Just synching up on some news stories because there have been several interesting items today.

Verizon vexed: Vonage violating VoIP patents?

6/19/2006 12:07:42 PM, by Eric Bangeman

It has been a rough month or so for Vonage. The company finally pulled off its long-anticipated public offering, even getting some of its customers to buy shares. It didn't take long for the stock price to plummet, leading some of its VoIP customers to conclude that they need not bother to fulfill their commitments to buy the company's stock at the IPO price.

The latest blow comes in the form of a lawsuit filed by Verizon. In it, the telecommunications giant alleges that Vonage is infringing on seven different patents related to VoIP technology and is asking for unspecified damages. In particular, Verizon points to Vonage's voice mail, WiFi phones, and call forwarding services as allegedly infringing on patents held by Verizon.

Dogpile on Vonage seems to be a common rallying cry. I won't belabor it. I've already said I think they're on the slow slide to oblivion. Maybe not so slow. This story is everywhere in the news today.

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New Cellphone Service Combats VoIP and Threatens Landline Monopolies with Free Local Calling

By Christopher Hogg

Digital Journal — Cellphone giant Vodafone has announced a deal in New Zealand that means users need just one phone to switch between landline and mobile use, and users can make free cellphone calls while close to home

It’s more evidence North American wireless services are two steps behind.

Vodafone is making some big strides in some areas. I think the key here is the note about North American wireless services being behind. They aren't just behind. In many ways the gap is widening.

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VoIP Ranking by Subscriber: Q1 2006

Although Vonage is making all the headlines, the cable companies are filling the list with their not-entirely-VoIP products.

The dark side of this new new industry is the number of key players for whom no public statistics are available. As long as some major players are not reporting subscriber totals, growth, and churn, we will not have a clear picture of VoIP. [Click to see ranking chart]

An interesting look at a bigger piece of the picture, but still nowhere near the entire picture.

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VoIP systems bring in new vulnerabilities

	The expanding technology is adding new features and conveniences to the world of telephony, but with them come added dangers
	6/19/2006 8:17:00 AM
	by Grant Buckler

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can save money, make communications more efficient and extend features of the office phone system to remote workers. It can also create new security headaches.

Winn Schwartau, president of security consulting firm Interpact in Seminole, Fla., says few companies implementing VoIP pay enough attention to security and involve data communications people. Any VoIP installation should involve data security experts from early design and evaluation onward, he says. “It's your own damn fault if it collapses.”

I've read and respected Winn Schwartaus work for a long time. What really leaps out at me here is that the story, the headline, the tone, indicate that VoIP is a problem introducing new risks. Winn's pretty direct. If you led it do that “It's your own damn fault if it collapses.” Nice quote from David Endles as well. The tone of the story just seems more focused on the possible vulnerabilities that the reality of VoIP security. That's a common concern.

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VoIP regulations test nations around the globe

Why the Europeans look to have telecom regulation right.

Eye on the Carriers  By Johna Till Johnson, Network World, 06/19/06

Governments around the world are wrestling with the impact of VoIP on telecom regulation. Some treat VoIP as just another way to deliver telephony services (and subject to all the taxes and regulatory constraints of legacy voice). Others view it as an emerging technology that has to be carefully nurtured, and therefore protected from taxes and regulatory constraints.

Nice job from Network World in reminding us that the US isn't the only place in the world struggling with VoIP regulatory issues.




Technorati Tags: Verizon, Vonage, Vodafone, VoIP Security. VoIPSec, VoIP Regulation