ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) unanimously approved the creation of the new .Tel Top Level Domain (TLD) and awarded the contract to Telnic Limited.

"The .Tel domain offers the first genuinely different use of domains since .com was first created. It will provide seamless integration of existing methods of communication with emerging technologies like Voice over IP (VoIP). This places the .Tel domain at the core of the next phase of Internet development," said Khashayar Mahdavi, CEO of Telnic.

The Internet Voice Campaign, a consortium of industry leaders seeking to help more consumers take advantage of the power and potential of voice over IP (VoIP), announced its first consumer awareness and education campaign.

This morning, the coalition will take its message to local television news stations across the country to help educate consumers about the benefits of voice services delivered over the Internet.

VoipReview.org, the first and most complete comparison shopping and information source for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or broadband phone service, has launched an interactive online search tool for consumers shopping for VoIP service. The site helps consumers and businesses find, compare and purchase VoIP phone service based on price, features, local availability and VoIP plan ratings. More than 100,000 consumers visit VoipReview.org each month to gather information and purchase VoIP service from the industry's leading providers, including MyPhoneCompany, Packet8, SunRocket, Voip.net and Vonage.

Rategate.com, a phone rate comparison website for the U.S., was launched by Rategate LLC on December 29, 2005. Rategate.com will provide visitors with unique comparison tools to lower their telephone bill through the use of cheap 10-10 dialaround providers.

"Most people are paying way too much for their telecommunication services, especially phone bills. They are often twice as much as they should be," says Mike Harris, Rategate.com's CEO. "We created Rategate.com so that people can lower their phone bill by comparing different providers with our unique tools."

Newrise Corporation announces the release of its (888)IZA-BIZA (492-2492) toll-free eBay auction status service. It allows both eBay buyers and sellers to track their auction status from anywhere, wherever there is telephone or cell phone access. They simply dial the number, enter in their eBay auction ID, and receive the status of their auction, including number of bids, highest bid and remaining duration. "We're a company dedicated to innovation. We always try to find easier and more efficient methods for conducting business. In today's work-anywhere and extensive travel environment, people need tools for their mobile lifestyle," said Bill Robbins, CEO.

PMC-Sierra, Inc., a leading provider of broadband communications and storage semiconductors, will present a live webinar on VoIP voice quality testing on Thursday, January 26, 2006, at 11 a.m. Pacific Time (2 p.m. Eastern Time).

What to Expect

Driven by downward price pressure from ever-increasing competition and consumer demand for enhanced services, carriers are seeking to leverage VoIP to reduce capital and operational costs and to provide innovative value-added features. However, meeting customers' voice service quality expectations set by legacy circuit switched networks will be necessary for the mainstream market penetration of IP telephony. Fast, accurate and non-resource-intensive voice quality testing is key to speeding VoIP equipment and network design and deployment, as well as to meeting service quality objectives in operation.

Realtimepublishers has announced the creation of the IT industry's first interactive VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) community, sponsored by NetIQ Corporation, a leading provider of integrated systems and security management solutions, including solutions that empower IT organizations with the knowledge and ability to assure VoIP services.

iConnectHere, a global provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service and the consumer division of deltathree, Inc., has decided to extend its successful Refer-A-Friend program as a result of the program's continued stream of new referrals from users worldwide.

The Refer-A-Friend program offers first time subscribers to iConnectHere a free month of VoIP phone service upon registration, and grants the referring person a complimentary month as well. Individuals making calls to friends within the iConnectHere network are also able to communicate with other iConnectHere users for free.

Craig Spiegelberg of LogiTel speaks on VoIP's future impact on small to medium businesses in 2006. VoIP is more than just good business sense and more than just cheap phone calls. Spiegelberg predicts several hundred thousand businesses will make the switch to VoIP over the next 18 months. Helping to "empower these companies to communicate more efficiently than every before" says Spiegelberg.

The following is a help guide to some frequently asked questions regarding VoIP. This document will be expanding as we try to help answer your questions reguarding VoIP. If there is a question that you would like answered that doesn't appear on our current list, please feel free to contact us via comments to this article or by emailing us your specific question(s).

RNK Telecom announced its Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network has extended to Iraq, providing digital voice services to U.S. Soldiers stationed there. RNKVoIP enables U.S. Troops to make unlimited calls to their families and friends in the U.S.

"U.S. Troops want to reach out and touch their families, and RNKVoIP stands strong and ready to connect them," said Richard N. Koch, President of RNK Telecom. "With RNKVoIP, U.S. Soldiers can make unlimited calls to anywhere in the U.S. free of charge."

SearchEngineJournal has a quick write-up about "VoIP Phone Service Advantages and Drawbacks". They cover monthly fees, taxes, features, flexibility, connection, and 911.

Consumers switching their phone service to voice over IP (VoIP) should evaluate their current calling needs to accurately identify what they require in a plan. They should compare features between VoIP carriers, and consider the possibility that small, new companies offering amazing deals may not be around later to fulfill them. Experts also recommend easing into the switch by adapting VoIP as a second line on a trial basis.