02/03/2010 - Video calls for free

If you’re like most you’ve got family spread across the country. Or even across the world.

Distance often makes it difficult to stay in touch. Let alone enjoy some quality “face time” with loved ones.

With many still hampered financially seeing everyone during the holiday’s is no sure thing.

But for every problem there’s a solution.

For those who find themselves far away from “home” it’s video calling. The next best thing to being there.

And today video calling got a whole lot cheaper thanks to Grandstream Networks.

Best known for their line of VoIP phones and adapters, Grandstream has announced a new video calling offering that combines two GXV3140 video phones and their built-in IPVideoTalk video calling service to deliver unlimited two-way and three-way video calling.

01/03/2010 - VoIP Trends in 2010

By all accounts, 2010 should be a banner year for IP Communications and VoIP in general. A report saw VoIP as the 'industry of the decade' and then went on to project VoIP as the industry that will see the most growth over the next decade!

With the economy still on shaky ground VoIP will most likely continue its steady growth seen at the end of the decade with companies realizing the cost savings of the technology and looking for ways to invest in upgrades. Upstart technologies like Internet voice and mobile VoIP will be at the mercy of the Net Neutrality rulings while Videoconferencing will probably continue to see growth in line with rising energy costs and the demands to make working cheaper for companies and employees.

23/02/2010 - Ofcom wants reverse VoIP tracing for emergency services

As more emergency 999 calls are now being made from VoIP hardware gadgets, phone companies are becoming more concerned with how the calls can be traced.

While VoIP calls still account for only a small percentage of 999 calls in the UK, they have increased by over ten times over the last eighteen months and if they continue to increase at the current rate they will be a cause for concern.

As many people in emergency situations are not able to state their location, or speak when the call for aid is made, a solution for tracing VoIP phone calls needs to be developed as the services grow more popular.

The fact that VoIP calls can be made from any area with a broadband connection makes it hard for emergency response teams to determine where to head, which can delay rescue efforts that obviously need a fast response.

In order to create a solution, VoIP providers and ISPs would have to provide information to each other and work together in what can potentially be a very expensive venture, which may make it impossible for some ISP providers to provide reverse tracing options.

To emergency response teams this is not acceptable.

Some of the price may be absorbed by Ofcom however, which has made the comment that while providers may not always be the VoIP providing source, they are obliged by law to provide emergency data if they have access to the information, which may help the progress towards an affordable VoIP tracing solution

03/02/2010 - More and more iPhone apps support VoIP over 3G

It came out of nothing. Releasing a new version of iPhone SDK last week (along with the reveal of the iPad) Apple lifted 3G VoIP restrictions on the iPhone. Since then VoIP calls are not only available over Wi-Fi but also over cellular networks.

VoIP on the iPhone has been the source of many debates with companies such as Google being denied access to the platform and the FCC inquiring as to the restrictions in the Apple App Store. Apple didn’t want to allow the applications offering VoIP over 3G networks to operate on the iPhone platform.

25/01/2010 - Snom makes broadcasts possible from VoIP phones

snom, a developer and manufacturer of IP phones, has developed a new audio device that will allow SIP-based VoIP telephones to be used as an extension of any public address system.

The PA1 is an audio control system that augments the SIP-based PBX. It has a built-in four-watt amplifier that can provide enough volume to fill large rooms and open spaces with sound using easily connected external speakers. Headset connection is also possible through two 3.5mm jacks.

According to the company, the device is ideal for broadcasting announcements or playing music, can be used anywhere from reception areas to airports reducing the costs associated with this type of system

The PA1 can link with all SIP-based VoIP telephones and business IP PBX platforms.

It can be power-fed either via conventional power supply unit connection or through Power-over- Ethernet (PoE). The specific addressing of individual snom PA1 control systems can be centrally configured via the device’s web interface.

Aside of the leading SIP protocol, the snom PA1 can also be addressed via Multicast, thus enabling one transmitter to simultaneously address many receivers.

06/01/2010 - VoIP Earth customers continue to work despite big freeze

New statistics from VoIP Earth show that our customers have continued to work this week, despite employees being unable to reach the office in averse weather conditions.

Despite the snow, stats indicate that between 9am and 10am on the 5th and 6th of January, almost as many phone calls were made as on any other working day of the year.

VoIP Earth phone services and voice-enabled broadband allows small businesses to enable home working, meaning employees can still make phone calls over the Internet and appear to use the business’s landline number.

On a typical working day, around 6,000 VoIP phone calls are made through VoIP Earth between 9am and 10am. During this year’s bad weather however, 6,090 calls were made at this time on 5th January and 5,666 on 6th January.

Managing Director Phil Law said: “Although our statistics reveal a slight dip in the number of calls made on 6th January, in the main businesses have continued to operate as normal despite the snow. Although there are lots of potential reasons for adopting VoIP technology, including cost reduction, one of the main benefits is the ability to use one number from any location. The advantage of this becomes particularly apparent during bad weather. For example, 12 members of staff here at VoIP Earth were unable to reach the office today, yet all are able to work from home.

Despite the recession, we've seen customer numbers rise dramatically in recent months with over 10,000 SMEs now using our services. The increased use of VoIP technology is a trend that I think we’ll see throughout 2010 as broadband access continues to increase and more and more people choose to work flexibly."

20/10/2009 - VoIP market grows despite recession

According to Research and Markets’ latest report the VoIP market has continued to grow in 2009, despite the difficult economic climate.

The report suggests that improvements in technology have helped VoIP continue to thrive, although security and reliability still cause concern.

One of the main benefits of the technology is reported to be the savings on cost offered by VoIP compared with traditional calls.

This view is echoed in a report from Frost and Sullivan which looked at the attitude of companies to VoIP and other new technologies.

The study found that 92 per cent, of IT managers believed that VoIP surpassed traditional phone systems for business use.

The research found that companies were investing in IP networks, in order to take advantage of features.

08/07/2009 - 0870 calls to be included in your UK free calls

Following the recent regulatory changes by Ofcom for the cost of phone calls made to 0870 numbers, we are pleased to announce that we are passing on the savings to you, our customers. As from 1st August 2009, all customers with Unlimited call packages will find calls to 0870 numbers including in their monthly minutes - meaning free calls.