Source: www.voip-news.com

VoIPshield Laboratories says that there are some serious security vulnerabilities in VoIP and Unified Communications (UC) systems that affect applications using media stream protocols like RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol). Among the impacted products are Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Office Communicator and Windows Live Messenger.

“Most of the attention in enterprise VoIP/UC security has been paid to the control channel, where SIP and other signaling protocols are used,” said Ken Kousky, CEO of CISSP certification training company IP3 Inc. and adviser to the VoIP Lab at Illinois Institute of Technology. “Until now, the media stream has been largely ignored by the security community as a source of malicious activity. But attacks from these vectors have the potential to be dangerously persistent and widespread.”

If exploited, the vulnerabilities if exploited would cause a Denial of Service (DoS) condition against the entire desktop environment.

“Today’s announcements are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Andriy Markov, director of VoIPshield Labs. “Although they are specific to Microsoft’s applications, similar flaws exist in other VoIP vendors’ products. And many other media stream attacks exist that have more severe implications than service availability. We’re presently validating new research that shows an attacker can gain unauthorized access to an unsuspecting user’s laptop by manipulating the packets of a VoIP phone call. We believe that these attacks can even be made to traverse a PSTN gateway.”

According to VoIPshield:

Effective immediately, customers of VoIPshield’s VoIPguard(TM) VoIP/UC Intrusion Prevention System can download the new signatures using the VoIPshield Update(TM) subscription service. VoIPguard contains over 500 VoIP/UC specific signatures to detect and prevent malicious signalling and media traffic.

Source: www.voip-news.com

MIPS Technologies, Inc.’s synthesizable MIPS32 24KEc processor core is powering Ralink’s RT3052 and RT3050 802.11n Single Chip Access Point/router SoCs. The core allows the devices to process things like broadband routing, Ethernet to Wi-Fi bridges, VoIP, online gaming and home entertainment.

“Our new 802.11n AP/router SoCs are highly integrated to meet market demand for smaller form factors and lower BOM costs in router devices, while delivering high data rates and the best available wireless coverage for 802.11n,” said Fred Jann, vice president of IC Design for Ralink Technology. “MIPS Technologies’ synthesizable 24KEc cores, with an optimal combination of high performance, low power and compact area, are a key reason that we are able to deliver this advanced solution.”

According to MIPS:

Ralink’s RT3052 and RT3050 are complete SoC solutions with a high level of integration that accelerates time-to-market and reduces development costs for 802.11n AP/router manufacturers. Ralink’s RT3052 2T2R architecture delivers data rates of 300 Mbps and maintains wireless connections over a large coverage area. Ralink’s RT3050 1T1R architecture is targeted for manufacturers who are looking to replace 802.11g AP/routers with 802.11n.

“MIPS Technologies has a strong presence in broadband access, with processors that can support the high performance, low latency and dependable uptime required in today’s access points — at the lowest possible cost,” said Brad Holtzinger, vice president of worldwide sales at MIPS Technologies. “We are pleased that Ralink, a leading provider of WLAN chipsets, has successfully brought to market yet another innovative MIPS-Based(TM) product.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

Elluminate has launched Elluminate Live V9 and Elluminate Publish! V2 for its Elluminate Learning Suite. The educational software can display video simultaneously in up to six live video windows.

It also integrates teleconferencing that can be used with or in conjunction with Elluminate’s no fee VoIP. Elluminate also offers reservation-free teleconferencing from Premiere Global Services for a fee.

According to Elluminate:

The Elluminate Learning Suite(TM) now includes Elluminate Live!(R) V9 and Elluminate Publish!(TM) V2, adding functionality that enables educators to reach and engage more learners, promote a culture of collaboration across the enterprise, facilitate formal and informal learning, and ensure accessibility and flexibility for all users. The new products extend the reach of and expand access to current academic infrastructure, such as integrating video podcasts into a learning management system or enabling the use of existing audio conferencing within a real-time, online session.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Spirent Communications will be lending solutions for IMS-Based IPTV service integration and interoperability Test to GMI 2008, a global MultiService Forum (MSF) interoperability event. Spirent has given more than $1.6 million in test equipment and 800 hours of professional services to the event and is participating in three of the GMI 2008 host locations. (Verizon, NCS, and BT/Vodafone.

“Delivering high-quality IPTV services over an IMS architecture is particularly demanding because it is technically complex, occupies a significant amount of network bandwidth and even small amounts of network impairments can significantly affect the end-user experience,” said Jack Douglass, director of video technologies at Spirent Communications. “IMS-based IPTV must support both broadcast and on-demand TV services with the same quality of experience consumers currently have with traditional cable and satellite services. Our expertise in video and IPTV testing, coupled with its leadership in the IMS space, makes Spirent a perfect fit for this GMI event.”

According to the company:

Spirent is providing award winning test solutions to support GMI’s Next Generation Network (NGN) interoperability efforts. Spirent TestCenter(TM) - an integrated test platform that accelerates conformance, functional and performance testing for converged networks - with its Video Quality Analyzer - allows for the assessment of over 100 metrics related to delivering high quality IPTV. Spirent GEM helps emulate ‘real-world’ IPTV network impairments based on ITU-T Recommendation G.1050-2007 and ANSI TIA-921A. Spirent Abacus is being used for IMS VoIP testing and emergency call services, while Spirent Avalanche is facilitating IPTV multicast video and Web services testing and Spirent Landslide is testing GSM/UMTS core networks.

Source: www.voip-news.com

It’s not really new news at this point, but Microsoft has chosen Telefornica to deliver VoIP over their Live Messenger program. Of course, reports say that despite the recent announcement, that was deployed much earlier in the month.

Silly Microsoft.

And really, the idea of adding VoIP to a messenger program is nothing new. Several other programs have long had that feature.

But according to the New York Times:

With the service, people using Windows Live Messenger can make calls directly from PCs to fixed or mobile phones anywhere in the world, according to Telefonica.

Voype, which competes with eBay’s Skype VOIP service, offers free PC-to-PC calls between Windows Live Messenger users. Calls to phones in the U.S., either fixed or mobile, cost US$.014 per minute, while both fixed and mobile calls to Canada cost $0.055 per minute. Calls to fixed lines in Mexico cost $0.104 per minute, while calls to mobile phones cost $0.277 per minute.

So, what’s with the Voype name anyway?

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Starting  the day before President McCain - I mean, President Obama gets to take over the reins of our country, U-verse TV customers will receive up to 30 new HD channels at no additional charge as part of their existing HD service subscription, depending on their programming package.

AT&T has just announced additional HD programming with  more than
30 new HD channels and new international programming packages for
Chinese, Polish, Russian, French and European-sports audiences.

With the additions, U-verse TV offers more than 75 HD channels — exceeding the HD channel lineups offered by the major local cable providers in every U-verse market.

The newly added HD channels include several regional sports networks, premium movie channels, and popular national sports, news, women’s, shopping and lifestyle networks. (Refer to the full list of HD channel additions at the end of this release.) HD service is available for $10 a month with any U-verse TV programming package. All U-verse TV packages include HD-ready equipment, and four of the five packages include an HD-ready Total Home DVR. Total Home DVR is being rolled out to all U-verse markets by the end of this year.

U-verse TV is also introducing more HD options on Nov. 10 with a new HD Premium package. Featuring Universal HD, MGM HD and Smithsonian Channel HD, the new tier can be added to an HD service subscription for an additional $5 a month. More channels will be added to the HD Premium package in the future.

AT&T is also expanding the ethnic programming available on U-verse TV with several new packages for its diverse customer base including:
 
·         Mandarin Package, featuring CCTV-4, CTI-Zhong Tian Channel, Phoenix InfoNews and Phoenix North American Chinese Channel, for $35 a month. CTI-Zhong Tian Channel can be ordered a la carte for $12 a month, and CCTV-4, Phoenix InfoNews and Phoenix North American Chinese Channel are available a la carte for $10 a month.
·         Polish Package, featuring TV Polonia and TVP Info, for $25 a month. TV Polonia can be ordered a la carte for $20 a month.
·         Russian Package, featuring RTR Planeta and Channel One Russia, for $25 a month. Each channel is available a la carte for $15 a month.
·         TV5MONDE, featuring programs from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and Quebec, for $10 a month.
·         Setanta Sports, featuring exclusively live European and international soccer, rugby and other sports, for $15 a month.

The new international packages are available starting Nov. 10 and can be added to any U-verse TV core programming package.

As part of this month’s expansion, U-verse TV customers also gain access to several new standard definition channels: The Outdoor Channel, NASA TV and, as part of Paquete Español, WAPA America and V-me. Paquete Español features 24 Spanish-language channels for $10 a month with any U-verse TV core programming package.

THE FOLLOWING HD CHANNELS ARE BEING ADDED TO THE AT&T U-VERSE TV LINEUP:
 

@Max HD
5StarMax HD
ActionMax HD
Comcast SportsNet Chicago HD
Comcast SportsNet New England HD
Encore HD
Fox Business Network HD
Fox News Channel HD
FSN Detroit HD
FSN Florida HD
FSN Midwest (Kansas City) HD
FSN Midwest (St. Louis) HD
FSN Ohio (Cincinnati) HD
FSN Ohio (Cleveland) HD
FSN Prime Ticket HD
FSN South HD
FSN Southwest (Dallas) HD
FSN Southwest (Houston) HD
FX Network HD
FX Network HD – West
Hallmark Movie Channel HD
HBO Latino HD
HBO Signature HD
HBO Zone HD
HBO2 West HD
Lifetime Television HD
Lifetime Television HD - West
MoreMax HD
Outdoor Channel HD
OuterMax HD
Planet Green HD
QVC HD
Showtime 2 HD
Showtime Extreme HD
Showtime Showcase HD
Speed HD
SportsSouth HD
SportsTime Ohio HD
Starz Comedy HD
Starz Edge HD
Sun Sports HD
The Travel Channel HD
ThrillerMax HD
TMC Xtra HD
Weather Channel HD
Wmax HD

Photo courtesy of AT&T

Source: www.voip-news.com

VoIP News is holding a free webinar next Thursday, October 30.  The topic is “how Telepresence – real-time, life-like video collaboration – gives companies an environmentally-friendly alternative to communicate and collaborate while significantly reducing overall corporate spending on meetings and travel while improving productivity.” That’s a mouthful. Basically, the webinar is a discussion of the benefits that companies reap thanks to telepresence.

Bonus! Those who attend will be entered into a drawing to win a mobile GPS system.

To learn more, click here.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Release 2 has been released by Microsoft.

“Office Communications Server 2007 R2, debuting just one year after the Microsoft unified communications launch, highlights the pace of innovation that is possible with software,” said Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division at Microsoft. “This new release puts Microsoft on a rapid path to deliver voice software that does much more than a network private branch exchange (PBX) and with much less cost.”

According to Microsoft:

Since the solution became available in 2007, businesses have begun migrating their workers off their PBXs to Office Communications Server for all their telephony needs. Customers such as Royal Dutch Shell plc are already taking a load off their PBXs by using Office Communications Server and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 for mobile and remote workers in place of PBX phones to provide global employees with innovative communications solutions to quickly and efficiently reach their colleagues and help reduce operational costs.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

My friend, (and noted Emmy award winning journalist) Patricio Espinosa, just introduced me to a new webseries for Latinos by Latinos.  Even though AT&T does offer Hispanic programming, there are alternatives directly on the web. Here’s a great example of innovation and creativity you won’t find elsewhere.

"Ylse" Unapologetically Latina! from Patricio Espinoza on Vimeo.

Created by Ruth Livier, Showtime Resurrection Blvd., "Ylse" (ee-l-say) for those Spanish impaired is the story of a Latina journalist looking to break in, and the challenges she must face… from political correctness to bra "pads". Part irreverent comedy, part drama and part activist "Ylse" is someone everyone should meet, and a Latina, Latinos would most certainly identify with.

The web-only series is bilingual but mostly in English "Ylse" it’s pretty much a work of love at this point. E.P. and director Joe Camareno and Ruth Livier, E.P., Creator, Writer talk to espiBlog.org Emmy award winning Journalist Patricio Espinoza.

Web TV - Worth Watching!

Source: www.voip-news.com

Verizon Business now has an Internet protocol termination service. It’s available now on a limited basis.

According to Verizon:

The move to offer an IP-based toll-free termination option comes as wholesale customers and their customers transition to an all-IP network architecture, driven by growth in IP applications such as voice over IP (VoIP).

This service comes with new online features — via Verizon’s wholesale Web portal, Portfolio — that allow access to electronic order-entry systems, call-detail records and online bill presentation.

Users can choose from Access-Based Billing and Operating Company Number (OCN)-Based Billing.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Response Point customers can now take advantage of a strategic alliance between Response Point-manufacturer Microsoft and Bandwidth.com. Bandwidth offers SIP-based phone lines.

“Bandwidth.com’s advanced network capabilities and ubiquitous U.S. coverage will greatly expand the IP service options available to Response Point customers,” said Xuedong Huang, general manager of Microsoft Response Point. “Bandwidth.com’s exceptional quality standards, focus on small businesses and ability to deliver a complete IP-based solution will benefit our Response Point customers from coast to coast.”

The companies plan to layout more details at the SMB Nation 2008 conference in Seattle that begins on Oct. 3.

“Bandwidth.com plans a nationwide roll out to train Microsoft’s small-business specialists, On-Line retailers and other value added Microsoft resellers on the simplicity of connecting Response Point to Bandwidth’s bundled voice service portfolio this fall,” said Jeff Uphues, VP of Sales, Partner Services of Bandwidth.com.

Source: www.voip-news.com

telent is broadening their footprint in the telecommunications sector. The company, which provides technology services, has acquired Premises Networks Management, a UK telecommunications systems integrator.

Premises provides design, supply, installation, support and management of telecommunications solutions including VoIP, ICT, UC and mobile communications. The company works with providers including Ericsson and Global Crossing.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for both businesses,” said Mark Plato, Chief Executive Officer of telent. “Premises Networks is a very complementary business to telent in terms of its service offering and telecoms expertise. Like telent, Premises Networks has developed a reputation for excellent customer service within the industry. telent has the financial scale and customer focus needed successfully to grow a business, and Premises Networks has enviable skills and long-term customer relationships. Together, we provide a compelling proposition of skill, experience, domain knowledge and financial scale.”