Tag Archive
Skype to FCC: Keep the Internet Open & Neutral
Skype, a big proponent of open networks and net neutrality, in a filing today with the Federal Communications Commission argued that net neutrality was “about growing the broadband ecosystem and preserving a borderless, open Internet” and said it would “promote investment, jobs and innovation.” The company said that it “welcomes the Commission’s focus on preserving... »
Skype to FCC: Keep Internet Open & Neutral
Skype, a big proponent of open networks and net neutrality, in a filing today with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), argued that net neutrality was “about growing the broadband ecosystem and preserving a borderless, open Internet” and said it would “promote investment, jobs and innovation.” The company said that it “welcomes the Commission’s focus on... »
US administration urges FCC to look at spectrum for wireless broadband
As the Federal Communications Commission works toward developing a national broadband plan by a congressionally mandated Feb. 17 deadline, the Obama administration on Monday weighed in with its views, urging the commission to identify spectrum for wireless broadband in an effort to increase competition in the residential broadband market. “Given the projections of explosive growth... »
PTA Quality of Service (QoS) Parameters for Improving Fixed Broadband and Cellular Data Services
Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has formulated two sets of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to improve and monitor the Quality of Service (QoS) of “Fixed Broadband” and “GPRS/EDGE” networks. The objective of introducing these KPIs is to create transparency and set monitor-able standards in fixed broadband and GPRS/EDGE services hence ensuring consumers’ satisfaction. Extensive consultations with... »
Anatomy of a Rural Wireless ISP
Brett Glass, a longtime reader who more often than not disagrees with pretty much everything we have to say about network neutrality and other bandwidth issues, is a man who speaks his mind, loudly. His point of view is shaped by his experiences. He’s been offering wireless Internet service in Laramie, Wyo., for a... »
Are You Buying More Than You Need?
Gizmodo has a very interesting piece today about consumer Internet connectivity in the USA from the major providers. In the post they point out how the broadband providers are overselling higher priced services to consumer by exaggerating what kind of pipe someone needs to download, connect or use services. First off, we're beginning to see... »
Top Stories of 2009: Google gets serious about VoIP
In some ways, the story of Google getting into VoIP isn’t quite finished. The moves the Internet company has made are intriguing, but we haven’t seen their end product yet. The roots of Google’s VoIP play began in 2007 when it acquired Grand Central, a Unified Communicaitons (UC) company. When the acquisition was completed, Grand Central... »
1999-2009: How Broadband Changed Everything
2009 has started to pack up its belongings and get ready for its journey into the history books. As such it’s time to slow down and spend more time with our respective families, and to reflect on things. I, like so many others, have been reflecting not only on the year that’s drawing to... »
ISPs Denied To Install Broadband DSL Connections
The Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) has alleged that the private Internet Service Providers in the country are being denied the rights to install the broadband DSL connections to their customers using PTCL’s copper line network. In a press statement the association stated the fixed line telecom operator has not been connecting ISP... »
Silicon Valley Xmas Wish List Report For 2009
The great thing about the Internet is that you can get connected to just about everyone these days. Well this afternoon, my old friend Nick called me via his new SIP connection. It seems the new 100 meg fiber line to his winter abode has finally been connected, giving him even faster access. That... »
BT to complete super-fast broadband network by 2012
BT’s superfast broadband network will be completed in time for the 2012 Olympic Games, the firm has announced. The £1.5bn fibre-optic network will offer speeds of up to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) for some customers, supporting high-definition video. However, it will only reach around 40% of homes, mainly in towns and cities. To read this BBC... »
Memo to AT&T: Help Me to Help You
This summer I wrote about AOL (AOL) and how widespread service failure can actually be a bullish signal for a company, if the company responds correctly. This week, AT&T (T) Mobility Chief Executive Ralph de la Vega disclosed that AT&T was considering "incentives" to encourage customers, especially data-guzzling iPhone (AAPL) users, to reduce the amount... »
Airvana’s Peculiar Acquisition Announcement
What should we make of Airvana’s (AIRV) announcement that a private equity group is buying the company for $530 million, or $7.65 a share in cash? With $205 million in cash and equivalents as of September, plus almost $40 million collected subsequently from Ericsson, Airvana has more cash than it needs, so this isn’t... »
GTT Closes WBS Connect Acquisition
Global Telecom Technology Inc. (GTT) (GTLT), a global network integrator based in McLean, Va., announced Wednesday that it has completed its acquisition of privately-held WBS Connect LLC, a Denver-based provider of high bandwidth IP and WAN services.The announcement follows regulatory approval for the acquisition from the Federal Communications Commission.The final …(208 words) ... »
Bandwidth.com opens wholesale voice on IP-network
Bandwidth.com, a nationwide CLEC and supplier of VoIP and SIP Trunking services, announced today the general availability of wholesale voice origination on its all-IP network, FlexNetwork. The offering will work as a platform for businesses looking to build nationwide VoIP services. The company already has businesses like Yext, Voxeo and OnState using the FlexNetwork for... »
AT&T mobile data clamp-down to threaten mobile VoIP?
AT&T’s consumer services head, Ralph de la Vega made some interesting remarks that might effect the growth of mobile VoIP on Wednesday. Speaking at the UBS investor conference, de la Vega said that AT&T would soon give heavy mobile data users an incentive to cut back on their data usage. According to AT&T 40 percent of... »
SpeedBit Is Still Speeding (Downloads) Along
About two years ago, I wrote about the growing number of download speed boosters, among them an Israeli company called SpeedBit. Well the 10-year-old Speedbit has been speeding along ever since, and last month saw its SpeedBit Video Accelerator pass the 20 million installs-mark. The company, which makes a handful of products, claims... »
Sponsored WiFi Access, Sending Party Pays and The Future Of Media
We continue to see more of what I am calling the sponsored model of public WiFi. After all the municipal models failed, with city and county governments in many places buying into a very flawed model that was heavily overplayed by Earthlink and a group of advisors to cities, plus an over dependence on... »
EU Telecoms Reform: 12 reforms to pave way for stronger consumer rights, an open internet, a single European telecoms market and high-speed internet connections for all citizens
“The EU telecoms reform brings about consumer choice, a new dose of competition, an effective European system of independent telecoms regulators, new investment into competitive infrastructures, more space for new wireless services and a more open Internet for all citizens. The reform also strengthens the single telecoms market by promoting effective competition... »
Some Random Posts Worth Reading
Dean Bubley on The Android-Dean and I had dinner in San Diego a week ago Saturday at Flemings Steak House and Wine Bar in the Gaslamp. We enjoyed some excellent service from GM/Operating Partner Bob Andrews (he’s been Flemings Top Operating Partner four out of the last five years or so) and it was... »
With Video Conferencing Deals, Polycom in Sharp Focus
First Cisco Systems decided to buy Norwegian video conferencing equipment maker Tandberg for about $3 billion. This week, Logitech, a Swiss computer peripherals maker, acquired LifeSize, an Austin, Texas-based private company, for about $405 million in cash. The two deals have brought the fast-growing but often-overlooked video conferencing market into sharp focus. And that... »
New Skype for SIP Features Improve Business Functionality
In December, Skype will announce some new features for Skype for SIP (beta), which will make it more business-friendly. Skype for SIP, which is now part of Skype’s Business Control Panel (BCP). Skype for SIP will support DID routing by supporting the SIP To field. You will be able to add an extension number... »
Blabbelon Opens a New (VoIP) World for Gamers
Blabbelon, the cross-platform web-based VoIP app designed for video gaming, which I tested yesterday and posted a review today released an official statement about their new offering. I thought I’d share it since it has some good info to compliment my review posted this morning: Stop Venting: Blabbelon Opens a New World for Gamers... »
GoogleVoice has 1.4M users; reveals partner companies
Whoops! According to BusinessWeek, Google accidentally revealed its user numbers in filings to U.S. regulators. Although later redacted from the documents, BusinessWeek was quick on the draw and managed to get ahold of the originals before the ‘less informative’ documents replaced those originally made available to the public. According to the letter to regulators, GoogleVoice... »
Sharing Broadband and More
While tethering on the iPhone in the USA remains a bit of a challenge (especially if your updated to the latest version of firmware on the Apple iPhone) there are other options emerging. For years Apple Macintosh users have been able to turn a Mac that is hard wired to an Ethernet connection into a... »
Xorcom, Broadvox Asterisk-based IP PBX and SIP trunking certified interoperable
Xorcom, an Asterisk based IP PBX provider, and Broadvox, a VoIP solutions provider, announced that their Asterisk-based IP PBX and SIP trunking services respectively have been certified as interoperable. Xorcom’s devices allow communication using both VoIP and legacy telephony while Broadvox’s SIP trunking enables the use of bandwidth for voice and data apps while lowering... »
European Union Plan Could Lead to Lower Cost International Calls
The European Commission will urge the 27 European Union countries Wednesday to reserve a uniform slice of broadcast spectrum for a pan-European mobile broadband network, one that could enable flat-rate, international voice and data calling plans. A copy of the proposal, reviewed by the International Herald Tribune, sets out technical guidelines for E.U. countries that... »
Why the Great Internet Buildout Is Spurring M&A
If you’re a BlackBerry or iPhone user (see: addict), then you are partly responsible for the great Internet buildout. Those cute apps that look up baseball scores or let you log into Facebook eat up enough bandwidth to put the backend infrastructure of phone companies under pressure, forcing them to upgrade their networks with... »
FCC Wants to Know Why So Many Turn Down Broadband
SUPERCOMM – Much of this week’s education is dedicated to broadband and the federal stimulus funds targeted at the industry. Problem is, ISPs have built high-bandwidth networks into many of the areas in question, but residents and even smaller businesses aren’t signing up for service. That’s the word from several …(192 words) ... »
The Real Answer to Closed Carrier Networks Is More Competition
BlindReason submits: So no question a little strong arming from the FCC chairman went a long way to persuade AT&T (T) to unban some of the applications from its network. While I think an argument can be made to limit access by some applications such as Slingbox, VOIP is much more limited in terms... »