The VoIP Service Blog

The Skype outage explained, and public perception of VoIP services

2010-12-29T19:50:00.007-05:00

So last week as we exchanged holiday greetings, the most popular free calling service, Skype, became overloaded and inaccessible for nearly 24 hours. Although it was only a minor inconvenience for most of us, for others it is the primary way of making free international calls between family members. Others still rely on Skype for business communications, teleconferencing, and other critical uses.

To their credit, Skype's PR team was up front and honest about the downtime, making frequent status updates on their blog and via Twitter. They apologized and offered $1 credit to all users. They even detailed what went wrong and what they plan to do so it doesn't happen again.

How does this affect public perception of VoIP as we enter 2011? VoIP skeptics will undoubtedly point to this as an excuse to keep their distance from services like Vonage and Google Voice. However, even for the die-hard VoIP believers, it serves as an important lesson to always have backup forms of communication, including a second or third VoIP client, as well as land-lines and mobile phones.

Carriers testing Mobile VoIP on their networks

2009-08-18T07:32:00.002-05:00

Good news from GigaOM: mobile phone companies Verizon, Clearwire and Telefonica O2 (and hopefully others to follow soon) are beginning to roll out VoIP services over their networks. This is a clear break from their previous stance of overcharging for long distance phone calls, and seeing VoIP as a threat to their profits. This is not to say that they will allow Skype, Vonage or other 3rd party VoIP providers, but more likely that they would each implement their own branded in-house VoIP networks.

SIPdroid: True mobile VoIP calls from your Android phone

2009-06-11T19:28:00.009-05:00

Frustrated with a lack of real voice over IP services on your Android phone? Until now, the only VoIP apps for Android have used your standard calling minutes. That goes for Voxofon, Truphone, Skype, and iSkoot. (any others?) Now, when you download SIPdroid from the Android Market, you can finally make calls using your phone's WiFi connection. (And if you download the full version from the SIPdroid website, you can even make calls over 3G!)

To use SIPdroid, you must have an account with any SIP provider, like Gizmo5 for example.

Because SIPdroid was released by i-p-tel GmbH, and is currently in public beta testing, it works best when used in conjunction with i-p-tel's free service PBXes. Apparently, this is the route you must take if you use any of the popular Betamax services such as VoipBuster, VoipCheap, InternetCalls, VoipStunt, SIPdiscount and others.

The SIPdroid Wiki currently lacks instructions for newbies, but jashsu from the xda-developers forum has a detailed SIPdroid primer and Christophe from the SmartPhoneFrance Wiki has posted step-by-step instructions on making it work using PBXes.

Call quality was a bit quieter than standard calls, with a slight delay, but this will vary depending on your SIP provider. Overall it's very usable. A DID number is handy for receiving incoming calls.

Geek trick: call your own phone number from SIPdroid. Answer the incoming call and be amused as you listen to your voice echoing over and over!

Freebuzzer callback service from Voipax

2008-12-17T00:31:00.002-05:00

Today, I received a lengthy advertorial in my inbox about a VoIP service called Freebuzzer, offered by Voipax GmbH. I'll save you the fluff and quote just the relevant bit:

All you need to make free calls on your PC is your computer and your internet connection. Then start enjoying free international phone calls immediately by going to www.freebuzzer.com and entering both phone numbers. Freebuzzer will then call both parties and connect them totally free of charge.

Freebuzzer offers free phone calls to more than 40 countries in the world. The amount of calls is limited, but it's still a good way to make a quick call to your friends and family all over the world.

They aren't clear about the limitations, so try at your own risk. This will also use up incoming minutes, so it's not totally free if you get charged for those. Anyway, if you do check it out, be sure to leave a comment and let everyone know how satisfied you were with their service!

UPDATE: Seems calls are limited to 2 minutes each. Does anyone know if that's accurate? If so, that pretty much kills any appeal this service may have had.

Voxofon on the G1's Android OS

2008-12-12T00:13:00.002-05:00

Voxofon claims to be the first to offer VoIP on Google's new mobile operating system, Android. The app seems to integrate into the dialer, displaying an extra screen after you've chosen your contact:

- Call via Local Number
- Callback My Mobile
- Callback Other Phone
- Direct Call

The callback services are handy to avoid using your cellular minutes, but don't most G1 owners have unlimited talktime already?

Anyway, it's super cheap, from 1.3 cents per minute for international calls and you're not tethered to a PC. If you use Voxofon, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how their service ranks.

Here's a quick demo of Voxofon's Android VoIP app:

Nintendo DS hack for SIP VoIP service via WiFi

2007-09-14T08:24:00.000-05:00

This January, I began a list of VoIP services for the Nintendo DS, which we know contains a WiFi connection and a microphone headset.

At that time, none of the solutions included support for the popular open SIP protocol. Now, a French developer has released an early version of SvSIP, which lets you make phone calls using your homebrew-enabled DS and a SIP provider. He seems to be actively updating it, and we should see some new versions available soon on his website.

To complete the list, another French developer has been working on DSiP, a rival alpha VoIP client for the DS. The author seems to no longer have time to work on it, but promises to release a working version.

UPDATE 9/19/07: Watch the how-to video if you'd like to see SvSIP in action, courtesy of pjsip.org, the stack upon which SvSIP was ported from:

Jajah or Nonoh? Review the race to the bottom.

2007-08-22T23:16:00.000-05:00

Upstart VoIP service nonoh thinks it can save you more money than its predecessor, jajah. Both are phone-to-phone services, which means you just initiate the call on their website, and the service calls both parties and connects them to each other at lower rates than the regular phone companies. This comes in handy mostly for international calls, especially for those countries in which there is a telecom monopoly with outrageous long distance fees.

Bhagaban points out that the service was developed by Betamax, and that there are some amazing deals to certain countries.

For example, you can make free calls to China, Taiwan, and Thailand. Even South Korea and Turkey made the list of free destinations.

Vinay adds:

Nonoh bluntly says we offer better rates than Jajah and well they seriously do. Who on earth gives free calls to countries like Brazil, Japan and Malaysia? I have some countries which can't even dream to be in the free VOIP country list. NoNoh has simply cracked the market with this FREE VOIP calling service

Over at Computerwoche (German) they remind us that nonoh only allows 5 hours of talk time per week, and your credit expires after 120 days.

This 120 day credit expiration limit seems to be a trademark of Betamax, so that you will continue to pay $10 every four months in order to keep making free calls.

Full rates table at http://www.nonoh.net/en/rates.html

Have you tried it? What did you think?

International free calls with Skype on Mother's Day

2007-05-09T22:31:00.000-05:00

This Mother's Day, Skype will let you make that special phone call for free, even if she lives in China. That's right, but it's only if you make that free call from the U.S. or Canada. In fact, there's an entire list of restrictions:

4. Offer available to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age and older.
5. To qualify for this offer, you must have downloaded the Skype software and you must have a valid and active Skype user name and account. You will not be eligible for this offer if your Skype account is not in good standing.
10. Skype reserves the right to suspend, shorten or extend, change or cancel part of all of the offer including these terms at any time at its own discretion at any time without notifying you of such changes.

... and so on. So as long as you're an adult resident of North America with an active Skype account and you don't mind that Skype can change its terms at any time, then you can use the VoIP service to call your mother, or anybody else for that matter, absolutely free this Sunday May 13th.

Happy Mother's Day!

Raketu's sexy new look multi-messenger

2007-03-05T14:33:00.000-05:00

The last time I reviewed the VoIP multi-messenger upstart, Raketu, I gave my honest opinion that it wasn't quite ready for primetime, but that it held a lot of potential. Well look out now -- Raketu has relaunched their website with a whole new look!

Cartoonist John Kricfalusi of Ren & Stimpy fame has provided Raketu with the sexy flash animations that now drive its brand. The new website features George Liquor, Sody Pop, Bobby Bigloaf, and of course, Raketeena:

Raketu seems to have addressed all my previous complaints about the website interface. The new menu system really improves accessibility and makes its much easier to reach what you're looking for.

The program interface has undergone a few slight modifications too - now v1.021 - but still retains its tiny 3.4 MB installer package! A few bugs have been fixed since its initial release, although I still can't seem to send free SMS messages. That's probably just user error on my part though. Another thing I was having fun with is the built-in Caller ID spoofing (Tools > Options > rakIn/rakOut).

This is now my main program for making SIP calls and free international calls. Now that Skype's free trial is over, (I never really liked the way it hogged system resources anyway) Raketu has taken its place on my PC.

It's still free to dial out to 42 countries after a one-time purchase of $9.95 in credits. (I've used up all my credits except for a few cents, but I'm still making free calls. :-) Unlike some other services, the receiving party does not need to be registered with Raketu. There's a 1 hour limit per call, but then you can call right back. Of course, you wouldn't want to abuse their free service, would you?

They're also promoting their multi-messenger which still lets you chat with your Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ, Skype and Raketu contacts.

Guess what? Raketu is expanding like crazy! They've added online presence and they're currently working on VoIP-in, voicemail, ipTV and Video on Demand! If you're looking for a career, now would seem to be the time to get onboard the Raketu rocketship.

If you'd like to try it out, I'd appreciate if you use my affiliate link to sign up with Raketu. Thanks, and be sure to leave a comment and let me know how your experience turns out!

Second Talk brings Skype to Second Life

2007-01-24T13:21:00.000-05:00

VoIP has moved beyond reality into the realm of the virtual world we know as Second Life. Skype Journal announces:

Centric today announced Second Talk, an easy-to-use voice communication system for Second Life. Second Talk "headsets" automatically scan for other Second Talk users nearby, and offer instant voice chat for groups of up to 10 users through Skype, a popular Voice over IP communication platform.
...

While this isn't the first attempt at voice communication within SecondLife, it is probably the first that works with Skype. I know quite a few people who use Skype and SecondLife at the same time (myself included now and then), but not quite like this.

This sounds like it may just catch on among Second Lifers. You can pick up your portable virtual headsets here.

How VoIP can help your career

2007-01-22T22:43:00.000-05:00

Wanna be a hero at your company? Propose a switch to Voice over IP! VoIP has the potential to save costs, simplify tasks, and increase productivity. Read on for more of the info you need to sell your boss on a VoIP system at VoIP News.

Watch out though, because it could also get you fired. A corporate communication system is no game. If you buy into a flawed system, you would probably get singled out as the scapegoat. Don't let it happen. Be sure to fully research your proposal, starting with the guide and resources mentioned in the article.

Oh, and when you get that raise, don't forget who gave you the initial push ... ;-)

Nintendo DS hacks for free WiFi VoIP calls

2007-01-13T03:10:00.000-05:00

Since the Nintendo DS has a built-in microphone and a wireless Internet connection, what's to stop it from being used as a WiFi phone, or the DSphone, if you will?

I've scoured the 'net and found some projects currently underway that claim to do just that, albeit with limitations.

VoiceChatClient is a homebrew application that lets you freely call anyone who also has VoiceChatClient installed on their DS. This hack even adds extra value by transmitting what you write on the touch screen to the other person! VCC requires hacked firmware or some type of passthrough device. (source)

DSpeak has been developed by Nintendo themselves, but aside from a demo at E3 in 2005, nothing more has been heard about this program. DSpeak will reportedly allow in-game and out-of-game chat. And when you speak, an on-screen Mario or Wario avatar lip syncs along! (source)

HelloDS was released some time ago as a proof-of-concept hack, along with a promise of a future version of this homebrew software. Unfortunately, the update has not been forthcoming. The initial version is still available and requires the firmware hack or passthrough. (source)

Metroid Prime: Hunters is currently the most easily accessible option for chatting with your DS buddies. All it requires is the Metroid Prime: Hunters game and a WiFi connection. You might want the NDS VoIP headset too. For this VoIP solution, you just meet the person you want to speak with in the same pre-game lobby and talk. It also works post-game, but not during. (source)

Conclusion: Though this handheld gaming device is certainly capable of competing with other mobile WiFi phones, the current state of Nintendo DS VoIP affairs isn't very exciting. None of the above solutions include support for SIP or for dialing out. However, the demand seems to be out there, so the DS might get to see a true VoIP app yet.

UPDATE 9/14/07: SvSIP, a VoIP client using the open SIP protocol, is released for the DS.

Have you made calls on the Nintendo DS? I'd love to get your feedback in the comments section. Don't forget to subscribe to the feed to receive updates on this subject.

Does the iPhone measure up as the portable holy grail?

2007-01-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

Today, Steve Jobs announced the iPhone at MacWorld 2007. It was met with many cheers and jeers, probably even some leers. Still, there's no doubt it will raise the bar for future portable devices to come, now that manufacturers will have to refocus their efforts on coming up with the "iPhone-killer".

Some time back, I wrote a wish-list of features that I would like in the ideal ultimate gadget. The technical specs on Apple's website, while not quite matching up, come closer than a lot of devices I've seen. Here's the blow-by-blow comparison:

Handheld Holy Grail	Apple iPhone
4" screen with at least 1024x640 pixels Standardized video output for hooking up to a bigger screen Minimum of 3 megapixel camera	3.5" widescreen with 320x480 pixels at 160 dpi. However, the screenshots show webpages at full size rather than puny mobile phone versions. Video output not mentioned, though Steve did have one on his "special" iPhone at MacWorld. 2 megapixel camera
Should be able to handle graphics as well as a Nintendo DS Buttons should be in strategic places, like the Sony PSP	Gaming on the iPhone hasn't been mentioned as of yet, but it looks more than capable of great graphics. However, without buttons it may be less than ideal as a gaming device.
Office-like applications E-book readers E-mail client Web browser	I understand the iPhone will not have 3rd party application support, even though it will run OS X, so it may not be capable of running an office suite. That said, webpages on its built in Safari browser looks amazing on a 3.5" screen. For e-mail, Apple has partnered with Yahoo for free push-IMAP e-mail -- look out BlackBerry!
VoIP programs Instant messaging Cellular phone capability (if that's still needed by then)	Cingular will be the exclusive GSM carrier in the United States, but without 3rd party apps, VoIP and IM programs may be excluded.
Speech recognition and Text-to-Speech GPS maps, driving directions, and business search Fold-up or slide-in mini QWERTY keyboard Battery life lasting at least 24 hours when idle, 10 hours when using voice and low graphics activity, and 5 hours when gaming and watching videos At least 16GB flash memory USB and Firewire output USB input (maybe for one of those laptop lights, or just downloading files from a memory stick) Wireless (bluetooth or otherwise) interface for keyboard, headset, and other functions	No word on speech recognition, though OS X is certainly capable of it Apple has partnered with Google Maps and features click-to-call for businesses but doesn't mention GPS Soft keyboard only, with intuitive error reduction and correction Up to 5 hours battery Talk/Video/Browsing, and up to 16 hours for audio playback with no mention of standby battery life Initial choice of 4GB or 8GB flash memory Probable USB 2.0 output No USB input Bluetooth, WiFi

In that article, I had prefaced the list with this statement:

The operating system doesn't matter much, as long as it's open for some hacking around and creating new programs.

And so I was excited to hear Steve say that the iPhone would run OS X, which is built on Unix, only to be let down later when I read this Engadget article that said it would be locked to outside programming.

The real reason this is such an explosive announcement isn't just the new product itself, but the innovative user interface. The patented multi-touch screen makes navigation look almost effortless. It's just a scroll here, a tap there, or a "pinch" to zoom in on your photos, maps and websites.

The iPhone also has a proximity sensor that turns off the screen when you hold the cellphone up against your face or put it in your pocket, plus an accelerometer that automatically knows when to show the display in portrait and landscape mode.

Another first is the use of "visual voicemail", which shows you a list of voice mails with the callerID, and lets you choose the order in which to listen to them.

The Apple iPhone is expected to ship in June, pending FCC approval and a Cisco lawsuit for trademark infringement, with a price tag of $499 for the 4GB version and $599 for the 8GB version, when you sign a 2 year contract with Cingular of course.

Reader reviews Vonage and Voip.com

2006-12-21T16:29:00.000-05:00

Reader Kevin Deitrick wrote me to share his recent experience with Voip.com and how it contrasts to his previous VoIP service provider, Vonage:

I have used vonage for just over a yr and with 100% satisfaction I set up a virtual number and it was working in 48hrs the customer service was great I had a problem with the router well with one side of the phone hook up and there tech support walked me through troubleshooting it and switched it over in under 20 mins. I regret having to leave the company when I moved into an area that they did not cover. Unlimited usage real was unlimited my family lives in Michigan and my children call back there a lot I use aprox 3500 mins a month and with no complaints from vonage.

I switched to voip.com in june of this year and have had nothing but problems with there billing service and support. They billed me my normal monthly bill for 2 months then the next 2 months they billed me 50-40 plus my monthly bill and my bill is different every month. It took them over a month to setup my virtual numbers then because of my usage they threaten to switch my unlimited monthly usage to a small business and of course a month later they did. There prices are great but there only suggestions this is what I have been billed since June. There customer support is ok there respond times can be days sometimes sooner but not on average. I have lost many phone conversations while using there service even though my internet connection was still working good. When I inquired about the extra 90.00 a month charge they told me it was for the cost of setup and the router but now that I am going to cancel they still are requiring that I return the router or they will charge me for it again. I hope that you can warn you viewers of this policy of there’s before they make the mistake of following your advise as I did and tried this company and expecting the same service I got from vonage.

Kevin also included a list of his first seven monthly bills with Voip.com that ranged anywhere from $21.45 to $55.03 and he says he received no explanation as to why there was such a difference each month. In addition, there were four extra charges of $40, $50, $40 and $50 that all happened within the span of one month, which he contests as explained in his review.

I welcome any official response from a Voip.com representative, either by e-mail or through the comments section, that clarifies this dispute and/or gives the other side of the story. A smart VoIP provider knows that in order to thrive in this business, it has to please its customers, knowing that word of mouth works both ways. I'm sure this case can be settled in an amicable fashion for both parties and I hope that I will have a more pleasant follow-up to post soon.

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in the above quote is a 3rd party review and not necessarily the view of The VoIP Service Blog, which is an affiliate of Voip.com.

Have you had an experience with a VoIP service that you'd like to share? Leave a comment or e-mail me at voip_telephony [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll publish your review or directly link to the review on your website.

Two new VoIP services compared, contrasted

2006-12-15T03:14:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned both GrandCentral and TalkPlus on this blog the past. Both services give you an extra phone number and they both do some neat tricks with your voicemail, giving you more control over who gets to talk to you. Even their names are both compound words with a capital letter in the middle. So what separates the two? Good question, and The VoIP Girl has your answer:

GrandCentral: You need it if people have a hard time tracking you down. You find yourself playing telephone tag. You WANT to be found but heck, you're always bouncing between work, home, and on the road. It's also free.
TalkPlus: You need it if your mobile phone is your primary means of communication but the separation of work and play is important to you. You want people to know that you're calling from the office (the caller ID says this is a work-related call) even though you're calling from home or the beach in Maui. You are also concerned about personal privacy and want to make sure that your personal number is only available to the people you want to have it.

(via VoIP Watch)

Free SkypeOut in US and Canada to end soon

2006-12-14T14:30:00.000-05:00

Although Skype is ending its promotion of free SkypeOut calls to landlines in the US and Canada on December 31, 2006, they are offering a new promotion for 50% off the cost of unlimited calls between the US and Canada for one year. The typical price is $30 per year, but if you subscribe before January 31, 2007, you can get on the unlimited calls plan for only $14.95/yr and you'll get the following coupons:

$30 off Polycom Communicator speakerphone
$30 rebate on Netgear WiFi Phone for Skype
$10 off Motorola Wireless Internet Calling Kit
$10 off Motorola Talk and Tunes HT820 Bundle

It's interesting, albeit expected, that this promotion follows its free calling promo. Let's see if Skype is able to turn its users into paid subscribers and eventually make a profit for parent company, eBay.

New Skype phone cancels crosstalk

2006-12-14T13:38:00.000-05:00

Although many new phones now support WiFi, Ipevo has sacrificed wireless capability for improved audio quality on their Free-1 IP Phone for Skype. Buzz Me Baby has the full review:

Virtual phone lines may be the order of the day but a few developers are beginning to feel the pinch of competition. Guess that’s the reason Skype has tied up with a few manufacturers to float Skype compatible handsets in the market. Ipevo Free-1 USB phone is one such attempt.

The fancy-looking VoIP phone plugs into your Windows or Macintosh computer with its 8-foot USB cable and integrates into your Skype software for making Skype-Out and Skype-to-Skype calls.

The speaker and microphone have been optimized to work in full-duplex, reducing the crosstalk that occurs when both parties are speaking at the same time so you are less affected by echo and static. At $30, it's not a bad deal if you're an avid Skype user, but it would be even better if it worked with multiple VoIP services.

T-Mobile's WiFi VoIP service still being tested

2006-12-14T12:37:00.000-05:00

T-Mobile is ironing out the kinks in its HotSpot@Home service, which lets users with WiFi-enabled cellphones make calls on open WiFi networks, if available, and switches them over to the more expensive cellular network if they leave the range of the WiFi signal.

Today's New York Times continues its earlier intro to VoIP over WiFi phones with a new article that discusses reactions from early testers of the HotSpot@Home service from T-Mobile. To sum up the article, it says that it's a promising technology that isn't yet up to snuff:

Call quality was excellent on all Wi-Fi networks tested, including full-duplexing — better described as the Robert Altman effect — in which both parties are speaking at the same time but can hear each other clearly.
Roaming, however, was far from acceptable. The cellular-to-Wi-Fi handoffs worked most of the time without interruption to a call in progress. But most Wi-Fi-to-cell transitions caused a dropped call as the hot spot signal ebbed with distance.

The subjects in the article eventually canceled the service after the test period due to dropped calls, high battery usage and inconsistent WiFi connections. They haven't given up completely though, and would reconsider if the mixed cellular & VoIP service quality improves.

Simplify with GrandCentral VoIP Service

2006-12-03T21:02:00.000-05:00

It's well known that VoIP lets new companies offer neat features that just aren't available with your phone company. GrandCentral, for example, wants to give you a free phone number that you can use to organize your phone identities. It started as a voicemail service, but has grown to include some nifty options.

Basically, you can add any number of "real" phone numbers and when someone calls your GrandCentral number, all those phones will ring. Let's say you're at work and your phones ring. Rather than picking up your mobile phone and possibly incurring charges for incoming minutes (or draining the battery), you can just pick up the landline. Then if you actually do have to leave your cubicle, GrandCentral lets you seamlessly transfer the call to your cellphone. The calling party never has to know which phone you're talking on!

For those worried about their privacy, you get much more control over your call screening, even if you don't have CallerID. Any time you answer a GrandCentral call:

First, we'll tell you who's on the line ('Call from Ted Baker'). Then, we'll present you with:
1) accept it,
2) send it to voicemail,
3) ListenIn^TM on the voicemail, or
4) accept and record the call

You can also press 4 at any time during the call to start recording. With ListenIn^TM, you'll get to hear the person record the voicemail and decide if you want to take the call immediately. Through the web-based control panel, you can organize your contacts into groups and setup automatic behaviors and filters for each incoming phone number. You even get an e-mail address (yournumber@grandcentral.com) that forwards to your real e-mail, if you're so inclined.

This Screencast from Molly at Screeniac is a great "in-action" overview. Om Malik also writes to say that GrandCentral now has unlimited incoming calls, even on the basic free accounts. Lastly, the downside is that GrandCentral is still in beta testing and doesn't have phone numbers in all area codes yet. They are also currently unavailable outside the United States.

What has eBay done to Skype?

2006-11-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

First came the news that Skype's senior executives were fleeing the company as fast as they could. What did they anticipate? Now thanks to Phil Wolff and Om Malik, we have some details on the latest drama, a new round of Skype firings:

About 40 of the 516 people working at Skype worldwide are affected, 26 of those shifting roles or locations and 14 who are leaving or who have yet to find another job at Skype or another eBay company.

What's the rationale behind this decision? It must be part of eBay's strategy to make Skype profitable. The "out with the old, in with the new" purge continues with Skype doubling its staff as the pre-eBay executives go.

NY Times says challenges await WiFi phones

2006-11-27T17:05:00.000-05:00

Dropped calls, unreliable call quality, weak signals, battery draining, legal issues. To sum it up, the New York Times' Matt Richtel says that WiFi phones just aren't ready yet for primetime.

I find myself agreeing with him. Though I strongly support attempts to converge voice, data, video and other signals onto the same network, WiFi needs more development before it will be acceptable for the masses and not just early enthusiasts. A good metropolitan mesh WiFi network will have to solve all the problems mentioned in Richtel's article before mobile VoIP can have its day.

He brings up some good points too. Buildings or basements with low wireless coverage will benefit from VoIP over an internal WLAN, and what's more is that network administrators can control and track phone usage.

The controversy starts with the use of open access points to make your calls. I agree with the line of thinking that says, "if you don't want people using your open bandwidth, then just secure it." Still, there are valid points to be made for both sides of the argument. But with WiFi phones, it will definitely be less suspicious to be talking into a small device that resembles a cellphone than to be using a laptop to check your e-mails.

Verizon expands 3G services with BroadbandAccess

2006-11-21T09:48:00.000-05:00

Verizon's press release department must have been working overtime this past weekend in order to pump out all this news:

Tyler, Texas: Tyler Residents Can Now Enjoy High-Speed Wireless Internet, E-mail, Mobile Music and Gaming
Longview, Texas: Customers Can Now Get High-Speed Wireless Internet and E-mail Services, Download Video Clips and Songs to Handsets
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Surrounding Area: Customers Can Now Get High-Speed Wireless Internet and E-mail Services, and Download Video Clips and Songs to Handsets
Iraq: Verizon Business to Offer Free Calling During Holiday Season to U.S. Troops in Iraq

The first three articles all refer to Verizon's expansion of its EV-DO network to new markets, all seemingly launched on the same day. BroadbandAccess is the name of their high-speed wireless network, which boasts speeds of 400-700 kbps. Each press release mentions music, videos, games, Internet, and e-mail, but what is conspicuously absent is any mention of VoIP. After 3 Group partnered with Skype for 3G VoIP services, I had hoped that North American carriers would wise up and offer similar options. That doesn't seem to be the case just yet. Verizon continues to tie its subscribers to its own voice network, and although its voice quality may beat that offered by VoIP providers, it can't match the savings on international calls, which I will posit is what the mobile business user wants. It's about options. Let the users decide.

Verizon is also connecting families with their loved ones in Iraq for free over the holidays:

Verizon Business will provide the calls from Nov. 22 through 28 and
from Dec. 22 through Jan. 2. This is the fourth consecutive year that the
company is offering free holiday calls for military personnel in Iraq.
...
As a leading communications provider to the federal government, Verizon
Business has deployed to Iraq a state-of-the-art mobile communications
facility outfitted with phones to allow military personnel to make calls.
Verizon Business throughout the year makes technology, resources and
employee support available to military personnel and their families around
the world.

I hope Verizon's PR team can take a break today after all of yesterday's launches.

VoIP News Roundup for Nov. 19, 2006

2006-11-19T01:33:00.000-05:00

1. PhoneGnome Goes VoIP 2.0
Tons of upgrades since the last version. Now it has free membership and is free-to-call within the PhoneGnome member community. The hardware now becomes optional, and is being offered cheaper. There's no software required either, as all calls are initiated to your phone from your personal PG webpage, pretty much like how Jajah bridges two phones with VoIP. This could be something worth checking out. If PhoneGnome doesn't require a minimum amount of use to remain an active member, Jajah will lose its raison d'être unless it continues to innovate.

2. Google Maps gets Click-to-call
The much hyped click-to-call feature is here, and Google's footing the bill:

Here's how it works: Search for a business, like a hardware store, on Google Maps, and click the 'call' link next to its phone number. Then, enter your phone number and click 'Connect For free.' Google calls your phone number and automatically connects you to the hardware store.

Looks pretty neat, at least for all those non-Skype users. They can already get click-to-call installed with Skype 3.0.

3. X-Series Symbian Phones will use iSkoot
I mentioned the 3 Group and Skype announcement of the X-Series mobile broadband initiative, but the required Symbian phones aren't running Skype after all. Instead, Om Malik says they will run iSkoot, a 3rd pary application that is compatible with Skype:

You see what happened was that iSkoot, a Cambridge, MA.-based company cut a deal with 3g wireless service provider, 3, part of the Hutchison empire. As part of that deal, 3 would install iSkoot in some of its handsets including two Symbian based phones, the Nokia N73 and Sony Ericsson W950. iSkoot is not an official Skype product, and despite a tepid endorsement by Skype, and its capabilities, cannot be qualified as Skype for Symbian.

But since Skype is endorsing this with their logo, most users will never know the difference.

4. Canada deregulates VoIP services
Mark Evans has the Canadian perspective on this move that reverses a decision made by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC):

So what does this decision mean? For one, incumbent carriers will be able to offer VoIP service at any price they want without having to seek approval regulatory approval. As a result, you can expect Bell Canada to become much more aggressive on pricing while ILECs such as Telus, Manitoba Tel and SaskTel will get into the VoIP market after sitting on the sideline until the regulatory uncertainty was resolved.

With lower prices though, the barrier to entry gets higher and startups with new ideas might not get off the ground. Pros and cons for both sides, but a decision has been made and we'll soon start seeing the effects.

VoIP Service Blog on Blue Box Podcast

2006-11-17T16:44:00.000-05:00

Thanks to both Dan and Jonathan over at The VoIP Security Podcast for the warm welcome. This is the first time The VoIP Service Blog has been mentioned in their podcast, with a reference to my article on the FTC and SPIT.

It was actually pointed out that the article's humorous title, "New FTC rule to put an end to SPIT" was misleading, and I do agree that regulations alone are insufficient to "put an end to" anything. Getting into the article, I wrote that the FTC was "introducing a new ruling that will make it illegal to make unsolicited prerecorded telemarketing calls" which was also inaccurate, seeing as there would still be certain cases where it would be okay to use automatic prerecordings:

the Commission proposes a new TSR amendment that would make explicit that the TSR prevents sellers and telemarketers from delivering a prerecorded message when a person answers a telemarketing call, except in the very limited circumstances permitted in the call abandonment safe harbor, and when a consumer has consented, in writing, to receive such calls.

Again, thanks to Dan and Jonathan for pointing out these details. They also discussed the inclusion of VoIP for the first time in the SANS Top-20 Internet Security Attack Targets, plus an old VoIP security report that's suddenly making news, and other VoIP security news updates.

Skype's new mobile VoIP service with 3G

2006-11-16T20:11:00.000-05:00

Skype and 3 Group have announced the launch of X-Series, a collaborative effort to provide mobile broadband at flat rates, a key requirement for mobile VoIP and other services.

3 Group will reveal new pricing plans for data usage on their mobile networks. It seems that X-Series will only work with the Nokia N73 and Sony Ericsson W950i, and if you buy the phone directly from 3 Group you'll get Skype, Slingbox, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Orb and web browsing software preinstalled.

3 Group's 3G network is available across Europe, plus Australia and Hong Kong. The idea of reasonably priced unlimited mobile broadband is certain to be well received, and hopefully North American carriers will follow suit by improving their data networks and promoting VoIP services and other applications.

Gotalk unleashes "world's smallest VoIP phone"

2006-11-14T03:22:00.000-05:00

Gotalk deserves minimal praise for this piece of news. It's nice that they're trying to think of innovative products, but $50 for a 128MB flash drive doesn't exactly get me excited, even if it does launch a softphone application when you stick it in a PC. I don't think it'll be on my Christmas list this year.

TalkPlus lets you call Skype users from mobile phones

2006-11-13T23:33:00.000-05:00

TalkPlus isn't a VoIP service per se, but it does let you do some pretty cool things. Phil Wolff and Jeff Black show how in mere seconds, you can assign a virtual phone number to one of your Skype contacts and call them from your mobile phone. Yeah, it's not the most practical thing VoIP lets you do right now, but it's a neat party trick... well, at a LAN party anyway.

VoIP News Roundup for Nov. 12, 2006

2006-11-12T17:44:00.000-05:00

After a short hiatus, I'm just catching up on the news around the VoIP blogosphere. Here are some articles I found particularly interesting:

1. Skype 3.0 beta goes "Live"
The new version will have click-to-call, where any text phone number in your website browser will allow you to click it to make a SkypeOut call, and plug-in support which lists popular third party plug-ins as a new tab within Skype. The new Live tab also lists Skypecasts. All these new additions were previously available only on the Skype website, but are now integrated into the program interface itself.

2. Fierce 15 - Top VoIP Companies of 2006
Top VoIP services as compiled by FierceVoIP, in alphabetical order:

3. Linux "Hacker-Phone" in the works
The idea is to distribute a barebones device capable of making calls and text messages, but with expandable memory and an open API to encourage the development of a myriad of applications. Then, new users will be able to customize their phones any way they wish. Hackers who create new applications could be eligible for discounts. Oh, and did I mention the stylish design?

4. Linksys CIT310 Yahoo Messenger Phone reviewed
Linksys has followed up their CIT200 Skype phone with a new phone for Yahoo Messenger users. Great if you're tied to only one VoIP service, but what if you need more than one? I guess you could just wait for that Linux phone instead.

Samsung reveals WiBro SPH-P9000 at Mobile WiMAX Summit

2006-11-08T22:11:00.000-05:00

If you can't stand typing on those teeny-weeny QWERTY keyboards (thumbpads?) on your mobile phone, Samsung hears you. They just showed off this monster of a "mobile convergence device" (don't you dare call it a phone) at the Mobile WiMAX Summit 2006 in South Korea. Featuring a full fold-out keyboard and 30 GB hard drive, it runs Windows XP and weighs just 1.28 pounds.

The device uses CDMA EV-DO and Mobile WiMAX (or WiBro) for connectivity (sorry no WiFi, but with Internet speeds of 2-3 Mbps while travelling at up to 75 MPH/120 KPH, it's more than enough for mobile VoIP!) and looks like it will only be available in Korea. Still, it's a neat concept. Looks almost like my ultimate handheld gadget, but would probably be too big to fit in my pocket (unless I wear some really baggy jeans, maybe).

Engadget has more photos from the summit, and here are the specs from the press release.

SPH-P9000 Specifications

Standard

Mobile WiMAX / CDMA 1x EV-DO

Camera

1.3 Megapixel Camera

Display

5” WVGA LCD

Features

1GHz (Transmeta) CPU

QWERTY Keyboard

Bluetooth® (Class1) with BT Messenger

Mini USB / 24 pin Connector

Extended I/O Pack

2980mAh / 7200mAh Battery

Other Functions

30GB Embedded

Size

143 x 92 x 29.7 mm

Weight

560g

* Product specifications are subject to change without notice

Raketu review

2006-11-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

I’ve been using Raketu for a few weeks prior to this review. This newcomer to the VoIP arena made its debut on September 12, 2006, and it shows definite promise. Their goal is to do no less than to overtake Skype as the leader in Internet voice communications, with the following strategy:

1. Offer more features than anyone else. Never have I seen this many features wrapped up into an IM client:

SIP compatible
Voicemail
Conference calling
Subscribe to news, stocks, weather, podcasts and other RSS feeds
Integrated media player with karaoke mode
Picture viewer
Integrated travel planner, using Yahoo's Farechase for cheap flight results
Send free SMS text messages to mobile phones
Download game plug-ins to play with others online

2. Offer free calls to landlines in 42 countries until the end of 2006. I've been told that Raketu may add more countries to this list as we approach December, and they are also considering an extension of the promotion into 2007. However, I have found that in order to make free calls, you must have at least $0.01 of credit on your Raketu account. You can sign up for the free trial, which will put $0.01 into your account for 1 hour, but it will revert back to $0.00 after 1 hour whether or not you have been using the service for the entire time.

3. Offer interoperability with other IM clients. The Multi-Messenger lets you exchange text messages with your contacts from any of the following accounts into a single interface:

AOL Instant Messenger
ICQ
MSN Messenger
Google Talk
Yahoo Messenger
Skype (*Skype is not integrated into Raketu the way the other clients are. In order to communicate with Skype contacts from Raketu, a Skype client must be installed and running on your PC.)

4. Offer a less controversial VoIP service by not creating Supernodes. With this approach, Raketu avoids a security issue that plagues Skype while still claiming to have high completion rates and excellent voice quality.

Raketu is banking on these four offers to propel them to internet telephony fame. They also want to launch RakIn and RadioShow services in the near future. Everything (except the battleships game plug-in) comes in an installer package of only 3.4 MB. So far, everything looks good. We'll have to wait and find out if Raketu will be successful in becoming a Skype-killer.

Interface
If Raketu wants to attract more users, they'll have to make some major changes to the usability and appearance of both the website and the application. I navigated through all the pages in the website and all the windows in the application, but the process just wasn't intuitive. However, once you know where everything is, you'll find that nothing is more than one or two clicks away. And in an e-mail exchange, their tech support team mentioned that the website will be re-developed with user friendliness in mind. With that aside, the Help menu offers informative guides and movie tutorials that every beginner should be sure to check out.

Voice quality
Now we arrive at the make-or-break issue. Does it sound alright? Can I understand the person I'm talking to? And you'll be glad to know that the clarity is fine. Though it's not like a local call on a standard phone, the quality is on par with Skype and cell phones, with little to no noticeable echo or static.

Raketu advertises that it only needs a connection speed of 36 kbps to make calls, as long as the user isn't downloading any files at the same time. For those of you on WiFi connections, they also claim that Raketu works even when your signal strength is as low as 15%. I haven't tested Raketu on dial-up, but when I was making calls at a WiFi hotspot (with a good signal), I found that the voice "stuttered" a little bit. This would happen for a few minutes then clear up. Of course this depends on your WiFi connection, but for best results stick with wired broadband.

Bug Report
Nowhere on Raketu's website or in the program does it mention that this program is in BETA testing. The current version is 1.0 but they still have a built-in mechanism for reporting bugs. Rather than using that form, I'm going to just list my finds here. I'm sure the Raketu team will be fixing them in an upcoming release.

Stocks often say [Quote not available]
Weather feeds work only on occasion
Newsreader doesn't format combined Blogger/Feedburner feeds well, though this problem may be caused by either Blogger or Feedburner because most feeds are fine
The media player has unhelpful error messages when required codecs are missing
The multi-messenger occasionally crashes upon closing

To wrap-up, Raketu is a product you'll want to look out for in the future. Once they've dealt with their usability issues and fixed some bugs, their rich feature set may give them the advantage over Skype and other competitors. The functionality is all there, now it just needs to be optimized for the masses.

Pros: Good voice quality, free calling promotion, no supernodes, compatibility with SIP and IM clients, free SMS, many features, guides, tips, and tricks

Cons: User friendliness, appearance, must buy credits to make free calls, lingering bugs

Overall: 4 stars (out of 5)

Have you had an experience with Raketu that you'd like to share? Leave a comment or e-mail me at voip_telephony [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll publish your review or directly link to the review on your website.

Net Neutrality unaffected by today's elections

2006-11-07T08:44:00.000-05:00

Russell Shaw doubts that the outcome of today's midterm elections will make much difference in the Net Neutrality debate:

The House will likely go marginally Democrat- and committee chairs will change as a result. So the pro net-neutrality forces will make some noise, but not enough. Not every Democrat fully supports net neutrality, and not every Republican is adamantly opposed.

Unbelievably, there are shades of gray in Congress for this issue. Not everyone is black and white about it, and I'm encouraged by that.

It means neither of the extremes will have enough political clout to push their view over the other. If there's to be any progress, each side will have to soften their voice and get closer to the middle in order to pick up the votes of these gray-leaning Congressmen. Perhaps the moderate voices will win out after all.

Snom's Linux phones support MS Exchange Server

2006-11-06T23:38:00.000-05:00

Snom unveils Linux phones that support Exchange Server 2007 at VON Europe and Steve Ballmer chooses today to announce Microsoft's big VoIP play. Coincidence? You make the call.

Snom says that its phones offer one-button access to Exchange Server 2007's unified communications services such as voice mail, speech recognition, and voice synthesis of emails, journal entries, contact data, and calendar entries.

Decisions, decisions. If you're running Exchange 2007 in your company, will you pick up the Snom phones or wait for Microsoft to release their solution?

VoIP entry a smart move for Microsoft

2006-11-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

When big news hits the VoIP scene, Andy Abramson usually has it covered. Today he alerts us to Steve Ballmer's announcement that Microsoft will introduce new VoIP and video conferencing solutions beginning in 2007.

Having a major player enter the market can have its upsides and downsides. Nevertheless, when a great product comes out, it raises quality standards for its competitors, and that's good for consumers. Let's hope Microsoft's new products are as impressive as their announcement.

Online Dating Service uses Skype

2006-11-06T02:58:00.000-05:00

This discovery was just too great to pass up without blogging about it. I've already mentioned TalkPlus and its plans to become an integral part of online dating. Well look at what someone has built around Skype: SingleSkypers. It's just what it sounds like -- a place for singles to get together using Skype.

A few clicks and we see that they offer free membership, they have 125 members (103 male, 22 female) in many different countries, and.... oops, looks like the site is getting busted for trademark infringement. Advice to arpecop: you'll probably want to take down this link from your main page.

Fun.

Mobile Video: not a Big Thing yet

2006-11-05T22:37:00.000-05:00

Last week I wrote Mobile Video: the next Big Thing? to reflect on some of the positive things that we'll be able to do with video enabled mobile phones. I began that article with a bit of a disclaimer:

Opinions differ on the usefulness of having the ability to see a high-quality live video of the person you're talking to on your mobile phone. While I doubt that everyone in the future will always opt to make video calls, I am convinced that it will be used in certain situations, and that it will be a Big Thing.

The thing is, not everyone is so anxious to have video calling ability all the time. The VoIP Girl and PhoneBoy have both weighed in with some things that people have to consider when they fire up their webcams. The people I talk to have similar concerns.

When PhoneBoy mentions camera shyness, I'm reminded of all those who aren't comfortable with their image unless they've just shaven, or done their hair, or put on makeup, or gotten dressed. A phone call is an unexpected event and not many people want to be seen unprepared.

The VoIP Girl says that people want to multi-task while they're on the phone, and being on camera would stop them from doing other things. This also corresponds to feedback I've heard. They're not interested in chatting online. Their phone calls are usually to arrange meetings where they'll see each other anyway.

Going back to the disclaimer at the beginning, "not everyone will always opt to make video calls" and "it will be used in certain situations". That still holds true, and even my skeptical friends admit that there are times when this ability will come in handy, many of which are described in last week's post. Maybe this will change once availability increases. I still have a feeling that when the barriers have been lowered, it will be a Big Thing.

La Fonera has been hacked

2006-11-05T17:35:00.000-05:00

La Fonera is the name of a wireless router that's practically being given away by FON in order to promote their worldwide WiFi sharing community. If spread widely enough and used in combination with WiFi phones, it could speed up the adoption of Mobile VoIP.

And now La Fonera has been hacked. It turns out that FON has severely locked down the router, limiting its administration, but also ensuring that each Fonera can connect to FON to get updates and authenticate users. The hack can be used to prevent the router from communicating with FON while opening some of its functionality.

While La Fonera is being sold for $5 in the US, its price will increase to $29.95 starting Wednesday November 8.

Source: Slashdot

New FTC rule to put an end to SPIT

2006-11-05T16:09:00.000-05:00

The FTC is trying to stop SPIT (Spam over Internet Telephony) by introducing a new ruling that will make it illegal to make unsolicited prerecorded telemarketing calls. While this may be a step in the right direction, it won't do anything to prevent unsolicited live telemarketing calls. Moshe Yudkowsky has other problems with the new ruling too, stating that it could kill many promising Voice 2.0 features.

I tend to agree with Moshe. The only way to opt-in for legal prerecorded calls is to give written permission to do so. In this day and age, who is going to collect handwritten signatures from every subscriber? This permission should logically extend to e-mail as well.

The FTC will only be taking comments on this proposal until November 6.

Playing a little catch-up

2006-11-04T04:22:00.000-05:00

Breaking news! Google throws its weight behind VOiP on Friday!

This is a must read. Now let me just scroll down to the next paragraph:

So what makes Google Talk any different than the veritable VOiP provider feast that is on offer? The cost. Free. Gratis. No charge.

Oh wait. They're just talking about Google Talk. Yes, we know it's free. Many VoIM clients are. It still doesn't call PSTN. What else you got?

...

Alright everyone, move along. Nothing more to see here.

Exclusive Asterisk P2P network allows free long-distance VoIP calls

2006-11-03T23:59:00.000-05:00

The goal: Free long-distance calls by joining an exclusive P2P network of Asterisk boxes using DUNDi. Once you're set up, you'll be able to use your standard telephone to make local calls in any area code represented by a member of the network.

What you'll need:

Free copy of Asterisk
Sipura SPA-3000 PSTN / VoIP Gateway
Broadband Internet connection
Second phone line (optional but recommended)
Degree in Geek-ology, or the ability to follow instructions

How to join: Details for installing Asterisk, configuring DUNDi to become a peer, and hooking everything together can be found at VoIP Syndicate.

Warning: Be mindful of local laws when you set this up, or you too may end up on the crime page of your country's newspaper.

Conclusion: It's admittedly not the most practical system ever, but this DIY project is guaranteed to satisfy your inner geek. Have fun!

Cable VoIP service may save Ohioans $4 billion

2006-11-03T17:42:00.000-05:00

An economic study commissioned by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association has found that in Ohio, customers who subscribe to cable digital phone service will save an average of $135 per year compared to the standard phone service. That amounts to a possible $4 billion of savings for Ohio consumers over the next 5 years!

These projected savings are based on two primary factors:

- the amount that existing cable customers currently save by using lower-priced cable telephone service vs. the increased cost they would pay for service from the incumbent telephone providers (direct savings);
and
- the competitive response by the incumbent telephone providers to reduce their prices to compete with cable's new telephone service (indirect savings).

Well, it's a nice little publicity stunt for the cable companies, but there's some truth to that study. You really can save a bunch when you switch, especially if you make international calls.

Satellite VoIP is in the air

2006-11-02T22:38:00.000-05:00

Voice over satellite has always been a problem due to the latency, or delay, inherent in satellite data transmission. But rural residents of Australia can now use MyNetFone's VoIP service through their broadband satellite connections, thanks to URSYS, who was able to deliver reliable service for remote Australian communities, according to VoIP News:

"This has opened up a huge and yet untapped market for MyNetFone to deliver its service to mining towns, remote and rural settlements. The market potential for our VoIP service is huge, especially overseas with satellite coverage around the globe."

Categories: Satellite, VoIP, MyNetFone, VoIP Provider, World, URSYS, Broadband, VoIP Service

UAE to change VoIP ruling

2006-11-02T13:59:00.000-05:00

In the ongoing saga of Middle Eastern countries that block access to VoIP services, the UAE has decided it will lift its ban on Internet telephony applications:

Reuters Arabic and Albayan this week quoted officials from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority as saying that the ban would be lifted to allow the two licensed telecom operators, du and etisalat, to use the technology.

Great news! The ban is going to be lif--wait, what was that? Only the telecoms will have access?

The reports say the TRA will publish VoIP rates during the GITEX expo running from November 18 to 22.

VoIP rates? People will have to pay to use softphones like Skype? It sounds like they may not have access to softphones at all. There will be two flavors of VoIP in UAE -- "VoIP etisalat" and "duVoIP" for example -- and the people will be back to the two choices they originally had. However, they should be able to save money compared to the standard long-distance rates, so will citizens consider this a victory?

Mobile users want broadband and VoIP

2006-11-01T14:35:00.000-05:00

Hot off the PR Newswire:

Lucent gauged interest in five applications – VoIP, video conferencing, communicate and collaborate, multicasting and business continuity. VoIP, consisting of basic VoIP and IP PBX features, generated the greatest willingness to buy amongst enterprise communications technology decision makers and was the top driver for switching carriers.

Company decision makers were responsive to the option of high-speed data on their mobile phones:

-- 76 percent of companies currently using EV-DO Rev. 0 are willing to pay a premium over current spending for premium mobile broadband.
-- 34 percent of the companies that are not currently using EV-DO Rev. 0 are willing to pay $60 or more per user per month for premium mobile broadband.

Consumers also expressed interest in broadband for the purposes of video and other features:

Among the topics covered with consumers, Lucent evaluated interest in video calling, video sharing, multimedia ring-back, content sharing, and "share and discuss." Video calling and video sharing were the two most popular applications.
-- More than 60 percent of respondents who currently spend money for such services are willing to pay extra for premium mobile broadband.
-- 40 percent of respondents who currently do not spend any money on such services are willing to pay extra.

When will the mobile carriers get with it and give consumers and business users the services they want AND are willing to pay extra for?

Chicago Schools convert to VoIP

2006-11-01T14:05:00.000-05:00

The Chicago Tribune reports the largest conversion to VoIP of any U.S. school system. Chicago Public Schools will pay $28 million for the job to be done by Mitel Networks, which will include nearly 700 sites, 17,000 Centrex lines and 24,000 phones, and will take over 4 years to complete. Redundancy will be built-in for added reliability, and some standard telephone lines will be kept as a backup for emergency situations.

VoIP technology is expected to significantly reduce the school system's telephone bills. Plus, teachers will each receive a unique voicemail box with CallerID. The new system will also allow authorities to pinpoint the exact room from which a 911 call is made, another improvement over standard telephone lines.

VoIP is upon us, and it's here to stay, says Don Smith, Mitel chief executive:

"It's really a confirmation that large enterprises have embraced the technology," Smith said. "Today, about 95 percent of all the systems we install are VoIP. The tipping point came perhaps 18 months ago when VoIP overtook traditional technology for us."

TalkPlus unveils virtual phone number service

2006-10-31T17:03:00.000-05:00

The VoIP blog scene virtually exploded yesterday with news about TalkPlus and its virtual phone number offering. (Which is ironic, because it's not even a VoIP service. Anyways...) The sources are too numerous to list, but I'll point to Tom and Ken since I read it on their blogs first and their articles are the most detailed.

What is TalkPlus?
The way I understand it, when you sign up with TalkPlus, you'll be able to choose one or more virtual phone number that will point to your mobile phone. A virtual number can be local to any location, so for example, if your primary number has a New York area code, you can pick a virtual number in India that lets your relatives or business partners save money compared to making a long-distance call. You can also make calls from your phone and have the virtual number appear on the receiver's CallerID.

Then you have a management center that lets you customize your call-screening, blacklist/whitelist, privacy, contact, and voicemail options. Essentially your mobile phone now has "multiple personalities". You can have an office number that goes directly to voicemail after 5pm which you only give to your work contacts. And you have a general phone number which you give to your family and friends. Use another phone number when you fill out applications and let the telemarketers always go to voicemail. You can find many uses, even making prank calls, but the first major market TalkPlus plans to service is the online dating community.

Virtual phone numbers provide an added layer of privacy and security for anyone who dates random strangers, whether they meet them at a bar or through a dating service. TalkPlus has recognized that need and has partnered with a yet-to-be-named online dating service. Theoretically, you could have a different virtual number for each dating partner. The service has not yet been spelled out, but should cost roughly $10 monthly.

How does it work?
I mentioned earlier that TalkPlus isn't a VoIP provider. Though they use a data connection to setup calls using the virtual number, the voice part of the call still travels over the standard voice connection, never over the Internet, meaning it will be the same quality as a normal call. It also means that the E911 service will function just fine. It runs from a Java application and works with any WAP enabled phone, which is nearly all phones these days. Hopefully it will be as seamless to use as possible.

Be on the lookout for this Voice 2.0 company to make some big waves.

Skype Mobile Status Update

2006-10-30T21:13:00.000-05:00

Jim Courtney provides us with his thorough analysis of the current state of Skype on mobile devices. Here are his criteria for evaluating the overall user experience:

As a guideline for user simplicity, I look for an experience where I can (i) easily "ping" a contact and enter text for a chat session and (ii) simply access a (Skype) Contact or dial a number to make a voice call - an experience that has a minimal installation and learning curve for the user public; an experience that will readily gain broad market acceptance.

So if you're wondering which device provides the best overall Skype experience, Jim has ranked them in the following order:

Sony Mylo
Dell Axim X50v
Nokia N-series
Blackberry™
SMC Skype WiFi

However, each device does have its faults. For instance, the Mylo has no cellular phone capability. Skype on the Axim has a different volume than a regular call. Since the Nokia phones didn't have QWERTY keyboards, text chatting was made more cumbersome. The Blackberry™ requires Skype to be running on a host PC, and the Skype WiFi phones don't support text instant messaging.

Yet the technology is still young. One possible reason for this lack of development is that making low-cost or free calls with Skype doesn't interest mobile phone manufacturers enough to build proper support for it. One way to change their minds is for enough consumers to demand it from their cellular carriers, which run the racket on the features included on the phones. Another way would be for Skype itself to throw tons of money behind the development efforts of the phone manufacturers, although admittedly that cannot compare to the power of the telecoms.

Still, the future looks bright:

Skype France Managing Director JéromeArchambeaud recently revealed in a French videocast panel discussion that Skype and Nokia will introduce a WiFi-enabled GSM phone before year end.

If you haven't already done so, go read Jim's article for all the details.

Mobile Video: the next Big Thing?

2006-10-29T18:19:00.000-05:00

Opinions differ on the usefulness of having the ability to see a high-quality live video of the person you're talking to on your mobile phone. While I doubt that everyone in the future will always opt to make video calls, I am convinced that it will be used in certain situations, and that it will be a Big Thing.

Ken Camp sums it up pretty well:

We carry the tools we know we need for planned life events. Today is my grandson’s birthday and we’re going to have a party. I’ll have my Nikon, my video camera and my laptop with webcam because this is a scheduled life event. It’s planned. Unscheduled life events need tools that support impromtu response.

A baby’s first steps, the sheer joy
An auto accident and the trauma involved
An award at school and the radiant face of a child
The surprise business meeting, just because we can.
The victory dance of a child after a soccer goal, touchdown or homerun.
The reporter on the scene and a hurricane, earthquake, fire, or other event.
I think that list is endless.

Peter Csathy, CEO of SightSpeed, has other good uses in mind:

Imagine shopping at the grocery store and not being sure of a particular product to buy. Rather than bring home the wrong one (which I frequently do) or try to describe it to my wife as I meander around the store's aisles, how about simply video calling her from my mobile phone and "showing" her the choices on the shelf and particular items (thereby confirming, much more efficiently than via simple verbal descriptions, whether I have selected the "right" product).

And, think of the SMB user -- let's say, a real estate agent -- he or she could better serve his or her clients by conducting a live video "tour" of a property with his or her mobile device (so that the client need not visit every property).

Mobile video-enabled commerce is another exciting new possibility in this "see what I'm seeing" bucket of potential uses (I can show folks interested in my used car via a mobile video call precisely what the exterior and interior of my car looks like before they drive out to visit me and close the deal)

In addition, the current uses for static webcams will surely be extended to mobile video calls, including relatives getting together over long distances and lovestruck teenagers who want to feel as close to each other as allowable. Let's just see how Big this gets.

VoIP service trends: Packet8 & SunRocket

2006-10-29T14:32:00.000-05:00

Let's have a look at search result trends for a couple of the players in the VoIP service market:
Interestingly, it seems SunRocket's popularity is continuously rising, while Packet8 looks like its popularity has peaked and is now slowly fading away. I wonder how this trend analysis compares to the trend in the actual number of subscribers for each company. I was surprised to see this result, as Packet8 seems to stand out a little more in the VoIP space, but at the same time, SunRocket's reputation is not too shabby either.

If interested, The VoIP Girl has highlighted these two companies in the past.

Disclosure: The VoIP Service Blog is an affiliate of both Packet8 and SunRocket.

The block Skype hype

2006-10-27T17:20:00.000-05:00

Skype has made a lot of enemies with its proprietary voice protocol. At VoIP Planet, a new article quotes:

"Skype traffic will traverse your NAT or firewall," Montgomery pointed out, "and if you're a good IT security professional, you don't want anything doing that if you can't see what it is, when it is, and who it is. So there's a perceived risk." And since Skype is encrypted, IT departments cannot see 'what it is.'

"We don't really think that it creates a security hole in the sense that it can let other malicious traffic onto the network," Montgomery clarified, "but what our customers have told us is that they just don't know. They don't know if it's secure or not, because it's encrypted."

The other issue—policy compliance—can be either a specific legal issue or merely a corporate IT concern. Many businesses and governmental agencies are required by law to log, archive, and produce reports on all electronic messages. Since, again, Skype is strongly encrypted—essentially undecipherable—there's no way that conversations or message threads carried on using it can be compliant with such regulation.

In the news, we've heard about the controversy at San Jose State University when they blocked Skype. China, UAE, and Jordan have also made headlines by tinkering with Skype blockers. More companies and governments could soon follow as the availability of Skype blocking products increases.

The VoIP Planet article introduced Akonix Systems' L7 Skype Manager as the latest entry into the market of Skype blocking applications. It won't come cheap though, as the suggested price for under 1,000 users is $3,500 and a system supporting up to 10,000 users will cost $5,000. If this isn't right for your organization, you may want to look into some alternatives.

Alternative methods for blocking Skype

NetSpective from Verso Technologies - Can be configured to block over 20 P2P and Instant Messaging programs, including Skype. NetSpective is available in enterprise and carrier versions. Verso has supplied China Telecom with their carrier class of NetSpective.
Packeteer's PacketShaper - detects Skype and other P2P traffic and allows the administrator to apply Quality of Service regulations or block it completely.
SonicWall's Unified Threat Management appliances - SonicWall has a PDF presentation on how to block Skype with their hardware, or you can read the HTML version in the Google cache.
Fortigate from Fortinet - capable of blocking Skype and other P2P applications.
Check Point's InterSpect - Using InterSpect with Check Point's SmartDefense system can identify and block P2P applications including Skype.
Cisco equipment running IOS version 12.4 (4) T - This is the "free" option, providing that your network already uses a Cisco product with this IOS version. See Cisco Tips & Tricks for the instructions.

Skype has been previously described as "unblockable" due to its P2P nature and its use of supernodes that defy older methods of preventing traffic. Now that several vendors have come out with effective means of blocking Skype, it's now Skype's turn to evolve to the next level. The cat and mouse game continues.

(Thanks Tom for your great resource.)

VoIP opens up new opportunities

2006-10-27T03:19:00.000-05:00

The Gazette brings us this piece featuring the Tutors Without Limits program:

New and better Internet telephone technology has helped mathematics teacher Anita Grovilkar make an extra $10 to $25 an hour after school, tutoring K-12 students in the United States without leaving her home in Ahmedabad, India.

Her extra earnings may not have been possible last year, say telecommunications experts, who see the technology improvements fueling a worldwide explosion in Internet phone use.

Although voice over Internet protocol has been available for years, VoIP is now catching on small and large businesses alike, as voice quality and reliability improve.

And following close on the heels of these VoIP improvements comes the next big thing: a video version called telepresence, which proponents say will transform video conferencing for business.

Grovilkar and several thousand other Indian and Pakistani teachers recently signed up with Tutors Without Limits of Potomac. Founder Glynn Willett said that without improved VoIP quality that occurred just this summer, his service would not have been possible on such a scale. Willett offers tutoring services to students all over the globe now, using eBay’s Skype VoIP system.

The article continues to describe how VoIP and telepresence will replace traditional phones and dedicated video conference lines, with prices steadily dropping into the forseeable future.

Here's hoping the Tutors Without Limits program will be a success and become a catalyst for more innovative thinking.

Have a little fun with your VoIP!

2006-10-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

Gadget Trail has listed The Top 10 Ways To Use VoIP That You Probably Didn’t Think About and they made me smile. You'll need Asterisk for some of the best ones, like routing telemarketers into the Telemarketer Torture system and Caller ID Spoofing, but others can be handled with a standard SIP client or Skype.

Worth checking out.

IBM & 3Com's new single server solution for IP telephony

2006-10-25T17:27:00.000-05:00

According to Computer Weekly:

"You can't help but recognise the benefit of running your entire business and your IP telephony simultaneously on a single system," said Mark Shearer, general manager of IBM System i.

And I couldn't disagree more. While correct that a small business could save on the initial cost of server hardware, Mark fails to mention the downsides of hosting multiple server applications on a single server.

Server administrators have a general rule, which is this: Each function you add to your server increases the probability of something going wrong.

Lets say that "your entire business" includes, for example, an e-mail server. If it all of a sudden get hit with a flood of spam, or a virus manages to infect the system, or it otherwise malfunctions, it could slow the server down to a crawl, or crash it altogether. Guess what happens then? Since the IP telephony system is on the same server, your office now no longer has access to their telephones until the problem can be fixed!

How many important incoming calls would you miss in such a scenario? How much money is that worth to the company? Is it more than the cost you "saved" by not buying another server?

The server admin rule can be reworded as such: Keep separate functions on separate servers. Tell IBM and 3Com thanks, but no thanks.

Note: If you truly can't afford to purchase a server, then at least use VMware to create separate virtual machines on your existing server, one VM per function.

VoIP: A cheap way to stay in touch

2006-10-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

The VoIP Weblog has a touching article on how VoIP strenghtens family bonds, even for those on a budget.

From first-hand experience, I can vouch for the unmatchable satisfaction of hearing the voices of friends and family while living on campus as well as staying in touch from overseas. It feels great talking to them, but even when the call is over, it feels good to know that by using a VoIP service, you've saved a few extra bucks in your wallet.

Bloggers claim victory in Jordan Skype decision

2006-10-23T23:56:00.000-05:00

I had posted previously on Jordan resolving "security issues" with Skype, thus allowing use of the VoIP service to resume after a month-long ban.

Apparently some confusion arose after an article was published in Jordan's The Star newspaper, causing bloggers and their readers to believe that Skype had been banned again.

However, the columnist who wrote The Star article, Zeid Nasser, confirmed that the Skype service had indeed been restored. The Jordanian blogger claims the decision had less to do with security than it did with public pressure:

Well, it seems the pressure from bloggers, journalists and various IT-activists has caused the Telecommunications Regulation Committee (TRC) to unblock Sykpe!

This has got to be one of the few cases of a governmental organization in Jordan reversing its decision due to civil pressures.

Comments on Zeid's blog showed skepticism towards both his version of events as well as the official explanation.

But hey, blogging didn't hurt did it? Maybe it could help UAE get its VoIP back too?

Publish your own VoIP provider reviews!

2006-10-23T23:36:00.000-05:00

Have you written a review on a VoIP service provider that you'd like to share?

I'll either post it in full on this website or provide a link to your published article, whichever you prefer.

All posted submissions will be credited with your name or pseudonym.

Just send your reviews through the comments section or by e-mail to voip_telephony [at] yahoo [dot] com.

I'm looking forward to your great reviews!

Sangoma certified for VoIP work in Malaysia

2006-10-23T15:01:00.000-05:00

Sangoma Technologies, a Toronto based hardware provider of WAN and voice infrastructure, has received the necessary certifications allowing it to sell its Advanced Flexible Technology (AFT) series of T1/E1 PCI cards in Malaysia.

The AFT PCI cards are compatible with all motherboards and are designed to connect your WAN to a soft PBX such as the open-source Asterisk. The PBX can then be used to provide high-quality VoIP service, as well as connections to landlines, mobiles, and internal PBX extensions.

With this clearance to sell its product in Malaysia, Sangoma plans to work with local partners to strengthen its market position.

Source: News Blaze - VoIP

Find Sangoma PCI Cards at VoIP Supply - the leading online retailer of Voice over IP hardware and software components.

D-Link, Boston advance the wireless revolution

2006-10-22T15:16:00.000-05:00

Asterisk VoIP News reports on Boston's pilot program to deploy a municipal WiFi network.

Asterisk also relays an announcement that D-Link has launched a new WiMAX router:

According to D-Link, the router is an ideal, cost-effective alternative for delivering a fast and secure broadband connection to consumers who are not reachable by DSL or Cable broadband services. The router is easy to install, provides coverage for an entire home, and can be managed from a service provider's central office.

Great news for people in rural communities who have been left frustrated without broadband options -- great news for ISPs because they get to charge more money for high speed services. Win-win.

Great news for VoIP providers and the SIP community as well. Widespread mobile VoIP service can't be very far behind...

Does anyone care about Net Neutrality?

2006-10-22T12:31:00.000-05:00

Russell Shaw, a self-professed student of human behavior, suggests that the reason IT professionals don't care about Net Neutrality is because they simply don't have the time to think about it.

He is, however, only responding to a subset of attendees at a trade show, who may be more overworked than other techies, and therefore less able to worry about the consequences of a change in Internet governing policies. Depending on your view, these policies may expedite or delay the widespread deployment of affordable broadband services, which would facilitate the adoption of such things as mobile VoIP and mobile video conferencing.

On the other hand, the SavetheInternet.com coalition has only managed to gather 1.1 million signatures to date. I'd say that's a pretty low number when compared to the amount of technically inclined citizens there are in the U.S. That would mean that those who haven't yet signed (a) don't care, (b) are against Net Neutrality, or (c) like me, care about the issue but don't agree with either extreme approach.

I'd like to see a middle-of-the-road plan to address this issue. Then again, would anyone care?

My Handheld Holy Grail

2006-10-20T21:19:00.000-05:00

VoIP Now asks what the ultimate in electronic gadgets would be, and I already have my answer prepared. In my head, I've designed and re-designed this device, waiting for the technology to mature before my precious is ready to come into existence. I don't want to carry more than one device, and I don't want to leave any at home either. I want the culmination of all current gadget combinations -- the Super-Gadget-Xtreme™ if you will.

The operating system doesn't matter much, as long as it's open for some hacking around and creating new programs. At launch, all the following features should be available:

Music

Plays all open media formats and Internet radio (FM optional)
Outputs to headphones, built-in speakers, or even external 7.1 surround-sound speakers if so desired
Built-in microphone

Video

4" screen with at least 1024x640 pixels
Standardized video output for hooking up to a bigger screen
Minimum of 3 megapixel camera

Games

Should be able to handle graphics as well as a PlayStation Portable
Buttons should be in strategic places, like the PSP

Office

Office-like applications
E-book readers
E-mail client
Web browser

Chat

VoIP programs
Instant messaging
Cellular phone capability (if that's still needed by then)

Other Goodies

Speech recognition and Text-to-Speech
GPS maps, driving directions, and business search
Fold-up or slide-in mini QWERTY keyboard
Battery life lasting at least 24 hours when idle, 10 hours when using voice and low graphics activity, and 5 hours when gaming and watching videos
At least 16GB flash memory
USB and Firewire output
USB input (maybe for one of those laptop lights, or just downloading files from a memory stick)
Wireless (bluetooth or otherwise) interface for keyboard, headset, and other functions

I'd better stop now. Christmas is still months away and I won't be getting anything near this cool (or uncool, whichever you prefer).

The real question is this: when I finally obtain this long-awaited all-in-one device, what will my new holy grail be?

TiVo over VoIP service = TiVoIP?

2006-10-20T00:59:00.000-05:00

Have you ever thought about replacing your old home telephone system with a VoIP service provider like Vonage? Don't cancel your landline just yet! As Garrett found out, having a POTS backup can come in handy during emergency situations.

Keeping that in mind, if you're still thinking about hooking up most of your phones to your VoIP provider, but you don't know if your TiVo or DirecTV will still function, don't worry, there's a solution for you. These DVRs can use your VoIP provider to "phone home", just like using the regular telephone. Then you should ask, do you really want those services eating up your bandwidth? Hey, it's your choice.

Alec's Talkster Review

2006-10-18T23:15:00.000-05:00

Alec has reviewed T@lkster, a new VoIP provider. In fact it's so new that you'll have to wait until the beta release before you can try it yourself.

Some of the cool features include the ability to group a person's phone numbers into one contact. I guess Talkster will attempt each service until a connection can be made.

Another feature is that you can choose whether to make the call, or receive an incoming call from Talkster. They also promise that you won't have to download any software!

Go to Alec's blog for photos and more coverage. Check Talkster.com to sign up for the beta.

Have you had an experience with Talkster that you'd like to share? Leave a comment or e-mail me at voip_telephony [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll publish your review or directly link to the review on your website.

Takeaways from the ITEXPO

2006-10-18T22:22:00.000-05:00

TMC president, Rich Tehrani, gives us an in-depth analysis of their recent Internet Telephony Conference & Expo. While other attendees were unwilling or unable to blog during the conference, Rich moblogged several times a day, providing photos, anecdotes, and videos of the event. This was made possible due to his handy XV6700 and some of Tom's scripting magic.

I'll excerpt some of the points I found particularly interesting. For the rest, read Rich's article.

One of the best parts about ITEXPO is getting to speak with so many thought leaders in the space. One such example is Michael Khalilian, Chairman of the IMS Forum, with whom I had an interesting conversation. While onstage in a panel on VoIP Service, Michael mentioned the need for consolidation in the VoIP space. He says some providers in the triple-play space are ‘gunning’ for the VoIP market and have considered giving away voice to customers who purchase broadband and certain types of programming. The goal here would be to wipe out pure-play VoIP providers so the market clears up a bit.

In Michael’s opinion, the best defense against such moves is pure scale. He advocates VoIP providers banding together as soon as possible so they are in a position to fend off threats from larger providers.

So the major carriers feel threatened by VoIP providers, and they want to take them out. How will they do it? By undercutting the newcomers! Thus, the consumer wins again, at least for the short term. Will this diabolical scheme actually work? Sadly, it just might.

The one concern here is that carriers are spending billions of dollars on technology - they need to be more certain of the ROI of these investments. “What are the money-making applications?” they rightly ask. As an industry we need to make sure we answer these questions to keep service providers investing and reaping the rewards from these investments.

Which killer-apps could VoIP hook up with? Gizmo Project is betting on the social networking craze. Online gaming has incorporated voice long ago. So what's next? With Click-to-Call, we now have some interesting options:

Tech support comes to mind. For instance, while surfing a website, or from within your application, you could click the "Call For Help" button and be connected with a live support specialist. Distance learning is another concept that requires voice. These applications are out there. It's up to the VoIP providers to hook them up with their services and start generating revenue beyond the per-minute charges.

Is it really such a Far Reach?

2006-10-16T16:53:00.000-05:00

Garrett, from Smith on VoIP, isn't holding his breath for Far Reach's announced deployment of Mobile VoIP in 76 markets:

What makes me skeptical of this news is the fact that I have never heard of xG Technology, “the greatest technical advance in RF communications in 100 years” or Far Reach Technology, a small, regional ISP.

While I partly share his skepticism, I'm optimistic for two reasons. From the TMCnet article, it will supposedly cost only $50,000 for a base station that can cover a market of 30,000 subscribers. This, coupled with the claim to have at least $100 million in financial backing from some major institutions, gives me hope that this regional ISP can pull it off.

After all, whoever heard of Skype four years ago?

Eight states to pilot Mobile VoIP over xMax/WiFi

2006-10-16T11:20:00.000-05:00

Far Reach Technologies is set to deploy mobile VoIP services in 76 markets across eight states, starting with Volusia County, Florida in March 2007. The wireless networks will use xMax technology, developed by xG, and access will be offered for a flat rate.

According to TMCnet:

xG announced in July that it was launching a development program with regional operators to build a U.S. wide mobile phone service using xMax handsets with VoIP. Two manufacturers are now building handsets with xMAX chips. These phones, which will be branded as xG phones, will deliver seamless hand-off between xMAX and WiFi systems.

In a March 2006 press release, xG announced their new handsets would include xMax and WiFi chips alongside Ethernet jacks to enable users to plug into VoIP networks. I just question the need for Ethernet jacks in an age when even the smallest of small businesses use WiFi. Perhaps xG will reconsider.

No doubt this will a development to watch for as the wireless revolution marches onward.

LiveJournal and Gizmo partner for LJ Talk

2006-10-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

GigaOM reports that the blogging and social networking tool, LiveJournal, has incorporated a VoIP feature for chatting and voice posting, using the open Jabber protocol. They call it LJ Talk, and it was developed in partnership with Gizmo Project for smooth integration into LiveJournal users' accounts. Here's what Om has to say:

The software has all the usual trimmings, but what is cool (not a business word, clearly) is the icons displayed on the LiveJournal website and in the software show online presence of friends (available, away or offline). Furthermore, users can update their LiveJournal content via instant messages, or by using the software to record “voice posts” without leaving their computers, ideal for International users who wish to avoid the high cost of calling U.S.-based access numbers.

For more info, go check out the LiveJournal News Update.

Skype security issues "resolved" in Jordan

2006-10-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

Following a month-long ban on Skype, Jordanian authorities have reversed their decision on the ban:

Director of the commission's regulatory department, Al Ansari Al Mashaqbah, confirmed yesterday that the recent decision to block Skype had been reversed.

The official told The Jordan Times that the security issues, cited as the reason for the block, had been resolved.

The article goes on to mention that China's Shenzhen Province had previously blocked and subsequently unblocked Skype citing the same reasons.

The popular software programme uses an encryption method that came under attack recently. Technical support representatives at Wanado said the reasons Skype was being targeted was because of possible terrorist activity, and the inability to monitor Skype conversations.

This begs the question: is the "security issue" a cover for "the inability to listen in"? Do the Chinese, the Jordanians, and who knows how many other governments, now possess the ability to wiretap Skype conversations? They would probably not require judicial approval, as in the Swiss case, and could therefore simply adopt the technology without an announcement.

The Cloud, Skype, make (a little) headway in the WiFi revolution

2006-10-13T00:35:00.000-05:00

The Cloud, a WiFi provider that operates over 8,500 hotspots in Europe, has partnered with SMC, a network hardware provider, and Skype, the well-known VoIP provider, to make mobile VoIP calls slightly easier. (press release)

SMC has introduced a new WiFi Skype phone and The Cloud is having a limited promotion for people who own this new SMC phones.

It's a step in the right direction, I'll give them that. While it doesn't fundamentally change a whole lot, at least it's creating publicity about the onset of mobile VoIP. But if you watch their commercial, you'd think this was the first phone to ever link VoIP to WiFi. Of course, we know these phones already exist. Skype has also had Skype Mobile for some time now, and it works on all these supported devices.

More WiFi phones emerge, while more WiFi hotspots come online each day. It appears that VoIP and WiFi will have a long and happy marriage. A true match made in heaven.

Should Skype wiretaps be admissible in courts? Should any?

2006-10-12T01:21:00.000-05:00

VoIP Now makes an interesting talking point in response to the recent announcement that the Swiss may start listening in on VoIP calls. The article questions whether VoIP wiretaps should be admissible in courts since it's possible to doctor the audio.

That's a valid point, but the scope here is larger than just VoIP. The same could be said for other types of voice, as well as photos and videos. An eight year old can photoshop an incriminating image in a matter of minutes. Video editing has become so sophisticated that video surveillance could theoretically be doctored too. Even the example given, a spoof of U2's Sunday, Bloody Sunday being sung by President Bush on YouTube, was pieced together from non-VoIP audio. Still, all these types of surveillance remain valid forms of evidence (except in Britain, where the courts forbid wiretaps for fear of putting informants at risk).

My advice? Hire a good lawyer who can get you off the hook no matter how much "evidence" there is against you.

VoIP Workgroup Feed Aggregator

2006-10-11T19:37:00.000-05:00

This is brilliant. I just found out that I can keep tabs on all the newest posts in the VoIP blogosphere with just one feed in my newsreader. Thanks to VoIP Workgroup, all the feeds are collected and repackaged into a single feed. If your VoIP blog isn't on it yet, go sign up.

UPDATE: VoIP Workgroup seems to be offline for now. I've notified the admin and I'll update this post when it's back.

UPDATE 2: Looks like it's back now. I missed catching all the new VoIP posts with one feed.

A step into the future of VoIP

2006-10-10T19:03:00.000-05:00

As VoIP bloggers Andy, Dan, Garrett, Greg, Jon, Ken, Rich and Tom attend the Internet Telephony Conference & Expo to discover and discuss all the latest trends in the VoIP industry, I decided to blog about one such new trend: Mobile VoIP.

SPH101
Skype WiFi Phone

Apparently, in VoIP 2.0 (or will it be 3.0 by then?), making calls from your PC will seem so impractical as to be laughable. Mobile calls will increasingly be made seamlessly over WiFi-enabled handsets, taking advantage of endless new features while long-distance rates will plummet lower than Bush's approval ratings in the Middle East.

This scenario assumes, of course, that wireless Internet (WiFi) will soon be as widespread as cellular signals are today. We already have WiFi at the office, at home, libraries, coffee shops, and so on. San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Toronto, and Fredericton are all deploying city-wide WiFi access, with more surely following their lead. This future may not be too far away.

Hop-on HOP1515
SIP-WiFi Phone

And VoIP service providers are getting ready. Skype Mobile, Gizmo, Jajah Mobile, Rebtel, and Truphone have already begun marketing towards mobile phone users. With the right phone, you can already make very cheap calls or even free calls to other users within the same service. Calls to people outside your service will still be offered at low rates when compared to regular long-distance, but with the growing interoperability of VoIP providers, eventually a user of service A in California and a user of service B in Bombay could theoretically talk to each other using their mobile phones without paying a cent!

Now let's throw SIP into the mix. This open source protocol used by Vonage and Gizmo Project allows free communication between any two SIP-enabled devices, and cheap calls to non-SIP phones. And on the left we have the HOP1515, a SIP WiFi phone that's available for about $40. Can it get much cheaper than that?

Paragon Wireless hipi-2200
Dual-mode Windows Phone

Alas, for now, we shall wait until VoIP providers all connect to one another, and until WiFi hotspots outnumber coldspots. Now we must still contend with GSM, CDMA and GPRS, and phones locked into their respective service providers and 2-year minimum contracts. We will have to put up with the headaches and confusion of the current mess of choices in mobile voice.

So while waiting for everything to become clear, you have yet another choice. If you want to use VoIP 2.0 services alongside your current cellular service, you'll probably want to get a dual-mode phone, capable of both cellular and WiFi. You may be interested in the "Hippie 2000", as pictured. Many PDA phones are dual-mode as well. I guess they'll have to suffice.

There are those who may question the business sense in having the ability to make extremely cheap or free calls to anyone around the world. They will eventually open their eyes, lest their eyes be opened for them.

Top 15 VoIP Service Providers

2006-10-10T00:25:00.000-05:00

As ranked by ISP Planet, according to number of subscribers in Q2 2006.

Rank	ISP	Subs. (thousands)	Date & Source
1	Skype (paid VoIP only, customers worldwide, date of this number unknown)	1,800	[July 27, 2005] Press Release
1	Vonage	1,800	[as of June 30, 2006] Fact Sheet
1	Cox Digital Phone* (as of June 14, 2006)	1,800	[June 14, 2006] Press Release
4	Time Warner Digital Phone*	1,600	[August 2, 2006] 10-Q [.pdf]
5	CableVision (cable VoIP under the Optimum Voice brand name)	988	[September 21, 2006] Press Release
6	CallWave (free and paid VoIP, counting subscribers, not lines)	780	[May 12, 2006] SEC 10-Q
7	Comcast Digital Phone* (978,000 circuit switched customers not counted)	729	[July 28, 2006] SEC 10-Q
8	Charter* (cable VoIP)	258	[August 8, 2006] SEC 10-Q
9	Packet8 (a.k.a. 8x8) (counting lines, not subscribers)	151	[July 27 2006] Press Release
10	SunRocket	128	[September 27, 2006] SunRocket Public Relations
11	Insight Communications* (cable VoIP)	107	[August 9, 2006] SEC 10-Q
12	Mediacom* (cable VoIP)	66	[August 9, 2006] SEC 10-Q
13	Covad (business VoIP only, 1,343 VoIP business customers with a combined total of approximately 44,000 stations )	44	[August 3, 2006] SEC 10-Q
14	GCI (Alaksa only)	27	[August 9, 2006] SEC 10-Q
15	CBeyond (Alaksa only)	23	[August 14, 2006] SEC 10-Q
Note: data was unavailable for many VoIP service providers.
Note: services with an asterisk * are digital phone, not true VoIP

Read on for more analysis.

Jajah: The calling card killer

2006-10-09T02:09:00.000-05:00

Have you ever used a calling card to get good rates to your friends and relatives in foreign countries? Then you know about the hassles of calling their toll-free number, then entering your 10 digit PIN, followed by the number of the person you're actually trying to reach. Not to mention you can only talk for as long as the card allows, and they sometimes bill you in 3-minute increments!

If you don't have a broadband connection, or you don't like using a microphone headset, then calling cards were just about the only option for making cheap calls from your normal phone line.

Enter Jajah. On their website, you simply enter your phone number and the phone number of the person you want to talk to and press Call. Your phone will ring. When you pick up, the other phone will start ringing. When it's picked up, the billing counter starts and you can talk to each other. Pretty simple. Depending on the zone you're in, your international calls are free or at low rates. It also helps if the other line is also registered with Jajah.

They also have Jajah Mobile, which is a transparent way of making Jajah calls from your cellphone, if you have a Symbian™ phone. Otherwise, there's a Java application you can use to make calls from your mobile phone which is admittedly more complicated, but still allows you to make Jajah calls without going to their website.

The question is, can this work? I mean in the long-term business sense, can they continue making money off of the infrastructure of established telecom providers? Jajah's genius move is relying on the fact that most people don't pay for incoming calls. This cost is usually picked up by the one who initiates the call. Since all Jajah's calls become local calls, with the long distance part going over IP, I'd imagine that the big telecoms wouldn't be too happy about this attempt to cut into their profits. Might they sue, or demand fees, or possibly enforce bandwidth regulations? We'll have to wait and see what happens.

Top 10 VoIP Service Providers

2006-10-08T11:29:00.000-05:00

Not a detailed post by any means, but The Online Technology blog has compiled a Top Ten list of VoIP providers. Here's a quick rundown of their picks:

Skype
Vonage
Dialpad
Broadvox Direct
Galaxy Voice
Voice Pulse
VoIP American
Packet8
SunRocket
Speakeasy

VoIP services banned in the Middle East

2006-10-07T18:19:00.000-05:00

This story coming out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is mind-boggling. Dubai is the uncontested Internet capital of the Middle East, yet they've banned VoIP service and IP Telephony; basically anything that isn't routed through their state telecom provider. From the article:

...the ban has "put back the clock on globalisation," as the service had enabled companies to work in-sync with other country offices through the use of VoIP services. "

This technology has, in a sense, shrunk the world, it feels as though you are all in the same office, although you are scattered around the globe. The service enabled us to be more dynamic, faster and more responsive. The ban does not mesh well with the overall stated goals of the UAE."

In its defence, the Telecommunications Regulations Authority (TRA) responded:

...this service has to be dealt with like any other telecom service, and like other telecom services it requires licensing and authorisations to be provided."

However, there is hope for users. Even the country's main telecom service provider admits that:

Responding to queries as to why some areas receive access to VoIP services and others do not, Etisalat said that there were always new ways of getting around blocks because of the "dynamic nature of the internet."

With many encryption and anonymizing services emerging, this ban cannot defeat the openness of the Internet. Read what Dubai residents have to say about the ban.

Hacking VoIP

2006-10-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

Ted Wallingford has written a book entitled VoIP Hacks, which gives us 100 ways to have fun with VoIP services. Samples include:

- Prioritize packets to improve quality
- Sound like Darth Vader while you VoIP
- Kindly introduce telemarketers to Mr. Privacy
- Sniff out jittery calls with Ethereal
- Secretly record VoIP calls

This could come in handy.

VoipStunt Review

2006-10-06T21:43:00.000-05:00

This blog's first review is for VoipStunt, a client that's compatible with the SIP protocol AND has free calls to landlines in 32 countries!

It's not a pure softphone either, as it features a service called "directcall" (pictured) that calls your home phone first, waits for you to pick up, then dials the second number. This means that you don't even really need a microphone, just an Internet connection.

As you can see, the user interface is standard, simple, and easy to use. It looks like a pretty blatant copy of Skype, which isn't a bad thing.

When I signed up, there was no need to buy credits before calling. My first call went through immediately. The delay made it hard to have a great conversation, but the voice quality was good enough. I'd say it's comparable to SkypeOut, but slightly less clear.

Unfortunately, there is a 30 minute cap on free calls. It hangs up and displays a message saying that you must purchase credits in order to remove this cap. You can call right back though.

VoipStunt belongs to a family of cheap VoIP clients, including InternetCalls, SIPdiscount, VoipBuster, VoipCheap, VoipDiscount, and FreeCall. According to voip-info.org, they're operated by Finarea, a Swiss company, and/or Betamax, a German company.

After extensive testing, here are the pros and cons:

Pros: Free to many countries, direct calls, SIP compatible, nice user interface.

Cons: Delay, unstable voice quality, 30 minute limit.

Overall: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

Have you had an experience with VoipStunt that you'd like to share? Leave a comment or e-mail me at voip_telephony [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll publish your review or directly link to the review on your website.

How secure is VoIP compared to legacy systems?

2006-10-06T19:51:00.000-05:00

Although it can save on costs, you could potentially get burned by hackers, according to this article on the BBC:

You might think that your phone was secure but if you or the institution you are ringing uses Voip (internet telephony) you might have to think again.
Telecoms security specialists like "The Grugq", who kept his school nickname as a cover for his hacking activities, are highly sceptical.
"Basically Voip is going to make telephony as secure as the internet," he says. That's about as damning as a hacker can be.
"What I expect we're going to be seeing in a few months, and what's already technically possible, is for an attacker to gain access to a call centre."
The Grugq outlines a scenario in which "the customer does everything right," rings his bank's legitimate number, is put through to a call centre whether in the US, UK or even India and has their call hijacked.
"An attacker would be able to [hack] into the call centre. He could then set up a server that would monitor all of the traffic and during the hold music it would be possible for an attacker to inject content such as 'In order for us to better serve you please enter your account number and PIN code'."
If that were to happen, you have just handed over your bank details to someone who wants to empty out your accounts. And the Grugq has bad news for companies looking to save money through Voip.
"They need to make sure that everyone who has a Voip system that's connected to the internet is secure otherwise the entire system falls apart. It's basically a house of cards."
And if internet usage and mobile Voip telephony takes off with the next generation of mobile phones (3.5 / 4G), experts say its coding, known as IPv6, will be open to the same sort of "man in the middle attacks" that The Grugq describes.
"The vulnerabilities that we have in our current internet protocol they still have similar vulnerabilities in the upcoming IP version 6," says Van Hauser, a member of The Hacker's Choice, a group of international network and system security experts.
"There are ways to secure it if implemented correctly, set up correctly, administered correctly which will be a big challenge but at least there is a chance and a hope."

There's quite a bit of FUD in that article, since even current systems can be insecure. It's not unheard of for hackers to break into normal IVR systems as a way of gaining access to private networks. The best line of the article is the last sentence of the above quote, and even it is somewhat redundant. The key point is that any system must be implemented with security in mind, especially when dealing with new technologies.

All will be revealed in time.

Free International Calls

2006-10-06T16:52:00.000-05:00

T. Doolin writes about some of the latest offers by VOIP service providers:

We did some comparisons on what’s available today for free:

Most Cellular Providers: Will require a 1-2 year commitment to get a plan that includes their free nights and weekends and nationwide long distance. And vary greatly on charges for International calls.

Skype currently offers free domestic calls in the U.S. from your PC to telephones until the end of 2006. We found charges $.02 up to $1.25 per minute for international calls. From time to time they have offered free international calls to certain countries as an inducement to try there service. One limitation is you have to call from your PC using an internet connection.

Vonage once you sign up for a monthly plan, offers free calls to the U.S. and Canada. And also charges $.02 to $1.25 per minute for international calls. Vonage will send you a telephone adapter that you will need to use with your internet connection and telephone.

You may also want to check out the Gizmo Project for free calls to land lines.

Standard		Mobile WiMAX / CDMA 1x EV-DO
Camera		1.3 Megapixel Camera
Display		5” WVGA LCD
Features		1GHz (Transmeta) CPU
		QWERTY Keyboard
		Bluetooth® (Class1) with BT Messenger
		Mini USB / 24 pin Connector
		Extended I/O Pack
		2980mAh / 7200mAh Battery
Other Functions		30GB Embedded
Size		143 x 92 x 29.7 mm
Weight		560g