Sirius plan to buy XM gets antitrust approval (Reuters)24.03.2008 21:45 - source: Yahoo tech Reuters - Sirius Satellite Radio's $4.59 billion purchase of rival XM Satellite Radio was given antitrust clearance on Monday as the Justice Department concluded consumers have many alternatives, including mobile phones and personal audio players. Read more… |
Browser Wars Heat Up, Again (PC World)24.03.2008 21:45 - source: Yahoo tech PC World - Alternative browsers are making waves, but many surfers still stick with Internet Explorer Read more… |
Icahn sues for Motorola board records (AP)24.03.2008 21:45 - source: Yahoo tech AP - Motorola Inc. on Monday dismissed as an "unnecessary distraction" billionaire investor Carl Icahn's legal efforts to force it to turn over documents about its executives and its cell phone business. Read more… |
Money troubles stall green town project (AP)24.03.2008 21:45 - source: Yahoo tech AP - This one-stoplight farming hamlet had big dreams in 2005 when it was christened BioTown USA. Read more… |
Writing for peanuts and loving it (AP)24.03.2008 21:45 - source: Yahoo tech AP - In her spare time, away from her duties as a chemicals specialist in the Army, Angie Papple fires up her computer and writes an article about something close to her, like life in the military. Other times she'll analyze a piece of software. Or she'll churn out advice for travelers to Hawaii, where she lives, or Puerto Rico, where she's never been. Read more… |
Real Estate Industry is Choosing VoIP25.03.2008 19:19 - source: Asterisk Even the real estate industry is getting into the VoIP market. Prudential Fox & Roach, a major player in real estate in the US (they are ranked #3 in the country) is using a solution from ShoreTel to unify their... Read more… |
Microsoft Response Point SP1 to Add VoIP25.03.2008 19:19 - source: Voipmonitornet Microsoft Response Point SP1 to Add VoIPU.S. small businesses can soon take advantage of VoIP phone service on Microsoft Response Point phone systems to improve their business communications. Read more… |
AT&T CallVantage Major Outage...25.03.2008 19:19 - source: voipgadgets 
I have received an unconfirmed report of a major outage for AT&T CallVantage, which is AT&T's VoIP broadband service. I was emailed the following: "At 2:00 pm the voice system is now stating that they have a major outage." Gee, it's not like this has happened before. Well, at least AT&T isn't the only VoIP player to experience an outage. Vonage had a few outages, not to mention the major Skype outage that I was the first to write about. I'm contacting my reps at AT&T now. Stay tuned... Update: 5:35pm From AT&T spokesperson: "Earlier today we experienced an isolated service outage, but have since identified and resolved the issue. There was an isolated equipment issue within our CallVantage network. Our team quickly identified this and worked to restore service as soon as possible. Service has been back up and running for almost two hours now." Tags: AT&T, broadband, Callvantage, outage, VoIP Related Entries AT&T Finally Bundles VoIP & Wireless Cell Phone Service - May 01, 2007 Vonage Outage - Dec 15, 2007 Skype Outage Explained - Nov 13, 2007 Skype WiFi phones Outage - Nov 12, 2007 flashphone Beta Running on Adobe Flash launches - Nov 06, 2007 Skype Outage caused by Windows Update - Aug 20, 2007 AT&T U-Verse Chance Encounter - What are the odds? - May 07, 2007 AT&T U-Verse offering 1 Year FREE of DISH Network - May 04, 2007 More bad news for Vonage - An Outage - Apr 19, 2007 FCC Displeased with U.S. Broadband Deployment Rate - Apr 18, 2007 Read more… |
Microsoft Response Point SP125.03.2008 19:19 - source: voipgadgets 
Today, Microsoft released announced Microsoft Response Point Service Pack 1 (SP1), which adds SIP trunking support. Response Point Service Pack 1 (SP1), not to be confused with the recent release of Vista SP1, will be released this summer, available free via a simple download. I spoke with Microsoft last week and they said they are partnering with several SIP-based ITSPs, which will enable Response Point administrators (or VARs) to easily add SIP trunks and move away from analog trunks. You simply use a VoIP account setup wizard in the Response Point Administrator, to connect with Internet telephony service providers (ITSPs) and add new VoIP phone numbers. The other benefit is the ability to add local phone numbers. Microsoft espoused the need for many small businesses to maintain a local presence. By leveraging VoIP providers businesses can select a local phone number for use in remote locations. Additionally, SP1 adds direct-inward-dial (DID) to directly reach a particular user's extension or pool of extensions. I asked Microsoft's thoughts on T1 trunks vs. SIP trunks and if they felt the need for T1 support was still there for the SMB, but they wouldn't comment. However, the impression I got was that they might add T1 support in the future. Personally, I think SIP trunking makes more sense for the SMB and it has proven itself cost-effective and reliable. But don't be surprised to see T1 support in the future in RP. Response Point hardware vendors Aastra Technologies Ltd., D-Link Corp. and Quanta Computer Inc. will ship end-to-end Response Point phone systems, pre-loaded with SP1, this summer. The SP1 release will coincide with Aastra's Response Point phone system debut, which is interesting when you consider Aastra got into the IP-PBX game with a Microsoft IP-PBX competitor last week - the AastraLink Pro 160 appliance, an Asterisk IP-PBX derivative. Here's a screenshot of the Response Point admin from my review back in November. No doubt the Phone Service portion will have SIP trunks listed when you add them in. Lastly, check out my Microsoft Response Point review if you haven't read it already to get a feel for this product... It's most note-worthy feature is the speech-recognition capabilities. Tags: ITSP, Microsoft, Response Point, Response Point Service Pack 1, SIP, SIP trunking, SP1, VoIP Related Entries Asterisk-based FreePBX clones Microsoft Response Point's Easy Button - Jan 31, 2008 SIP Trunking Not so Hot? - Jan 25, 2008 Dell VoIP Products Analysis - Jan 23, 2008 Microsoft Response Point Review - Nov 12, 2007 Microsoft OCS 2007 Review - Oct 16, 2007 CDW offers Bandwidth.com's SIP Trunking Service - Jun 05, 2007 Microsoft OCS 2007 vs. Microsoft Response Point - Apr 02, 2007 Microsoft Response Point - VoIP for Business - Mar 20, 2007 Microsoft & Aspect Software Partner on Unified Communications - Mar 18, 2008 Switchvox SMB 3.5 and AA60 Switchvox Appliance - Mar 18, 2008 Read more… |
Wireless Backhaul Importance Grows25.03.2008 19:19 - source: voipgadgets With increasing wireless mobile phone users along with more sophisticated wireless devices such as the Blackberry and iPhone chewing up bandwidth, the need for wireless backhaul technologies is increasing. I am reminded of my 2005 TMC Labs review of NMS AccessGate, a wireless backhaul platform. that aggregates T1/E1 communications onto a common backhaul between the cell site and the MSO. It also performes statistical multiplexing which suppresses idle frames and idle channels for 2G services, making the most of backhaul bandwidth. It achieves a bandwidth savings ratio of up to 2:1. I'm going to steal my introduction here: Optimizing bandwidth utilization has become more critical even though simultaneously technology is evolving to improve bandwidth throughput — whether it’s wireless, over copper (DSL, T1, E1, etc.) or fiber. The reason is simply cost and the resultant margins. In an increasingly competitive telcom/datacom landscape, keeping your costs low with the highest possible profit margin is critical. In most wireless networks, operators bear the recurring cost of traffic backhauling in order to connect geographically dispersed cell sites with their core networks. As access networks have been built out to support wireless services, each newly deployed service has required additional dedicated transmission equipment (such as leased lines, satellite trunks, or microwave links) between the base station and the base station controller. According to NMS Communications, this backhaul cost can represent up to 20–30 percent of total network operating expenses (OpEx). By reducing the number of these connections, operators can eliminate a significant portion of network OpEx. Today, Rich Tehrani points me to a relatively new TMCNet channel called Wireless Backhaul covering the lastest happenings in the wireless backhaul space. Here's a teaser. Wireless service providers migrating their mobile offerings to packet-based 3G and 4G/LTE/WiMAX technologies are facing a significant increase in bandwidth demands (up to 20 times today’s rates by 2012) over their wireless backhaul networks, whether their own or leased from ILECs or alternative access providers. To provide this level of capacity in a cost-efficient manner, wireless backhaul is migrating to Ethernet from T1 TDM private lines. Now go check out the wireless backhaul channel. Tags: Blackberry, E1, iPhone, mobile phone, T1, wireless, Wireless Backhaul Related Entries Garmin nuvifone - Feb 12, 2008 Holy Toledo! Cheap Wireless T1 & T3 Internet! - Feb 01, 2008 D2 Technologies mCUE mobile convergence softphone launches - Jan 07, 2008 RIM Garners 10% of Smartphone Market - Dec 20, 2007 Packet8 MobileTalk Launches - Nov 19, 2007 Minimizing network load when routing to Ported Mobile Phone Numbers - Oct 17, 2007 Sony takes on Apple - Sep 04, 2007 PIKA releases major enhancements to host-based media processing platform - Jun 27, 2007 AT&T Unity brings voice minutes closer to free - Jan 19, 2007 Jack Bauer's Perfect Mobile Phone for 24 - Jan 15, 2007 Read more… |
Motorola Adds 400 Series to Canopy Line25.03.2008 19:19 - source: voipgadgets Some interesting news from Motorola I thought I'd share... Motorola Inc. announced today that it is extending the reach of its field-proven Canopy wireless broadband system with the introduction of the 400 series of access points and subscriber modules in the 5.4 GHz spectrum. Based on Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology, which provides improved near-line of sight (nLOS) and non-line of sight (NLOS) coverage, the Canopy 400 series allows service providers and enterprise network owners to extend broadband network coverage into urban areas where obstructions and foliage have limited system expansion. By leveraging OFDM technology in the access and backhaul layers, the Canopy 400 series significantly enhances overall network performance and reach. The modules offer higher throughputs, up to 21Mbps, and extended range, accompanied with GPS synchronization to mitigate self interference. The Canopy 400 series modules, part of the MOTOwi4™ Fixed Point-to-Multipoint portfolio, are now available in Europe, Middle East and Africa and soon in Latin America. North America availability is pending final FCC certification. With these capabilities, service providers can offer applications such as high speed data transfer, video surveillance, Voice over IP (VoIP), and gaming to subscribers who were not previously reachable. Enterprise network operators can also benefit from this series of products to extend connectivity to urban areas and business parks where line of sight is not always available or for inexpensive backhaul access. “The Canopy 400 Series allows us to expand our network in environments not previously possible and do so cost-effectively, providing more revenue to our bottom line,” said Stig Petterson, CEO and Technical Manager, Totalnett AS, a Norwegian Wireless Service Provider. “We now have the ability to reach underserved customers with an economical, reliable solution.” The Canopy 400 series AP and SM products easily integrate to existing Canopy networks and exhibit the same ease of deployment and reliable operation as the rest of the Canopy portfolio. Many of the Canopy accessories can also be used with this new series of products. “Meeting the needs of a wide variety of customers can be challenging. The introduction of the Canopy 400 series is an additional option in our wireless broadband portfolio enabling service providers to reach more end users,” said Phil Bolt, Senior Director, Motorola Wireless Broadband Engineering and Product Management. “This new offering is one more way in which Motorola maintains the commitment to providing reliable, high-quality wireless broadband solutions at a low investment.” The CanopyŽ 400 series is a component of the wi4 Fixed family of broadband solutions, part of the MOTOwi4™ portfolio of solutions for public and private networks which also includes wi4 Mesh, wi4 Indoor and wi4 WiMAX. Tags: Canopy, Canopy 400 series AP, Motorola, OFDM, Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing, VoIP, WiMAX, wireless Related Entries SimplyWiFi SIP Phone - Feb 22, 2008 D2 Technologies mCUE mobile convergence softphone launches - Jan 07, 2008 Packet8 MobileTalk Launches - Nov 19, 2007 VoIPo3G Will Reach 250M Cell Phone Users by 2012? - Nov 13, 2007 Minimizing network load when routing to Ported Mobile Phone Numbers - Oct 17, 2007 AT&T Unity brings voice minutes closer to free - Jan 19, 2007 Vonage partners with Earthlink and becomes an ISP - Jan 08, 2007 Wireless Backhaul Importance Grows - Mar 25, 2008 Microsoft Response Point SP1 - Mar 24, 2008 AT&T CallVantage Major Outage... - Mar 20, 2008 Read more… |
Microsoft Bolsters Its VoIP Strategy With Response Point Service Pack25.03.2008 19:19 - source: www.topix "Response Point SP1 will make it easy to transition from traditional analog service to the promise of digital voice services" Microsoft will release a free and simple download of its Service Pack 1 for its Response Point phone system this summer, the software company reported Monday at its annual Microsoft Small Business Summit . via Imaging Magazine Read more… |
New Public Safety Interoperable Communications Solution Delivers...25.03.2008 19:19 - source: www.topix "We're proud that our technology has been proven successful in supporting hard working and dedicated emergency workers and first responders with the highest quality communication networks." Natural and human-made emergencies and disasters necessitate immediate communications across public safety agencies and between first responders. via Customer Interaction Solutions Read more… |
Printing displays screen promise25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Scientists demonstrate a printing technique to cheaply and quickly produce flat-panel computer screens. Read more… |
US stocks decline after weak data25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News US shares fall and European markets trim earlier gains in the light of weak US consumer confidence data. Read more… |
Brown compromise over embryo vote25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Gordon Brown says Labour MPs will have a free vote on three controversial parts of the embryo research bill. Read more… |
New Pakistan PM Gillani sworn in25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf swears in Yusuf Raza Gillani as PM, heading a coalition opposed to him. Read more… |
Donors accused of failing Afghans25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Some $10bn (??5bn) in aid promised to Afghanistan has still to be delivered, a group of aid agencies says. Read more… |
US examines Suez Canal shooting25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News US authorities say they are investigating after a US container ship shot at an Egyptian boat in the Suez Canal. Read more… |
German far-right leader charged25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Udo Voigt, leader of Germany's far-right NPD, is charged with defamation and inciting racial hatred. Read more… |
Pilots blamed in Indonesian crash25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News An inquiry into an air crash which killed over 100 people points to pilot error and a faulty navigation device. Read more… |
Appeal over Lucie trial verdict25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Japanese prosecutors begin an attempt to overturn the acquittal of a man accused of killing Briton Lucie Blackman. Read more… |
Bush overruled in death row case25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News The US Supreme Court rules that President Bush cannot force Texas to reconsider the case of a Mexican on death row. Read more… |
Mexico plans water supply boost25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Mexico says it will invest $21bn to ensure at least 95% of people have access to clean drinking water by 2012. Read more… |
Uganda prostitute workshop banned25.03.2008 19:19 - source: BBC News Uganda bans a sex workers workshop organised by NGOs saying it prostitutes will not spread their "vice". Read more… |