Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Ever since AT&T announced HSUPA service, I have been searching for a modem that I could use to access the service. So that I will have access to a data network while I am in the field, literally. So I think the following will be a good news for every one interested.

(Sydney, Australia, April 2, 2008) Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Huawei") has released the world’s smallest USB modem, the E230, which will support 4.5 Mbps high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA).

Shown for the first time at Wireless World, the Huawei E230 USB modem is just 6 cm long with simple and smooth design. Size does not affect performance, as the E230 fully supports various standards such as HSPA, UMTS, EDGE and GPRS. It also supports 7.2 Mbps high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and 4.5 Mbps HSUPA, which enables faster Internet surfing and clear online streaming of movies. The E230 also has a MicroSD card slot, supporting up to 8 GB memory size.

Along with the E230 modem, Huawei will also be demonstrating two industry-leading mobile broadband products – the D100 and E510.

The D100 is the first WiFi adapter in the world and is aimed at SOHO users and home networks, enabling interconnection of phones, game consoles, PCs and laptops. The WiFi adapter helps to extend a single user to multiple users.

The E510 is the first HSUPA DVB-T mobile broadband product in the world. With this product, users can enjoy not only high-speed Internet access but also the colorful television programs, such as this year’s Olympic Games and the European Cup. It is expected that the above three products will be launched in May this year.

Commenting on the new products, Huawei terminal chief marketing officer Mr. James Chen said, “Huawei continues to invest heavily in mobile broadband R&D. Part of this development includes looking at different region customer requirement what our partners are asking for. Our new E230 the smallest USB Modem and D100 the first 3G/WiFi adapter in the world are ideal for the Australian market. The E510 will allow Australian to hook into DVB streaming video on their mobiles"

Last year, Huawei’s mobile broadband products widely covered the European market and successfully made breakthroughs in high-end markets such as the US market and Japanese market. Till now, Huawei has sold 8 million mobile broadband products, ranking the first in the world.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Vannes, France, 9th April 2008 – Manifone, an innovative telephony service provider and ING Telecom, a major French telecommunication termination provider have today announced, that in a joint action they would offer non-profit organizations free phone calls to Tibet. The offer is intended to show solidarity to the people in Tibet and help the work of humanitarian organizations that support them. Since the exile-governement of Tibet resides in Dharamsala, India, free calls to that city are included in the offer as well. All non-profit organizations dealing specifically with Tibet are invited to get in touch with Manifone via the contact page of the website http://www.manifone.com.

Manifone’s cost-saving telephony service works with all existing telephones, including mobile phones, on all networks, in the UK, USA, Canada, and other countries covered. Due to its flexibility, it can be of great help to field staff, which often have no choice but to use their mobile phones to place International calls. Manifone’s service substitutes International phone numbers with local numbers. That way, all Internationals contacts become reachable on local phone numbers, and it is Manifone that handles the International part of the call. For the initiative ‘Free calls to Tibet’, the International part of the call is offered by Manifone.

More information on Manifone: www.manifone.com

Source: asteriskblog.com

Are you an IT professional looking for more growth in your chosen career?  Are you a fresh graduate looking for a start in your corporate life?  Or maybe you just want to make a career change.  If you are any of the above, you might want to look into a career in the VOIP industry.  A recent study conducted by IBIS World reveals that the VOIP industry is going to be big this year.  Actually, the VOIP industry has already been gaining strength in the past year but based on the study, this growth is yet to become even more explosive in 2008.

So what is IBIS World anyway?  Who are they that we should believe their forecast?  Here is a description of the company – straight from the horse’s mouth:

IBISWorld’s Industry Intelligence can assist in making better business decisions about strategies and revenue generation by gaining an instant understanding of an unfamiliar or familiar industry faster & more conveniently than previously possible. IBISWorld is a powerful business tool to learn about existing clients or potential clients’ core industries of involvement & how changes to those industries can have an impact on you or your organization.

For over 35-years, IBISWorld have been providing business information to the large corporate and government sector but these days we offer dozens of membership packages to suit organizations in all shapes, sizes and budgets that enable individuals and organizations to access parts or all of our information. IBISWorld enjoys a client list of the who’s who of corporate and government America along with an exciting mix of start-up and middle market organizations.

It is nice to know that there is a company out there that has industry information on the ‘hard-to-know’ industries as much as the popular ones.

There – they’re pretty reliable when it comes to industry information.  So what exactly did they have to say about the VOIP industry?  Here is an excerpt from their recently released report:

The industry leading the way in terms of employment growth over the next few years will be Voice Over Internet Protocol providers (VoIP), according to IBISWorld, with average annualized jobs growth of around 19.4 percent through 2012.

“This is the result of significant revenue growth forecast for the same period, driving more organizations to enter the industry, which in turn will boost employment. And as an emerging telecommunications service,” said Mr. Van Horn.

“There still is a reasonable way for the sector to go as it gains greater consumer and business acceptance. The outlook is good as household broad- band penetration is still rising, facilitating greater use of digital services and helping improve the call quality of industry services.”

So there, if you want to ride the wave, I suggest you learn more about VOIP.

Source: blog.voipsupply.com

Yesterday VoIP Supply was awarded the Best Place to Work in Western New York (for companies with 51-100 employees).

This is a tremendous honor and a testament to the quality of staff employed at VoIP Supply. Growing at such a rapid pace, constantly adding more and more people and always having to change in order to set the pace and stay on top of our game is a challenge. Ensuring that the workplace is safe, fun, and enjoyable while maintaining a high level of morale makes that challenge that much more exciting.

So far this year we have added 23 new people (more than 50% growth), changed our ERP and CRM platforms, expanded into additional office space, refined and documented all company processes and procedures, and expanded into two additional markets (IP Surveillance and Voice Recordings).

I am proud to be part of an organization that can pull off all of these things, do it with a smile, and look forward to coming back in tomorrow. To all those at VoIP Supply, thank you for being part of this team.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Gamotopia is reporting that Nokia N-Gage is alive now with 30 plus games from popular and well known game publishers. As far as the devices are concerned, today’s N-Gage compatible devices include: Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8GB, Nokia N82, Nokia N95, and Nokia N95 8GB. I am sure there will be more coming in near future. Follow the link for complete press release.
Gamotopia: Nokia’s N-Gage Goes Live With New Games And Devices.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Paris, April 7, 2008 — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris et NYSE: ALU) today introduced My Teamwork Office Edition, a software-based multiparty conferencing and collaboration solution tailored to the small-medium business (SMB) market in North Africa. Implemented in combination with the best-in-class small business call server, Alcatel-Lucent Omni PCX Office, My Teamwork Office Edition enables businesses to run cost-effective, premises-based audio and web conferencing events for dramatic costs savings and productivity gains over service provider solutions and other proprietary hardware-based applications.

Available in a single, software-based server, the My Teamwork Office Edition features advanced audio and web conferencing capabilities, a browser based client accessible from any location or browser for support to any telephony device, and presence-driven IM with single-click access to chat or call contacts, initiate application and desktop sharing, record calls, or managing documents to facilitate critical employee collaboration for results-driven communications.

The software-based solution easily scales up or down to accommodate businesses of all sizes and offers a range of packaging options and pricing designed specifically for the small-medium business segment. The collaboration tools promote streamlined communications while the conferencing enables growth through telecommuting and also reduces long distance travel for valuable cost and time savings, allowing smaller organizations to maximize their human resources and support green technologies.

My Teamwork Office Edition is now part of the Alcatel-Lucent Office Communication Solutions set that allows small and medium businesses to enhance their performance on an everyday basis with simple, flexible, affordable solutions and services. The Office Communication Solutions form a comprehensive portfolio of products and services that brings together enterprise-quality business telephony, applications, cost-effective Voice over IP (VoIP), and a secured LAN and WiFi infrastructure.

”Alcatel-Lucent has vast experience and knowledge in developing and selling solutions tailored to the small-medium business market segment,” says Matthieu Destot, director, Small-Medium Business Solutions for Alcatel-Lucent’s Enterprise activities. “We are leveraging this experience by bringing to market an easy to use, plug and play conferencing and collaboration application, enabling the business owner to realize immediate cost savings and productivity gains. We understand that time, resources, and budgets are limited, and My Teamwork Office Edition allows small businesses to do more with less at an attractive and competitive price point,” adds Destot.

Source: blog.voipsupply.com

VoIP Supply is hosting an excellent Customer Appreciation Sale starting at midnight on Tuesday, April 8. The Polycom IP 501 Soundpoint SIP VoIP phone will be selling for only $139.99. This is the lowest price in the marketplace by far. The sale is only good while supplies last, so if you are in the market for some new or replacement IP phones, don’t wait to take advantage of this deal!

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Having released the PwnageTool, after fooling some people with great pwnage April fools joke, The iPhoneproject people do not seem to be taking any rest.With all the capabilities that the Pwnage tool bring like, the ability to load unsigned firmware onto the iPhones and iPod Touchs allowing for great advances and using the great tools, iPhone and iPod Touch for their full potential. So what could we expect from the team at theiphoneproject? No No Android on it yet!
They said;
"We are happy to announce that IPSWTool is coming to your computer soon!"
"IPSWTool is the next step of building custom firmwares with the style and grace of iLiberty+. With IPSWTool you can create custom firmwares packaged will all the goodies already downloaded and inserted into the IPSW. These custom firmwares can be restored onto iPhones and iTouchs that have already been Pwnd. As you can see from the video / screenshots there are already some great application compilations to install with the BigBoss and CrashX AppPacks. Furthermore there are the thing you’d expect: BSD subsystem, SSH, Installer, and of course Cydia."
Cydia! if you are familiar with Linux, specially Debian or any other distribution that uses APT, you will be a happy camper. Following is a explanation of the IPSWTool; and await for more information about this team and tools!

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

HONOLULU, (Cisco Partner Summit 2008), April 7, 2008 - Highlighting the value of improved communication and collaboration, Cisco today announced that Cisco channel partners enVision Networked Solutions and Hawaiian Telcom, have worked with the city of Honolulu to help deploy a gigabit fiber network and 3,500 Cisco Unified IP phones. This citywide network overhaul, part of a multi-year project to transform Honolulu’s communication and collaboration capabilities, includes the delivery of Cisco Unified Communications capabilities to Mayor Mufi Hanneman’s office.

The city of Honolulu’s revitalization efforts were plagued with a severely outdated public branch exchange (PBX) system that featured 14 separate PBX and key systems, including the main PBX system that was 30 years old and costing the City $250,000 per year to maintain. The city of Honolulu’s network quickly became an important issue. The result was the creation of a network upgrade that began two years ago.

"In my first State of the City address we identified our phone systems as a major barrier to achieving our goals for the city. For example, it had multiple prefixes, it was unreliable and yet it was the main communication vehicle to the public, creating a number of issues including public safety that needed to be addressed," said Hanneman. "Three years later we have made significant advancements. Our first responders are now on one reliable network system, improving public safety through enhanced communication and collaboration. And, by no longer investing in old technology we have been able to build this new network infrastructure without increasing our budget."

Drive Akamai Website & Pothole Hotline

A side effect of Honolulu’s network revitalization is a better way to manage traffic congestion. To help inform citizens of the work being done and to minimize its impact, the city has created a website, driveakamai.org and a traffic information advisory hotline that is updated daily using Cisco Unified Communications technology. These systems give motorist advisories to help them avoid areas where road construction is taking place throughout Honolulu.

In addition, the Pothole Hotline utilizes Cisco Unified Messaging technology, allowing citizens to call and have a voicemail sent to the road crew in the form of an email, which expedites the work order. This accelerated process has enabled the city to commit to its citizens that it will fix a pothole within five days of notification. Since 2005, the city of Honolulu has patched 176,000 potholes, which is the equivalent of resurfacing 111 lane miles using 51,000 tons of asphalt.

Honolulu’s Trusted Advisers

enVision, a Cisco Premier Certified and Advanced Unified Communications Specialized Partner, and Hawaiian Telcom, a Cisco Silver Certified and Advanced Unified Communications Specialized Partner, both based in Honolulu, worked closely with the city to recommend and deploy a networking solution that would address current as well as future needs.

"Both enVision and Hawaiian Telcom are instrumental in ensuring a smooth deployment," said Gordon Bruce, city of Honolulu’s chief information officer. "Our goal is to complete the transition from the disparate, outdated systems to the Cisco Unified Communications system within the next 18 months. This is an aggressive goal requiring trusted advisors and suppliers, like enVision and Hawaiian Telcom, who provide local as well as Cisco Unified Communications expertise. We are over half way there already."

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

When we talk about security in our networks we think of firewalls our servers and workstations that include the mobile ones. But there are more to protect. How about physical security? We already have such measures in place but are they integrated or do you have to call someone in Timbaktu in an event of security breach? With new additions to Cisco’s Security suite that allows you to integrate all your physical security information to be available within your IP network with what is known as "Cisco® Connected Physical Security product portfolio". The package consisting of new IP Cameras (with video compression and intelligent digital signal processor (DSP) available in a single camera. The new camera utilizes H.264 Main Profile video compression and a high-speed imager that captures video up to 1920 x 1080 at 30 frames a second), Access Control Products Deliver Complete Portfolio For Campus, Branch and Mobile environments.

LAS VEGAS, ISC West - April 2, 2008 - Cisco today announced key additions to its Cisco® Connected Physical Security product portfolio, delivering new capabilities in Internet Protocol (IP)-based video surveillance and electronic access control that ease the convergence of information technology (IT) and physical security by allowing customers to integrate with existing physical security systems and IT infrastructures.

Today’s announcement features new IP cameras and Cisco’s first access control solution. Together, these offerings enhance situational awareness for making appropriate decisions on security actions. They extend Cisco’s solution portfolio to help enable customers to establish cost-effective, modular physical security infrastructures that are best-in-class and easily interoperable. These latest physical security offerings support Cisco’s vision of offering a single unified security product suite that enables users to integrate all security operations within the IP network. Utilizing the network as a scalable platform for integrating security provides businesses with several benefits, such as operational flexibility, greater protection capabilities, lower cost of ownership, and reduced risk.

"Physical security is becoming tightly woven into the fabric of the IP network, making the industry as a whole extremely exciting," said Bill Stuntz, general manager of Cisco’s Physical Security Business Unit. "The network is the platform for connecting physical security systems of all types with other enterprise systems. This development helps bring the promise of converged security to life. Cisco can make this happen because we have the expertise in both IT and physical security to lead this charge. The security industry is very important to Cisco, and we are here to stay."

As part of its expanded physical security portfolio, Cisco announced the following:

1. Cisco Video Surveillance IP Cameras

Cisco’s new high-definition and standard-definition IP cameras provide high-quality digital video surveillance capabilities for use in a variety of environments. The new camera models include:

• Cisco Video Surveillance 4500 IP Camera is a high-definition camera that combines the best resolution, video compression and intelligent digital signal processor (DSP) available in a single camera. The new camera utilizes H.264 Main Profile video compression and a high-speed imager that captures video up to 1920 x 1080 at 30 frames a second. The Cisco Video Surveillance IP camera has an optional high-speed DSP completely dedicated to intelligent video functions such as video analytics.
• Cisco Video Surveillance 2500 IP Camera is a standard definition camera available either as a wired Power-over-Ethernet (POE) or DC power through an optional external power supply, or as a wireless version supporting 802.11b/g/n.

The new cameras feature a browser-based interface for easy installation and management and provide excellent image quality in variable lighting conditions. The new standard-definition cameras provide DVD-quality D1 video up to 30 fps and feature dual streaming so that users can adjust frame rate and/or resolution to control the quality of the video for different purposes simultaneously. Both cameras feature event notification so a camera can examine designated areas for activity and notify users or other applications when it detects activity that exceeds a predefined threshold.

2. Cisco’s IP-based Physical Access Control (PAC) system

Cisco is introducing a comprehensive IP-based physical access control solution that utilizes the IP network as a platform for integrated security operations. The product includes both hardware and software components and offers a complete solution for IP-based Electronic Access Control. The new offering is built to work with existing door readers, locks and biometric devices. It targets campus environments and office buildings. As part of the solution, a hardware component called the Cisco Access Gateway provides a modular and scalable platform to connect readers, inputs and outputs to the system. The system scales from a single door to thousands of doors. The software component, called Cisco Physical Access Manager (Cisco PAM), manages the hardware and provides a platform for integration with other IT systems. Cisco PAM integrates with the Cisco Video Surveillance offering, delivering enhanced features while lowering the total cost of ownership.

The new IP cameras and access control system enable control and protection of an organization’s assets and the safety of its personnel. The Cisco IP Video Surveillance solution facilitates integration with other security applications and systems, providing security professionals with simple integration and management, while also providing enhanced access to recorded or live video, locally or remotely, through the IP network.

"We are excited about Cisco’s network-friendly video surveillance IP Camera because it is built as a true IP device unlike many cameras that simply have a daughter board to support an Ethernet connection," said Jim Mills, sales director for Benson, a systems integrator. "The advantages for customers and partners include lower cost of ownership, better security and quality of service through features like AES Encryption and network authentication.

"Cisco’s entrance into Physical Access Control is very exciting. We can help customers connect the physical and logical security within an organization and these solutions will be much more cost effective and easy to deploy and manage. The advantages for partners and systems integrators include the ability to provide innovative best of breed capabilities to customers and reduce the total cost of ownership while providing innovative converged physical security capabilities."

In addition to systems integrators, the value of Cisco physical security is ultimately being realized in a number of security-conscious industries. At Kent School District in Washington, Cisco offerings are playing a key role in public safety and education.

"Obviously, education is important to us. It’s what we do. But school safety is ultimately a top priority," said Thuan Nguyen, director of information technology at the Kent School District. "Security provides the foundation for us to provide a safe and fun learning environment. When I heard that Cisco was entering this market space, I was really excited. IP-based security camera systems are still in their infancy. As a result, the space is very crowded with a lot of small vendors that are here today and gone tomorrow. There’s a real lack of standards. I look forward to seeing Cisco stabilize and standardize the IP-based camera system space."

Availability

The new Cisco IP cameras are scheduled for availability in May 2008. The new Cisco Physical Access Control (PAC) system is scheduled for availability in June 2008, with pricing varying by the number of doors deployed.