News
snom technology AG has joined Compatible Devices Program for Microsoft Lync 2010
Berlin, Germany and Woburn, Mass. (September 22, 2010) – snom technology AG, an international developer and manufacturer of advanced voice over IP (VoIP) phones for enterprise and residential markets, announced today that its most widely deployed business phone, the snom 300, has been tested by Microsoft Corp. for interoperability with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2. The qualification confirms the snom 300 as the first general purpose SIP phone tested to work with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2. Read more…
VoiceSA conference highlights the opportunties of alternative providers
The inaugural VoiceSA conference (presented by Even Flow Distribution), took place last week in Johannesburg, drawing together a mixed crowd of traditional and alternative telecoms providers – a clear indication that the mindsets around telecommunications are changing towards a more converged approach.
Presentations were provided by well known industry experts, namely Douglas Reed (Vox Telecom), Rob Lith (Connection Telecom), Brian Seligmann (Cell C), Wayne Speechly (IS), Steve Song (Shuttleworth Foundation), Frederic Dickey (Sangoma), Gerrit Hurter (Voipmagic) and Doug Hill (Patton).
Most of the common challenges facing telecoms were raised, such as deregulation and bandwidth penetration, however, interesting new developments were also discussed, with the common theme being ‘Unified Communications’ – and how the mindset of consumers is changing, as they become more empowered by new technologies. Other interesting points raised included: Cloud Computing, and its impact on telecoms, the future of VoIP in South Africa and adding value in a commoditized market.
Delegates also had the opportunity to engage directly with leading hardware manufacturers and providers, who occupied a separate exhibition space: Vox Telecom, Yealink, Sangoma, Patton Electronics and Gigaset.
In his presentation, Gerrit Hurter, observed: ‘Why has it taken us so long to come together like this?’ – echoing the sentiment of many who attended, and acknowledging the value in bringing the industry together to share and collaborate.
For those who missed out on the conference, the slides from the presentations will soon be available on www.voicesa.co.za
Yealink exhibition stand at VoiceSA
Sangoma exhibition stand at VoiceSA
Gigaset exhibition stand at VoiceSA
Staff members of VoiceSA and Even Flow Distribution
Demonstration of RSAWEB Cloud Servers
A fragmented telecoms industry finds its Voice
Over the past few years, the local telecoms landscape has seen rapid changes, largely brought about by regulatory changes, the convergence and emergence of next generation technologies and services, the rise in open-source adoption and a steep drop in broadband costs.
There is an ever increasing overlap in the business opportunities between traditional GSM, Telco operators, and the emerging alternative Voice providers (Internet Telephony Service Providers). As a result, the South African telecoms space is becoming more competitive as business models change and operators move towards offering a wider variety of products and services.
Despite this trend towards convergence, the industry remains remarkably fragmented in their relation to each other, the market, and the new business opportunities available to them. Read more…
How private are your VoIP calls
Connecting with VoIP (Voice over IP) has become an essential tool for business and personal life. Skype recorded 560 million registered users at the end of 2009, and at peak times, 23 million users are logged in (recorded in March 2010). Is the convenience of VoIP overshadowing its security threats? If it’s effortless to connect to people from anywhere in the world, surely it’s just as effortless for someone else to eavesdrop on your calls?
One of the biggest vulnerabilities of VoIP is the simplicity for others to eavesdrop into private conversations – it’s not particularly difficult and there is a multitude of ways to do it. VoIP calls travel across the public Internet, leaving hackers to capture VoIP packets, which generally requires a packet analyzer. All the hacker needs is a laptop, readily available software and the knowledge of how to hack into your network. With this in hand, the hacker can obtain user IDs, passwords and even gain knowledge of confidential business information.
Where to next for ISPs
With numerous ISPs recently launching uncapped broadband accounts, and adding fuel to an already smouldering fire, otherwise known as the bandwidth price war. South African Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are bidding lower prices against one another, either in an attempt to match or even beat their competitors. Smaller ISPs are cutting their prices to below cost in order to compete with their larger counterparts. But what are the implications on the ISPs?
Lower costs for consumers ultimately leads to a decrease in profit margins for ISPs. Should a particular ISP choose not to offer uncapped broadband packages at lower costs to the consumer, they’re not keeping abreast with the changes in the industry. If they do, their profit margins will start to minimise. With the pressure mounting, ISPs who traditionally focus only on data services may need to investigate new streams of revenue by broadening their services and attracting new market segments.
Managing Director of RSAWEB, Rob Gilmour, agrees that ISPs need to re-evaluate their business models in accordance with the transforming industry. “Broadband is becoming increasingly commoditised as bandwidth becomes cheaper and uncapped packages become the norm. This will force ISPs to differentiate themselves with regards to service and value added products.”
New developments in hardware devices make it possible for ISPs to invest in several alternatives beyond their regular broadband connectivity. A Multi-Service Business Gateway (MSBG) is a viable option for many ISPs who target small and medium-sized enterprises. MSBG combines multiple network voice and data communication functions into a single device, giving the ISP the ability to manage and control all aspects of a client’s communications needs. This is also a feasible option for SMEs who have limited technical and financial resources to procure, implement and manage new technologies.
Adrian Bush, Managing Director of Even Flow Distribution a VoIP hardware distributor notes, “The latest MSBG appliance available on the market operates on both wireless and wire line networks. The Connecto, by ITS Telecom is an all-in-one package with multiple interface options which provides a variety of solutions that can be used to support a SMEs entire network. The Connecto provides full PBX functionality, connectivity to all types of phone extensions, LAN networking, WiFi connectivity, and high speed internet access.”
“ISPs benefit in offering MSBG appliances to SMEs as they will be the single point-of-contact for all voice, data and internet services in the SMEs’ office; they will increase their revenues through incoming and outgoing calls made by office staff; and with a MSBG appliance such as the Connecto, ISPs will provide SMEs with simplified, remote management and support,” added Bush. “For SMEs, a complete communications solution provides advanced IP technology with mobility, security and reliability, and by implementing IP technology, communication costs will be minimised.”
So, where to next for ISPs? With industry changes, come opportunities. SMEs are looking for feasible, affordable, and convenient service providers. Those ISPs who can offer more services, with reliable management and support, with a saving in costs to the SME, will benefit from this evolving industry.
First hardware IP-PBX designed and manufactured in SA
Far South Networks, a South African telecommunications development company, recently launched Com.X1, a complete telephony solution in a box for the SME and the first to be developed and manufactured in South Africa.
Far South Networks’ Com.X1 has been built to perform well in South Africa’s unique environment, incorporating features such as hardware echo cancellation to counter echo on the Telco lines and lightening protection to protect the device from power surges from lightening storms. The solid hardware build, packaged with the IP-based software that includes advanced features such as auto attendant, call recording and voicemail-to-email that come standard on the PBX without the need for expensive licensed upgrades.
The Com.X1 is configured and managed through a simple web interface allowing the PBX to be set up within minutes. Due to the IP nature of the Com.X1, setting up Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) trunks on the PBX is simple, and guarantees immediate return on investment due to the savings that VoIP enables on call costs.
The new entrants, Far South Networks, are not new to the world of telephony, with directors Grant Broomhall and Michael Walton collectively boasting over 40 years of technical experience in the industry. While the Far South Networks’ Com.X1 is a product well suited to South Africa, the combination of solid hardware and innovative software design make it a leading prospect internationally. “The Com.X1 is one of the most feature-rich and cost effective telephony solutions for the SME in South Africa,” says Broomhall, Managing Director of Far South Networks.
Even Flow Distribution, one of South Africa’s prominent VoIP hardware distributors, was announced as an official distributor of Far South Networks’ products. Managing Director, Adrian Bush, says, “Com.X1 is the perfect solution for SME businesses wanting a feature-rich solution that can be easily managed without having to fork out an excessive amount of cash, and is perfectly capable of competing on the world stage with other new telephony solution entrants.”
Transformation in the telecommunications industry has lead to numerous traditional legacy PBX vendors battling to keep up with the changing technology and shrinking margins. The new IP-based PBX brands offer feature-rich solutions at a fraction of the cost of traditional legacy solutions. Far South Networks is bound to be a top contender in the rapidly evolving IP PBX market.
Skype launches HD video calling
Skype today introduced a high-definition (HD) video calling service that will work on computers and televisions. The newest version Skype 4.2 Beta for Windows, supports 720p video calling in a 1280×720 pixel resolution at 30 frames per second. The latest version of Skype will come pre-installed on some LG Electronics Inc. and Panasonic Corp. television sets by June, according to Skype. Panasonic will support the technology via its VIERA Cast televisions and LG will support it with its NetCast Entertainment Access and both will offer HD webcams as accessories.
The new HDTVs will deliver familiar Skype features including:
* Free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls
* Calls to landline or mobile phones at Skype’s low rates
* The option to receive inbound calls via a user’s online Skype number
* Skype voicemail, if it is set up
* Being invited to participate in voice conference calls with up to 24 other parties
* Support for up to 720p HD video calls, depending on the availability of high-speed broadband and a HD webcam
source:TMCnet
Skype for SIP launched to the public
A further develeopment in How Skype Plans to Dominate Business Telephony has been announced. Skype has opened up its beta programme to integrate existing business IP telephony systems with the popular VoIP provider’s services. The service was moved into public beta on Wednesday, following a closed beta phase that began in August.
Skype for SIP lets companies receive calls on their existing IP telephony systems from Skype users for free, apart from a monthly charge for each Skype channel — a virtual line that allows an inbound or outbound call at any given time — that they rent. The VoIP company is offering channel subscriptions at an introductory price of €4.95 (£4.48) per month.
Business customers can also use the service to make calls at Skype’s rates using their existing telephony infrastructure.
Stefan Oberg, the head of Skype for Business, mentioned that around 11,000 business customers — mostly mid-sized companies — and resellers had registered their interest in Skype for SIP during the closed beta period.
“We’re opening up for all of them to come in and get registered for the service, and opening the systems so that anyone can come in,” Oberg said. “[Customers will] get a username and password that they can go in and plug into their PBX and they’re up and running.”
Oberg said several PBX vendors had been certified for interoperability with Skype for SIP, including ShoreTel, Cisco and SIPfoundry, with “more to come including the biggest ones”. He said the service would become part of these companies’ unified communications (UC) platforms, but added that Skype saw itself as a UC company because of its use of presence, voice, instant messaging, video and file transfer within a single client.
As for companies that still have non-IP-based legacy PBX systems, Oberg recommended that they could get a gateway from vendors such as VoSky or IndustryDynamics to make their systems interoperable with Skype for SIP.
Between 2005 and last month, Skype was owned by the online auction giant, eBay. A majority stake in the company now belongs to an investor group called Silver Lake, with other stakeholders including Skype’s founders, Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, eBay, Andreessen Horowitz and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
According to Oberg, “things are changing fast” at Skype since the change in its ownership.
Asked whether Skype’s business offerings would become more prominent, now that the firm is no longer under the control of a consumer-facing owner, Oberg said it was “too early to speculate”.
“Everyone can see Skype has a big potential in business and it’s something that we haven’t focused on so far,” Oberg said. “We haven’t given it the attention that matches the potential so far. My guess would be that any savvy investor will also see that potential.”
Oberg declined to detail Skype’s future business-oriented plans, but did say that these plans were “in the area of unified communications”.
“We are working to make our current offering even more complete, so the Skype clients that you have on your desktop will be complemented by features that will make our UC offering more complete,” Oberg said.
Source: ZDNet UK
The new snom M9 cordless IP phone
snom is due to launch the new M9 cordless phone in January 2010, and it looks to replace the current snom M3 model. While the snom M3 had a certain appeal the flush buttons were difficult to function and the finish gave the phone a plastic, cheap feel. On face value the biggest change with the M9 seems to be the new keypad with raised keys and a slightly more contemporary look.
At the end of the day however its whats on the inside thats most important, and this is really where the new snom M9 seems to show some good improvements. Firstly, and most importantly, the firmware has completely changed to incorporate the snom software, as apossed to the third party interface used previously. This means that features like mass provisioning and Microsoft OCS integration will now be supported on the phone like all other snom models.
Another change is that now a total of 4 simultaneous calls are supported (previously 3), and a total of 9 handsets can be registered to a single base station. Other features are pretty much the same as previous M3 model or any standard DECT cordless handset.
At this stage the snom M9 looks like a great replacement to current snom M3 with a couple of nice new upgrades and feature additions. It is however still targeted to the SME business and it would be great to see further development in the product in the future to incorporate more corporate solutions such as roaming/handover between base stations. We wait in anticipation!
Local company Far South launches revolutionary Asterisk product
Far South Networks, a local development house based in Cape Town, has launched an interesting interface product for Asterisk.
The rack-mount ‘gateway’ is a telco interface adapter for Asterisk based PBX solutions available in various configurations including analog, BRI and PRI. It is similar to the Xorcom range of channel banks with the main differece being that the Far South iTA connects to the LAN rather than via USB and it also includes hardware echo cancellation, a definate requirement for SA analog lines!
Will be interesting to see how the product does in the Asterisk space against other interface options such as Digium and Sangoma. Apparently some further products are due to be launched by Far South Networks in the coming months… stay tuned!
The official release below:
Local VoIP hardware distributor, Even Flow Distribution, has announced a distribution partnership agreement with Far South Networks, a South African telecommunications development company. Together, the companies will be releasing a range of homegrown telephony products which compete effectively against international offerings in this space.
Far South Networks is a South African electronics design and development house, which provides network access and telephony solutions within the telecommunications sector. These solutions range from voice telephony, data and Voice over IP (VoIP) networks to consumer electronics devices.
“With over 40 years experience in the industry, Far South, is bringing to market a product range that will be well supported due to the real value that the products offer, and the benefits of local support and regionalised product development,” says Adrian Bush, managing director of Even Flow.
The first product announced is the Far South Comma iTA, a line interface adapter targeted at open source Asterisk telephony market. The versatile product is available in various configurations including analogue and digital interfaces, incorporates hardware echo cancellation on all ports and is ICASA approved.
“As a telecommunications equipment vendor, it is crucial that Far South Networks take our product line to market through established distribution networks. It is for this reason that we have partnered with Even Flow, who has established itself as a reliable and consistent distributor of telephony products in South Africa, contributing a significant value-add through service and technical support,” says Grant Broomhall, co-founder of Far South Networks.
“Our existing product line contributes significant new technologies in the open telephony space, enabling telephony service providers to differentiate themselves in local and international markets” he adds.
A range of converged telecommunication products that are likely to shake up the local telecommunications industry will soon be available through Even Flow as part of the agreement.
“Far South Networks is at the forefront of telephony solutions in South Africa and, with products built to unique SA specifications, we anticipate that they will garner considerable interest from local businesses while still holding global appeal,” says Bush.
About Far South Networks
Founded in 2006 by electronic engineers, Grant Broomhall and Michael Walton, Far South boasts a total of 40 years of award winning experience in the industry. In March 2008, Far South Networks was awarded a technology grant from the Industrial Development Corporations’ Support Program for Industrial Innovation (SPII) for the development of their telephony product range.
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- The new snom M9 review, some nice new upgrades and feature additions http://www.voipblog.co.za/2009/11/the-new-snom-m9-cordless-ip-phone/
- Cheeky move by SA's biggest operators... the interconnect rate debate continues http://tinyurl.com/yjtxfem
- Astricon 2009 announcements and interview with Mark Spencer, CTO Digium http://tinyurl.com/yfqmj5w
- snom now supports TR-069 standard for remote VoIP device management http://tinyurl.com/ygu2g7x
- ICASA: Empty promises or a step in the right direction? http://tinyurl.com/nqnja2