As new technology continues to disrupt legacy platforms in all industries, Speecho has just beta launched the newest in Web 2.0 social networking websites by providing its registered members free voice telephony services on a global scale. In addition to all the functionality we have become accustomed to with MySpace, YouTube, and others, such as personalized profiles, blogging, photo and video uploading, Speecho.com has extended the social network with the addition of proprietary voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services not even available through Vonage or Skype. Speecho.com is an open, unrestricted online community that allows and encourages members to meet new friends and invite and reconnect with friends they invite into the service. Members can talk for free with anyone, anywhere, in a public voice chat, party-line session, or in a totally private room.

Plantronics expanded its family of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) headset solutions with the new Plantronics SupraPlus Wideband headset and Vista M22 amplifier with Clearline audio technology. Used together or separately, the new products utilize wideband networks to offer professionals optimal voice quality and business-critical reliability and comfort.

"Today, businesses are unwilling to compromise on the sound quality of their IP phones," said Nora Freedman, research analyst, IDC. "In fact, global desktop IP phone shipments are expected to grow at an average of 29 percent each year between now and 2010, with shipments increasing from approximately 7 million in 2005 to 25 million in 2010."

Voxpath Networks has announced a relationship with Intrado to expand 911 and E911 emergency service coverage nationally to support the market launch of its Harmonica Complete hosted business telephone services. This relationship allows Voxpath to expand market coverage of Harmonica Complete services efficiently without compromising the core reliability of its hosted services.

“Providing clear and instant access to emergency services was one of our top priorities when we first developed the Harmonica Complete solution,” explained Carey Balzer, president and chief executive officer of Voxpath Networks. “Our relationship with Intrado leverages their particular expertise in routing emergency calls to the proper local authorities, giving our customers the comfort of knowing that their calls will reach the proper local emergency services agency should the need ever arise.”

Raketu announced their Call Home Free For The Holidays promotion. Consumers will be able to call to their families and friends free to locations in over 40 countries around the world, regardless of where calls originate, using Raketu’s PC based "RakOut" dialout voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services.

“When you can’t get home for the holidays, it’s nice to be able to speak to friends and family,” said Greg Parker, President of Raketu Inc. “We want to make it possible for everyone to call home this holiday season, and encourage them no matter where they are, or where they are calling to, to call free with our Call Home Free For The Holidays promotion.”

American Telecom Services announced the introduction of two new Interference Free DECT 6.0 telephones. The first product is a cordless multi handset phone with an integrated telephone answering system. The second product is an addition to the Digital Clear Internet Phone line which offers an integrated fax port within the platform. These new products expand what is already the nation's largest line of DECT 6.0 cordless multi handset phones using the Pay N' Talk platform for traditional service as well as the Digital Clear Internet Telephone line, the most diverse line of Internet phones in the U.S., which include a built-in adaptor and router platform in all the master base units to allow for a simple plug and talk experience.

The E30025CL is a DECT 6.0 cordless multi handset telephone with an integrated answering system shipped as a master handset with three extensions for less than $100 retail. In addition to ATS' standard phone features (30-name caller ID log, last-10-number redial, 50-number speed-dial phonebook, for example), the product includes a "Money Saving Green Button" for accessing the company's patent-pending "Pay N' Talk" long distance service from every handset. The expansion handsets may be used in any room in the home simply by plugging their bases into AC outlets. The company has already shipped more than 120,000 handsets of the E30025CL for holiday season sales.

Extending its leadership position in delivering award-winning Bluetooth, wireless and corded headset innovation, Plantronics has been honored with five International CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Showcase Awards.

All of Plantronics' Innovations Awards-winning products will be on display during the 2007 International CES, January 8-11, in the Plantronics Booth #30333 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Plantronics' recognized products include a chic, inventive Bluetooth headset; a pioneering plug-and-play Bluetooth VoIP system; two corded multimedia headsets; and a wireless office headset system.

"This recognition shows the world that our headsets play an invaluable role in enhancing personal mobility and communication," said Renee Niemi, vice president and general manager of Mobile and Entertainment for Plantronics. "These honored products represent our commitment to combining the highest quality sound with unmatched simplicity and remarkable design -- and clearly differentiate us from the competition."

Plantronics' award-winning products for 2007 include:

Plantronics Discovery 655:
Honored in the Wireless Peripherals category, the Plantronics Discovery 655 expands on the innovative design of previous Discovery headsets, featuring a modern sculpted look to complement the contours of the face, a snug ergonomic fit and cutting-edge technology. With Digital Signal Processing (DSP) the Plantronics Discovery 655 reduces noise levels to provide enhanced sound for clear conversations. It weight only 9 grams and comes with an innovative charging system that provides up to 10 hours of talk time and includes a unique vibrate ring indicator.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of 2006-2007 Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Europe Report Italy and Malta to their offering.

This report covers Italy and Malta, together representing one of the largest and most influential telecom markets in Europe, as well as one of the smallest yet technologically proficient. Trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media including VoIP, VoD and IPTV developments.

Fusion announced the launch of Mobilink, a revolutionary new service that allows subscribers to access its retail Efonica VoIP services from their mobile phones, without Internet access or special software.

Mobilink allows subscribers to enjoy the low cost and excellent quality of VoIP from their mobile phones. Subscribers simply dial an access number, which automatically authenticates their Efonica member status and allows them to call virtually any number in the world at savings of up to 80% compared to their mobile carrier. This service will also be available from landline telephones.

An important Mobilink feature allows users to call any in-network Efonica subscriber worldwide for free by simply dialing '10,' the Worldwide Internet Area Code, prior to the registered phone number of the called party. Subscribers to Mobilink also have access to Efonica's full suite of Internet based VoIP solutions. Consumers subscribe to Mobilink by visiting Efonica's new website at http://www.efonica.com/ and completing an easy registration process.

Microsoft opened a private beta of its new enterprise voice communications server, Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, to 2,500 IT professionals. Office Communications Server 2007 allows companies to integrate voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology into existing telephony infrastructure, eliminating the need for expensive network overhauls and also extending the useful life of existing investments. The new voice server will also allow workers to instantly launch a phone call from 2007 Microsoft Office applications, such as Office Word 2007, Office Outlook 2007 or Office Communicator, by simply clicking on a colleague's name to determine his or her availability and initiate a person-to-person or multiparty call.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of “2006 Australia - NGN, VoIP and IPTV” report to their offering.

Next Generation Networks & IP Networks

Next Generation Networks are a concept developed from Virtual Private Networks in the voice market and Value Added Networks in the data market. However the true value of IP is that it becomes the core of Nextgen Networks which facilitate affordable triple play business models, seamlessly integrating voice, data and video. While VPNs originated in the voice market and have become a core element of many enterprise networks, they are increasingly based on IP technologies and available from a growing list of service providers. This report also covers new developments in VPLS.

I came across this nice article today by Brett Markham, "Not all VoIP is created equal". I believe it could help VoIP users understand why their quality of service could be lacking.

"Every week BELD Broadband’s help desk receives calls from broadband Internet subscribers who use third-party Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services such as Vonage and SunRocket. These calls are usually complaints about call quality. The reason we receive such calls explains both the strength and weakness of these services."

"VoIP is a protocol that handles dialing functions and translates analog voice signals into packets of data similar to music mp3s, though of lower fidelity. The packets of data are then routed across one or more networks in order to terminate in a telephone switch that connects the caller with the phone number being dialed."

Boingo Wireless, announced that the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype is the first Wi-Fi device to ship with the Boingo Embedded Wi-Fi Toolkit, an open-source software utility that enables Wi-Fi devices to roam on commercial hot spots.

The Boingo Embedded software provides background detection, association and authentication of public Wi-Fi signals automatically, making it easy for consumers to roam onto commercial hot spots and eliminating the need to enter user ID or credit card information for each hot spot they use.

The Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype incorporates familiar Skype features and can be used with either open wireless networks or commercial hot spots that are part of the Boingo Mobile service. The phone also supports WPA and WPA2 with PSK security and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network compatibility.

Talkster unveils a groundbreaking voice over Internet (VoIP) network that allows users to place calls from ordinary mobile phones to traditional and next generation voice services. As an important component of the company’s forthcoming enterprise communications service, the Talkster network connects mobile phones to VoIP networks and devices without phone numbers, such as IP-PBX office phones provisioned inside a corporate IP network.

To demonstrate this network capability, Talkster is offering an individual user beta service that substantially cuts the cost of international long distance and roaming, and is also the first service to enable mobile phones to call instant messenger with voice services such as MSN and Google Talk. The Talkster beta service can be used by the widest number of mobile phones without requiring software, special networks or convoluted calling methods. During this beta, calls to instant messaging services are free. People can sign up at www.talkster.com and start using the beta service today.

VoX Communications reaches a wholesale agreement with regional cable operator, Allegiance Communications. Allegiance will private label VoX to give its customers, most of whom live in smaller, underserved cities and towns, access to the cost and feature benefits of broadband phone service.

Allegiance owns and operates broadband cable systems in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. The company, which recently acquired systems from Charter Communications, now counts more than 175,000 homes passed in their served markets. The wholesale agreement with VoX will enable Allegiance customers to enjoy the savings and convenience of receiving television, Internet and phone service from a single provider

CounterPath Solutions has earned certified status in Microsoft Corp.'s Partner Program recognizing CounterPath's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace.

As a Microsoft Certified Partner with an ISV/Software Solutions Competency, CounterPath has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customer needs. Microsoft Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, which give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

CounterPath's SIP softphones, including the eyeBeam 1.5 softphone, and softphone SDKs (Software Development Kits) provide VoIP, Video over IP, IM (Instant Messaging) and Presence functionality. They can be preconfigured to our customer's VoIP service and either co-branded or private labeled, making them the leading choice among VoIP service providers and manufacturers.