Posts by Michael Sciannamea at The VoIP Weblog

VoIP services giving traditional bells pause

Posted Jul 3rd 2006 9:37AM by Michael Sciannamea

Today's New York Times has an interesting story on the impact VoIP services have had on the traditional phone companies. Basically, VoIP services like Vonage and Packet8 are beginning to force the big phone companies to rethink their service offerings and, most importantly, bring their prices down.

As the story says, it'll be a while before the VoIP companies will have phone companies cowering in fear, but they are offering more services to keep their customers instead of seeing them walk away without a fight. The arrogance of the big phone companies is beginning to wear off, and true competition will emerge for voice services and eventually the consumer will win out.

Of course, if you think you're going to get all of these services for next to nothing, you would be wrong. However, if things keep progressing as they are now, you should be able to get more for your money, which is not a bad goal to have.

Vonage intros portable phone

Posted Jun 30th 2006 8:53AM by Michael Sciannamea

It looks like Vonage is getting into the portable VoIP phone marketplace with the introduction of their new V-Phone. According to the company, the phone can be activated by being plugged into any PC with a broadband intenet connection

The V-Phone is being aimed mostly at business users since it can potentially reduce voice communication costs including cellphone roaming charges. The phone comes loaded with Vonage Talk software and includes 250MB of memory that can be used to store files such as MP3s and digital photos. The device is priced at $39.99.

$24.99 a month VoIP service may be going bye-bye (for good reason)

Posted Jun 22nd 2006 5:40AM by Michael Sciannamea

OK, VoIP customers, the $24.99 a month party is just about over. A new FCC ruling is requiring that VoIP service providers, among others, will have to contribute to the $7 billion Universal Service Fund, which subsidizes phone service in low-income and high-cost areas and also helps schools and libraries get access to the internet. Usually these costs are passed on to customers as a line item on a monthly phone bill. (How many of us actually go through each and every charge on our phone bills anyway?) According to the FCC, the funs is about to experience a shortfall and, frankly, the VoIP customer base is increasing and it appears that they have to make up the slack.

In any event, if you're currently paying $24.99 (or any other amount) for your VoIP service, expect your monthly bill to go up about a dollar or two. This truly is not a big deal, but the TV and radio ads that feature the "magic" $24.99 a month slogan will have to be slightly modified.

VoIP and E911 services still not a guarantee

Posted Jun 21st 2006 2:52PM by Michael Sciannamea

Before I became a Vonage customer, I was very concerned about the E911 service issue. I had read all the stories about how some people had switched from a traditional landline service to VoIP and they couldn't get in touch with emergency services because E911 was not enabled. The issue definitely kept me from switching to a VoIP service for over a year because I kept thinking about the worst case scenario whereby I needed to call the police or an ambulance and my call wouldn't go through and something terrible would happen.

Of course, as time has gone on, VoIP users have been directed to register their name and address with their service providers. In addition, the FCC is requiring that all VoIP providers give location and callback number information to emergency personnel. In addition, if you're using VoIP services while away from home, then you are at another risk because there is no guarantee that your location can be tracked by emergency services. Who knows when this situation will be rectified, so it may be a good idea to have local police, fire, and ambulance numbers programmed into your phone, just in case.

It really is up to the user to make sure that their emergency contact information is correct and up-to-date. Some people, like myself, have kept one of their old traditional phone lines intact in case their broadband connection goes down and outgoing calls can't be placed from home. It's another way to insure that all your bases are covered, just in case.

New efonica service launched

Posted Jun 20th 2006 8:43PM by Michael Sciannamea

The new efonica service from Fusion Telecommunications is promising users that its features will allow them to place and receive calls from either a PC, landline phone, or cellphone over dialup or broadband connections.

According to the company, the offering also features voicemail and the ability to call both landline and mobile subscribers in at least 46 countries. Because efonica is based on the SIP protocol, users will not have to use a PC and can just purchase standard telephone equipment.

Verizon sues Vonage over patent infringement on VoIP technology

Posted Jun 19th 2006 8:06PM by Michael Sciannamea

Why isn't this a surprise? Verizon Communications is suing Vonage for infringing on several of Verizon's patents over the technology that makes VoIP calls happen. In an otherwise run-of-the-mill patent infringement suit, a twist in the case is that Verizon IS NOT asking the Federal District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia (where the suit was filed) to put an immediate stop to Vonage's operations. However, of course, if (and a very BIG if) Verizon prevails in the litigation, they will ask the court to place a cease-and-desist order on Vonage.

Obviously, Vonage has been having its share of troubles lately, including their IPO dropping like a rock over the last few days. However, it remains to be seen if this lawsuit has any true merit, or if this is another case of a big telco trying to put the kibosh on advancing technology, as has been witnessed in the growth of municipal WiFi networks.

Sprint, Cable Companies Set to Announce Wireless Agreement

Posted Oct 24th 2005 12:04PM by Michael Sciannamea

Reports indicate that a trio of cable companies—Comcast, Time Warner, and Cox Communications—will be hooking up with Sprint Nextel to offer wireless service as part of its bundled packages that include cable TV, high-speed Internet, and digital home telephone services. Some type of announcement is expected next week.

As a Comcast subscriber, I've been seeing quite a few "teasers" from them when I check and pay my cable bill online. They make references to VoIP phone services and wireless Internet, but nothing too specific. Maybe they'll dole out some details next week—I'd certainly be interested in what their wireless offerings would consist of.

Study Says WLAN Growth to Triple Within Two Years

Posted Oct 21st 2005 3:42PM by Michael Sciannamea

A new study from Infonetics Research says that organizations of all sizes across North America will increasingly turn to the deployment of wireless LANs over the next two years. The research firm says the growing availability of wireless VoIP handsets and voice-enabling wireless infrastructure are the prime drivers behind the expected increase from 10% of use to 31% by 2007.

Key findings from the report include:

It is projected that 57% of small, 62% of medium, and 72% of large organizations in North America will deploy WLANs by 2009
Intranet or VPN access and Internet access for guests top the list of applications implemented over WLANs
Wired LAN backup and Asset and RFID tracking are as seen as emerging applications
42% of respondents have a wireless policy that defines how employees can use the WLAN and other wireless technologies

WiFi-VoIP Phone Sales Expected to Grow

Posted Jul 20th 2005 8:46PM by Michael Sciannamea

Although there isn't a big market yet for hybrid WiFi-VoIP phones as of yet, that doesn't mean there won't be in the near future. Infonetics Research suggests that great potential for growth, including applications in the logistics and healthcare sectors. In addition, they found there should be some opportunities in the consumer arena, as as VoIP services and wireless gateways are bundled with a broadband connection—the often-mentioned "triple play."

VoIP's "Cousin" Making Strides

Posted Jun 16th 2005 6:36AM by Michael Sciannamea

Those in the know at this week's WiFi/VoWiFi Planet Conference and Expo are saying that Voice over WiFi, or VoWiFi, will dramatically lower phone costs, while providing mobility across an entire enterprise, and eventually between WiFi and cellular networks. Although various industries are poised to take advantage of what VoWiFi has to offer, it still has some issues to address, especially in the area of security. In other words, business and individual users may have to wait up to two years before they see anything regarding to VoWiFi hitting the marketplace.

Low-Cost Phone Lets You Make Calls From Any Hotspot

Posted May 24th 2005 1:52PM by Michael Sciannamea

hopon The new $39 WiFi IP phone from HOP-ON, Inc. allows users to make secure calls from any location that has a hotspot. According to the company, the HOP1502 handset has everything that a VoIP terminal adapter has and the ability for users to make calls from a WiFi access point.

The phone's features include 3.5 hours of talk time; a 102 x 650 pixel backlit LCD; 30 hours of standby time; room for 200 phone book entries; and 6 ringtones.

New Chips Coming to Address Growing Wireless WiFi Markets

Posted May 24th 2005 6:51AM by Michael Sciannamea

With new research indicating that shipments of WiFi/cellular handsets topping the 100 million unit mark within the next five years and wireless-LAN semiconductor revenue to almost triple within the same amount of time, manufacturers are seeing the light and are building chips to satisfy the coming demand. Companies including Metalink, SyChip, and Atheros are announcing new chips this week that are designed for video, VoIP, and embedded consumer applications in products ranging from handsets to digital cameras.

FierceWireless Reveals Its "Fierce 15" of 2005

Posted May 17th 2005 4:45PM by Michael Sciannamea

The third annual list of FierceWireless' "Fierce 15" emerging wireless companies of 2005 has been released today. The companies run the gamut of wireless technologies and are developing applications for the wireless industry including voice messaging, a browslerless mobile platform for gaming and streaming video, and flexible wireless chip technologies.

This year's Fierce 15 are:

1. Action Engine
2. BridgePort Networks
3. Colubris Networks
4. Kineto Wireless
5. HeyAnita
6. In-Fusio
7. i-play
8. M7 Networks
9. Motricity
10. picoChip
11. Skype Technologies
12. SMS.ac
13. Tatara Systems
14. Tropos Networks
15. Wireless Valley

Vonage Testing Out Wireless VoIP Services

Posted May 17th 2005 6:07AM by Michael Sciannamea

The last few weeks haven't been too kind to VoIP provider Vonage, particularly the news reports over the lack of the ability to dial 911 as part of it's basic package. They're currently dealing with that issue, and now the company is working on a WiFi-compatible service. Skype also is working on a wireless handset, so it looks like the competition to combine WiFi and VoIP functionality is set.

$100 Price Tag for Vonage's WiFi/VoIP Combo Handset

Posted Apr 21st 2005 11:21AM by Michael Sciannamea

Vonage says it has set a $100 price tag for its WiFi VoIP handset, which is scheduled to hit the streets either by late summer or early fall. The company is currently in beta trials with handsets from VTech and UTStarcom.

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