NetStumbler.com

In a new study commissioned by VoIP software company Shortel, some 70 percent of companies cited cost reduction as the biggest reason for adopting VoIP. They also mentioned ‘managing calls more effectively’ and ‘enabling home and mobile working’ as other benefits. But a third believed VoIP is too expensive to deploy and operate.

Quocirca principal analyst Rob Bamforth said the findings underscored the need for companies to understand the degree of commitment that is necessary to enjoy VoIP’s long-term benefits. He agreed that deploying the technology would incur costs, such as installing additional infrastructure to upgrade the system in order to accommodate extra traffic from VoIP calls. He also recommended that service providers offer VoIP as a service and charge a fixed rate for calls to encourage companies to use the technology.
Via [networks.silicon.com]

BT boasted that sign-ups for its Broadband Talk and Softphone Voice-over-IP (VoIP) services have reached one million. The figure includes subscribers to the Broadband Talk service and those who have secured a dedicated VoIP number. The company also said many of its 500,000 Business Broadband customers are also VoIP users though it declined to say the specific figure.

BT also unveiled a WiFi variant to its fixed mobile convergence (FMC) package. The solution allows subscribers to perform calls using cellular networks, Wi-Fi hotspots or private wireless LANs for a fixed monthly charge. Nokia, Samsung and Motorola are selling handsets that are compatible with this service.
Via [computing.co.uk]

VeriWave is mounting a new blade in its WaveTest 90 chassis for testing 802.11n devices. According to VeriWave vice president of marketing Eran Karoly, the company has received requests for 802.11n device tests from infrastructure equipment makers like Cisco. The new WaveBlade houses a channel emulator for multipath signal simulation. It can perform tests on all the IEEE channel models and produce traffic to simulate up to 500 11n clients. The company said it can upgrade the blade’s baseband, MAC and protocol engines to complement the ratified 802.11n specification. Depending on the MIMO implementation, the new blade can have between two and four radio connectors. It will come with a $30,000 price tag and is due for market release in the second quarter of this year.
Via [wi-fiplanet.com]