Microsoft Co. Ltd., SOFTBANK BB Corp., and JAPAN TELECOM CO. LTD., announced that they are developing a security-enhanced, integrated communications service that combines voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), e-mail, Internet access, groupware, presence, instant messaging and desktop services with network infrastructure, and that they have formed a strategic business alliance to provide this service as a business-oriented solution.

Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) released pre-registered attendance figures for next month's INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida showing 200% growth year-over-year from 2005. (www.itexpo.com)

The conference will be held January 24-27, 2006 at the Ft. Lauderdale/Broward Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

DecisionOne announced that Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC)'s INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine (http://www.itmag.com) has named Desktop to Dialtone as a recipient of a 2005 Product of the Year Award. INTERNET TELEPHONY has been the VoIP Authority Since 1998.

Desktop to Dialtone is a portfolio of support services that provides an immediate national infrastructure for VoIP OEMs and Service Providers (VSPs) spanning the VoIP lifecycle including network assessment, logistics, field delivery, and service desk. For their end customers, these services translate convergence into a simple, cost-effective, full-service solution for reliable carrier class VoIP and data communications, and allay concerns regarding reliability and support.

Level 3 Communications announced that 8x8 has selected Level 3 to provide E-911 to Packet8's nomadic and fixed-location customers. Under the terms of the agreement, Level 3 will provide the underlying network for 8x8's E-911 solution using Level 3 E-911 Direct service.

Qiao Xing Universal Telephone, Inc. announced that significant progress has been made in its VoIP business, stating that it has secured recent orders from overseas for 200,000 units of VoIP terminal products. The orders were referred to the Company by a VoIP operating company (VoIP Operator) qualified to carry out VoIP telephony in China and abroad. This VoIP operating company has signed an agreement to grant XING the exclusive agency rights for development, production, sales and operation of VoIP telephony terminal products.

Calypso Wireless, Inc., a leader in advanced wireless telecommunications technology announced that it has received a purchase order for 1.05 Million euros from Inversiones CCS SA, for the delivery of the Calypso - Sleipner CoMob End User license software. The software run on the Calypso C1250i Dual Mode WiFi-GSM-GPRS VoIP cellular phone, which runs on Intel PXA series application processor and Microsoft WinCE 5.0 operating system.

Cbeyond Inc., a managed service provider of VoIP communications, reached two important milestones today, installing its 20,000th small business customer and processing the four billionth minute of VoIP traffic since the network went live in early 2001. Cbeyond operates one of the largest fully-managed VoIP networks for delivering integrated local, long-distance and broadband services.

Cordia Corporation, a communications services provider, announced that CordiaIP, its wholly owned subsidiary, and a provider of SIP-based VoIP solutions for service providers and end users worldwide, has been selected to provide wholesale Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to Imperio Movilcom, a subsidiary of Michigan based Alert Communications (Alert). This wholesale arrangement will allow Imperio Movilcom to expand its service offerings in the Dominican Republic.

Sonus Networks, Inc., a leading supplier of service provider voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure solutions, announced that market research firms Synergy Research Group and Infonetics Research have reported that Sonus is leading Japan's migration to VoIP with key customer deployments throughout the telecommunications, cable, Internet Service Provider (ISP), and wireless industries.

Telecom Industry Insider Rupert Galliers-Pratt, Chairman/CEO of Vistula Communications, Identifies Key VoIP Trends to Watch in 2006

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c29265) has announced the addition of Telecommunications Services Market: Outlook 2006 - 2012, China to their offering.

Telecommunications is a large and dynamic business that continues to enjoy significant growth worldwide in past few quarters. Trillion dollars flowed into the telecom industry during the tech bubble of the late 1990s, but after several brutal years watching telecom industry fortunes being driven downward--with the attendant layoffs, bankruptcies, and even a few accounting scandals--in late 2004 and 2005 the telecommunications industry has turned the corner.

Vonage Holdings Corp, a leading provider of broadband phone service, announced that it has raised $250 million in convertible debt funding with a group of investors led by affiliates of Bain Capital, with strong participation from leading financial institutions and existing investors including New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Meritech Capital Partners. The latest round of financing brings total investment in the company to $658 million.

iBasis, Inc., a leader in international long distance, VoIP, and prepaid calling cards, announced that Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the national carrier of Pakistan, has interconnected with The iBasis Network for international VoIP services. The interconnection enables PTCL to route international voice traffic over The iBasis Network, the leading global VoIP network, as well as complete calls for iBasis over its extensive network in Pakistan.

TelTel, a provider of SIP-based global Internet telephony, announced the launch of TelTel-Out, which delivers high-quality PC to any phone, anywhere calling, and TelTel Call-Forwarding, a new call forwarding service that allows forwarding of incoming calls to any PSTN number or SIP URL. TelTel-Out and TelTel Call-Forwarding are both now available to TelTel's over 1.3 million users and through service providers via its popular SIP Virtual Network Operator (SVNO) program.

Covad Communications Group, Inc., a leading national provider of integrated voice and data communications, was named the market leader among hosted VoIP providers for business by In-Stat, an independent research group, in a just-released report entitled, "Steady Growth Ahead for Hosted VoIP Solutions." Covad's 28 percent market share led all providers targeting business customers, including MCI, SBC, PingTone, M5 and others.