VoIP Regulation

The death of FMC spreads

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:59:57 -0400

Brilliant minds think alike. In the UK, DialaPhone's mobile phone blog has joined with FierceVoIP in toasting the death of FMC and the emergence of Mobile Unified Communications as the Next Big Thing.

When it comes to FMC, femtocell technology, and unified communications, there's a lot of confusion as to what it means for the customer and what it means to people within the industry trying to promote the different flavors of technology. From a purist standpoint, people are confusing FMC and what it can do (single-number access, dual-mode phone use within the enterprise, pipe calls on WiFi within the enterprise to keep things cheap) with femtocell technology (extending the reach of the cellular network within the home by using a mini-base station plugged into a home broadband connection, no dual-mode phone required).

UC takes the cake and all the layers by uniting all forms of communication, including voice, email, fax, VoIP, conferencing, and desktop applications. The FMC camp is rebranding themselves as "agents of Mobile Unified Communications."

For more:
- DialaPhone's Discussion on the Death of FMC
- FierceVoIP's Mobile UC replaces FMC manifesto

FierceVoIP to be expanded

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:59:59 -0500

Next week we're merging our two VoIP publications, FierceVoIP and Business VoIP Report into one expanded publication in recognition of the continued unification of communications onto a common IP platform.

Voice and other messaging communications are increasingly being unified and the new expanded publication will report on how firms can best exploit value from the new IP applications and their enriched feature set. The publication will keep readers up to date on the latest technologies, significant new products, company news, industry moves and strategic developments in the IP market place. The combined publication will offer advertisers unprecedented reach to key decision makers in the IP communications sector.

We will follow closely the many carriers and vendors now offering a variety of IP voice services for residence and enterprise and the success or otherwise of pure play and traditional providers as end users evolve to IP platforms. We will report on the continued integration of IP communications into business and government systems and processes and the imminent rollout of web-based voice services on mobiles. Special attention will be given to areas where IP infrastructure is rapidly changing business operations such as contact and call centers.

The newsletter will be emailed on Mondays and Thursdays each week, and our web site, FierceVoIP.com, will be the home for up-to-date news and commentary about the industry. Current subscribers of this news letter automatically will continue to get the expanded publication. This coming Monday is a public holiday in the U.S. so the first edition of the new, expanded newsletter will be published Thursday, Jan. 24. We hope you like it. --Tom

Jordan Telecom Group prefers to go with the flow

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Tawanda Chihota of itp.net reports on his trip to an inaugural VoIP conference held in Dubai last week. His recap of the meeting includes a discussion of Jordan Telecom Group's decision to go with the flow when it comes to third-party provided VoIP service. The incumbent telco launched a Web-based VoIP product of its own in 2005. Jordan Telecom Group is a now is a big proponent of the idea that telcos need to innovate in order to survive.

For more on Jordan Telecom Group and VoIP in the Middle East:
- read this article from itp.net

Related Articles:
Dubai VoIP slow to arrive. Report
Mideast/North Africa VoIP conference planned. Report
Fusion Telecom says Efonica service available soon in Jordan. Report

Illegal or not, VoIP taking root in India

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:01:34 -0400

While VoIP from PC-to-telephone/mobile handset is still illegal in India, the technology is having a significant impact on the country's telecom service providers. The technology's growing momentum is pushing them to drop their rates on international long distance calls. Using VoIP to talk between PCs is allowed, however, users need a PC and a broadband connection, or access to one in a place like a cyber café. Even though only a small percentage of the population have both, those that do are wild about Google Talk and Skype's ability to let them talk so inexpensively.

For more information on VoIP in India:
- check out this Hindu Business Line article

Related Articles:
India may turn off VoIP. Report
Indian cellcos try to close out VoIPcos. Report

Vonage gets its stay, launches astroturf site

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

It's been a big week for Vonage--and at last some of the news is good. A federal appeals court stayed a trial court's injunction that would have prohibited the company from signing up new customers. The stay will remain in effect until an appeal of the Vonage's patent loss to Verizon heard. That appeal will happen sooner rather than later: June 25, which is legal terms is practically tomorrow. Vonage is also trying to rally public support, kicking off freetocompete.com, a corporate site designed to get its side of the patent story out. (The term for this kind of corporate-sponsored grassroots effort, by the way, is "astroturfing." It's not a complimentary term.) The only sign that Vonage is backing this--aside from the obvious one-sidedness of the content--is a small copyright note at the bottom of the web pages. And lastly, Vonage unveiled Vonage Text, which translates voicemails to text, which it then e-mails to you.

For more about Vonage's court win:
- read this article from the San Jose Mercury News
- see this website for more about Vonage's astroturfing
- read this article from Voxilla for more about Vonage Text

Related Articles:
Vonage granted stay, still in hot water. Report
Vonage endures. Report

Verizon prior art found on Usenet

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:35 -0400

The quest for prior art in the Verizon/Vonage patent fight continues. Last week, I wrote about formal discussions regarding VoIP technology from 1996 and 1997. But the Internet never forgets, and someone has found a 1995 Usenet post that pretty much describes the interconnection and control of voice calls bridged between an IP network and the PSTN. It was posted on the TELECOM Digest, a highly respected moderated newsgroup; if you were in telecom in the mid-90s, you were either reading that newsgroup or you were faking it. Vonage's trial, as discussed previously, never really delved into the matter of the Verizon patent's validity. It's not clear right now where or how that discussion will take place.

For more about prior art affecting the Verizon patents:
- read this ZDNet article
- see the newsgroup posting from TELECOM Digest

Related Articles:
Are the Verizon patents actually valid? Report
What are the Verizon VoIP patents, anyway? Report
Vonage: the downward spiral continues. Report

Checklist of VoIP regulatory issues

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:34 -0400

VoIPNews has put together a quick rundown of legal issues facing VoIP service providers. If you've been reading this newsletter, you won't find any surprises, but it's always useful to track stuff like this to make you're you're keeping up to date. They say the top three regulatory matters you should be paying attention to are (1) Net Neutrality, (2) E911, and (3) CALEA. Like I said--no big surprises. But you do need to remember that those issues are out there, and keep current on the state of various lawsuits and regulatory action.

For more regulatory checklists:
- read this article from VoIPNews

Related Article:
The ultimate regulatory solution. Report

Vonage CEO has a sketchy past

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

Long-time Vonage-watchers may have experienced a quick shot of déjà vu with last week's restoration of Jeffrey Citron as interim CEO. It's Citron's second time around as CEO, an office he held from 2001 until early 2006. But before he got to Vonage, Citron had hit some heavy waters with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As CEO of Datek Online Holdings, he agreed in 1999 to a $22.5 million settlement in a securities fraud investigation having to do with NASDAQ's "pink sheets" trading system. As part of the settlement, he neither admitted or denied the charges. There had been speculation that Citron brought now-ousted successor Michael Snyder in to allay fears of underwriters skittish about Citron's background.

For more about Citron's past and present:
- read this article from Network World

Related Article:
Vonage CEO steps down. Report

Breaking news: Vonage CEO steps down

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Word has come down that Vonage CEO Michael Snyder is stepping down. Specific reasons were not given, though the company has been beleaguered pretty much from the day it went public last year. Chairman Jeffrey Citron will take the reigns while a permanent CEO is found. In phone call with analysts this morning, Citron said that Vonage would turn its attention to cutting its marketing expense, which stands at $275 per new customer acquired. That's actually $31 better than it had been in the previous quarter.

For more on the Snyder's departure:
- check out Vonage's press release

Vonage gets reprieve, can sign up new customers

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Vonage's Friday was not the kind of day you'd wish even on an enemy. In the morning the trial judge in its patent loss to Verizon ruled that Vonage would not be allowed to sign up new customers. In the afternoon--after the close of business--an appeals judge temporarily stayed the injunction, allowing Vonage to operate as normal, whatever that is these days, until at least another hearing can be held. As of this writing (Sunday night), no date has been set for that hearing. Given the rate of Vonage's spending to gain those new customers, we wouldn't blame stockholders if they heaved a sigh of relief that someone was getting the company to stop. But of course, no one could stop customers from leaving, and it doesn't take much imagination to believe that a lot of clients might be having second thoughts about this whole VoIP thing. It's true enough that it's the pioneers who get arrows in the back, and at least part of Vonage's pitch is that VoIP isn't the frontier anymore. Surprise!

For more about the Vonage dust-up:
- read this PC World article

Related Articles:
Vonage reportedly signs with VoIP Inc. as Plan B. Report
Signs of life for Vonage--for now. Maybe. Report
The perils of Vonage. Report
Bated breath on Vonage patent loss. Report
Verizon wins Vonage patent suit. Report

Who's next on Verizon's list?

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

The possibility that the patent problem may go beyond Vonage is pretty chilling, of course. There's one report that cites "industry insiders" (read: venture capitalists) as being worried that the $2 billion that's been poured into the VoIP industry is at risk because of patent concerns. On the other hand, that's what due diligence is about, and it's considered kind of surprising that Verizon's claims are being taken seriously only now. Vonage has said that it has a workaround; this might be a really good time to deploy it.

For more information about VoIP investment in the aftermath of Vonage:
- read this article from Red Herring

Vonage/VoIP Inc. deal not a Plan B after all

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Whatever that workaround is, it apparently won't include the deal reported last week with VoIP Inc. A Vonage spokeswoman says that the agreement is a run-of-the-million network termination deal, with Vonage dumping minutes onto the VoIP Inc. network. If Vonage does have a rabbit to pull out of a hat in its patent lawsuit, this deal with VoIP Inc. is neither wildlife nor haberdashery.

For more about the Vonage/VoIP Inc. agreement:
- read this article from CNet

Related Article:
Vonage deal for Verizon bypass. Report

Here come the patent police

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Here's the real harvest of Verizon's patent victory over Vonage: all the other patent lawyers are coming out of hiding. In the last couple of days, Agere has sued Microsoft and VoIP Inc. has sent out threatening letters to a bunch of people. Agere says that Microsoft took some meetings in 2002 and 2003 to explore the possibility of buying the company. Instead, Agere claims, Microsoft broke off talks and announced its own breakthrough; Agere says those advances were based on information it disclosed during negotiations. (Microsoft declined comment.) For its part, VoIP Inc. says it sent some unstated number of companies regarding a patent that the company says covers making a call-back phone call from an intermediate point. That's a good description of click-to-call, but judge for yourself: it's patent 6,501,837.

For more information about VoIP patents:
- see this press release
- read the SDA Asia article

Related Articles:
Vonage reportedly signs with VoIP Inc. as Plan B. Report
Signs of life for Vonage--for now. Maybe. Report
The perils of Vonage. Report

British ISPs chafe at Ofcom rules

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

You read last issue about how the U.K.'s Ofcom regulators finally published their rules for VoIP providers. Now comes the backlash. Britain's ITSPA (Internet Telephony Services Provider Association) is concerned that the Ofcom rules will subject VoIP to more regulation than any other telecom technology, that the new rules will be hard to enforce against international players, and that (as a result) the regulations will put British operators at a competitive disadvantage. The Ofcom rules essentially require that VoIP operators tell customers whether they have access to emergency services, if their phone service is at the mercy of home power supply, whether directory assistance or operator services are available, and whether their VoIP phone numbers will be portable.

For more about the ITSPA position:
- read this article from PublicTechnology.net

Related Articles:
Ofcom to auction AWS/WiMAX spectrum. Report
Ofcom to rethink mobile rates after EU input. Report

SWAT Team shuts Bangladeshi VoIP providers

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:01:34 -0400

More on Bangladeshi VoIP: You'll recall that the nation outlawed all VoIP, closed a bunch of outbound call centers at the point of a gun (with some political overtones) and then started talking about issuing licenses. The latest is that authorities there sent a SWAT team to seize the hosted service company Aktel that was providing service to five VoIP carriers. No arrests, but the equipment was carried off. Despite attempts at regulation and licensing, VoIP in Bangladesh remains illegal.

For more information about the Aktel raid:
- read this article from TelecomTV

Related Articles:
Bangladesh VoIP shutdown floods legacy telco. Report
Bangladesh cracks down on illegal VoIP. Report
Bangladesh panel: Let everyone into VoIP market. Report
Bangladeshi VoIP operator hiding in New York? Report

Vonage reportedly signs with VoIP Inc. as Plan B

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

Not that anyone expected it would, but Vonage isn't exactly sitting still as the clock (now at 5 days) ticks down to the effective date of an injunction coming out of its patent suit loss to Verizon. Vonage has reportedly signed with VoIP Inc., a facility-based carrier, to carry its traffic. Two of the three patents that Vonage violated have to do with connecting VoIP calls to the PSTN, TelecomWeb reports; a deal with VoIP Inc. would sidestep that. The site also cites a recent VoIP Inc. 8-K statement that says one of its subsidiaries has a deal to "provide certain network services" to Vonage for at least two years. Sounds to us like a Plan B.

For more information about Vonage and VoIP Inc.:
- read this article from TelecomWeb

Related Articles:
Signs of life for Vonage--for now. Maybe. Report
The perils of Vonage. Report
Bated breath on Vonage patent loss. Report
Verizon wins Vonage patent suit. Report

Trade spat could kill U.S. EV-DO

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Could EV-DO wind up as collateral damage? Could be, as a trade dispute between Qualcomm and Broadcom reaches the International Trade Commission. The two companies are grappling over a chip patent, and one possible outcome could be to ban the U.S. importation of phones that use EV-DO chips. Verizon Wireless and Sprint are both completing expensive upgrades to their EV-DO networks and are both spending millions of dollars in ads. A halt to EV-DO would be little short of catastrophic for the companies, which are relying on the technology to push a number of data applications--not the least of which is wireless VoIP.

For more information about the Qualcomm and Broadcom spat:
- check out this coverage from FierceWireless
- read this FierceWireless report

Related Articles:
Qualcomm, Broadcom to settle patent dispute. Report
ICT: Qualcomm infringed on one Broadcom patent. Report
U.S. agency may bar Qualcomm chip phones. Report

Should wireless broadband be net neutral?

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:01:37 -0400

There was an interesting-sounding panel in Washington last week about whether wireless broadband networks ought to be subject to net neutrality rules. (This presumes that anyone is subject to those rules, a question that is very much up in the air.) Skype, which is about a year behind schedule in its mobile VoIP development and which has no network of its own to share--though it's happy to share yours--says that 3G and 4G networks ought to be neutral. The eBay subsidiary also says that U.S. carrier's ability to control handsets and the software running on them is retarding market progress and violates the Carterfone decision. The CTIA disagrees.

To me, it's a close call. It's true that the handset business is vastly more robust outside the U.S. than inside, and it's probably true that carrier control has a lot to do with that. And, generally speaking, net neutrality is a Good Thing. But Skype leeches bandwidth, and OTA bandwidth is still--and for some time will remain--precious and scarce. There could hardly be a worse poster child for wireless net neutrality than Skype. Intellectually, wireless neutrality is a must. If I were on the FCC, I'd be inclined to carve out an exception for five years or so until robust wireless broadband becomes a reality.

For more about wireless net neutrality:
- read this FierceWireless article

Related Articles:
Calm words over net neutrality. Report
Keeping track of net neutrality. Report
Net neutrality amendment fails in committee. Report

Bated breath on Vonage patent loss

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Last week brought news of Verizon's patent victory over Vonage. Now that people have had a chance to pause and think, they're figuring out what it all means. An analyst at Ovum thinks that the verdict means that other VoIP service providers like 8x8 or SunRocket will be the next to get letters from Verizon lawyers--and that those letters will now be hard to ignore. Other analysts disagree. Vonage, which says it will appeal, now has an added level of uncertainty it has to address in its marketing; the trouble is, Vonage's customer acquisition cost is so high now that detractors were already wondering if the company could make it at all. The next step is a court hearing where Verizon will try to get an injunction against Vonage. That happens March 22, right in the middle of Spring VON. There will be a lot of carriers popping Zantac that week.

For more about the Vonage/Verizon fallout:
- read this article in Computer Business Review
- check out this article from Information Week

Related Articles:
Verizon wins Vonage patent fight. Report
Verizon says Vonage infringed. Report
More talk of Vonage going wireless. Report

FCC says rural telcos must embrace VoIP

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:01:38 -0500

We admittedly missed the beginning of this story, but we're pleased to be in on what is certainly the end of it. The FCC ruled this week that telcos are required to terminate VoIP calls. This wouldn't seem to be much of an issue, except that regulators in Nebraska and South Carolina had said the opposite. Rural carriers in that state had argued that because the wholesale telecom providers that Time Warner Cable buys bandwidth from don't provide direct service to consumers, that Time Warner is somehow not a "real" telco. The FCC disagreed--and the FCC's ruling trumps the states'.

For more about the FCC ruling:
- read this from PC World

Related Article:
Rural phone companies fight back against VoIP. Report