VoIP is Reinventing Telecommunications

For 100 years the telecommunications industry has been delivering pretty much the same package of services. VoIP changes everything with the opportunity to create a much more custom telecommunication experience.

Converging Info Spaces

Dan Baldwin goes over the convergence of the three different worlds. Telecommunications, media and technology spaces are merging into what Dan Baldwin calls ‘telemediology’.

In this converging of spaces and services, customers are no longer deciding between media and telecommunications, for example, but are looking for the company that can provide the exact combination of services they need.

Did you know you can automatically block telemarketer calls, or receive notification of incoming calls through your TV? Check out these nifty features. If you’re not already using them, it’s time to see what you’ve been missing.

1. Telemarketer Blocking–Telemarketer blocking works by sensing those few extra moments of dead air that the auto-dialer machines produce when they call you up to interrupt your supper. Additionally, telemarketer blocking will respond to those annoying auto-dialer machines with a tone that it will interpret as “this phone is no longer in service”.
2. TV Calls– With many VoIP services, you can forward incoming calls to your TV. Yep, now you don’t even have to exert the energy to see if it’s a call you can wait a bit to respsond to. You can configure settings to display your online status and see caller info, using your remote control.
3. Click to Call– Nearly all VoIP providers allow you to make calls simply by clicking on a phone number in your address book, in an email or website.
4. Track eBay Auctions– With a simple Yahoo Messenger add-on, you can keep up on auction items you’re watching or have won. Forget sniping, you’ll never miss another exciting auction close countdown.
5. Home Security– As long as you have more than one sign on, you can access a webcam at home, whiel you’re away. All you need to do is set up your VoIP to auto-answer calls and you’ll be able to dial home and see what the webcam shows.

Some Vonage customers are a little worried. Many Vonage customers opted for this juggernaut of service, thinking that it would be the widest, most stable network.

What if Vonage Goes Extinct?

Not to worry, there are several top notch VoIP service providers ready to fill that gap. And many of them offer sign up specials worth taking a look at. Here are a few of the most noteworthy:

Packet8

Packet8’s parent company holds some 67 patents, demonstrating a solid technical foundation that should put it in a strong position if Verizon opts to expand its patent litigation to a broader network of VoIP service providers.

Currently, Packet8 is waiving their $29.95 activation fee for all tranferring Vonage customers.

Lingo

Lingo offers comparable service and technology at a somewhat reduced rate. They offer free activation and shipping. Customers can decide between one month of free service, or 6 months service at a reduced rate.

InPhonex

InPhonex is also offering to waive activation fees for Vonage customers wanting to transfer. One thing that’s different about InPhonex is that they do charge for the adapters to connect regular phones to the net. But Vonage customers can trade in their equipment for a credit.

Currently there are several entertainment related VoIP features that take the seams out of music listening, gaming and more. Here’s a list of VoIP features to utilize when you’re looking for something entertaining.

1. Gaming– Save time communicating with fellow gamers using integrated VoIP. The biggies like Ventrilo and TeamSpeak have more than a million users each.
2. Streaming Music– Most VoIP providers offer teh ability to integrate your music into your VoIP experience. There are services that will let you download unlimited songs for a fixed monthly rate.
3. Avatars and Sound Effects– If your VoIP doesn’t already come silliness-wired, you can check out add-ons such as vEmotion that will let you add your own sound effects and even background music to your VoIP conversations.
4. Streaming Video and TV– Watching TV and vids using VoIP is a great way to maximize your free time. Watch TV anywhere, anytime when you’ve got VoIP.
5. VoIP Dating– Looking for a date? Many of the largest dating services now offer VoIP connection capability for their users. Services such as Match.com’s MatchTalk and Verbdate allow you to talk with others sans the risks of regular phone calls.
6. Voice Distortion– Check this out: Scramby lets you apply all sorts of voice distortion and sound effects. You can be Yoda, or use the custom settings to make your voice represent your online game persona. It’s hard not to have fun with something like this.

VoIP certainly can be a speedy, not to mention affordable way to manage your business communication, but your VoIP solution is only as secure as the IT network on which it is run.

It’s relatively easy to eavesdrop on VoIP calls, as opposed to traditional land lines. Additionally, it is possible for employees to hack into company networks and make calls subject to extra fees. This is another concern in using VoIP for business.

Though commercial VoIP systems tend to be much more secure than consumer grade VoIP, Mark Collier (the VoIP Lowdown) goes so far as to recommend taking physical measures to enhance security.

These include keeping separate VLANS for voice and data, which does two things. Your company is able to set the priority of voice data higher and also more easily monitor for security leaks.

On Wednesday, EQO Communications was able to gather $9 million in funding, which will significantly boost their primary goal of global expansion.

GrowthWorks, Ventures West and BDC Capital were participantsin EQO Communication’s second phase of funding. Currently, EQO is in the process of opening offices in San Francisco and London.

Based in Vancouver, Canada, EQO provides internet messaging and VoIP services for cell phones, using a combination of a phone resident J2ME client and a presence enabled VoIP signaling network.

EQO has developed technology to integrate AOL Instant Messenger, Skype and several other chat applications with many brands of cell phones.

Vonage won a legal victory that directly affected the worth of its shares. On Tuesday, a United States appeals court ruled that Vonage can continue to sign up new customers, during the appeals process having to do with a patent infringement ruling.

“In layman’s terms, it means business as usual,” said Brooke Schulz, a spokesperson for Vonage.

For most cases it takes at least a year to be heard. The patent-specialized federal circuit appeals court dealing with Vonage, however, allowed Vonage’s case to speed to the foreground, with arguments set for June 25. It’s possible that there will be a judgment by this summer.

The original patent infringement suit was brought by Verizon, whom is seeking to stop Vonage from using any of its patented technologies.

Take a look at this YouTube video that shows the differences between a Nokia supplied N95 and one brought from Vodafone.

Truphone, a venture-backed pioneer of VoIP over cell phone, has highlighted this recent decision to disable VoIP on the N95.

According to Red Herring, Orange and Vodafone have begun to block customers from using more affordable VoIP services such as Skype, using their cell phone networks.

This behavior is believed by most to be a sign of the threat that third-party VoIP upstarts are posing to cell phone companies.

The Nokia N95 sits at the center of the current controversy, with its built-in VoIP features, though the cell network operators have disabled VoIP on the handsets before shipping them to their customers.

This is one of the better installation walkthroughs I’ve seen. Rated 5 stars at YouTube, this handy video shows you everything you need to install and start using Truphone VoIP.

Setup is as simple as texting “true” to the service center and a wait for the bounceback that replies with a connection link.

Truphone VoIP offers a few choices of data pattern: Wi-Fi, or one of the 2-3G options. Once you make these selections, and agree to the terms, you’re nearly done…

You will be assigned a number and password via text message. Follow along with the many “ACCEPT”s and you’re all set!

You may want to set the default call mode to a specific option such as internet calling, or be prompted for each call you make.

For more details, this comprehensive video goes through every step, and is very helpful for finding your way around VoIP and your Nokia E65.

It seems to be a common misconception, that VoIP is a free service. While VoIP is generally a very affordable way to make calls, other services can and often do incur additional fees.

Of course the VoIP services package you choose determines the fees for regular voice calls, as well as other additional data services. Many VoIP packages include additional services in the monthly fee, but if you have not purchased this type of VoIP package, rest assured you’ll be paying for additional services as you use them.

In a statement Vodafone said,

There is a misleading perception that VoIP services are ‘free’. This is, however, not the case when it comes to using VoIP over mobile where customers will need to use data connectivity to establish a service and may incur further charges.

For this reason, it may be well worth your while to take a look at the available VoIP packages before making a commitment to a particular provider.

Using a service like Compare VoIP Providers can help you determine the VoIP service that fits you best.