January 13th, 2006
You are currently browsing the articles from the VoIP Digest written on January 13th, 2006.
A few weeks ago I wrote about FON, a WiFi services company that planned to use open source and sharing principles to do an end run around the incumbents. The idea is to download a piece of software that is loaded into the wireless router and allows for wireless Internet access sharing.
FON has had mixed reactions. Folks like Glenn Fleishman think it won’t work. Others do. Since then another FON type project has emerged: Wibiki. But back to FON, I had wondered what if the FON concept could be married to bigger wireless plays like the ones planned by Google. Apparently, someone was thinking along those lines.
Drison writes that “Martin Varsavsky (the Fon movement leader) has met in several occasions some Google directors (and even Larry Page y Sergey Brin, its founders)” and has talked about the project. Martin, apparently has met with others including Yahoo. Ejovi Nuwere, FON’s man in US writes on his blog that he and Martin met with Sergey Brin sometime in December. Martin posts about this here, though really doesn’t say much.
What do you make of this, my ultra smart readers? Worth keeping an eye on?
PS: I am down with flu, again… so that explains slow posting.
Written by Om Malik on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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The Plantronics 510s w/HL10 is a Bluetooth capable headset (510s) that comes complete with a handset lifter (HL10) for remote answering and disconnet of calls. The product has 6 hours of talk time, 100 hours of standby, and up to 30 feet of range.
I recieved the unit yesterday as part of a demo program offer through the Plantronics Connect Partner Program.
Review
Installation
First off I would like to thank Plantronics for supplying me with the free gear. Overall, the installation process is pretty standard. This definitely is not a gadget that needs professional installation. You start by attaching the handset lifter (HL10) to your phone using the stick adhesives on the back of the HL10, connect a few cords, and plug in the power unit. Again, very easy.
Configuration
This is where this device is a bit tricky. Once you have connected power to the device, you need to dial in the Bluetooth signal using the dial on the side of the 510s base station. This is the first thing you must do otherwise you will not be able to make anymore audio quality adjustments. The dialing in of the call quality is a tedious and time consuming affair. First off their are two different audio settings. One for listening volume, and one for speak volume. The listening volume has a fine and coarse adjustments. Located on the back and bottom of the base station. My suggestion is to get someone on the other end and spend the time to nail the quality down to perfection, especially if you are using this device in a professional setting.
Performance
This by far one of the best “tools” I have obtained. The ability to walk around my office, hands-free is outstanding. The range is at least as good as stated, and after the initial configuration, the sound is better then on any other headset I have used. One caveat I do have, though, is with the handset lifter. Due to the angle of my Polycom phone, I was forced to rubber band the handset to the handset lifter to prevent the handset from falling onto the desk. While the set-up is less then stylish, it does the job. This little tweak, though, is not enough to waiver my high opinion of the device.
Another great performance feature is the ability to use the headset with my Motorola cell phone and in conjunction with a laptop softphone. It is a painless process that involves holding down two buttons simultenously, then searching for the device on your phone or laptop.
Summary
With a street price of over $200 USD, the Platronics 510s w/ HL10 will be a hard pill to swallow for some non-tech consumers. They device though, from a quality and performance standpoint is worth every penny. The ability to work hands free with a decent range away from your desk, as welll as my ability to use this with my Motorola cell phone will make this device a permenent ear fixture. To pick up your own Platronics 510s w/ HL10 stop by VoIPSupply.com
Garrett Smith
Written by Garrett Smith on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Hardware and Reviews and Plantronics.
Whenever a technology is implemented with data or any kind of voice or banking information questions are raised about how secure it is. VoIP is one such technology regarding which security issues are being put up. Since VoIP uses IP addresses for locating other entities in the voice communication network therefore IP security becomes a major issue which needs to be addressed in order to secure the VoIP network. A number of VoIP security issues can be catered to by implementing general IP security. Threats to VoIP security must be studied so that a system can be put in place that will follow the basic security recommendations
via [ it observer ]
Read more on VoIP security, threats and challenges here
Written by gautam.chabbra on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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According to a study conducted by Infonetics Research, carriers and service providers are investing heavily in metro Ethernet and IP multiprotocol label switching technologies in order to bring new converged services to the market. A survey conducted on companies stated that the investment in MPLS based metro Ethernet equipment doubled last year from 42 to 84 percent. The increase in investment is as a result of rising traffic accompanied by the introduction of converged services like voice and internet television. It is expected that there will be a big increase in revenues from VoIP, IP VPN and metro Ethernet.
via [ cmpnetasia ]
Written by gautam.chabbra on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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Vistula Communications has struck a deal with IUSACom Networks to provide feature rich telephone services to its subscribers and cost effective turnkey voice services to its residential and enterprise customers in United States and Latin America. According to the agreement Vistula will be installing their V Cube VoIP platform and delivering a turnkey feature rich VoIP application to IUSACom to cater to both its consumer and enterprise markets. The VoIP platform provided by Vistula will allow IUSACom to offer cost effective telephony services ranging from IP telephone calls to video conferencing to its customers.
via [ Hispanic business ]
Written by gautam.chabbra on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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Vonage Marketing has started providing emergency 911 services in over 1900 Public Safety Answering Points across U.S. Within one week Vonage deployed an additional forty one calling centers in over twenty five counties with 911 calling capabilities. FCC gave 120 days to Vonage and other Internet based phone service companies to create and provide an E911 system to all its customers across America. Within the period specified Vonage worked closely with local 911 centers to provide E911 to as may customers as possible. Vonage is still working to provide all its customers with access to E911 customers.
via [ yahoo ]
Written by gautam.chabbra on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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WSJ.com asks Is Google on par with Berkshire? Google’s market cap passes that of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Admittedly, it’s a little perverse to compare the poster child of growth stocks to the home of the world’s most famous value investor. Ssssh… don’t tell that to hedge funds!
Written by Om Malik on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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What does it take to keep HotMail running…. 10,000 servers spread around the globe and 100 system administrators.
Written by Om Malik on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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Sun Rocket, a johnny come lately VoIP Service Provider has started a stealth marketing blog called Everyday Hogwash, which essentially is a contest that rewards people for bitching about businesses. (Hat tip, Thread Watch.) Some think it is a bad idea, and gives bloggers a bad name. Without getting into the semantics of it all, it clearly is a terrible move for Sun Rocket. I mean, it is a wide open invitation for dissatisfied Sun Rocket customers, and there are many, to go and post on the site. (Whether their complaints go online, remains to be seen!)
John, for example complained earlier today about his experience. He called SunRocket, because he wanted to add two more additional phone numbers to his existing service, but was told that because of database failure, they [Sun Rocket] could not do it for a whole week. “Next, I emailed builditbetter@sunrocket.com, the address they provide their customers to report concerns. Both were returned as “undeliverable” by their mail server … Even if they give the service away for free, I doubt it is of any value if they cant keep their critical systems online,” writes John, who is not the first to express his frustration about the service. There have been others who have bemoaned about Sun Rocket.
What is that saying about… those who live in glass houses. On top of that, it is not a terribly original idea. Reminds me of Simply Hired’s Simply Fired campaign! I would take, The Consumerist over EveryDay Hogwash, any day anytime.
Written by Om Malik on January 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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