BinFone Telecom, a fast-growing provider of VoIP for call centers worldwide, recently received the "Top 100 VoIP Service Providers" Award from Internet Telephony Magazine and the International Packet Computing Consortium (IPCC). Awards were announced and presented at the Fall 2005 Internet Telephony Conference and EXPO in Los Angeles. The complete list of award-winners can be found at: http://www.tmcnet.com/awards/service-provider-winners-2005/service-provider-winners-2005.htm

SkyPilot Networks, a leading provider of carrier-class broadband wireless systems, announced that Costa del Sol Online SL (CDSO), a multi-faceted reseller, system integrator and network operator based in Malaga, Spain, has selected SkyPilot equipment to rollout advanced wireless voice, data and Internet access services across Western Europe. CDSO's network operator subsidiary, Bamboo Telecom, is actively deploying SkyPilot equipment to a large rural subscriber base in Malaga, Spain to deliver voice-over-IP (VOIP) and Internet access services. Based on its own success in building out a service provider network based on SkyPilot gear, CDSO is initially reselling this equipment to network operators in other regions of Spain and Holland in preparation for an aggressive expansion plan across new geographies.

The Call Union “Collective” is a 10% ongoing rebate incentive plan just launched by Call Union, an Internet Telephone Service Provider promoting free calls to VoIP and low cost calls to traditional phones.

Like most VoIP service providers Call Union provides free calls to other VoIP phones and discounted calls to normal phones anywhere, but now when customers introduce others to the service they can make additional calls for free to any phone using any credits gained through the ongoing Call Union 10% Collective rebate plan.

Intrado Inc., a global provider of integrated data and telecommunications solutions, announced several new services that enable next-generation 9-1-1 capabilities. Intrado ALI Management, 9-1-1 Routing and The Application Framework are part of the Intrado Intelligent Emergency Network, Intrado's next-generation, IP-based emergency communications architecture. The Intelligent Emergency Network is a robust and secure service platform that bridges the gap between the limitations of the legacy 9-1-1 system and the expansion of public safety requirements. The design leverages the improved efficiencies of the Internet Protocol system (using open, ATIS-approved standards) while providing an evolutionary, non-disruptive deployment model.

Empirix Inc., which helps organizations adopt complex communication solutions with confidence, announced the results of a survey conducted during Dec. 2005 on the topic of "Service Provider VoIP Deployment and Service Delivery Challenges." Highlights of the survey, which garnered 148 responses, include:

• Only one-fifth (20 percent) of respondents report using VoIP application monitoring systems to ensure service quality; and
• When asked how their network engineers most often initially find out about problems in the VoIP network, the dominant response (36 percent) was, "Subscriber complaints."

Yak Communications Inc., a provider of telecommunications services to residential and business customers, announced today the launch of its yakUnlimited Calling Plan for $19.99U.S. a month. This product offering is in addition to the other VoIP services offered by Yak, including yakForFree peer-to-peer Virtual VideoPhone and yakToAnyone PC-to-PSTN Calling.

The yakUnlimited Calling Plan offers subscribers a U.S. (where 911 service is available) or Canadian local phone number to facilitate unlimited outbound and inbound calling with "full feature" functionality for only $19.99USD/$24.99CAD per month.

Juniper Networks, Inc. announced that 012 Golden Lines, a leading independent Israeli communications service provider, has selected Juniper Networks M-series routing platforms, VF-series session border controllers (SBCs) and integrated security devices for its new VoIP (voice over IP) network. 012 Golden Lines is the first service provider in Israel to be granted a government license to provide broadband-based voice services to customers, and selected a comprehensive Juniper Networks solution to ensure the quality, reliability and security of its voice and data communications services. The network has been installed by Juniper's local partners TNN and Ness Technologies.

NextNet Wireless, the world leader in commercially deployed NLOS fixed, nomadic and mobile plug & play broadband wireless access systems, and MVS Net, Mexico's leading wireless broadband service provider, announced that they are delivering Mexico's first carrier class broadband data + VoIP bundled services, with an average call volume of 1.6 million calls per month, generating over 3.7 million VoIP minutes per month across Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Toluca and Mexicali.

Sonus Networks, Inc., a leading supplier of service provider Voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure solutions, announced that the amount of voice traffic being carried over Sonus' industry-leading solutions exceeded 17 billion minutes per month at the end of 2005, a 70 percent increase compared to December 2004. Network operators around the world are supporting increasing amounts of customer traffic over Sonus IMS-based architectures to deliver innovative new applications and features to consumers, achieve superior operating efficiencies, and prepare their telecommunications networks for a seamless migration to full IMS-compliance.

Cordia Corporation, a global communications service provider, announced that it had successfully deployed nationwide E911 emergency calling services on its VoIP network for Cordia's United States based customers. The company now believes that is has complied with the FCC's E911 mandate for VoIP in the United States and expects to begin marketing domestic VoIP services immediately.

Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC(R)) announces that Mark Spencer, president of Digium Inc., original creator of Asterisk and pioneer of open source telephony, has agreed to deliver the opening keynote address at its INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO East 2006, on January 24-27, 2006 at the Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Mr. Spencer's address, which is open to all registered attendees, will take place Tuesday, January 24th at 11:30am EST. Registration for the conference is now open at http://www.itexpo.com.

SightSpeed, the leading provider of free and premium Internet video and voice communications services (VVoIP and VoIP) has announced the appointment of digital media veteran Ted Cohen and integrated marketing communications executive Andy Abramson to their Advisory Board.

"Ted and Andy's addition to our advisory board broadens the level of expertise and insight that a growing company like SightSpeed needs to have in order to remain ahead in an industry sector that is rapidly emerging and evolving," said Peter Csathy, SightSpeed CEO. "Both bring with them extensive industry insight and understanding along with a passion for driving new and emerging technologies to the forefront. This underscores SightSpeed's commitment to extending beyond being the leading IP-based communications company it is today and moving the company more deeply into video-centric community and commerce as well."

Meru Networks, the global leader in wireless VoIP infrastructure, announced the industry's first wireless security solution that provides protection of wireless networks at the Radio Frequency (RF) signal level. The Meru Security Services Module, a software module that works in combination with Meru's complete wireless LAN product portfolio, bring enterprises a new, more advanced level of security for Wireless LANs delivering mission-critical applications.

XConnect, the largest neutral VoIP peering provider worldwide servicing more than 75 VoIP service providers in 20 countries, announced participation in the following upcoming events in the first quarter 2006.

VoIP peering allows operators to "identify" VoIP calls and exchange them end-to-end across IP networks, facilitating zero-cost settlement while preserving value-added services and advanced features for the benefit of subscribers.

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.