We have said before that we are big fans of the Counterpath Eyebeam SIP softphone – and we see that there are a couple of new releases that are pending.
There will be a new VoIP SIP desktop product called the Media Communicator that looks like a complete new GUI interface including the option to run the application as a minimized deskbar – we look forward to the release, you can get a sneek peak here
We also see that Global IP Telecoms the European representitive for Counterpath has released a new version of the Xten softphone called X-PDA that is designed to run on PDAs running Windows Mobile 5.0 or Pocket PC 2003 operating systems – we have used earlier versions of this and it works well. They have two versions depending on the screen size used either 240 x 320 pixel or 240 x 240 pixel. This is a great product and lets you use your WiFi enabled PDA as your SIP extension and so acts as a WiFi handset. All we need now is an Xten that runs on the Symbian Operating System and they will have the market completely covered 
More information here
As we know VoIP comes in many shapes and flavours – our focus is in the SME or Enterprise arena but we always like to keep a view on what is happening in the VoIP carrier world. We have seen a lot of press recently about the new Ofcom (Office of Communications) regulations that will apply to VoIP Providers and all will be required to comply with the them from June 2007.
Following public consultation in 2006, Ofcom has decided to put in place measures to ensure that consumers have access to information which helps them make informed purchasing decisions. The new code of practice requires VoIP providers to make clear:
1, Whether or not the service includes access to emergency services.
2, The extent to which the service depends on the user’s home power supply.
3, Whether directory assistance, directory listings, access to the operator or the itemisation of calls are available.
4, Whether consumers will be able to keep their telephone number if they choose to switch providers at a later date.
If consumers choose to take up a service that does not offer access to emergency services or which depends on an external power supply, the code also requires VoIP providers to:
1, Secure the customer’s positive acknowledgement of this at point of sale (by ticking a box, for example).
2, Label the capability of the service, either in the form of a physical label for equipment or via information on the computer screen.
3, Play an announcement each time a call to emergency services is attempted, reminding the caller that access is unavailable.
As usage in the UK continues to grow, and the market develops further, Ofcom will continue to review and develop its approach to regulation to ensure that consumers gain the full benefits of VoIP services.
A number of respondents to Ofcom’s consultation expressed concern that a lack of access to emergency services via VoIP services might result in consumer detriment. For that reason, Ofcom intends to consult later this year on whether, and if so how, certain VoIP services might be required to offer access to emergency services. You can find the actual Ofcom document here
The ITSPA has responded to the OFCOM regulations by broadly accepting it but they have concerns as this will not apply to Overseas carriers and of course because of the nature of VoIP they can offer their services in the UK but without the need to comply so disadvantaging the UK carriers by comparison. See the response to the Ofcom regulations on the ITSPA website.
Sometimes Regulation can stifle free enterprise and innovation but we feel that something had to be done to ensure users are aware of the lack of emergency service support after all it only takes one life to be saved because of this to make it worthwhile.
Microsoft is launching an IP Telephony system called Response Point that will compete directly with products from leading vendors such as Avaya and Cisco
Response Point will use core technology from Microsoft’s forthcoming Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 — a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based VoIP, instant messaging, presence and conferencing server due for release by midyear. Response Point-based appliances will include features similar to those found on key system telephone systems — such as hold, conference and transfer — as well as built-in voice mail, auto attendant, voice recognition and integration with Microsoft software. For example, the combination of contact integration with Microsoft Outlook and Response Point’s voice recognition will allow users to dial colleagues and external contacts through voice commands. Integrated voice mail and e-mail also will give users a single in-box for messages, Microsoft says.
Hardware partners D-Link, Quanta and Uniden will make appliances on which the Response Point software will run, and IP phones for users.
The D-Link DVX-2000, Quanta Syspine and Uniden Evolo appliances will include Ethernet ports for connecting to a small-office LAN. Response Point will include such set-up features as IP phone and service configuration wizards and auto-discovery of IP phones. The Response Point-based devices could be connected to a SIP-based Internet telephony service provider for external phone service, or to a third-party VoIP gateway to connect to public switched telephone network services.
Response Point will challenge Nortel and Avaya, which have long held sway over the small-business phone market, as well as Cisco’s Linksys small and midsize business gear, and its own Cisco-branded SMB VoIP gear. Nortel’s Business Communications Manager 50 and Avaya’s IP Office in particular will compete against the Response Point-based appliances and phones. The Microsoft-based VoIP gear will also compete against Cisco’s Linksys-branded SMB VoIP gear — such as the LVS 9000 — as well as its LinksysOne brand of small-office gear, which is tied to VoIP service and support offerings. Cisco’s CallManager Express — an IP PBX built into its branch/small office routers, as well as its Unified Communications manager Business Editor, could also compete with Response Point.
We saw an interesting update on this to say that there are no plans for this product to be released outside of the USA – so it seems this is a real ‘toe in the water’ to test the market response – those of us with grey hair will rember the days when IBM launched into the PBX market and we know what happened there 
Tesco has moved into the internet telephony market with a range of services and devices.
The supermarket chain is hoping to capitalise on Ofcom predictions that UK VoIP users will swell from 500,000 to three million by the end of 2007. Tesco customers can make calls to other Tesco internet phone users for free, and call other numbers around the world for as little as 2p per minute.
Calls to UK landlines are charged at 2p per minute, along with a selection of international destinations. Calls to UK mobile numbers are charged at 10p per minute, with the exception of Hutchison 3G which costs 25p per minute.
Calls to other international destinations, and services such as 0845 numbers, vary depending on the country and whether users are dialling a landline or a mobile. Most are between 10p and 30p per minute, according to Tesco.
Unlike most traditional phone lines, the Tesco system operates on a pay-as-you-go basis and customers can buy credit online or with vouchers purchased from any Tesco store.
Tesco also offers a range of products for use with the system, including an internet phone adapter that allows users to connect a regular phone to a network for making VoIP calls.
The company is also offering three traditional-looking handsets that plug into a PC, one of which is cordless, and a headset.
It will remain to be seen if general users will want to use a prepay method – we guess Tesco are hoping to attract the new generation of mobile users who are happy to run Pay as Go mobiles and so are used to manage their call spend.
The shopping list will never be the same.
No we are not talking about a piece of Classical Music (I think it is the theme for the South Bank Show) but a variation on existing technology. We love gadgets and the way developers find solutions to problems that may not even exist. We like this one from Rok Viper that allows you to make free VoIP calls from your mobile but rather than using WiFi it makes use of Bluetooth back to your PC or Laptop and as long as you have an Internet connection then you can make free VoIP calls – neat
One problem it does overcome compared to WiFI phones is that you do not need a wireless LAN infastructure. One drawback is that the person you are calling has to be a Rok viper user also but we are sure this will change later on.
Category VoIP | 
Author admin | 
25 April, 2007 10:49 am | 
Comments (1)