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May 31, 2007

Asterisk Release Maintenance News

Greetings Asterisk Enthusiasts,
 
Last week, about 50 developers gathered in Atlanta, GA, USA at the Georgia Tech University's Information Security Center (GTISC) for a week of discussion about the future of Asterisk. One of the topics that came up was the future of the existing Asterisk release branches. Asterisk 1.2 was released in the Fall of 2005. At this time, Asterisk 1.0 was put into security maintenance, meaning that it only received changes to fix security issues, and not changes intended to fix less severe issues.
Asterisk 1.4 was released in the Fall of 2006.  At this time, Asterisk 1.0 became officially unsupported.  However, we continued to fully maintain Asterisk 1.2.  Now that Asterisk 1.4 has been out for about 5 months, we are taking steps toward moving Asterisk 1.2 to security maintenance only.  We plan on aiming for this to happen on August 1st, 2007.

What does this mean for you?

It means that if you are using Asterisk 1.2, you should start considering a plan for upgrading your servers to Asterisk 1.4.  Asterisk 1.2 is not going away anytime soon.  You can expect that Asterisk 1.2 will be maintained for security issues until Asterisk 1.6 is released, and most likely longer than that.  However, some time after Asterisk 1.6 is available, Asterisk 1.2 will become officially deprecated and no longer supported with fixes of any kind from the core Asterisk development community.

We ask that you please work with us to help ensure that Asterisk 1.4 is a stable platform for your telephony needs.  If you find a bug, please work with the development community to help get it resolved.  After all, this is a community project!  Remember, before creating a bug report on http://bugs.digium.com/, check to make sure there isn't already a report for the same problem.

The development team is very dedicated to fixing bugs and maintaining feature frozen releases.  Our maintenance of the Asterisk 1.2 series for over a year and a half is a testament to this.  We are going to work
very hard over the next couple of months to help ensure that Asterisk 1.4 is the best Asterisk release series yet.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move forward with Asterisk development, and as always, thank you very much for your support!

--
The Asterisk.org Development Team

Posted by Dal at 10:37 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Asterisk News

May 30, 2007

Slurpr - Multi Channel Bonding Wifi Router

 
 
Mark Hoekstra (geektechnique.org) will preview The Slurpr at The Next Web Conference in Amsterdam. The Slurpr is a high speed Wi-Fi broadband router that takes up to six available Wi-Fi channels and combines them into one free and ultra broadband connection. Fast and Free Internet Access with just one box! Now you can enjoy the great advantages and comfort that come with a high speed internet connection, all for free.
The Slurpr automatically connects to the 6 strongest available Wi-Fi channels in your neighborhood to give you unparalleled connectivity. To make this happen, 6 Wi-Fi adapters are combined in one small package. The six extra sensitive antennae give you an even wider range of connectivity. The Slurpr will be on display and available for pre-ordering at The Next Web Conference.
 

Posted by Dal at 02:04 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Wireless Hardware

May 25, 2007

Explanation of Pulver Media and Why Jeff is Popular

Note:  After reading the initial question which I felt was very fair to ask, Nick got a great response.  Jeff Pulver has done much to bring the VoIP Industry to the mainstream and that is exactly why he is the "goto" guy when it comes to commentary and opinions on VoIP.
 
Question:  
I've always wondered...  what exactly did Jeff Pulver do to be awarded this God-like status in the tech media?  Don't get me wrong, I don't know him, or anything about him other than what I read online in the media... and I don't have any personal problem with him.  But I constantly see him quoted as the "end-all-be-all voip expert" that the reporters seem to bow down to and kiss his feet.  I know he's been in the industry for a long time, and he has done some important stuff (like FWD), but what did he do to earn such praise and high regard over everyone else?

Personally, I think Mark Spencer has done far more good for the advancement of VoIP and telephony projects by small companies than Jeff Pulver or anyone else for that matter, yet he gets maybe a fraction of the attention and admiration that Jeff does.

What exactly am I missing here?

It's not meant as a negative, just a "trying to understand".

-- Nick

Moshe's Response:

First of all - journalists always a short list of people that they call when they need an opinion, reaction on something. Once you are on the list and are known, they will always call you. Why waste time with someone new? But more than that, Jeff has spent the last 10 years doing 2 main things - building the VoIP industry as a community and developing relationships with the outside world.

In that aspect he has probably done more than anybody else. Activities like the VON coalition, petitions to the FCC, founding FWD etc. have helped represent the VoIP industry in a positive way. His VON shows are the place to go to make deals in the VoIP space. So is he the "end-all-be-all voip expert" as you write - No. But he is the public face of the VoIP industry. Mark Spencer on the other hand revolutionized and popularized the use of open source telephony for PBXes.

Is he VoIP only? No. Has he spent all the time and effort that Jeff has on building relationships and representing the industry - No. So while we owe a lot to Mark, he hasn't promoted the industry or himself as much, so the reporters don't call him

-Moshe Maeir 

Posted by Dal at 10:22 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to VoIP News

May 23, 2007

Google Proposes Ad-like Auction for Wireless Spectrum

Note:  I think this sounds like a good idea but I am not sure if it will get any traction.   
 
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has tried and failed to develop spectrum auctions that allow startup companies to get into the mobile service provider industry but now Google thinks it has a better idea. In a filing made to the FCC on Monday, Google proposes a spectrum policy that allows would-be service providers to bid real time in an auction for the right to use a piece of spectrum for a given period of time in order to deliver services to phones or other devices.
The auction system could be similar to AdWords, the system Google offers to companies that bid against each other to have their ads displayed online when users search for certain terms.

The proposal will “bring innovative new broadband-based applications, services, and devices to all Americans” and bridge the digital divide, Google wrote in the filing.

Google’s idea essentially would open up a secondary market for wireless spectrum. Currently, in order to discourage speculators, the FCC usually sets a time frame and network build-out requirements that companies must meet before they’re allowed to sell their rights to the spectrum to another company.

In Google’s proposal, the large companies that win spectrum rights from the government could allow companies big or small to bid against each other in an auction in order to gain rights to use pieces of the spectrum for service delivery.

“Licensees in this case can in some sense be an intermediary between the airwaves and people who want to use it,” said Richard Whitt, telecom and media counsel for Google and author of the filing.

Third parties could bid for the right to use the spectrum for a year, six months or even two seconds, Whitt said. He envisions phones that could constantly be sniffing for available spectrum and the best price to use that spectrum for a given period of time.

It is difficult to imagine, however, who might own and maintain the networks in that scenario. The licensee or an Internet service provider could build the networks, Whitt said. “What we’re looking for is the FCC to give us the flexibility to explore the business and financial relationships between the licensee, those who build the infrastructure and those who want to be retailers,” he said.

Some experts say that Google’s plan would ultimately favor companies with deep pockets. “It’s not going to help smaller companies,” said Dave Farber, a professor of computer science and public policy at Carnegie Mellon and a former chief technologist at the FCC. Figuring out how to build or access a network while also bidding on spectrum sounds expensive and risky to him.

Click Here to Continue Reading 

Posted by Dal at 02:20 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to WiFi / Wireless

May 22, 2007

Cisco to Buy BroadWare Video Surveillance Company

The networking giant announced late Monday that it plans to buy privately held BroadWare Technologies in an effort to bulk up its video surveillance business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Cisco said that it expects to close the acquisition in its fiscal fourth quarter, which ends July 27.

Cisco's bread and butter for the past two decades has been providing companies and service providers infrastructure equipment, such as IP routers and Ethernet switches, to carry data and Internet traffic. But recently, the company has been expanding its business into other areas, including video.

Cisco believes that video surveillance, in particular, is a logical market for it to address. For one, Cisco is already likely the provider of networking equipment to companies using video surveillance. In addition, many of these companies have already begun consolidating their networks to carry voice and data over an IP infrastructure. So adding video to that consolidated network would make sense. And lastly, Cisco also provides storage area networking gear, which is essential for customers who must store all the video.

Click Here to Continue Reading 

Posted by Dal at 03:36 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Cisco

Avis Outfits San Francisco Car Rentals With WiFi

Avis finally came through on the promise we'd heard back at CES. Starting yesterday all of their rental cars in San Francisco now have the option of offering a new service--WiFi broadcasting via AutoNet Mobile. Avis described this feature specifically as offering "portable wireless Internet access which can be carried anywhere, from the hotel room to the conference room and beyond, to help travelers stay connected wherever they go."
But the big bonus here is the lack of equipment required--no aircard or software is needed to connect and the AutoNet Mobile router is capable of always-on broadcasting.

Frankly, this new advancement draws attention to two things for me:

1. Avis is really thinking ahead, since they're able to offer a portable WiFi solution practically right off the plane--and at a comparable price to what most hotels offer ($10.95 a day).

and,

2. As seasons change and children grow older us San Francisco residents are still long overdue for that city-wide WiFi service we've been promised.

Maybe if we make it mandatory that all SF visitors take advantage of this feature with their rental cars we can produce the illusion of blanket coverage.

Source: Wired 

Posted by Dal at 03:23 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to WiFi / Wireless

May 21, 2007

AstJax - Firefox Web Browser Click2Call Script

Hello, 
 
Just to announce that I've improved upon a greasemonkey script which allows users to dial any number (in the given regex format) by turning it into a clickable hyperlink.

The script uses greasemonkey's ajax callback to a simple php controller script, so that the click does not navigate away from the current page.

It requires an Asterisk Manager connection.

See http://yaptele.com/asterisk-firefox-click-to-dial-ajax-script for more details.

Posted by Dal at 12:16 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Asterisk Software

EP-880 VoIP Phone Uses Frequency Domain Scrambling Technology

Note:  If this phone is SIP compliant then we might need to pick a couple up for "testing".



Everpeace Technology has released the EP-880, an encrypted VoIP phone that integrates frequency domain scrambling technology and can block phone-tapping devices. It supports the PSTN network and standard PBX systems. 

The EP-880 features auto redial, handsfree, speakerphone and calculator. It has a 16-digit, 3-line LCD that can display total number of calls, new call, call sequence, date and time. It stores up to 30 incoming call numbers.

Click Here for More Info 

Posted by Dal at 10:18 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to VoIP Security

May 19, 2007

D-Link Brings Wireless HDTV from PC via Xtreme N Duo MediaBridge

D-Link has developed a nifty device that allows you to play high-definition media from your computer to your HDTV. The catch is, the device makes use of your home router, eliminating the use of cables and wires.  The device, known as the D-Link Xtreme N Duo MediaBridge, makes use of a draft 802.11n, operating at 5GHz. The draft 802.11n data transfer rate, combined with frequencies in the 5GHz range, makes it possible to stream high-definition media content from your PC throughout your home with minimal interference.

The Xtreme N Duo attaches to an Ethernet port and sends a dual-band draft 11n signal throughout a users home. Utilizing the device for HD streaming involves the use of 2 Xtreme N Duos, one plugged into a home router, and the other connected to an Ethernet-capable media device in your home.

“When it comes to delivering superior wireless performance, clarity and coverage, the Xtreme N Duo MediaBridge is the ideal centerpiece for the home wireless network,” said Brian Larsen, associate vice president of product development for D-Link Systems, Inc. “It’s easy to install, add or upgrade to any home network and provides the best wireless technology available for viewing HD video.”

The Xtreme N Duo was showcased on stage with Bill Gates, Friday, as he demonstrated moving multiple HD streams from PCs, running Windows Vista, to external Media Center Extender devices.

“Windows Vista™ is designed to provide PC users a superior multimedia experience, as well as the ability to enjoy that experience elsewhere in their homes,” said Glenn Ward, group partner manager for Windows Rally at Microsoft Corp. “We are extremely pleased that our collaboration with D-Link has resulted in a product that helps consumers make the Windows Vista vision a reality.”

The D-Link Xtreme N Duo MediaBridge connects game consoles, Digital Video Recorders, Digital Media Adapters, PCs, and is expected to ship in the third quarter of 2007. Pricing will be announced when the product ships.

Source: Blorge 

Posted by Dal at 07:21 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Wireless Hardware

Free Seminar w/ Asterisk Inventor Mark Spencer

Date: Monday, June 4, 2007, Time: 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Goizuetta Business School, Emory University
Boynton Auditorium (Room 130)
1300 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322

Join Digium, Cbeyond and Polycom for a special industry event featuring speakers Mark Spencer, CTO, Digium and Chris Gatch, CTO, Cbeyond.

We are very fortunate to have Mark giving an industry update about Asterisk including one of Digium’s latest innovations, the Asterisk Appliance, which is a stand-alone embedded Asterisk-based PBX targeted for small to medium-sized businesses.

Chris Gatch will discuss the SIP Forum’s SIP Trunking industry specification, SIPconnect and how the Asterisk Appliance compliments Cbeyond’s industry-leading SIP trunking service, BeyondVoice with SIPconnect.

Click here to register for this event!

Source: Atlanta Asterisk Users Group 

Posted by Dal at 07:13 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Asterisk News

May 18, 2007

Astsee v0.1 Released - Asterisk Channel Monitor for Linux/X Windows

I have been working on a fun little app to watch what's going on in your asterisk box via its manager interface.  There's a screenshot up and some info at http://sitkavoip.com/astsee/ -- Sorry it requires allegro, but I was more keen about getting the ideas down than worrying about the framework.

Comments/questions welcome, but probably off-list is best unless they are usage questions that would benefit the community.

Source isn't available currently, just a binary. I expect to release the source too, soon, but don't know for sure yet.  There are a plethora of inadequacies rampant in this thing, YMMV, details about what works and what doesn't are on the page linked to above.  This is more of a proof-of-concept release than even v0.1.

Thanks for reading.  I hope this provides a viable alternative to the great but seeming-to-be-not-updated gastman software.

Moj
mojo[at]horanappraisals[dot]com

Posted by Dal at 10:36 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Asterisk Software

Voice Chat (VoIP) to be added to World of Warcraft (WoW)

Note:  This will have to be one hell of a voip system to support like 7 million US subscribers. Hopefully they run it on its own hardware.

 

It looks like Ventrillo and TeamSpeak are on the way out of Azeroth, as Blizzard is reportedly gearing up to add VoIP directly to World of Warcraft. According to Curse Gaming, this is one of the tidbits that World of Warcraft lead producer Shane Dabiri will reveal in an interview in the June 2007 issue of Games for Windows magazine.

In the WoW VoIP, a player's name will reportedly be highlighted when they are talking, so other players will be able to click on the talker's name to select them and give them their buff or heal. The in-game voice chat will apparently be available only to Parties and Raids at first, but will probably be expanded to include custom channels in the future.

Players will also reportedly have the option of separating the in-game voice chat from the game's other sounds (music, etc.) and setting it to a different sound channel. In theory, this will let players have the game's background sound and music piped through their regular speakers while the voice chat goes only to their headsets. Another new feature that will reportedly be implemented after patch 2.1 goes live is the Guild Bank. This will let guild members use the money put in the bank, like a sort of community chest.

The Guild Bank will also have hundreds of slots for items and such. Transactions will also reportedly be monitored and documented by Blizzard to prevent abuse.

Source: Cursed Gaming 

Posted by Dal at 10:24 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to VoIP News

May 15, 2007

Scottish Revo Launches Three New PICO WiFi Radio

Revo Technologies, based out of Scotland, has released three new radios that continue the company's tradition of expanding radio technologies. The three models are all based on one basic design. The premium model has an FM tuner as well as the ability to pick up Wi-Fi radio signals, a still relatively untapped source of over-the-air music content.

In the Wi-Fi and 2nd tier models, there's the ability to record live programming to an SD card, which can also be used to listen to pre-installed music from your PC.

The PICO Wi-Fi will be brought out to stores in July for £149.95, with the PICO and PICO+ models available now for £99.95, and £129.95, respectively. Via this press-release.

Posted by Dal at 03:52 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Wireless Hardware

Nokia N800 Tablet PC Running a PBX

Note:  First a Linksys Router, Apple TV and now this.  What will we have next?  Maybe I might need a iPBX in my iPhone. 

Thanks to colleague Aaron Huselage, I learned about this, which has garnered very little coverage or conversation that I've seen -

We can run on the N800

Well, one day after announcing the ability to converse with an N800 over mod_dingaling we can now actually *run* freeswitch on the N800.

If you want to try it out here is a binary snapshot: http://www.freeswitch.org/downloads/n800/
For those of you who aren't familiar with FreeSWITCH, here's some background:
FreeSWITCH is an open source telephony platform designed to facilitate the creation of voice and chat driven products scaling from a soft-phone up to a soft-switch.  It can be used as a simple switching engine, a media gateway or a media server to host IVR applications using simple scripts or XML to control the callflow.

We support various communication technologies such as SIP, H.323, IAX2 and GoogleTalk making it easy to interface with other open source PBX systems such as sipX, OpenPBX, Bayonne, YATE or Asterisk.

We also support both wide and narrow band codecs making it an ideal solution to bridge legacy devices to the future. The voice channels and the conference bridge module all can operate at 8, 16 or 32 kilohertz and can bridge channels of different rates.

FreeSWITCH runs on several operating systems including Windows, Max OS X, Linux, BSD and Solaris on both 32 and 64 bit platforms.

Our developers are heavily involved in open source and have donated code and other resources to other telephony projects including sipX, Asterisk and OpenPBX.

It's an interesting and very popular solution. The idea of running an open source telephony platform on the Nokia N800 intrigues me. Having used the N800 pretty extensively as part of the Nokia Blogger Relations program, the device, a real Linux workstation, has tremendous potential.

The idea of open source telephony of this scale, in your pocket, sets the stage for some new paradigms in telephony and communications. I'm envisioning the next generation call center, which could be very different powered by N800s insteads of more traditional workstations. A WiFi-powered call center with agents using N800s could become a very fun place to work, and completely disrupt the call center model.

In that light, over the next week or two, I plan on reinitializing my N800 and loading up FreeSWITCH to see how the N800 performs as an open source telephony platform.
 

Posted by Dal at 11:37 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to VoIP Hardware

May 14, 2007

RIM Offers BlackBerry-PBX Convergence

Ontario-based Research In Motion announced a new “Mobile Voice System” product last week at its annual user conference, in an effort to converge the popular BlackBerry email device with enterprise PBX functionality.

The BlackBerry MVS solution promises a single “Reach Me Anywhere” phone number for corporate employees, and integrates desk phone features such as extension dialing and call transfers. All calls placed and received with the service are securely routed through a central PBX, allowing managers to log or record conversations for compliance purposes.

“For years I’ve been hoping we could somehow make the mobile take over the role of the phone that sits on my desktop,” noted RIM Mike Lazaridis. “It rings all the locations you are normally at, at the same time so if you’re in your office your desk phone and your BlackBerry ring simultaneously and whichever you pick up the other stops ringing.”

Source: Teleclick 

Posted by Dal at 09:39 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to PBX / iPBX

Skype Partners with Wal-Mart to Increase VoIP Adoption

Skype, today announced that it is teaming up with Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, to address the growing popularity and demand for Internet communications among U.S. consumers. Starting today, Wal-Mart is offering Skype Certified hardware in the Internet and voice communications area of 1,800 of its stores throughout the country, providing more opportunity and accessibility for people looking for affordable calling options. This partnership gives shoppers immediate hands-on access to headsets, webcams and handsets designed to work with Skype, as well as the first pre-paid cards for Skype available in the U.S.
The addition of Skype Internet communications products to Wal-Mart stores comes at a time when Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) adoption among U.S. households is growing rapidly. According to the Telecommunications Industry Association, 9.9% of all landlines in the U.S. were VoIP lines in 2006, and this will rise to 34.1% by 2010. In addition, Skype is the number one software-based VoIP application in the U.S. by market share, according to a March 2007 report by In-Stat.
 
“We applaud Wal-Mart for recognizing the popularity of Skype and making it more accessible to Wal-Mart shoppers. This relationship with Wal-Mart will increase exposure for Skype and our hardware partners in a single dedicated Internet communications section,” said Don Albert, vice president and general manager of Skype North America. “Our research suggests that when users add a Skype Certified accessory like a headset, handset or webcam, it greatly enhances their experience and they use Skype more to connect with family, friends and business colleagues.”
 
Today, Skype is enjoyed by more than 196 million registered users around the world. Users download Skype software to make free voice and video calls and send instant messages over the Internet. Skype also offers paid-for products which let users make, receive and forward calls to and from landlines and mobile phones. To enhance the Skype user experience, hardware devices and accessories are available from approximately 50 leading manufacturers. These products certified by Skype give users the additional flexibility to talk more freely and naturally when placing Skype Internet calls.
 
“We have taken a sharp focus to launch the products and brands that consumers are moving toward at the most affordable prices,” said Kevin O’Connor, vice president and general merchandise manager, Wal-Mart Electronics. “The Skype hardware and pre-paid cards are a great fit with Wal-Mart because they offer long-term money-saving solutions at the right time for many customers -- parents, grandparents, college students and military families.”
 
Wal-Mart is the first and currently only retailer in the U.S. to offer Skype’s pre-paid cards. Shoppers can purchase a $20 pre-paid card and redeem it for Skype credit to make inexpensive international calls at rates as low as 2.1 cents per minute. Another pre-paid card is available in stores for a three-month subscription to the Skype Unlimited Calling Plan for just $8.85. This gives consumers three months of unlimited Skype calls to any landline or cell phone number in the U.S. and Canada.
 
Up to nine different Skype Certified hardware products are available within branded Skype Internet Communications sections within Wal-Mart stores’ electronics department. Shoppers will find Skype certified headsets under $15, webcams under $25 and handsets under $30 from quality brand names such as Plantronics, Philips, Logitech and more. The relationship with Wal-Mart represents the first time a retailer is bringing together Skype Certified hardware and pre-paid cards for Skype under one dedicated section.
 
For more information, go to www.skype.com/walmart. For details on redeeming the pre-paid cards, go to www.skype.com/prepaidcard.

Posted by Dal at 09:28 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Skype

May 13, 2007

Putting Asterisk TeleYapper to the Test

For those that are new to Nerd Vittles, you may not recall that, on Valentine's Day in 2006, we released TeleYapper, a telephone broadcasting system that distributes reminders and other messages to large or small groups of people by phone, of course. Believe it or not, it still works with almost all versions of TrixBox and Asterisk@Home 2.5 or later.
But, it's one thing to develop a piece of software that can send unattended telephone reminders to your clients, patients, or Little League team. It's quite another to actually use it for a huge project and find out where all the warts are. As the resident cheerleader in our new neighborhood, I was wrestling with how to get detailed information about a meeting to review a proposed zoning change to a group of 700+ homeowners... in a hurry.
 
Delivering flyers door-to-door was not going to happen. E-mail was certainly an option, but that unfortunately is hit and miss these days. With spam blockers, spam filters, missing email addresses, and verification requirements from companies such EarthLink, we decided we could only count on a delivery success rate of about 50 per cent.
 

Posted by Dal at 10:27 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Asterisk Help

May 10, 2007

Justin.TV - Interesting Use of Video Streaming and Voice

Editor's Note:  Today I stumbled onto Justin.TV.  Very fascinating website.  I have been watching for the last hour and he has really broken down the whole process on how he manages too broadcast 24/7 in San Francisco.  I would urge you too check it out at least once to see.   Be warned it is very addictive because the show actually has useful content.  Now after watching the show I might need to start streaming also :)  Check it Out
 
 
 
 

Posted by Dal at 11:19 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Blogsphere News

May 09, 2007

JAJAH Gets $20 Million Investment Boost from Intel

Note: Just got this hot off the press.  Big news in my opinion.  I have been following them for quite some time.  Cool bunch of people doing interesting VoIP technology. 
 
This is a landmark deal for JAJAH. JAJAH will have access to the great technical knowledge of Intel and access to Intel's broad range of patents from their patent portfolio. A marketing arrangement with Intel is also part of the agreement. We will have access to their OEMs, as well as their thousands of dealers around the world.
JAJAH will use the proceeds to develop the next generation of communication services for the web and for mobile devices. We will use the proceeds for general operating needs and we will also be investing in new R&D in order to realize the visionary items we have on our road map.

JAJAH sees a world where all telephony becomes IP based. As this happens,new classes of services and solutions are going to emerge. In this new world, the consumer is the big winner. Our vision is to be at the forefront of innovation, creating new, richer ways for users to communicate.

"Our vision is to lead the way into the next generation of communication," said Daniel Mattes, JAJAH co-founder and chief architect. "All voice communication will soon be IP-based. The lines between computers and phones are gradually being removed. Phones are quickly turning into computers and computers are quickly turning into phones. We need to marry phones and computers in a fundamental way!"

"It is our intention to bring a best-of-class, next generation solution to the market which will be embedded in any CPU for use on any computing device. Rapid innovation, technology convergence and device ubiquity will remove the last barriers to global communication. This partnership will take Jajah to a new level and put us on a path to make significant contributions to the future of communications." said Roman Scharf, JAJAH co-founder

In the end, JAJAH's vision remains the same. It is our goal to remove the barriers to global communication and the Intel agreement will allow us to do that faster and better than ever before.

More at: http://blog.jajah.com/press_kit/intel.html

Posted by Dal at 12:47 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to VoIP News

Open-Source Telephony Goes Mainstream

Note:  Rich has post this great article on his blog about his trip to Digium's headquarters to meeting with Mark Spencer. 
 
 
 
In the last few years the communications industry has been taken by storm through the invention of an open-source communications platform named Asterisk invented by Digium (www.digium.com) founder Mark Spencer. An article written for the January 2004 issue of Internet Telephony magazine by yours truly was titled, “Open Source Telephony. . . The Next Big Thing,” predicted open-source communications would become a huge phenomenon and it has perhaps exceeded everyone’s expectations of growth.
Digium is headquartered in what seems at first to be an unlikely place. . . Huntsville, Alabama. In fact if you drive far enough away from the company’s headquarters you might imagine there is no technology in the area but instead an entire economy dedicated to farming.
 
As it turns out, a close look at some of the buildings in the Huntsville area shows a preponderance of these edifices are devoted to jet propulsion. Rocket science it seems is big business in Alabama and could explain why your rocket science jokes don’t go over too well in this part of the south.
 
Click Here to Continue Reading Rich's Article 

Posted by Dal at 10:15 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Asterisk News

May 08, 2007

Next Alarm Announces Support for Two-Way Voice Monitoring

Next Alam is announcing at The Cable Show in Las Vegas support for two-way voice monitoring.  Next Alarm's two-way voice service, unlike that of other alarm companies, is compatible with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and digital phone service.  Next Alarm offers this feature for a minimal surcharge.  The feature doesn't require a phone line and is available at a very reasonable price.
Using Next Alarm's patented Alarm Broadband Network (ABN) - the industry's first low-cost broadband solution for security system monitoring - two-way voice gives subscribers many advantages.  For example, when an alarm system sends a signal, two-way voice makes it possible to patch in a dispatcher who can listen in on the home through microphones in the keypads and/or speak through the keypads and pass information on to authorities.  In addition, anyone at the site can easily speak with the dispatcher without having to reach for a telephone.  This is especially helpful in the event of a medical emergency.

ABN allows customers to enjoy the benefits and cost savings of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service, while still allowing their alarm systems to accurately communicate with monitoring centers.  ABN operates over a standard cable adapter or DSL connection and works with any alarm system capable of sending signals using the contact ID format.  In addition, ABN requires no changes to a subscriber's existing alarm system.  All a subscriber has to do is simply plug the ABN adapter into their home network and plug their alarm panel into the adapter rather than into a regular phone line.

"We feel this two-way voice feature is going to be very popular with our subscribers," said Alex Elliot, NextAlarm's founder and CEO.  "The feature doesn't require a phone line and is available at a very reasonable price."
 
Source: Next Alarm

Posted by Dal at 11:23 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to VoIP Security

May 07, 2007

Polycom Announces New Share Repurchase Program for Up to $250 Million

Polycom, Inc, today announced that its board of directors has extended its existing program by approving an additional share repurchase program for up to $250 million of its common stock.  Purchases may be made, from time to time, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, and will be funded from available working capital.
The number of shares to be purchased and the timing of purchases will be based on the level of Polycom's cash balances, general business and market conditions, the dilutive effects of share based incentive plans, and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities.
 
"The strength of our balance sheet and consistently positive cash flow from operations supports the decision to significantly increase our share repurchase program at this time," stated Robert Hagerty, chairman and CEO of Polycom. "We believe the repurchase program will benefit our shareholders by contributing to Polycom's return on equity."
 
Source: Polycom Inc. 

Posted by Dal at 04:54 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Polycom

Cisco Rolls Out Catalyst 6500 Series

Cisco has launched the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Supervisor Engine 32 with programmable intelligent services accelerator (PISA) technology. The company has also introduced a blueprint for network services called the Campus Communication Fabric that guides information technology (IT) managers through the transformation of their network into a strategic platform for all communications and collaboration.
Cisco Catalyst 6500 is claimed to be the first modular switch to integrate the ability to analyse stateful and stateless application traffic flows for proactive security protection, compliance with corporate policies and management of network resource utilisation.
 
These innovations help IT managers optimise business-critical applications, control non-business applications and meet governance risk and compliance regulations. "Cisco continues to build innovative solutions with advanced features that meet our customers' current and future application performance and high-security needs for the LAN, MAN and WAN," said Marie Hattar, senior director, Cisco Network Systems.
 
"Companies can now consider the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Supervisor Engine 32 with PISA and Cisco 7201 Router for a complete, end-to-end network services infrastructure that can easily grow and evolve with their business needs." Catalyst 6500 has evolved into both a modular switch and a router with high port density and wide-area network (WAN) routing in a single chassis.
 
 Cisco 7201 is a new compact, high-performance router in the Cisco 7200 series. The new Supervisor Engine 32 with PISA also provides distributed protection against notable worms and viruses and day-zero attacks in the campus edge using flexible packet matching (FPM) technology. These new capabilities are hardware accelerated on the new Supervisor Engine 32 with PISA and therefore can scale to multi-gigabit speeds.
 
Cisco Catalyst 6500 with integrated services such as firewalls, IP Security (IPsec) and embedded application-aware intelligence makes the latest addition of PISA technology well-suited for enterprise WAN edge deployments.
 
Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Supervisor Engine 32 with PISA technology and 8x1 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks and Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Supervisor Engine 32 with PISA Technology and 2x10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks will be available for $28,000 in June 2007. Cisco 7201 Series Router will be priced at $24,000.
 
Source:  EFY Times 

Posted by Dal at 03:12 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Cisco

May 04, 2007

Rhino Releases New Analog FXO/FXS PCI Cards with Onboard Echo Cancellation

Note:  I want to get my hands on one of these.  I wonder how they compare with Digium's own mainstay.

Rhino has recently released their PCI analog telephony card product line now with on-board echo cancellation. The Rhino FXO and FXS analog telephony product line consists of non-modular (permanently affixed FXS/FXO circuitry) and modular (user defined FXS/FXO module circuitry) to customize your requirements for the  Asterisk-based PBX system.

Rhino has partnered with Texas Instruments and Adaptive Digital Technologies to help create the lowest priced analog PCI card echo cancellation solution available for Asterisk. All Rhino PCI analog cards offer standard features such as carrier-class ITU G.168 compliant echo cancellation with 1,024 taps, 128ms tail, complete with a fast converging non-linear processor with automatic comfort noise generation.

The non-modular line consists of three models: the R4FXO-EC, the R24FXS-EC, and the R24FXO-EC. The R4FXO-EC features four FXO channels in a non-modular design, with four female RJ11 jacks available at the PCI card bracket. The R24FXS-EC and R24FXO-EC both feature a single RJ21 female connector at the PCI card bracket, with a Velcro strap to secure the mating RJ21 cable to the connector.

The modular line consists of two models: the R8FXX-EC and the R24FXX-EC. The R8FXX-EC features four female RJ11 jacks available at the PCI card bracket, with two lines appearing, the first on the inner and the second on the outer pair of each jack. The R24FXX-EC features a single RJ21 female connector at the PCI card bracket, with a Velcro strap to secure the mating RJ21 cable to the connector. Dual FXS and FXO modules are user upgradeable, and can be snapped into place with a two-point interconnection mechanical mounting method that utilizes enclosed, non-pin type connectors for reliable electrical connection.

All Rhino plug-in PCI analog telephony cards feature a unique on-board control element that eliminates PCI bus bit banging, which provides more host processor time for the main Asterisk PBX application. The addition of hardware-based echo cancellation on-board means that even more host processor time is available for other host processor-based duties.

Source: pbxeq 

Posted by Dal at 10:20 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Asterisk Hardware

May 03, 2007

FCC Chairman Martin to Telcos: No Blocking Iowa Calls

Note:  Wow, this could blow up into a big fight.  Om Malik sent in this breaking news written by Paul K. 
 
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Thursday that the commission told large telcos to stop blocking calls into numbers for the Iowa-based free calling operations, threatening punitive actions if the carriers didn’t comply.

While the immediate FCC pressure was a victory for the Iowa telcos and Internet calling concerns whose services had been blocked by AT&T and Qwest, left unsolved is the separate question of whether or not the large carriers have to pay up the millions in disputed connection fees into the Iowa-based operations. But Martin, after a scheduled public appearance in Silicon Valley, made it clear that the commission took immediate action against the moves to block or restrict calls, saying they were in violation of FCC rules.

“We actually contacted the companies that were listed in the press [reports] and said our rules prohibit you from blocking consumers’ access to any of the service providers,” Martin said. Martin said the informal communication to the big telcos who were blocking calls was that if they didn’t stop immediately, the commission would start a formal process for legal recourse within days, and “would end up taking action as we saw necessary.”

Click Here to Continue Reading 

Posted by Dal at 11:09 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to VoIP Politics

May 02, 2007

FCC Approves WiMax Laptop Card for ClearWire

Note: Great news, now they just need more coverage. 
 
Clearwire Corporation, today marked a major milestone with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) final approval of the first WiMax class laptop card that will connect to the Clearwire network. Following the FCC approval, the new wireless broadband product is on target to be available in Clearwire markets during the second half of this year.

"The FCC's approval of our laptop card is a significant milestone in bringing to market a 'true broadband' wireless service with a device that facilitates even greater portability than our existing modem permits," said Perry Satterlee, Clearwire president and chief operating officer. "We expect the new laptop card to broaden our potential customer base with more opportunities for customers to access and experience our fast, simple, portable, reliable and affordable wireless broadband services."

"Motorola's Expedience wireless access system delivers high speed, nomadic broadband access for Clearwire's customers, and our new laptop card will give them even more convenience as they connect to the information, entertainment and people that are important to them," said Fred Wright, senior vice president, Motorola Networks & Enterprise.

The new Clearwire laptop card is part of Motorola's wi4 Expedience solutions. The high performance, wireless access modem is a true non-line-of-sight device, requiring only a simple driver to be added to the customer's computer. The product fits into a standard Type II laptop card slot on portable computing devices and is compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista and XP operating systems.

Source: MobileTechNews 

Posted by Dal at 11:27 AM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to WiMax Hardware

May 01, 2007

Student Suspended for Breaking Cisco's NAC

Note: Sounds like a very simple and elegant hack.  Too bad he got suspended and was told he was being unpatriotic. 
 
A University of Portland student was suspended for writing a program to bypass the Cisco Clean Access NAC system on campus. Apparently this incredibly dangerous activity is a Patriot Act violation. Or, at least, it is if you believe the letters being sent out by the administration at UP who seem to be confusing "skipping security checks" and "hack into a licensed product"

First, let me mention that I work as a Senior Security Engineer at the University of Florida. I spend 40hrs a week (at least!) dealing with exactly the same type of threats that the folks at the University of Portland deal with and strongly understand the value of NAC in protecting such a difficult network to defend. I should mention that what I write here is obviously not in any way official UFL policy or opinion. I've never been concerned by methods to evade NAC. People who are capable of evading NAC are not the users you're trying to protect from compromise by ensuring they're secure anyway. Deal with the vast majority of users who need NAC for their own protection and the protection of the network and don't worry about the few smart enough to actually evade it.

UP's reaction was not proportionate to the issue. From what's been posted online of the policies and reactions the administrative staff has had to the incident, somebody seriously over-reacted. Let's put it this way -- what the program that Mr. Maass wrote did was essentially make his computer look like a PDA. Or a game-system, or any other network device besides those supported by the version of CCA at UP. He didn't hack in without using a username and password, or steal anyone else's account. He didn't attack the CCA system itself with any exploit at all.

That's not to say he didn't handle it poorly. And his actions probably should be a violation of campus policy even if it wasn't when he did it (UP: add some language about "attempting to evade security measures meant to protect the network" and you're done). But suspension? The letter to the local newspaper mentions that there were no less than 19 other lesser sanctions that could have been taken in this instance (see [3] above). A suspension is ridiculous.

Click Here to Continue Reading This Article 

Posted by Dal at 12:50 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to Cisco

Who Will Provide WiMax?

Note:  Zain makes a good point.  Maybe this under the radar approach will work well for WiMax.  It sure did for early wifi support.  WiMax should have a grassroots approach in its strategy.  It seems to help adoption and then we will see increased support from the manufacturers and developers.

With all the hype surrounding WiMAX as each year passes, the general question that looms over peoples minds are who will actually provide WiMAX? This is an excellent question. Customers, businesses and enterprises can hope to receive some form of WiMAX services from the legacy carriers .

Companies like Sprint/Nextel in the US would eventually be providing WiMAX services at some point in time.

Even though large telco's represent a major chunk of the customer base, they do not encompass the entire customer pie of subscribers. According to a London based research report by ARCChart, the majority (60%) of subscribers are held by small to mid-size companies.
 
Unfortunately, these small companies have less than 5000 subscribers and not enough to actually make an impact on WiMAX development. According to the report, only 20% of the entire subscriber pie is held by companies like Clearwire who acquired spectrum earl in its development.

This means that these small to medium enterprises will either have to increase their subscriber base or risk being eaten up by the legacy carriers who are aggressively planning national roll outs.
 
Source: WiMax.com 
 
 

Posted by Dal at 12:33 PM | | TrackBacks (0) Posted to WiMax

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