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Mysterious firm offers “extra help” with blocked sites

elymiles — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:15:20 +0000

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’s three solutions comprise:

‘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.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

GIPS and Skype Extend VoIP Partnership

elymiles — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 05:54:57 +0000

Voice processing technology provider Global IP Sound (GIPS) announced on Monday that it extended its partnership with Skype to enable hardware manufacturers to offer Skype compatible IP phones.

The new hardware systems will use GIPS' Voice Engine Embedded. Skype has licensed GIPS products in the past including VoiceEngine PC in the summer of 2003.

"Skype has clearly revolutionized global personal communications with its offering," said GIPS' president and CEO Gary Hermansen in a statement. "This latest step in our relationship helps to solidify this growing market by expanding the options for Skype-enabled hardware devices and the ability for consumers to have a consistent, high-quality user experience regardless of platform."

Today's news follows Skype's new release of its communications software for Mac, the Skype for Mac OS X 1.5.

Currently in beta testing, the new version is now available in nine languages including French, German and Spanish. Skype for Mac OS X 1.5's new features include an improved contact list, calls in windows and chat drawer; a simpler contacts search function; and an "Easy Dialer" for straightforward calling to landlines and mobile phones at lower prices.

Skype Limited

Global IP Sound

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Broadcast distance and speech quality middling for WLAN phones

elymiles — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:26:18 +0000

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.

Related Articles: Switching to VOIP | At last a VOIP Headset that isn't crappy

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

VoIP Hat Trick. GoogleTalk, 16K and NextGen IVR

elymiles — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:44:40 +0000

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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Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Cisco gives VoIP certification a boost

elymiles — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:46:26 +0000

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."

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Twenty-four million pay for VoIP

elymiles — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:49:30 +0000

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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Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Call centers ramp up VoIP

elymiles — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:44:11 +0000

By Sylvia Carr, Silicon.com

Almost half of the call centers in North America will use voice over Internet Protocol systems by the end of next year, according to new research.

A report from the Yankee Group says that despite VoIP adoption lagging behind earlier predictions, the call center market is embracing the technology.

Forty-seven percent of call centers are expected to roll out VoIP by 2007, compared with just 17 percent in 2005.

The key reasons for using the new technology are to manage multiple call center sites cheaply and flexibly, and to be able to place agents anywhere, including at home.

The largest call centers-those with more than 500 seats-will see the greatest increase in VoIP adoption from now until the end of 2007, the analyst firm predicts.

Though VoIP for the enterprise has been much hyped in recent years, Yankee Group said adoption has not met its predictions.

"This lackluster performance of VoIP products and services in the enterprise--and more specifically in the contact center marketplace--indicates that much more than technology and end-user perception are involved in driving the market for VoIP applications to a higher level,"

the report said.

The biggest concerns for contact centers looking to roll out VoIP are costs, including fears of high upfront costs. Overall, respondents believed they would see savings of 6 percent to 15 percent from using the technology.

Other concerns include voice quality--a worry for 46 percent of the market--and security and reliability.

Call centers are looking to buy VoIP systems from telcommunications companies and telephony hardware and software vendors rather than system integrators and value-added resellers, the report said. And though data-networking vendors are still in the minority, they've made progress in capturing market share, the analyst firm said.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Voice Services News: Telcos embrace VoIP

elymiles — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:19:15 +0000

Traditional telecoms providers are turning to voice over IP (VoIP) as a means of boosting flagging revenues, research has shown.

VoIP offers private individuals and business users to make voice calls over the internet, under-cutting the traditional fixed line business model.

In a bid to ensure that their revenues are not unduly squeezed by this new technology, the industry is looking to position itself as the main provider.

"No longer is VoIP being offered only by specialist providers and VoIP pioneers, but by all types of providers in all regions of the world," said Stephane Teral, principal analyst at Infonetics. "Next gen voice services have elevated from lab curiosity to market reality."

Infonetics found significant support among telcos in key markets for VoIP, as it is seen as a technology with good potential for future growth.

The research firm suggested that it would take between ten and 15 years for leading service providers to make the transition to VoIP.

In the meantime, Infonetics said, telcos in areas with high "tele-density" like North America and western Europe will let their existing equipment churn, while operators in less-developed markets will launch next-generation voice services as their primary platform.

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Original post blogged on b2evolution.