Source: www.voip-news.com

DevMar Associates are now a distributor for AAR’s Contingency Response Communications System. The communications system is intended to provide local, state and federal agencies with an interoperable communications solution that is simple and yet bridges the gap between agencies, command and control.

“AAR is looking forward to working with Dennis DuVal and his team at DevMar Associates,” said Lee Krantz, Vice President and General Manager of AAR Mobility Systems. “Dennis’ extensive background working with government agencies at many different levels, combined with his knowledge of the communications requirements during a disaster and experience as Chief of Police of Syracuse, NY gives him solid credibility and makes him a natural fit to represent the CRCS in the marketplace.”

According to the company:

The CRCS is an IP-based, agency-neutral solution that allows first responders to communicate and exchange information with radio interoperability, live streaming video, wireless Internet and VoIP services. Potential operators include military, firefighters, law enforcement, National Guard, Department of Homeland Security and other organizations involved in disaster recovery activity.

Source: www.voip-news.com

A new unified communications solution from iVisit, iVisit Rx telemedicine platform, just won first place in the Fourth Annual CTIA Emerging Technologies Awards for Healthcare. The face-to-face communication platform brings medical professionals and their patients together for remote treatment and monitoring. It works on IP and 3G+ networks and allows connectivity between mobile phones, desktops, laptops and mobile diagnostic devices. The beta version now available runs on Windows Mobile with touch screens and PCs.

“iVisit’s video conferencing and data services running on Windows Mobile are a good example of high value 3G services that are now possible,” said Steve Hegenderfer, group product manager for Windows Mobile at Microsoft Corp. “The Windows Mobile platform makes it possible for developers, such as iVisit, to easily build compelling applications with a familiar programming language and top-level industry tools.”

According to iVisit:

iVisit and its partners are developing iVisit Rx as a telemedicine and assisted living platform that combats soaring healthcare costs. For example, CELLUCARE is helping patients manage their diabetes condition by providing coaching and intervention, which reduces the likelihood of medical events that incur higher costs and improves quality of the patients’ mobile lifestyle. Nurse Practitioners talk face-to-face with patients in their homes using 2-way video over mobile phones powered by iVisit Rx.

A second iVisit Rx partner, Wound Technology Network (WTN), offers a distributed wound treatment program where two wound specialists (one on location, one connected remotely) simultaneously assess and treat patient wounds. Through its centralized specialist call center, care management software, and use of iVisit Rx, WTN offers patients a level of wound care expertise, standardized protocols, and quality of care that rivals the best specialty wound care clinics.

“iVisit is a great example of public and private investment in critical healthcare research and development,” said Rohit Shukla, CEO of the Larta Institute. “We are proud to be associated with such a stellar group of folks, as they define the future of mobile communications and bring its advantages and advances to underserved populations.” iVisit is a participant in the Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) which Larta Institute manages for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Source: www.voip-news.com

Mini-VSAT Broadband network is now available in the Pacific Ocean region. The service is intended to bring broadband telephone and internet services to vessels and jets crossing the ocean. The coverage area includes Alaska, the west coasts of the US and Canada, Hawaii and some of Asia.

“We have now successfully rolled out a single, unified broadband service across roughly two-thirds of the world’s major shipping and aeronautical lanes, enabling us to offer commercial, leisure, and government customers a unique mobile communications hardware and service solution,” said Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH’s chief executive officer. “Our goal, as we enter 2009, is to complete our global mini-VSAT Broadband network and support the growing demand for faster, more affordable data and voice connections for people on the move.”

According to the company:

The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone(R) V7 antenna, comprise the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications and offers Voice over IP phone service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates. The compact TracPhone V7 −- 75% lighter and 85% smaller by volume than traditional 1-meter VSAT antennas -− brings a blend of the economy and speed of VSAT communications with lower costs and easier installation to smaller vessels, making the system exceptionally well suited for commercial fishing boats, leisure yachts, government vessels, and commercial operations.

“The success and growth of this Ku-band satellite broadband service, built on the foundation of our ArcLight(R) technology, has created pent up demand for services over the Pacific and into Asia,” said Don Buchman, ViaSat’s director for mobile broadband. “In addition to opening up service to current customers, we expect the expansion of the mobile network to attract new customers as well.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

Are you going to the Internet Telephony Conference and Expo East 2009, planned for Feb. 2-4, 2009, at the Miami Beach Conference Center in Miami?

The IP Communications trade show is put on by TMC and drew more than 7,000 buyers and sellers last year.

Among those showing at this event will be MERA Systems, which plans to unveil the latest version of its updated VoIP softswitch portfolio.

“MERA Systems participation at INTERNET TELEPHONY ® Conference & EXPO exemplifies why this show is widely recognized as the #1 venue where service providers, enterprises, government agencies, developers and resellers gather to learn about the benefits inherent in IP Communications products and services,” said Rich Tehrani, TMC President. “The evolution in this industry has been monumental and it still continues to grow. We are proud to have MERA Systems and its product portfolio as a key part of this year’s program.”

According to the company:

MERA Systems has designed a suite of Class 4 softswitches that dramatically simplify VoIP traffic wholesaling and Class 5 solutions that allow rendering quality communication services to end-users:

MERA VoIP Transit Softswitch II (MVTS II) is a comprehensive product with enhanced billing capabilities. The softswitch is designed for small and medium-sized wholesale carriers and does not require any add-ons after deployment. The latest release of MVTS II is focused on increasing the system’s performance and dependability and allows new billing capabilities.

“We are proud to showcase our softswitches at the 19 th INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO EAST 2009, which is one of the most important trade shows in the region. Being fully equipped to meet any need that today’s service providers might have, MERA Systems is constantly working on improving the customer care service turning the clientele’s investment into a worthy experience with MERA Systems.”, – said Konstantin Nikashov, CEO of MERA Systems.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

I just saved almost 50% on my AT&T U-verse TV / Voice / and Internet service.

 
No, they don’t promote this.  And no this is not a bail-out.  And no, this is not part of Mr. Obama’s promise of change. 

You just have to call 800-288-2020 and ask for a discount by telling them you are thinking of switching to your local cable or satellite provider.

U-verse Voice went from $35 to $25
U-verse 400 went from $99 to $59
Yahoo Broadband Elite went from $30 to $10

My bill went from $164 to $94 per month by just asking.

Another tactic:  if you’re a guy, tell them you’re wife thinks you watch too much TV and the family has to save money so AT&T’s gotta go.

And if you’re a gal, tell them your man done left you— or just come up with a Jerry Springer like story saying that you gotta cut back on the household overhead.

I am in San Antonio and your market may vary, but press hard and you just might wind up with some pretty amazing savings. I did not cut back on services.

Note:  the deal they offered was only for six months.  I told them to note it on my record that I was going to call back in May to ask for the same thing again.

Tell them Alan from 3Screens sent you.

Share your story with me with comment on the blog or email:  alan at weinkrantz dot com.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Being based in San Antonio, we think in terms of Mexican food.  I used to see former AT&T Chairman Ed Whitacre dine at LaFogatta, one of my personal faves.  When you get the whole enchilada, you get the whole thing, the big meal, the super combo deluxe dinner.

The phone company as we no longer know it has just launched AT&T Net Reach, a whole enchilda approach to providing home and on-the-go high speed Internet services for the ever-moving consumer and small business customer.

3Screens.net News Summary:

• Combining the strengths of AT&T’s wireless and wireline networks, Net Reach includes AT&T High Speed Internet and LaptopConnect services, in addition to free access to more than 17,000 hot spots with AT&T Wi-FiSM service.
• Plus, as part of the LaptopConnect service, new software automatically detects the strongest available AT&T signal from a nearby network — 3G, EDGE, Wi-Fi or one’s AT&T High Speed Internet connection at home — making connecting simple and easy.
• AT&T Net Reach provides high speed Internet service at home, access to AT&T’s 3G wireless network in more than 275 major metro areas, national coverage on AT&T’s EDGE wireless network and free access to more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots nationwide, including roughly 7,000 Starbucks locations.
• The latest AT&T Communication Manager software, version 6.8, now pre-installed on the AT&T USBConnect 881, adds ease of use by picking up AT&T network signals directly from one’s laptop.
• Customers may also download the new AT&T Communication Manager, at no cost, by visiting www.att.com. AT&T Net Reach plans are now available, starting at $79.95 a month, and may be ordered by calling AT&T or by visiting a local AT&T retail location.

How To Buy:
AT&T Net Reach is available to new and existing residential and small business customers who subscribe to AT&T High Speed Internet and AT&T LaptopConnect services. Customers must also opt to combine their wireless and wireline services onto one billing statement.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Bulkmatic Transport Co. will be using AT&T voice and internet protocol services. Bulkmatic does dry bulk cargo shipping and distribution.

The system will use the fully managed network solution Private Network Transport, which runs on Multiprotocol Label Switching technology. The solution will enhance the usage of VoIP applications as well.

“With expanded bandwidth, our company is enhancing the ease and flexibility of our business operations,” said David Tarra, director of Information Technology, Bulkmatic Transport Co. “AT&T’s quality products have streamlined our communications among our locations, and getting all of our network traffic on a single digital highway helps us control our costs.”

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

One of the first people I ever got to know in the online world was Joi Ito. That’s going as far back as 1984-85 and the says of Unison and the Well. I got to know Joi through what was one of the earliest "social networks" around, called the ENA, the acronym for the Electronic Networking Association.

Yesterday the former quantum physics major at University of Chicago wrote a post questioning if we really need a Mobile Internet. He calls into question the current mobile structure that exists, both from a technology and ideological perspective.

It’s a great read.

Technorati Tags:
VoIP, Mobile, Andy Abramson

Source: www.voip-news.com

Net Neutrality used to be a big buzz word for a bill before Congress. But that is so last year.

These days, the bill is about internet freedom and it’s a bit different from the previous incarnation. But this one could succeed where the other bill failed – and it stands a good chance of passage.

Read about it here on VoIP-News.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

With all those tight schedules and work I hope you have not forgotten about the Internet Telephony & Expo 2007 that will be held on September 10-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. May be it is the time that you made that trip to the tinsel town in sunny California.

ITEXPO, the best known name for this Internet Telephony Conference & Expo, is a event where enterprises, SMBs, and Government Agencies, basically everyone including you and me, learn how to select and deploy IP-based voice, video, fax, and unified communications. On the other hand it’s also where service providers, equipment manufacturers learn what their customers looking for in real world situations. The Exhibit Hall at ITEXPO is where buyers, sellers, resellers, and manufacturers meet to forge relationships and close deals. Just imagine all those equipment and services we talk about at your hands.
I am planing to spend all three days at the ITEXPO. If you have not done please register now.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

With all those tight schedules and work I hope you have not forgotten about the Internet Telephony & Expo 2007 that will be held on September 10-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. May be it is the time that you made that trip to the tinsel town in sunny California.

ITEXPO, the best known name for this Internet Telephony Conference & Expo, is a event where enterprises, SMBs, and Government Agencies, basically everyone including you and me, learn how to select and deploy IP-based voice, video, fax, and unified communications. On the other hand it’s also where service providers, equipment manufacturers learn what their customers looking for in real world situations. The Exhibit Hall at ITEXPO is where buyers, sellers, resellers, and manufacturers meet to forge relationships and close deals. Just imagine all those equipment and services we talk about at your hands.
I am planing to spend all three days at the ITEXPO. If you have not done please register now.