Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Networking

    VOIP at Tipping Point, Execs Say

    By
    Mark Hachman
    -
    March 30, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Voice-over-IP services have reached the “tipping point,” executives said here Monday, shifting from international to domestic communications.

      Executives at the Voice On the Net show said that while users understand the advantage of IP calls that arent metered by distance, cable and especially DSL providers need to offer “naked” DSL service that allows users the choice of what infrastructure they will use to make voice calls.

      Although the Internet can be used to transmit data in a variety of forms, VOIP services have been the low-hanging fruit that businesses and carriers have first turned to. Bernd Kuhlin, president of Siemens ICN, said in a keynote address Monday that he refuses to use the term “VOIP,” referring to “1Gip” and “2Gip” networks to indicate the first and second generations of IP services. Meanwhile, AT&T Corp., Qwest Communications International Inc. and other carriers have rolled out VOIP services, and AT&T launched Monday its first do-it-yourself offering for consumers.

      Nearly a third of international calls are now being made over VOIP, Eric Weiss, co-founder of ITXC Corp., a VOIP provider, said during a panel discussion at the VON show.

      “Were seeing quite broad adoption in VOIP especially in the international space,” he said. “About a third—actually 36 percent—of calls are going over IP. Were seeing the tipping point where VOIP is a major force in international long distance more and more.”

      Several years ago, Level (3) Communications ran an internal study where a CD-ROMs worth of information, or about 640MB, was transferred via a dial-up connection at per-minute rates, said Jack Waters, group vice president and president of the companys soft switch services, which can handle 25 billion minutes of VOIP calls each month. The test cost about $17 in fees, he said, whereas the same information passed over the Internet today would cost less than a dollar.

      Carriers and infrastructure providers have to decide whether to go forward with IP networks or use an older technology called TDM, or time-dependent multiplexing. In any case, voice data must be switched between IP and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connections via soft switches, which separate out call control, signaling and services. Border controllers, meanwhile, facilitate IP traffic from network to network, including the enterprise internal network to the service provider on to the Internet backbone and back again.

      The constant need to switch between networks will hamper VOIPs adoption unless the intelligence of the soft switches is improved, said John Curran, XO Communications Inc.s chief technical officer. “Long term … youre not going to have border controllers to a soft switch to another soft switch across the room to another border control,” he said. “Its too many ports, and too much capital.”

      Meanwhile, the consumer market for VOIP will be tested by legislation by Sen. John Sununu Jr. (R-N.H.) and Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.), who plan to submit bills to address the regulatory issues around VOIP, according to Jason Oxman, assistant general counsel for Covad Communications. “From the perspective of the broadband service providers, its not in my best interest for someone to ride on my network when I can do it myself,” he said.

      The VON show continues here through Thursday.

      /zimages/1/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms Server and Networking Center at http://servers.eweek.com for the latest news, views and analysis on servers, switches and networking protocols for the enterprise and small businesses.

      Correction: An earlier version of the story attributed a mischaracterized version of the Sununu and Pickering legislation to Covads Oxman.

      Mark Hachman

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×