T-Mobile isn’t the only contributor in the Haiti situation. Google, Vonage, Skype are offering Free VoIP Calls to Haiti. Ricky sent us in an interesting post on the Google Voice Blog this morning. It looks like Google is doing its part as well providing free calls to Haiti for the next two weeks using Google Voice.
“It’s impossible to watch the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake without wondering how one can contribute in helping the thousands of families who lost everything in this disaster.
Google set up a disaster relief page, which includes information and resources for anyone interested in helping out, and the Google Voice team also wanted to respond in our own way.
Particularly in the wake of such a catastrophe, for people in the US who have family in Haiti, it is critical to stay in constant contact with your loved ones, provide moral comfort, and offer daily updates to friends and family in Haiti.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Verizon Business Expands Unified Communications and Collaboration Consulting Services
Verizon Business is expanding its suite of UC&C Consulting Services to help enterprise customers more effectively integrate unified communications and collaboration with their business processes.
As part of this initiative, expert consultants from Verizon Business will collaborate with customers to define their objectives; assess their current infrastructure; look at where in an organization investment in these communications tools can make the biggest impact; create user profiles to pinpoint areas in which business processes can be improved; and help organizations overcome other hurdles to deployment and acceptance of these new communications tools.
CA Inc. is one of the customers that has used the Verizon Business professional consulting services, which it used both for its enterprise and contact center operations.
For more on the latest developments in unified communications and collaboration, TMC invites you to attend this week’s ITEXPO event in Miami, which includes a UC track. For specific information on what’s available, visit the track on her website
As part of this initiative, expert consultants from Verizon Business will collaborate with customers to define their objectives; assess their current infrastructure; look at where in an organization investment in these communications tools can make the biggest impact; create user profiles to pinpoint areas in which business processes can be improved; and help organizations overcome other hurdles to deployment and acceptance of these new communications tools.
CA Inc. is one of the customers that has used the Verizon Business professional consulting services, which it used both for its enterprise and contact center operations.
For more on the latest developments in unified communications and collaboration, TMC invites you to attend this week’s ITEXPO event in Miami, which includes a UC track. For specific information on what’s available, visit the track on her website
Avaya's Plan: Migrate Nortel Customers to Aura SIP-Based UC Platform
Putting to rest any fears about what the acquisition of Nortel’s assets will mean for hundreds and thousands of users, Avaya today unveiled a roadmap that details how it will integrate the products and services from the recently acquired Nortel Enterprise Solutions unit to create a new standard for business communications.
Avaya will speak in greater during this week’s ITEXPO show in Miami, held Jan. 20-22, about its new roadmap, and what it means to customers, resellers, carriers or developers.
“We’re talking about two worlds coming together,” Lawrence Byrd, director of UC architecture for Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Avayatold TMCnet. “The roadmap is not about ‘A’ versus ‘B.’ It’s about ‘C.’ ”
For the past year, that “C” has symbolized the emergence of an open-standards, enterprise-SIP architecture. In March 2009, Avaya unveiled the first fruit of its labors –Avaya Aura – aimed at next-generation communications for enterprises.
In further building a “better Avaya Aura” -- a SIP-based communication platform that unifies complex communications networks -- Byrd told TMCnet it will not use a “rip and replace” strategy. Instead, it will fuse the best technologies from Nortel with its own presence/messaging technologies.
Avaya will speak in greater during this week’s ITEXPO show in Miami, held Jan. 20-22, about its new roadmap, and what it means to customers, resellers, carriers or developers.
“We’re talking about two worlds coming together,” Lawrence Byrd, director of UC architecture for Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Avayatold TMCnet. “The roadmap is not about ‘A’ versus ‘B.’ It’s about ‘C.’ ”
For the past year, that “C” has symbolized the emergence of an open-standards, enterprise-SIP architecture. In March 2009, Avaya unveiled the first fruit of its labors –Avaya Aura – aimed at next-generation communications for enterprises.
In further building a “better Avaya Aura” -- a SIP-based communication platform that unifies complex communications networks -- Byrd told TMCnet it will not use a “rip and replace” strategy. Instead, it will fuse the best technologies from Nortel with its own presence/messaging technologies.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Unified Communications Comes of Channel Age
One of the historic problems with unified communications is how disjointed this set of technologies has really been. Most customers are really still unsure what it means to unify their communications and the various components of unified communications solution don’t always work so seamless together.
But at the same time, interest in increasing the productivity of the existing workforce through the better use of IT is on the rise. The question is how can solution providers best leverage unified communications to meet the needs of customers while simultaneously advancing their own business goals? The answer to that question is to start thinking more like a carrier that is delivering set of services that have been customized for a specific customer.
But at the same time, interest in increasing the productivity of the existing workforce through the better use of IT is on the rise. The question is how can solution providers best leverage unified communications to meet the needs of customers while simultaneously advancing their own business goals? The answer to that question is to start thinking more like a carrier that is delivering set of services that have been customized for a specific customer.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications
Unified communications offers the ability to improve how individuals, groups and companies interact and perform tasks. Enterprise planners and managers should review how this emerging generation of communication software and systems can improve their business operations and processes.
Unified communications (UC) offers the ability to significantly improve how individuals, groups and companies interact and perform. UC also enables multiple communication channels to be coordinated. In some cases, separate servers may be consolidated, but, more frequently, UC adds functionality to existing communication applications. Key technologies include Internet Protocol (IP)-PBX, voice over IP (VoIP), presence, e-mail, audioconferencing and Web conferencing, videoconferencing, voice mail, unified messaging (UM), instant messaging (IM), and various forms of mobility. Another key capability of UC is that it offers a method to integrate communication functions directly with business applications; Gartner calls this capability "communication-enabled business process" (CEBP).
Unified communications (UC) offers the ability to significantly improve how individuals, groups and companies interact and perform. UC also enables multiple communication channels to be coordinated. In some cases, separate servers may be consolidated, but, more frequently, UC adds functionality to existing communication applications. Key technologies include Internet Protocol (IP)-PBX, voice over IP (VoIP), presence, e-mail, audioconferencing and Web conferencing, videoconferencing, voice mail, unified messaging (UM), instant messaging (IM), and various forms of mobility. Another key capability of UC is that it offers a method to integrate communication functions directly with business applications; Gartner calls this capability "communication-enabled business process" (CEBP).
Users spurn traditional calls for Skype
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Users wanting to call home from abroad are increasingly turning to Skype's Internet telephony service to the detriment of international carriers, new data showed.
"Skype is now the largest provider of cross border communications in the world, by far," said Stephan Beckert, analyst at research firm TeleGeography on Tuesday.
Skype's technology allows consumers to make practically free long-distance calls over the Internet on fixed lines. It is mostly used on desktops but Skype has made the move into mobile too and it now comes pre-installed on some cellphones.
According to the firm's data, over the past 25 years, international call volume from telephones have grown at a compounded annual rate of 15 percent.
In the past two years this growth has however slowed to only 8 percent, rising from 376 billion minutes in 2008 to an estimated 406 billion minutes last year.
"Skype is now the largest provider of cross border communications in the world, by far," said Stephan Beckert, analyst at research firm TeleGeography on Tuesday.
Skype's technology allows consumers to make practically free long-distance calls over the Internet on fixed lines. It is mostly used on desktops but Skype has made the move into mobile too and it now comes pre-installed on some cellphones.
According to the firm's data, over the past 25 years, international call volume from telephones have grown at a compounded annual rate of 15 percent.
In the past two years this growth has however slowed to only 8 percent, rising from 376 billion minutes in 2008 to an estimated 406 billion minutes last year.
Securing SIP Trunks
Security plays an important role for your networks and secure SIP trunk is one of these important jobs. SIP trunking provides organizations with a cost-effective, reliable method of connecting the internal network and telephony systems with external VoIP and traditional phone systems over the IP network. SIP tunking is quickly replacing traditional PRI and analog circuits for enterprise communications. Typically, SIP trunking involves an IP PBX, however Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 introduced the ability to do direct SIP trunking to the OCS 2007 environment and eliminate the IP PBX. Microsoft only provides direct SIP trunking with two VoIP providers, but Evangelyze Communications developed SmartSIP which lets organizations leverage their existing telephony hardware and employ direct SIP trunking with virtually any VoIP provider.
SIP trunking has many business benefits, but also introduces some additional security concerns. Internal security policies and controls will most likely differ from the security policies and controls of the SIP trunk provider. Connecting with the SIP trunk provider may involve opening ports though the firewall or NAT device, modifying the IP PBX (if present), changing private IP addressing or numbering plans, or other changes to the unified communications infrastructure. The organization must also maintain control over signaling and media secuity as well as call-routing policies.
SIP trunking has many business benefits, but also introduces some additional security concerns. Internal security policies and controls will most likely differ from the security policies and controls of the SIP trunk provider. Connecting with the SIP trunk provider may involve opening ports though the firewall or NAT device, modifying the IP PBX (if present), changing private IP addressing or numbering plans, or other changes to the unified communications infrastructure. The organization must also maintain control over signaling and media secuity as well as call-routing policies.
SIP Trunking is Key to Accelerating Unified Communications Deployments
Companies today are undergoing a significant transformation to a more global Anywhere Enterprise™. Unified communications (UC) is a crucial
component in this evolution and organizations look to collaborate better with an extended enterprise (see Exhibit 1 on the next page). UC
has the power to help companies lower the overall cost of communications, bring worker productivity to new levels, enhance corporate green
initiatives and completely redefine the way we work by becoming part of our application infrastructure.
However, the deployment of UC is not without its challenges. Too often, organizations go down the path of deploying new technology with old
technology principles in mind and UC is no different. Many of the early adopter deployments of VoIP and UC were designed exactly the same as
the old systems, severely limiting the overall value of UC, which is a highly flexible, IP-based solution.
component in this evolution and organizations look to collaborate better with an extended enterprise (see Exhibit 1 on the next page). UC
has the power to help companies lower the overall cost of communications, bring worker productivity to new levels, enhance corporate green
initiatives and completely redefine the way we work by becoming part of our application infrastructure.
However, the deployment of UC is not without its challenges. Too often, organizations go down the path of deploying new technology with old
technology principles in mind and UC is no different. Many of the early adopter deployments of VoIP and UC were designed exactly the same as
the old systems, severely limiting the overall value of UC, which is a highly flexible, IP-based solution.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
SIP vs XMPP or SIP and XMPP?
History
SIP was invented to provide rendezvous for session establishment and negotiation on the Internet. XMPP (or Jabber) was invented to do structured data exchange such as synchronous or active presence and text communication among group of people. XMPP evolved from instant messaging and presence, whereas SIP evolved from Internet voice/video communication. Later, XMPP added support for session negotiation using the Jingle extension, and SIP community added extensions such as SIMPLE to support instant messaging and presence.
Technically comparing SIP and XMPP is like comparing apples and oranges because the core protocols serve different purposes: session randevous/establishment vs structured data exchange. On the other hand, because of the extensions invented in both the protocol worlds, SIMPLE and Jingle, they now have overlapping functions, and can be compared. When one compares SIP vs XMPP, actually the comparison is SIP/SIMPLE vs XMPP for IM and presence and/or SIP/SDP vs XMPP/Jingle for session negotiation. Even though the goals of the two sets of protocols are converging, there are fundamental architectural differences that I will enumerate in this article. There are other articles on SIP vs XMPP [1, 2, 3].
SIP was invented to provide rendezvous for session establishment and negotiation on the Internet. XMPP (or Jabber) was invented to do structured data exchange such as synchronous or active presence and text communication among group of people. XMPP evolved from instant messaging and presence, whereas SIP evolved from Internet voice/video communication. Later, XMPP added support for session negotiation using the Jingle extension, and SIP community added extensions such as SIMPLE to support instant messaging and presence.
Technically comparing SIP and XMPP is like comparing apples and oranges because the core protocols serve different purposes: session randevous/establishment vs structured data exchange. On the other hand, because of the extensions invented in both the protocol worlds, SIMPLE and Jingle, they now have overlapping functions, and can be compared. When one compares SIP vs XMPP, actually the comparison is SIP/SIMPLE vs XMPP for IM and presence and/or SIP/SDP vs XMPP/Jingle for session negotiation. Even though the goals of the two sets of protocols are converging, there are fundamental architectural differences that I will enumerate in this article. There are other articles on SIP vs XMPP [1, 2, 3].
SIP in the view point of Google, Microsoft, Yahoo
In our last post, we discussed how GTalk2VoIP brings SIP capability to your instant messengers. Continuing our discussion with Ruslan Zalata, co-founder or GTalk2VoIP, today we will talk about SIP strategies of Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. The interview extract follows (AS – Alok Saboo; RZ – Ruslan Zalata):
AS. GTalk2VoIP is essentially filling a gap by bringing SIP services to the ubiquitous instant messengers. Why do you think, Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo are not providing such a service themselves?
RZ: It’s about four years have passed by since we started our service. During all this time we cannot help hearing that Google, MS or other Biggie “just almost ready to deploy” a SIP/VoIP service, which will definitely kill ours and make whole consumer VoIP business seamless. Perhaps one day one of the biggies will finally come up with such a killer service, yet there are some obstacles I believe different to each company, preventing them from starting a killer VoIP service. Here are my personal thoughts:
AS. GTalk2VoIP is essentially filling a gap by bringing SIP services to the ubiquitous instant messengers. Why do you think, Google, Microsoft, or Yahoo are not providing such a service themselves?
RZ: It’s about four years have passed by since we started our service. During all this time we cannot help hearing that Google, MS or other Biggie “just almost ready to deploy” a SIP/VoIP service, which will definitely kill ours and make whole consumer VoIP business seamless. Perhaps one day one of the biggies will finally come up with such a killer service, yet there are some obstacles I believe different to each company, preventing them from starting a killer VoIP service. Here are my personal thoughts:
VoIP 2010: Simplification through Integration
In addition to the product trends the communications industry has experienced over the past year – all of which will be on display in the exhibit hall and topics of conference sessions atITEXPO ( News - Alert) East in Miami – there has been a significant shift towards integration of products and services between vendors as they seek to provide more complete solution sets for their resellers and end users.
The idea is to provide them the very luxury today’s communications solutions are designed to provide for end users – the ability to focus on their core businesses, in this case, selling product. Naturally, they are able to leverage the latest feature and product enhancements, from mobility to HD and more, but by providing a pre-integrated set of solutions, driven by the adoption of common standards, like SIP, the vendor community effectively simplifies the entire sales process, benefitting the entire value chain.
The idea is to provide them the very luxury today’s communications solutions are designed to provide for end users – the ability to focus on their core businesses, in this case, selling product. Naturally, they are able to leverage the latest feature and product enhancements, from mobility to HD and more, but by providing a pre-integrated set of solutions, driven by the adoption of common standards, like SIP, the vendor community effectively simplifies the entire sales process, benefitting the entire value chain.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Top Communications Trends in 2010
As a result of economic conditions in 2009, many companies also sought speedy deployment of converged communications in search of faster ROI. As we move into 2010 and beyond, Avaya’s top 10 communications trends are:
1. Proactive customer communications will enjoy a resurgence in popularity.
The falling cost and increasing sophistication of contact centre communications technologies such as voice and speech recognition systems, live and virtual agents, SMS, e-mail, presence, call routing, etc will allow businesses to deploy strongly beneficial outbound contact centre applications.
2. As the lines between devices and media continue to erode, analysis of employee communications will give companies greater flexibility at all levels.
Businesses will follow privacy standards, but also will increasingly track the phone calls, instant messages and e-mails of their employees to better predict work needs and behaviors. To meet that need, the communications industry will provide greater consistency across multimodal interfaces, whether through iPhones, standard telephones or the Web.
1. Proactive customer communications will enjoy a resurgence in popularity.
The falling cost and increasing sophistication of contact centre communications technologies such as voice and speech recognition systems, live and virtual agents, SMS, e-mail, presence, call routing, etc will allow businesses to deploy strongly beneficial outbound contact centre applications.
2. As the lines between devices and media continue to erode, analysis of employee communications will give companies greater flexibility at all levels.
Businesses will follow privacy standards, but also will increasingly track the phone calls, instant messages and e-mails of their employees to better predict work needs and behaviors. To meet that need, the communications industry will provide greater consistency across multimodal interfaces, whether through iPhones, standard telephones or the Web.
SIP Trunking is Much More Than a PSTN Replacement
We have reached another tipping point in the telecommunications industry. SIP trunking is the fastest growing service in our space right now and we all have an opportunity to capitalize on this trend, but we must be smart about our approach.
SIP Trunking’s growth presents a new revenue opportunity, but only if the trunk offers services above and beyond PSTN quality voice. If a service provider simply provides VoIP connectivity, they will see their revenues erode. SIP Trunking offers service providers a tremendous opportunity to deliver valuable services to enterprises by providing new communication services in demand by the enterprise market. Enterprises are becoming more educated on SIP Trunking. Practically every large enterprise has read a case study that demonstrates how an enterprise can reduce their trunks by 30% – 40%, which is obviously a negative revenue proposition for the service provider. So service providers must develop a comprehensive managed service offering to enhance and complement their SIP Trunking service.
SIP Trunking’s growth presents a new revenue opportunity, but only if the trunk offers services above and beyond PSTN quality voice. If a service provider simply provides VoIP connectivity, they will see their revenues erode. SIP Trunking offers service providers a tremendous opportunity to deliver valuable services to enterprises by providing new communication services in demand by the enterprise market. Enterprises are becoming more educated on SIP Trunking. Practically every large enterprise has read a case study that demonstrates how an enterprise can reduce their trunks by 30% – 40%, which is obviously a negative revenue proposition for the service provider. So service providers must develop a comprehensive managed service offering to enhance and complement their SIP Trunking service.
Twitter Meets up with Unified Communications
The convergence of social networking and unified communications was on display this week at the VoiceCon conference in San Francisco.
The Siemens Enterprise Communications Group used VoiceCon as a venue to show off some forthcoming integration between the Twitter social networking service and Siemens’ OpenScape unified communications software.
With all the people using various services on the Web to interact with each other, it’s only a matter of time before these types of services become tightly integrated with unified communications software.
Siemens is encouraging developers to extend OpenScape to these services using a set of published application programming interfaces that it is making available via a cloud computing service. This “sandbox in the cloud” gives developers a way to experiment with OpenScape integration without having to purchase their own infrastructure for testing.
The Siemens Enterprise Communications Group used VoiceCon as a venue to show off some forthcoming integration between the Twitter social networking service and Siemens’ OpenScape unified communications software.
With all the people using various services on the Web to interact with each other, it’s only a matter of time before these types of services become tightly integrated with unified communications software.
Siemens is encouraging developers to extend OpenScape to these services using a set of published application programming interfaces that it is making available via a cloud computing service. This “sandbox in the cloud” gives developers a way to experiment with OpenScape integration without having to purchase their own infrastructure for testing.
Siemens unified-communications adds social networking
At San Francisco’s VoiceCon 2009, Siemens Enterprise Communications Group previewed Twitter integration with their OpenScape Unified Communications application while running in an Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) environment. Siemens also says they plan to release the SDKs to allow customers to create their own social networking and communications “mash-ups” and test them in a scalable instance of OpenScape.
“Social media tools have rapidly moved from being the preferred communication method of millennials to the standard by which enterprise workers and customers can quickly and freely connect,” said Mark Straton, senior vice president of marketing, voice and application solutions for Siemens Enterprise Communications Group, in a prepared statement.
Siemens also says they plan to integrate other social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, with all social functionality going live in Q1 2010.
Rival networking companies such as Cisco Systems have aggressively touted social network at channel partner events. Is this all a gimmick or do solutions providers actually think customers want social media blended with their unified communications applications?
“Social media tools have rapidly moved from being the preferred communication method of millennials to the standard by which enterprise workers and customers can quickly and freely connect,” said Mark Straton, senior vice president of marketing, voice and application solutions for Siemens Enterprise Communications Group, in a prepared statement.
Siemens also says they plan to integrate other social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn, with all social functionality going live in Q1 2010.
Rival networking companies such as Cisco Systems have aggressively touted social network at channel partner events. Is this all a gimmick or do solutions providers actually think customers want social media blended with their unified communications applications?
Predictions: VoIP Trends in 2010
By all accounts, 2010 should be a banner year for IP Communications and VoIP in general. A recent report we wrote about saw VoIP as the 'industry of the decade' and then went on to project VoIP as the industry that will see the most growth over the next decade!
With the economy still on shaky ground VoIP will most likely continue its slow and steady growth seen at the end of the decade with companies realizing the cost savings of the technology and looking for ways to invest in upgrades. Upstart technologies like Internet voice and mobile VoIP will be at the mercy of the Net Neutrality rulings while Videoconferencing will probably continue to see growth in line with rising energy costs and the demands to make working cheaper for companies and employees.
Read more: http://www.fiercevoip.com/special-reports/predictions-voip-trends-2010#ixzz0d1J1Bpgd
With the economy still on shaky ground VoIP will most likely continue its slow and steady growth seen at the end of the decade with companies realizing the cost savings of the technology and looking for ways to invest in upgrades. Upstart technologies like Internet voice and mobile VoIP will be at the mercy of the Net Neutrality rulings while Videoconferencing will probably continue to see growth in line with rising energy costs and the demands to make working cheaper for companies and employees.
Read more: http://www.fiercevoip.com/special-reports/predictions-voip-trends-2010#ixzz0d1J1Bpgd
SIP in Unified Communications
Do you fire up your Gmail client to send an email to another Gmail user? And would that email fail to arrive if you used Outlook instead? Of course not and it's all down to the standard email protocol called SMTP. Every email client supports it so you don't have to worry what the other person is using. Likewise, HTTP delivers web content regardless of the browser being used.
This has always been the promise of SIP (the Session Initiation Protocol). Designed to establish, manage and 'tear down' communication channels between any media device, anywhere. Sound good?
SIP in Unified Communications
I'm not going to give you a definition of Unified Communications (UC) here, just hit Google and wade through all the interpretations that pop up. I do however, want to talk about how SIP 'underpins' UC.
It does this by ensuring that all elements of a business UC solution can establish connections to work together. It also allows for 'mid session' information to be passed between these elements to enhance the communications experience. A good example of this is starting up a whiteboard application with a colleague to give your existing conversation another dimension.
SIP/SIMPLE
Now UC isn't just about Instant Messaging, but I need to start somewhere.
The IETF SIMPLE (SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions) working group focuses on the application of SIP to Instant messaging (IM) and Presence services. Invariably their work will affect any UC solution.
This has always been the promise of SIP (the Session Initiation Protocol). Designed to establish, manage and 'tear down' communication channels between any media device, anywhere. Sound good?
SIP in Unified Communications
I'm not going to give you a definition of Unified Communications (UC) here, just hit Google and wade through all the interpretations that pop up. I do however, want to talk about how SIP 'underpins' UC.
It does this by ensuring that all elements of a business UC solution can establish connections to work together. It also allows for 'mid session' information to be passed between these elements to enhance the communications experience. A good example of this is starting up a whiteboard application with a colleague to give your existing conversation another dimension.
SIP/SIMPLE
Now UC isn't just about Instant Messaging, but I need to start somewhere.
The IETF SIMPLE (SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions) working group focuses on the application of SIP to Instant messaging (IM) and Presence services. Invariably their work will affect any UC solution.
Unified communication to grow to $30B market
Two separate studies on unified communications from Wainhouse (News - Alert) Research reveal the UC industry will grow to a healthy $30 billion market just five years.
UC service providers should see rapid growth due to the complexity of premises-based UC solutions, Wainhouse Research reported. In fact, the research hub anticipates that UC services revenues, which are far smaller than product revenues today, will eclipse those of traditional conferencing services by 2013 or 2014.
UC service providers should see rapid growth due to the complexity of premises-based UC solutions, Wainhouse Research reported. In fact, the research hub anticipates that UC services revenues, which are far smaller than product revenues today, will eclipse those of traditional conferencing services by 2013 or 2014.
Top Stories of 2009: SIP trunking and Unified Communications gain momentum
n 2009 it was hard to look through VoIP news and not bump into another announcement about a SIP or Unified Communications (UC) deal. Both items have gained momentum and are becoming the rule in the VoIP world. According to Infonetics, SIP trunking service revenue is expected to have an 89 percent compound annual growth rate from 2008 to 2013! In the same report they predict that hosted UC services would "take off," with worldwide revenue doubling over the next four years. Sounds like smart money is on these two areas of IP communications.
A key indicator of UC's coming dominance was Cisco announcement of a major push to corner the collaboration market with new products, reseller options and licensing packages for its unified communications solutions. Cisco pegged the value of the UC market at a whopping $34 billion! A study in October carried out about Frost & Sullivan--commissioned by Cisco and Verizon--found that collaboration tools like VoIP, instant messaging, and high-definition video meetings resulted in cost savings averaging four times the return on investment for firms using the IP platforms. Frost and Sullivan surveyed 3,662 decision makers in small- and medium-sized business as well as enterprises in various parts of the world, and found that 44 percent had deployed some form of unified communications already. According to an ABI Research report on Unified Communications, uptake is on a 'steeply rising curve.' ABI's report predicted that spending on UC would rise from the lowly sum of $302 million in 2008 to $4.2 billion by 2013. Just recently, Adtran also threw its hat into UC arena.
A key indicator of UC's coming dominance was Cisco announcement of a major push to corner the collaboration market with new products, reseller options and licensing packages for its unified communications solutions. Cisco pegged the value of the UC market at a whopping $34 billion! A study in October carried out about Frost & Sullivan--commissioned by Cisco and Verizon--found that collaboration tools like VoIP, instant messaging, and high-definition video meetings resulted in cost savings averaging four times the return on investment for firms using the IP platforms. Frost and Sullivan surveyed 3,662 decision makers in small- and medium-sized business as well as enterprises in various parts of the world, and found that 44 percent had deployed some form of unified communications already. According to an ABI Research report on Unified Communications, uptake is on a 'steeply rising curve.' ABI's report predicted that spending on UC would rise from the lowly sum of $302 million in 2008 to $4.2 billion by 2013. Just recently, Adtran also threw its hat into UC arena.
Google's next target: Unified communications
Unified communications has been a technology specialty of networking vendors for years, but Google Inc.'s recent forays into voice communications and collaboration could drastically upset the competitive landscape.
It's not as if Google Voice and Google Wave, which are both launching later this year, will kill related efforts by companies like Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp. and others that are heavily involved in unified communications, but Google seems to have the competition scrambling already.
Witness today's comment by Doug Dennerline, Cisco's senior vice president of collaboration software: "Google Wave validates what we've been doing for two years [with the Webex Connect collaboration offering]," Dennerline said during a webconference with reporters and analysts. "We are going to invent and reinvent. You'll see cool things from us."
Anybody who has followed the computer industry for long knows that when a vendor says another company has "validated" them, it really means, "Yes, they are clearly in our living room, and we are making sure they don't move in permanently." Dennerline was careful to imply that Cisco is up to the Google challenge and would "invent and reinvent" to stay competitive.
While Google Voice and Wave seem more focused on consumers, with tools for instant messaging, e-mail and social networking, Dennerline was quick to point out that "social networking is important to enterprises, too."
It's not as if Google Voice and Google Wave, which are both launching later this year, will kill related efforts by companies like Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp. and others that are heavily involved in unified communications, but Google seems to have the competition scrambling already.
Witness today's comment by Doug Dennerline, Cisco's senior vice president of collaboration software: "Google Wave validates what we've been doing for two years [with the Webex Connect collaboration offering]," Dennerline said during a webconference with reporters and analysts. "We are going to invent and reinvent. You'll see cool things from us."
Anybody who has followed the computer industry for long knows that when a vendor says another company has "validated" them, it really means, "Yes, they are clearly in our living room, and we are making sure they don't move in permanently." Dennerline was careful to imply that Cisco is up to the Google challenge and would "invent and reinvent" to stay competitive.
While Google Voice and Wave seem more focused on consumers, with tools for instant messaging, e-mail and social networking, Dennerline was quick to point out that "social networking is important to enterprises, too."
Google and Unified Communications
Deciphering Google's involvement in unified communications is difficult simply because the company moves so fast and has so many balls up in the air.
That said, it's clear that Google is a significant UC player, whether the definition is broad and generic or the narrow one used by the folks in the business
Investopedia and No Jitter offer, between them, three articles that together form a good backgrounder that provides context for Google and its UC initiatives. Investopedia's James Brumley starts with a nice summation of some of the relevant moves made by the firm during the past couple of years. These include pushing the development and use of the Android open source mobile operating system, the launch of Google Voice, and the acquisition of Gizmo5.
That said, it's clear that Google is a significant UC player, whether the definition is broad and generic or the narrow one used by the folks in the business
Investopedia and No Jitter offer, between them, three articles that together form a good backgrounder that provides context for Google and its UC initiatives. Investopedia's James Brumley starts with a nice summation of some of the relevant moves made by the firm during the past couple of years. These include pushing the development and use of the Android open source mobile operating system, the launch of Google Voice, and the acquisition of Gizmo5.
Google Wave: The Future of Collaboration, Unified Communications and Business Intelligence
Lars and Jens Rasmussen of Australia, the creators of Google Maps, have done it again.
Google Wave is an open platform and open set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that integrates multiple collaboration techniques into logical, flexible and powerful virtual shared conversations, or "waves." You can "jump in" at any point in a wave's existence, play back parts you missed, and determine whether everyone or only certain people receive whatever you decide to share. Waves can feed blogs with minimal coding. Web sites can be wave-enabled with relative ease. You can access and participate in waves from mobile devices. Waves enable consolidated content collaboration and discussion - no need to choose between, for example, an e-mail thread and a wiki.
Google Wave is an open platform and open set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that integrates multiple collaboration techniques into logical, flexible and powerful virtual shared conversations, or "waves." You can "jump in" at any point in a wave's existence, play back parts you missed, and determine whether everyone or only certain people receive whatever you decide to share. Waves can feed blogs with minimal coding. Web sites can be wave-enabled with relative ease. You can access and participate in waves from mobile devices. Waves enable consolidated content collaboration and discussion - no need to choose between, for example, an e-mail thread and a wiki.
How Gtalk2VoIP brings SIP capability to your instant messengers?
We talked about GTalk2VoIP earlier as wonderful solution to SIP-enable your plain vanilla instant messaging client. GTalk2VoIP is an interesting service, bringing SIP service to your instant messenger. If you have not tried GTalk2VoIP, I would strongly urge you to try the service. While the service is great, we were not sure how the folks at GTalk2VoIP manage this feat. However, I was recently able to speak with Mr. Ruslan Zalata, co-founder of GTalk2VoIP, and he was kind enough to share some insights into the service and other technical details about how GTalk2VoIP brings SIP capability to your instant messengers. The interview extract follows (AS – Alok Saboo; RZ – Ruslan Zalata):
GTalk2VoIP_logoAS: For the benefit of our readers, can you introduce yourself?
RZ: My name is Ruslan Zalata, I’m a co-founder of GTalk2VoIP, Inc., one of the developers of GTalk2VoIP service and a piece of mobile VoIP (mVoIP) software called Talkonaut.
GTalk2VoIP_logoAS: For the benefit of our readers, can you introduce yourself?
RZ: My name is Ruslan Zalata, I’m a co-founder of GTalk2VoIP, Inc., one of the developers of GTalk2VoIP service and a piece of mobile VoIP (mVoIP) software called Talkonaut.
SIP Services Offer Cost Saving Options: Communications Provider
As more companies understand the benefits that Session Initiation Protocol, or SIP, services provide, adoption of the technology is on the rise. A recent report from Infonetics Research found that SIP trunking will likely become the second most commonly deployed service this year.
While widespread adoption of SIP services is still a ways off, businesses are looking more at the communication solution simply to save costs, according to a Cincinnati, Ohio-based communications provider. As signs of an economic recovery increase, companies still have cost savings solutions at the top of their list to keep their operations functional.
While widespread adoption of SIP services is still a ways off, businesses are looking more at the communication solution simply to save costs, according to a Cincinnati, Ohio-based communications provider. As signs of an economic recovery increase, companies still have cost savings solutions at the top of their list to keep their operations functional.
Can a VoIP Solution Lead Us Into the Future?
Voice over IP is the process of an IP network to carry telephone voice signals as IP packets over the internet or other data networks. IP packets are small packets of digital bits of information which are routed through the Internet infrastructure. The bit sequence of the packet (field structure) usually is arranged to convey the destination address in addition to the data that is already being transported along with other data such as the packet originator and error protection bits.
To implement a VoIP Solution all you need is a microphone for instant free voice communication in a chat room. By uniting the traditional phone system and the advanced communication capabilities of using a single data network for all communications, it is possible to reduce overall costs of communication for end users.
To implement a VoIP Solution all you need is a microphone for instant free voice communication in a chat room. By uniting the traditional phone system and the advanced communication capabilities of using a single data network for all communications, it is possible to reduce overall costs of communication for end users.
Compare VoIP and Traditional Phone, It's Free
In a family with several children, it's not very good to compare them with each other. Oftentimes this will result to a feeling of enviousness and rivalry. They would also try to compete for their parent's attention. Comparing can be very harmful to the kid's relationship towards each other.
Comparing things can be useful if you're trying to compare a VoIP service provider. And this goes true even to different businesses offering products and services in order to attract customers; they want to compare their products/services against a competitor. Whichever provider that comes out best will get the fairer share of the market.
Comparing things can be useful if you're trying to compare a VoIP service provider. And this goes true even to different businesses offering products and services in order to attract customers; they want to compare their products/services against a competitor. Whichever provider that comes out best will get the fairer share of the market.
How An IP Phone Controls
Something that everyone ought to bear in mind of is how an IP phone works, specifically because of the multitude of benefits that you are offered by an IP phone and phone service. An IP phone works by using VoIP technologies that permits telephone calls to be made over the Net instead of through the ordinary PSTN system.
The IP phones use protocols like Session Initiation Protocol and Skinny Shopper Control Protocol, and can be merely software-based Softphones or purpose-engineered hardware devices that seem abundant additional like an normal telephone.
There are varied options when it comes to buying an IP phone for yourself, the most fashionable version being the wireless IP phone as a result of then you do not have any wiring or cable to fret regarding and it will be much easier and additional convenient for you to use. There are different sizes, designs and brands that you’ll select from, therefore opt for from a large choice and find one that’s simply right for you.
The IP phones use protocols like Session Initiation Protocol and Skinny Shopper Control Protocol, and can be merely software-based Softphones or purpose-engineered hardware devices that seem abundant additional like an normal telephone.
There are varied options when it comes to buying an IP phone for yourself, the most fashionable version being the wireless IP phone as a result of then you do not have any wiring or cable to fret regarding and it will be much easier and additional convenient for you to use. There are different sizes, designs and brands that you’ll select from, therefore opt for from a large choice and find one that’s simply right for you.
SIP Trunking 2.0 - The Service Provider Perspective
In the world of business communications, SIP Trunking was one of the strongest trends in 2009. For both businesses and hosted providers, the basic rationale is evident, particularly in a weak economy where everyone is looking for ways to cut costs. Unless you’re an incumbent telco who likes the status quo, SIP Trunking makes the value proposition of IP telephony stronger by reducing telecom costs in a few basic ways. Aside from allowing even more voice traffic to be routed off the PSTN, SIP Trunking reduces the need for costly PRIs and, in some cases, can eliminate them altogether.
VoIP 2010: Simplification through Integration
In addition to the product trends the communications industry has experienced over the past year – all of which will be on display in the exhibit hall and topics of conference sessions atITEXPO ( News - Alert) East in Miami – there has been a significant shift towards integration of products and services between vendors as they seek to provide more complete solution sets for their resellers and end users.
The idea is to provide them the very luxury today’s communications solutions are designed to provide for end users – the ability to focus on their core businesses, in this case, selling product. Naturally, they are able to leverage the latest feature and product enhancements, from mobility to HD and more, but by providing a pre-integrated set of solutions, driven by the adoption of common standards, like SIP, the vendor community effectively simplifies the entire sales process, benefitting the entire value chain.
The idea is to provide them the very luxury today’s communications solutions are designed to provide for end users – the ability to focus on their core businesses, in this case, selling product. Naturally, they are able to leverage the latest feature and product enhancements, from mobility to HD and more, but by providing a pre-integrated set of solutions, driven by the adoption of common standards, like SIP, the vendor community effectively simplifies the entire sales process, benefitting the entire value chain.
Citrix Online Now Offers Convenient Conferencing Shopping
Organizations and their managers looking for alternatives to increasingly wretched, expensive, and productivity-killing and environment-degrading business travel for their staff no longer have to spend countless hair-pulling hours shopping around for options.
Citrix Online, the Web conferencing division of Citrix Systems (News - Alert) now offers a range of audio conferencing services along with its Web conferencing suite. Business of all sizes can now experience a variety of high definition audio and Web conferencing services together. With this comprehensive offering, customers benefit from enhanced convenience, performance and affordability.
Citrix Online, the Web conferencing division of Citrix Systems (News - Alert) now offers a range of audio conferencing services along with its Web conferencing suite. Business of all sizes can now experience a variety of high definition audio and Web conferencing services together. With this comprehensive offering, customers benefit from enhanced convenience, performance and affordability.
Orange Business Services Optimizes Microsoft Unified Communications Delivery
Orange Business Services has announced the expansion of its consulting and integration services for delivering Microsoft (News - Alert) Unified Communications.
The company provides customers with consulting services whether integrated with IP telephony or as a stand-alone Microsoft solution.Orange Business Services ( News - Alert) will assess business and technical requirements for designing and implementing Microsoft-based unified communications solutions.
The Microsoft-based unified communication solutions can be integrated within the customer’s IT and real-time services such as enterprise telephony, mobility, voice, video and conferencing.
The major benefits offered by Microsoft-based unified communication solutions include greater collaboration within and outside the company, reduces voice costs, pricing, reduced travel and better workflow thereby increasing worker productivity. Orange can customize solutions according to the requirements of the client while integrating on- premise or managed and hosted data center with UC as a service or a hybrid solution.
The company provides customers with consulting services whether integrated with IP telephony or as a stand-alone Microsoft solution.Orange Business Services ( News - Alert) will assess business and technical requirements for designing and implementing Microsoft-based unified communications solutions.
The Microsoft-based unified communication solutions can be integrated within the customer’s IT and real-time services such as enterprise telephony, mobility, voice, video and conferencing.
The major benefits offered by Microsoft-based unified communication solutions include greater collaboration within and outside the company, reduces voice costs, pricing, reduced travel and better workflow thereby increasing worker productivity. Orange can customize solutions according to the requirements of the client while integrating on- premise or managed and hosted data center with UC as a service or a hybrid solution.
Avaya, Cisco Contribute to Unified Communications Market Growth in Third Quarter: Report
In the recently released Group Enterprise Telephony Quarterly Report, Dell'Oro Group reported that the Unified Communications (News - Alert) market grew in the third quarter of 2009. More than 70 percent of the reported vendors contributed to the market’s quarterly growth.
The top two Unified Communications vendors, Avaya and Cisco, have each posted double digit revenue gains over the second quarter of 2009. According to Alan Weckel, Director at Dell’ (News - Alert)Oro Group, the second half of the year is typically stronger for the Enterprise Voice market, and the third quarter of this year was no exception for the Unified Communications segment.
The top two Unified Communications vendors, Avaya and Cisco, have each posted double digit revenue gains over the second quarter of 2009. According to Alan Weckel, Director at Dell’ (News - Alert)Oro Group, the second half of the year is typically stronger for the Enterprise Voice market, and the third quarter of this year was no exception for the Unified Communications segment.
Bringing VoIP to Social Networking with IVR Technologies' Talking SIP
Social networking Web sites have become very popular in the past few years. For the most part, these sites are geared toward consumers rather than business users. And, while most let people stay in touch using text-based communications, voice capabilities to date has not been a major focus in the social networking market. But, this is changing.
In relatively recent research, The Yankee Group (News - Alert) predicted that subscribers to pure-play VoIP services will reach 6.4 million by the end of 2011 (up from about 2.8 million at year-end 2006). Meanwhile, Nielsen/Netratings estimated that use of social networking sites is experiencing almost 50 percent growth annually. Tie these two together, and it seems obvious that voice integrated with social networking is a huge market opportunity.
In relatively recent research, The Yankee Group (News - Alert) predicted that subscribers to pure-play VoIP services will reach 6.4 million by the end of 2011 (up from about 2.8 million at year-end 2006). Meanwhile, Nielsen/Netratings estimated that use of social networking sites is experiencing almost 50 percent growth annually. Tie these two together, and it seems obvious that voice integrated with social networking is a huge market opportunity.
A Look Ahead at 2010
Wireless Internet - with the increasing use of handheld smart phones, wireless Internet usage will soar and with it will come increased congestion, reliability issues and eventually usage fees. The "all you can use" wireless Internet is going to get expensive.
Apple will end exclusive arrangement with AT&T - with competition from Google Android (the operating software for the "Droid") and ever increasing network congestion and performance issues on the AT&T network (see above), Apple will be forced to finally end their exclusive relationship and expand to other carriers. At first to other GSM carriers (T-Mobile) and then CDMA carriers (like Verizon and Sprint). However, an iPhone for CDMA networks requires a different radio in the iPhone which means there will end up being two different phones and users will never be able to jump from GSM to CDMA carriers without buying a new phone.
Apple will end exclusive arrangement with AT&T - with competition from Google Android (the operating software for the "Droid") and ever increasing network congestion and performance issues on the AT&T network (see above), Apple will be forced to finally end their exclusive relationship and expand to other carriers. At first to other GSM carriers (T-Mobile) and then CDMA carriers (like Verizon and Sprint). However, an iPhone for CDMA networks requires a different radio in the iPhone which means there will end up being two different phones and users will never be able to jump from GSM to CDMA carriers without buying a new phone.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
10 years, how digital technology will change?
10 years, the world of technology has been dominated by the big power of Google and social networks, the surprising resurgence of Apple as well as a decrease gradually from Microsoft and Yahoo. So the world of technology will change how the next 10 years?
It's hard to believe the first decades have occurred largely as predicted by technology experts from 10 years ago. Concerns about the Y2K problem likely to happen yesterday when the world experienced breathing phào relief fluctuations first century and this continued to worry about people completely unfamiliar , once the details of our life on the social networking site Twitter or Facebook. Worry serial worry but what continues in the next 10 years. Many technology experts wonder that, in 10 years, whether Google would still dominate the field of Web? Microsoft will still exist? It is possible and here are the predictions that the humor but not without basis for the technology world for 10 years.
Social networking boom strength:
It's hard to believe the first decades have occurred largely as predicted by technology experts from 10 years ago. Concerns about the Y2K problem likely to happen yesterday when the world experienced breathing phào relief fluctuations first century and this continued to worry about people completely unfamiliar , once the details of our life on the social networking site Twitter or Facebook. Worry serial worry but what continues in the next 10 years. Many technology experts wonder that, in 10 years, whether Google would still dominate the field of Web? Microsoft will still exist? It is possible and here are the predictions that the humor but not without basis for the technology world for 10 years.
Social networking boom strength:
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
SIP Trunking 2.0 - The Service Provider Perspective
In the world of business communications, SIP Trunking was one of the strongest trends in 2009. For both businesses and hosted providers, the basic rationale is evident, particularly in a weak economy where everyone is looking for ways to cut costs. Unless you’re an incumbent telco who likes the status quo, SIP Trunking makes the value proposition of IP telephony stronger by reducing telecom costs in a few basic ways. Aside from allowing even more voice traffic to be routed off the PSTN, SIP Trunking reduces the need for costly PRIs and, in some cases, can eliminate them altogether.
These benefits are tangible, and in many cases are reason enough to adopt SIP Trunking. However, they essentially replicate TDM services, and beyond the cost savings, offer little in the way of sustainable competitive advantage. In our view, this is SIP Trunking 1.0 – cost effective, but short on innovation that enables differentiation. With SIP Trunking becoming more mainstream now, we see the market being poised to go beyond this in 2010. SIP Trunking 2.0 speaks to the fuller potential of end-to-end IP, which builds on voice, but extends to other modes such as video, mobility, conferencing, presence and high definition – both audio and video.
These benefits are tangible, and in many cases are reason enough to adopt SIP Trunking. However, they essentially replicate TDM services, and beyond the cost savings, offer little in the way of sustainable competitive advantage. In our view, this is SIP Trunking 1.0 – cost effective, but short on innovation that enables differentiation. With SIP Trunking becoming more mainstream now, we see the market being poised to go beyond this in 2010. SIP Trunking 2.0 speaks to the fuller potential of end-to-end IP, which builds on voice, but extends to other modes such as video, mobility, conferencing, presence and high definition – both audio and video.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Google launches Nexus One smartphone
Google has launched its much-anticipated debut smartphone, the Nexus One, confirming speculation that it will sell the handsets both via carrier partners and independently via an online e-tailing strategy.
The GSM-based Nexus One is now available in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and the UK. Google is selling an unlocked version from $529 (€368), and is also approaching carriers to stock the phone.
From today Google is selling the handset via this new direct online sales channel. The online sales channel will be the host for a range Android phones to be progressively added to its site. “The Nexus One is the first in a series of phones to be brought to market through this store,” Google said.
In the US, T-Mobile USA has agreed to sell the Nexus One for $179 on a two-year contract, and Verizon Wireless plans to follow suit in the future.
Vodafone will sell the handset to its customers in Europe, Google said but did not reveal how long that period of exclusivity will last.
Google product management VP Mario Querioz said “we expect to add more operators, more devices, including from Motorola and other handset manufacturers as well as more countries to this program - we will bring the web store to more countries.”
He also confirmed that Vodafone in Europe will also be added to the Google store site and to the new model from spring 2010. “We’re working as quickly and hard as we can to ensure the store is ready for business but also to make sure we offer the different flavors of the phone through these different operators later this spring.”
Just as the market rumors indicated, the handset has been developed by HTC to Google's specifications. It is powered by Google's own Android OS, and includes a 1-GHz Snapdragon chip.
"The Nexus One belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call ‘superphones,’ with the [onboard] chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago,” Google VP of engineering Andy Rubin said.
The GUI includes shortcuts to Google services such as Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Voice. The handset sports UMTS, HSPA, GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Rumors of a Google phone have been circulating for years, but some observers had expressed doubt that Google would risk alienating handset makers at a time when the Android OS is just beginning to gain traction.
Selling the handsets unlocked, and therefore removing the element of handset exclusivity, might also discourage operators from subsidizing the phone. But these appear to be risks Google is willing to take. For more information visit telecomseurope.net
The GSM-based Nexus One is now available in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and the UK. Google is selling an unlocked version from $529 (€368), and is also approaching carriers to stock the phone.
From today Google is selling the handset via this new direct online sales channel. The online sales channel will be the host for a range Android phones to be progressively added to its site. “The Nexus One is the first in a series of phones to be brought to market through this store,” Google said.
In the US, T-Mobile USA has agreed to sell the Nexus One for $179 on a two-year contract, and Verizon Wireless plans to follow suit in the future.
Vodafone will sell the handset to its customers in Europe, Google said but did not reveal how long that period of exclusivity will last.
Google product management VP Mario Querioz said “we expect to add more operators, more devices, including from Motorola and other handset manufacturers as well as more countries to this program - we will bring the web store to more countries.”
He also confirmed that Vodafone in Europe will also be added to the Google store site and to the new model from spring 2010. “We’re working as quickly and hard as we can to ensure the store is ready for business but also to make sure we offer the different flavors of the phone through these different operators later this spring.”
Just as the market rumors indicated, the handset has been developed by HTC to Google's specifications. It is powered by Google's own Android OS, and includes a 1-GHz Snapdragon chip.
"The Nexus One belongs in the emerging class of devices which we call ‘superphones,’ with the [onboard] chipset making it as powerful as your laptop computer of three to four years ago,” Google VP of engineering Andy Rubin said.
The GUI includes shortcuts to Google services such as Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Google Voice. The handset sports UMTS, HSPA, GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Rumors of a Google phone have been circulating for years, but some observers had expressed doubt that Google would risk alienating handset makers at a time when the Android OS is just beginning to gain traction.
Selling the handsets unlocked, and therefore removing the element of handset exclusivity, might also discourage operators from subsidizing the phone. But these appear to be risks Google is willing to take. For more information visit telecomseurope.net
GoogleVoice with Nexus One
We're excited to see today's launch of Nexus One, particularly since Google Voice is one of the pre-installed apps on the phone. This is the latest version of the Google Voice mobile app we released for Blackberry and Android-powered phones last July.
Google Voice comes pre-installed on Nexus One phones sold in the United States. Existing Google Voice users can log-in and access their voicemail messages right away, while new users can set up Google voicemail as an alternative to their carrier's voicemail.
With the Google Voice mobile app, you can receive free voicemail transcriptions and play messages in the order you want. A karaoke-style interface lets you easily replay any part of a message, without needing to listen to the whole voicemail. You can also place international calls via Google Voice and enjoy Google Voice's low rates from your Nexus One.
Last but not least, the app is synchronized with the web, so you can access and listen to all your voicemail messages from any computer by simply logging in to www.google.com/voice.
If you're already using Google Voice and have a Google phone number, you can display this number as the caller ID on outbound calls. Additionally, you can send and receive text messages using the Google Voice app for free.
To learn more about the app, visit m.google.com/voice. And for more on the Nexus One, visit google.com/phone. As always, we welcome your feedback on how to improve Google Voice. For more information visit http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com
Google Voice comes pre-installed on Nexus One phones sold in the United States. Existing Google Voice users can log-in and access their voicemail messages right away, while new users can set up Google voicemail as an alternative to their carrier's voicemail.
With the Google Voice mobile app, you can receive free voicemail transcriptions and play messages in the order you want. A karaoke-style interface lets you easily replay any part of a message, without needing to listen to the whole voicemail. You can also place international calls via Google Voice and enjoy Google Voice's low rates from your Nexus One.
Last but not least, the app is synchronized with the web, so you can access and listen to all your voicemail messages from any computer by simply logging in to www.google.com/voice.
If you're already using Google Voice and have a Google phone number, you can display this number as the caller ID on outbound calls. Additionally, you can send and receive text messages using the Google Voice app for free.
To learn more about the app, visit m.google.com/voice. And for more on the Nexus One, visit google.com/phone. As always, we welcome your feedback on how to improve Google Voice. For more information visit http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com
Almost 1.2 Billion SIP Users by 2012
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) services will become the norm after 2010 and will rapidly begin to dominate the world’s telecom markets. By 2012 almost half of all telecom users will be using at least one SIP-based service, but more than likely will have many services from multiple devices able to communicate with other users and services across the Web and between enterprise and public networks. This will generate over $150 billion in service revenue annually with cumulative infrastructure capital expenditure of over $10 billion by that date.
A move to all-IP networks is the chosen path for introducing new services, with NGN the ultimate goal.
“The path to this all-IP goal is complicated: migrating existing services onto IP networks while retaining resources until they can be taken out of service is not a straightforward process,” says ABI Research analyst Ian Cox. “Mobile operators’ voice services are already optimized to reduce network traffic, and the move to VoIP is not an easy choice until the introduction of LTE or HSPA. One method that has gained some momentum is to use an IP overlay based on SIP. This allows new services to be designed and launched using a well-supported standard that also opens the way to bring Web services, service delivery platforms, and ultimately IMS into the network.”
Cox further comments that, “Using SIP, telephony becomes another Web application, which can be integrated into other Internet services. It allows service providers to build converged voice and multimedia services.”
By 2012, ABI Research expects almost 1.2 billion VoIP users to be active, most users also subscribing to several forms of messaging and video sharing driven by the interest in user-generated content. Additional services supported by SIP will include presence, click-to-dial, buddy lists, email and Web access which are assumed to be “core” services and will be included as standard in any service offering, and bundled with broadband access. A portion of the VoIP users will also be connected to a fixed-mobile convergence service.
”The Worldwide SIP Services Market” reviews the world market for SIP services. It includes forecasts for the market potential to 2012, including users (consumer and business), services revenue and capital expenditure. It forms part of three subscription Research Services: Mobile Operators, and Fixed-Mobile Convergence, and Wireless Infrastructure.
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services and market reports in broadband and multimedia, RFID & contactless, M2M, wireless connectivity, mobile wireless, transportation, and emerging technologies. For information visit www.abiresearch.com
A move to all-IP networks is the chosen path for introducing new services, with NGN the ultimate goal.
“The path to this all-IP goal is complicated: migrating existing services onto IP networks while retaining resources until they can be taken out of service is not a straightforward process,” says ABI Research analyst Ian Cox. “Mobile operators’ voice services are already optimized to reduce network traffic, and the move to VoIP is not an easy choice until the introduction of LTE or HSPA. One method that has gained some momentum is to use an IP overlay based on SIP. This allows new services to be designed and launched using a well-supported standard that also opens the way to bring Web services, service delivery platforms, and ultimately IMS into the network.”
Cox further comments that, “Using SIP, telephony becomes another Web application, which can be integrated into other Internet services. It allows service providers to build converged voice and multimedia services.”
By 2012, ABI Research expects almost 1.2 billion VoIP users to be active, most users also subscribing to several forms of messaging and video sharing driven by the interest in user-generated content. Additional services supported by SIP will include presence, click-to-dial, buddy lists, email and Web access which are assumed to be “core” services and will be included as standard in any service offering, and bundled with broadband access. A portion of the VoIP users will also be connected to a fixed-mobile convergence service.
”The Worldwide SIP Services Market” reviews the world market for SIP services. It includes forecasts for the market potential to 2012, including users (consumer and business), services revenue and capital expenditure. It forms part of three subscription Research Services: Mobile Operators, and Fixed-Mobile Convergence, and Wireless Infrastructure.
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services and market reports in broadband and multimedia, RFID & contactless, M2M, wireless connectivity, mobile wireless, transportation, and emerging technologies. For information visit www.abiresearch.com
Google Universal Voice in 2010?
And if Google Voice in 2010 became a real competitor to Skype, the most popular software for Internet telephony? It will require removing the restrictions that surround it, namely its accessibility to only U.S. territory, by invitation, and positioning more focused on unified messaging and numbers than actual telephone conversations to PC PC or PC to phone.
And this is what seems to be the ambition of Google executives, cited by TheNextWeb site. They claim that after the acquisition of start-up specializing in VoIP Gizmo5 last month, they have specific tools and know-how to incorporate mobile devices in computers and for the communication to be accessible from any connected device. Spitting image of Skype!
One can imagine the upcoming release of a new version of Google Voice, which operate entirely on Internet protocol, without need of a physical issue at the base. What would the Web abolishing borders to internationalize this service. If this were the case, Skype would be useful to introduce innovations in its software to meet this new competition. (EP)
And this is what seems to be the ambition of Google executives, cited by TheNextWeb site. They claim that after the acquisition of start-up specializing in VoIP Gizmo5 last month, they have specific tools and know-how to incorporate mobile devices in computers and for the communication to be accessible from any connected device. Spitting image of Skype!
One can imagine the upcoming release of a new version of Google Voice, which operate entirely on Internet protocol, without need of a physical issue at the base. What would the Web abolishing borders to internationalize this service. If this were the case, Skype would be useful to introduce innovations in its software to meet this new competition. (EP)
interview David Bryan on P2P technologies
Telecosm Interview: David Bryan on Peer to Peer Technology
I am pleased that David Bryan agreed to be interviewed for the first of what I hope will be a regular feature on the Telecosm blog: interviews! I am very interested in peer to peer technology and its many applications, and was thrilled when David agreed to help me launch this part of the blog. David Bryan wears two very big hats:
* He is Chief Executive Officer of Sipeerior Technologies, a leading provider of standards-based, OEM software solutions designed to enable serverless implementations of real-time communications applications.
* He is co-chair of the Peer-to-Peer Session Initiation Protocol (P2PSIP) working group at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the standards-making group for the Internet.
I am particularly pleased the David was able to take some time for the interview from his busy schedule, as there is an IETF meeting underway in Philadelphia this week.
I am pleased that David Bryan agreed to be interviewed for the first of what I hope will be a regular feature on the Telecosm blog: interviews! I am very interested in peer to peer technology and its many applications, and was thrilled when David agreed to help me launch this part of the blog. David Bryan wears two very big hats:
* He is Chief Executive Officer of Sipeerior Technologies, a leading provider of standards-based, OEM software solutions designed to enable serverless implementations of real-time communications applications.
* He is co-chair of the Peer-to-Peer Session Initiation Protocol (P2PSIP) working group at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the standards-making group for the Internet.
I am particularly pleased the David was able to take some time for the interview from his busy schedule, as there is an IETF meeting underway in Philadelphia this week.
SIP is the future of telecommunications
The 18th Internet Telephony Conference & Expo (ITEXPO) came to Los Angeles last week, and being the opportunistic sort, I decided to get myself on the press list. That’s one of the advantages of writing for ZDNet. Conference organizers will often let you attend their creation for free in hopes that you might write something about the products on display therein.
I’m not, however, one of those writers who likes to post a play-by-play of the happenings at this or that conference. I prefer to attend the entire conference, visiting all the classes and study groups which, to my mind, serve as the highlight of such things, only to figure out afterwards what new thing I have learned from the whole process.
I did note that this was the 18th ITEXPO…which means that there were companies thinking about a future where communication was entirely mediated by Internet-related protocols as far back as 1990. In 1990, the notion that a web of connections mostly linking academic institutions might serve as the foundation underpinning something as critical as voice communications must have seemed, to some, like so much technophile hyperventilation. Clearly, however, the Internet has been more than a little bit succesful. Furthermore, protocols designed to run over Internet connections seem to be reaching a tipping point with respect to their adoption by telecommunications companies. I’m not just saying that because I am still responding to the “reality distortion field” caused by the strange chemicals conference organizers insert into their continental breakfasts. Looking back, most of my career seems to have been spent working for one telecommunications company or another (though video-related work seems to have occupied most of the rest).
One thing that has already been rolling along for quite some time, but has become extremely apparent given recent developments in the industry, is that Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) isn’t just a protocol that is “popular” in Voice over IP (VOIP) environments. It is, for all intents and purposes, THE VOIP protocol, at least among traditional telecommunications providers. It is the protocol that networks choose when they want to IP-enable their largely SS7 environments (SS7 is the signaling protocol used in the global circuit-switched network used to communicate within and between almost every telecommunications company in existence). SIP plays a central role in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a family of protocols which is supposed to define the architecture of next-generation mobile networks capable of streaming various kinds of text, voice and video data to mobile phone subscribers even as they roam between networks.
Though the people at the conference were clearly fans of an IP, and SIP-based, future, nobody believed that SS7 was going to go away tomorrow. The existing investment in SS7 is massive, and telecommunications companies aren’t going to replace overnight a technology into which they have sunk many billions of dollars in investment and which reliably serves the voice communications needs of the entire world. However, as we move beyond a network mostly built to cater to the needs of voice, SIP is simply a more flexible alternative.
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is, at least syntactically, a lot like HTTP. It confines itself to simple negotiation of data streams between endpoints, and doesn’t impose any kind of rules as to the nature of those data streams (though streams of data are usually packaged inside RTP, another publicly-ratified protocol). SIP, in other words, can be used to negotiate a voice connection, as well as exchnage text message of varying sizes and complexities, exchange presence information, and exchange any kind of data the nature of which can be described via MIME headers and the protocol details for which can be described via Session Description Protocol (SDP, which is exchanged as part of SIP negotiation). SS7, in theory, can be used to negotiate multiple kinds of data streams as well, but the history of the development of the traditional phone network means that most endpoints can, at most, handle basic audio encoded according to G.711 rules (a limitations of the vertically-integrated switch hardware that was the norm for most of telephony product history). Further, though SS7 is a simple signaling protocol as well, it doesn’t have the level of expressiveness and flexibility as a text-based protocol like HTTP or SIP.
HTTP has proven to be one of the most popular media exchange negotiation protocols in existence. SIP borrows many of those semantics, and makes media exchange negotiation more flexible still.
But if I don’t dive deep into a blow-by-blow description of the intricate details of the SIP protocol Right Now, knowledgeable readers will pillory me for being excessively vague. So, I will stop here, and note that you can find stacks of documentation about the SIP protocol on the Internet and / or books published by any number of publishers. That’s the magic of a public and officially-ratified protocol. There’s no real mystery about its details.
Of particular note at this conference, however, was the emphasis on the concept of “SIP trunking.” Traditional TDM trunking is often via a T-1 / ISDN PRI connection. T1 connections are ridiculously expensive ($500 / month is not uncommon, and it used to be much more), particularly when you consider that they only provide a maximum bitrate of 1.544 mbps over the 24 unique voice / data channels a T1 provides, each of which runs at 64 kbps (the European equivalent, E1, gives you only a bit more, at 2.048, with 30 voice channels). Given the bandwidth limitations of TDM trunk connections, few businesses would use a T1 or E1 link for anything but their voice communications.
This makes T1 connections an extra expenditure on top of digital data links. Further, there is a translation step for many businesses using modern business telephony products, many of which use SIP as a means to communicate between telephony endpoints within the business. A far cheaper and flexible way to achieve your office communications needs would be to dispense with that TDM connection entirely and use that data channel as conduit for all of your communications.
SIP trunking allows you to do that. By paying for a SIP trunk connection, you don’t need to have any kind of phone line hooked into your office. You just pay for a SIP connection from the SIP trunk provider of your choice, and your SIP-compliant software has all the telephony connectivity it needs.
One of the advantages of this model is that you aren’t tied to just a number in your local area or country. Given that SIP abstracts away the concept of where you are, it is easy to have numbers in multiple countries that feed back into your central office. This gives small companies the ability to seem like much larger companies, something from which my company, which is extremely small, could certainly benefit, but from which even home users can benefit. SIP trunking also allows you to escape reliance on the owner of the phone or cable lines that run into your home for voice service, moving beyond cable-based VOIP services, and even consumer services like Vonage, to allow a web of VOIP providers to compete for your home phone business. Though that wasn’t the emphasis of the conference, which still focuses on the needs of the enterprise and call centers, the writing is clearly on the wall. SIP trunk connections are likely to find their way into end-users homes once businesses - a group that serves as the canary in the mine for most new technologies - have worked out the kinks.
Tomorrow, I’ll talk about a product I saw at the conference that, at first blush, I wasn’t sure I would find interesting when first invited to speak to the responsible parties. That product just so happens to come from Microsoft…and no, it isn’t Office Communications Server (OCS).
John Carroll has delivered his opinion on ZDNet since the last millennium. Since May 2008, he is no longer a Microsoft employee. He is currently working at a unified messaging-related startup.
I’m not, however, one of those writers who likes to post a play-by-play of the happenings at this or that conference. I prefer to attend the entire conference, visiting all the classes and study groups which, to my mind, serve as the highlight of such things, only to figure out afterwards what new thing I have learned from the whole process.
I did note that this was the 18th ITEXPO…which means that there were companies thinking about a future where communication was entirely mediated by Internet-related protocols as far back as 1990. In 1990, the notion that a web of connections mostly linking academic institutions might serve as the foundation underpinning something as critical as voice communications must have seemed, to some, like so much technophile hyperventilation. Clearly, however, the Internet has been more than a little bit succesful. Furthermore, protocols designed to run over Internet connections seem to be reaching a tipping point with respect to their adoption by telecommunications companies. I’m not just saying that because I am still responding to the “reality distortion field” caused by the strange chemicals conference organizers insert into their continental breakfasts. Looking back, most of my career seems to have been spent working for one telecommunications company or another (though video-related work seems to have occupied most of the rest).
One thing that has already been rolling along for quite some time, but has become extremely apparent given recent developments in the industry, is that Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) isn’t just a protocol that is “popular” in Voice over IP (VOIP) environments. It is, for all intents and purposes, THE VOIP protocol, at least among traditional telecommunications providers. It is the protocol that networks choose when they want to IP-enable their largely SS7 environments (SS7 is the signaling protocol used in the global circuit-switched network used to communicate within and between almost every telecommunications company in existence). SIP plays a central role in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a family of protocols which is supposed to define the architecture of next-generation mobile networks capable of streaming various kinds of text, voice and video data to mobile phone subscribers even as they roam between networks.
Though the people at the conference were clearly fans of an IP, and SIP-based, future, nobody believed that SS7 was going to go away tomorrow. The existing investment in SS7 is massive, and telecommunications companies aren’t going to replace overnight a technology into which they have sunk many billions of dollars in investment and which reliably serves the voice communications needs of the entire world. However, as we move beyond a network mostly built to cater to the needs of voice, SIP is simply a more flexible alternative.
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is, at least syntactically, a lot like HTTP. It confines itself to simple negotiation of data streams between endpoints, and doesn’t impose any kind of rules as to the nature of those data streams (though streams of data are usually packaged inside RTP, another publicly-ratified protocol). SIP, in other words, can be used to negotiate a voice connection, as well as exchnage text message of varying sizes and complexities, exchange presence information, and exchange any kind of data the nature of which can be described via MIME headers and the protocol details for which can be described via Session Description Protocol (SDP, which is exchanged as part of SIP negotiation). SS7, in theory, can be used to negotiate multiple kinds of data streams as well, but the history of the development of the traditional phone network means that most endpoints can, at most, handle basic audio encoded according to G.711 rules (a limitations of the vertically-integrated switch hardware that was the norm for most of telephony product history). Further, though SS7 is a simple signaling protocol as well, it doesn’t have the level of expressiveness and flexibility as a text-based protocol like HTTP or SIP.
HTTP has proven to be one of the most popular media exchange negotiation protocols in existence. SIP borrows many of those semantics, and makes media exchange negotiation more flexible still.
But if I don’t dive deep into a blow-by-blow description of the intricate details of the SIP protocol Right Now, knowledgeable readers will pillory me for being excessively vague. So, I will stop here, and note that you can find stacks of documentation about the SIP protocol on the Internet and / or books published by any number of publishers. That’s the magic of a public and officially-ratified protocol. There’s no real mystery about its details.
Of particular note at this conference, however, was the emphasis on the concept of “SIP trunking.” Traditional TDM trunking is often via a T-1 / ISDN PRI connection. T1 connections are ridiculously expensive ($500 / month is not uncommon, and it used to be much more), particularly when you consider that they only provide a maximum bitrate of 1.544 mbps over the 24 unique voice / data channels a T1 provides, each of which runs at 64 kbps (the European equivalent, E1, gives you only a bit more, at 2.048, with 30 voice channels). Given the bandwidth limitations of TDM trunk connections, few businesses would use a T1 or E1 link for anything but their voice communications.
This makes T1 connections an extra expenditure on top of digital data links. Further, there is a translation step for many businesses using modern business telephony products, many of which use SIP as a means to communicate between telephony endpoints within the business. A far cheaper and flexible way to achieve your office communications needs would be to dispense with that TDM connection entirely and use that data channel as conduit for all of your communications.
SIP trunking allows you to do that. By paying for a SIP trunk connection, you don’t need to have any kind of phone line hooked into your office. You just pay for a SIP connection from the SIP trunk provider of your choice, and your SIP-compliant software has all the telephony connectivity it needs.
One of the advantages of this model is that you aren’t tied to just a number in your local area or country. Given that SIP abstracts away the concept of where you are, it is easy to have numbers in multiple countries that feed back into your central office. This gives small companies the ability to seem like much larger companies, something from which my company, which is extremely small, could certainly benefit, but from which even home users can benefit. SIP trunking also allows you to escape reliance on the owner of the phone or cable lines that run into your home for voice service, moving beyond cable-based VOIP services, and even consumer services like Vonage, to allow a web of VOIP providers to compete for your home phone business. Though that wasn’t the emphasis of the conference, which still focuses on the needs of the enterprise and call centers, the writing is clearly on the wall. SIP trunk connections are likely to find their way into end-users homes once businesses - a group that serves as the canary in the mine for most new technologies - have worked out the kinks.
Tomorrow, I’ll talk about a product I saw at the conference that, at first blush, I wasn’t sure I would find interesting when first invited to speak to the responsible parties. That product just so happens to come from Microsoft…and no, it isn’t Office Communications Server (OCS).
John Carroll has delivered his opinion on ZDNet since the last millennium. Since May 2008, he is no longer a Microsoft employee. He is currently working at a unified messaging-related startup.
Siemens OpenScape offers tight integration of voice, video and messaging
Siemens Communications is tightly integrating voice, video and messaging in its new software-based unified communications product.
The OpenScape Unified Communications Server is an IT application that runs out of a company's data center over an existing IP network utilizing existing data infrastructure. Mark Straton, senior vice president of enterprise systems marketing for Siemens, said the company has recognized that the days of voice as a standalone technology in the enterprise are over. To break out of that silo, Siemens is transforming itself into a software company.
"Our view is that voice as a standalone category will be eliminated, and it's really about delivering communications as a software and the services required to support that," Straton said.
Henry Dewing, principal analyst with Forrester Research, said Siemens' transition to a software-based communications vendor is not unique.
"Avaya and Nortel have sort of valid software strategies as well," Dewing said. "The key thing here is pushing what's been purpose-built hardware onto general-purpose computing platforms with software to drive the flexibility and functionality of the system. I think it's absolutely where the industry needs to be going."
The OpenScape server has three major applications:
More on Unified Communications Platforms
Cisco is top Unified Communications Choice, UC spending rises
Building a UC strategy
How service-oriented architecture enables unified communications
OpenScape Voice, which is really a renaming of Siemens' existing HiPath 8000 VoIP product, which has been rolled into the OpenScape brand.
OpenScape UC, a messaging infrastructure that runs on Linux and can operate in a standalone mode.
OpenScape Video, a new high-definition videoconferencing portfolio that can also run independently. The video portfolio includes room-based high-definition videoconferencing as well as lower-quality desktop video.
"The big deal for them in the announcement that they're moving to including video, mobility and other functionality such as unified communications that puts them a little bit ahead of some of their competitors," Dewing said. "Nortel or Avaya has to set up partnership deals in order to deliver those types of functionality."
The transition from hardware- to software-based UC gives enterprises a lot more flexibility, according to Brent Kelly, senior analyst with Wainhouse Research. Companies no longer have to rely on a single vendor for hardware and software, so they can avoid having their voice and other communications siloed within the company.
"It makes it easier for people to integrate this in with Web 2.0 and those kinds of things," Kelly said. "It makes it easier to integrate it with other line-of-business applications, and Siemens' architecture is really good for doing that."
Observers were particularly interested in the videoconferencing piece of OpenScape.
"It's tied into the unified communications server, where all the presence capabilities and the user interface you would have on UC softphones you will also have on the video side," said Nick Lippis, principal of The Lippis Report. "They did a nice job in having the same control interface for both video and voice, where you see a lot of companies offering separate video technology that's not integrated."
Siemens is hoping that the OpenScape launch will help it expand its North American market share. Observers agreed that the new offering puts the company on the leading edge in unified communications, but some wondered whether that will be enough.
"It just depends on how they execute on this,"Kelly said "The products are good. There's no question about it that they're good. But there's also a lot that goes into making these solutions work. All the supporting things that a company needs to get to market are all going to have to fire well in order to be successful."
Kelly said Siemens, a European-centric company, will face some challenges in North America. Recent news that the company would shed 6,800 workers through layoffs and a sell-off of factories will make some buyers apprehensive. Siemens said the workforce reduction is part of a restructuring plan that coincides with its transformation into a software communications company.
"It's clear … [the layoffs are occurring] because things aren't selling, and at the end of the day, that's what matters," Kelly said.
The OpenScape Unified Communications Server is an IT application that runs out of a company's data center over an existing IP network utilizing existing data infrastructure. Mark Straton, senior vice president of enterprise systems marketing for Siemens, said the company has recognized that the days of voice as a standalone technology in the enterprise are over. To break out of that silo, Siemens is transforming itself into a software company.
"Our view is that voice as a standalone category will be eliminated, and it's really about delivering communications as a software and the services required to support that," Straton said.
Henry Dewing, principal analyst with Forrester Research, said Siemens' transition to a software-based communications vendor is not unique.
"Avaya and Nortel have sort of valid software strategies as well," Dewing said. "The key thing here is pushing what's been purpose-built hardware onto general-purpose computing platforms with software to drive the flexibility and functionality of the system. I think it's absolutely where the industry needs to be going."
The OpenScape server has three major applications:
More on Unified Communications Platforms
Cisco is top Unified Communications Choice, UC spending rises
Building a UC strategy
How service-oriented architecture enables unified communications
OpenScape Voice, which is really a renaming of Siemens' existing HiPath 8000 VoIP product, which has been rolled into the OpenScape brand.
OpenScape UC, a messaging infrastructure that runs on Linux and can operate in a standalone mode.
OpenScape Video, a new high-definition videoconferencing portfolio that can also run independently. The video portfolio includes room-based high-definition videoconferencing as well as lower-quality desktop video.
"The big deal for them in the announcement that they're moving to including video, mobility and other functionality such as unified communications that puts them a little bit ahead of some of their competitors," Dewing said. "Nortel or Avaya has to set up partnership deals in order to deliver those types of functionality."
The transition from hardware- to software-based UC gives enterprises a lot more flexibility, according to Brent Kelly, senior analyst with Wainhouse Research. Companies no longer have to rely on a single vendor for hardware and software, so they can avoid having their voice and other communications siloed within the company.
"It makes it easier for people to integrate this in with Web 2.0 and those kinds of things," Kelly said. "It makes it easier to integrate it with other line-of-business applications, and Siemens' architecture is really good for doing that."
Observers were particularly interested in the videoconferencing piece of OpenScape.
"It's tied into the unified communications server, where all the presence capabilities and the user interface you would have on UC softphones you will also have on the video side," said Nick Lippis, principal of The Lippis Report. "They did a nice job in having the same control interface for both video and voice, where you see a lot of companies offering separate video technology that's not integrated."
Siemens is hoping that the OpenScape launch will help it expand its North American market share. Observers agreed that the new offering puts the company on the leading edge in unified communications, but some wondered whether that will be enough.
"It just depends on how they execute on this,"Kelly said "The products are good. There's no question about it that they're good. But there's also a lot that goes into making these solutions work. All the supporting things that a company needs to get to market are all going to have to fire well in order to be successful."
Kelly said Siemens, a European-centric company, will face some challenges in North America. Recent news that the company would shed 6,800 workers through layoffs and a sell-off of factories will make some buyers apprehensive. Siemens said the workforce reduction is part of a restructuring plan that coincides with its transformation into a software communications company.
"It's clear … [the layoffs are occurring] because things aren't selling, and at the end of the day, that's what matters," Kelly said.
Siemens Launches OpenScape Unified Communications Server
David Leach, Senior Public Consultant Siemens Enterprise Communications will be speaking on the "Microsoft's New UC Strategy:" panel at VON.x on March 18 at 11:00 AM
Siemens (www.usa.siemens.com) has launched the OpenScape Unified Communications (UC) Server, a new UC software platform. The company is marking this as a significant step as it transforms into a software-oriented company. OpenScape UC is designed to enable a comprehensive suite of UC application and initially includes the OpenScape Voice Application, OpenScape Video, and OpenScape UC Application V3.
OpenScape UC server, available for sale on April 30, 2008, enables presence, administration, session control and other shared services for the current and planned family of OpenScape UC suite of applications, which are designed to enable easy growth and expansion. New modular capabilities are enabled by simply activating the desired license keys on a user-by-user basis.
Siemens (www.usa.siemens.com) has launched the OpenScape Unified Communications (UC) Server, a new UC software platform. The company is marking this as a significant step as it transforms into a software-oriented company. OpenScape UC is designed to enable a comprehensive suite of UC application and initially includes the OpenScape Voice Application, OpenScape Video, and OpenScape UC Application V3.
OpenScape UC server, available for sale on April 30, 2008, enables presence, administration, session control and other shared services for the current and planned family of OpenScape UC suite of applications, which are designed to enable easy growth and expansion. New modular capabilities are enabled by simply activating the desired license keys on a user-by-user basis.
Unified Communications - think simple
Business Every Time, Everywhere
Enhance business productivity by creating a Unified Workspace encompassing multiple applications, devices, networks, and operating systems. Improve integration of communications with business processes to ensure that information reaches recipients every time, regardless of their working environment or location.
* Mobility: Extend communications so that employees can do their jobs from everywhere using any device, wired or wireless.
* Collaboration: Share information via voice, video, or web conferencing.
* Security: Integrate comprehensive network security, from infrastructure through devices and applications.
* Choice: Use open standards to facilitate integration with industry-leading applications.
* Customer Service: Maximize call-center performance and customer satisfaction through application integration.
Enhance business productivity by creating a Unified Workspace encompassing multiple applications, devices, networks, and operating systems. Improve integration of communications with business processes to ensure that information reaches recipients every time, regardless of their working environment or location.
* Mobility: Extend communications so that employees can do their jobs from everywhere using any device, wired or wireless.
* Collaboration: Share information via voice, video, or web conferencing.
* Security: Integrate comprehensive network security, from infrastructure through devices and applications.
* Choice: Use open standards to facilitate integration with industry-leading applications.
* Customer Service: Maximize call-center performance and customer satisfaction through application integration.
IBM Acquires WebDialogs; Launches Family of Unified Communications and Collaboration Software
IBM has acquired WebDialogs, Inc., a Billerica, Massachusetts-based, privately-held provider of web conferencing and communications services, with more than 500,000 users worldwide. Financial details were not disclosed. WebDialogs offers online meeting and collaboration services that combine web and audio conferencing into one experience. Since it is deployed as a service, WebDialogs technology does not require support from an organization’s IT department.
With the acquisition of WebDialogs, IBM is adding a software as a service delivery model to the Lotus Sametime family of products, providing customers with choice and flexibility in how they buy and operate their web conferencing services. IBM will also integrate the service with its collaboration portfolio, including IBM Lotus Notes and IBM Lotus Sametime software.
IBM has also unveiled the next phase of its unified communication and collaboration strategy by expanding its IBM Lotus Sametime software into a product family that will include new telephony integration software. Lotus Sametime “Unified Telephony” software is a new IBM offering that is being developed to bring telephone communications into the business applications people use most. Based in part on elements of Siemens Openscape technology, this product will make it possible to manage communications across multiple business telephone systems and access them through virtually any application.
With the Lotus Sametime “Unified Telephony” product, users will be able to: manage incoming calls; see who is available to communicate and how; connect with colleagues faster; and connect with a variety of back-end and legacy systems. Lotus Sametime “Unified Telephony” will be designed to work in mixed-vendor environments with multiple business telephone systems, enabling businesses to provide a common look and feel for their users, regardless of back-end systems.
With the acquisition of WebDialogs, IBM is adding a software as a service delivery model to the Lotus Sametime family of products, providing customers with choice and flexibility in how they buy and operate their web conferencing services. IBM will also integrate the service with its collaboration portfolio, including IBM Lotus Notes and IBM Lotus Sametime software.
IBM has also unveiled the next phase of its unified communication and collaboration strategy by expanding its IBM Lotus Sametime software into a product family that will include new telephony integration software. Lotus Sametime “Unified Telephony” software is a new IBM offering that is being developed to bring telephone communications into the business applications people use most. Based in part on elements of Siemens Openscape technology, this product will make it possible to manage communications across multiple business telephone systems and access them through virtually any application.
With the Lotus Sametime “Unified Telephony” product, users will be able to: manage incoming calls; see who is available to communicate and how; connect with colleagues faster; and connect with a variety of back-end and legacy systems. Lotus Sametime “Unified Telephony” will be designed to work in mixed-vendor environments with multiple business telephone systems, enabling businesses to provide a common look and feel for their users, regardless of back-end systems.
Định nghĩa Unified communication (UC)
Các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ VoIP (như Cisco, avaya, nortel,… ) định nghĩa Unified communication là : dịch vụ VoIP với lớp cộng tác ở phía trên. Các hãng cộng tác truyền thống như IBM, Microsoft định nghĩa: UC là sự cộng tác với truyền thông thời gian thực thêm vào. Hãng mới như Google định nghĩa UC là nơi lưu các dịch vụ tầng ứng dụng mà lấy về từ web.
Theo tác giả bài báo, định nghĩa chính xác về UC là ở quan niệm của người dùng, và định nghĩa của các nhà cung cấp đều có những giới hạn nhất định. Tác giả cũng cho rằng còn sớm để đưa ra định nghĩa về UC, nhưng tin chắc vài điều sau về UC:
- Thứ nhất thoại phức tạp hơn những gì người ta thấy và nó không thể là một ứng dụng desktop. Nhưng đó không phải là điểm then chốt, vấn đề thiết lập truyền thông thời gian thực hoạt động tin cậy trong phạm vi lớn rõ ràng là một thách thức lớn hơn.
- thứ hai: dù cho định nghĩa như thế nào đi nữa thì UC phải có giao diện với wireless/mobile.
- cuối cùng: trong vài năm tới, lĩnh vực UC sẽ rất thú vị.
Chi tiết: http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2007/022807johnson.html?zb&rc=voip_uc
Theo tác giả bài báo, định nghĩa chính xác về UC là ở quan niệm của người dùng, và định nghĩa của các nhà cung cấp đều có những giới hạn nhất định. Tác giả cũng cho rằng còn sớm để đưa ra định nghĩa về UC, nhưng tin chắc vài điều sau về UC:
- Thứ nhất thoại phức tạp hơn những gì người ta thấy và nó không thể là một ứng dụng desktop. Nhưng đó không phải là điểm then chốt, vấn đề thiết lập truyền thông thời gian thực hoạt động tin cậy trong phạm vi lớn rõ ràng là một thách thức lớn hơn.
- thứ hai: dù cho định nghĩa như thế nào đi nữa thì UC phải có giao diện với wireless/mobile.
- cuối cùng: trong vài năm tới, lĩnh vực UC sẽ rất thú vị.
Chi tiết: http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2007/022807johnson.html?zb&rc=voip_uc
6 câu hỏi với VoIP
Gartner Group dự đoán năm 2008, hệ thống VoIP chiếm khoảng 97% các hệ thống được bán. Tuy nhiên có vài vấn đề đặt ra và bài báo này sẽ trả lời những vấn đề đó.
* Liệu có thể tin tưởng Microsoft về VoIP?
* SIP đã sẵn sàng cho desktop?
* Làm cách nào để điều hành công ty sử dụng Skype?
1. Liệu có thể tin tưởng Microsoft về VoIPMicrosoft đang có ý định trở thành nhà cung cấp điện thoại và tin nhắn IP lớn. Vấn đề là Microsoft cần phải tạo được lòng tin của khách hàng về tính thời gian thực và tin cậy của luồng lưu lượng thoại và ứng dụng trong các công nghệ máy chủ của hãng. Hiện nay sản phẩm Office Communications server 2007 của Mircrosoft vẫn chưa được bán trên thị trường.
Giống như các hệ thống VoIP thương mại khác của Avaya,Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, khách hàng sẽ phải mua những giao thức và công nghệ độc quyền đi kèm với OCS 2007. Khách hàng sẽ phải mua codec, mở rộng của chuẩn SIP, và hệ thống máy chủ Mediation Server.
Về vấn đề tin cậy, trong một năm trở lại đây, các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ VoIP như Avaya, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, 3Com’s VCX đã chuyển sang các plaform khác (Linux, Sun solary) không dùng Window Server để chạy các ứng dụng IP PBX. Lý do là vì các khách hàng của những nhà cung cấp dịch vụ phàn nàn về tính bền vững của hệ điều hành Window. Họ phải thường xuyên cập nhập các bản vá lỗi.
Để lấy lòng tin từ khách hàng, Mircrosoft đã liên kết với Nortel.
Với tất cả những điều trên, tham vọng của Microsoft thật đáng để nghi ngờ.
2. SIP đã sẵn sàng cho desktop.
SIP được mong đợi là tương lai của VoIP. Nhưng vấn đề là hầu hết nhà cung cấp đều tin tưởng vào giao thức của chính công ty họ. Hầu hết các hãng như avaya, cisco, nortel, siemens đều sử dụng giao thức VoIP riêng và hỗ trợ chuẩn SIP có thể nạp vào phần cứng của họ. Thậm chí phần mềm mã nguồn mở Asterisk IP PBX cũng có giao thức riêng không phải SIP cho việc liên lạc giữa máy chủ và thiết bị đầu cuối.
Với điện thoại desktop, thì yếu tố quan trọng nhất vẫn thuộc về người dùng. Và các giao thức như Cisco SCCP, Siemens CoreNet, và một số giao thức khác vẫn là chuẩn cho IP, phone, PBX.
Tuy nhiên, yêu cầu sử dụng SIP vẫn tăng khi tích hợp đặc điểm trình diễn và đa phương tiện vào VoIP.Điều này khiến các nhà cung cấp phải tạo những mở rộng riêng hỗ trợ SIP cho phù hợp yêu cầu người dùng.
3. Làm cách nào để điều hành công ty sử dụng Skype
Skype thông báo là có 100 triệu người đăng ký và ước tính 30% số cài đặt là doanh nghiệp. Nhiều công ty đã tích hợp Skype vào hệ thống VoIP lớn hơn. Một ví dụ là công ty chế tạo đồ nội thất Eastern Accents ở Chicago và có chi nhánh ở Trung quốc.
Elvin Rakhmankulov, trưởng phòng IT của công ty muốn tạo kết nối an toàn và rẻ từ Trung Quốc với 200 nhân viên ở Chicago và các chi nhánh. Eastern Accents hiện đang sử dụng hệ thống 3Com NBX IP PBX. Khu vực Los Angeles, North Carolina sử dụng 3Com IP phone liên kết với NBX tại Chicago. Với hệ thống này, cuộc gọi sang Trung Quốc bị trễ lớn trong khi Skype hoạt động tốt, chiếm ít băng thông. Do đó Rakhmankulov đã nảy ra ý tưởng kết tích hợp Skype vào hệ thống hiện có, như vậy còn giúp cho nhân viên không phải sử dụng headphone, microphone,…
Rakhmankulov thực hiện bằng cách gắn NBX với VoSky. 3Com NBX kết nối với VoSky Exchange 900 qua 4 trung kế tương tự. Liên kết USB từ VoSky đến máy tính chạy WinXP có 4 tài khoản Skype chạy cùng một lúc. VoSky sử dụng cơ sở dữ liệu để chuyển tên các nhân viên ở Trung Quốc sang số mở rộng. Khi người dùng ở Chicago quay 8 số và 3 số mở rộng từ 3Com phone, thì sẽ tạo kết nối đến nhân viên ở Trung quốc sử dụng Skype với headset.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/070507-voip-questions.html?page=1
* Liệu có thể tin tưởng Microsoft về VoIP?
* SIP đã sẵn sàng cho desktop?
* Làm cách nào để điều hành công ty sử dụng Skype?
1. Liệu có thể tin tưởng Microsoft về VoIPMicrosoft đang có ý định trở thành nhà cung cấp điện thoại và tin nhắn IP lớn. Vấn đề là Microsoft cần phải tạo được lòng tin của khách hàng về tính thời gian thực và tin cậy của luồng lưu lượng thoại và ứng dụng trong các công nghệ máy chủ của hãng. Hiện nay sản phẩm Office Communications server 2007 của Mircrosoft vẫn chưa được bán trên thị trường.
Giống như các hệ thống VoIP thương mại khác của Avaya,Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, khách hàng sẽ phải mua những giao thức và công nghệ độc quyền đi kèm với OCS 2007. Khách hàng sẽ phải mua codec, mở rộng của chuẩn SIP, và hệ thống máy chủ Mediation Server.
Về vấn đề tin cậy, trong một năm trở lại đây, các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ VoIP như Avaya, Cisco, Nortel, Siemens, 3Com’s VCX đã chuyển sang các plaform khác (Linux, Sun solary) không dùng Window Server để chạy các ứng dụng IP PBX. Lý do là vì các khách hàng của những nhà cung cấp dịch vụ phàn nàn về tính bền vững của hệ điều hành Window. Họ phải thường xuyên cập nhập các bản vá lỗi.
Để lấy lòng tin từ khách hàng, Mircrosoft đã liên kết với Nortel.
Với tất cả những điều trên, tham vọng của Microsoft thật đáng để nghi ngờ.
2. SIP đã sẵn sàng cho desktop.
SIP được mong đợi là tương lai của VoIP. Nhưng vấn đề là hầu hết nhà cung cấp đều tin tưởng vào giao thức của chính công ty họ. Hầu hết các hãng như avaya, cisco, nortel, siemens đều sử dụng giao thức VoIP riêng và hỗ trợ chuẩn SIP có thể nạp vào phần cứng của họ. Thậm chí phần mềm mã nguồn mở Asterisk IP PBX cũng có giao thức riêng không phải SIP cho việc liên lạc giữa máy chủ và thiết bị đầu cuối.
Với điện thoại desktop, thì yếu tố quan trọng nhất vẫn thuộc về người dùng. Và các giao thức như Cisco SCCP, Siemens CoreNet, và một số giao thức khác vẫn là chuẩn cho IP, phone, PBX.
Tuy nhiên, yêu cầu sử dụng SIP vẫn tăng khi tích hợp đặc điểm trình diễn và đa phương tiện vào VoIP.Điều này khiến các nhà cung cấp phải tạo những mở rộng riêng hỗ trợ SIP cho phù hợp yêu cầu người dùng.
3. Làm cách nào để điều hành công ty sử dụng Skype
Skype thông báo là có 100 triệu người đăng ký và ước tính 30% số cài đặt là doanh nghiệp. Nhiều công ty đã tích hợp Skype vào hệ thống VoIP lớn hơn. Một ví dụ là công ty chế tạo đồ nội thất Eastern Accents ở Chicago và có chi nhánh ở Trung quốc.
Elvin Rakhmankulov, trưởng phòng IT của công ty muốn tạo kết nối an toàn và rẻ từ Trung Quốc với 200 nhân viên ở Chicago và các chi nhánh. Eastern Accents hiện đang sử dụng hệ thống 3Com NBX IP PBX. Khu vực Los Angeles, North Carolina sử dụng 3Com IP phone liên kết với NBX tại Chicago. Với hệ thống này, cuộc gọi sang Trung Quốc bị trễ lớn trong khi Skype hoạt động tốt, chiếm ít băng thông. Do đó Rakhmankulov đã nảy ra ý tưởng kết tích hợp Skype vào hệ thống hiện có, như vậy còn giúp cho nhân viên không phải sử dụng headphone, microphone,…
Rakhmankulov thực hiện bằng cách gắn NBX với VoSky. 3Com NBX kết nối với VoSky Exchange 900 qua 4 trung kế tương tự. Liên kết USB từ VoSky đến máy tính chạy WinXP có 4 tài khoản Skype chạy cùng một lúc. VoSky sử dụng cơ sở dữ liệu để chuyển tên các nhân viên ở Trung Quốc sang số mở rộng. Khi người dùng ở Chicago quay 8 số và 3 số mở rộng từ 3Com phone, thì sẽ tạo kết nối đến nhân viên ở Trung quốc sử dụng Skype với headset.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/070507-voip-questions.html?page=1
What is the future trend of communications ?
Answer:
IP communications - Everything over IP (EoIP) :D
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Everything over IP, is a collective term for the immerging culture of communicating and transporting data, of all sorts, over IP. VoIP Voice over IP is one of the first to lexically join the club. Although Post over IP (POIP), Company information, marketing and even trade over IP (HTML), News over IP, Games over IP are all embedded in the world of IP for many years.
The distance we have already come into EoIP is evident by the way we treat email and surfing as a part of life. Other medias, have yet to be marketed under the EoIP banner and like the previous technology may not be specifically associated with EoIP; TV and Radio over IP are available if under other names, Video over IP has been used for many years if under other guises used for person to person calls, conferences, eLearning, and many other uses. Books, Films and Music downloading is becoming the norm and IP internet connections are as important, to many people, as other services, electricity, gas, water, both domestically and in business. eBanking, eCommerce, stock prices and trading are all available over IP. International and inter-bank money transfers, ATM machines, credit card processing; online or in shops connect to each other over IP.
Many countries around the world are engaging in eGovernment and other types of digital citizenship. Signing documents legally with some form of digital signature will one day be the norm for everything from buying a house, getting married to voting, accessing education, taking exams and international travel. Medicine is not left out of this, there are many devices that can assist today with diagnosis, monitoring, drug administration and even surgery and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
British Telecom is spending £10,000,000,000 on a project called 21st Century Network (21CN), transforming the whole UK phone system to VoIP over the next 3 years. Leaving everyone with just a high speed DSL IP connection or an analogue voice only line (POTS), converted to VoIP at the exchange. The 21CN project will provide the UK with a pure IP communications network, another step and a mental shift in to the EoIP world.
Other countries such as Japan, Singapore and South Korea have thriving digital communities that are making the most of EoIP.
The term Everything over IP is a good way to name the direction we are going in (2007), but it is not a technology is it a buzzword or aspiration, filling in vocabulary as needed. This acronym has it is use now but will fade from the lime light when EoIP is as much the norm as email.
EoIP is of course not totally accurate until science makes some quite large jumps. It will be a long time before we have Me over IP and probably by then, if ever, IP will only be demonstrated in history museums, which you will of course visit over whatever the new communication protocol of the day is.
IP communications - Everything over IP (EoIP) :D
---
Everything over IP, is a collective term for the immerging culture of communicating and transporting data, of all sorts, over IP. VoIP Voice over IP is one of the first to lexically join the club. Although Post over IP (POIP), Company information, marketing and even trade over IP (HTML), News over IP, Games over IP are all embedded in the world of IP for many years.
The distance we have already come into EoIP is evident by the way we treat email and surfing as a part of life. Other medias, have yet to be marketed under the EoIP banner and like the previous technology may not be specifically associated with EoIP; TV and Radio over IP are available if under other names, Video over IP has been used for many years if under other guises used for person to person calls, conferences, eLearning, and many other uses. Books, Films and Music downloading is becoming the norm and IP internet connections are as important, to many people, as other services, electricity, gas, water, both domestically and in business. eBanking, eCommerce, stock prices and trading are all available over IP. International and inter-bank money transfers, ATM machines, credit card processing; online or in shops connect to each other over IP.
Many countries around the world are engaging in eGovernment and other types of digital citizenship. Signing documents legally with some form of digital signature will one day be the norm for everything from buying a house, getting married to voting, accessing education, taking exams and international travel. Medicine is not left out of this, there are many devices that can assist today with diagnosis, monitoring, drug administration and even surgery and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
British Telecom is spending £10,000,000,000 on a project called 21st Century Network (21CN), transforming the whole UK phone system to VoIP over the next 3 years. Leaving everyone with just a high speed DSL IP connection or an analogue voice only line (POTS), converted to VoIP at the exchange. The 21CN project will provide the UK with a pure IP communications network, another step and a mental shift in to the EoIP world.
Other countries such as Japan, Singapore and South Korea have thriving digital communities that are making the most of EoIP.
The term Everything over IP is a good way to name the direction we are going in (2007), but it is not a technology is it a buzzword or aspiration, filling in vocabulary as needed. This acronym has it is use now but will fade from the lime light when EoIP is as much the norm as email.
EoIP is of course not totally accurate until science makes some quite large jumps. It will be a long time before we have Me over IP and probably by then, if ever, IP will only be demonstrated in history museums, which you will of course visit over whatever the new communication protocol of the day is.
Defining the Impact of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007
By some estimations, a new era in the IP communications age will start next Tuesday when Microsoft (News - Alert) officially launches Office Communications Server 2007. There’s been buzz surrounding the new software, and its companion Office Communicator 2007 messaging client, for months now. With the launch now imminent, the excitement is palpable.
What exactly is Office Communications Server 2007 (OCS 2007)? That seems like a good question to answer as the software’s launch approaches. Microsoft defines the product as a solution that “delivers streamlined communications for your users so they can find and communicate with the right person, right now, from the applications they use most.”
That is a somewhat vague definition, or maybe it’s just broad without talking about the technology under the hood. One could say, without too much opposition, that OCS 2007 represents Microsoft’s push into the IP communications market—which includes unified communications,VoIP , and messaging.
OCS 2007, as TMCnet blogger Tom Keating (News - Alert) pointed out in a June 26 post, “uses Session Initiation Protocol (News - Alert) (SIP) standards-based protocol to enable presence-based VoIP call management, as well as VoIP communication.” In his post, Keating also noted that Microsoft is marketing OCS 2007 to the enterprise (big business) market.
Readers of this article probably are familiar with the term ‘presence,’ which Keating referenced in his post. Just in case, though, ‘presence’ in the communications market refers to technology that lets users see the status of other users—something along the lines of an instant messaging client “buddy list” that shows if a person is ‘available’ or ‘away,’ but more advanced in its functionality and applications.
Unified communication, another term that doesn’t always have a clear definition, generally is understood to include the concept of presence as a way to make communications more efficient and useful. For the most part, OCS 2007 is being talked about as a unified communications product, as well it should, although some analysts (like Keating) are also looking at its impact on the VoIP market.
Wikipedia describes OCS 2007 as the latest incarnation of Live Communications Server, specifying that the new solution is “an enterprise real-time communications server, providing instant messaging and collaboration functionality. It is originally a spin-off from the then new feature in Exchange Server 2000.”
The Wikipedia entry for OCS 2007 goes on to specify that the main use of the solution is “instant messaging within a single network, including presence information, application sharing, file transfer and voice and video communication.” Further, the entry points out that Office Communicator is now being promoted by Microsoft as the recommended messaging client.
In his June blog post, Keating described Communicator 2007 as a unified communications client that work in conjunction with OCS 2007.
“This solution delivers a presence-based, enterprise VoIP “softphone” for secure, enterprise-grade instant messaging that allows for intercompany federation and connectivity to public instant messaging networks such as MSN,AOL ( News - Alert) and Yahoo!,” Keating said.
So there you have it—OCS 2007 touches on presence messaging, UC, VoIP and various other aspects of IP-based communications. Its full impact is yet to be fully understood, but the response of companies like NEC and Unisys, partnering on or developing forward-thinking UC strategies, provides an indication of how significant Microsoft’s new product is perceived to be.
Stay tuned.
What exactly is Office Communications Server 2007 (OCS 2007)? That seems like a good question to answer as the software’s launch approaches. Microsoft defines the product as a solution that “delivers streamlined communications for your users so they can find and communicate with the right person, right now, from the applications they use most.”
That is a somewhat vague definition, or maybe it’s just broad without talking about the technology under the hood. One could say, without too much opposition, that OCS 2007 represents Microsoft’s push into the IP communications market—which includes unified communications,VoIP , and messaging.
OCS 2007, as TMCnet blogger Tom Keating (News - Alert) pointed out in a June 26 post, “uses Session Initiation Protocol (News - Alert) (SIP) standards-based protocol to enable presence-based VoIP call management, as well as VoIP communication.” In his post, Keating also noted that Microsoft is marketing OCS 2007 to the enterprise (big business) market.
Readers of this article probably are familiar with the term ‘presence,’ which Keating referenced in his post. Just in case, though, ‘presence’ in the communications market refers to technology that lets users see the status of other users—something along the lines of an instant messaging client “buddy list” that shows if a person is ‘available’ or ‘away,’ but more advanced in its functionality and applications.
Unified communication, another term that doesn’t always have a clear definition, generally is understood to include the concept of presence as a way to make communications more efficient and useful. For the most part, OCS 2007 is being talked about as a unified communications product, as well it should, although some analysts (like Keating) are also looking at its impact on the VoIP market.
Wikipedia describes OCS 2007 as the latest incarnation of Live Communications Server, specifying that the new solution is “an enterprise real-time communications server, providing instant messaging and collaboration functionality. It is originally a spin-off from the then new feature in Exchange Server 2000.”
The Wikipedia entry for OCS 2007 goes on to specify that the main use of the solution is “instant messaging within a single network, including presence information, application sharing, file transfer and voice and video communication.” Further, the entry points out that Office Communicator is now being promoted by Microsoft as the recommended messaging client.
In his June blog post, Keating described Communicator 2007 as a unified communications client that work in conjunction with OCS 2007.
“This solution delivers a presence-based, enterprise VoIP “softphone” for secure, enterprise-grade instant messaging that allows for intercompany federation and connectivity to public instant messaging networks such as MSN,AOL ( News - Alert) and Yahoo!,” Keating said.
So there you have it—OCS 2007 touches on presence messaging, UC, VoIP and various other aspects of IP-based communications. Its full impact is yet to be fully understood, but the response of companies like NEC and Unisys, partnering on or developing forward-thinking UC strategies, provides an indication of how significant Microsoft’s new product is perceived to be.
Stay tuned.
Điện thoại qua giao thức Internet: có hứa hẹn?
Các dịch vụ thoại qua giao thức Internet được nhận định là rất có tương lai khi công nghệ băng rộng trở nên phổ cập.
Điện thoại qua giao thức Internet có cước siêu rẻ, thậm chí miễn phí qua WiFi, WiMax, đã khiến một số nhà khai thác viễn thông lo ngại.
Tuy nhiên, cũng có ý kiến cho rằng, đây chỉ là những dịch vụ bổ sung cho các nhu cầu sử dụng khác nhau và những dịch vụ thoại qua giao thức Internet vẫn còn rất nhiều hạn chế nên chưa thể đe dọa đến các nhà khai thác viễn thông.
Mối đe dọa tới gần?
Mặc dù đã được cấp phép cung cấp một số dịch vụ viễn thông, song FPT Telecom chưa đủ tiềm lực để xếp mình vào danh sách các công ty viễn thông, mà vẫn chỉ được biết đến như một nhà cung cấp dịch vụ Internet (ISP). Ở cái thế “chả có gì mà mất”, FPT Telecom đã tiến sang một công nghệ khác mà giới phân tích cho rằng sẽ là mối lo ngại cho các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ viễn thông, đó là công nghệ SIP. Trả lời Báo BĐVN, bà Chu Thanh Hà, Phó giám đốc FPT Telecom cho biết hiện công ty này đang thử nghiệm mạng SIP (nhưng chưa có kết quả gì!). SIP (Session Initiation Protocol -Giao thức khởi tạo phiên) là một giao thức tín hiệu điện thoại IP dùng để thiết lập, sửa đổi và kết thúc các cuộc gọi điện thoại VoIP. Chuẩn này có khả năng thiết lập và truyền tín hiệu các cuộc gọi trong mạng Internet, tương tác theo thời gian thực, có thể xử lý thông tin trong cấu trúc mạng phức tạp mà mỗi phiên có thể là một cuộc gọi điện thoại 2 chiều, một thông báo các tin nhắn...
Giới chuyên môn nhận định, SIP sẽ có vị trí vững vàng trong công nghệ không dây và mạng di động thế hệ thứ ba (3G). Cisco và nhiều hãng sản xuất thiết bị tổng đài IP đang đưa SIP vào phần cứng, còn Skype, Yahoo, Microsoft… cũng đã tích hợp SIP trong hệ thống tin nhắn nhanh của họ. Phía FPT Telecom cũng thông tin rằng với mạng SIP kết hợp với dịch vụ Internet WiFi đang được lắp miễn phí ở nhiều nơi thì những người dùng máy tính xách tay, điện thoại di động có thể gọi điện thoại miễn phí được. Những dòng máy ĐTDĐ sử dụng HĐH Symbian9, Windows Mobile 2003/2005 ngoài sử dụng dịch vụ thoại của các nhà cung cấp viễn thông còn có thể kết nối được với SIP để “alô” qua Internet với giá rẻ, thậm chí miễn phí. Trong khi đó, FPT đang mở rộng mạng WiFi tại nhiều trung tâm lớn ở Hà Nội và TP. HCM.
Một số chuyên gia trong lĩnh vực viễn thông của VNPT còn cho rằng, không chỉ có công nghệ SIP đe dọa đến các dịch vụ truyền thống, mà khi Việt Nam cấp phép WiMax sẽ có hàng loạt các dịch vụ gọi điện thoại miễn phí trên mạng băng rộng này như Skype chẳng hạn. Với ưu thế truyền dẫn Internet băng rộng và có tính năng di động, chắc chắn sẽ có hàng loạt các dịch vụ qua giao thức Internet sẽ được cung cấp trên nền mạng này. Lúc đó, các thiết bị hỗ trợ WiMax di động sẽ được người sử dụng có thể sẽ lựa chọn các dịch vụ qua giao thức Internet nhiều hơn vì việc kết nối băng thông rộng sẽ đem lại dịch vụ chất lượng tốt hơn và có khả năng di động nên sẽ khắc phục được nhiều nhược điểm của dịch vụ này hiện nay.
Mới đây, hãng Nokia đã tung ra dòng máy Nokia N800 hỗ trợ WiMax và có thể thực hiện điện thoại Skype. Giới phân tích cho rằng, hiện thị trường VoIP còn nhỏ, thế nhưng đây vẫn sẽ là mối đe dọa trong tương lai. Chẳng hạn, nếu như dùng Skype, khách hàng sẽ có thể sẽ bỏ điện thoại cố định hay di động mà cần cài đặt phần mềm Skype vào máy tính, mua một cái micro và tai nghe, thế là có thể dễ dàng biến PC thành điện thoại và mới đây công nghệ này đã được tích hợp tất cả trong chiếc điện thoại.
Các nhà khai thác viễn thông nói gì?
Tỏ ra khá lạc quan về tính cạnh tranh của mạng di động GSM, ông Phan Hữu Châu, Trưởng phòng Kỹ thuật của Vinaphone cho biết, với các công nghệ thoại mới trên giao thức Internet như SIP sẽ bổ sung cho các dịch vụ mà khách hàng tùy theo nhu cầu để sử dụng chứ không thể đe dọa đối với dịch vụ di động hiện nay. Trong khi đó các dịch vụ này còn nhiều nhược điểm và phạm vi sử dụng còn hạn chế. Ông Phan Hữu Châu còn cho rằng, trong tương lai, các nhà khai thác viễn thông sẽ tiến lên mạng băng rộng. Lúc đó tỷ lệ thoại trên mạng băng rộng nhỏ, thậm chí các nhà khai thác viễn thông có thể cho miễn phí thoại mà chỉ tính tiền dịch vụ phi thoại.
Khác với ý kiến của phía Vinaphone, ông Hoàng Sơn, Phó giám đốc Viettel Telecom cho rằng, những dịch vụ thoại miễn phí qua giao thức Internet có thể đe dọa đến các nhà khai thác viễn thông. Tuy nhiên, mối đe dọa như thế nào còn phụ thuộc vào chính sách quản lý. “Ở những nước phát triển có vùng phủ WiFi miễn phí, người sử dụng có thể sử dụng miễn phí các dịch vụ thoại qua giao thức Internet. Nhưng ở Việt Nam vùng phủ sóng WiFi hẹp và các nhà khai thác viễn thông đang trong quá trình đầu tư mạng lưới nên việc triển khai miễn phí các dịch vụ thoại qua giao thức Internet một cách rộng rãi vẫn là câu chuyện xa”, ông Hoàng Sơn nói.
Điện thoại qua giao thức Internet có cước siêu rẻ, thậm chí miễn phí qua WiFi, WiMax, đã khiến một số nhà khai thác viễn thông lo ngại.
Tuy nhiên, cũng có ý kiến cho rằng, đây chỉ là những dịch vụ bổ sung cho các nhu cầu sử dụng khác nhau và những dịch vụ thoại qua giao thức Internet vẫn còn rất nhiều hạn chế nên chưa thể đe dọa đến các nhà khai thác viễn thông.
Mối đe dọa tới gần?
Mặc dù đã được cấp phép cung cấp một số dịch vụ viễn thông, song FPT Telecom chưa đủ tiềm lực để xếp mình vào danh sách các công ty viễn thông, mà vẫn chỉ được biết đến như một nhà cung cấp dịch vụ Internet (ISP). Ở cái thế “chả có gì mà mất”, FPT Telecom đã tiến sang một công nghệ khác mà giới phân tích cho rằng sẽ là mối lo ngại cho các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ viễn thông, đó là công nghệ SIP. Trả lời Báo BĐVN, bà Chu Thanh Hà, Phó giám đốc FPT Telecom cho biết hiện công ty này đang thử nghiệm mạng SIP (nhưng chưa có kết quả gì!). SIP (Session Initiation Protocol -Giao thức khởi tạo phiên) là một giao thức tín hiệu điện thoại IP dùng để thiết lập, sửa đổi và kết thúc các cuộc gọi điện thoại VoIP. Chuẩn này có khả năng thiết lập và truyền tín hiệu các cuộc gọi trong mạng Internet, tương tác theo thời gian thực, có thể xử lý thông tin trong cấu trúc mạng phức tạp mà mỗi phiên có thể là một cuộc gọi điện thoại 2 chiều, một thông báo các tin nhắn...
Giới chuyên môn nhận định, SIP sẽ có vị trí vững vàng trong công nghệ không dây và mạng di động thế hệ thứ ba (3G). Cisco và nhiều hãng sản xuất thiết bị tổng đài IP đang đưa SIP vào phần cứng, còn Skype, Yahoo, Microsoft… cũng đã tích hợp SIP trong hệ thống tin nhắn nhanh của họ. Phía FPT Telecom cũng thông tin rằng với mạng SIP kết hợp với dịch vụ Internet WiFi đang được lắp miễn phí ở nhiều nơi thì những người dùng máy tính xách tay, điện thoại di động có thể gọi điện thoại miễn phí được. Những dòng máy ĐTDĐ sử dụng HĐH Symbian9, Windows Mobile 2003/2005 ngoài sử dụng dịch vụ thoại của các nhà cung cấp viễn thông còn có thể kết nối được với SIP để “alô” qua Internet với giá rẻ, thậm chí miễn phí. Trong khi đó, FPT đang mở rộng mạng WiFi tại nhiều trung tâm lớn ở Hà Nội và TP. HCM.
Một số chuyên gia trong lĩnh vực viễn thông của VNPT còn cho rằng, không chỉ có công nghệ SIP đe dọa đến các dịch vụ truyền thống, mà khi Việt Nam cấp phép WiMax sẽ có hàng loạt các dịch vụ gọi điện thoại miễn phí trên mạng băng rộng này như Skype chẳng hạn. Với ưu thế truyền dẫn Internet băng rộng và có tính năng di động, chắc chắn sẽ có hàng loạt các dịch vụ qua giao thức Internet sẽ được cung cấp trên nền mạng này. Lúc đó, các thiết bị hỗ trợ WiMax di động sẽ được người sử dụng có thể sẽ lựa chọn các dịch vụ qua giao thức Internet nhiều hơn vì việc kết nối băng thông rộng sẽ đem lại dịch vụ chất lượng tốt hơn và có khả năng di động nên sẽ khắc phục được nhiều nhược điểm của dịch vụ này hiện nay.
Mới đây, hãng Nokia đã tung ra dòng máy Nokia N800 hỗ trợ WiMax và có thể thực hiện điện thoại Skype. Giới phân tích cho rằng, hiện thị trường VoIP còn nhỏ, thế nhưng đây vẫn sẽ là mối đe dọa trong tương lai. Chẳng hạn, nếu như dùng Skype, khách hàng sẽ có thể sẽ bỏ điện thoại cố định hay di động mà cần cài đặt phần mềm Skype vào máy tính, mua một cái micro và tai nghe, thế là có thể dễ dàng biến PC thành điện thoại và mới đây công nghệ này đã được tích hợp tất cả trong chiếc điện thoại.
Các nhà khai thác viễn thông nói gì?
Tỏ ra khá lạc quan về tính cạnh tranh của mạng di động GSM, ông Phan Hữu Châu, Trưởng phòng Kỹ thuật của Vinaphone cho biết, với các công nghệ thoại mới trên giao thức Internet như SIP sẽ bổ sung cho các dịch vụ mà khách hàng tùy theo nhu cầu để sử dụng chứ không thể đe dọa đối với dịch vụ di động hiện nay. Trong khi đó các dịch vụ này còn nhiều nhược điểm và phạm vi sử dụng còn hạn chế. Ông Phan Hữu Châu còn cho rằng, trong tương lai, các nhà khai thác viễn thông sẽ tiến lên mạng băng rộng. Lúc đó tỷ lệ thoại trên mạng băng rộng nhỏ, thậm chí các nhà khai thác viễn thông có thể cho miễn phí thoại mà chỉ tính tiền dịch vụ phi thoại.
Khác với ý kiến của phía Vinaphone, ông Hoàng Sơn, Phó giám đốc Viettel Telecom cho rằng, những dịch vụ thoại miễn phí qua giao thức Internet có thể đe dọa đến các nhà khai thác viễn thông. Tuy nhiên, mối đe dọa như thế nào còn phụ thuộc vào chính sách quản lý. “Ở những nước phát triển có vùng phủ WiFi miễn phí, người sử dụng có thể sử dụng miễn phí các dịch vụ thoại qua giao thức Internet. Nhưng ở Việt Nam vùng phủ sóng WiFi hẹp và các nhà khai thác viễn thông đang trong quá trình đầu tư mạng lưới nên việc triển khai miễn phí các dịch vụ thoại qua giao thức Internet một cách rộng rãi vẫn là câu chuyện xa”, ông Hoàng Sơn nói.
Voice over IP: 10 Reasons!
Reason to switch to using the model of phone Internet protocol (Voice over Internet Protocol - VoIP) can be mentioned a lot, depending on whether you want to develop business models and operations of the business ( DN) how you. However, according to documents from Customer's Avaya corporations, is 10 the most important reason to use the phone system (phone) IP (IP Telephony) or VoIP service.
Transition strategic direction of service providers and VoIP
According to many experts, the coming few years will be about 300 billion U.S. dollars of investment funding for telecom industry was transferred to the equipment and network services to support IP Telephony solutions over LAN and the VoIP service package on the WAN. Thanks to appear at the right time, network technology to support IP Telephony and VoIP has influence and impact a strong market to provide telecommunications services.
Diverse functions - high economic efficiency
Most of the features of the phone system Phone POTS-PSTN (Plain Old Telephone Service - Public Switched Telephone Network) has made a tradition of "name" in the field of telecommunications and became very familiar to us. The outstanding features as possible to the voice mail (voicemail), transfer calls between your branches (call tranfer), call forwarding to some other phone (call forwarding) and the call triangle (three - way calling). Cost [the investment or use] of these features can be included in the cost of [the investment or use] of the enterprise phone system, or user fee for using these features as form of separate services are integrated on individual subscriber Tel.
Obviously IP Telephony and VoIP have made phone features traditionally become obsolete as all features, applications communicate new information has presented the world converged telecommunications platform support IP. Number and type of phone features available in the IP Telephony and VoIP solutions today are rated as very much and attractive. All this functionality is available without requiring any additional investment costs because they do work on IP network platforms and be "shipping" on your computer medical computer applications as usual.
These features are effective in IP Telephony and VoIP solutions - such as the ability to check the station phone you are using (or exactly are connected to) and get a "virtual sign" through which inform you that someone in the group calls its "presence" but is busy answer / make a call or away - have proved so superior to any system that features POST Phone System provides.
POTS phone system, separate systems must always be maintained to manage existing user on the system and information about them. Depending on the POTS phone system that businesses are using, the manager must set the user's information and update data on selected list of phone systems.
Meanwhile, the telecommunications system converged IP platform, most (if not to say all) information as may be updates only once and stored (maintained) in an institution homogeneous data. Whether companies are using ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or DBMS (Database Management Systems), the software is integrated with all related application systems in enterprises when necessary, including all systems IP Telephony and VoIP today through communication Application Programming Interface (API).
Investment cost savings VoIP ago
Today, most organizations and companies are using (or also more) model of the traditional phone system, or converted in whole or in part to IP Telephony and VoIP systems to support better for business. If the company has equipped digital devices (eg PBX), you can save considerable investment costs by reusing most of the equipment with new VoIP system.
Easy maintenance
Thanks to the ability to remove root systems get more information duplication and redundancy, the task of installing and managing VoIP and IP Telephony systems becomes easier. The management system phone offered many applications efficiently and directly to support the many challenges they encounter. They not only manage the application data on computer systems but also phone or video conferencing (video conference) on the IP platform.
The action moves, additions and changes (user information or system configuration) in the POTS phone system requires resources previously complex and very expensive, but with an IP Telephony network is VoIP automatically self-adjust to be compatible with the new location of the user. System managers can be from any networked computer that conducted the inspection setting purposes (usage), account (account) and other data users. With the IP telecommunications systems, public management and maintenance of the network phone becomes economically and efficiently.
Flexibility and mobility
IP Softphone is a software solution called Internet Phone for computers using Windows operating system. This software allows users easy access to telecommunication services in real time (with or without charge), and features improvements to the method used is simple: just click to dial call. In a telecommunication network IP platform, employees can travel freely anywhere in the office, connect the laptop to the network, start working and receive / make calls. Whether sitting in a position "temporarily" but people still provides full features available in computers at the main desk. Network will automatically identify the user and impose personal information (profile) of the user that the database's control system. Even employees can transfer calls to any phone on any desk in a temporary location (this phone is not necessary to support IP). With this model, the system administrator no costly and time to create compatibility between computer data and phone connections for a colleague is working temporarily at the office by their charge.
Many attractive features
If you are a manager (network computing or telecommunications in business) and still skeptical about the advantages of VoIP, such as reduced communication costs; easy integration of data systems, voice and video; database capable of centralized control; mobile features improved help save time and costs ... probably not something you can convince to switch to using the solution hey.
But just in case you face a barrier and not sure which way should you consider the phenomenon of alcohol emerged as "the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) - allows multiple applications , new hardware easily deploy VoIP solutions on the LAN, WAN or Internet. Most of the current ADSL modem and router support VoIP and SIP, small and medium enterprises can quickly deploy Internet phone models through Internet connection with other free VoIP services such as IPTel, DrayTel, MediaRing, IPTEL, Voice777 ...
Ability to manage comprehensive
The telecommunication network provides the IP is always a platform for effective comprehensive management system. Therefore, you can control information to each bit of data flow on the network is IP Telephony (LAN) or VoIP network (WAN).
Similarly, you can use specialized tools, such as diagnostic tool system of Avaya EXPERT Systems Diagnostics, to quickly detect and correct these problems occur on the network. These tools also support monitoring site or remotely. In this dedicated network (the IP telecom network), voice quality can reach 99.99%. This number does not mean "problems never happen" but the environment the IP network convergence, the ability to detect early symptoms and change the settings before you have any problems do occur that has been improved significantly.
Collaboration time
If you are still skeptical about the benefits that IP Telephony and VoIP delivers, please consider the following fact: VoIP platform operating on IP networks and web applications previously only works on the Internet is now can operate on the IP network. Users can access the website you need right from the desktop phone or the IP link to the homepage of the particular phone being used. Currently, there are many Web-based applications-HTML suitable for operation on the IP phone.
Users can add images Solutions Phone Video Telephony Solution with software-based IP video applications, thereby allowing a desktop or notebook computer to simulate a IP phone in the office. Quality images and sound using the internal network usually better to use the internet connection is rarely encountered condition late hours or frame.
Bandwidth use reasonable
Many users completely wrong that the additional IP Telephony and VoIP solutions to the enterprise network computer network is not providing enough bandwidth to support this change. However, the fact that data flow computer (not a data device) on the regular phone network, accounts for 30% of the overall system bandwidth.
If the review terms of LAN, the ability to isolate failures is provided through switches, to help maintain a stable regime for the operation of the network. If any "dead spots" (chokepoint) are discovered, they can be overcome almost immediately by changing the point of connection or the network managers called "load balancing "(load balancing). However, the IP management system will tell you this before it becomes a problem.
If the review terms of WAN, the ability to download data (bandwidth) should be more focused. WAN bandwidth is often evaluated based on how many standard Service Channel Number (Digital Service Channels - DSOs) are supported.
For example, the transmission line T-1 (1.544Mbit / s) support 24 DSOs is one of the most common connection in the world today. If the phone system deployed in the form of POTS-PSTN switch via T-1 link, you can make 24 calls simultaneously. However, the advantages of VoIP is closing the data packets and data packets are transmitted via T-1 connection on a small portion of the bandwidth of a channel DSO. Therefore, you have the bandwidth of multiple VoIP services if compared with POTS-PSTN phone system on the WAN.
Reduce long-distance phone charges
If a company has many offices away from each other (in the cities, provinces or other countries), the VoIP will save considerable cost long distance phone calls between this office. All that companies need to do is adding hardware solutions and software appropriate to network your computers available. For a complete VoIP system, even businesses can deploy solutions intelligent call forwarding, which allows "limited" long-distance calls directly from a region (province, city or country ) to a different area (the area must have two offices of this company) by transferring data through the phone internal VoIP network and then forwarded to the PSTN system.
Transition strategic direction of service providers and VoIP
According to many experts, the coming few years will be about 300 billion U.S. dollars of investment funding for telecom industry was transferred to the equipment and network services to support IP Telephony solutions over LAN and the VoIP service package on the WAN. Thanks to appear at the right time, network technology to support IP Telephony and VoIP has influence and impact a strong market to provide telecommunications services.
Diverse functions - high economic efficiency
Most of the features of the phone system Phone POTS-PSTN (Plain Old Telephone Service - Public Switched Telephone Network) has made a tradition of "name" in the field of telecommunications and became very familiar to us. The outstanding features as possible to the voice mail (voicemail), transfer calls between your branches (call tranfer), call forwarding to some other phone (call forwarding) and the call triangle (three - way calling). Cost [the investment or use] of these features can be included in the cost of [the investment or use] of the enterprise phone system, or user fee for using these features as form of separate services are integrated on individual subscriber Tel.
Obviously IP Telephony and VoIP have made phone features traditionally become obsolete as all features, applications communicate new information has presented the world converged telecommunications platform support IP. Number and type of phone features available in the IP Telephony and VoIP solutions today are rated as very much and attractive. All this functionality is available without requiring any additional investment costs because they do work on IP network platforms and be "shipping" on your computer medical computer applications as usual.
These features are effective in IP Telephony and VoIP solutions - such as the ability to check the station phone you are using (or exactly are connected to) and get a "virtual sign" through which inform you that someone in the group calls its "presence" but is busy answer / make a call or away - have proved so superior to any system that features POST Phone System provides.
POTS phone system, separate systems must always be maintained to manage existing user on the system and information about them. Depending on the POTS phone system that businesses are using, the manager must set the user's information and update data on selected list of phone systems.
Meanwhile, the telecommunications system converged IP platform, most (if not to say all) information as may be updates only once and stored (maintained) in an institution homogeneous data. Whether companies are using ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or DBMS (Database Management Systems), the software is integrated with all related application systems in enterprises when necessary, including all systems IP Telephony and VoIP today through communication Application Programming Interface (API).
Investment cost savings VoIP ago
Today, most organizations and companies are using (or also more) model of the traditional phone system, or converted in whole or in part to IP Telephony and VoIP systems to support better for business. If the company has equipped digital devices (eg PBX), you can save considerable investment costs by reusing most of the equipment with new VoIP system.
Easy maintenance
Thanks to the ability to remove root systems get more information duplication and redundancy, the task of installing and managing VoIP and IP Telephony systems becomes easier. The management system phone offered many applications efficiently and directly to support the many challenges they encounter. They not only manage the application data on computer systems but also phone or video conferencing (video conference) on the IP platform.
The action moves, additions and changes (user information or system configuration) in the POTS phone system requires resources previously complex and very expensive, but with an IP Telephony network is VoIP automatically self-adjust to be compatible with the new location of the user. System managers can be from any networked computer that conducted the inspection setting purposes (usage), account (account) and other data users. With the IP telecommunications systems, public management and maintenance of the network phone becomes economically and efficiently.
Flexibility and mobility
IP Softphone is a software solution called Internet Phone for computers using Windows operating system. This software allows users easy access to telecommunication services in real time (with or without charge), and features improvements to the method used is simple: just click to dial call. In a telecommunication network IP platform, employees can travel freely anywhere in the office, connect the laptop to the network, start working and receive / make calls. Whether sitting in a position "temporarily" but people still provides full features available in computers at the main desk. Network will automatically identify the user and impose personal information (profile) of the user that the database's control system. Even employees can transfer calls to any phone on any desk in a temporary location (this phone is not necessary to support IP). With this model, the system administrator no costly and time to create compatibility between computer data and phone connections for a colleague is working temporarily at the office by their charge.
Many attractive features
If you are a manager (network computing or telecommunications in business) and still skeptical about the advantages of VoIP, such as reduced communication costs; easy integration of data systems, voice and video; database capable of centralized control; mobile features improved help save time and costs ... probably not something you can convince to switch to using the solution hey.
But just in case you face a barrier and not sure which way should you consider the phenomenon of alcohol emerged as "the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) - allows multiple applications , new hardware easily deploy VoIP solutions on the LAN, WAN or Internet. Most of the current ADSL modem and router support VoIP and SIP, small and medium enterprises can quickly deploy Internet phone models through Internet connection with other free VoIP services such as IPTel, DrayTel, MediaRing, IPTEL, Voice777 ...
Ability to manage comprehensive
The telecommunication network provides the IP is always a platform for effective comprehensive management system. Therefore, you can control information to each bit of data flow on the network is IP Telephony (LAN) or VoIP network (WAN).
Similarly, you can use specialized tools, such as diagnostic tool system of Avaya EXPERT Systems Diagnostics, to quickly detect and correct these problems occur on the network. These tools also support monitoring site or remotely. In this dedicated network (the IP telecom network), voice quality can reach 99.99%. This number does not mean "problems never happen" but the environment the IP network convergence, the ability to detect early symptoms and change the settings before you have any problems do occur that has been improved significantly.
Collaboration time
If you are still skeptical about the benefits that IP Telephony and VoIP delivers, please consider the following fact: VoIP platform operating on IP networks and web applications previously only works on the Internet is now can operate on the IP network. Users can access the website you need right from the desktop phone or the IP link to the homepage of the particular phone being used. Currently, there are many Web-based applications-HTML suitable for operation on the IP phone.
Users can add images Solutions Phone Video Telephony Solution with software-based IP video applications, thereby allowing a desktop or notebook computer to simulate a IP phone in the office. Quality images and sound using the internal network usually better to use the internet connection is rarely encountered condition late hours or frame.
Bandwidth use reasonable
Many users completely wrong that the additional IP Telephony and VoIP solutions to the enterprise network computer network is not providing enough bandwidth to support this change. However, the fact that data flow computer (not a data device) on the regular phone network, accounts for 30% of the overall system bandwidth.
If the review terms of LAN, the ability to isolate failures is provided through switches, to help maintain a stable regime for the operation of the network. If any "dead spots" (chokepoint) are discovered, they can be overcome almost immediately by changing the point of connection or the network managers called "load balancing "(load balancing). However, the IP management system will tell you this before it becomes a problem.
If the review terms of WAN, the ability to download data (bandwidth) should be more focused. WAN bandwidth is often evaluated based on how many standard Service Channel Number (Digital Service Channels - DSOs) are supported.
For example, the transmission line T-1 (1.544Mbit / s) support 24 DSOs is one of the most common connection in the world today. If the phone system deployed in the form of POTS-PSTN switch via T-1 link, you can make 24 calls simultaneously. However, the advantages of VoIP is closing the data packets and data packets are transmitted via T-1 connection on a small portion of the bandwidth of a channel DSO. Therefore, you have the bandwidth of multiple VoIP services if compared with POTS-PSTN phone system on the WAN.
Reduce long-distance phone charges
If a company has many offices away from each other (in the cities, provinces or other countries), the VoIP will save considerable cost long distance phone calls between this office. All that companies need to do is adding hardware solutions and software appropriate to network your computers available. For a complete VoIP system, even businesses can deploy solutions intelligent call forwarding, which allows "limited" long-distance calls directly from a region (province, city or country ) to a different area (the area must have two offices of this company) by transferring data through the phone internal VoIP network and then forwarded to the PSTN system.
VNPT cung cấp dịch vụ giải pháp mạng điện thoại nội bộ - IPCentrex
VNPT chính thức cung cấp dịch vụ giải pháp mạng điện thoại nội bộ IP Centrex dành cho các tổ chức, doanh nghiệp. Đây là giải pháp mới của mạng NGN cho các ứng dụng tương đưng dịch vụ tổng đài nội bộ doanh nghiệp. Theo đó, các doanh nghiệp có nhiều văn phòng, chi nhánh ở các địa điểm khác nhau trên toàn quốc, khi sử dụng IP Centrex sẽ thiết lập được một mạng riêng cho tất cả văn phòng, chi nhánh của mình cũng như sử dụng các dịch vụ, ứng dụng mới linh hoạt trên nền IP.
Với dịch vụ IP Centrex, các nhân viên có thể làm việc ngay tại nhà riêng hoặc ở bất kỳ nơi nào mà vẫn tương tự như đang ở cơ quan. Từ một địa điểm, mỗi nhân viên chỉ cần bấm máy lẻ để liên hệ trực tiếp với các chi nhánh, văn phòng khác trên khắp lãnh thổ Việt Nam. Thông qua mạng Internet/VPN/leased line, các nhân sự này chỉ cần dùng username đăng nhập cùng mật khẩu là có thể thực hiện được các cuộc gọi.
Tùy từng cơ cấu tổ chức của mỗi doanh nghiệp, VNPT sẽ thiết lập cấu hình cho từng doanh nghiệp: số lượng thuê bao, tính năng sử dụng... giữa các chi nhánh khác nhau cũng như việc đặt tên hiển thị, chuyển cuộc gọi... và tạo một kế hoạch đánh số chung cho tất cả các chi nhánh của doanh nghiệp. Các doanh nghiệp lựa chọn loại hình tổng đài này sẽ không cần đầu tư tổng đài PBX, không cần người quản trị hệ thống bởi công việc này sẽ do Công ty Viễn thông liên tỉnh VTN trực tiếp quản lý và đảm nhiệm. Đối với khách hàng sử dụng dịch vụ trực tiếp, cần phải có mạng máy tính nội bộ được kết nối đến hệ thống của VNPT bằng VPN hoặc có kết nối Internet.
Dịch vụ IP Centrex được VNPT cung cấp trên phạm vi toàn quốc. Khách hàng có thể xem chi tiết tại website:http://www.vtn.com.vn/IPCentrex hoặc gọi tới số điện thoại hỗ trợ miễn phí 18001719 để biết thêm thông tin.
Với dịch vụ IP Centrex, các nhân viên có thể làm việc ngay tại nhà riêng hoặc ở bất kỳ nơi nào mà vẫn tương tự như đang ở cơ quan. Từ một địa điểm, mỗi nhân viên chỉ cần bấm máy lẻ để liên hệ trực tiếp với các chi nhánh, văn phòng khác trên khắp lãnh thổ Việt Nam. Thông qua mạng Internet/VPN/leased line, các nhân sự này chỉ cần dùng username đăng nhập cùng mật khẩu là có thể thực hiện được các cuộc gọi.
Tùy từng cơ cấu tổ chức của mỗi doanh nghiệp, VNPT sẽ thiết lập cấu hình cho từng doanh nghiệp: số lượng thuê bao, tính năng sử dụng... giữa các chi nhánh khác nhau cũng như việc đặt tên hiển thị, chuyển cuộc gọi... và tạo một kế hoạch đánh số chung cho tất cả các chi nhánh của doanh nghiệp. Các doanh nghiệp lựa chọn loại hình tổng đài này sẽ không cần đầu tư tổng đài PBX, không cần người quản trị hệ thống bởi công việc này sẽ do Công ty Viễn thông liên tỉnh VTN trực tiếp quản lý và đảm nhiệm. Đối với khách hàng sử dụng dịch vụ trực tiếp, cần phải có mạng máy tính nội bộ được kết nối đến hệ thống của VNPT bằng VPN hoặc có kết nối Internet.
Dịch vụ IP Centrex được VNPT cung cấp trên phạm vi toàn quốc. Khách hàng có thể xem chi tiết tại website:http://www.vtn.com.vn/IPCentrex hoặc gọi tới số điện thoại hỗ trợ miễn phí 18001719 để biết thêm thông tin.
SIP and Web-Based Applications
Doug Tucker, CTO Americas, Ubiquity Software
By Tim Scannel, Internetnews.com
Since its founding in 1993, Ubiquity Software has pretty much lived up to its moniker of developing applications and services that are available anywhere and everywhere.
In 1999, the company revamped its strategy to produce software based on the Session Initiation Protocol, or SIP. The technology was originally designed to be a framework for the development of converged voice, video and data services over IP networks, and has since become a key element in telecom-class communications services today.
The market for such services, based on SIP, is expected to reach $4.7 billion by 2009, according to market researcher Yankee Group, as a range of new applications and products is deployed that make use of enhanced IP services. These also include VoIP, Web conferencing, instant messaging and gaming applications.
In January, the UK-based Ubiquity agreed to be acquired by Avaya, a move that gave this company an edge over Nortel, Cisco and other competitors. And just this month, Avaya agreed to an $8.2 billion acquisition deal put on the table by private-equity firms Silver Lake and TPG Capital, which effectively makes it a private corporation.
Ubiquity has emerged as a key element in Avaya's plans to expand its IP-based telephony footprint and spearhead the development of converged voice and data applications and services -- especially those offered by the wireless carriers.
Recently, internetnews.com talked with Doug Tucker, CTO of Ubiquity's Americas operations, about its evolving SIP platform and how the technology will play a key role in the IP-based applications landscape.
Q: Why is SIP important to current and future Web-based applications?
You can think of SIP as a generic interconnect mechanism for communications sessions. It's not limited to voice or IP telephony. In fact, IP telephony is an application kind of superimposed on top of the SIP interconnects. It is a way to establish sessions between communications participants and then negotiating different ways communications sessions run on top of it.
Q: Are sessions of this type possible without a SIP protocol or architecture?
There are other protocols you could use, like H.323, which has been the predominate protocol that enterprises have used in the past for voice and video conferencing and collaboration. Actually H.323 and T.120 have been the predominant ones.
These are now migrating to a SIP infrastructure. There are still H.323 products in use today, but clearly the future is moving towards SIP.
Q: What is the problem with H.323 as compared to SIP?
H.323 is a very constrained infrastructure. It was designed for very specific deployment architecture and specific uses, while SIP is a much more open protocol that allows the applications to define the usage and the topology that SIP is applied to.
Q: So would the problem with H.323 and others be that they were essentially developed before the development and growth of mobile devices and advanced Internet applications?
I was actually on the committee that created H.323 10 or 12 years ago. It was really targeted as an IP-modeling of the PSDM (perceptual speech distortion metric) infrastructure, and was strictly designed for point-to-point multi-point video and voice communications.
It wasn't viewed as a general applications infrastructure, where SIP was really built around the Internet protocols and a very distributed deployment model and also a very open usage model. It's much better suited to today's view of where applications are going, which are rapidly breaking down the notion of vertical applications and approaching more of a horizontal services capability that are more dynamically grouped into point applications for the enterprise.
Q: Are there various types and iterations of SIP, much like there are different types of Unix, Java and other platforms?
There is one SIP set of standards that people adhere to, but it's a very flexible base. On top of that you layer in what I call your "service topology," and that's how you make use of SIP to make the connection session and to define what the sessions are. And those service definitions are what changes from deployment to deployment.
Q: Ubiquity's SIP is a Java-based platform. Does this make a big difference as compared with something that may be based on Brew, or does Brew have a comparable platform?
First of all, there is the SIP infrastructure, and on top of that you need to layer an environment that allows you to write programs and make use of it. The Ubiquity SIP platform uses Java, and more specifically a SIP server container that is equivalent to a Web server container. So, the programming model on top of that matches Web developers who are creating Web portals or Internet-style applications.
Something like Brew is a more closed environment that is really built around the notion of a monolithic vertical application development, and it has its own programming environment. As a result, you would have to retrain your redevelopment community around that infrastructure.
Q: One trend in mobile applications development today is to put more code and operational rules on the server side and less programming on the mobile device itself. This not only conserves real estate on the device, but provides more security should the device be lost. What is your opinion on this approach?
There is a development model that I support of not putting a lot of intelligence on the endpoint. It is definitely a growing trend in the industry.
When you look at how applications are built, both carriers and enterprises are looking toward an SOA-based hosting and development model. And in that model, the endpoint participation is evolving to the point where the endpoint itself can host its services into the SOA environment.
But those services aren't necessarily a part of the application, but they may be elements that the application can attach to and make use of in the context of the subscriber session with that application.
Q: Are most carriers up to speed on using SIP, or is there a ways to go before it is firmly implanted and used as a matter of course?
I think SIP has clearly won the mindshare in terms of when people are implementing IP as part of their telephony infrastructure. It's just assumed that it's SIP.
The latest evolution in thinking is now modeling the call model and operational model of a network more closely to how SIP operates as opposed to how they were operating as a PDM infrastructure.
Q: A couple of years ago CERT questioned the security of SIP as an infrastructure because it made use of the IP architecture. Has that situation changed today?
I think we are well on our way to solving the security issues. The issues are understood, and it's not just related to the protocol. The protocol itself doesn't take care of security. It's really edge devices that have to be in the frontline of security in the service network.
Q: Does this mean that applications developers using SIP must be very aware of its characteristics and what it can and cannot do in terms of security as they build applications for service networks?
Not anymore. The growing trend is that applications developers really work at the applications layer, which is well buffered from the service network. They may not even see SIP at all. And security is a layer underneath the SIP layer.
As everything moves closer to a Web services and a service-oriented architecture approach, applications developers will be able to be highly abstracted from the service definitions underneath the application and the endpoints as well as any of the issues around security.
Q: What do you view as he biggest roadblock to the continued drive toward SIP and the development of SIP-enabled applications?
I think the next evolution has to be at the applications layer. Service-oriented architectures are going to be the new arena over the next couple of years, and SIP and HTTP are underlying access technologies and transports for applications sessions that are being defined at a very high level through SOA techniques.
It's not necessarily SIP itself that is going to evolve significantly, but the number of rich applications is going to grow and drive more utilization of SIP.
By Tim Scannel, Internetnews.com
Since its founding in 1993, Ubiquity Software has pretty much lived up to its moniker of developing applications and services that are available anywhere and everywhere.
In 1999, the company revamped its strategy to produce software based on the Session Initiation Protocol, or SIP. The technology was originally designed to be a framework for the development of converged voice, video and data services over IP networks, and has since become a key element in telecom-class communications services today.
The market for such services, based on SIP, is expected to reach $4.7 billion by 2009, according to market researcher Yankee Group, as a range of new applications and products is deployed that make use of enhanced IP services. These also include VoIP, Web conferencing, instant messaging and gaming applications.
In January, the UK-based Ubiquity agreed to be acquired by Avaya, a move that gave this company an edge over Nortel, Cisco and other competitors. And just this month, Avaya agreed to an $8.2 billion acquisition deal put on the table by private-equity firms Silver Lake and TPG Capital, which effectively makes it a private corporation.
Ubiquity has emerged as a key element in Avaya's plans to expand its IP-based telephony footprint and spearhead the development of converged voice and data applications and services -- especially those offered by the wireless carriers.
Recently, internetnews.com talked with Doug Tucker, CTO of Ubiquity's Americas operations, about its evolving SIP platform and how the technology will play a key role in the IP-based applications landscape.
Q: Why is SIP important to current and future Web-based applications?
You can think of SIP as a generic interconnect mechanism for communications sessions. It's not limited to voice or IP telephony. In fact, IP telephony is an application kind of superimposed on top of the SIP interconnects. It is a way to establish sessions between communications participants and then negotiating different ways communications sessions run on top of it.
Q: Are sessions of this type possible without a SIP protocol or architecture?
There are other protocols you could use, like H.323, which has been the predominate protocol that enterprises have used in the past for voice and video conferencing and collaboration. Actually H.323 and T.120 have been the predominant ones.
These are now migrating to a SIP infrastructure. There are still H.323 products in use today, but clearly the future is moving towards SIP.
Q: What is the problem with H.323 as compared to SIP?
H.323 is a very constrained infrastructure. It was designed for very specific deployment architecture and specific uses, while SIP is a much more open protocol that allows the applications to define the usage and the topology that SIP is applied to.
Q: So would the problem with H.323 and others be that they were essentially developed before the development and growth of mobile devices and advanced Internet applications?
I was actually on the committee that created H.323 10 or 12 years ago. It was really targeted as an IP-modeling of the PSDM (perceptual speech distortion metric) infrastructure, and was strictly designed for point-to-point multi-point video and voice communications.
It wasn't viewed as a general applications infrastructure, where SIP was really built around the Internet protocols and a very distributed deployment model and also a very open usage model. It's much better suited to today's view of where applications are going, which are rapidly breaking down the notion of vertical applications and approaching more of a horizontal services capability that are more dynamically grouped into point applications for the enterprise.
Q: Are there various types and iterations of SIP, much like there are different types of Unix, Java and other platforms?
There is one SIP set of standards that people adhere to, but it's a very flexible base. On top of that you layer in what I call your "service topology," and that's how you make use of SIP to make the connection session and to define what the sessions are. And those service definitions are what changes from deployment to deployment.
Q: Ubiquity's SIP is a Java-based platform. Does this make a big difference as compared with something that may be based on Brew, or does Brew have a comparable platform?
First of all, there is the SIP infrastructure, and on top of that you need to layer an environment that allows you to write programs and make use of it. The Ubiquity SIP platform uses Java, and more specifically a SIP server container that is equivalent to a Web server container. So, the programming model on top of that matches Web developers who are creating Web portals or Internet-style applications.
Something like Brew is a more closed environment that is really built around the notion of a monolithic vertical application development, and it has its own programming environment. As a result, you would have to retrain your redevelopment community around that infrastructure.
Q: One trend in mobile applications development today is to put more code and operational rules on the server side and less programming on the mobile device itself. This not only conserves real estate on the device, but provides more security should the device be lost. What is your opinion on this approach?
There is a development model that I support of not putting a lot of intelligence on the endpoint. It is definitely a growing trend in the industry.
When you look at how applications are built, both carriers and enterprises are looking toward an SOA-based hosting and development model. And in that model, the endpoint participation is evolving to the point where the endpoint itself can host its services into the SOA environment.
But those services aren't necessarily a part of the application, but they may be elements that the application can attach to and make use of in the context of the subscriber session with that application.
Q: Are most carriers up to speed on using SIP, or is there a ways to go before it is firmly implanted and used as a matter of course?
I think SIP has clearly won the mindshare in terms of when people are implementing IP as part of their telephony infrastructure. It's just assumed that it's SIP.
The latest evolution in thinking is now modeling the call model and operational model of a network more closely to how SIP operates as opposed to how they were operating as a PDM infrastructure.
Q: A couple of years ago CERT questioned the security of SIP as an infrastructure because it made use of the IP architecture. Has that situation changed today?
I think we are well on our way to solving the security issues. The issues are understood, and it's not just related to the protocol. The protocol itself doesn't take care of security. It's really edge devices that have to be in the frontline of security in the service network.
Q: Does this mean that applications developers using SIP must be very aware of its characteristics and what it can and cannot do in terms of security as they build applications for service networks?
Not anymore. The growing trend is that applications developers really work at the applications layer, which is well buffered from the service network. They may not even see SIP at all. And security is a layer underneath the SIP layer.
As everything moves closer to a Web services and a service-oriented architecture approach, applications developers will be able to be highly abstracted from the service definitions underneath the application and the endpoints as well as any of the issues around security.
Q: What do you view as he biggest roadblock to the continued drive toward SIP and the development of SIP-enabled applications?
I think the next evolution has to be at the applications layer. Service-oriented architectures are going to be the new arena over the next couple of years, and SIP and HTTP are underlying access technologies and transports for applications sessions that are being defined at a very high level through SOA techniques.
It's not necessarily SIP itself that is going to evolve significantly, but the number of rich applications is going to grow and drive more utilization of SIP.
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