VoIP News: June 2007

BT completes ground-breaking IP voice trial

Telecoms provider BT has completed its pioneering trial of VoIP which in 2005 carried the first calls over an all-IP infrastructure.

This marked the start of the company's upgrade of telephony systems in the UK to its 21st Century Network (21CN) plan by connecting exchanges in central London, Woolwich and Cambridge just through internet protocols.

"This trial has been hugely successful in informing our plans for the nationwide deployment of 21CN," said Matt Beal, chief technical officer of BT Wholesale.

"Its completion demonstrates the tremendous strides that we've made... in bringing 21CN from concept to reality for end-customers."

Handling around 500,000 calls per day, the BT trial found that customers still received high call quality over the IP network that was the same, if not better, as they would using the existing PSTN network.

While this trial has ended, the project is continuing with areas of South Wales currently using the upgraded lines and 350,000 lines in total set to be upgraded by the end of the year.

Posted on: 2007-06-29, in: General VoIP

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Large scale VoIP switch-over took years

Top-level chemical company Lyondell Chemical took the decision to switch to VoIP ahead of many other large businesses.

But chief IT architect Sanjay Chadha wanted to make sure the system was first class, while financial constraints meant it had to be done on a cost-neutral or even profitable budget.

"The company was losing money at the time and there was neither a need nor a demand for these services," Mr Chadha told TechTarget.

However, Lyondell was supportive of his plans and saw the advantages that VoIP would bring to their international business - especially if the IT team could realise their hopes of a centralised system.

By starting with the multinational firms smallest offices of about 50 employees and installing VoIP alongside the landline system to start with, the project team gained experience and over a few years built up to sites with 2,600 connections.

Although the company took a risk by cancelling the maintenance of its traditional telephony lines to free up funds for the initial launch, the installation of VoIP has saved Lyondell several million dollars, according to Mr Chadha.

In addition, the company now has a fully centralised unified communications system which allows easy worldwide maintenance plus useful functions for employees such as being able to check their voicemail from their email inbox.

The example of Lyondell seems to show what benefits and savings may be achieved by the early adoption of VoIP systems, even among large multinational companies.

Posted on: 2007-06-29, in: IP PBX

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Industry group issues standards for mobile VoIP

Network operators and handset manufacturers have been offered guidance on restricting VoIP features on mobile phones by the Open Mobile Terminal Alliance (OMTA) industry group.

This follows controversy over the perceived banning of VoIP services by Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile earlier this year and the document attempts to lay out the rules over whether such practices are justifiable.

Although they do not cover some downloadable VoIP applications like Frong or Vyke, the new OMTP specifications say that mobile operators are entitled to take action against preinstalled VoIP services.

However, once the phone is no longer under contract with that operator, they must make it possible to remove the handset's VoIP lock - in a similar way to how they allow handsets to become SIM-free and be used on another network.

If they choose to enforce a lock on these preinstalled applications, then operators must make it clear they have done so rather than simply remove items from the menu as has been the tactic in the past.

Although the document is not binding, many networks including Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and 3 were involved in the writing and so may be inclined to follow these guidelines.

Posted on: 2007-06-28, in:

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T-Mobile introduces VoIP-capable phones

Telecoms network T-Mobile has launched a new service which combines Wi-Fi with its own mobile network in a move that will further sideline traditional landlines.

Two specially-adapted handsets are already available in the US - the Samsung t409 and the Nokia 6089 - and will be able to use the normal T-Mobile network to carry calls, but can switch to public Wi-Fi hotspots or the owner's home network if it is in range.

In this way it will reduce users' phone bills as it will use VoIP when connecting to Wi-Fi.

T-Mobile is also launching the accompanying HotSpot @Home broadband router, developed with partners D-Link and Linsys, which broadcasts a wireless signal that can be used by the new phones to switch over to VoIP when in range.

Review site Slashphone says: " What distinguishes the HotSpot @Home service is the network handover; calls originated while in a HotSpot will, once you've stepped out of range, seemlessly switch to T-Mobile GSM cellular, and - even more impressive - vice-versa.

"That means signal issues and patchy reception when at home should no longer be a problem: as long as you're in Wi-Fi range your domestic calls are not only free but carried over the broadband network."

Posted on: 2007-06-28, in: Triple Play Services

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Raketu spreads onto mobiles

VoIP provider Raketu has announced that its telephony service has now been updated to add mobile functionality.

Consumers with mobile phones which run Symbian or Linux-based operating systems, such as the Nokia E70 or 770, can now access the company's free no-download RakWeb programme.

This means they are now able to set up a VoIP call at reduced prices just by using their phone - removing the PC from the process completely.

"With the launch of RakWeb for mobile devices, Raketu now offers consumers more ways to access VoIP telephony services than any other VoIP service," said Greg Parker, chief executive of Raketu Communications.

"Regardless of your internet connection or technical know-how, Raketu offers a way to access VoIP services easily and affordably."

Raketu's service requires users to visit a site on their mobile phone browser and then enter both their number and the number of the call recipient.

They will then be connected up at reduced prices to over 40 countries around the world.

Posted on: 2007-06-28, in: Telephony technology

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