WhichVoIP.com's Blog

Cloud-based Unified Communications (UC) is set to get another boost. Telesphere, the Phoenix, Arizona-based Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provider, is launching a multi-pronged expansion of its all-IP network all over the country to enhance its service to larger organizations in America and Canada.

The company is setting up network Points of Presence (POPs) in crucial parts of America to connect them to their high-capacity bandwidth facilities. Telesphere expansion is poised to improve all aspects of its network to provide the best scalability, performance and availability of its services to business enterprises across the nation and beyond. The objective is to get the business of companies with multiple locations, together with those that have personnel working from homes or on the move with their smartphones, laptops or other mobile devices.

The plans include the establishment of POPs in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Portland to augment the extensive nationwide network. Customer locations are connected to the POPs using a slew of technologies which include Ethernet over fiber, Ethernet over copper, DS3, NxT1, DSL, cable, and many others. The expansion program would reinforce the company’s standing as the biggest provider of a diverse range of high-technology, all-IP corporate communications solutions in a hosted, cloud-based environment. These systems enable business enterprises to function with total privacy, security and online supervision of tailor-made communications services.

Telesphere’s cloud-based Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provides a much more economic and cost-effective system for companies than the traditional services offered by telephone companies, equipment vendors or Internet Service providers.

Telesphere Chief Executive Officer Clark Peterson was upbeat about the expansion plans. “Clearly, our strength and our chief selling point is our ability to provide unparalleled Unified Cloud Communications solutions over a national network, with its breadth and capabilities, supported by our own proprietary back-office system that has been designed specifically to serve the Cloud Communications industry,” he said recently.

A major player in Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) software solutions, the Canada-based company Mitel, recently launched the latest version of its flagship UCC offering, the Mitel Applications Suite (MAS 4.0).

MAS 4.0, based on Mitel’s Freedom Architecture, is also available as a virtual solution and is specifically designed to manage the many problematic areas in IT companies and business users. MAS 4.0 enables organizations to customize the solution to their particular communication needs. Equipped with innovative web-based collaboration and mobility solutions, MAS 4.0′s single application interface helps to enhance natural communication and sharing between colleagues and associates, irrespective of location or device.

The primary features of Mitel’s MAS 4.0 are:

• Easy and instantaneous web-based collaboration without any client downloads;
• Instant Messaging and Dynamic Presence on mobile devices with total security assurance;
• Simplified Administration;
• Extended Virtualization; and
• Increased Scalability.

Ron Wellard, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Mitel Communications Solutions, believes that today the IT manager “has too much going on to waste time with difficult-to-manage solutions.” He also feels that “if it’s too hard to collaborate, end-users will look to other solutions and productivity will suffer.” In this scenario, Mitel’s new unified solution is developed to relieve these serious, operational issues.

“UCC simplicity and ease-of-use is critical to adding value in an enterprise — both for the end-user and for IT,” Wellard also said.

Mitel, based in Kanata in Ontario, Canada, is a global provider of business communications and collaboration software and services. The Freedom Architecture enables the flexibility and ease-of-use that companies need for operational efficiency in the competitive business environment of today. Mitel delivers a powerful suite of collaboration and communication functions through a cloud-based software channel that augments the office experience regardless of location or device, and is tailored to meet specific business requirements.

Comcast’s recent launch of its new cloud-based VoIP service, Comcast Business VoiceEdge, is a step towards trying to drive business away from AT&T and Verizon. This new communication package is designed to shift the need for old PBX and key-type voice channeling systems.  This new service is currently available to businesses in 14 states in the company’s northeastern including division, including Virginia and Maine as well as Chicago. Business VoiceEdge will be provide businesses with high definition-quality voice service, unlimited nationwide calling, polycom desk phones, and common user experience.

The service will also include:

• Be Anywhere: Calls follow workers in the office and on the go via push/pull between devices, which don’t have to disconnect and then reconnect a call.
• Voicemail-to-email: Voice messages are copied to a worker’s email.
• Telephony Toolbar: A downloadable client that enables click-to-dial and service management from within Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
• Business Voice Continuity: Redirects calls to back-up numbers if there is a power outage or other on-site issues.
• Multi-Location Simplicity and Commonality: On-net calling between sites using extensions, unified calling experience, and the ability to add new locations quickly and share call-handling (receptionist, hunt groups and auto attendants) across offices.

The service is a result of Comcast’s purchase of New Global Telecom in 2010. It is a clear strategic ploy to develop and expand the services offered to businesses and expand its market penetration. Bill Stemper, President of Comcast Business Services, stated that the service will allow for further flexibility, “Businesses, especially those with a distributed workforce, need a reliable and consistent voice solution that allows their ‘on-the-go’ employees to stay connected anytime and anywhere.”

Comcast plans for the Business VoiceEdge to expand its service availability nationwide by the end 2012.

The market for VoIP apps for smartphones is small, but steadily growing. A few big names have emerged as standouts, but options available will differ from phone and platform. For example, Blackberry users have overall fewer choices, while iPhone users have the widest selection. Best of all — the apps are all free!

Skype

Perhaps the best-known of this group, Skype, also happens to have one of the most reliable and solid VoIP apps on the market. The only necessary caveat is that the app must be downloaded by all parties involved and account must be made. With Skype instant messaging, voice, and video calls are all available. The app can also make calls to landline numbers, although this specific feature is a premium paid service. The app is available on all the major platforms, except Blackberry, as well as on desktops. Most recently, the app is set to finally debut on Windows Phones.

Tango

Tango is very similar to Skype in many ways, voice and video chats are all capable. The major difference between Tango and Skype is that no account is necessary for sign-up. The app automatically detects which contacts have Tango and allows for instant communication. The app is available on Windows Phones, Androids, iOS phones and desktops.

Jajah

Jajah allows for mobile-to-mobile phone calls and messaging via their free app. Like Skype, an account must be set up on their website in order to use the service. Jajah also currently has Facebook feature in beta development where you can make calls to Facebook friends. Jajah is available on all the major platforms including Blackberry.

There are more apps available on the market that may be the perfect fit for you. More VoIP apps are sure to be developed, announced, and tweaked in the near future.

It seems as though new entrants in the videoconferencing market surface nearly every week. As can be expected in any competitive market, some work out better than others. A new videoconferencing platform has just been launched in Australia and it seems to hold promise. The platform, called iSee, is new breakthrough technology in spatial voice which enables upwards of a hundred of people to occupy the same space and be heard and seen over an internet transmission. The technology has been developed by the Smart Services Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) at Sydney and has already been launched in the education segment on a trial basis. The voice technology has even been sold to Dolby Laboratories. The iSee platform can be used on laptops and is established on heuristic algorithms that reduce the need a lot of bandwidth.

The main advantage of the videoconferencing platform is the low investment for users and which is relative to the fact that the technology can be utilized on any normal laptop. The Department of Education in New South Wales has been using a beta version of the iSee platform and is now planning to launch it in more rural areas. The technology could bring down costs in schools substantially from 100’s of thousands of dollars to just some hundred dollars on a yearly basis. The next company in line to adopt the iSee technology is the major global IT provider Infosys who will implement the videoconferencing platform in its 11 campus locations across the world, including the Global Education Centre in Mysore, India. The Global Education Centre is the biggest corporate university in the world which is where Infosys plans to mass deploy the iSee platform.

The iSee platform is also being tested for widespread distribution in other markets such as real estate and banking, which would both benefit from the new videoconferencing technology. It is expected that by the second half of this year, it would be available for usage on several devices in addition to just PCs.

CRC Chief Executive Officer Warren Bradley is upbeat about the iSee platform and its benefits. “[Soon] It can be used either with a multi-touch, backlit screen or it can be projected straight on to any table anywhere or just projected on to a piece of cardboard and rolled out,” he said recently.

Goober Networks recently launched a VoIP technology that allows users to connect with other VoIP users over the Internet—not just to users in the ChatCube network.  This is a seemingly bold, brave, yet simple idea that might make people want to jump onboard to this new technology.  This versatility and freedom is a terrific feature. However, it isn’t just the universality that makes the ChatCube seemingly worthwhile.

HD-quality VoIP calling, auto-sync contact management, photo and video sharing, voice mail, call-forwarding and push notifications are all available with this new mVoIP which makes it a technology that is at least worth checking out for yourself.

VoIP technologies are the “it” thing right now in the communications world, so it will be interesting to see if any of the little guys can outdo the Skypes, the Truphones and Mobiboos of the world.  The elite VoIP tech companies out there have a huge start in the VoIP technologies game, but elitism is still within the grasp of any ambitious company.  It just takes one big idea, one innovative leap to jump ahead of the pack.

Good luck, Goober Networks.

A new version of the OpenScape UC platform will be rolled out in June of this year. According to Siemens Enterprise Communications (SEN Group), the new software will be available for use in a cloud computing environment. The new software, simply dubbed OpenScape version 7.0, can now support more than 5 times the users (around 500,000) compared to the last version. The new platform also includes support for Mac OSX and much more. The decision to move the platform to the cloud is to help expand the UC solution in the USA and Canada.

The SEN Group is also planning a partnership with Ingram Micro Services to support the cloud delivery of the new UC platform. SEN believes that OpenScape will be best received if marketed as a SaaS offering, as this would make it viable for more users — particularly on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The Vice President of Partner Collaboration at SEN Group, Andy Howard says, “OpenScape Cloud is a service that dovetails with many channel partners’ existing IT portfolio, offering great up-selling opportunities and margin potential.”

In the face of mounting competition, the SEN Group has lost its premier position in the UC sector. The business has observed declining revenue, approximately 10% annually for the last 10 years. The SEN Group fell from a $6 billion company to a $3 billion company so SEN Group President Chris Hummel decided that they would take a new direction, determined to regain their position in UC. They feel that by leveraging support for OpenScape, the SEN Group can regain its competitive edge in the UC marketplace. “A lot had to change…We need to get bigger here. We won’t be first, second or third, but we have to do better”, he stated in a recent interview.

Siemens Enterprise Communications, is a collaborative effort of Siemens AG of Germany and the Los Angeles-based Gores Group. They are built on a 160-year-old foundation as making them worldwide leaders in unified communications solutions and a paradigm in the communication business.

It is common knowledge that one of the drawbacks of VoIP communications and telephony is the problem of accessing 911. Despite many tweaks and progressive developments, this still remains a handicap for many in this sector. Canada is now planning to take stringent action against VoIP providers who are dragging their feet on 911 rules, despite knowing that these regulations are mandatory. The concerned regulatory body known as the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is now vested with the authority to order VoIP service providing companies to cease and desist should they not abide by the new 911 regulations.

The Commission has laid out the responsibility of providing accurate and complete information about 911 service limitations of VoIP phones to consumers. VoIP providers such as Bell Canada have been commissioned with this responsibility because Bell, for example, charters its lines to other service providers. VoIP home phones historically have had difficulty accessing 911 and also experience other inadequacies such as during power outages and also when such phones are used during travel. The CRTC rules make it mandatory for carriers to tighten their contracts to accommodate these regulations which should rectify many of these problems. If carriers do not comply, they may be asked to disconnect services to the resellers they administrate. As of 2009, there are an estimated 161,000 VoIP phone lines in Canada, per the most recent CRTC analysis.

In February, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made it mandatory for interconnected VoIP providers to report major outages like other telephone service companies in order to give the FCC adequate information about how these interruptions impacted on 911 access. They calculated that, of upwards of 87 million residential customers assessed, nearly a third are actually utilizing a VoIP solution. The FCC felt the new rules were necessary to manage the considerable number of 911 calls from VoIP phones.

Access to 911 becomes crucial in any emergency and failure to connect can result in a disastrous situation, where essential services whether police, medical or any other cannot be contacted. It appears that now as the rules are tightening VoIP providers will take this issue to heart or else risk getting shut down for noncompliance.

Let us not get carried away by the seeming boom in the adoption of cloud technology, as many companies have been recently vying with each other in moving forward with the latest development in the IT sector. While it is a fact that organizations are looking at a serious reduction in capital and operational expenditure, the IT departments are still deeply concerned with security issues. Studies suggest by a recent survey Network Instruments’ Fifth Annual State of the Network Global Study reveals that 74% of respondents are still worried about this aspect in moving ahead to cloud technology.

The results of the survey are fairly encouraging: 60% of respondents expect around half of their applications to be virtualized in a cloud environment within a year, and another 70% plan to implement video conferencing sometime in the next 12 months. Of those surveyed, 25% expect video to consume at least half the bandwidth available to their company and in 12 months 33% stated that bandwidth consumption will increase to more than 150% of current usage within the next 2 years.

Senior Product Manager of Network Instruments, Brad Reinboldt, clarifies the current mindset among IT personnel in companies that are adopting cloud technology. “While IT teams embrace cloud services and videoconferencing as a way to increase cost savings and business flexibility, these technologies introduce new components and environments which make ensuring positive end-user experience all the more challenging. The reported lack of monitoring tools, quality metrics and visibility create serious obstacles that prevent IT from effectively managing performance and jeopardize costly technology investments”, he says.

Despite some 60% of organizations adopting cloud services, almost unchanged from last year, the main perceived threat of potential security breaches and the protection of confidential data remains an area of concern, according to the survey. Almost ¾ of the respondents expressed their reservations about the security of company data security when migrating to a cloud not directly controlled by the internal IT department. This number is approximately double the figure generated in 2011. The Network Instruments survey cited a lack of hands-on-training, as well as education for end users, as major stumbling blocks.

Business enterprises can save approximately 43% of their expenditure over the traditional PBX systems by the deployment of a pure IP infrastructure, according to a recent study from Siemens Enterprise Communications. The report emphasizes the increasing use of cloud technology due to the workforce becoming more mobile. Staff familiarization and training factors however, appear to delay the movement towards a Unified Communications (UC) platform for most companies.

The study, conducted by ReRez Research, examined communication practices and procedures across the world and the impact of cloud technology and mobility parameters on the communications infrastructure. More than 1,100 respondents, from organizations which have than 500 employees, were surveyed. The countries included the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, China, India, Brazil, Russia and Sweden.

The substantial reduction in costs is providing the impetus towards an IP infrastructure with companies utilizing a hybrid combination of PBX and IP to decrease any risk to existing investments. The report revealed that 91% of the respondents were using this procedure during the changeover period. The results indicate this was, by far, the most popular approach to the switch to the new technology.

The Siemens study also had a detailed look at how the increasing mobility of the workforce was leading to the adoption of cloud computing services by companies. The study also revealed that most companies had just 20% of telephonic endpoints at the head offices, while 39% were found at branch and remote locations. Data for mobile devices accounted for another 33%.

“IP-based unified communications not only simplifies productivity for end users, but it also saves companies money,” said Chris Hummel, Siemens’ North America President and CMO. “Enterprise communications is in transition–from PBX to IP and from premise to cloud.”

Republic Wireless is setting the next stages of beta testing for its VoIP Phone Hybrid service. This smartphone service — marketed as a low-cost and alternative to the larger, costlier phone companies — is expected to re-launch public beta testing by summer 2012. The phone plan allows for unlimited calls, texting, and data usage at a $19 monthly rate. The phone service works by making calls mainly via VoIP and Wi-Fi, switching to cellular data only when Wi-Fi is unavailable.  The difference between using Republic Wireless to make calls and using a VoIP app on a standard smartphone is that with Republic Wireless, you are constantly connected to Wi-Fi and the cell network. This has been coined by Republic Wireless as “Hybrid Calling.”

According to the Republic Wireless’ official blog, the beta testing is going well enough to “skip a few baby steps” and allow for sooner-than-expected public beta testing. A full-scale launch is estimated to happen in the near, tentative future and will depend on the success and feedback gathered from beta testing. Republic Wireless is also expected to launch a wider selection of phones in their service and a new handset.  The company blog hints at things to come in the future stating: “In May, we’ll introduce a new Wi-Fi to cellular handover technology that is already blowing us away in the lab (our developers are good!).  As soon as June, we will roll out new, more powerful Android phones.”

Republic Wireless’ initial foray into the cellular market was met with criticism for their highly complicated cell-data usage plan. Republic Wireless appears eager to continue its open dialogue with customers and hopes that the next stage of testing will hopefully gather enough feedback that will potentially lead into a successful official launch in the near future.

If you’ve ever been on Skype, you may be familiar with the term “Skype Dates.”  This is when you and a friend decide to meet via VoIP service at a particular time to catch up and chat with one another. It’s networking — on the most casual level.  You’re enjoying the virtual time spent with one another.  You’re also learning from one another, whether you realize it or not.

You’re learning to use the technology as an avenue for catching up with and getting to know what your friend is like when he or she is lounging around at home.  While Skype is used often for personal enjoyment, people are using Skype for professional reasons as well.  Skype is perfect for conference calls, making sales pitches, collaborating ideas — you name it.

Networking events and trade shows are great ways to meet people in similar and sometimes vastly different fields.  Sometimes, though, these networking events are merely starting points for the development of solid work relationships. After all, most successful business deals are started through work relationships.

Companies can get to know their clients (and potential clients) better if they went on these “Skype Dates.”  If you have branches, clients, and colleagues around the world, you can use Skype Dating as a way to mingle and interact with them on a personal level.  So many times these services are used for strictly business.  Why not loosen your tie and have a nice chat with someone?

Some may argue that serious businesses do not have time to go on a “date” when there is money to be made using traditional means.  Well, I’m inviting you to give it a whirl and make the most of this VoIP services by not only having conference calls, but by networking and getting to know the person you’re conducting business with on a personal level.

Set up a date, chat with your colleague or client over your favorite refreshment or snacks, and talk.  Interact with one another, and business relationships will start to come together.

Telephone company netTALK, netTALK.com, announced the release of the netTALK DUO WiFi — a new netTALK DUO VOIP device and digital phone service. The company explains that the netTALK DUO WiFi is not used through a phone company, standard telephone cables or even a computer; instead it directly makes calls via Wi-Fi anywhere in the world.

President and CEO of netTALK, Anastasios “Takis” Kyriakides, released a statement: “netTALK customers are already accustomed to getting the newest, first-available communications products and digital phone service at an unbeatable price, and the netTALK DUO WiFi will be no exception. While saving money off your home phone bill and the option to keep your existing phone number is an amazing value, the ease of linking up via Wi-Fi makes firing your phone company a no brainer.”

The netTALK DUO WIFI will also be sold in Target stores in early April and other retailers shortly thereafter. This big announcement is surely a step towards the future of VOIP and VOIP-specific products.  The ability to make phone calls via Wi-Fi without the need of a company, or even telephone porting, is a major innovation from the company.  Mr. Kyriakides exclaims that the after telephone number porting, a service they began offering recently, a Wi-Fi capable VoIP phone was the most requested product from netTALK customers.

netTALK has been on the forefront of innovation. It is the first company to offer the VoIP device and digital phone service without the need for a computer with their “Fire Your Phone Company®” via the netTALK DUO. This new VoIP phone is a possible sample of what the future holds for phone service. Much like how the cell-phone shifted the need for a regular landline phone, this cutting VoIP service may very well change the need for traditional cell-phones. For more information on the netTALK DUO WIFI, visit netTALK.com.

Recent new developments in the VoIP industry have expanded the opportunity for businesses to invest in VoIP. ITPVoIP.com, a big name in the industry, announced a new feature offered in its premium business plan that will allow for an auto-attended application, creating ease for businesses to manage their phone services.

This new feature is designed with small businesses in mind, perfect for boosting productivity and establishing credibility. With this new feature, businesses will be able to route calls with a recorded greeting. The auto-attended application also features customizable menu options which allows for easy management of call loads without the need for a receptionist. The auto-attended application is perfect for small, home-based businesses looking to present a more professional impression.

VoIP is poised to be the fastest growing American industry within the next five years, and more businesses should be looking to permanently invest in the industry. New research conducted by TDS Telecom Corporation indicates that IP communication can potentially reduce overall business costs by a potentially large amount. VoIP has vastly improved business communication — allowing for linkage and connection between voice calls, email, contact management, and customer relationship management.

The research done by TDS grouped the business benefits of VoIP into 4 categories: reduction of communication costs, improvement of overall efficiency, enhancement of productivity and collaboration, and a gained competitive advantage. The benefits of VoIP are not always immediately tangible. What VoIP does is provide a potentially large ROI (Return on Investment).

The VoIP industry has grown to incredible numbers within a relatively short time frame. Research indicates that between 2009 and 2013, the use of VoIP in businesses will have increased by 37% — from 42% in 2009 to 79% by 2013. With more burgeoning opportunities for VoIP, the industry leaders are beginning to look at opportunities to differentiate themselves with new innovations, such as the new feature created by ITPVoIP.com.

Nuance Communications recently announced that its “Dragon Voicemail-to-Text” service is included in the Visual Voicemail offering on T-Mobile USA Inc. Dragon transcribes voice messages into text, which are then delivered directly to mobile phones via text message or to the
user’s T-Mobile^® Visual Voicemail inbox. This enables T-Mobile
customers to read their voicemails in any preferred sequence instead of having to listen to them one at a time. The Dragon Voicemail-to-Text service incorporates the same voice recognition technology that is present in the Dragon Mobile apps and NaturallySpeaking. T-Mobile customers can now respond to voicemails easily, with the ability to reply through a text message at any time from any location. Messages can also be stored or forwarded by the user.

The service is integrated with the T-Mobile Visual Voicemail application and enables unlimited voicemail-to-text transcription for just $3.99
per month. Service is free for the first 30 days when the user subscribes to
the T-Mobile Visual Voicemail. Transcription is available in both English and Spanish. The T-Mobile Visual Voicemail application is available in the Android Market and is exclusive to T-Mobile customers.

“Voicemail-to-Text offers a convenient way to handle voice messages and is consistent with T-Mobile’s vision to provide our customers more service options to easily stay connected. Our partnership with Nuance is not only powering Voicemail-to-Text, it will also drive future innovations to enrich communications virtually wherever our customers are”, said Alex Samano, Director and General Manager of Communication Services, T-Mobile USA.

A Massachusetts-based company, Nuance Communications Inc. is a leading player in the voice and language solutions market for individual consumers and business enterprises around the world. For more information, visit www.nuance.com.