VoIP News: December 2008

VoIP solutions should not be deployed until network capabilities have been fully checked, according to an industry commentator. Tim McCreery explained on eWeek. com that many enterprisers make the mistake of thinking VoIP solutions will be just the same as their conventional telephone services.

The number of homes and businesses in Wales connected to ADSL broadband is on the rise, according to new figures. Statistics released by BT show that for the first time, the number of customers in the Welsh counties of Pembrokeshire, Conwy, Ceredigion and Anglesey on broadband now exceed those who are not wired up to high-speed internet services. Each county has a take-up rate of more than 50 per cent - higher than any English county and representing almost 10,000 homes and companies.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology can be used by businesses as part of measures aimed at cutting costs, an expert has advised. Bill Murphy, managing director of BT Business, pointed out that calls to other VoIPs can often be made free of charge or at significantly reduced costs, helping firms save money. VoIPs also come with unlimited calls to local and national numbers for a fixed monthly cost and capped rates to mobiles and international destinations - all of which allow firms to exert a greater level of control over their spending, Mr Murphy added.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile telecoms are expected to have more than 85 million users worldwide by 2013, according to forecasts. A new report from Cantab Wireless indicates that LTE system specifications could be finalised by as early as June 2009, after which test networks will begin to appear in a number of countries. LTE developers claim that it can offer broadband data speeds of up to 200Mbs, which far outstrips the performance of mobile 3G technology.

The continuing worldwide economic downturn will hit the mobile phone market next year, according to an analysis company. IDC has predicted that handset shipments will be 1. 9 per cent down in 2009 compared with 2008, marking the first reduction since 2001.