MetaSwitch and SOMA Networks announce at the IP Possibilities Conference & Expo a partnership that provides a proven solution for carriers looking to deploy next generation applications over wireless broadband services. As a result of the partnership’s rigorous interoperability testing, service providers can quickly and confidently deploy VoIP and high speed Internet access to subscribers without requiring access to the incumbent carriers’ local loop facilities.

A key differentiator for the combined solution is that both the SOMA broadband wireless system and MetaSwitch elements integrate native support for VoIP. All MetaSwitch systems are built around an IP switching architecture, while SOMA indoor gateways, which reside in the home or office of the end user, offer an all-in-one device that integrates the functionality of a wireless broadband modem, analog terminal adaptor and Session Initiation Protocol user agent. As a result, no additional gateway hardware or telephone adaptors are required at either the service provider’s or the end user’s premises to enable an end-to-end high-quality voice service.

Verso with regional partner Al-Futtaim Technologies and local partner Northtech have been selected by MyTel of Pakistan to provide the Verso MetroNet VoIP Overlay solution, including the Verso Back Office Solution, an integrated back office application that supports network administration, provisioning and billing, all riding over a WiMAX network infrastructure.

Verso offers providers entering the wireless WiMAX arena voice communications and services including VoIP, prepaid, IP Centrex and voicemail and more. The MetroNet VoIP Overlay solution, which runs over both wireless and WiMAX networks, integrates and packages a standard set of VoIP features and capabilities which includes Verso Clarent® Class-5 and Class-4 switching technologies, as well as other core capabilities and services including an optional VBO component that supports in the management of the solution.

One year after its launch, JAJAH has two million consumers that are now taking advantage of its free and low-cost calling options.

The company first introduced global web-activated telephony on March 27, 2006, offering free or low cost phone calls from everyday phones. There is no headset, equipment, contract, or monthly fee and registration is free at JAJAH.com. Calls to other registered JAJAH users are free and calls to unregistered members cost on average 3 cents per minute to U.S. and Europe.

Initially labeled as a Skype killer, the JAJAH service proves that there is a huge market for global Internet telephony that works for average people on regular and mobile phones, regardless of your calling plan.

YapOn provider of mobile VoIP solutions announces the launch of two new service offerings; 'Text to Talk', an offering that provides mobile subscribers across the globe, regardless of carrier, the ability to access the most competitive long-distance rates directly from their mobile device; and 'Quick Connect', which enables YapOn subscribers to initiate long-distance calls (landline and mobile) via YapOn's web interface.

'Text to Talk' and Quick Connect empower YapOn subscribers with access to the most competitive long-distance rates, worldwide, coupled with the freedom of mobility. You no longer need to be chained to a computer or fixed line in order to make long-distance calls economically" said Ken Rozinsky, Chief Technology Officer of YapOn.

YapOn customers have access to both 'Text to Talk' and Quick Connect, and with both service offerings, there is no requirement to change mobile providers, no requirement to purchase additional hardware or software, no need for a mobile data plan, no need for a high bandwidth connection, and no contract commitment. All of YapOn's offerings are based on a pay as you go model, where subscribers are not required to maintain minimum volumes and only pay for what they use.

As part of their official launch, YapOn is offering all new subscribers a 30-Day Free Trial to start yapping for free.

To learn more about YapOn, or to sign up, please visit http://www.yapon.net

Level 3 announces that it has deployed an innovative, first-of-its-kind combination of services, VoIP solution for Lavalife.

The solution Level 3 designed for Lavalife comprises a robust combination of Level 3 Local Inbound Service, Level 3 Toll Free Service, Level 3 International Termination Service, Level 3 Colocation Service, and Level 3 High Speed IP service. Lavalife and Level 3 collaborated to implement a solution that could provide significant operational cost savings and quickly and effectively manage Lavalife's localized promotions.

The solution results in increased efficiencies for Lavalife and gives the company the opportunity to grow into new markets -- all with the ease of doing business with one company. The solution has already helped Lavalife save significant costs on telephone-related equipment and production hardware by replacing Lavalife's TDM-based infrastructure across 40 cities with Level 3's IP services technology. Lavalife is anticipating considerable annual maintenance cost savings resulting from the implementation of this solution.

"We are very pleased with the VoIP solution that we have been able to develop and operate in conjunction with Level 3," said Marina Glogovac, chief executive officer for Lavalife. "By converting millions of minutes of Interactive Voice Response Personals traffic from legacy telecommunications infrastructures to VoIP and processing them centrally, we have reduced costs and improved efficiencies in a number of categories."

"Lavalife is a forward-thinking company using powerful technology to solve its real world business problems," said Myrle McNeal, senior vice president of Voice Service Provider markets for Level 3. "We are proud to provide Lavalife with the solutions and support they need to quickly and nimbly enter new markets and continue to grow their business into the future."

Jaxtr launches the public beta of the world’s first service that brings voice to social networks and blogs. The company also introduced a new VoiceBlast feature, which allows jaxtr users to record their own voice to automatically greet and update people who visit their profile or blog.

Everyone around the world can now sign up to receive a free jaxtr account that links their mobile or landline phones with their online network. By adding their jaxtr widget to their online profile or blog, users can hear from callers worldwide while keeping their existing phone numbers private. Jaxtr works with the world’s most popular social networks and communities, including MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Friendster, Flickr, YouTube, Wikipedia, Craigslist, eBay, LiveJournal, and Blogger.

PhoneGnome is using Tellme Networks products to provide PhoneGnome users with in the ability to just say what they want and get it, while making free calls anywhere in the world.

Instead of the annoying buzz of the traditional dial tone, Tellme's technology provides PhoneGnome users with an intelligent menu to direct the experience using their voice. The caller is greeted by name, and asked what they would like to do. PhoneGnome users can call any contact in their PhoneGnome address book simply by speaking the contact's name. The resulting call will be made using whatever telephone service the PhoneGnome owner has subscribed to, such as the local PSTN telephony company, or a PhoneGnome-enabled Internet telephone service provider. The caller has the option to use the telephone keypad to dial any phone number, as usual.

"By leveraging Tellme's network we are able to create a great user experience combined with the ease of use and mobility of PhoneGnome, delivering greater freedom of access to PhoneGnome owners," said David Beckemeyer, CEO of TelEvolution and developer of PhoneGnome.

Global Crossing is making it easier for enterprises to migrate from traditional telephony to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) by introducing Global Crossing Managed IP Telephony Solutions. The service enables customers to take advantage of VoIP's enhanced capabilities and more predictable cost structure.

Using Global Crossing Managed IP Telephony Solutions, enterprises can bundle and customize the company's VoIP service elements to save money and simplify the transition to an integrated VoIP solution. As part of the company's VoIP Professional Services portfolio, Managed IP Telephony Solutions integrates the Global Crossing Enterprise VoIP Services portfolio with Avaya Inc.'s IP telephony hardware and software components. These bundled -- yet customizable -- solutions include equipment selection, procurement and installation; local, long distance, international and toll-free calling; private numbering plans, collaboration tools and other advanced features; on-site technical assistance; and remote support. Global Crossing will serve as a single point of contact for the entire cutover, including switching from existing services to VoIP and conducting employee training.

SIPBox changes the company’s name to NeoPhonetics. “Neo” is a prefix derived from the Greek language meaning a revival in modern form. “Phonetics” is the science that deals with the production, transmission and perception of the spoken language.

“We wanted a name that better communicated our full range of services for the long-term,” said Chad Agate, co-founder and CEO of NeoPhonetics. “The combination of ‘Neo’ and ‘Phonetics’ best reflects our main objective – to design and build the most advanced phone systems, based on the latest, most cost-effective technology available.”

Working with the flexibility of Asterisk, NeoPhonetics engineers and integrates new and hybrid telephony solutions for customers who want to make a seamless transition to VoIP. The open standards nature of Asterisk enables a variety of technical combinations that would not be possible when working within the restraints of proprietary solutions. This provides tremendous cost savings and ease of management when moving employees, upgrading equipment, programming conferencing capabilities and establishing remote facilities.

“NeoPhonetics is taking a strategic stance in the open source telephony market,” said Krithi Rao, Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst. “As more companies adopt open source platforms, there is great potential for NeoPhonetics as one of the few integrators with enough expertise to offer a complete VoIP solution based on Asterisk – from the engineering phase and through on-site implementation. The new name suits NeoPhonetics’ next-generation objectives.”

iSkoot has secured $7 million in Series B financing. iSkoot has become the leader in mobile VoIP solutions, recently working in close partnership with Skype to enable The 3 Group to become the first mobile operator to bring Skype-enabled mobile phones to consumers. iSkoot software was pre-loaded onto Nokia and Sony Ericsson handsets used by The 3 Group to launch the industry's first mobile Skype service.

iSkoot Founder and CEO Jacob Guedalia said, "This investment from Charles River Ventures and our returning investors validates iSkoot's vision and execution. We look at Skype as a company that showed the world a new way of calling. We would like iSkoot to be known as the company that brought Internet calling to all mobile phones. We will continue to work with mobile operators and handset manufacturers to bring more mobile phone models to market preloaded with iSkoot software to enable ubiquitous mobile-to-PC calling. By embedding iSkoot in their handsets, mobile operators can satisfy user demand for Skype and expand average revenue per user, a clear win-win situation."

As the number of small and medium sized businesses around the world upgrading to Voice over IP (VoIP) is set to explode over the next few years, a unique opportunity exists for manufacturers and service providers to quickly deliver advanced products to this market. Texas Instruments Incorporated delivers the field-proven VoIP solutions to support this industry evolution, with its complete end-to-end VoIP portfolio incorporating TI's digital signal processing power to support the features and performance demanded by SMBs. The robust quality, enhanced security and quick delivery of products based on TI technology offer an exceptional investment for millions of SMBs that will transition to next- generation networks and service within the next five years.

According to a recent Yankee Group report, the SMB VoIP market is expected to reach more than $1 billion by 2009, growing by over 500 percent in a very short timeframe. With over 20 years of system level knowledge and expertise, TI is well-positioned to meet this increasing demand with its high quality, cost-effective and flexible VoIP solutions to power the devices best suited to meet SMB requirements. TI's VoIP products provide scalable platforms to support the features that SMBs demand, such as seamless growth, computer and telephony integration and, most importantly, cost savings with low-cost devices and support for existing equipment like analog phones and fax machines.

The "going green" movement these days seems to be gaining momentum. More people are buying hybrid cars, wind turbines, and investing in solar power technologies. Ecosphere Technologies debutes its Ecos LifeLink a portable, self-contained micro-utility that helps support off-grid needs including disaster relief and activity in remote locations. A model of the Ecos LifeLink will be unveiled at this week's Cleantech Venture Forum in San Franciso.

The Eco's LifeLink solution represents a combination of patent-pending products from EES including the Ecos Power Cube, a mobile solar generator, and the Ecos Com Cube, a wireless communications platform.

Deployed as two 20-foot Power Cubes, the Ecos LifeLink meets many growing demands, but the one I found interesting was it's reliable 24/7 communication. Centered around the Ecos Com Cube, the communications control room is equipped with a satellite communications and electrical power management system that leverages the energy generated from LifeLink's renewable energy sources to provide electricity and power a full range of wireless VSAT, VOIP and wireless communications capable of handling thousands of phone calls and offering wireless connectivity for a range of up to 30 miles.

Pretty cool if you ask me and you can read the entire article here, Ecosphere Technologies' Solar Powered Micro-Utility Meets Off-Grid Demands

Thanks http://www.cier.ca/goinggreen/ for the going green logo.

TARGUSinfo has become the leading provider of caller name information for the nation's cable voice and voice over IP (VoIP) providers, including four of the top six cable companies.

TARGUSinfo provides caller-name (or CNAM) data for approximately 75 percent of the roughly 10 million U.S. cable voice and VoIP subscribers, according to industry statistics and proprietary TARGUSinfo information.

The company's uniquely accurate CNAM data enables these providers to offer superior Enhanced Caller ID services as well as call detail services that transform subscribers' phone bills into powerful marketing tools.

TARGUSinfo's approach to CNAM enables cable and VoIP providers to deliver more than the 15-character limit on traditional Enhanced Caller ID. In addition to a full caller name, providers can display full phone number and location information for their subscribers. TARGUSinfo data also makes it easy for VoIP providers to deliver CNAM to the PC, laptop or TV set.

Pingtel, announced that version 3.6 of the company’s SIPxchange ECS solution has been released. The 3.6 version is focused on extending Pingtel’s Enterprise Communications Server (SIP PBX) leadership through more robust technology and features, improved flexibility, and increased value of the SIPxchange solution by further reducing operational cost.

The new version of Pingtel’s SIPxchange ECS also enhances the solution’s superior voice quality. By being built on the SIP standard, SIPxchange ECS has always routed voice packets on a peer-to-peer basis along the fastest path between end-points and not through the PBX. Now, in version 3.6, SIPxchange ECS fully supports Polycom HD Voice technology and the new HDVoice-equipped Polycom IP phone, the SoundPoint IP 650. Using the SoundPoint IP 650 with SIPxchange ECS will enable clearer calls and more productive communications.

Opera Software announces that Iwatsu Electric has selected the Opera browser to provide the full Web to its Visual IP phone, a part of Iwatsu's new communication system called PRECOT (Premium Communication Tool). PRECOT is a next generation solution over a broadband IP connection for the enterprise market. With Opera, PRECOT users can access Web mail or any Web page from the convenience of their screen phones.

Intended for use in businesses, the PRECOT solution enables users of this phone to access full Internet and Intranet content from the convenience of the Visual IP phone. The Opera browser includes phone-to-tag support making it easy to call from the browser. This means that a user can visit an online telephone directory and simply select the number to place the call.

"Iwatsu's PRECOT solution is breaking new ground in integrating the Web into IP telephony. Opera is excited to provide a Web browser to Iwatsu's Visual IP phone to enable access to the Internet on their new IP video phone," says Scott Hedrick, Executive Vice President, Opera Software. "Having a full Internet browser as a part of the phone allows rich integration of corporate data, Web applications, voice and video calling. Users will be able to initiate calls directly from a Web site or the corporate Intranet."