Apple Antennagate Settlement For iPhone 4 Users.

Apple Antennagate Settlement For iPhone 4 Users. http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Apple has agreed to settle with the class action law suite targetting the iPhone 4's reception troubles. Yes the same trouble, antennagate, that made Steve Jobs blurt out "You are not holding the phone right" :).
"We believe that the Apple iPhone 4 settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable.  We believe that it allows members of the class to choose, and they can get $15 of cash or a bumper, so we believe that type of choice is proportional to the circumstances."
according to CNet. The settlement class has setup their own website iPhone4settlement.com (not alive yet) to help with iPhone users, in obtaining $15 or the iPhone bumber case from Apple.

SIP, The Server SIde. Open Source Telephony Servers For SIP Communications

Open Source Telephony Servers http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

There are many open source telephony software and server software supporting VoIP IP Telephony. Following are the server side of such software. We have deployed, played around and still using the software listed below.

• FreeSWITCH
• Asterisk
• OpenSIPS
• Kamailio
• Yate
• sipX

FBI On Steve Jobs "Mr. Jobs will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals,"

FBI on Steve Jobs http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Newly released FBI's file on Steve Jobs seem to picture him on a different light than we have known so far.
“Several individuals questioned Mr. Jobs’ honesty stating that Mr. Jobs will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals,” the report notes.
Well he managed to distort my reality about phones and tablets. But not so strong as I am waiting to upgrade my iPhone, wondering which direction to go, iPhone 4 or Galaxy Nexus.
The FBI file on Steve (171 page PDF)
Via Wired

iPad 3 Coming In March?

iPad 3 Coming In March? http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
According to AllthingsD, who is sighting a source close to Apple, we seem to get iPad 3 in March. The event will be held at the the traditional Apple Product Release venue, Yerba Buena Center for Arts, in San Francisco. The actual product will follow up in a few weeks after the introduction.

So if you are wondering what the new tablet, iPad 3 going to be; AllThingsD says;
"As for the next-generation iPad itself, sources say it will be pretty much what we’ve been led to expect by the innumerable reports leading up to its release: A device similar in form factor to the iPad 2, but running a much faster chip, sporting an improved graphics processing unit, and featuring a 2048×1536 Retina Display — or something close to it."

Beyond that we know that we might be getting a larger battery than the iPad 2 and we can be sure to get a better camera than the iPad 2. The recently revealed purported iPad 3 back cover suggests changes to internals, like the motherboard. Another change we could expect is the addition of 4G LTE, in AT&T and Verizon flavors, at least initially.
In anycase get ready for a bit thicker and perhaps a cheaper successor to the iPad 2.

Voice-over-LTE (VoIP-LTE) To WCDMA Handoff, Qualcomm Does It With MSM8960 Snapdragon S4.

Voice-over-LTE To WCDMA Handoff, Qualcomm Does It With MSM8960 Snapdragon S4.http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
With all the LTE networks popping up, Verizon, AT&T and Metro PCS still sending your voice over 3G to intended destination. Even though the voice over LTE or VoIP-LTE is just a wish at the moment, it could make their lives, pipes better and pockets fatter.
According the press release below, Qualcomm has shown us how we could be completely 4G, with our voice and data!. Qualcomm completed the first successful test of a mid-call LTE to WCDMA transfer. It was assisted by their own MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 chip set, the company successfully switched from a VoIP-over-LTE connection to a traditional voice channel over WCDMA.
“As LTE networks are deployed alongside 3G networks, the ability for multimode 3G/LTE mobile devices to connect to different network technologies will be an important part of providing the best possible mobile voice and data experience to consumers, Qualcomm is committed to the successful deployment of LTE networks worldwide in conjunction with 3G networks, and the milestone we’ve achieved with Ericsson is another step towards making VoLTE technology a commercial reality.” said Cristiano Amon, senior vice president of product management, Qualcomm.


press Release;

SAN DIEGO – February 02, 2012 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that the Company, working with Ericsson, has successfully completed the first voice call handover from an LTE mobile network to a WCDMA network using Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC). An important technology required for voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) support, SRVCC is a 3GPP specified feature that enables continuity of service by seamlessly switching to a WCDMA network when a consumer on a VoLTE call leaves the LTE network’s coverage area. This milestone occurred on December 23, 2011 with an Ericsson network using a handset which incorporated Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ S4 MSM8960 3G/LTE multimode processor. A demonstration will be available at Qualcomm’s booth at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 27 – March 1, 2012.

“As LTE networks are deployed alongside 3G networks, the ability for multimode 3G/LTE mobile devices to connect to different network technologies will be an important part of providing the best possible mobile voice and data experience to consumers,” said Cristiano Amon, senior vice president of product management, Qualcomm. “Qualcomm is committed to the successful deployment of LTE networks worldwide in conjunction with 3G networks, and the milestone we’ve achieved with Ericsson is another step towards making VoLTE technology a commercial reality.”

SRVCC is the next logical step in the 4G LTE voice roadmap following the commercial launch of circuit-switched fallback technology (CSFB) on smartphones in 2011. CSFB allows a single radio in the handset to dynamically switch from an LTE data connection to a 3G connection when the user needs to make or receive a call. Similarly, SRVCC support enables a single radio in the handset to execute a seamless handover of a voice call from an LTE network to a 3G network. Furthermore, SRVCC and CSFB allow both LTE and 3G network connections to be supported on a single chip, eliminating the need for smartphones to use separate LTE and 3G radios and modems. This allows OEMs to design handsets with lower power consumption and component costs and a smaller size. Given that 3G networks will continue to be deployed in conjunction with LTE networks for quite some time, SRVCC and CSFB are essential to provide a seamless voice experience to customers using LTE multimode handsets once VoLTE is commercially deployed. Qualcomm is committed to ensuring the best voice performance to users in LTE networks through industry-leading CSFB and SRVCC technologies.

About Qualcomm
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company’s ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of 3G/LTE components on a timely and profitable basis, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2011 and most recent Form 10-Q.

Facebook Form S-1, For Yours To Keep.

Facebook Form S-1, For Yours To Keep. http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
John Battle lead me to Facebook's form S-1 filled with securities commission. Perhaps this is the way to write up the IPO of your startup?
Facebook Form S-1 (PDF)

Digium Phones, Worlds First Asterisk Phones, Introduced At ITEXPO 2012!

Digium Phones, Worlds First Asterisk Phones, Introduced At ITEXPO 2012! http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Digium in a surprise move introduced it's own phones at the ITEXPO 2012, the phones;
"* D40—An entry-level HD IP phone with 2-line keys. This is Digium’s best value phone, designed for any employee in the company.
* D50—A mid-level HD IP phone with 4-line keys and 10 rapid dial/busy lamp field (BLF) keys with an easy to print paper label strip for the user’s most important contacts. This model is perfect for users who spend a lot of time on the phone.
* D70—An executive-level HD IP phone with 6-line keys and 10 rapid dial/busy lamp field (BLF) keys and real-time status information displayed on an additional LCD screen, allowing users to quickly navigate through up to 100 of their most important contacts. Designed for administrators or executives, the D70 offers top-of-the-line features."

Digium plans to have general availability of these new phones in April 2012. The MSRP for these models is as follows: D70 - $279, D50 - $179 and the D40 - $129. For more information, visit http://www.digium.com/phones.

This is great news to anyone who is interested in Asterisk and Digium, meaning open source telecommunication or VoIP IP Telephony as a whole.

Press Release;

Digium® Introduces World's First Phones Designed for Asterisk®

Simple configuration and game-changing app engine set new bar for IP phones

ITEXPO, Booth 901 (Miami)-February 1, 2012-Digium®, Inc., the Asterisk® Company, today introduced a new family of high-definition IP phones. They are the first that are engineered to fully leverage the power of Asterisk, the world's most widely adopted open source communications software, and Switchvox, Digium's award-winning unified communications (UC) system. With Digium technology on both the server and the phone, users will benefit from the best possible performance, unprecedented integration and a uniquely customizable phone system.

"Digium's new phones mark the launch of the next chapter in our history of innovation," said Danny Windham, president and CEO of Digium. "These are the first phones designed specifically for Asterisk-with the tightest integration possible between the phones and Asterisk. The success of Asterisk began with the transfer of power from the hands of the proprietary phone vendors to the hands of end users and administrators of phone systems. And now we've done it again by bringing control to the desk phone. These phones are absolutely the easiest to install, integrate, provision and use with both Asterisk and Switchvox. And best of all, we've done all of this at a very competitive price point, providing our customers with the best value in business phone systems."

Asterisk has always been about flexibility, allowing integrators and developers to create highly customized solutions. Likewise, Digium phones include an app engine with a simple yet powerful JavaScript API that lets programmers create custom apps that run on the phones. They aren't simply XML pages; Digium phone apps can interface directly with core phone features.

"The app engine is a game-changing feature that will allow developers to write their own apps that run on the phones," explained Mark Spencer, founder and chief technology officer for Digium. "We have a community of more than 80,000 users and developers who create amazing things with Asterisk. I look forward to seeing the cool apps they will create with these innovative phones. As usual, we're enabling developers to create solutions limited only by their imaginations."

Digium has leveraged this unique programming interface of the phones to create a suite of productivity applications that work with both Asterisk and Switchvox. Switchvox includes a unique web interface called Switchboard that gives each system user control of their personal communications environment. Digium has extended the capabilities of the Switchboard to the phone, putting advanced features like presence management, searchable contact directory, queue monitoring, recording and voicemail control, all at the user's fingertips.

"We've had the opportunity to work with the phones early on, and for the first time, we're using phones truly designed for Asterisk," said Chris Green of Bema Information Technology. "Digium has delivered phones that simplify the most time-consuming portion of a system deployment-installation and provisioning. The phones automatically locate the server and assign the correct users, making our deployments faster than ever before. Additionally, the tight integration with Switchvox offers our customers an awesome user experience that's just not possible with other phones."

The Digium phones include the following models:

• D40-An entry-level HD IP phone with 2-line keys. This is Digium's best value phone, designed for any employee in the company.
• D50-A mid-level HD IP phone with 4-line keys and 10 rapid dial/busy lamp field (BLF) keys with an easy to print paper label strip for the user's most important contacts. This model is perfect for users who spend a lot of time on the phone.
• D70-An executive-level HD IP phone with 6-line keys and 10 rapid dial/busy lamp field (BLF) keys and real-time status information displayed on an additional LCD screen, allowing users to quickly navigate through up to 100 of their most important contacts. Designed for administrators or executives, the D70 offers top-of-the-line features.

Digium plans to have general availability of these new phones in April 2012. The MSRP for these models is as follows: D70 - $279, D50 - $179 and the D40 - $129. For more information, visit http://www.digium.com/phones.

ITEXPO 2012 attendees are encouraged to visit Digium at booth 901 to preview the phones.

AT&T' Limited Unlimited Plan, Will you Ditch It for 3GB Plan?

AT&T' Limited Unlimited Plan, Will you Ditch It for 3GB Plan? http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Looks like AT&T sending notices to heavy users (which seems to be users who use more than 2GB) of throttling of their data consumption. While throttling the bandwidth, which AT&T does not give any information on the cut off limit of data usage nor much information on throttled speed.
According to ask Maggie on CNet, AT&T does not want to answer either.
The 3GB plan is offered at the same price as the unlimited plan and may suit those who use more than 2GB of data a month.
Or you could seek another carrier, who is not so vague in their offerings of data plans. Perhaps Sprint?