Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

About 18 months ago, I asked Ralph de la Vega when I could control my AT&T U-verse^SM TV with my iPhone.  Well now, I can.  Sort of.  As long as you are away from home. 

AT&T has a free application from the Apple App Store to make scheduling and managing recordings on their DVR even easier when you’re away from home. 

The U-verse TV Mobile Remote Access App for iPhone and iPod touch lets customers record their content from virtually anywhere and is another example of U-verse TV applications and DVR enhancements that have been rolled out to customers at no extra charge.

The app allows users to easily search U-verse TV program listings from the full program guide, view descriptions of selected programs, schedule program or series recordings, manage or edit scheduled recordings, and delete stored DVR content.

The Mobile Remote Access App is available for free from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

The launch of the new U-verse TV Mobile Remote Access App follows several DVR enhancements that are currently being rolled out to U-verse TV customers, including an exclusive new Total Home DVR feature that allows customers to schedule and delete recordings from any U-verse receiver in the home — all from a single DVR.

Source: www.voip-news.com

There is a new handset coming from TCM Mobile that will work on both the TCM Mobile Cellular VoIP Network and on traditional GSM cellular networks. The dual band phone is scheduled for release in two to three months.

“While our new handset is scheduled for release in two to three months, we can currently take any existing dual band handset available on the market and, together with its manufacturer, embed TCM’s revolutionary, patented software into it. This represents a significant opportunity for these manufacturers to grow sales of their own branded handsets in conjunction with the deployment of TCM’s Cellular VoIP network,” said a TCM Mobile senior executive.

According to TCM Mobile:

With existing dual band handsets currently on the market, the GSM cellular service is the default mode while WiFi is a value added feature allowing for lower cost service in home/office enterprise environments. TCM’s dual band device, however, is the first of its kind whereby the Cellular VoIP service is the default mode while a GSM network can be used when outside TCM’s coverage area.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Unified Communications Magazine has named Dalcon Communications Manager-Health Care Edition a winner of the 2008 Product of the Year award.

“Dalcon has proven they are committed to quality and excellence while addressing real needs in the marketplace. Unified Communications is pleased to grant a 2008 Product of the Year Award to their DCM-Healthcare Edition,” said Rich Tehrani, TMC President and Editor-in-Chief of Unified Communications magazine. “We’re proud to honor their hard work and accomplishments and look forward to more innovative solutions from Dalcon in the future.”

According to Dalcon:

Utilizing software running on standard PC servers, and standard IP and analog phones, the powerful DCM 2.0 system not only supports functions such as Direct Inward Dial Numbers, Interactive Voice Response, and find-me/follow me to cell phones, it also supports powerful, integrated functions including:

– Electronic Faxing – eliminate the phone lines, paper, and toner of fax machines while automatically producing electronic documents for electronic medical records systems.

– Nurse WiFi – these critically important staff members and others can now be reached as easily as if they were sitting at their personal extension phone.

– Patient Nurse Call Integration – Existing nurse call systems can now be integrated with hospital fixed and wireless phone systems to better respond to patient calls.

– Staff Physician Communications – Doctors can now communicate simply by being a part of the hospital system so that, whether they are in their offices or doing rounds, they can reach key nurses and staff, and be reached immediately if needed.

“We’re pleased to be honored by this leading publication in the communications industry. We have recognized the need for fully integrated communications within hospitals and our DCM-Healthcare Edition represents the state-of-the-art in this regard,” said David Condra, Dalcon’s CEO. “Now hospitals can take full advantage of VoIP through the use of a fully integrated, open-standards-based communications system.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

Technology Marketing Corporation has award Radware’s SIP Director the 2008 Communications Product of the Year Award. SIP Director is a fully SIP-aware application delivery controller.

“We are pleased to be the recipient of this distinguished award from Technology Media Corporation,” said David Aviv, Vice President, Advanced Services, Radware. “At Radware, we strive to offer the finest solutions and provide the most dedicated customer support team, and we believe this recognition affirms our passion to deliver business smart networking to carriers. By addressing growing demand for SIP service delivery by both carriers and operators, SIP Director provides the high availability, scalability, resilience and interoperability that our global customers require in order to address their growing network requirements.”

More information about the winners of the award can be found at www.tmcnet.com/voip.

“SIP Director has been recognized with a 2008 Product of the Year Award for their excellence in the advancement of voice, data and video communications,” said Rich Tehrani, TMC President and Group Editor-in-Chief, “Radware has proven they are committed to quality and excellence in solutions that benefit the customer experience as well as ROI for the companies that use them. I am pleased to honor their hard work and accomplishments and look forward to more innovative solutions from them in the future.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

Radware is using NetLogic Microsystem’s NETL7 Layer 7 processors for its new DefensePro network security Solutions. The NetLogic processors are designed to enhance the performance and functionality of next-gen networks for high-definition video delivery over the Internet (IPTV), media-rich content over advanced mobile wireless services, voice transmission over the Internet (VoIP) and network security applications.

“We have been impressed with the superior performance, quality and ease-of-integration of NetLogic Microsystems’ NETL7 processors and SDK which have enabled us to get to market much sooner and with a more robust product,” said Avi Chesla, vice president of security, Radware. “By offering our comprehensive, high-performance network security product line that integrates NetLogic Microsystems’ industry-leading hardware accelerators, our new line of DefensePro IPS products provide customers with unparalleled performance and scalability for data center security protection.”

According to the companies:

Radware has collaborated with NetLogic Microsystems to use NetLogic Microsystems’ industry-leading NETL7 knowledge-based processors to accelerate deep-packet inspection (DPI) and enhance the wire-speed performance of Radware’s DefensePro systems. The NETL7 processor family comprises highly scalable solutions that provide real-time, uncompromised inspection performance from 250Mbps to 20Gbps with a common set of APIs and software development kit (SDK). By inspecting every bit in every packet against every security threat signature at wire-speed, the NETL7 processors enable comprehensive, best-in-class security solutions for next-generation data center, enterprise, service provider and small/midsize business networks.

“We are excited to have been selected by Radware for their new line of DefensePro network security products,” said Mike Ichiriu, senior director of Layer 7 products at NetLogic Microsystems. “DefensePro solutions are driving advanced security performance, functionality and services to new levels in next-generation data centers, and we’re glad to be delivering innovative processors into these advanced security systems.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

The Education Commission of Chaoyang District in Beijing now has been outfitted with a virtualization solution by Beijing PowerUnique Technology Co., Ltd., a division of China VoIP & Digital Telecom Inc.

“The Commission’s project demonstrated our ability to provide quality virtualization solutions in the education industry. BPUT’s cooperation with Zhengqun, a system integrator (SI), created a new marketing approach through helping the SIs without the VMware sales qualification, VMware Certified Professional engineers, VMware Authorized Training Center and VMware Authorized Consultant (all are strictly required before implementing the virtualization projects) to implement turn-key virtualization solutions,” said Li Kunwu, CEO of CVDT.

According to the company:

During the virtualization solution implementation process, BPUT worked with Beijing Zhengqun Xinshi Information Technology Co., Ltd. (”Zhengqun”) by providing Zhengqun comprehensive technical support service including pre-sale training, test evaluation, solution design, and software delivery, as well as implementation and on-site training. Zhengqun applied BPUT’s turn-key solution to the Commission’s virtualization project, which is aimed at improving the IT management efficiency by reducing the number of servers being used and expanding the server capacity to meet high browsing demand from its website, which is used by its internal staff as well as teachers and students in the Chaoyang district in Beijing.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Voipswitch has been awarded a 2008 Product of the Year distinction by TMC’s Unified Communications magazine. The product is made by Voiceserve.

“We are very honored to have received and won such a prestigious award. It is very encouraging to note that our Voipswitch products are winning awards alongside some of the renowned world leaders, BT, Cisco, IBM, NEC, Nortel, Verizon and many others. Voipswitch is receiving recognition for the ingenuity, scope and reliability of its multifunctional robust soft switch. With the release of the latest Voipswitch modules we are confident that our product will be a viable solution for leading ISP’s and VOIP providers globally,” said Chris Oglaza CTO of Voiceserve Inc.

The winners will be in the March/April edition of the magazine.

“Voipswitch has proven they are committed to quality and excellence while addressing real needs in the marketplace. Unified Communications is pleased to grant a 2008 Product of the Year Award to their Voipswitch Solution,” said Rich Tehrani, TMC President and Editor-in-Chief of Unified Communications magazine. We’re proud to honor their hard work and accomplishments and look forward to more innovative solutions from Voipswitch in the future.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

VoIP News of the UK has some details on SIP print call recording options.

Skype 4.0 is out and Andy Abramson of VoIP Watch is impressed.

Smith on VoIP says that this year’s IT Expo shows that the VoIP industry is still doing well.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Sangoma’s A101/A102/A200 telephony cards are new interoperable with PBXpress VoIP Private Branch eXchange, according to PortaOne.

“PBXpress and Sangoma cards make a dynamic combination able to support today’s heterogeneous telecom landscape,” said Kathleen Reed, Marketing Director of Sangoma. “Small to mid-sized companies seeking to incorporate the benefits of IP PBX into their existing telecom infrastructure will be pleased with the call quality, easy connectivity, and unparalleled reliability afforded by PBXpress and Sangoma.”

According to PortaOne:

Sangoma’s digital telephony cards support both voice and data communications with Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), including on- premises analog telephones. The company’s products, which mount on the PBXpress, feature telco-grade voice quality and hardware echo canceller Digital Signal Processors.

PortaOne has affirmed interoperability between PBXpress and three Sangoma products: the A101, single port card supporting up to 30 voice calls or 2.048 Mbps over a single T1/E1/J1 line; the A102, for up to 60 voice calls or 4.096 Mbps over two T1/E1/J1 lines; and the A200, a scalable FXO/FXS telephony card that expands to directly connect from 2 to 24 analog telephones.

“Internet Telephony Service Providers need best-in-class IP PBX options for a wide range of customers,” said Roman Khalenkov, sales and marketing director for PortaOne. “PBXpress and Sangoma are an ideal solution for a great many of these users. Add in the 24/7 technical support provided by PortaOne, and ITSPs have an unbeatable competitive package. PortaOne is also proud to offer carrier-grade consulting and after-sale support for PBXpress. Our technical staff delivers the peace-of-mind that makes PBXpress and Sangoma the premier solution for ITSPs and their enterprise IP PBX customers.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

For the record I am so sick of hearing about and talking about the downturn. I know, the economy is in peril. I KNOW that companies are failing left and right. But come on, that isn’t all that’s happening these days!

Nonetheless, there is a really interesting article on the main VoIP-News site that I wanted to direct you to. The article details ways to save on VoIP in the downturn.

Here’s a snippet:

1. Be sure to do competitive bids or RFPs (Request for Proposals). In an environment where sales are scarce, it’s almost cruel, not to mention foolish, not to let vendors battle one another for your business. Instead of simply talking to the vendor with the most attractive product or sales pitch, put out an RFP and let the cutthroat environment do the rest. However little you manage to pay the winning bidder, it will still represent money they wouldn’t otherwise have had. “Since all vendors will be hungry for the incremental revenue, there should be some aggressive pricing,” said Marty Parker, principal at UniComm Consulting LLC. And don’t think RFPs are only for huge purchases. They’re useful even when buying phone systems for few as 100 seats, claimed Robert Harris, president of consulting firm Communications Advantage Inc.

Read more here.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Another winner of the 2008 Product of the Year Awards from TMC Internet Telephony Magazine has been announced. Tektronix Communications has received it for their interactive voice response system called Zoey. Zoey was released in June, and allows VoIP, wireless, and analog phones to be tested for quality of service at any time.

According to the company:

Subscribers can interact with Zoey to check: caller ID, echo, noise, speech quality (MOS) and touch tone. As an interactive and real-time solution which provides results to the end-user and customer call center, Zoey reduces Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) as it is available any time of the day, allowing for issues to be resolved quickly and efficiently.

“Zoey provides end-to-end visibility in mixed circuit and packet environments and is an ideal tool to support end-users and reduce the amount of time spent on the line with customer call centers,” said Richard Kenedi, General Manager, Active Assurance, Tektronix Communications. “We are honored to be recognized for our dedication in providing our customers with the highest quality of test solutions.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

The NEI  SN-2500 R2 was awarded Internet Telephony magazine’s 2008 Product of the Year Award, an award that is given to the best and the brightest in telecommunications-related products.

“The SN-2500 R2 is designed to meet the surging demand for enhanced data storage capacity on SAN storage subsystems while also providing flexibility and modularity for faster access,” said Jeff Hudgins, vice president of marketing, NEI. “This award validates our momentum in the market as more OEMs and ISVs are looking for carrier-grade storage systems with NEBS Level 3 certification. The SN2500 R2 accelerates time-to-market and increases business efficiencies for our customers.”

NEI’s SN-2500 R2 is a flexible, scalable carrier-grade storage system that is supported by lifecycle management capabilities.

“With hundreds of applications again this year, the judging process was difficult, however NEI’s SN2500 R2 demonstrates a valuable commitment to the advancement of the IP communications industry. NEI deserves this honor, and I look forward to seeing more innovative solutions from them as they continue to contribute to the future of VoIP and IP communications infrastructure,” stated TMC Editorial Director, Greg Galitzine, the publisher of Internet Telephony magazine.