. Anderson
ames H. Blanchard
August A. Busch III
James P. Kelly
Charles F. Knight
Jon C. Madonna
Lynn M. Martin
John B. McCoy
Mary S. Metz
Toni Rembe
Joyce M. Roché
Dr. Laura D’Andrea Tyson
Patricia P. Upton

If you need a ride from your hotel, call me at 210-410-3075.  Or just email me at alan@weinkrantz.com.

No kidding!

Mi AT&T Casa es Tu AT&T Casa!

Source: www.voip-news.com

VoIP security isn’t what it should be. Voice can be eavesdropped on and systems can be hacked. But there has been little of that … yet.

According to eWeek, despite the vulnerability of VoIP systems, there have been relatively few attacks on the technology so far. However, it’s best for VoIP users to prepare for the worst.

Here’s a snippet:

Collier and Endler recommend that enterprises have a security assessment done by an outside expert when implementing VOIP on their networks. And, Endler said, they have a list of 10 or so best practices, such as enabling encryption to prevent eavesdropping, changing default passwords, applying patches in a timely manner, separating voice traffic into its own virtual LAN, and implementing VOIP-aware firewalls that can open and close ports dynamically.

Collier also recommends enabling logging on critical equipment in the network, so that if there is an attack, it’s “a lot easier to figure out what happened,” he said.

To read more, click here.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

AT&T Launches New Services to Help Wholesale Customers Meet Increased Demand

Offers Include VoIP With Ethernet Access and eMaintenance

San Antonio, Texas, April 2, 2008

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that the company is introducing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to help wholesale customers meet the burgeoning demand for these growth services.

AT&T is announcing the availability of a Gigabit Ethernet connectivity interface for AT&T Voice Over IP Connect Service (AVOICS) and the AT&T BusinessDirect^® portal for AT&T Global Hubbing IP Access (GHIA) customers.

The AVOICS Gigabit Ethernet connectivity interface enables customers to interconnect with the AT&T network more efficiently, more easily manage their networks and edge equipment and help reduce costs through the use of less expensive interface hardware.

The GHIA platform will now incorporate the award-winning AT&T BusinessDirect customer portal to manage all service maintenance issues, providing a virtual telecommunications department that helps customers manage their communications services online. This will help customers increase productivity, improve the speed and accuracy of transactions, optimize network efficiency in near real time and reduce costs.

Industry analysts have noted that VoIP is a growth engine for the wholesale industry. "The wholesale VoIP industry is expected to continue to grow through 2010," said Judy Reed Smith, founder and chief executive officer of ATLANTIC-ACM, which provides strategic consulting and research services to businesses around the world. "AT&T’s VoIP services enable service providers to broaden their footprint and increase their bandwidth by connecting to the AT&T IP network platform."

AVOICS is the flagship wholesale VoIP offered to U.S. service providers that require IP-based connectivity to AT&T’s global IP network for long distance call termination. Customers connect to AVOICS via AT&T’s Multiprotocol Label Switching-Private Network Transport (MPLS-PNT) service. AT&T’s advanced worldwide voice-networking infrastructure provides the foundation for a variety of unbranded and unbundled domestic long distance and international service offerings to wholesale customers for both resale and internal use. Just five months after AT&T announced the expanded availability of AVOICS, the company is responding to customer demands by adding an Ethernet access option.

The GHIA platform is designed to provide flexible solutions for both U.S. and global customers with high international call volumes. GHIA is a centrally managed service that allows service providers to easily establish and operate IP telephony services over AT&T’s award-winning global network.

"By adding these options to our portfolio, we are demonstrating our agility and continued commitment to provide innovative voice and IP solutions to our wholesale customers," said Rise Frankel, executive director of Wholesale Marketing for AT&T Operations Inc. "Ethernet is quickly becoming the de facto access method that wholesale customers are looking for in terms of capability and flexibility because it can be used as the foundation for VoIP, IP access, intranet connectivity and MPLS core services. An Ethernet interface typically allows for seamless growth as customer bandwidth requirements increase."

As a global leader, AT&T delivers a full portfolio of end-to-end, reliable and highly secure network, voice, data and IP solutions to the six wholesale industry segments that it serves: carriers, wireless operators, cable providers, systems integrators, Internet service providers and content providers. AT&T is one of the largest wholesale transport and communications service providers in the world — maintaining connections to more than 400 carriers in more than 220 countries and territories. AT&T brings value to wholesale customers through its global networking, industry-leading portfolio and vertical expertise.

For the complete selection of AT&T Wholesale offerings, visit www.att.com/wholesale.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Next-Generation Voice Service Offers Convenient Integrated Wired and Wireless Features, Reliable Call Quality

San Diego, California, April 2, 2008

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced the availability of AT&T U-verse^SM Voice in parts of the San Diego area, bringing consumers a next-generation digital voice service delivered over the AT&T U-verse Internet Protocol (IP) network. U-verse Voice brings together customers’ AT&T wireline and wireless voice, broadband and TV services with unique features that provide a new level of integration, convenience and control.

AT&T U-verse Voice completes the company’s IP triple play. With U-verse Voice, customers receive a new set of features that highlight the benefits of having advanced video, broadband, wireless and wireline voice services from a single provider — and all on one bill.

AT&T U-verse Voice is a managed IP-based service that is delivered over AT&T’s fiber-rich network, unlike many Voice over IP (VoIP) providers that offer best-effort digital phone services over the public Internet. This allows U-verse Voice customers to enjoy great sound quality and reliability, as well as unmatched calling features that combine with customers’ AT&T U-verse TV, broadband and AT&T wireless services.

"This isn’t about just a bundle. It’s about integration. With U-verse Voice, we’re going beyond basic bundles to make services work together in new and exciting ways — all around you," said Denise Cunningham, AT&T vice president and general manager for the San Diego area. "Local U-verse customers can also enjoy the convenience of having all their services — including wireless — all one bill. That’s a U-verse advantage that’s hard to pass up."

AT&T U-verse Voice has advanced features that go beyond traditional phone service and many competitors’ offerings, including:

• Combined AT&T U-verse Voice and AT&T wireless voice mail with U-verse Messaging, which provides a single voice mailbox that can be accessed from any phone line or PC.
• U-verse Central, an online management portal that gives users the option to easily and conveniently manage their call preferences, voice mail, contacts, call history and more from any PC, in addition to the ability to control call preferences from their home phone.
• An online voice mailbox so that customers can listen to, manage and forward voice mail from the online portal, much like an e-mail inbox.
• Call History, which enables customers to view their most recent incoming and outgoing calls online or to view their most recent incoming calls on their AT&T U-verse TV screen.
• Click to Call, which will initiate a call from the customer’s home phone to any number in a customer’s Call History with one click of a mouse or the U-verse TV remote control.
• An online Address Book that is accessible from any PC and allows customers to Click to Call from their home phone, to create and share contact groups with other U-verse Voice customers or to set up distribution lists for voice messages.
• Locate Me, a feature that provides simultaneous ringing on up to four wireless or landline numbers so that a customer never misses an important incoming call.
• Traditional calling features, such as Call Screening, Call Blocking, Do Not Disturb and privacy settings.

All U-verse Voice customers will have 911 service. Where available via the local 911 network, U-verse Voice customers will have Enhanced 911 (E911) service.

U-verse TV customers can choose from two flexible U-verse Voice calling plans:

• U-verse Voice Unlimited, which includes unlimited local and nationwide minutes to any location in the U.S., Canada or U.S. territories for $40 a month.
• U-verse Voice 1000, which includes 1,000 Call Anywhere minutes to any location in the U.S. or U.S. territories for $30 a month.

A second phone line, which shares the primary line’s calling plan, can be added for $20 a month, and each plan features competitive international rates with no recurring monthly charge. Professional installation is included for new AT&T U-verse TV customers.

AT&T wireless customers who subscribe to an AT&T Unity^SM plan can call any AT&T

U-verse Voice number from their mobile phone as part of the nation’s largest free calling community without using up any wireless Anytime Minutes.

Customers who want additional information on AT&T U-verse can visit http://uverse.att.com.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

Alec Saunders who run agency client iotum, has a very crisp post today about another client, Mobivox and their new features. The one I am personally most excited about is Send Message.

Speech to text is getting much better. With SpinVox, SimulScribe both charging hard in the space to go after carrier deck type business, while selling direct as well, there will be a lot of heat in this area in the coming months. CallWave has also entered the fray with Fuze, a new Unified Communications play.

What I like about both the Mobivox and Callwave plays vs. the one trick ponies of Simulscribe and SpinVox is the costs to the end user will be lower, and you’re using one interface not many. In the case of Mobivox it’s simply your voice, while CallWave’s Fuze is a very slick web interface.

We continue to see convergence occur, but instead of the it being networks or devices, we’re seeing services converge more rapidly than ever before. This is good for the end user, as pricing will only come down as service providers can bundle high value, low cost features, with higher margin services to take a larger cut of the wallet.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

This is an example of a channel program. Tandberg has a telepresence suite to compete with Cisco.

Tandberg though doesn’t have the sales channel strength of a Cisco, so they go to a company that has the field depth to compete. In their case, they went to a solid network equipment provider in Nortel.

Will this sell more for Tandberg? Likely, but I don’t see Nortel having the strength that Cisco has in the channel.

Source: www.voip-news.com

It’s a nasty joke that SIPVicious warns of in this post: Swatters are using VoIP to confuse caller ID and create fake emergencies (and real headaches) for homeowners. Who DOES that?

Jangel is offering free calls if you are willing to put up with ads. Read about it on The VoIP Weblog.

There’s a new version of Fring available, according to Mobile Pakistan’s Blog. The post says that the new version fixes several bugs and whatnot.

Source: www.voip-news.com

VoIP provider AltiGen Communications and distribution partner SYNNEX Corporation are launching new joint sales and marketing campaigns. The campaigns will be geared at expanding reseller and customer bases through webinars, co-branded direct mailings, emails and telemarketing.

“Increasing our channel presence is a key element of our growth plan. Over the years, we have built a strong partner relationship with SYNNEX,” said AltiGen President and COO Jeremiah Fleming. “SYNNEX has done an excellent job supporting our reseller partners. Together, AltiGen and SYNNEX will now conduct new joint sales, marketing, training and education campaigns that are focused on both the reseller and the end user. We are very excited about the next phase of our relationship.”

The two will also host a series of on-site and online educational courses for resellers and customers.

“SYNNEX’s long standing partnership with AltiGen Communications provides a strong base to drive new sales of AltiGen’s comprehensive VoIP telephone systems, especially in the fast growing SMB VoIP and unified communications markets,” said Bob Stegner, Senior Vice President, Marketing, North America at SYNNEX. “Together, AltiGen and SYNNEX are well positioned to leverage the next wave of business communications.”

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

Imagine you’re a New York City High School age student and you were late for school yesterday. If you’re someone who didn’t get your cell phone automatically updated or your computer wasn’t on to switch to Daylight Savings Time and you relied on the clock on your cable box from Time Warner, you may have been late for school, work or an early morning appointment.

That’s because Time Warner’s customers, over a million of them in the Metro NY area were affected by the "bug" which made it hard for the set top box to tell time, the New York Times reported yesterday.

To me, this is an indication that we’re reaching a point where technology is so much a part of our everyday life that even a issue with the decoder boxes makes the news. We’re seeing how closely the press covers the cable world and how it impacts consumers. Thirty years ago, this is the kind of coverage you would see and read about the telephone or power company. The cable industry reached that status ten years ago or so and there’s no looking back.

That puts them clearly under more and more of a watchful eye by more and more watchdog groups. With the cable MSO’s offering voice services now as a regular offering it will only be a matter of time where they begin to be targeted for "unbundling" as well as monopoly operations.

My long term view is your cable operator will be the pipe to the door, but you’ll be able to choose who the "provider" of services is so you can pick the real package you want. It happened with the telcos and it will happen with cable. It’s just a matter of time.