Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

LEXINGTON, Ky.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SinglePipe Communications, Inc. (SinglePipe), a facilities-based wholesale communications provider, announced today that it has received an additional $2.5 million in equity funding. The financing was led by Louisville, Kentucky-based Chrysalis Ventures, a leading source of equity capital for growth companies in the Midwest and South. London, Kentucky-based Meritus Ventures, L.P., a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) which invests in expansion-stage companies in central and southern Appalachia, also participated as a co-investor.

SinglePipe provides residential and business VoIP services through wholesale and agent channels to clients across the United States with points of presence throughout the Southeast. The company delivers private-branded turnkey wholesale VoIP solutions to a large provider universe that includes Cable Operators, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC’s), Internet Service Providers (ISP’s), Wireless ISP’s, VoIP Providers, and Value Added Resellers (VAR’s). SinglePipe offers turnkey solutions for residential VoIP, Hosted PBX, and SIP Trunking/Line Replacement over its own highly reliable network and in conjunction with partners nationwide. Its services include origination/termination, turnkey VoIP with industry-leading support, training and marketing resources.

In January 2007, the company raised a $4.0 million Series A equity investment, also led by Chrysalis Ventures, to fund its acquisition of ALEC, a Lexington, Kentucky-based CLEC and provide working capital necessary to aggressively market the company’s products. As a result of this existing private network, the company is now able to provide wholesale local telephone service at a lower cost compared to traditional voice options, as well as to offer the rapid and cost-effective introduction of new features and services at no additional cost.

According to Matthew J. Phillips, SinglePipe CEO, “We are delighted to partner with Chrysalis Ventures and Meritus Ventures for this additional round of equity financing which will help us continue to grow our business. In addition to capital, both investors provide strong leadership and expertise to support our aggressive entry into the rapidly expanding VoIP market.”

“SinglePipe is off to a great start and we are pleased to participate in this follow-on round of growth capital,” said Wright Steenrod, principal of Chrysalis Ventures and member of the SinglePipe board of directors. “Meritus Ventures is an experienced partner and we are excited they have chosen to invest in the SingePipe team.”

“We are very pleased to be co-investing with Chrysalis Ventures in SinglePipe Communications in this follow-on round of growth capital,” said L. Ray Moncrief, Meritus Ventures Fund Manager. “This investment highlights the fact that high-tech businesses flourish in rural areas and that rural businesses can attract high-quality management teams.”

For more information, www.singlepipecom.com.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

I was at FreePBX site today when I noticed the article under hints and tips for FreePBX that explains how to connect two FreePBX together. This is very good if you have two branch offices that has FreePBX boxen. If you follow the instructions, you will have a seamlessly integrated VOIP IP Telephony systems that will act and behave like on as far as users are concerned.
I also learned that there are more VOIP providers, at least two more than I mentioned in my earlier article. Thanks Rob.
Follow the link and get your FreePBX boxen connected!

Links;
FreePBX hints and tips, connect two FreePBX’s together.
Robs favorite Australian VOIP provider 1 Faktotel
Robs favorite Australian Voip provider 2, Mytel

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

I was at FreePBX site today when I noticed the article under hints and tips for FreePBX that explains how to connect two FreePBX together. This is very good if you have two branch offices that has FreePBX boxen. If you follow the instructions, you will have a seamlessly integrated VOIP IP Telephony systems that will act and behave like on as far as users are concerned.
I also learned that there are more VOIP providers, at least two more than I mentioned in my earlier article. Thanks Rob.
Follow the link and get your FreePBX boxen connected!

Links;
FreePBX hints and tips, connect two FreePBX’s together.
Robs favorite Australian VOIP provider 1 Faktotel
Robs favorite Australian Voip provider 2, Mytel

Source: voipcentral.org

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers would be imposed with new tax next year announced, Chairman Kevin Martin on Wednesday.

At this point of time, all telephone services including wireless, pay-phone, long-distance pay a fixed percentage of their revenues to the Universal Service Fund. Universal Service Fund is a multi billion dollar pool resource, which is said to be used to subsidize telecommunications services in rural and other high-cost areas, schools and libraries. Interestingly this fund has been alleged by mismanagement and fraud during its seven-year history.

Earlier in August, FCC’s federal-state joint board on universal service fund had already suggested VoIP providers contributing to the fund. Changes to USF have been suggested as part of a broader overhaul of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. A draft of this legislation written by members of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee includes provisions on broadband and VoIP services. But with the statement by Kevin Martin yesterday this policy seems to remain a top priority by FCC in next year.

VoIP companies will likely put an additional fees onto their customerss bill to pay for the USF fund.

Source

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Washington, D.C. – Responding to a petition from the Department of Justice, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Commission determined that providers of certain broadband and interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services must be prepared to accommodate law enforcement wiretaps, the Federal Communications Commission ruled today.
The complete document links are below,
Order: Word | Acrobat
News Release (8/5/05): Word | Acrobat

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Many VOIP providers will not be able to provide "enhanced" 911 service to all their customers by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s November 28 deadline, VOIP industry sources say (see FCC Requires VOIP E911).

The FCC order requires VOIP providers provide ”enhanced” 911 service, which delivers a caller’s name, telephone number, and physical address directly to the console of the local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in an emergency.

Industry insiders say most VOIP providers are working toward the goal, but realizing it in the entirety of their territory, for most, is an unrealistic goal.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Many VOIP providers will not be able to provide "enhanced" 911 service to all their customers by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s November 28 deadline, VOIP industry sources say (see FCC Requires VOIP E911).

The FCC order requires VOIP providers provide ”enhanced” 911 service, which delivers a caller’s name, telephone number, and physical address directly to the console of the local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in an emergency.

Industry insiders say most VOIP providers are working toward the goal, but realizing it in the entirety of their territory, for most, is an unrealistic goal.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

It seems that the cost of enabling 911 services will be the fall of the small guys. It is rather expensive right now to provide 911 services. My thoughts on that is; It is time to regroup. Individually one might not be able to afford the 911 services. But what if all or some of them band together? consortium could be able to pay the price via a membership fee. Also avenues like pushing the equipment vendor or the termination servie provider to furnish the requirements might keep the small guy above the water