VoIP News: January 2008

Businesses should have VoIP 'questions shortlist'

Companies looking to invest in hosted voice over internet protocol (VoIP) systems should create a shortlist of questions that will help them determine whether it is the right solution for them, a technology expert has advised.

Mae Kowalke, a VoIP and wireless technologies specialist for TMCnet, said there are seven crucial questions to ask when looking at hosted VoIP systems.

Perhaps most importantly, she says, companies should ask themselves if VoIP will help their business and how it can be used to make long-term savings. They should also ask how much will be saved.

In addition, companies should familiarise themselves with the features available with each VoIP solution and should enquire about standards of voice quality and back-up support.

Furthermore, Ms Kowalke said, they should ask what features will be required from their phone system to adopt VoIP and consider the capabilities of their existing IT system.

Another important issue for businesses to consider is whether they can invest in new equipment, such as internet protocol phones, to support VoIP implementation.

A recent survey by Data Integration and Extreme Networks found that 59 per cent of UK businesses now use VoIP.

Posted on: 2008-01-31, in: General VoIP

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Britain gets new 'broadband minister'

Baroness Shriti Vadera has been appointed as the new minister for business and competitiveness at the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR), the government has confirmed.

The baroness takes over from Stephen Timm. Her new responsibilities include competitiveness, enterprise, growth and business investment for sectors including e-commerce and the communications and information industries.

She is, according to Computer Weekly, effectively minister for broadband and she will face a challenge in deciding how the government should intervene to improve broadband access in the UK.

The magazine says she will have to follow up on Timm's earlier efforts to reach a consensus between the government, the public sector and internet service providers on how broadband access can be widened and how new, faster next generation services can be supported.

Advisory body the Broadband Stakeholders' Group says obstacles currently facing next generation broadband in the UK include how access networks will support emerging services and applications; how enough speed will be generated for business and private users and how higher-cost next generation services will be made available in less built-up, less commercially attractive areas.

Posted on: 2008-01-30, in: Broadband

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IP phone revenues 'set to double' by 2012

Revenues from the sales of internet protocol (IP)-enabled phones are expected to double over the next five years, reaching just over $6 billion (£3.02 billion) by 2012, an industry expert has said.

Shipments of IP phones are also expected to grow by 25 per cent over the same period.

The predictions come in a five-year forecast for the IP telephony business sector from industry analyst Dell'Oro Group.

Alan Weckdel, a senior analyst with the group, said the majority of future growth will be generated by new features becoming more integrated into IP desk phones. As this happens, he said, the cost of adding features such as larger colour displays, touch screens and video over internet protocol (VoIP) will drop while more customers will expect them as standard.

Mr Weckel also predicted that a growth in voice-ready local area networks would further support the expansion of IP telephony.

"By 2012, there will be enough infrastructure in place to support VoIP to every enterprise desktop," he said.

The Dell'Oro Group is market research company focusing on the telecommunications nad network industries. It is based in Silicon Valley, California.

Posted on: 2008-01-30, in: Telephony technology

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Aastra Technologies unveils mobility options

Aastra Technologies, a provider of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) gateways, telephone terminals and software applications, has unveiled two new wireless internet devices for business users.

The devices, the Aastra 312w WLAN handset and the dual-mode Nokia E series mobile phone, will offer mobile office workers both voice and data access in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The Aastra 312w handset is compatible with any Aastra private branch exchange (PBX) that supports SIP extensions. It has also been successfully tested on WLAN systems from providers including Linksys.

Meanwhile, the Nokia E60 phone can operate over a company's wireless local area network (WLAN) allowing workers to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile networks. It is also designed to work on VoIP systems without any additional software or modification.

Aastra Technologies was founded in 1983 in Ontario, Canada. It develops systems and implements standard VoIP products and systems, mobile devices and advanced applications.

Posted on: 2008-01-29, in: Telephony technology, VoIP Hardware

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Asterisk - on a need-to-know basis

Significant cost savings can be made by VoIP users who deploy the Asterisk PBX platform, it has been suggested.

An article by Tim Greene on the Computer World websites explains the basics of the free download platform, which is described by its makers as "the world's leading open source telephony engine and tool kit".

Because the platform is free to be downloaded, much of its popularity can be ascribed to the associated cost savings, he states.

Those who have time to spend on the deployment of the system and who are technically savvy can save a great deal of money, says Mr Greene.

He writes: "Over time you can save even more if you have the wherewithal to maintain the system, update it and modify it to your needs."

The writer adds that even when the cost of hardware is considered, the savings made by using Asterisk could be "significant … as much as 90 per cent off the price of a commercially available PBX".

Stating figures from Digium – the firm founded by Asterisk creator Mark Spencer – Mr Greene notes that the platform was downloaded more than a million times in 2007.

Posted on: 2008-01-29, in: General VoIP

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