New Reviews 8/29/06

Some news stories worth checking out today

ShoreTel package integrates VoIP, CRM
Company teams with Salesforce.com to exchange application and call center data.
By Tim Greene, Network World, 08/28/06

IP PBX maker ShoreTel is pushing to integrate workflow software with its phone systems in a bid to help users make customer interactions more efficient.

The package, expected to be announced this week, includes a software developers' program to encourage third parties to integrate their software with Shoretel's and a program in which ShoreTel does the integration. The first result of the in-house effort is Shoretel Salesforce.com Integration, which lets Shoretel's VoIP application share data with Salesforce.com's CRM package.

This is actually pretty big news. ShoreTel is a quiet but steady force in the IP PBX space. I don't have personal experience with Salesforce.com at all, but the integration of VoIP with applications like CRM is the hottest advancement on the cusp of really taking off.

Other stories mentioning this alliance include:
ShoreTel Intros Applications for Automation and E911 Notification TMCnet
ShoreTel Delivers Integrated Applications Fulfilling the Power of ... Business Wire (press release)

Laser Launches VoIP Keyboard
New VoIP Keyboard integrates USB sound controller / audio functionality

Sydney, NSW, Australia, August 29, 2006 -- Laser Corporation, A leading manufacturer of Blank optical media products and Supplier of Personal Computer accessories has launched a new VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) keyboard.

The new keyboard features a built in USB sound controller that drives the onboard stereo speakers and microphone without the need for installing drivers. Easy access to headphone/microphone ports located on the keyboard eliminates the need for having to reach around the back of your computer to switch between speaker/headset.

This caught my eye because initially I did a double take wondering why people would have to reach to the back of their computer. Mea culpa. All my systems are laptops and I haven't used a desktop system in a long time. Interesting approach as we see more and more functionality migrate to the keyboard as a smart peripheral.

Headset jacks today. Tomorrow, why not a speakerphone?

Hampton Software Limited, a company that specializes in bespoke applications for VoIP and portable communications devices today announced the release of its latest product: Atriculation for PalmOS.

Articulation brings the cost savings of VoIP to personal digital assistants (PDAs) running the Palm operating system.

For several years now, many PC users have been saving themselves a small fortune by using their PC to make VoIP calls instead of using the tradional telephone network (especially when calling internationally). PDAs together with the growth in WiFi coverage now allows this saving to be made while you are on the move. With the features offered by VoIP you can even take the same number used on your PC with you on to your PDA - you only need one contact number.

This story's been floating around for a few days. I confess that since I migrated to the Treo 700w, I don't pay as much attention to Palm OS. I'll go load this up and see how it tests out.

Ebay and Google form VoIP partnership
Google and Ebay have announced a multi-year partnership to connect users and merchants via voice-over-IP.

A click-to-call service on Ebay will enable Skype or Google Talk users to initiate an internet voice call to Ebay merchants or Google advertisers.

The deal will also see Google become the exclusive text-based ad provider for Ebay outside the US, giving companies that advertise with Google access to Ebay users.

Meg Whitman, president and CEO of Ebay, said, "People continue...

This story has been all over the news. In the broader scope of VoIP, I see it as just a tiny blip, but click to call is a big deal for these two.

VoIP quality claimed to beat PSTN - worldwide
By Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 29 August 2006
According to testing company, Minacom, VoIP phone service worldwide "now sounds better and connects faster than the standard public-switched phone network (PSTN)." However this achievement does not extend to the likes of Skype and GoogleTalk.

Minacom says that data collected over the last 12 months by its standards-based, single-ended service quality test system show that the quality of VoIP services offered by telcos, cable operators, and broadband VoIP providers has increased steadily over the past year, with an average Mean Opinion Score (MOS) of 4.2, compared to 3.9 for the PSTN. MOS, an International Telecommunication Union standard, is commonly used to describe speech quality. It ranges from 1 (worst) to 5 (best).

Minacom says that "Based on a MOS threshold of 3.6, only one out of 50 calls in North America were considered to be unacceptable - one in 10 worldwide - while greater than 85 percent of VoIP calls exceeded average PSTN quality over the same period."

Here's a story that will drive the circuit switching and TDM voice folks crazy. Minacom published a survey on voice quailty based on data collected over the past 12 months. They say the PSTN gets a MOS of 3.9 and VoIP scores a 4.2. In terms of a Mean Opinion Score range from 1 to 5, that's a measurable, audibly noticeable difference.

This study refutes a recent study published by Brix, a rival group.

Other articles on this include:
How Good Is VoIP Call Quality? It Depends On Who You Ask IT Business Edge
Minacom Says VoIP Phone Quality Is Better than PSTN Playfuls.com
Minacom Study Reveals the VoIP Call Quality on Steady Increase TMCnet
Von Magazine - Business Wire (press release)
all 9 news articles