VoIP News: March 2009

British Telecom (BT) has launched a new device called the I-Plate, which is claimed to provide a boost towards the government's recently announced universal broadband pledge.

Communications minister Lord Carter's Digital Britain report recently pledged to deliver broadband of a minimum speed of 2Mbps to all UK households by 2012.

Developed by BT's Wholesale unit, the I-Plate can apparently enhance actual consumer broadband speeds to significantly higher levels.

As a self-install product, the device works as a filter to lessen the electro-magnetic 'noise' generated by other electrical appliances, such as lighting or television.

It is this 'noise' which can interfere with broadband speeds and cause a slowing of the actual service being delivered.

"We think that the I-Plate can certainly play a part in delivering higher broadband speeds to people suffering poor performance," a BT spokesman commented.

During tests, BT found that the I-Plate, which retails at £10 per unit, was able to boost speeds by between 1.5 and 4Mbps.

Mobile phone provider 3 recently reported that it has now sold over one million mobilebroadband dongles, which can deliver wireless 3G internet on the go.

Companies considering the deployment of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) should first evaluate their existing infrastructure, a leading expert suggests.

Speaking to Securitypark.co.uk, Blue Coat Systems regional sales director Mike Hemes pointed to certain "critical factors" to take into account when transferring to IP telephony.

Despite VoIP offering various benefits to businesses, Mr Hemes claimed these positive aspects will only be unlocked with proper planning.

This includes establishment of average call lengths and volumes, alongside checking if the bandwidth available in the existing network can cope with VoIP.

"With a new generation of mature, reliable solutions, VoIP is once again building up momentum within the market," he explained.

"By planning a VoIP deployment or investing in more bandwidth, companies have adequate visibility and control to make sure they are generating maximum performance and value from their existing wan links."

Jeff Pulver, founder of the forthcoming HD Communications Summit, recently told Telephony Online that high-definition VoIP could represent the future of the industry.

Nearly half of consumers in the UK are dissatisfied with the broadband experience they receive from internet service providers (ISPs), new research reveals.

According to a survey of 12,000 users by price comparison site uSwitch, 42 per cent of consumers are not satisfied with their broadband service.

The study revealed that Orange, AOL Broadband and BT were the lowest rated ISPs for customer satisfaction, while Sky Broadband, PlusNet and O2 were the highest.

This is also despite the fact that broadband speeds are now on average 18 per cent faster than a year ago and bills are on average five per cent cheaper.

Steve Weller, uSwitch's communications expert, said: "Broadband has become such a vital part of people's lives that, despite the tough economic climate, consumers are willing to pay for a fast speed, reliable connection and good old-fashioned customer service."

"It seems that some of the more established broadband companies are slowing down with age and have lost sight of what customers want - speed and reliability, backed up by efficient customer support should things go wrong," he added.

Research recently conducted by Top 10 Broadband suggested many customers are now taking out one-month broadband contracts to avoid the cost of being locked into long-term arrangements.

Businesses introducing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to their call centre environments can cut costs and also put themselves ahead of the competition, a leading expert suggests.

Rob Lith, chief executive of Connection Telecom, told South African newspaper the Times that an investment in IP-based telephony can bring various benefits to call centres.

Mr Lith explained that VoIP can bring a solid return on investment but can also enable businesses to "place themselves comfortably ahead" of the competition.

"As the efficacy of a call centre's business operations is based on telephony technology, VoIP can offer significant monetary savings by way of affordable long-distance and international calls, free calling features and convenience," he pointed out.

"Money may be tight for most organisations now, but it is possible to minimise IT spend on infrastructure and initiate effective cost optimisation by harnessing the potential of VoIP."

Stephanie Viscusi, TMCnet.com assignment desk editor, recently said the global economic downturn could lead more businesses to deploy VoIP as a way to save money.

As the global economic downturn continues to bite, more businesses are deploying Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a way to save money, a leading expert claims.

Stephanie Viscusi, TMCnet.com assignment desk editor, said the need to trim costs is "vital for success", which is where VoIP is able to excel.

Citing a recent VendorSeek article, Ms Viscusi pointed out that the technology can save money in three main ways - firstly in the call centre where it reduces the cost per minute of calls made.

Secondly, the communications service can cut the cost of engaging in conference and video conference calls, which are gradually becoming an essential part of business life.

Finally, in cases where face-to-face contact is necessary, employees can bring portable phone routers with them in order to access cheaper call tariffs.

"In today's economic climate, choosing Voice over IP for their telecommunications needs means companies can succeed while strengthening their workforces by cutting back on costs without cutting back on wages," Ms Viscusi concluded.

A study published by analysis firm Ovum has predicted the mobilebroadband industry could be worth around £94 billion by 2014.