VoIP Now

VoIP Roundup - Mon Feb 26, 2007

Apple TV Delayed
The shipping of the Apple iTV set-top box is being delayed until mid-March. The IPTV device allows you to wirelessly stream video content from your PC or Mac to a TV screen. I can hear TV junkie geeks everywhere going "damn!"

Some Communications Purchases
Two recent telecom purchases include Broadview Networks Holdings Inc.'s buyout of New York-based InfoHighway Communications Corp and phone maker Ericsson's plans to buyout Tandberg Television.

The Broadview combined company will serve 80,000 SMBs. Ericsson's planned purchase is in hopes of expanding their presence in the IPTV market.

How To Profit From VoIP
SmartBiz has an article with the enticing title How to profit from VoIP, which is actually an overview of Unified Messaging and presence. The crucial point of the article: it can't be done with the traditional PSTN system.

VoIP Roundup - Fri Feb 16, 2007

Slingbox for the Palm Treo
The Palm Treo line gets some IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) loving with Slingbox's new wireless set top box. You can stream TV (cable, satellite) to a Palm Treo smartphone over your cellular broadband connection. MyTreo has an officially approved video from a recent CES demo. Note that Treo 650 and 680 are not being supported (650 is discontinued, which means that I'm out of luck). EVDO continues to be a problem as far as advanced features go, so think twice before you buy a cellular data plan with EVDO.

Wireless Chargers?
The latest in wireless technology are devices that recharge your gadgets without, well, wires. MyTreo has a picture of the Wild Charger, which sort of looks like a solar panel.

Google Talk As An Internet Radio Station
On the surface, Google Talk appears to be an unassuming VoIM client, but there are more features than you might think. Amit Agarwal at Digital Inspirations gives a brief tutorial on how to get Google Talk to play MP3 files. Speaking of Internet music players, Finetune is worth checking out. Someone wrote somewhere that they thought it was a knock off of the very cool Pandora, but I disagree. Sure, they both let you create your own music playlists/ stations. But that doesn't make one a knock off.

Pondering My Next Telephony Product Purchase

It's been over a week since I splurged the princely sum of $14.95 to get a year of unlimited SkypeOut calls within Canada and the US via Skype. Until yesterday, I hadn't tried it yet to see how the quality of calls was doing. I'm happy to say that unlike mid-December, the call I made to my father yesterday was very clear on both ends.

Now the fact that it's been over a week shows you how little I use a phone these days. My cell phone maybe gets used 4-6 times a week. But as I've said, I'm more than happy to spend less than $1.50/month on unlimited long distance calls in North America for when I move to the big city (Toronto).

I'm still debating what else I want to add from Skype's shop, seeing as what I really want won't be available for a while: a Toronto SkypeIn phone number. But when that does become available, I'm going to be grabbing myself a Skype-certified Wi-Fi phone.

As for a cell phone, my Palm Treo 650 will probably be replaced with a Linux-based phone, if I can find one, and only if it has VoIP capability. I figure, what's the point otherwise? As for an Apple phone, I'd get one only if I didn't have to pay the ridiculous price. But it'd still be supplemental to a Linux phone.

The reason? Besides being an old-school Linux/ Unix shell programmer, it appeals to me. It has, I believe, the greatest potential for useful and semi-useful public sensor network applications, which is what I'm hoping to tinker around with once I can set up a lab. Of course, if someone combines this thin, rollable display into a phone, I'll be buying one of them.

Google Goes Hardware?

Up until recently, Google hasn't had much of a strategy regarding VoIP. In fact, their Google Talk client only has VoIM features - no calling out to real phone numbers. Then they introduced their click-to-call service from Google maps, whereby you could find a participating business and click on their phone number to initiate a call (I believe through Skype, though I never tried it).

I'm wondering what The Google is cooking, and VoIP News has some comments on a possible disruptive Google VoIP strategy. They don't even have Google Talk for Mac and Linux yet, though because it is based on open standards, it can talk to any IM client running on XMPP/Jabber, including Gaim and Trillian.

Among the possibilities, as discussed in the VoIP News post, is the possibility of hardcore competition with the telcos, and adding enormously significant features such as audio search of conversations. Imagine, every (Google Talk) conversation on the Internet is searchable, sort of like the former program to scan all emails sent to/from email servers in England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

Whatever Google is up to, they first have to get around the fact that a tiny, tiny percentage of people even use Google Talk. I'm not sure that a Google Talk VoIP headset is enough. They need real VoIP features for starters.

Bike-Powered Voice?

Now here's a great green idea: sustainable energy thanks to you, via an exercise bike. Well, that's nothing new, but Motorola has taken it a step further and created a docking station for recharging your cell phone. In fact, you can use it with a regular bike as well. [AVING via Crave.]

Now maybe you'll get off your chair from watching Joost Internet TV (IPTV) and go ride a bike. You can consider it practice for when the Apple Phone comes out, since it's expected to be a drain on batteries. This is a concept that's been overdue.

The All-New Ford/ Microsoft Car: Now With VoIP + Conferencing

Bwah ha ha ha ha. Just imagine it now: in the near future, all over North America, you'll see drivers talking to themselves.

What they'll really be doing is talking to Sync, the new automobile operating system from Microsoft, to become available in a number of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury models starting in the 2008 model year. Like drivers don't have enough distractions such as mobile phones, now they can talk to a Ford car courtesy of Microsoft? What will Sync do when someone has a case of the road rage?

Couldn't Ford have come up with a better business partner? [NYTimes free reg needed] Like working with a company with operating system software that actually works? Microsoft's the company who in 2006 had 284 unsafe web browser days due to flaws through which malware attacks could be made (and they only issue software patches once a month). Do you really want to be driving a car that runs an operating system created by Microsoft? I'd considered a Ford for a future vehicle, but this move ensures I will never, ever buy a Ford.

Surely Stock Options Steve would have entertained the idea of an iCar. Or one of the Linuxes maybe? Ford Ubuntu. I like the sound of that: able to go where no vehicle has gone, and now with cron tables. You can grep your car. But Ford, being a fiercely loyal American car company, probably thinks Linux is for communists.

Let's just hope that when you have to inevitably reboot Sync, the car's engine doesn't shut off and restart. Unless you're already stuck in traffic Though the full Sync feature list is pretty impressive. Everything is voice-activated and Bluetooth-enabled, hence my quip about talking to yourself. There's VoIP, call waiting, call conferencing, a push-to-talk button in the steering wheel, and transfer of conversations from phone to car. But my feeling is that if a car company builds in conferencing abilities into their vehicles, the country has a serious workaholism problem. Can't wait until the first virus, worm or Trojan hits Sync. Color me unimpressed.

The Indian Bluetooth Gambit: Or How To Cheat At Chess

Grandmaster Bobby Fischer caused a ruckus in the 1970s. when he he denounced the United States - where he grew up - and made pointed political comments. More recently, he renounced his US citizenship to avoid deportation to the US and a 10-year jail sentence. He also spoke in Iceland about President Bush's "regime". By comparison, Umakant Sharma, an Indian chess player, might be considered less trouble, merely cheating at chess using a Bluetooth device stitched into his cap. Now, this isn't the Bluetooth ski cap Motorola offers, but this certainly would be one unexpected way to use it. It's not like it's hard to configure Bluetooth headsets.

His accomplices would run chess simulations on a computer and relayed info to him. Sharma has been banned for 10 years. Maybe he can join Fischer on the fugitive lecture circuit.

Microsoft Gives Laptops To Bloggers

So what's the big deal? Microsoft and AMD gave away [InformationWeek] Acer Ferrari laptops to select bloggers (six are identified in the InformationWeek article). It's not like they were the first to do this. Other companies have given stuff to bloggers, though Nokia only loans out their phones for review. Is this more integrity-preserving? Meh, I don't think so. I praised Nokia for their program, but unless Microsoft is demanding something in particular, I don't see a problem.

The laptops sound pretty sweet: over $2200, 64-bit processors, and the new Vista OS. I have no plans to switch to Vista, ever. Personally, I miss not using Linux and Mac, so my next two computers/ laptops are going to be Mac OS X and some undecided flavour of Linux.

So if anyone wants to send an Apple iPod Phone (when it comes out) or a Linux cell phone, I'll do a thorough review. I'm not proud and have no shame. Laptops with wireless and VoIP tech are welcome, too.

Some Tech For VoIP Lovers

Gizmodo has a couple of articles discussing some interesting new tech ideal for VoIP and wireless work. First, there are these wee little portable USB Phonebook devices that plug into your cell phone and laptop, for easy transfer of your address book. Then there's Gefen's Wireless USB hubs with a 100-foot range. I have to admit, I hadn't really understood the concept of wireless USB, in the sense that "what's new here?". But these UWB (ultrawide band) hubs have something going for them, possible even as a replacement for Bluetooth tech, which can be notorious energy hogs. I'll have to look into this further, but the equipment is a bit pricey.

3D Interface vs Voice Recognition

Which is more important to you: a 3D user interface or voice recognition? I've long waited with bated breath at every voice recognition advance over the years. It comes from being an armchair linguist. But 21 Talks points out that respected usability expert Jakob Neilsen says voice recognition is less useful than a 3D user interface.

This is an interesting comment and I have to respectfully disagree. I've studied learning methods since the late 1970s, and my impression from my research (including pre-grad school papers) is that  most people have limited 3D hand eye coordination - athletes and video game players excepted. Older research stated that females especially didn't have much in the way of 3D visualization skills. This was later shown to be false, and that any child, male or female, who was introduced early in life to architectural toys such as Lego or Meccano could form 3D visualization skills.

Still, this is not the same as being able to use a 3D interface. It might all be a matter of conquering the learning curve, but until then, voice recognition seems to be rather more valuable and more immediately usable. It's also arguably far more advanced a technology niche, though there are still issues about accents and grammar to be conquered. Still, I won't say no to either type of interface.

Configuring A Bluetooth Headset For Desktop VoIP Software

If you already have any Bluetooth headset for your cell phone, note that it can be used for VoIP soft clients such as Skype and SightSpeed. You'll need to either have a built-in Bluetooth card on your PC/ laptop, or get a Bluetooth USB dongle. Next step, configure your VoIP soft client to change the input/ output device. Shut down any program that uses sound first, else they'll be rerouted to your headset. It's not fun listening to TV or music over a single-ear headset.

That's all you need to do, but you may need to fiddle with your soft client's sound settings to get it to work right. As for comfort level, I ditched my Logitech Mobile Express after only two or three weeks of use. It sits on top of my audio mixer, no longer used, because the earpiece chafes parts of the ridge of my inner ear, which was bruised for many days after only the first two days of using it. I found that, at most, I could wear it for about 1-1.5 hours before it became uncomfortable. The Motorola Oakley Bluetooth sunglasses are said to be more comfortable, though not only is the unit expensive, it's unlikely you want to wear your sunglasses at night, especially indoors.

Covad and Centrepoint Offer IP Phone System For SMBs

Small business owners cringing at the cost of telecom solutions may want to check out TalkSwitch from Centrepoint Technologies. Covad is offering TalkSwitch and a bundle of services for US$459/mth. The system is said to be easy to install and can handle eight simultaneous calls, which Covad feels is suitable for offices of up to 25 employees.

Another offering is SpeakEasy, which is priced by the number of users (minimum 10) plus the cost of a T1 broadband connection. SpeakEasy VoIP services is available in 22 countries. Covad's Chair Charles Hoffman was selected as one of the 50 most influential people in VoIP, for "leading a major push into small business VoIP."

sources: Sharewatch.

Survey Says - Vonage IPO A Dud

Is it a surprise that readers of Light Reading's recent poll IP communication IPOs voted Vonage's IPO (Initial Public Offering) a dud? It's had enough media coverage, and the stock has been a real dog. It's kind of a no brainer, and part of the reason some shareholders petitioned for a deferral in SEC rules. But when asked when who they favored for success on their IPOs, Riverbed Technologies, a company I hadn't heard of, took the lead. For upcoming IPOs, Opnext Inc. took the lead.

Now keep in mind that Light Reading's readers are fairly informed in the area of IP communications, many more so than I. So I'm not suprised to find quite a few companies - many of whom develop IP hardware - on the survey list that I know nothing about. But if you ask my opinion on which soft VoIP company has a lot of potential in the future, I'd have to say SightSpeed, for their video calling and their free video click-to-call web functionality. Of course, to be successful in an IPO, SightSpeed will need to be able to actually monetize their great video VoIP offering, which CEO Peter Csathy blogs about quite often. And his is a great example of quality corporate blogging.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Nov 06/06

Electrocom VoIP Intercom
First there the VoIP-based home security alarm systems from InnovAlarm, Alarm.com, and others. Now there is Electrocom's VoIP intercom, which they're promoting as a "safety and security solution" for K-12 schools in the US state of Washington. Since data cabling already exists in these schools, installation is minimal. They system works in hands-free mode and allows two-way communication as well as facility-wide paging. [PRWeb via Yahoo News]

Pairing iBlue Mac Mini PBX And Snom VoIP Phones
The iBlue IP PBX from 4s newcom, which is essentially integrated into an Apple Mac Mini, will work with new VoIP phones from snom. Now that's sort of expected considering that 4s newcom is a spinoff of snom. In March of 2005, snom had announced that they were offering a mini IP PBX that could fit into a briefcase.

MyNetFone Satellite VoIP
I've previously commented that satellite VoIP stands little chance against other types of VoIP service. Though I have limited choices for my Internet connection, it actually never occurred to me that there is a market for whom satellite-based Internet, and thus VoIP, would actually be the only option. MyNetFone must have realized this too, when deciding to offer satellite-based VoIP service to rural parts of Australia. ISPhone, by the way, is another Australian satellite-based VoIP service.

Ahead Of The VoIP Call Center Curb

While some call centers are still considering the use of VoIP, others are already on it. CampusUSA Credit Union installed their VoIP call center system five years ago, and did it in a single weekend. [SearchCRM] The key thing to rapid VoIP deployment is having a plan, of course - knowing what quirks to expect. While companies that have no phone system at all have an easier time of a switch over to VoIP, a relatively quick install can be done.

Small companies have an advantage. But larger companies and/or those with existing phone systems can reduce deployment time - whether for a call center or just a business IP telephony system. If you treat a VoIP system install as a software project, then planning and design should be 50-80% of the time spent. Do you know what network capacity you will need? Peak support hours? Backup systems? Call recording requirements? Start with a list of your required functionality and go from there.

Nortel To Provide IP Telephony For NY Times

Nortel has been selected by the New York Times to outfit their new headquarters in Times Square for Spring 2007. Nortel will be setting up the IP communications system and VoIP phones for use by reporters and editors for collaboration through audio conferencing sessions. Services include unified messaging and audio conferencing. [via TMC Net]

The Times recently ran a piece on Wi-Fi VoIP phones, with the most prominent conclusion being that most of them were hard to configure. No indication is given of whether NY Times staff will be using such Wi-Fi handsets. Of course, if the new system supports video calling - something like SightSpeed - to allow reporters to interview people remotely,  that might up the ante. The NY Times website already uses some video content. With the web levelling the playing field between TV broadcasters and print newspapers, video content such as the way MTV uses it would be interesting to see on a newspaper's website.

17 VoIP + IPTV-Related Xmas Suggestions

If you are not already familiar with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) or vVoIP (video and voice over IP), it's a means to voice and video calls from a computer. Most VoIP services also let you call to regular phones. VoIP is a great way to save money on long-distance calls, as PC-to-PC calling is free, as is some PC-to-phone calling. IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) refers to a variety of TV-watching services on the Internet, and loosely includes streaming video.

Here's a short-list of some things that might be nice to give as holiday gifts this year, for the VoIPr in your life. I am going purely on specifications and my knowledge, not necessarily because I've tried something (although I have tried some). These are in no particular order, and are not endorsements of any product or service. The suggestions are for both mobile and stationary VoIP calling.

1. VoIP soft phone. There are tons of choices for VoIP software, all free. Some IM (Instant Messaging) clients such as AIM Pro, Windows Live (MSN) Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger also have the ability to call out from computer to regular phones. Google Talk cannot, but if you add Talqer, you can.
2. Calling credits. SkypeOut credits for Skype, or the equivalent for SightSpeed, Gizmo Project, Hullo, etc. This lets you call from your PC/ Mac to a regular phone. Gizmo Project already offers a lot of free calling to landlines in 60 or more countries, but only if the callee is registered.
3. Call-In phone number. A "Call In" phone number for Skype, SightSpeed, Gizmo Project, Hullo, etc. With one of these, people can call you on your computer as they would your regular phone. Skype is limited in the cities that they support; SightSpeed has a bit more variety.
4. 1-800 number. SkyNET has a reasonable plan for internationally-accessible 1-800 numbers, which can be redirected to a VoIP Call-In number. If you live in an area where Skype or SightSpeed (or whatever) do not offer local phone numbers (for Call-In), you can get a SkyNet 1-800 number and redirect it to whatever Call-In number you get. SkyNet also has local numbers, but that means you have to purchase their VoIP calling plan instead of Skype's, etc.
5. Webcam. Mobile video may take a while, but desktop video calling is free and functioning, courtesy of SightSpeed and Skype. MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) even incorporates fan input via SightSpeed, right into the show. My suggestions: For a laptop, get one that clips on easily. For a desktop, get both a flat USB port and webcam with a "snake" cable, so that it's easily adjusted.
6. Microphone. You don't need an expensive one, if you are not doing podcasting. But most built-in mics on laptops are relatively low-quality. Alternately, you might want to give someone a headphone/ mic combo headset (#7) or Bluetooth headset/ earpiece (#10).
7. Speakers or headset.
8. New smartphone or PDA. Pretty much any new Nokia N or E series phones, most of which, I believe, support VoIP (properly). Some PocketPC or Windows Mobile-based devices might as well. I don't know all the specs on the RIM BlackBerry Pearl phone, but it is a cool phone. Many phones will allow "mobile VoIP" services such as EQO or Mino Wireless, etc., to function correctly. These services essentially call you back, once you activate a call, so your cost per call is only your cell minutes, plus the cost of your cellular Internet usage. Of course, if Apple actually releases the iPhone/ iSmartphone, that might be nice, too.
9. Cellular wireless data plan. Great for accessing the Internet from your mobile phone, and making mobile VoIP calls. Just make sure that an "unlimited" plan really is unlimited. Many cellular providers only allow 250 megabytes per month, and cut you off after that.
10. Mobility. Bluetooth earpiece or headset, to give your voipr some mobility around the house or office - or for hands-free operation while driving. Also nice for when it's cold out. You might want to test earpieces, as some chafe the inner part of the ear. A headset is another option, or the Motorola Bluetooth hat, or the Motorola/ Oakley Bluetooth sunglasses. But Bluetooth devices are not only more expensive than regular wired headsets, they eat power for lunch. And mobile phones operating in "find Bluetooth devices" mode will also need to be recharged more frequently. A new Nokia wireless protocol called Wibree may change that in the very near future.
11. Mobility, part 2. Wi-Fi VoIP phone - maybe even a Skype-certified one. That, or maybe a dual-mode Wi-Fi/ cellular phone. These are going to be hot, with all the municipal Wi-Fi projects going on all over the world.
12. Wireless router. If you want to be walking around the house while VoIPing, one way is to use a Wi-Fi phone. Depending on the type, you will probably need a wireless router attached to your broadband Internet connection. Most large office supply or consumer electronics stores have these.
13. VoIP call recorder. You may want to record VoIP calls for posterity, business reasons, or even interviewing or podcasting. HotRecorder is my fave, but there are lots of others. HotRecorder activates itself when a Skype call comes in - and it's supposed to work with other VoIP soft phones. It's only about US$15, but if your budget is running a bit thin, there's the free audio editor Audacity, which has to be manually activated, but works fine.
14. Business VoIP. An iBlue IP PBX, made with a Mac Mini. Great for that Mac-lover who also has a small business and wants to use IP telephony for communications. Or for a larger business (including call centers), there's Pika Technologies' bridge over troubled VoIP. It marries the Skype interface with Asterisk IP PBX.
15. VoIP knowledge. A copy of Ted Wallingford's VoIP Hacks, where he'll teach you to make your own iBlue with a Mac Mini and Asterisk software.
16. Cinema screen. For all the good little boy and girl voiprs, if they've been extra special this year, get'em a 50" Apple display, to watch both IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) and video calls via Skype or SightSpeed, at the same time as the do other stuff on the screen.
17. Plug'n'play VoIP adapter. Know someone who can benefit from inexpensive VoIP calls but does not like/ have/ want a computer? I know a few people like that. For them, you can get plug-and-play adapter/ router that (usually) configures itself once you plug in a broadband Internet connection, your regular phone line, and your regular phone. Of course, if you don't have a computer, why would you have broadband Internet? Well, if you have cable TV, for a bit more money each month, you can have broadband, and all on one bill. Your cable company will try to sell you their "digital phone" plan, but they usually charge a lot more. You'll have to decide.

Happy voiping.

What's Your Ultimate Electronic Media Gadget?

An ABC News article asks what electronic gadget you would pick if you had to pick just one. What would it's functionality be? Music player, web surfer, game device, instant messager, mobile phone, digital camera? Or a combo? Obviously, most people would like a combo, but if the fact that there are more cell phones in active use in the USA than landlines, communication is obviously an important aspect of personal electronics. (Compare this to the fact that only about 500,000 people had cell phones in the US in 1986. (My father had one of those big-ass brick-sized army-size mobile phones that he carried around. Portable yes, convenient no.)

Me? My ultimate gadget would be a hip- or wrist-worn device with Wi-Fi + Bluetooth + GPS capability, plus everything a web-connected PDA/ smartphone can do, but with vVoIP (video and voice over Internet protocol) ability. And a HUD (Heads-Up Display) that's unobtrusive, with voice-activation or some sort of Bluetooth glove. And it can't make you look like an ultra-geek. Or better yet, it'll have Wibree instead of Bluetooth. A tall order. What about you?

The Electronic Global Village Expands

First Singapore announced plans for implementing 2400 hotspots in Northern Singapore. Now Japan plans a giant wireless mesh network over 100 cities, resulting in open broadband access for over 50Mln people. Earlier in the year, Taipei City, Taiwan announced a wireless project to replace PSTN, with an aim of having 200,000 wireless VoIP phones for city employees by year end. And of course there's the countless other cities in the USA and other places installing their own municipal Wi-Fi networks, or just finishing the bidding process.

And with free or inexpensive municipal Wi-Fi, growing in abundance, there's expected to be a burst in sales of plain Wi-Fi or dual-mode Wi-Fi/ cellular phones. If ever there was a time to consider buying stock in wireless and IP-related hardware manufacturers, it's probably now. Just wait until after the US stock market crashes this November due to the mini-tech bubble that's formed.

Enterprise: Ways To Marry Skype With IP PBXes

Not too long ago, Pika Technologies announced their bridging solution for Skype and Asterisk, perfect for enterprise use. And there's also VoSKY's solution which combines Skype and an IP PBX, aimed at SMBs. They even have a VoSKY Skype Call Center. And I won't pretend to know exactly what this does, but last week, Instant Solutions released their ChanSkype Skype channel driver for Skype. But from what I gather at O'Reily Emerging Telephony and other sites, it seems like you can use it to run Skype clients off of an Asterisk IP PBX. They tested it off of a Dual Xeon 3.0 Ghz with 6 Gb of memory. Hmmm. Wonder if it might also function as part of a Mac Mini IP PBX, since both Skype and Asterisk can run on one.

Build Your Own IP PBX?

Okay, don't get mislead by that title, but if you saw the slick iBlue IP PBX made from a Mac Mini and don't want to pay 3,000 Euros, Ted at MacVoiP mentions that in his new book VoIP Hacks, there are instructions on how to make your own. In fact, you can even use the open source SIP-based Asterisk IP PBX software. Save even more by using any USB stick; an iPod to boot the system is not necessary. Don't know what a Mac Mini costs, but I'm guessing if you can make your own iBlue-type of IP PBX, it'll cost you far far less than 3,000 Euros. I gotta find me an Apple store somewhere. And a bookstore. And lock myself away to for some VoIP DIY (do-it-yourself) projects.

Could Alarm.com Help Pure Play VoIP?

Yesterday, I reflected briefly on Alarm.com's signing of SunRocket as a partner, who follow Vonage, the first to sign. Like other competitors InnovAlarm and NextAlarm, Alarm.com offers home security alarm services using VoIP for the communications component. Garrett Smith thinks that this sort of additional VoIP-based service might give pure play VoIP providers such as SunRocket and Vonage a bit more competitive edge, by offering their own "triple play" of services, compared to broadband providers.

While I vaguely said something similar, I still feel that cable providers have the edge, especially considering that Alarm.com is target this type of VoIP provider next for partners. PhoneBoy weighs in, basically agreeing, and says any advantage will be minimal because pure plays won't be offering anything unique.

That doesn't mean that there isn't any market for pure play VoIP. Anyone who does not have or want a computer (there are such people) might prefer to opt for a service such as Vonage, were they forced to change from traditional telephony. Or simply want to save on long-distance calls.

Alarm.com Signs Second VoIP Partner

Alarm.com, a home security service that uses VoIP as a means of communication, signed their second partner, SunRocket. Earlier this year, they announced their first partnership with Vonage. [via PC Mag] Vonage recently announced that they would be providing optional VoIP installations courtesy of a third party. Now if Vonage is smart (or maybe Alarm.com?), they'll work out a package deal for customers whereby they can have both their VoIP and Alarm.com's security system installed simultaneously.

While both current partners are "pure play" VoIP providers, Alarm.com is also aiming at partnerships with ISPs next. ISPs, of course, offer "triple play" services: television programming, Internet access, and VoIP. The PC Mag article talks about quad-tier services, which would include cellular phone service, and refers to Alarm.com's service as being like a fifth tier for ISPs.

A similar VoIP-based security alarm service is being offered by InnovAlarm, who will be getting US$10M in venture capital.

BigBand Networks To Go IPO?

Vonage may be taking a drubbing in the stock market since going IPO, but Israel's BigBand Networks Inc. may be going IPO anyway.  Some experts are questioning the wisdom of VoIP companies going IPO, but BigBand is a cable equipment provider that sells broadband access and VoIP tech. So they're in a different niche than a company like Vonage. Light Reading's discussion pegs the potential IPO value at US$500M.

That's not so much money that someone might not decide to buy them out. It'd certainly be a good investment, generally speaking. And with all the other VoIP acquisitions going on (such as ATG's acquiring of eStara [TMC Net]), there might be a suitor waiting in the wings. Wake up, Microsoft. Here's an opportunity for you to branch out and prop up your stock - considering you're showing some interest in VoIP. In fact, why wait until they get listed on the NASDAQ. BigBand has not yet filed an S-1 form with the SEC. Make'em an offer they can't refuse.

Things To Think About When Signing Up For VoIP

I'm linking to Russell Shaw again: he points to Tom Keating's recent frustrating experience trying to move his Vonage phone number to his cable provider. Tom encountered technical problems as well as what he believes are political issues. I'm not entirely clear what he did finally with the phone number, but he did get fed up and dropped his cable provider to go with a more flexible company. Good for you, Tom! Read his article for a synopsis to determine under which scenarios you can move your phone number around between VoIP providers.

While I do 98% of my calling on soft VoIP clients or sometimes my cellphone, I haven't yet signed up for a VoIP phone number. I did, however, get a free call-in number when I signed up for the Hullo VoIP service - which is like a combo of Jajah and Skype. I was actually able to call my computer from my cell phone with it, and as far as I was able to tell, the quality was pretty good. I didn't try it yet, but I'm sure that I could call my Hullo client from Skype this way.

As for cable providers, I have one and only one option because of where I live. But I suppose if I wanted to have VoIP over cable using a regular handset, I could get an adapter and plug my broadband connection through it. Why unnecessarily pay for an additional service I won't need? I'm a very nomadic person and have lost track of how many phone numbers have been registered under my name over 15 years, and in how many cities. I need some sort of global, portable calling number, which only soft VoIP seems able to support at present. Any such number will always work no matter where I am.

What you ultimately choose for your VoIP service will depend on your options and your needs. I work all day at two computers, so I don't need/ want to pick up a phone handset unless necessary. (Haven't owned a landline in about 10 years now.) But for people who want the convenience of a regular phone and the low price of VoIP calls, and who have a broadband connection, a plug'n'play adapter is probably your best best.

If you're prone to being nomadic like myself, check to make sure that you'll be able to transfer your phone number. Ask three different people at the VoIP provider you've selected, and if you don't get consistent answers, run away. Or for convenience, consider a triple-play package from a cable provider. The bigger they are, the more likely they'll be able to pull strings to port the number to your new location.

Businesses: Choose Your IP Phones Carefully

With all the free VoIP software available, are IP phone handsets a waste of money? Not necessarily, especially if you don't have computers at work, or don't want one per employee. For a variety of reasons, you may prefer IP handsets over soft phones. But some of the pricier handsets are so overloaded with software-based features that they often end up not being used efficiently, according to a Gartner Group report studying enterprise use of VoIP. Sometimes simpler is better, and not just for the bottom line.

On the other hand, there are several scenarios where an IP display phone is useful, including the way a Japanese department store has set up hybrid VoIP/ RFID phones in their dressing rooms. What you choose for a VoIP phone has to be based on your business needs, not just desirable features. Write down a list of all the uses you intend for the phone. Then, when checking each feature of a fancy IP phone that you are considering, asking yourself whether your business would really benefit from it. Make a list and checkmark or cross off each feature, while comparing with your list. Use a red pen.

What are you left with? More crosses than checks? Maybe the phone isn't for you, or you haven't yet recognized how a certain feature might fit into your business. Are you planning on some advanced voice data applications in the future? Repeat the feature comparison with the specs from a number handset vendors, and get several people to do the same analysis. Having an easy-to-fill-in form would go a long way to uniform comparisons.

The most expensive, feature-laden IP phone is not necessarily the best for your business, even if you can afford it. But don't let a consultant decide that for you before you do your own analysis.

VoSKY Marries Skype and IP PBXes

Who said Skype isn't ready for enterprise? VoSKY thinks otherwise, and to prove it, is offering an actual Skype-certified solution that lets you use Skype with a PBX. Aimed at SMBs (Small and Medium Businesses) of 10-300 employees, the device bridges between a PBX and a Windows XP computer. [IW Distribution/ VoSKy via Asterisk VoIP News]

The IW Distribution press release actually claims VoSKY's device is "the World's First Skype Solution for Business". IW is only promoting the product in the Australian and New Zealand markets, but no doubt other distributors will carry it in other parts of the world, if they aren't already. (I'll do some digging and find out.) Though I'm not surprised, since the SMB and consumer VoIP market in Australia is expected to build to 6 million by 2011.

I wish I could get my hands on hardware like this, to try out. It's likely the beginning of a series of offerings that leverage the cheap pc2pc and pc2phone calls of soft VoIP clients, like Skype and Gizmo Project, for use in even more sophisticated CRM VoIP applications. Businesses need more VoIP products like this.

VoIP Roundup - Thur Aug 24/06

VoIP Reduces Operating Costs
[VoIP] This story is from late May, but Network World talks about a global training firm in the US that has 25-30,000 students, plus company staff, depending on phone calls. Monthly toll-free lines became expensive for the company, and administrators around the world were less in touch with each other. Part of their solution was to use a Siemens-brand PBX to handle VoIP calling from 16 international offices. Whereas they were previously spending as much as US$1.50/minute for international calls, now there are no extra charges for the same calls. [via Network World]

Other companies and small businesses have demonstrated that VoIP can reduce operating costs.

New Indian VoIP Service
The state of Andhra Pradesh in India will be getting a VoIP service, Matallo, using special phones that work over a broadband Internet connection. The state's Chief Minister was said to be happy that users need not be computer savvy. The service is intended for both residential and enterprise use, and will also offer video-calling options. [via The Hindu]

VoIP is expected to have a good future in India if a telecom policy can be agreed upon by the industry and government.

NEC Offers Managed IP Telephony
NEC Unified Solutions is now offering its Managed IP Telephony Services. The service is aimed at SMBs (Small and Medium Businesses) and was announced at VoiceCon. There are two offerings, both charged monthly, and a remote technician manages the hardware. Additional features are available, including trend analysis for VoIP network traffic. [via eWeek]

VoIP Call Quality Improvement Tips

I've gone over VoIP call quality issues a couple of times, including tips for improving quality. To reinforce some of those tips, here's my latest experience. I recently set up a wireless router at home, configured over my cable Internet service. Because I'm still having access problems on my laptop, I decided to start working off my desktop.

The desktop has dual processors and 1 Gb of RAM memory, and under a gigabyte of hard drive space left on C: drive. The laptop has a single processor and 512 Mb of RAM and at least 8 Gb of hard drive space on C: Both computers are running Windows XP Home edition.

I've only made two Skype calls from the desktop computer to a landline phone, but from the comment of the one person that answered, it seems that call quality is far better than similar calls from my laptop. I should point out that my current Internet connection is also faster than what I used for my earlier calls on the laptop. But even with my current wireless connection fluctuating in speed, call quality is better.

I also found that you do not need to use headphones, provided that you have a directional microphone that won't pick up the audio from your speakers. (I'm still using my $1 microphone. I'm amazed at how well it's performed so far.)

So to summarize, to maximize your VoIP call quality, use a fast computer with lots of RAM, and a fast Internet connection. If you're directly wired to the Internet via cable or DSL, that's probably better. But a wireless router configured to cable works fairly well, too. As for having a dual processor, it's not necessarily going to make a difference because not all software is designed to take advantage of it. My observation while running processor-intensive programs is that one processor will be closed to maxed out, and the other will be relatively idle. Win XP doesn't necessarily balance processor load.

How Do You Shop For VoIP Hardware?

Peopleline Inc. opened their first VoIP store in Vancouver, Canada recently, choosing a high foot-traffc area of Main St. They feel that potential customers would probably like to ask questions as well as actually handle products (such as phones, adapters, etc.) before purchasing. They have plans to open more stores. [via Trans World News]

There are a number of online stores, such as VoIP Supply, but this is the first I've heard of a bricks and mortar store dedicated to VoIP products. It differs by country, but people likely feel more comfortable buying products of new technologies in person. Anyone running boutique electronics stores should take notice of this. Besides system integration, hardware (adapters, phones, etc.) is one of the areas in the VoIP market that is expected to turn a profit.

Enterprise: Choosing Between Hybrid and Pure IP VoIP Systems

Telephony has been moving from PSTN/ POTS systems to hybrid IP-PBXes, as far as enterprise VoIP systems go. But some people expect that hybrid VoIP systems, which support TDM and IP calls, will be outdated in just a few years, supplanted by pure IP that is well integrated with data applications. [via Datamation]

Thus, companies who are currently planning a switch to VoIP need to consider what sort of system that they want to go with. If this is the situation you find yourself in, ask yourself how you to plan to use VoIP. If your business cannot benefit from integrated data applications, then a hybrid system is probably sufficient. But if you want to be able to build, say, a sophisticated CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, a pure IP system is the direction you should consider.

Show Me The Money In VoIP - Still More Thoughts

Telesyte reports that Australian PSTN telcos will lose more than US$5 in revenue for every US$1 earned. [via 21Talks] So even if they start offering VoIP services, their overall revenue will go down.

As mentioned in our Show Me The Money... In VoIP and More Thoughts posts, the money seems to be in hardware - both handsets and adapters - and integration. But as Fonality is showing, there may also be some revenue potential in VoIP PBXes.

Fonality is a company that makes Asterisk-based IP-PBX systems. While Asterisk itself is free, Fonality's PBXtra has additional features aimed at enterprise. In fact, this is why they are purportedly tops in the Asterisk PBX market. [via GigaOm]

Overall, though, this is still a young market providing a valuable and essential service. Since the service is mostly free or inexpensive, it's everything else associated with the service that will provide revenue opportunities. But my proverbial money's on VoIP data applications. 

Show Me The Money... In VoIP - More Thoughts

Ted Wallingford says that others who will make money on VoIP are integrators/ consultants. [Note: Ted Wallingford's VoIP Weblog is moving over to Download Squad. You should also check out his (brief) thoughts about Adam Fisk's dislike of Skype's closed system. (Warning: Adam's article is of a fairly technical nature.)]

Or the money might be in VoIP-based phone booths. [via Andy Abramson's VoIP Watch] Of course, as Andy points out, with so many Municipal Wi-Fi projects going on, could something like payVoIP work?

According to a Synergy Research Group report, IP phones enjoyed a 50+ percent growth over the past year, and nearly 25% growth just from Q1 to Q1 2006. [via eWeek] This supports the idea that the money in VoIP is in the aftermarket. That's my stand and I'm sticking with it.

Show Me The Money... In VoIP

Om Malik wrote a great speculative piece at GigaOm on who'll make money in VoIP. (There's even a poll question, if you want to put in your two cents worth.) As Om says, with Wi-Fi, any profits made were made mostly by hardware makers (e.g. Linksys, D-Link, Netgear etc.) and chip makers.

It makes sense then that something similar may happen with VoIP, espcially considering how many free services there are. As proof of at least a similar attempt, look at who is offering VoIP hardware and phones. Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, and others, of course.

While some of the offerings are a bit pricey - normal for new consumer gadgets - I would assume their collective market research teams did enough homework to determine that someone would actually, given the number of products released.

It all supports my own hypothesis so far that people don't want to pay for intangibles such as soft VoIP, but are more than happy to spend $200-300 on a Skype Wi-Fi phone.

Efonica VoIP Service Subscriber Base Growing Rapidly

Efonica, Fusion Telecommunications' global VoIP service now has over 400,000 subscribers since their launch two months ago. Fusion announced this week that they added 150,000 subscribers in the last two weeks alone. (Their consumer, business, and government clients are distributed in over 100 countries.)

The Efonica service allows users to make free calls using Fusion's SIP adapter. Calls can be made from any combination of PCs, internet phones and regular phones. Fusion recently filed for a VoIP patent for their DSP (Directed SIP Peer-to-Peer) technology.

VoIP System Implementation Tips

Not everyone who has switched their business to VoIP is happy with their results. A Detroit-based law firm switched their telephony a couple of years ago, but has had regular system problems, including crashing. The VoIP system was provided by a client of the firm.

The firm spent US$750K on their six-office VoIP project for a couple hundred lawyers, and had considered ditching it because of all the system problems. However, a software services firm, Compuware Vantage, helped them solve many of the problems. Compuware's management tool reduced support calls from lawyers by 50/ day down to five/ day. The law firm's additional expenditure was just under $100K. [via Computer World]

Project management practices often tell you to essentially not throw good money after bad. In this case, the extra expense was worth it, to make the initial investment bear fruit.

These problems bring some key issues that businesses considering a VoIP system should consider:

Firstly, plan to run a VoIP system on a dedicated computer server. In fact, you may need more than one server. (See steps 2 + 3.)

Secondly, make sure that you run network diagnostic tools to analyze and report on peak network times. Any server worth its salt, whether for VoIP or just a website or database, has to be able to handle peak traffic, not just average performance.

Thirdly, if your company's business is phone-based, you're probably going to need backup VoIP servers, where overflow calls get shunted at peak times. This a technique that high-volume websites, including search engines, use. Unless you are running a call center, you will not need dozens of VoIP servers, but you may need a few.

This sort of information is something any good VoIP system provider/ reseller/ consultant will tell you, but knowing this makes you more aware of what potential problems your IP telephony network might encounter. More knowledge means you're less likely to be cheated or run into problems later.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Aug 14/06

Don't know how I missed this, but Digium, the company responsible for the popular open source PBX telephony software Asterisk, received nearly $14 million in venture capital funding. The funds will partly be used for expanding operations with intent of approaching both SMBs and enterprises. [via GigaOm] Om also had an interview last week with Mark Spencer, founder of Digium and creator of Asterisk.

Uvoipia is yet another VoIP provider whose service lets you use your existing telephone handset via SIP-based phone adapter and a broadband Internet connection. The device allows you to also make and receive standard phone calls. The service caters to Canadians and Americans, and has a variety of business and residential rates. In-network calls to other Uvoipia users are free with the UR Phone plan, which only charges a small monthly fee.

Want to make Skype calls with a regular phone handset? VIVOphone has an adapter, VoiceKey, about the size of a Zippo cigarette lighter. Note that you're not using your regular PSTN phone line. Instead, you plug the phone or PBX into the VoiceKey, and the VoiceKey into a USB port on your computer. So you cannot take regular phone calls. You can, however, connect a cordless phone to the VoiceKey [via Daily Tech]

Digifone Plug'N'Play VoIP Device For Regular Handsets

Digifone UK has a new plug'n'play VoIP unit that lets people make free broadband phone calls using current handsets, without a computer. All you need is a broadband Internet connection, and you're good to go. You'll probably need a broadband router as well, so that you can split the broadband line between the Digifone unit and your computer.

Digifone currently has 3 models. The EL1 (GBP 50) handles one line. The EL2 (GBP 100) is for two lines. For three or more lines, there's the EL4, which is GBP 100, plus GBP 50 per extra line. Prices are inclusive of VAT, postage and handling.

The system is compatible with H.323/ SIP-based terminals and will work with a PBX. The unit itself runs with an embedded Linux operating system kernel. (More details are available by contacting Digifone via email.) According to the detailed specs, you can call PSTN even if AC power fails. The unit is FCC approved, as well as MIC (Korea).

The list of countries for free calls numbers roughly 30 and includes Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, UK, New Zealand, USA (+mobile), and several more European and Asian countries (but no India). This is comparable to Jajah, which requires you to use a computer, and calls are limited to 30 minutes. While Gizmo Project offers free calls to 60 countries, both parties in a call have to be registered.

The Digifone VoIP service is provided by a German company,  Betamax. You're allowed a maximum of 300 minutes per week of free calls. After that, a rate of 0.7 pence (British) per minute is charged (0.8 p/min for British mobile phones, free for British landlines). Call summaries are sent monthly by a customer's choice of email or snail mail (post).

Other countries and rates will be listed on Digifone's website, but I don't recall seeing anything up there yet. There's also no mention of e-911 handling, but I'm assuming that since you can make direct calls to PSTN numbers, that it's not an issue. Whether or not the emergency service will see your number on their call-display I'm not sure.

If you're a communications company, Digifone is looking for licensees anywhere in the world. The EL series has received a number of awards, including Pulver100 (USA), 2004 Mae Kyung Venture Grand Prix (Korea), and Certificate of Technology Evaluation (Fraunhofer Institute, Germany). Just a guess, but I think more devices like these are going to be making telecoms quake but cable providers happy. Get in on the action.

VoIP Roundup - Wed Aug 09/06

Jeff Pulver (Pulvermedia) and Paul Kaputska have just launched Vonosphere, a website dedicated to voice- and video-on-net news. Jeff is a very proactive person who writes letters to politicians regarding issues such as net neutrality. Congrats to both of you on the new site. [via IP Inferno]

The pricey (US$350) new Mylo from Sony, like the HyunWon Boxon, is a combo consumer electronics gadget. But it actually has VoIP, in the form of Skype. [Sony via Engadget, The VoIP Weblog]

Vonage has come up with a way to offer real e-911 access to their customers. The service ties the caller's phone number with a phsyical address. [via Xchange Mag]

Cindy Waxer of TMC Net says that VoIP job opportunities abound. So, she says, forget about become a doctor or lawyer. Apparently,  the second-fastest growing occupation is in the area of network systems and data communication analysis, right through to 2014. Job numbers will increase by 55%.

VoIP in the enterprise to date relies on WANs (Wide-Area Networks), but deployment's been a headache for some network managers. That's because VoIP is a demanding application in terms of network usage and traffic patterns. [via TMC Net] An alternative is to deploy VoIP over MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) networks.

VoIP Roundup - Mon Aug 07/06

According to a recent IDC report, Microsoft views VoIP as a very profitable revenue opportunity, and their iniatives will be disruptive for the next few years. Part of their plans include challenging PBX and IP PBX vendors. [via Businesswire]

As businesses and individuals move towards a digital media convergence, in terms of network infrastructure, for voice, data, and video networks, security is going to become more of an issue. Security Park recommends that vendors wanting to enter the VoIP security space should work closely with end-user focus groups. [via Security Park] They have a VoIP security special report (US$1295), in association with Data Monitor, which addresses some of the issues.

Zeus Kerravala, VP of Enabling Technologies, Yankee Group, spoke at TMC's VoIP Developer show, stating that the "low hanging fruit" of the VoIP market "consists of softphones, call centers, and the convergence of VoIP and mobile devices." As well, he suggested that companies focus on ROI (Return on Investment), not TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). I'm thinking that eBay already thought of that when the spent US$2+ billion buying Skype.

VoIP traffic volume on telecom networks is expected to double during the next 12 months. As a result, call quality may get worse. The solution may be new SIP-based services enabled by IMS (Internet Multimedia Subsystem) upgrades to telecom networks. [via VNU Net]

The Prairie Island Indian Community in Minnesota, USA, is using VoIP for their communications. The solution from IPcelerate will also include a rapid emergency notification system that alerts all 150 community households. [via TMC Net] Glad to see that someone solved the emergency calling problem.

With video-conferencing become a standard feature in the new generation of VoIP/ WoIP soft clients, businesses are asking questions about how and what hardware and software to setup, as well as issues of conferencing etiquette. VoIP.com is offering some guidance in that regard. [via PR Web]

VoIP Roundup - Fri Aug 04/06 - Press

Here's a summary of some of the VoIP-related PR we've received recently.

Actiontec Electronics and Azlan have signed a distributor agreement for the Actiontec's VoSKY family of Skype-certified products. Azlan serves resellers in UK and Ireland. VoSKY products include: Chatterbox (plug'n'play USB speakerphone for Skype), Internet Phone Wizard (PSTN/ Skype multiplexer for traditional handsets), Call Center (extends Skype to mobile phones), and VoSKY Exchange (a PBX add-on that multiplexes PSTN/ Skype calls for all phones in an office).

These Actiontec products have already been out on the market for some time. I haven't seen any of them in action, but I'm salivating. Could call center really work on my frustrating Treo 650 (on a CDMA carrier, 1xEV-DO)? VoSKY Exchange could be just the thing to make SOHO/ SMB owners salivate. This information was sent to us by a PR agency, but if anyone associated with VoSKY is reading this, feel free to to send some of this stuff over for, uh, testing. Yeah, that's it. And review, of course.

VoiceOneT is now offering the VoIP-related Click4Me.Net web service. Registration is free, and registered members can talk free from any combo of phone, mobile, or IP phone. Visit Click4Me or Labs.VoiceOne. There is also Click2Me for cell phone users, which requires registration at Click4Me first, and provides a web interface.

Click4Me works similar to a service like Jajah. Unlike Jajah (as far as I'm aware), you can show your availability status. Users can also keep their phone numbers private, block specific callers, or reqire special PINs (Personal Identification Number). Apparently you can also embed the service into web pages, web ads, and emails through the use a hyperlink. The email thing sounds like a great killer app.

VoIP Roundup #3

Michael Kanellos sums up the value of using RebTel's VoIP service very nicely: instead of losing your unused monthly cell phone minutes, use them in international or other long-distance calls using RebTel. They create a bridge service by creating a dedicated local number that saves the caller long distance charges. For $1/week, that's not bad if you tend to put off long-distance calls because of cost.

BT (British Telecom) has been laying out plans to get into the internet telephony business (i.e., VoIP). They're looking to have one million internet phone customers in the next year. The company was formerly a monopoly and originally concerned about VoIP, but has changed its stance.

A Taiwanese government web page says that Taiwan is preparing for a VoIP explosion. The output value of VoIP-related products rose to US$460+ million in 2005, up from about US$370 mln and US$262 mln in the previous two years. A government-funded research institute has set up the ViTA (VoIP Taiwan) Forum to set up VoIP product certification standards in that country.

Arcosoft is offering VONaLink SoloRecord recording software for SIP-based VoIP phone systems, including Vonage. Either soft or hard VoIP services are supported. Calls are recorded in .WAV or .MP3 format, and an audio watermark can be audio to prove non-tampering.

Robert Poe of VoIP News shows why IP PBXs are going to replace their TDM counterparts in the enterprise.

VoIP Roundup #1

This is a roundup of recent VoIP-related news from various sources.

Skype has just released V1.5 for the Mac OS X platform. New features include a new interface and ability to import addresses. Video support requires a plugin, and call recording is still non-native. [via Pocket Lint, Tech Crunch] Unfortunately, great VoIP recording tools like HotRecorder only run on Windows, at present.

Not sure if they'll be as hot as other cute monster novelties, but Verballs double as a USB-enabled hands-free Skype phones. [via Engadget] Apparently they wave their arms and move their lips. Scary.

The previously announced WiFi Skype phone from SMC is now available for US$199. It'll work over any WiFi connection that does not require browser authentication. [via Market News] SMC is one of four companies that recently announced WiFi Skype phones. Others companies include Belkin, Netgear, and Edge-Core.

A report by Telephia says that pure-play VoIP subscriptions are up but network call quality still needs improvement.

Newsday reports that there are over 1100 providers in the US that offer Internet-based phone services, but other than that, Internet phone service could be the future. Which is what I said the other day - all the more reason for softVoIP network compatibility.

For Better Or For Worse - Is VoIP Quality Decreasing?

Brix Networks, a company who makes monitoring tools to test VoIP networks, says that data collected on their TestYourVoIP website indicates that users are rating 20 percent of nearly a million calls tested as being of poor quality. This data spans 18 months.

My own experience is not substantial, but I say quality is getting better, at least in newer softVoIP clients. Over a year ago, I VoIPed a friend using MSN Messenger, which he was also using. The call quality was terrible. Since then, I've either used or briefly tested Jajah, Skype, and Talqer, all on the same laptop, headphones, and cheapo $1 microphone. Talqer had the best call quality. And I'm using a wireless connection. Direct broadband connections would probably offer the best quality.

It is of course to Brix' advantage to publish such disappointing findings. And if I've understood the BusinessWire press release correctly, the TestYourVoIP service is really measuring broadband quality, not actual calls. So the data might in fact be misleading, considering that there are a lot of other factors to consider in VoIP call quality testing.

What's your experience? Are you finding better quality? If you want to test your VoIP, try Brix Network's Google Gadget, which requires you to have Google Desktop Version 4 or higher.

Sources: ComputerWorld, BusinessWire [via FierceVoIP]

On-The-Fly VoIP Call Language Translation - Sort Of

Language translation on-the-fly is one of those killer apps that there is a demand for, given that free or inexpensive VoIP services have made the world into a virtual global village. Also, VoIP providers are encouraging international communication with their very low calling rates.

Bilingual skills are rare - at least amongst North Americans and others in officially English-speaking countries - so those doing business with customers/ vendors/ partners from other countries often find they need a conversation to be translated. A universal translator may be unachievable, but it's likely to be unnecessary.

What's much more likely is that two people need someone to translate for them. Nuno at 21Talks wrote about a new dual-handset phone from Language Line that facilitates not a machine translation but an on-the-fly human translation of a conversation.

Language Line is a company that has been offering language translation services for 20 years. They were founded originally as a volunteer organization in San Jose, California, by a policeman and a language instructor. They were later incorporated and ownership has changed hands a few times, including AT & T.

Their dual handset phone can be used in a number of ways, although Language Line's intent is that the two people requiring translation are in the same room Each person uses one of the handsets, and the translator is at the other end of the call. Alternately, a non-Language Line translator could be with one person physically and they would use the dual-handset phone to call a person elsewhere.

Customers of Language Line's translation services get the dual-handset phones free of charge, except for a $3.00/mth fee per phone (unlimited phones). Even if you do not need/ want the dual-handset phone, you can use Language Line's services via conference calling - whether VoIP-based or otherwise - at a per minute rate, and for 150 languages - probably the most of any global translation service I've heard of.

Use a relatively inexpensive, potentially free VoIP  conferencing service such as Skype's, and the savings probably pay for the translation services.

VoIP Security Issues: Skype and Asterisk

By now you've likely heard that a clone of the ultra-popular Skype VoIP client was supposedly created by reverse engineering. Charlie Paglee, a blogger and head of VoIP provider Vozin Communications stirred up the Internet recently when he claimed a friend called him from China with the supposed clone, a screenshot of which is posted at his VoIPWikiBlog.

Skype has denied the claim. Because Skype's system is proprietary, there is nothing officially compatible with their soft client. Skype must have been sure that no one would crack their code, though, because apparently, they never patented their protocol.

Art Reisman thinks the Skype clone is unlikely and gives a great explanation of why (via a discussion of encryption), and why it doesn't matter. Even if a clone did exist, for Skype, a large-scale migration to clones would crash their network, but would not otherwise be a security risk.

Security issues are more likely to occur in other components of VoIP systems, such as the hardware or software switching mechanisms, particularly in PBXes (Private Branch eXchanges).

In fact, two flaws have just been patched in Asterisk, an open source VoIP PBX package. The flaws, were they not patched, could lead to DOS (denial-of-service) attacks, thus bringing down a business's VoIP phone system.

DOS attacks have been used in the recent past to bring down websites for a variety of reasons, including attempts to take the site over, or just have mischievous fun. In the case of enterprise VoIP phone systems, the purpose would be to inhibit a business' telephony functions. For some businesses, that obviously means a temporary shutdown of operations.

A DOS attack is usually accom