VoIP News: June 2009

Blackpool is to receive Virgin Media's high-speed 50 megabits-per-second (Mbps) broadband connection in a move that could improve usage of VoIP solutions.

Around 75 per cent of residents in the region own a computer and nearly 90 per cent of these people use the internet every day, so the new service could facilitate much faster downloading times as previous speeds peaked at 8Mbps, reports the Blackpool Gazette.

The faster speeds could benefit both domestic users and those that rely on the internet for their business, as the improved technology could help them run operations more efficiently.

Steve Pye, chairman of the Blackpool-based Federation of Small Businesses, told the paper: "My connection at the moment is 8Mbps and sometimes it can be a little slow and even crash. When you are part-way through putting a deal together this is not a good thing."

One of Virgin Media's chief broadband competitors is BT, which is conducting high-speed trials around the UK and investing £1.5 billion.

The government's plan to connect every UK home with a connection of at least 2Mbps has been described as lacking in ambition by some industry experts.

Posted on: 2009-06-30, in: Broadband

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Leading Internet telephony provider, Telappliant has been nominated for The Best Internet Telephony award for their VoIP service VoIPtalk (www.voiptalk.org) at the 11th Annual UK Internet Industry Awards, hosted by ISPA (www.ispa.org.uk), the Internet Service Providers' Association.

The ISPAs - the UK Internet industry awards - are unique as they are awarded to people and organisations in the industry following rigorous testing and an independent judging process and reflect the broad nature of the internet service provider sector.

Telappliant's VoIPtalk service is one of the largest VoIP networks in the UK, and offers an extensive services and product portfolio, which has been developed and tailored to benefit its customers, enabling them to choose a package or solution that suits them.

VoIPtalk is a feature rich consumer VoIP offering, with features such as voicemail-to-email, time of day forwarding, call divert, inbound number routing, and call plans designed specifically with consumers in mind. All products offer exceptional customer service and value for money.

As part of VoIPtalk's broad nature of service, they also sell VoIP hardware products such as IP phones, adaptors and routers that are compatible with their service yet not locked to it, therefore not restricting consumers in their choice of VoIP service provider.

The winners will be announced on 9th July at a glittering awards ceremony hosted at the Grosvenor Marriott Hotel.

ISPA Secretary General, Nicholas Lansman said, "Each year the ISPAs rewards the UK's top Internet companies in each category after thorough testing and judging of each entrant. I would like to congratulate all of the finalists and look forward to welcoming them to the Awards dinner."

Telappliant CEO, Tan Aksoy said: "To be nominated for the Best Internet Telephony award is fantastic and just goes to prove our dedication to providing a VoIP service that offers both value for money and quality of service". He went on to say "this is what we have always strived for and will continue to do so".

Posted on: 2009-06-30, in: Awards, Telappliant News

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PC shipment figures may not be as low this year as previously forecast, with new research revealing that nearly 275 million could be sold through 2009.

Estimates had suggested that the PC industry could show a year-on-year decline of 9.2 per cent by the end of this year, but Gartner has found that the decline could be a lower six per cent as more people buy computers to use VoIP hardware, complete office work and play games.

Indeed, sales could even grow by more than ten per cent and stimulate economic growth by the beginning of next year.

George Shiffler, research director at Gartner, said: "PC unit growth was stronger than we expected in all markets but Eastern Europe in the first quarter of 2009. In particular, consumer shipments were much stronger than we anticipated."

The figures show that the industry could be in a better state than had previously been feared and economic recovery could be easier to pursue.

Research from PayPal reveals that online spending could increase by nearly 140 per cent over the course of the next two years.

Posted on: 2009-06-29, in: Broadband

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Teenage hackers are being recruited by Britain's security forces to help protect IT infrastructure from malicious online forces.

Britain faces at least 1,000 cyber attacks every day from a wider range of sources including terrorist organisations and organised criminals, but the expertise of youthful computer hackers is being used to help bolster security, potentially enhancing media downloads and VoIP solutions.

Many teenage experts are being tracked down through internet chat rooms and posted to Cheltenham's Cyber Security Operations Centre.

Lord West, the security minister, said: "You need youngsters who are deep into this stuff. If they have been slightly naughty boys, very often they really enjoy stopping other naughty boys."

As technology becomes more advanced, important infrastructure has come under the control of IT networks and these systems attract the attention of malicious forces.

Ensuring that computer security software downloads regular updates is one way that IT users can make their systems less vulnerable to attack.

Posted on: 2009-06-29, in: Broadband

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The amount of money spent online by web users is forecast to grow dramatically in the coming years, reaching more than £21 billion by 2012, a new study shows.

Just as the internet is offering cheap communications services with the spread of VoIP solutions for both business and leisure usage, figures researched by Experian for PayPal reveal that 2011 is expected to be the biggest year yet for online shopping figures.

If the expansion does proceed as forecast, online spending will have grown by nearly 140 per cent by 2011 and could be one of the first indicators of economic recovery.

Carl Scheible, managing director of PayPal UK, said: "Online shops have already seen phenomenal growth and by the end of 2011, when the recession is expected to be over, we'll be spending at least one in every 14 pounds online."

He added that nearly nine million Britons already buy products on the internet at least once every seven days.

An increase in online shopping could also be affected by the government's universal connectivity policy, which plans to connect every UK home by 2012.

Posted on: 2009-06-29, in: Broadband

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