Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

I have been interested in a rugged notebook as it looks like my norm to drop notebooks, tablets. So I was over at Ruff PC and noticed one person has done a review of MagicJack. The MagicJack has been tested over the last few days by this reviewer and it does seem to have traction as a Skype Killer. In fact, the only fuss with the plug-and-play device was an unknown conflict with having a Skype enabled (handset) phone plugged into another USB port*.
*Updated Notes: You do not have to disable your Skype account software, and you can continue to use Skype with a headset while using MagicJack.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Internet service providers (ISPs) can now empower their voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) users to diagnose and accurately process VoIP faults for the first time.

VocaLite, the new diagnostic platform from Epitiro, the Internet performance experts, enables Internet telephony users to diagnose problems with their VoIP service even before contacting their provider. The results of the diagnostic test are automatically forwarded to the service provider which can begin to resolve any problems.

Vocalite is initiated via a web browser on either instruction from a service provider’s contact centre or by the end-user. A thorough analysis of the connection is completed and the summary of the test is displayed for the user. The test results are automatically sent through to the Internet provider.

Vocalite gives Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) at the ISP’s contact centee access to an extensive list of test results including Call Setup time, Dial Tone Delay and importantly Voice Quality. Visual pass and fail indicators allow non-technical CSRs to either assure the customer of adequate service quality or acknowledge the presence of a fault. This reduces the need for expensive second line support staff.

“Long contact center queues frustrate customers and increase the likelihood of them looking for an alternative ISP. Vocalite gives the service provider a head start in fixing the fault and empowers their customers to diagnose the problem for themselves,” said Gavin Johns, Managing Director of Epitiro.

“Our products offer service providers the intelligence they need to gain and retain customers by monitoring and benchmarking their network performance. VocaLite measures the call quality across a provider’s network from an end-user’s perspective. This enables providers to keep a close eye on their networks and fix any potential service affecting problems before they reach the end-user." Visit the VocaLite

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

The SIP based communications are becoming a preferred interconnection in this growing market, touted by some to be $22 Billion. But as with any communication method, there are some gotcha’s hiding and waiting to pounce on you the day you go production. So how do you avoid the hassle, you test with proper testing procedures and tools. So TekVision is in the market, to take it’s portion of the $22 Billion by providing a testing service, a testing Lab.
TMCNet’s Erik Linask writes how the whole procedure works and how you stand to gain by testing with them.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

BEAVERTON, Ore., - Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE: TEK), a leading worldwide provider of communications network management and diagnostics solutions, announces the availability of Spectra2 XL, its enhanced Spectra2 VoIP and IMS test platform. Spectra2 XL offers customers a new platform with up to an 800 percent increase in load generation capacity for SIP testing, as well as increased capacity for the testing of other VoIP and IMS protocols.

Spectra2 XL builds on the scalable, easy-to-use and multi-user Spectra2 platform, adding capabilities to address the test challenges of maturing VoIP networks while accommodating the needs of the emerging IMS market. Spectra2 XL leverages the same Spectra2 footprint, software and interfaces with the added ability to generate more test call traffic under real-life scenario conditions with speed and accuracy.

"Spectra 2 has been the test platform of choice for VoIP, IMS and converged networks functional and load test. We continue to evolve Spectra2 with customers in mind, creating test environments to meet their changing test needs and goals for introducing new technologies, " said Richard Kenedi, General Manager, Network Diagnostics, Tektronix. "With Spectra2 XL, Tektronix raises the bar by providing customers increased performance and productivity with improved processing and faster response times to accommodate testing of next generation VoIP and IMS networks."

In addition, Tektronix announces its continued commitment to IMS, VoIP and converged test with its Spectra2 6.1 software release. The release provides new protocols and the introduction of additional multi-rate codec support in its tester, generator and media Quality of Service applications.

Tektronix showcased Spectra2 XL at Fall VON in Boston, October 30-31. Learn more about Spectra2 XL by visiting the Tektronix booth # 655 or by visiting www.tektronix.com/Spectra2.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

IP performance test systems provider Ixia has launched its IxLoad SIP service, a VoIP test platform to provide both functional and bulk VoIP testing. Ixia’s VoIP test solution provides an environment of real-world triple-play traffic that accurately models live network environments. Using Ixia’s test platform and the IxLoad SIP 3.40 solution, a single test chassis emulates millions of realistic call scenarios.
IxLoad SIP emulates user agents that use SIP and RTP. Default configurations and state machines can be constructed for any session lifetime scenario. Message contents may also be customized to test SBCs that perform the deep packet inspections required to enforce QoS policies, thus ensuring that subscribers receive flawless video, high-quality voice calls and high-throughput Internet service.
Following is the press release issued by IXIA;

Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA), a leading, global provider of IP performance test systems, has announced the IxLoad™ SIP solution, the first VoIP test platform to provide both functional and bulk VoIP testing. Ixia’;s VoIP test solution provides an environment of real-world triple-play traffic that accurately models live network environments. Using Ixia’;s test platform and the IxLoad SIP 3.40 solution, a single test chassis emulates millions of realistic call scenarios — surpassing the scale of most network appliances.

In the past, network equipment manufacturers and service providers used test equipment to perform either functional or stress testing, but not both. In addition, functional tests were performed on a very low scale for protocol correctness and stress tests used simplistic scenarios — not real-world conditions.

"Problems occur in modern VoIP networks because of stress conditions not directly related to the VoIP protocols," said Jessy Cavazos, senior analyst with Frost & Sullivan. "Witness a recent network outage that was caused by a massive flood of connections to the network following a network update. Real-world VoIP testing can uncover such problems before they become very expensive."

IxLoad SIP provides network equipment manufacturers a test solution needed to perform bulk VoIP testing on a wide range of SIP- and RTP (real-time transmission protocol)-based devices, including SBCs (session border controllers), security appliances and IP-based PBXs. Full state machine and message content control assures complete VoIP protocol testing for all vendors’; devices. Protocol tests are quickly scaled and combined with the other components of triple-play traffic for a real-world VoIP test.

"IxLoad is the complete solution for VoIP and triple-play network testing because it addresses all aspects of voice delivery in a multiservice network, along with the video, Internet data and infrastructure traffic that accompany voice," said Victor Alston, senior vice president of Product Development at Ixia.

Service providers and enterprises will find IxLoad SIP ideal for automated bulk VoIP testing. Regressions are performed easily with real-world scenarios that ensure that small changes do not cause unexpected outages.

"Ixia lets us be on the offense rather than the defense when it comes to network performance and reliability," said Eric Douglas, vice president of Engineering at Deltacom, one of the largest facilities-based competitive communications providers in the Southeast. "In terms of ensuring network stability, Ixia is absolutely paramount. When you have network stability, customers are satisfied and anything is possible."

IxLoad SIP emulates user agents that use SIP and RTP. Default configurations and state machines can be constructed for any session lifetime scenario. Message contents may also be customized to test SBCs that perform the deep packet inspections required to enforce QoS policies, thus ensuring that subscribers receive flawless video, high-quality voice calls and high-throughput Internet service.