Wednesday, November 30, 2005

USB VOIP phone With voice recorder

Here is a phone that Skype users will love. You can talk to who ever you want and if you are not sure if you can make the voip connection soon again, you can record the conversation, in .wav or mp3 format.
How sweet, you can have voice prompts in your .....'s voice. Fill in the blank as you prefer.
Geemodo: USB VOIP phone With voice recorder (UP-111C-A)

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

A must read discussion on Small Business VOIP!

This discussion on /.(Slashdot) is a must read if you are thinking of implementing VOIP. The discussion goes from Asterisk, Cisco Call manager, Cisco Call manager express, Vonage, SBC, AT&T, (did I write that twice, I meant SBC is AT&T!) 3COM, various CODECS, and Line quality etc. It is simple VOIP or IP Telephony GEM. Most of all don't forget to read this comment, which is at the bottom, about asterisk@home.

Also pieces like "Setting the call quality to the highest setting means that the G.711 codec is used, which consumes 64k/s per conversation. That's generally not a problem with a home user who only has one call happening at a time, but it will easily overwhelm the standard small-business broadband connection which might only have 128-256kps upstream bandwidth. Setting the call quality lower is probably using the iLBC or the GSM codec. GSM is commonly used for cell conversations, iLBC is a variable rate codec designed for VoIP. They both consume far less bandwidth, but you're right, the call quality sucks."

Also links like this. Giving information as how to setup a call center, "We now have over 250 phones installed at 4 locations(including a call center). We started switching to Asterisk three years ago and grew the system to the point where everything is Asterisk and we do all inter-office calls over VOIP(IAX trunks). The cost savings in licensing costs alone more than justifies 2 full-time IT staffers salaries. "

Vonage may get blocked, from signing up new customers.


A slashdot article lead me to the news that Vonage might be in trouble regarding e911 compliance.
Federal Communications Commission, FCC gave Vonage and other companies that sell Internet-based phone service 120 days to comply with its order requiring enhanced 911, or E911, in all their service areas. I have reported on this earlier. Click here to see all articles if you want to see the issues leading to the current situation.
From the article: "The company -- which has more than 1 million subscribers -- said it was capable of transmitting a call back number and location for 100 percent of its subscribers, but that it still was waiting for cooperation from competitors that control the 911 network." May be they want that free, SBC said earlier that if providers are willing to pay the service will be available from them.
The deadline to show the government where E911 is available was Monday. House and Senate lawmakers had urged FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to give companies more time and more tools to speed deployment, but no extension was granted.

In its compliance report to the FCC, Vonage said only 26 percent of its customer base had full E911 services. The company — which has more than 1 million subscribers — said it was capable of transmitting a call back number and location for 100 percent of its subscribers, but that it still was waiting for cooperation from competitors that control the 911 network.

AT&T declined to comment on its compliance levels before filing its report with the FCC. Calls to the company on Tuesday were not immediately returned. AT&T offers Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, to about 57,000 customers through its CallVantage service.

SunRocket, which has more than 50,000 subscribers nationwide, said it had equipped 96 percent of its customers with full 911 services.

The VON Coalition, an industry group, had estimated that overall about two-thirds of Internet phone users would have enhanced 911 by the deadline.

Citing public safety concerns, the FCC in May ordered companies selling Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, to ensure that callers can reach an emergency dispatcher when they dial 911. The dispatchers also must be able to tell where callers are located and the numbers from which they are calling.
Read more at Yahoo and /.

Google wi-fi (goofi) approved by Mountainview City.

At a meeting on 15 November, the Mountain View City Council unanimously approved a plan that gives Google access to city-owned streetlight poles for the placement of wireless access points for a city-wide Wi-Fi network. In an e-mail statement, a Google spokeswoman said the company is "excited to begin work on this project" and is looking forward to providing Wi-Fi service to members of the local community.
"The City potentially could receive an annual payment of approximately $12,600 [adjusted annually for increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI)] for the placement of Google equipment on City-owned light poles," according to the document. "All installation and maintenance costs will be borne by Google, and utility costs will be paid by the City and fully reimbursed by Google, which is estimated to be $3,000 to $4,000 per year."
Google hopes to use the Mountain View network as a proving ground to show officials in large metropolitan areas that the search giant can provide city-wide Wi-Fi access. About 72,200 people live in Mountain View, located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from San Francisco. The company already provides Wi-Fi access in two local Mountain View businesses, and in Union Square, a popular outdoor public space in downtown San Francisco.
May be this will pave a way for vowifi. Will it be goofi woof!

Cisco plans to score in IP PBX on Digital Fairway!

With Cisco's last acquisition of Scientific Atlanta Everyone was looking for video over IP plug in their routers. I think finally Cisco thought there is something to be had in video arena. So next time when you buy a router, look for that video plug!
Hidden behind the Scientific Atlanta buy out is another Cisco Purchase, this time it is Canadian company, Digital Fairway.
Digital Fairway, a developer of IP telephony provisioning systems, intellectual property and other assets was purchased for $15.25 million in cash. Digital Fairway, which is based in Toronto, will become part of Cisco's Network Management Technology Group, joining the CDIC (Campus, Data Center and IP Communications) group led by Vice President Clive Foreman.
Digital Fairway's IP Telephony Provisioner will form the foundation for Cisco's IP Communications Provisioning Manager, a new enterprise-class IP communications provisioning product to be released in 2006. The IP Communications Provisioning Manager will enable rapid enterprise-wide IP telephony deployment by simplifying and automating operations through workflow-based unified provisioning. In addition to user and dial plan provisioning, it will also support change management using a database of record. Cisco will also incorporate the assets into its lifecycle services framework.

Online dting service adds VOIP services to the mix.



Had to misspel in order to get trackback to ping.(did not like dating, asian!)
Tom Keating at VOIP Blog is asking why Dating services based here in USA, slow to take on services like VOIP and Video Over IP. He also reports about the addition of VOIP service by Vivox, the largest online dating service in Asia.
Here is a part of press release by Vivox,
Vivox, a pioneer in context-specific communications services, today announced that it will power WorldFriends Networks' (WFN) new WorldFriends Phone service, which will allow WFN's half-million global users to communicate with each other via live text, voice or video chat. In doing so, WFN becomes the industry's first online dating service to provide its user community with an integrated Web-voice-video-Instant Messenger communications platform.

Owned and operated by Meta4 Group Limited, WFN is one of Asia's largest online dating sites. WFN caters to an international constituency by operating in 20 different countries and in four different languages - English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. With more than 150 partner websites, WFN registers more than 1,000 new members every day making it the world's premier provider of private label multi-lingual online personals.


Read the rest and more at VOIP BLOG.....

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Conference calls with Skype



For those who thinks I am against skype, here is a proof, that I am not. I am against the methods that skype uses. I don't like someone taking control of my PC.
Anyway I seem to be in the minority when it comes to Skype, eventhough there are better VOIP applications that are similar or better than Skype, there are more than enough users. So here we go.

Skype Conference Phone. (VOIP, IP Telephony hands free phone)
buffalo Corporation Nagoya city has some interesting products for computer users. I have seen many a gadgets, gizmos related and unrelated to voip or IP telephony come from this place.

The conference phone slated to released in the latter quarter of December 2005, is currently known as BSKP-CU201/BK.
It has smart microphone and a Speaker. It is said to capable of supporting 5-6 users simultaneously. Good for the Xmas Holidays, to say hello to grand ma and Grand pa together.


The system also has a microphone and headphone so that if you want to croon your better half in privacy, you can use those connectors.
There is no need to make changes to your current Skype software nor configuration. No external power source is necessary as it is powered by USB.

Friday, November 25, 2005

It seems you really don't need Skypekiller

As discussed here, About the application skype and skypekiller. Troubling? News have surfaced about the SKYPE company. It seems that Skype company killed it self! Well when VC's come in, money becomes more important than people. But it should not be hard to treat people better.
Andy at VOIP Watch has shortlist about post merger skype news.
Skyp e bay deal info is here.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Gurgle! With all the Google's Click-to-talk, Google talk and Free wi-fi You soon will be abale to gurgle.

Gurgle: Utter with a gurgling sound; "'Help,' the stabbing victim gurgeld" in this case the victim will be telecomm companies!
Google Talk, the voice-enabled IM client based on Jabber platform.
There was news that Google was experimenting with selling offline ads. Yannick Laclau, discovered something interesting in an article about AHS systems, the company featured in the Google experimental ads.
Also google-Wi-fi, GOOfi has taken off to a good start, Demand exceeds the supply.
This is what google say now;
The Google Secure Access client was originally intended to provide secure web access for users at a few local Mountain View, CA "hotspots" that Google established as part of a community outreach program. Adoption of this limited release technology has exceeded our expectations and we recently began restricting access to the few locations it was originally intended for. We are excited about the widespread enthusiasm for this technology and are currently investigating ways to make it more broadly available in the future.

“It’s a lot of exposure for cheap,” he said, adding that Google is “doing a ton of tracking on this. They’re using their own 1-800 numbers on this, and it forwards to our line.” The Internet addresses of the online versions of the ads also redirect traffic through Google servers.

With companies such as Ingenio and eStara promoting click-to-call technology and ecommerce sites looking to add click-to-call to help close sales, "click-to-call VoIP" (click on a web link and initiate a VoIP call) continues to make strides. Google, eBay, Yahoo and other major Web players have click-to-call directory assistance, not yet in wide use, as well as "click-to-close" (the sale) utilizing Web-initiated VoIP calls to aid in closing sales. May be for shopping carts that you find everywhere on the net. It is also a better way to verify the seller, in this internet age where verifying the buyer is the most important factor in eSALES.
One seller on the net explained the reason to use click-to-call this way;
"We know that more than 9 out of 10 industrial buyers go online first when looking for products and services. A good portion of our clients' business is initiated online, and completed offline. This is difficult to track for anyone".
I would say plus for clients like me, who still picks up the phone to order, after finding the product on the net.
Now that it is on /.(slashdot) may be more people will click and call.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

AstPlanDesigner 0.1 download and have fun with Asterisk!

AstPlanDesigner 0.1 is a visual dial plan designer. It aids you in building a dial plan by drawing your plan. It is a good start for cumbersome extension.conf creation. Since it is written in Java, it will run anywhere.
If you an Asterisk voip/pbx user or developer, give it a go! It is free too.
Here is a screenshot!

Monday, November 21, 2005

Get your Cisco gear upto date, get Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(4)T.

Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(4)T, the second release in the Release 12.4T family, is now available. Release 12.4(4)T enhances threat protection against malicious worm and virus attacks, improves performance monitoring of VoIP networks, and extends support for secure concurrent services on the Cisco 1800 Series router.

Key features of Release 12.4(4)T include:

Cisco 1801, 1802, and 1803 Integrated Services Routers -- provide a cost-effective, single-box solution for small, medium, and branch office applications with secure concurrent services for broadband access


Cisco IOS Flexible Packet Matching -- next-generation Access Control List technology that provides a rapid first line of defense against malicious traffic at the entry point into the network


Application Firewall for Instant Messenger Traffic
Enforcement -- reduces exposure to potential vulnerabilities from instant messenger clients


Cisco IOS IP Service Level Agreements for VoIP with Real Time Protocol -- extends the productivity, OpEx, and availability benefits of Cisco IOS IP SLAs to VoIP networks


Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) for IPv6 -- increases network availability by extending the fault tolerance and fast switchover capabilities of HSRP to IPv6


NetFlow Reliable Export via Stream Control Transport
Protocol -- ensures the integrity of accounting and billing information
Visit the URLs below to learn more about Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(4)T and the entire Release 12.4T family.

Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4T homepage:

www.cisco.com/go/release124t/

Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4T New Features and Hardware Support, Product Bulletin No. 3001:

www.cisco.com/go/124tpb/

Saturday, November 19, 2005

How to kill a Skype® / remove Skype® installs from your network!

How To Uninstall Modern Skype from WIndows 8

An updated version of this article is here

If you are looking to remove unauthorized installations of Skype® from your network?
Is your DSL router constantly hanging, when you or another at your home using Skype®? To make sure it is Skype®, turn off the computer with Skype®, just shutting down skype will not stop Skype®.
First you need to get skypekiller,

Then install it on a windows workstation or a server and make sure that a connection to your network is up and ready.

Now fireup SK and Select the default clean mode or tick the "Detect only" option if you just want to list Skype® installs.

Now is time to setup Filtering
You can apply filters to determine the type of target computers on which Skype® is to be removed. For example you can choose to run SkypeKiller only on your workstations.


Once filtering is setup, you need to Select Target Computers
Select target computers. You can browse to quickly add computers from your global catalog or Domain controllers.


Now that you have a selection of computers, it is time for Execution
Click on Execute, a progress window will display the operation.

Now is time to go and get your other work done or have cup of coffee. You can come back to check Result analysis.
SkypeKiller will indicate success or failure of the removal for each previously selected system.

Like any other network application, you also can schedule periodic runs of the SK.


To be sure, I would run a "detect only" first and also check on your bandwidthth usage using your monitoring tools. Again run the same tool, once the Clean step is done. You will be able to see just roughly how much bandwidth this particularer VOIP or IP Telephony application was using.

Look for updates here when SK updates its application, remember this is the first release.
If you are wondering whyReadad the following articles;
Skype explains why security evaluation omitted bug reports
Should businesses ban Skype?

SkypeKiller arrives in the VOIP scene!


After reporting about the hazards of skype's action on a corporate network,here and here, I found that a skypekiller has come to be. I found this news at Skype journal and of course they seems to not so happy about it. I have no qualms about it. If Skype cannot come clean with it's network usage, someone got to do it. Network administrators have to go from desk to desk to uninstall it as casual uninstallation will leave something behind that still use the network.
So as a Skype user, one does not have to be unhappy, if you are willing to share your network connection with countless others, in exchange for free calls, be my guest. But not me. There are countless other solutions that one could use to achieve to same goal.
Don't come breaking my network. There will be a step by step guide to remove Skype from your network will be here. It is not that difficult.

Friday, November 18, 2005

Asterisk 1.2.0 has been released!

The Open sourced complete PBX, Asterisk has reached another milestone. Now the version 1.2.0 has been released. I am a long time user of this complete VOIP PBX purely in software, and have been impressed with it ever since I first got it. I even met Mark at a trade show a few years back and I even like the guy too, not only his software. On the trade floor he took time to walk me through the inner working of the System.
According to Mark Spencer and Kevin P. Fleming, this release of Asterisk contains over 3,000 improvements on version 1.0, including hundreds of new features and applications.

If you are interested you can download it from ftp.digium.com FTP servers, as well as the Digium CVS servers (under the 'v1-2-0' tag).

They also said that they want to extend Their thanks to all the community members whose contributions have made this release possible; without their coding, support, testing and other involvement Core developers would not have achieved this milestone!

You can reach the site by clicking on the "Favorite VOIP PBX" under the links on right hand side column.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

New VOIP Magazine Announced

News Source



I have been a long time subscriber of the INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine, Over the years, it continued to be published in printed form even many other similar printed magazines, disappeared for the news and magazine radar.
I like what they print, but it might not be for everyone. Then again if you are here reading this VOIP blog, go get a subscription, you can read it when your net is not available!
Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) publishes four print magazines: Customer Interaction Solutions, Internet Telephony, SIP Magazine and IMS Magazine; as well as the digital publications, Speech-World, WiFI Telephony Magazine, VoIP Developer, IPTV Magazine and WiMAX Magazine, Has a New Magazine, SIP Magazine.

Rich Tehrani, TMC president and group editor-in-chief for SIP Magazine, said "The SIP market is one of the fastest growing anywhere and is an essential technology in the world of VoIP, IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS), presence and VoIP peering/network interconnectivity. Everywhere you look it seems, SIP is there and is enabling tomorrow's applications today,"
"I've never seen a better time to launch a new publication," says Tehrani. "The SIP market is ready, and we're ready to lead it, just as we have done in the VoIP market since 1998 with INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine."

A free subscription to SIP Magazine is available here.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Federal Court Denies VOIP groups Motion to stay! on E911

Image from /.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied a motion filed two weeks ago by a group of Internet telephone companies who claim the regulations are unreasonable.
The e911 requirements were reported here on this blog a few times in the past, read here, here, here and here.
In May, the FCC ordered providers of Internet-based phone calls, commonly called Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, to certify that their customers will be able to reach an emergency dispatcher when they call 911. Dispatchers also must be able to identify the caller's phone number and location. Subsequently, date got pushed many a times and was set to Nov 28 with certain guidelines. Read this about the new FCC site Dedicated to e911 issues.

Jason Talley, president and chief executive of Overland Park, Kan.-based Nuvio Inc., which filed the motion for a stay on Nov. 1, said the FCC's decision ultimately reduces alternatives for customers and stifles innovation.

Three other companies that later joined Nuvio's suit, Lightyear Network Solutions LLC; McLean, Primus Telecommunications Group Inc.'s subsidiary Lingo Inc.; and i2 Telecom International Inc. will continue to pursue their appeal of the regulations.
Many other news sites carry the news, since VOIP and IP Telephony is now mainstream media items.

We all need to know about patents, Now we have a place to go

The way it is going, somebody is going to patent sneezing, it is already DOMAINated, and copy righted! So you are going to have to stop sneezing or cough up (no pun intended) some money to some Joe Gates somewhere.
I have been following this patent drama for a while and was happy to hear that ODSL (Open Source Development Labs) has came up with a reference library.
I think everyone, including people who patent your sneeze, have trouble figuring out all the new patent pledges and patent strategies. I do! And I am happy That ODSL started the patent commons reference Library. To protect Free and Open Source software and standards is progressing, and yourself!! We all should know all the terms and conditions. Patents applicability, Or simply a place to learn how complex the sloppy US patent procedures are.

A simple guide if you visit the site;
Contributors
Contains information about the people and companies that have made Commitments about software patents they hold. This database may be searched by Contributor name.

Commitments
This database is comprised of promises, pledges, covenants and other legal undertakings made by Contributors. Commitments may be searched by title, content, type, or Contributor. Learn more about Commitments here.

Patents
A collection of patent abstracts and links to the patents identified in some of the Commitments. The Patents database may searched by patent title, abstract, type of patent, patent number, or assignee.

Standards & Technology
Summaries and links to the Standards & Technology in support of which some Commitments are made. This database may be searched by content, developing organization, type of Standard & Technology, or Contributor.
Other Legal Solutions
Information about indemnification programs, litigation support funds, open source software licenses and other legal solutions that reduce the threat and potential impact of patent litigation. This database can be searched by Contributor or solution type.

All are welcome here, Companies, universities, nonprofits, and individuals can all contribute to The Commons through Commitments covering software patents.

Contact info is here, and the Press release below;


OSDL Launches Online Patent Commons Reference Library

For More Information:

OSDL
Jennifer Cloer for OSDL
Page One PR
Phone: +1 503.547.9451
E-mail : jennifer@pageonepr.com
OSDL hosts online patent commons library supported by industry leaders including CA, IBM, Intel, Novell, Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems to help protect open source software innovation

BEAVERTON, Ore., - November 15, 2005 - The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), a global consortium dedicated to accelerating the adoption of Linux®, today announced the launch of its online patent commons reference library, the foundation of its Patent Commons Project. The Project’s goal is to provide greater confidence for developers and customers of all open source software.

The site, patentcommons.org , hosts searchable databases containing more than 500 patents pledged to date and more than a dozen technical standards supported by patent pledges and covenants. The library is freely available to developers, users and vendors, where they can quickly view information about patents and technology pledges benefiting open source software and standards.

''The OSDL Patent Commons Project is an important first step in helping customers, vendors and the development community understand the different commitments that have been made and how they work to reduce the chances of patent litigation,'' said Stuart Cohen, CEO of OSDL. ''The Project is focused on documenting the growing number of pledges and other legal solutions directed at the software patent issue, so that developers can innovate and collaborate as free as possible from litigation.''

The Patent Commons website will catalogue existing patent commitments from companies and individuals who wish to retain ownership of their patents, and will provide information about different types of pledges and covenants and how they work. In the coming months, the site will expand to include other legal solutions that benefit the open source community, including open source licenses, indemnification programs and information for organizations and individuals who wish to contribute to the commons.

The OSDL Patent Commons Project has already rallied the support of many industry leaders, including CA, IBM, Intel Novell, Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems. The Lab welcomes other IT vendors, corporations, organizations, government agencies and individuals to participate.

''CA is committed to fostering innovation in the Open Source community so that users can reap all the potential personal, social and business benefits that technology can offer,'' said Sam Greenblatt, senior vice president of technology at CA. ''We are supporting and participating in the Patents Common because we believe it will enable developers to fully and appropriately leverage each otherÂ’s innovations, while respecting partiesÂ’ intellectual property rights.''

''OSDL provides a natural point of entry to the Commons. We are confident that the Project will serve the needs of developers and customers by providing fair, objective and easily accessible information about the burgeoning Commons,'' said Jim Stallings, vice president, Intellectual Property & Standards, IBM.

''As a founding member of OSDL, Intel is committed to helping customers make informed decisions around their choices in computing platforms,'' said Richard Wirt, Vice President, Senior Fellow, and General Manager, Software and Solutions Group of Intel. ''OSDL is in a unique position to provide a trusted clearinghouse where enterprise customers and developers can find vendor-neutral information about open source software and intellectual property that can help them ensure that their decisions are based on the most complete and up-to-date information.''

''Customers want freedom of choice in making decisions about technology solutions,'' said David Patrick, vice president and general manager for Linux, Open Sources Platforms and Services at Novell. ''They should be able to make their purchase decisions based on technical merits, security, quality of service and value, not concerns over intellectual property ownership. The OSDL Patent Commons project will provide greater confidence to developers and customers that the open source solutions they are deploying are safe from patent challenges.''

''We are happy to see OSDL's Patent Commons online reference library go live,'' said Mark Webbink, Sr. Vice President, Red Hat. ''As the first open source vendor to make its patents available to the open source community, Red Hat views steps such as the one OSDL has taken with the Commons and Red Hat's creation of the Fedora Foundation as providing developers, vendors and end users with the ability to be confident and bold in their development efforts.''

''Sun applauds the work of the OSDL Patent Commons project and its library of patent pledges and non-assertion covenants,'' said Simon Phipps, Chief Open Source Officer, Sun Microsystems, Inc. ''As the largest commercial code contributor to the various open source communities, Sun is well aware of the many obstacles these communities face due to the uncertainties that surround today's software patents, which neither patent pools nor targeted pledges really solve. This project offers a concrete and important step in the right direction, as it will help all open source communities.''

About the OSDL Patent Commons Project

With increasing frequency, institutions, companies, and inventors wish to signal formally to the open source software industry and community that software patents they hold are not a threat to the development, distribution or use of open source software or open standards. Patent pledges and covenants – legally enforceable promises not to enforce patents under certain terms and conditions – eliminate the need for individual agreements and simplify the process by which access to patented technology can be granted. The Patent Commons Project catalogues the patent pledges and covenants in a central location and facilitates their use by the development community and others, reduces the number of issued software patents that are a threat to open source and open standards, and documents the boundaries of the ''common area.''
About the Open Source Development Lab

OSDL - home to Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux - is dedicated to accelerating the growth and adoption of Linux. Founded in 2000 by CA, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Intel and NEC, OSDL is a non-profit organization at the center of Linux supported by a global consortium of more than 60 of the worldÂ’s largest Linux customers and IT industry leaders. OSDL sponsors industry-wide initiatives around Linux in telecommunications, in the enterprise data center and on corporate desktops. The Lab also provides Linux expertise and computing and test facilities in the United States and Japan available to developers around the world. Visit OSDL on the Web at http://www.osdl.org/.

OSDL is a registered trademark of Open Source Development Labs, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Third party marks and brands are the property of their respective holders.
OSDL

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

ISAKMP flow found, check if your IPsec VPN is on the list

According to News.com the Finns say that the flaw in the Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol, or ISAKMP could lead to denial-of-service attacks.
ISAKMP is used in IPsec virtual private network and firewall products from Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks.

The security hole was so serious that the Finnish results were jointly issued by the British National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre and the Finnish CERT to give it some weight.

Cisco and Juniper have acknowledged that some of their products are at risk. Cisco said the security flaw could cause devices to reset which could cause a temporary denial-of-service attack.

It is providing free software upgrades to fix the problem and has published a security advisory. The list of affected products includes Cisco IOS, Cisco PIX Firewall, Cisco Firewall Services Module, Cisco VPN 3000 Series Concentrators and the Cisco MDS Series SanOS.
Juniper products affected include all of its M-series, T-series, J-series and E-series routers, as well as most versions of its Junos and JunoSe Security software. A spokesJniper said that software issued on or after July 28 provided fixes for the flaw. The Openswan Project, which is IPsec software used on many Linux products, is also affected and the project has already released Openswan 2.4.2 in response to the advisory.

SOYO's Z-Connect VoIP Phone in TechLiving Magazine's 2005 Hot List


TechLiving selects 50 products each year based on ease of use, unique features and affordability. The SOYO Z-Connect Value Pack will be featured in the November/December 2005 issue.

The Z-Connect Value Pack is a hardware/software VoIP phone solution that consists of a pair of SOYO Z-Connect G668 VoIP telephones, which plug directly into a broadband DSL connection or cable modem for instant VoIP capability. No computer is necessary. With SOYO's companion VoIP service, calls are free on the Z-Connect network

"TechLiving's selection comes in the middle of the fourth quarter shopping season, and is a strong validation for the SOYO brand in the consumer electronics market," said Ming Chok, SOYO chief executive officer. "The increased visibility we gain from TechLiving's endorsement is critical in this market. Consumers routinely make purchase decisions based on recommendations of publications and authorities they trust."

For more information about the Z-Connect line of VoIP solutions, please visit www.soyogroup.com. A full list of TechLiving's hot list winners is accessible at http://www.techliving.com.
Some info on the phone;
Protocol Support
* Standard and Protocol
* IEEE 802.3 /802.3 u 10 Base T / 100Base TX
* Major G.7XX and gsm610 audio codec
* H.323 V4
* MGCP RFC2705
* SIP RFC2543
* Net2phone private protocol
* TCP/IP: Internet transfer and control protocol
* RTP: Real-time Transport Protocol
* RTCP:Real-time Control Protocol
* VAD/CNG save band with
* DHCP:Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
* PPPoE:Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet
* DNS:Domain Name Server
* Telnet:Internet's remote login protocol
* FTP:File Transfer protocol
* HTTP:Hyper Text Transfer protocol
* Build in H.323 proxy
Hardware
* Data Memory—2MB SDRAM
* Program Memory—1 MB Flash memory
* Ethernet Jack—Two 10/100M RJ-45 jacks
* AC/DC adapter—Input AC 100-240VCOutput 9V DC, 0.89A
* Software
* DHCP support for LAN or Cable modem
* PPPoE support for ADSL or Cable modem
* Set phone by HTTP web browser (IE6.0) or Telnet
* Upgradeable by FTP
* Support major G.7XX and gsm610 audio codec
* Dynamic voice test
* CNG (Comfort noise generation)
* Dynamic voice jitter buffer
* G.168/165 compliant 16ms echo cancellation
* Tone generation and Local DTMF re-generation according with ITU-T
* E.164 dial plan and customized dial rules
* 100 entries for quick dial
* Adjustable volume for both handset and speaker
* Voice prompt

JOINT FCC/NARUC TASK FORCE LAUNCHES A WEB SITE ON VOIP 911 ENFORCEMENT


FCC released the following consumer information about new E911 website. Release text follows;
Washington, DC -- The Joint FCC/NARUC Task Force on VoIP 911 Enforcement has launched a new Web site to provide consumers, industry and state and local governments information about the rules that require certain providers of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to supply 911 emergency calling capabilities to their customers. The address is www.voip911.gov.

The ability to access emergency services by dialing 911 is a vital component of public safety and emergency preparedness. VoIP service allows consumers to place a call like traditional telephone service; however, recent incidents in which consumers using VoIP service dialed 911 but were unable to reach emergency operators have highlighted a critical public safety gap. The FCC has taken steps to close this gap by requiring that, effective November 28, 2005, interconnected VoIP providers deliver all 911 calls to the customerÂ’s local emergency operator. Interconnected VoIP providers must also provide the customerÂ’s call back number and location information to the emergency operator if the emergency operator is capable of receiving this information.

FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin said, "“Anyone who dials 911 has a reasonable expectation that he or she will be connected to an emergency operator; this expectation exists whether that person is dialing 911 from a traditional wireline phone, a wireless phone, or a VoIP phone. This new Web site will provide an easy way for consumers, industry and other government agencies to get the most current information on this important issue."


- FCC -

FCC Contact: Lyle Ishida at (202) 418-8240, e-mail: lyle.ishida@fcc.gov

NARUC Contact: Eddie Roberson at (615) 741-2904, e-mail: eddie.roberson@state.tn.us

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Cisco and Microsoft tries to cool voip with ICE Methodology!

I saw the news first at this site, Telecommunications Industry News. Then I found the PR newswire news release. So here are both links.
PR Newswire at MSNMONEY Site.

ICE, a standards-based methodology, allows information workers and businesses to more easily communicate in media-rich ways across network address translators (NATs), a significant barrier to VoIP and video connectivity. ICE provides a rich set of solutions for current NAT issues with media. Microsoft and Cisco are jointly supporting the ICE effort, demonstrating both companies' strong commitment to developing standards-based communications solutions built on methodologies that can be broadly adopted and integrated.

Massive Voip push by Linksys / Cisco

New linksys products in the middle of the push!



Linksys One Services Router with 16-Port 10/100 LAN $1195.00
# Enables Linksys One voice product services including QoS, VLAN, SIP ALG and IEEE POE
# Provides auto-discovery and auto-configuration of Linksys One devices, including IP phones
# Two 10/100 full duplex WAN ports, two 10/100/1000 expansion ports
# Sixteen 10/100 full duplex, auto-sensing MDI/MDI-X LAN ports




Linksys One Manager Phone
$299.00
A business IP telephone with color-display for Linksys One
communications solutions

# Simple, automated installation with Linksys One Services Routers
# High-resolution, color, backlit display, full-duplex speakerphone
# Two port 10/100 switch with ability to accept IEEE802.3af PoE
# Integrated call processing features with security, management, QoS





Linksys One Analog Voice Gateway, 1FXS, 1FXO $279.00

# Simple, automated installation with Linksys One Services Routers
# One analog phone or FAX connection, one analog connection to the public telephone network
# Accepts IEEE802.3af PoE from connected Linksys One switch port
# Integrated call processing features with security, management, QoS

Now what can I do with all this Cisco VOIP stuff I have? May be EBAY!
The news release is below.

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/

Linksys One
Product Line of Voice, Video and Data Solutions to Offer Convenience and Value to Small Businesses
Linksys®, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc., the recognized leading provider of voice, wireless and networking hardware for the consumer, Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) and small business customer, today announced the initial line up of its new brand of complete hosted communication solutions for small businesses. This new solutions brand, named Linksys One, delivers business telephone service, data networking, security, applications, and the Internet through one high-speed connection from a hosted service provider.

The first Linksys One products to be offered will be the SVR3000 Services Router with 16-Port 10/100 Switch, PHM1200 Color Manager IP Phone, and VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway. These products include unique Linksys One plug and play technology that instantly detects and configures Linksys One devices. As part of a true "Services Platform" capable of enabling growth with new features and applications, Linksys One products are designed to automatically determine the optimal configuration and are functional the minute they are connected, eliminating the need for skilled IT professionals on staff, or on site. A unique network discovery process and automated configuration also means that new networks, additions to the system, and new technologies require only limited-touch deployment. A 16-employee system with Voice over IP (VoIP) can be installed in less than an hour, and costs less than comparable key system or PBX solutions available today.

"Linksys One gives small businesses a single system for voice, video and data services," said Marthin De Beer, vice president and general manager, Linksys Small Business Systems Business Unit. "This solution enables service providers and value added resellers to position themselves as the single source for their customers' complete communication needs, offering them increased margins and new revenue streams."

SVR3000 Services Router with 16-Port 10/100 LAN

The SVR3000 Services Router with an embedded 16-Port 10/100 LAN Switch is the heart of the Linksys One solution. This integrated switch and router enables plug-and-play installation and includes advanced features that allow a small business to protect its network and improve productivity.

* Converged Services: The SVR3000 Services Router provides access to a
single converged network for voice, applications and data. In
addition to enabling VoIP, the SVR3000 hosts an email server, email
services, web filtering, file server, print server, firewall, Virtual
Private Network (VPN) technology, personal Web server, and much more
in future releases. It also provides access to the data and voice
networks, and supplies power to all of the attached devices, including
phones, using Power over Ethernet (PoE). All of this, plus integrated
voicemail and auto attendant, makes for a low-cost solution that
eliminates multiple boxes, costly IT resources, and licensing fees.
* Optimized: Integrated quality of service (QoS) capability in the
Services Router automatically prioritizes all network traffic. Staff
can browse the Internet, access applications, send emails and talk to
customers on the phone with no impact on quality. The Services Router
also has integrated Virtual LAN (VLAN) capabilities, allowing users to
segment services across the network for greater administration
efficiencies, security-control mechanisms, and bandwidth-management.
* Highly Secure: The Services Router provides hardware encryption and
robust security measures to protect against attacks on the network.
An integrated firewall and VPN technology provide robust means of
protecting business communications that take place over the Internet.
* Manageable: Service Providers or Value Added Resellers (VARs) can
control management access so that the small business network is
managed, optimized and easily expanded as a single system. This
eliminates the need to manage individual products, and allows for a
single interface to configure all functions of the system.
Capabilities to manage other services, such as calling plans, calling
features, applications, network security, and bandwidth requirements
are built into the system and provisioned by the Service Provider
through the SVR3000.
* VPN Access: In the future, it will be possible to easily connect
offices via a secure "always on" Internet connection or allow mobile
or traveling workers to access the company's system using a secured
connection over the Internet

The SVR3000 delivers 16 ports of fast Ethernet LAN switching with full support for IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet on each. All Linksys One IP phones and voice gateways can be fully powered over these ports without a separate power adapter. Two 10/100 WAN ports provide access to the Internet, either directly or through a separate broadband router or bridge device. Cascaded expansion to other switches or application servers is supported through two 10/100/1000 BaseT ports, enabling the system to be easily and cost-effectively expanded as a business grows.

Features:
* Services platform
* 16 port Powered Ethernet 10/100 switch
* Firewall, NAT Router
* DHCP, DNS Proxy
* Optional VPN client to service node
* Priority Queuing
* SIP Proxy/Registrar
* Power over Ethernet (PoE)
* SIP Application Layer Gateway (ALG)

PHM12000 Color Manager IP Phone

Combining the money-saving advantages of VoIP with the familiar features of a small business telephone system, the PHM1200 Color Manager IP Phone brings together the same quality of voice service and reliability that business users have come to expect from traditional phone systems with the cost savings and convenience of combining voice and data traffic over a single Internet connection.

The PHM1200 Color IP Phones can be installed in minutes -- simply plug in the phone, enter the customer information, and the business is ready to make and receive calls. There is no central phone system to install and no special servers to set-up. Linksys One Service Providers help ensure delivery of business class voice quality -- unlike the 'best effort' audio clarity often provided with other Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions.

PHM1200 phones will easily integrate with current and potential future Linksys One systems, such as video systems to monitor surveillance areas from the phones. The Linksys One application toolkit also enables the development of custom IP phone Extensible Markup Language (XML) applications and Web services.

Features:
* SIP based
* Dual USB 1.2 (optional WLAN i/f)
* 16M Flash and 64M Ram
* 24 Feature/line buttons, 4 soft keys, 1 Selector button, 3 fixed
feature buttons
* Pixel-based color/backlit screen
* Application developer XML engine
* Full feature set (within phone)
* Speakerphone and local vmail
* Web customizable (HTTPS)

VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway

Many small businesses have traditional phone system equipment, like fax machines or analog phones, that need to be integrated into any new communication system. The VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway allows Linksys One installations to include this legacy equipment. The Voice Gateway also provides a local connection to the public telephone network for emergency services calls and redundancy in case of a power loss.

Operation of a VGA2000 requires the installation, configuration, and operation of a SVR3000 Linksys One Service Router at the same site. The gateway interacts with provisioning, management, and security software hosted on the SVR3000 through a 10/100 port.

Features:
* Local PSTN access, 911, and Fax
* 1 FXO/ 1 FXS
* E911 support

Enabling Future Hosted Applications

Linksys One will provide a unique application toolkit that enables Service Providers to deliver business applications and web services directly to the phones of their subscribers. These can be their own applications or be from a third party vendor, and can be as diverse as instant messaging, real time stock, currency or traffic information, or even environmental controls. The application toolkit is based on the widely-used and platform independent Extensible Markup Language (XML).

As new compatible applications and services become available, Service Providers simply enable customer access, and add a new charge to the bill. Linksys One phones instantly detect and "learn" about new applications through Linksys One technology, so that subscribers can start using them immediately.

Roadmap for Linksys One Products

A complete line of innovative and affordable Linksys One communication products will be offered as part of its integrated architecture. These may include additional IP phones, VoIP Wi-Fi phones, analog voice gateways, network attached storage devices, wireless access points, USB devices, video conferencing, and video surveillance systems. Product specifics and pricing will be announced at time of availability.

Availability and Pricing

Scheduled for beginning in December 2005, the SRV3000 Linksys One Services Router, PHM1200 Color Manager IP Phone and VGA2000 Analog Voice Gateway will be available to Linksys One Authorized Resellers in the United States. Reseller participation in the Linksys Partner Connection Program is required. More information on reseller requirements can be found at www.linksysone.com. Hosted Service Providers including MCI, airBand, NeoNova, and IP Systems plan to be offering the line of Linksys One solutions in 2006.

Estimated street prices of the SVR3000, PHM1200, and VGA2000, in USD, are $1,195, $299 and $279 respectively.

About Linksys

Founded in 1988, Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO - News) is the recognized leader in Voice, Wireless and Ethernet networking hardware for consumer, SOHO and small business users. Linksys is dedicated to making networking easy and affordable for its customers, offering innovative, award- winning products that seamlessly integrate with a variety of devices and applications. Linksys provides award-winning product support to its customers. For more information, visit www.linksys.com.

Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Other brands and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright © 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.


Source: Linksys

SnapVOIP crunching score!

As you know I do crunching for Einstein@home, Einstein@Home is a program that uses your computer's idle time to search for spinning neutron stars (also called pulsars) using data from the LIGO and GEO gravitational wave detectors. Einstein@Home is a World Year of Physics 2005 project supported by the American Physical Society (APS) and by a number of international organizations. The software is based on BOINC (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing).Well I am happy to be a Berkleyan.
I run it on a one slow pc by today's standards. But see that I am above average!. Join and have fun!


Statistics -> Einstein@home Hold Charts -> snapvoip

The amount of work done by snapvoip, broken down according to various criteria. These pages are updated every four hours.

General information
Member information
Member list

snapvoip General Info:
Name(and url) snapvoip (teamid 2754)
Created 2005-05-07 06:36
Total 12122.931409 Cobblestones
#1465 of 3546 teams (more than 58.686%) - Charts
Recent 61.295772 Cobblestones
Country United States - #559 of 1219 teams (more than 54.14%)
Members 1

Stop Skype, Research group tells its members.

to remove, stop or detect skype, read this article.

Info- Tech Research Group,Technology industry analyst firm is advising Corporations to ban Skype use. I reported about Skype network misuse, VOIP IP Telephony: Skype Seems to be hazardous to your network!.

"Companies that are already banning peer-to-peer applications, such as instant messaging, should add Skype to its list of unsanctioned software programs," says Info-Tech analyst Ross Armstrong.

"Approximately 17 million registered Skype users are using the service for business purposes," says Armstrong. "Unless an organization specifies instances where Skype use is acceptable, and outlines rules for client-side Skype settings, that's 17 million opportunities for a hacker to invade a corporate network."

In a research note prepared for Info-Tech Research Group members, Armstrong outlines five reasons for an enterprise to ban Skype:

- Skype is not standards-compliant, allowing it and any vulnerability to
pass through corporate firewalls.
- Skype's encryption is closed source and prone to man-in-the-middle
attacks. There are also some unanswered questions about how well the
keys are managed.
- Enterprises using Skype risk a communication barrier with countries
and institutions that have already banned the service.
- Skype is undetectable, untraceable, and unauditable, putting
organizations that are subject to compliance laws at risk.
- The question of whether VoIP calls constitute a business record is a
legal quagmire. Throwing Skype into the communications mix further
clouds the issue
.

Comments Armstrong, "The bottom line is that even a mediocre hacker could take advantage of a Skype vulnerability. If you are going to use Skype within enterprise, manage it as you would any other IT service: with policy and diligence."

Saturday, November 12, 2005

VOIP not so Free in india!

After reporting that VOIP IP Telephony: VOIP set free in India! I bewidered to see this article "Police bust international telephone call racket, arrest five", reading the article, one realises that they were providing a service based on VOIP. May be they will be set free under new law.

Video conferencing in Supercomputing 2005



Video conferencing has been a fixture in visions of how we imagine the world of tomorrow web cams nor most of the corporate Video and Voip Conferencing gives the real picture of the other side. It is mostly a face in a tiny window. The Voice part has improved due to the advance in VOIP (Voice over IP) developments. But Video over IP or VVOIP? is in need of advancement.
I want the Otherside on a say 50 inch TV! Well not! Unless you are the Director of Star Wars movies!!.
Now I am offered "Shared Spaces" on three 65-inch plasma displays.! Well now where can I put them on? is the question.
Then I found this on ASCRIBE news letter that The McGill University team is competing in Seattle on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Suprcomputing 2005. I was wondering where to publish this. Here or on my Grid Technology Blog, Well I will do it here and publish about Suprcomputing 2005 on the other site. Update: it is there now! gridtech: Supercomputing 2005 is in Session

From the announcement the McGill University team says;
"Modern video conferencing hasn't worked well as it doesn't allow you to interrupt one another and has never managed to support the quality of interaction that people experience in real life. We wanted to change that," says John Roston, director of Instructional Multimedia Services at McGill University.
"Our technology provides a life size, high definition view on a large panoramic screen, which gives users the impression that they're talking to people in the same room with a window between them," adds Professor Jeremy Cooperstock of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Roston and Cooperstock, members of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music, Media and Technology, see the new technology being used in business, education, health care, and many other contexts. They are at the leading edge of a community of researchers who are out to change the current video conferencing experience by allowing people in different cities to feel as though they are in the same room together.

To show what they can do, Roston and his colleague Jeremy Cooperstock have arranged for jazz conductor Gordon Foote to teach his music students at McGill all the way from Seattle. Foote will conduct them in real time, coaching and guiding their performance as if they are in the same concert hall.

The event will take place as part of Bandwidth Challenge 2005, an elite annual competition at which nine teams of top scientists will showcase exceptional uses of new technology. The challenge will take in Seattle as part of Supercomputing 2005 where world experts from academia and industry, including Bill Gates, gather to discuss high performance computers and networking.

"Shared Spaces" is only one of several applications of new technologies being employed by the McGill Ultra-Video conferencing Research Group. The Group draws together top people from diverse disciplines who use technology to understand and enhance human experience. The group's projects also include a live undersea high definition video camera and remote sign language interpretation for the deaf.

The McGill team is competing in Seattle on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 5-6 PM (PST). Find them at booth number 6017. Learn about their technology here.

Friday, November 11, 2005

VoWiFI phone

Perhaps to use with VOIP IP Telephony: VG2211i Wireless/VOIP (VoWifi) Personal Gateway
The VoWiFI phone VM1188T is designed for users who need mobility of WiFI and the cost saving of VoIP. The VM1188T is intended to help users make SIP calls without the hassle of turning on your computer. The compact and elegant design of VM1188T allows users to make VoIP calls at work, home, and on campus with POTS like voice quality

The modulation of VM1188T is based on the WiFi standard; it is compatible with almost all standard 802.11b/g access points. With the VM1188T, users can access to both PSTN and SIP networks as long as there is a trunking gateway available at the CO side. With the easy startup, users don’t have to remember the SSID or security key of each AP, the VM1188T stores these configurations and will connect to the access points automatically when boot up. Paired up with the cradle access point CAP2316A, users can enjoy the benefit of interference free wireless environment through the implementation of MSSID.

With Accton’s VM1188T, users can enjoy the benefit of cost reduction with SIP, mobility with 802.11b/g WLAN, and hassle free installation with easy startup. The VM1188T is pact with user friendly features all in a single device.

VG2211i Wireless/VOIP (VoWifi) Personal Gateway


The Accton VG2211i integrates the functions of wireless, gateway and VoIP into one fashionable and compact device. Users can select one of four wireless modes to meet users own specific requirement when in different working environment. Users also have the option to use the RJ-11 ports provided by the personal gateway for VoIP calls and life line function.

With built-in 802.11b/g module and internal antenna VG2211i can operate in either wireless client, access point or repeater mode. Fully compatible with IEEE 802.11g and backward compatible with 802.11b, this is the the future-proof device.

The VG2211i includes 1 FXS and 1 FXO interfaces with RJ-11 connectors that can be connected to telephone service for VoIP and POTS service. Once connected to an analog phone through the FXS interface the VG2211i can utilize VoIP services provided by the service provider to make VoIP calls at lower cost. Users can also use the FXO interface to connect to PSTN for normal telephone calls or life line function.

The VG2211i can provide secured and personal wireless space with the add-on benefit of VoIP for business travelers on the road to keep connected with family, friends and co-workers.

geemodo: Spyware spread through Bloggers!

geemodo: Outfit Used Unsuspecting Bloggers to Spread its Malicious Code and FTC comes to your rescue!

Thursday, November 10, 2005

VOIP set free in India!

Indian Telephony providers get go ahead to use VOIP.
In a significant policy change announced by Communication Minister Dayanidhi Maran on Thursday, telephone service companies (access-providers like Airtel, MTNL, BSNL, Reliance and others) can now use IP technology on their backbone networks to transact calls over the internet.
Currently, internet-based telephony is not legal within India. Users can only dial overseas phones from their PCs using internet service providers (ISPs). They cannot call normal telecom networks within the country from their PCs (this restriction will continue).
These access providers will continue to offer internet connectivity and broadband services combining voice, data and video.

The government has also done away with two separate types of data-communication licences: IP-II and IP-VPN. Existing holders of these licences -- like Powergrid, Gail, RailTel -- can now become full-fledged domestic and international long-distance service providers and will be able to directly connect with clients.

Stand-alone ISPs, like Satyam and SpectraNet, can provide only internet access and internet content services. As a consolation, their annual licence fee has been cut to 6 per cent.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Google video Online (Beta)!

Voice is the media that this site is interested in at the moment but it is not hard to change. I don't even have to change the acronym, Video Over IP still VOIP. Anyway the new is that google video is out. I searched for voip, grid, and gadget.
Well there were 11 videos related to VOIP, 456 for phone and I loved this one.
There were 32 videos related to gadgets.
But this might give an idea about what consumer video over IP would be like. So go there, and play some videos. Linux servers to the power N at work.

Simmetech, Inc plans to merge with IPtimize, Inc, creating publicly held VoIP Solutions Provider

IPtimize, Inc., a Managed VoIP (Voice-over-IP) Solutions Provider serving small- and medium-size businesses (SMBs), announced today that it intends to merge with Simmetech, Inc. (OTC.PK: JGRT), a Minnesota corporation. Financial terms of the proposed merger were not disclosed.

Upon closing of the proposed merger, which is expected to occur shortly, the continuing entity shall be known as IPtimize, Inc., a publicly traded entity (new ticker symbol to be determined) possessing core operations as a Managed VoIP Solutions Provider. The company’s portfolio of VoIP-based communications solutions – including Hosted VoIP (Voice Pilot), Telephone Line Replacement (VoIP Connect) and VoIP business communication systems – help customers improve productivity, reduce costs and minimize risks.

The first release candidate of Asterisk 1.2.0 is available

I use Asterisk in my voip / IP Telephony research, as well as quite a few other VOIP (open source) Solutions. I dealt with H323 for many a years now but I love SIP.
With all the support around asterisk VOIP PBX solution, I am debating my Choices. SER, OPENSER, SIPfoundry.
I use them all and my VOIP involvements never seems to end.
Anyway I am happy to promote any open source VOIP solutions. Asterisk is one of my favorites.
Kevin P. Fleming announced on the Asterisk-announce mailing list that Asterisk 1.2.0-rc1 Released!

The first release candidate of Asterisk 1.2.0 has been released! It is
available from the ftp.digium.com FTP servers, as well as the Digium CVS
servers (under the 'v1-2-0-rc1' tag).

This release includes a large number of improvements over beta2, including:

* Many bug fixes
* Documentation and sample configuration updates
* New 'stack' applications Gosub/Return/etc.


Asterisk
Asterisk is a complete PBX in software. It runs on Linux, BSD and MacOSX and provides all of the features you would expect from a PBX and more. Asterisk does voice over IP in many protocols, and can interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware.
Who created Asterisk?
Asterisk was originally written by Mark Spencer of Digium, Inc. Code has been contributed from open source coders around the world, and testing and bug-patches from the community have provided invaluable aid to the development of this software.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Run away from Sony!

geemodo: No Sony Gadgets, Gizmo's or anything related to Sony on this site!

FCC Interconnected Voice Over Internet Protocol 911 Compliance Letters

FCC has released Public Notice DA 05-2945 Outlining Requirements of November 28, 2005
Interconnected Voice Over Internet Protocol 911 Compliance Letters

In this Public Notice, the Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) sets forth the specific information that interconnected voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers1 must include in the Compliance Letters required by the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) in its June 3, 2005 order establishing enhanced 911 requirements for IP-enabled service providers.2 Compliance Letters must be filed with the Commission on or before November 28, 2005.3 Although the Bureau has released prior
public notices addressing the Commission’s subscriber notification and acknowledgement requirements,4 this Notice addresses only the Compliance Letter requirements.

The PDF version is obtainable by clicking the header.

Monday, November 07, 2005

Pay Per Call VOIP minus Hype

eStara’s lead developer says advertisers don’t have to rely on peer-to-peer applications for their pay per call solutions.As demand for pay per call services increases, many ad networks, web portals, search engines and media groups are being told that the answer lies in the use of a peer to peer application. But is it really necessary for users to download a fat client, several megs in size, and fill out information before they can contact an advertiser? And do advertisers want to sit by their computers with their headsets on waiting for leads?

Not according to Joe Siegrist, Senior Vice President of Technology at eStara (http://www.estara.com/) -- the world’s leading developer of VoIP-based click to call applications.

“With eStara’s technology, a pay per call solution is available to online advertisers without the headaches of requiring advertisers and users to install a peer to peer application,” says Siegrist. “Our technology lets the end user choose between entering their phone number for an immediate call back, or using an extremely small, fast PC VoIP client that requires no installation.”

Siegrist is the co-inventor of the first PC to Phone VoIP for eCommerce application. He is available to comment on the latest developments surrounding pay per call. Siegrist directs software development and systems operations for eStara. An innovative software architect and accomplished VoIP development leader, Siegrist holds three patents and is a named inventor on a dozen patent applications in the voice over Internet and Internet-initiated calling space.

Yak joins CounterPath to offer new voice and video peer-to-peer VoIP

MIAMI, FLORIDA and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 7 2005) - Yak Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:YAKC), a provider of telecommunication services to residential and business customers, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with CounterPath Solutions, Inc. (formerly Xten Networks, Inc. OTCBB: CTPS), a premier provider of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), Video over IP, Instant Messaging (IM), and Presence-enabled SIP softphones allowing Yak to launch a powerful new voice and video peer-to-peer VoIP alternative for consumers around the world.

DVG-2001S VoIP Phone Adapter


D-Link®, an industry leader in networking, introduces DVG-2001S VoIP Phone Adapter for the home environment. The DVG-2001S converts any existing analog (cord or cordless) telephone into an IP Phone. Also by plugging in a FAX machine, the DVG-2001S will enable users to send and receive fax the same way as a traditional analog telephone line.

The DVG-2001S supports the SIP protocol, which is widely deployed by VoIP providers on the market. It also supports the most popular audio CODECs to ensure compatibility and voice quality.

The DVG-2001S VoIP Phone Adapter comes with one FXS port to connect to the existing analog telephone and one Fast Ethernet port to connect to the broadband router.

Saturday, November 05, 2005

No Need to Click Here - I'm just claiming my feed at Feedster<

Friday, November 04, 2005

geemodo: What is GEEMODO?

geemodo: What is GEEMODO?

My gadget, geek gizmo blog

This is where all the info in gadgets, Gizmos and never seen stuff will come to light first.
Have time, browse!
Thanks

Legal Guide for BLOGGERS From EFF

Whaat? What is this? Where is VOIP in it?
Well if you blog, please read the article, it gives you ample advise and I think it a Gem.
This came to after light (was published on June 8, 2005, and updated on July) Forbes decided to attack on bloggers. The article Free Speech vs. Bad Advice - "Attack on the Blogs" and Fighting Back also can be read at EFF.
Once you have gone through all these, you can read Attack of the Printing Press!, a parody.
Please spread the word. These attacks and ideas develop into more cumbersome laws some times. Then you will have to publish your blog in China!

You can join EFF, Electronic Frontier Foundation, here

Thursday, November 03, 2005

FCC E911 Directive put on hold by Senate

The IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005, which was passed unanimously, sets new guidelines for the FCC and takes much of the edge off of the FCC’s recent policy. It requires the FCC to formulate new rules for VoIP E911 within 120 days, in effect erasing the FCC’s November 28 compliance deadline.The FCC had set a number of shifting deadlines for VoIP providers to receive E911 service acknowledgments from their customers. The FCC set a hard deadline of November 28 for overall compliance.
It's not quite a done deal yet, but it's over the hump and it will sure be a great boon to the VoIP industry if and when it does pass the full Senate, Congress and get the President's signature.
The penalty for the subscriber was disconnection, which seemed rather harsh, and may have prompted the committee to act. Some thought it was counterproductive to establish disconnection of consumers as a reasonable penalty.
The legislation, S. 1063, "waives the current November deadline and requires revised FCC rules within 120 days from the date the bill is enacted. Providers still have to warn subscribers that 911 and E-911 service is unavailable and receive confirmation from subscribers that this message is understood. The bill goes on to waive E-911 rules for up to four years if the service provider meets a specific set of tests."

Microsoft live voip on a media-stream, will it flow?, will it float?

Microsoft and several other large IT players announced significant Voice over IP (VoIP) plans aimed at consumers over the summer. The string of deals showed that big companies such as AOL, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and eBay believe consumer VoIP is a technology whose time has come.Microsoft is accelerating its business IP telephony plans with the acquisition of software firm media-streams.com.
Microsoft's acquisition of Teleo in August was designed to add Skype-like services - such as the ability to phone land-lines from a PC - to MSN Messenger, Microsoft said. Yahoo has made a similar move in buying Dialpad, while Google recently launched Google Talk and AOL has announced its own VoIP service.
The technology will become part of Microsoft Office Live Communications Server, itself part of what Microsoft calls a major strategic shift toward online services. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates announced the "Live Software" plan earlier this week, introducing Windows Live and Office Live. There is more info here.
Windows Live--which lets users build a personalized Web portal that includes e-mail, a new instant messaging client with collaborative functions and ways to sort and maintain contact information, and enhanced local and Internet search technology--also shows Microsoft playing catch-up to Yahoo. Microsoft's take on a comprehensive portal is reminiscent of MyYahoo, where users can access Web-based services that meet both consumer and business needs. Google also gives its users the option of personalizing its home page with things such as news headlines, weather information and stock quotes.

Analysts noted that while Microsoft's Live Software plan is ambitious, the company's presentation of its new strategy Tuesday left much to be desired. Microsoft tried to cover too much ground in one event, they said, and the announcement of Live Software seemed hurried, as if the company was trying to quiet critics who wondered what Microsoft had up its sleeve to compete with the wildly successful Google.

Errors also plagued event logistics. The event ran considerably over its planned two hours, and several product demos failed initially, leaving Ozzie to awkwardly fill dead air time while engineers corrected technical difficulties.

"It was Ray Ozziea??s coming out party and it wasna??t a good one," Enderle said of the performance. "Ray really stumbled a lot. ...It was one of the most poorly executed events I've seen Microsoft do in years." more info on the same issue here.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Small Business' lacks trust in VOIP, survey Says!

Fewer than half of U.S. small and midsize businesses have enough confidence in the security of Voice-over-IP systems to invest in the technology, according to a recent survey. Read more by clickin the header....

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