VOIP Solution and Service

Jajah.com is a free web phone calling system and makes amazing promises: no downloads, headsets or phone adapters.

They have got $3 million in funding from Sequoia Capital in 2005, and now they have a million paying customers. For each customer, Jajah is making $10 monthly, and these fees subsidize the free calls, and how do they do this? They have cut deals with many telecoms for access to cheap local last-mile connections, and the long-distance part of the call goes over the Internet.

To avail of this system, you simply use your existing phone; you enter it on Jajah website, and then you enter your the number you want to call, either local or international. At present, you need to have Internet access, but Jajah plans to take the computer out of the call process.

Helsinki-headquartered F-Secure Corp, a leader in the internet and mobile security space, launched its technology centre in Kuala Lumpur this week. This is in sync with the company’s plans to bolster its presence in Asia. F-Secure is market leader in offering security through internet service providers (ISPs), having cornered 36% market share in the European Broadband ISP space and 25% in the combined European and North American markets.

F-Secure already has a technology centre in Helsinki. The Kuala Lumpur centre will be responsible for detecting and removing malware, spyware and rootkits, besides protecting customers from phishing attempts.

Voice over Internet protocol (VOIP), Wireless local area network (WLAN), Skype, etc. are some of the areas vulnerable to future virus attacks in Asia. Also, Internet security threats are on the rise with the expansion of broadband facilities. Cheaply available Voice over Internet Protocol numbers and Net calling are helping crooks launch new data-thieving scams.

In a twist on phishing, fraudsters are now calling their intended victims instead of e-mailing them. The fraudsters likely use stolen identities to set up a voice-response system and acquire local VoIP phone numbers.

When Apple Computer Inc first introduced digital music palyer and companion iTunes music software, it created a legitimate market for music downloads and solved a problem vexing the technology industry. Nearly five years later, analysts anticipate Apple will deliver a product to solve the entertainment industry’s current dilemma: how to bridge the gap between the living room television and the computer.

Analysts speculated that Apple may stream movie videos directly on to television sets, or connect Apple’s smallest desktop computer, the MacMini, to the TV with a more user-friendly interface, or use an upgraded video iPod to make the link.

Apple is introducing new technologies…OK. But we, as VoIP adorers, are waiting with baited breath when apple explores this market.

Recently every other industry heavyweights is being swept with the VoIP craze. Just this month, Microsoft added VoIP features to Windows Live Messenger, which will be available to users of its forthcoming Vista operating system. Meanwhile, last year Google released Google Talk, a similar software-based service.

So, for those who are waiting for VoIP news from Apple, insiders say that Software engineers at Apple Computer have been toiling away on a new set of features that will allow users of its next-generation Mac OS X operating system to place phone calls over their Internet connection. Apple is expected to bundle iChat 4.0 with the operating system overhaul, code-named Leopard and VoIP Internet dialing may just be one of several new features in it. This move will pit the Apple-branded video conferencing and instant message software against existing VoIP solutions from the likes of Skype, Google and Microsoft.

Convergence is introducing a new SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) management device that trunks SIP traffic through firewalls and across IP networks. The Eclipse CX-50 is a smaller version of the company’s previous gear and economically enables SIP support in small offices. Previous boxes were designed for data centers. Eclipse devices also handle SIP signaling and media encryption, virus scanning, QoS control and identity-based access control, among other features. Pricing has not yet been released.

The device is intended to trunk calls between SIP-based IP PBXs. It will maintain QoS to ensure voice quality and encryption to maintain privacy. It can perform these functions between PBXs and Microsoft Live Communications Servers as well.

The company also is announcing interoperability between its gear and Linksys VoIP routers to encrypt and authenticate VoIP generated by small and home offices.

Until recently, UK-based Vodafone had prided itself in being a ‘pure play’ mobile operator, unaffected by a declining fixedline business. But as the fixed and mobile businesses move to cheaper, combined services, the firm had to change track.

Vodafone Group Plc is the world’s leading mobile telecommunications company, providing a wide range of services including voice and data communications.

The company confirmed its plan to enter the fixed line broadband internet market via a deal with the wholesale arm of telecom firm BT Group. Vodafone, which had disclosed in May 2006 its plans to enter the broadband internet space, said it expected to launch the fixedline broadband internet service by the year end.

“This partnership will enable Vodafone’s customers to benefit from bundled packages of mobile and broadband services nationwide due to BT’s unique footprint in the UK,” Vodafone said in a statement.

In May, 2006 the company was aiming to get up the revenues over the next three to four years from its new Mobile Zone businesses, including converged fixed-mobile internet services. Competition in Britain;s broadband market is intense, with the Carphone Warehouse and BSkyB recently announcing cut-price packages.

Britain’s second biggest telecom group Cable & Wireless plc, recently exited the UK retail broadband market, because of stiff competition.

Linksys has launched its WIP330 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connected VoIP phone in Europe - the company’s first wireless handset to made available to buyers over here - after announcing the device at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin.

The handset connects to 802.11b and 802.11g wireless hotspots and incorporates IPv4’s Type of Service extension to allow access points to give priority to voice data if they too support this system. It’ll work with the WEP and WPA Wi-Fi security standards.

However this is not Skype friendly as it supports the SIP 2 VoIP standard. WIP330 provides a range of customary phone features, including caller ID, call forwarding, speed dial, last number redial, a vibration alert and call waiting. The handset can initiate three-way conference calls.

The 119g handset sports a 2.2in, 240 x 320, 65,536-colour display and a battery sufficient for three hours’ talk time and up to 50 hours’ operation in stand-by mode. It has 32MB of Flash memory on board and 64MB of RAM. Its built-in web browser can be used to access web-based email, view web sites or receive Internet-based video. Be prepared to pay about £270 for it.

The WIP330 is the successor to the Cisco subsidiary’s WIP300 handset - released like the WIP330 in the US back in February this year. However, WIP300 ($US219.99) has only a 1.8 inch LCD, no QoS support, no facility for auto provisioning and no support for conferencing.

At a glance the features of WIP330 are:

1. A 2.2 inch, 65,536 color display.
2. Connects 802.11b and 802.11g wireless hotpots.
3. SIP based VoIP services.
4. Caller ID and vibration alert.
5. Call Forwarding and Speed dialing facility.
6. Call Waiting and Conference calling services.
7. High quality battery ensuring three hours talk time and 50 hours standby.

8. Built in web browser.

9. Works with WEP and WPA Wi-Fi security standards.

The VoIP equipment needed to make VoIP calls depends on the type of VoIP service being used. VoIP service is available in three different modes. These are ATA, IP phone and PC-to-PC. All these services are common and available for the use at the home PC. ATA or Analog Telephone Adaptor lets the user to connect the regular telephone to the computer and use it for VoIP service by converting analog sound bits into digital data. Internet Protocol phones are those phones which are specially designed to be used with VoIP service. They look very similar to the standard phone models but their components are different from them. Moreover, a cordless IP phone will enable the user to use the VoIP services on the move. The PC-to-PC VoIP can be set up by installing the software provided by the VoIP service providers. Yahoo and MSN messengers are the examples of such software. In the PC-to-PC VoIP, users can make long distance calls through their computers and can communicate through the headphones with attached microphones.

As the VoIP is gaining popularity the market for the VoIP services and equipment is becoming more and more competitive. Presently there are several companies that are offering VoIP services and equipment to the growing market for the VoIP. However, the VoIP technology is so new that even the latest VoIP equipment becomes outdated in few months. Thus, one needs to be very careful while investing in the VoIP equipment.

The VoIP hardware needed to make VoIP calls depends on the type of VoIP service being used. VoIP service is available in three different modes. These are ATA, IP phone and PC-to-PC. All these services are common and available for the use at the home PC. ATA or Analog Telephone Adaptor lets the user to connect the regular telephone to the computer and use it for VoIP service by converting analog sound bits into digital data. Internet Protocol phones are those phones which are specially designed to be used with VoIP service. They look very similar to the standard phone models but their components are different from them. Moreover, a cordless IP phone will enable the user to use the VoIP services on the move. The PC-to-PC VoIP can be set up by installing the software provided by the VoIP service providers. Yahoo and MSN messengers are the examples of such software. In the PC-to-PC VoIP, users can make long distance calls through their computers and can communicate through the headphones with attached microphones.

As the VoIP is gaining popularity the market for the VoIP services and hardware is becoming more and more competitive. However, the VoIP technology is so new that even the latest VoIP hardware becomes outdated in few months. As the products become outdated very fast you should purchase them only when needed. Also, the installation costs are to be paid every time you change or upgrade your hardware. Finally, before going to shop for VoIP hardware you must collect information about the different vendors and should only select a licensed or authorized dealer.

Read More: Voip Hardware