An Asian organisation operating under the brand 'HeyU' is offering internet users in the UAE what it terms “a little extra help” accessing blocked websites such as Skype.com, whilst claiming that a British firm is working with the UAE authorities to completely block VoIP traffic.


The Asian group’s offer – detailed in full on the ‘wiki’ page of the Mathaba News Network’s website (here) - takes the form of three paid-for ‘HeyU’ solutions; these are effectively ways in which consumers can get around the UAE’s Skype website block (and any other site blocks), download Skype software and buy Skype calling credit.


A statement by a HeyU spokesperson on the same page also rails against the UAE's policy of blocking websites, as well as condemning an unnamed British firm, which he states is working to block VoIP traffic in the Emirates.

‘HeyU Option 1’. This is targeted at internet users who don’t already have Skype software (or the latest version) on their computers and costs 20 Euros (US $25). This allows a user to download Skype via a non-blocked download link, which in turns lets them enjoy PC to PC calling.


Option 2 costs 30 Euros ($38). With this option, the user is sent a secure website address, along with a special username and password, which they can then use for three months, both to visit Skype.com and any other blocked websites. (This access to Skype.com also means that a user can purchase ‘SkypeOut’ calling credit and thereafter call landline phones around the world from their internet-connected computer.)


Finally, ‘HeyU Option 3’ is priced 50 Euros ($64) and includes all the elements of option 1 and 2, plus a 20 Euro ‘SkypeOut’ voucher.

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Broadcast distance and sound quality for special WLAN phones are frequently less than ideal.


The sound quality often suffers if a hotspot is serving more than one web surfer at a time, reports Hannover-based computer magazine c't, which tested several devices recently.


Despite this, the phones, which allow users to link into a WLAN without additional computer or adapter, are relatively expensive.


To make a call at home using VoIP, for example, the authors recommend using an adaptor and a standard cordless phone. The telephone unit is simply plugged into the adapter, which is used as a VoIP router. For those on the go, a headset and laptop are a good alternative, allowing the user to dial into a network at a hotspot.



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FreeSWITCH, an open source telephone soft-switch, reached a new milestone this week by combining three revolutionary VoIP features into one application.


In early April the project first announced interoperability with the GoogleTalk voice chat client making it possible to gateway calls to SIP or the public phone network. Three months later, the software made big news with successful switching of calls at 16 kilohertz. Traditionally, VoIP calls operate at 8 kilohertz (about 1/5 the detail in CD quality).


With this improvement in detail, voices have more richness and clarity improving the overall experience of a phone call. This week the software has brought the first two elements together and topped it off with a new capability that may change the way we interface to our phones.


GoogleTalk has recently released a new version of their client capable of transmitting audio at 16 kilohertz making it possible to call FreeSWITCH and interact in a conference bridge or listen to a text-to-speech engine read you your favorite news story all in high definition audio.


Now for the twist, not only can you interact with the system on the phone by listening to the audio and dialing a few digits, now you can send and receive text messages with the system at the same time.


Imagine being asked out loud for your account information and being asked to type your name into the chat box and actually have the other end of the call able to intercept the information and react accordingly. This may break the paradigm of the auto-attendant altogether.


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Cisco Systems is keeping pace with the growing popularity of VoIP and converged networks by building new skill sets into its mid-level certification program.


Cisco has expanded its CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) program -- its second-most-popular program behind CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) -- so that it extends...


... beyond just core routing and switching. The certification now encompasses applications such as voice, wireless and security.

"The program used to emphasise routing and switching, so the major change is in recognition of a broader set of solutions: security, voice and wireless," said Don Field, director of certifications at Cisco.

"We have significantly increased the content in those three areas because that's the way companies are buying, or will buy, our product. Having individuals with skills in those areas, plus switching and routing, will help enterprises … to have [network professionals] who can design, troubleshoot, etc., a converged network."

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Key to success? Don't call it VoIP


Twenty-four million people worldwide pay to use retail voice over IP (VoIP) services, new research has shown.


The number of retail VoIP subscribers jumped more than 80 per cent to 18.7 million during 2005 - or 24 million if you add users of PC-to-phone services such as Skype, according to Point Topic's IP Telephony report.


Based on reported revenues, the analyst estimates that one-sixth of VoIP subscribers used Skype in the fourth quarter of 2005.


The Asia-Pacific region has the largest share of VoIP users but the fastest growth is seen in Europe and the US.


The number of VoIP subscribers in Europe grew nearly threefold to 5.3 million during 2005 and is expected to pick up even more in 2006.


France has the highest VoIP adoption in Europe with 2.8 million paying subscribers, led by new carriers Free and neuf selling easy-to-use VoIP services - though incumbent France Telecom's VoIP push has also proved fruitful as it raised subscriber levels more than fivefold in 2005.


In the UK, BT's VoIP offering had "relatively few" subscribers by the end of 2005 but was picking up in early 2006, said the analyst.


One key success in the US, according to Point Topic, is marketing the service not as 'VoIP' but describing it in simple terms customers understand such as 'digital telephone'.



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