VoIP News: February 2008

Cambridge Consultants to develop next-gen VoIP handset

Technology and innovation company Cambridge Consultants has announced it has secured a deal to develop a next-generation Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) handset for xG Technology.

The wireless handset should allow consumers and network operators to save on the cost of rolling out a mobile network, the company has said.

Once completed, the TX60 handset will allow the wide area wireless mobile VoIP network to be implemented with a mass-produced handset for the first time, something Cambridge Consultants suggests it will be "delighted" to help with.

"We are delighted to build on xG's innovative technology to create a handset that addresses the huge market opportunity presented by the flexibility of mobile telephony combined with the economic advantages of being based on existing internet infrastructure," said Duncan Smith, head of consumer products at the company.

He added that it was an "exciting first application" for the technology developed by Florida-based xG.

In December, Cambridge Consultants launched a low-cost, Wi-Fi-enabled internet radio known as the Iona Cube.

Based on the concept that the average listener only listens to three or four radio stations regularly, channels are changed by rolling the cube over onto a different side.

Posted on: 2008-02-29, in: VoIP Hardware

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Britain 'lagging' in next-generation broadband development

The chairman of the government's leading broadband advisory group has suggested the UK should improve its preparedness for next-generation broadband.

Addressing the annual conference of the CMA this week, Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) chairman Kip Meek suggested the UK's "relative absence" in terms of next-generation access should be addressed.

He said it was "unchallengeable" that the UK was lagging behind some of its international peers.

According to Mr Meek, fibre broadband as a proportion of connections in the UK is "negligible".

Failure to delivering next-generation access soon could compromise the UK's competitiveness, he claimed.

Mr Meek also expressed the hope that the announcement by business and competitiveness minister Shriti Vadera that the government is to review next-generation broadband is "a signal that the government is ready to provide the necessary leadership".

In conclusion, the BSG chairman said the UK is not lagging "in any way that matters", but urged a period of reflection to "come up with a good way forward".

Posted on: 2008-02-29, in: Broadband

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Snom teams with 3CX for 'comprehensive VoIP solution'

Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone manufacturer snom has announced a strategic partnership with internet protocol private branch exchange (IP PBX) software provider 3XC that will provide businesses with a "reliable and affordable" VoIP service.

The companies have announced that interoperability testing for their products is now complete, meaning businesses can use either snom's VoIP phones or 3CX's IP PBX software knowing that they are fully supported by both vendors.

Dr Michael Knieling, snom's executive vice-president of marketing and sales, said interoperability is "extremely important in the world of VoIP nowadays".

According to snom and 3CX, another key benefit for customers will be increased mobility, as enterprises will be able to integrate their employees into their phone system from any point.

The partnership will also eliminate telephone tag, as users will be able see if their colleagues are in the office or not. The vendors say businesses will also profit from increase features at a lesser cost compared to traditional telephony systems.

Founded in 1996, snom now operates in 20 countries. It is headquartered in Berlin.

Posted on: 2008-02-29, in: Telephony technology, VoIP Hardware

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Mobile broadband 'to overtake fixed-line by 2010'

The growth in sales for mobile broadband could see the technology overtake traditional fixed-line connections within the next two years, according to reports.

Computer Shopper said comparison site Top 10 Broadband started tracking the sales of mobile broadband six months ago and since then, they have recorded 50 per cent rises month-on-month.

Jessica McCardle said customers were attracted to mobile broadband as it offers more flexibility, especially for laptop owners. It also means that users have consistent broadband access, rather than having to rely on finding a Wi-Fi hotspot.

"It is absolutely taking off, people are loving the broadband dongles," she told the site.

However, one of the drawbacks to mobile broadband compared to fixed-line connections is the amount of data that can be transferred. The cheapest mobile broadband deals have monthly download limits of 1 GB, while £25 a month packages have a cap of 7 GB, which the site says "compares poorly" with ADSL and cable.

McCardle said that to get the right deal, customers should know what they will be signing up for and how they will use the connection.

Technology blogger Ephraim Schwartz recently predicted that business users would move away from Wi-Fi to mobile broadband over the next two years.

Posted on: 2008-02-29, in: Broadband

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Unified Communications conference announced

The Unified Communications Expo '08, incorporating the VoIP for Business event, will take place in London this April, it has been announced.

Over 500 voice over internet protocol (VoIP), video conferencing and other unified communications products will be showcased at the free expo, which will be held in the National Hall at the Olympia.

In addition, there will be 80 education seminars covering subjects such as VoIP, mobility, messaging and technical implementation.

VoIP seminars already confirmed include sessions on enterprise VoIP trends, the key principles involved in choosing a VoIP provider and the benefits of using hosted and managed VoIP services.

The event is targeted at chief information officers, business managers, technical directors, IT directors and IT, networking and communications managers.

It is also recommended for sales and marketing directors looking to bring together communication platforms and increase the mobility of their sales force.

The Unified Communications Expo will run from April 9th to 10th 2008.

Posted on: 2008-02-29, in: General VoIP

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