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

The first-ever TSG-6 SIP-compliant phone has been released by Tone Commander and it’s already approved by the National Telecommunications Security Working Group (NTSWG)  for government and military use. The US-made Tone Commander 7810 TSG-6 IP phone can be integrated wherever IP networks are available.

“We are proud to offer this dynamic, cutting-edge new phone,” said Steve Hill, president of Tone Commander. “This new device provides our customers with the best of both worlds – best-in-class quality and top-of-the-line functionality with excellent flexibility. And with NTSWG certification, the phone can now be deployed for sophisticated government and military applications.”

So what are the perks of this phone?

Among its key features and benefits, Tone Commander’s 7810 TSG-6 IP phone offers:

– RTP voice encryption (AES-128) and TLS signaling encryption included
in FIPS 140-2 approved algorithms.
– Unique DoD features specified in DISN RTS GSR (Defense Information
Systems Network, Real Time Services, Generic Systems Requirements).
– Multi-level precedence and preemption, providing barge-in capabilities
for high-priority calls.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Good news for Vonage.

You may remember that back in February I told you all about Vonage being in danger of being delisted by the New York Stock Exchange. Basically, the internet telephony company had fallen below the minimum average global market capitalization of no less than $100 million over a consecutive 30 trading day period.

Well, a few days ago, the NYSE accepted Vonage’s plan of compliance — which is a plan saying what they will do to ensure they remain compliant in the future.  The document includes operational and financial initiatives, projected impact on the company’s bottom line and more.

So, Vonage is safe from delisting … for now. But they now need to submit to quarterly reviews by the NYSE to ensure that they are following the plan.

Day’s never finished …

Source: www.voip-news.com

Telecommunications providers can now simplify the deployment of hosted business communications solutions with BroadSoft’s product enhancements to their VoIP application platform.

“BroadSoft has eliminated the complex staging and configuration process for service providers. ‘Plug-and-play activation’ over a secure interface was important to our customers, so we took action,” said Scott Hoffpauir, co-founder and CTO of BroadSoft. “We are committed to not only helping our customers scale their business by simplifying service deployment, but also expediting the delivery of critical business communications solutions to end users.”

According to Broadsoft:

BroadSoft(R) has enhanced BroadWorks with new device management functionality that enables service providers to easily pre-configure end-user access devices. This new capability solves one of the most complex and time-consuming phases of delivering VoIP services — provisioning end devices. Traditionally, providers need to either pre-provision devices before shipment, rely on standalone FTP servers to store files or provision each phone at the customer site, all of which take time and require experienced technicians.

Through BroadSoft Device Management, providers can quickly provision analog terminal adapters (ATAs), IP phones, integrated access devices (IADs) and IP PBX equipment — any access device that uses XML/HTTP for profile management — at the customer site. A simple login process is used to retrieve the appropriate user-specific files directly from BroadWorks. Providers manage and control all aspects of device configuration centrally in the network, reducing the time it takes to provision phones from hours to minutes and eliminating the need for a technician visit.

Source: www.voip-news.com

The VoSKY Exchange VIT1/E1 and VISIP-EX PBX-to-Skype Gateways from VoSKY are now compliant with Avaya Communication Manager solutions.

“During these difficult economic times, many enterprises are looking for ways to reduce communications costs,” said David Tang, VP of Global Marketing at VoSKY. “Our cooperation with Avaya enables enterprises that are using Avaya’s state-of-the-art IP telephony systems to realize tremendous cost savings and productivity improvements through the use of Skype to communicate and collaborate with their customers and supply chain.”

According to VoSKY:

VoSKY’s enterprise-grade PBX-to-Skype Gateways connect businesses to Skype, the world’s largest VoIP community with over 400 million registered users. Companies will be able to utilize the VoSKY Exchange business-class applications like Web Click-to-Call, Skype Trunking, Remote Access and Voice VPN to enhance communication, collaboration and reduce telecom costs. The VoSKY Exchange T1/E1 now is compliance-tested by Avaya for compatibility with: Communication Manager 5.1.1, while the VoSKY Exchange VISIP-EX is compliance-tested with Avaya’s Communications Manager 5.1.1 and SIP Enablement Services 5.1.1.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Sonus Networks has received SIPconnect 1.0 complaint status from the SIP Forum for its Sonus Network Border Switch. The carrier  class border control solution allows for centralized routing, media transcoding and enhanced security.

“The dramatic growth in communication choices provides enterprises with new options to enhance their workforce’s productivity,” said Marc Robins, managing director of the SIP Forum. “Interoperability is the single biggest hurdle to widespread adoption of new IP communications products and services. The SIP Forum established the SIPconnect framework to make it easier for enterprises to bridge IP from the service providers’ core to the end users desktop, enhancing quality and enabling new service creation.”

According to Sonus:

With Sonus IP Business Trunks, service providers can create a single broadband connection for voice and data, providing a more cost effective and efficient connection. This connection can help to drive new revenue through innovative services. Because the Sonus IP Business Trunk is a direct IP-to-IP pipeline between the core network and enterprise-based IP-PBX, service providers can quickly deliver hosted, secure services to enterprise customers without the need for additional Class 5 infrastructure.

The SIPconnect Technical Recommendation, an initiative of the SIP Forum, is a standards-based approach that provides detailed guidelines for direct IP peering and interoperability between IP PBXs and VoIP service provider networks. The associated SIPconnect Compliant Certification Program, through which eligible companies can gain SIPconnect validation and the right to license the use of the SIP Forum’s ‘SIPconnect Compliant’ certification mark, helps to validate interoperability among equipment manufacturers, software providers and service providers, as well as to promote further adoption of SIP as the standard for IP communications.

“The Sonus Network Border Switch has already proved its value in the market, supporting thousands of IP business trunks,” commented Shailin Sehgal, vice president marketing and product management at Sonus Networks. “The recognition of compliance with SIPconnect further demonstrates that Sonus is delivering an enhanced, standards-based solution for access border security. Sonus can offer service providers a path to transform their networks to all IP, from the core to the edge.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

The wireless IP interconnection technology from Tata Communications has been successfully trialed as part of the international GSM Association’s program to develop next gen wireless services.

According to the company:

Tata Communications’ trials were part of the GSMA’s IP eXchange (IPX) Pre-Commercial Implementation Project, which is verifying the design and operation of IPX networks through a series of trials designed to validate technical and commercial specifications. Once adopted, IPX will act as a private global IP backbone, open to any telecommunications company adhering to the required standards. IPX will provide fixed and mobile service providers with a technical and commercial platform for the performance-based exchange of IP-based services.

“Tata Communications’ participation and completion of the GSMA’s IPX trial is key to our strategy of delivering innovative voice solutions to our customers worldwide,” said Michel Guyot, President, Global Voice Solutions for Tata Communications. “Our company is committed to working with the IPIA (IP Internetworking Alliance) to promote and support the launch of IPX services and is planning to launch its own IPX rich, integrated offering to service providers – like TELUS and Telekom Austria – delivered over next-generation network architecture. We truly believe the IPX model will have a very significant impact on the industry.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

Interoperability testing between PortaOne’s PortaSwitch IP multimedia subsystem and Flashphone from Innovative Systems of Communication LLC has been completed successfully. Flashphone is a softphone client. The interoperable solution offers reliable peer-to-peer and peer-to-whoever phone calls.

“With both consumers and organizations of all sizes looking for ways to reduce costs, a ‘call via Web site’ capability is a highly attractive offering in today’s global economy,” said Roman Khalenkov, sales and marketing director for PortaOne. “The mutual support of PortaSwitch and Flashphone creates an instant value-add for service providers that can build loyalty and increase revenues.”

According to the companies:

Flashphone, based on InnoSystems’ Zingaya(TM) Media Server VoIP gateway, is a “call via Web site” solution for free or low-cost IP telephony. For end-users, Flashphone requires nothing more than a Web browser and sufficient bandwidth, along with a PC headset and the free Adobe Flash Player plug-in. The service can be offered free for peer-to-peer calls, or at low cost for calls to regular phone numbers.

InnoSystems’ Flashphone is a market-ready softphone enhancement for PortaSwitch, PortaOne’s flagship VoIP services platform. PortaSwitch is a software-based communication services and subscriber management solution that allows IP telephony services providers to unify voice, data and fax traffic within a single network. The comprehensive, Class 5 product consists of a softswitch and application servers, delivering SIP call control, unified messaging, IP Centrex and IP PBX, voice VPN, callback management, billing and provisioning and much more.

“PortaOne and Flashphone is a powerful combination that can be offered both as an end-user product and a solution for e-Commerce, businesses or call centers,” said Alexey Aylarov, project manager of InnoSystems. “Interoperability with PortaOne demonstrates Flashphone’s flexibility and reliability in supporting leading-edge IP multimedia systems.”

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Last week, as I was on my mission to get my phone bill’s price point reduced, good old AT&T sweetened the deal by closing the deal on their buying Wayport.   So what’s that mean to we consumers?

20,000 Free Hot Spots and Counting

So now, we’ve got 20,000 new places to hang out and get free WiFi giving now giving me 80,000 new free AT&T hotspots, including the  nearly 7,000 company-operated Starbucks locations (give or take the ones that are scaling back.)

At places like McDonalds and Hertz, you’ll now get free AT&T WiFi.  For a list of locations, click here.

Source: www.voip-news.com

E911 providers say that compliance with the new E911 rules is critical for VoIP companies in light of Monday’s FCC ruling that strengthened compliance rules. Failure to adhere to E911 rules could negatively impact sales and create unnecessary liability.

VIXXI, an E911 provider, is using what they call “efficient geospatial technology,” that exceeds compliancy standards and lowers costs for VoIP providers.

“It’s important for VoIP companies to understand the risk of not providing the best E911 technology available, both from a liability and sales perspective. Consumers are considering 911 functionality and their family’s safety when selecting a VoIP provider,” said Stefanie Linnemann, Marketing Analyst for VIXXI. “The good news is that VoIP providers can protect their customers with minimal time and resource investment. Efficient IP technology saves our customers 20% or more off their current E911 costs.”

According to VIXXI:

While E911 historically has been a challenge that comes with the territory for VoIP providers, companies like VIXXI are making it easy to provide exceptional E911 functionality at aggressive prices. E911 is no longer a necessary distraction from a VoIP provider’s core business; it has evolved into a means for VoIP companies to quickly and cost-effectively differentiate themselves in an area of high priority for voice consumers.

Source: www.voip-news.com

SimpleSignal and Chinook Hosting have teamed up to deliver a comprehensive unified communications solution. The solution includes SimplyMobile, SimpleSIgnal’s hosted PBX that uses the BroadSoft BroadWorks VoIP Platform. The platform will allow the two companies to create a voice-enabled messaging solution that combines hosted PBX with Microsoft Exchange.

According to the companies:

With SimplyMobile, email and voice services are hosted, allowing end-users to focus on managing their business rather than managing their communications infrastructure. In addition to delivering voice and email features available in high-end systems, this solution translates emails from text to speech, allowing business users to listen to their emails from any location. SimplyMobile allows users to call Outlook contacts via voice commands on a mobile phone.

“Today’s worker is mobile and needs one solution to manage their voicemail, email and calendar from any location at any time,” said Dave Gilbert, president of SimpleSignal. “The convenience of having emails read aloud while on the move and using voice commands to call contacts and manage calendars makes it incredibly easy for users to communicate, collaborate and share information.”

Source: www.voip-news.com

The first phase implementation of Bandwidth.com’s new all-IP network has been completed by Sonus Networks. The Next-gen network deployment is intended to provide secure, advanced business communications services to small and medium businesses in the US.

“Our ability to serve small businesses has driven Bandwidth.com’s dramatic growth,” said David Morken, co-founder, CEO and president at Bandwidth.com. “We partner with Sonus because they share our vision for innovation and have a track record of delivering reliable, scalable and cost effective networks. We invest in industry leading technology, anticipating demand for our mission critical services like SIP trunking. Using Sonus infrastructure ensures that Bandwidth.com’s network is optimized intelligently to provide for and ultimately capture that demand.”

Bandwidth intends to use the complete Sonus solution.

“Meeting the demands of enterprise customers requires secure, scalable and highly available networks,” said Mohammed Shanableh, vice president of global sales at Sonus Networks. “The Sonus portfolio of integrated solutions delivers a robust IP-based network for advanced services. The intelligent session control technology enables Bandwidth.com to make its network more resource efficient. Bandwidth.com will be able to offer its business customers a range of innovative applications such as IP Business trunks, IP Centrex and collaboration applications.”