VoIP - Infoworld

Tech stories of 2011: Jobs, Android, and Anonymous rank in top 10

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

In 2011, the increasingly mobile and socially networked world of technology became more intertwined than ever with politics and the law. Patent wars shaped competition in tablets and smartphones, hacktivists attacked a widening array of political and corporate targets, repressive regimes unplugged citizens from the Internet, and the U.S. government moved to block the giant merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA. With the passing of Steve Jobs, the world lost a technology icon who redefined the computer, entertainment and consumer electronics industries.

Skype flaw reveals users' location, file-downloading habits

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:34:10 +0000

Researchers have found a flaw in Skype, the popular Voice-over-Internet-Protocol service which allows users to make video phone calls and internet chat with their computers. The vulnerability can expose your location, identity and the content you're downloading. Microsoft, which owns Skype, says they are working on the problem.

Microsoft closes Skype acquisition

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:39:32 +0000

Microsoft said Friday that it has closed its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype, the Internet telephony provider in Luxembourg, and the company will function as a new business division within Microsoft.

Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the new Skype Division immediately, reporting directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

5 reasons to set up unified communications

admin — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:28:49 +0000

There are so many different ways to communicate with partners, customers and co-workers--by phone, email, instant messaging, fax, video conferencing, and social media. Managing each system separately is not only inefficient, but can cause conflicts since they all use the same underlying technology--the Internet.

Unified communications success depends on changing habits

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Disrupting the way employees interact is often risky. And deploying UC (unified communications) tools can be riskier than other enterprise software rollouts because it affects employees' ingrained habits. "People move at their own pace around [this] technology," observes Barry Libenson, CIO of Land O'Lakes. "It's not like a new ERP system."

Lync not enterprise-ready, claims Microsoft ISV-turned-rival

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:45:29 +0000

A gap between what Microsoft promises with Lync's telephony and what it delivers makes Lync a poor choice as an IP PBX replacement for large organizations, according to a former Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) who now works for Avaya. A current Microsoft MVP also says that Lync in its current form is a mediocre choice for a large enterprise, but that it works well for small and medium-sized businesses and is really geared toward smaller businesses anyway.

Skype enables video on more Android smartphones

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:25:58 +0000

Skype has released version 2.1 of its application for Android, which allows more smartphones and tablets based on Google's operating system to use its video calling feature, it said in a blog post on Thursday.

The company published a list of 17 devices that can now make video calls, including the HTC Desire, HTC Thunderbolt, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.

Vonage iPhone app offers discount calling

admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:42:59 +0000

Vonage on Wednesday released an iPhone app that offers some benefits over Skype's competitive VoIP (voice-over-IP) calling service.

The new app, Time to Call, is available for free now in 87 iTunes stores around the world. Users will be able to make 15-minute calls to people in 100 countries for between $1 and $2. That rate applies for calls made to both landlines and mobile phones.

HP pushes heterogeneous path to unified communications

InfoWorld Tech Watch — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:09:30 +0000

Several big-name tech companies continue to roll out and hone their respective UC (unified communications) offerings, including Microsoft with its Microsoft's unified communications platform that combines voice, Web conferencing, and instant messaging is reportedly poised to become the next billion-dollar business at Microsoft. That's good news for Microsoft, but those billions of dollars come out of IT's pocket. It's time you considered alternatives before Lync becomes ingrained in your IT environment, much like SharePoint has for many companies.

Update: Researcher claims dangerous vulnerability in Skype

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:19:13 +0000

A security consultant has notified Skype of a cross-site scripting flaw that could be used to change the password on someone's account, according to details posted online. Skype said it would issue a fix next week.

The consultant, Levent Kayan, based in Berlin, posted details of the flaw on his blog on Wednesday and notified Skype a day later. He said on Friday he hasn't heard a response yet.

India wants to intercept Skype, Google communications

admin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:55:36 +0000

The controversy over India's demand that it be allowed to monitor online and mobile communications resurfaced again on Wednesday, with an Indian minister telling reporters that the government had asked Skype, Google, and several other companies to give it access.

Google said that it had not received any communication on the issue from the government. "Thereby we are unable to comment on it," a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Skype also said it could not comment, as it had not received any communication from local authorities in India on the matter.

Microsoft plans big Skype/Lync integration

admin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:25:24 +0000

Skype will be thoroughly integrated with Microsoft's Lync communications software, assuming regulators approve the $8.5 billion acquisition, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said this week.

Skype executives depart after Microsoft buyout

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:14:45 +0000

Eight Skype executives have departed the company following Microsoft's $8.5 billion buyout in May, a Skype spokeswoman confirmed on Monday.

"Skype, like any other pragmatic organization, constantly assesses its team structure to deliver its users the best products," the company said in a written statement. "As part of a recent internal shift Skype has made some management changes."

Polycom to acquire HP telepresence business

admin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:55:11 +0000

Polycom and HP have announced a broad strategic alliance: Polycom will acquire HP's visual collaboration business and the two companies will partner for telepresence and video unified communications solutions.

Skype voice service crashes

admin — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:29:12 +0000

With some users unable to sign into Skype and make voice calls, the soon-to-be-acquired-by-Microsoft company offered users a multi-step fix to get its service running again.

The fixes center around deleting a "shared.xml" file, but Mac and Linux users will be able to solve the problem in fewer steps than Windows users.

Skype kills integration with open source PBX Asterisk

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:56:01 +0000

Skype has decided not to renew an agreement that allows open-source telephony system Asterisk to be integrated with the service using software developed with Digium.

The decision is more about a change in strategy, rather than the company closing the door on third-party integration after the Microsoft acquisition of Skype, according a Gartner analyst.

What is Microsoft thinking, paying $8.5B for Skype?

InfoWorld Tech Watch — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:49:05 +0000

The people who paid $2.5 billion for Skype two years ago are starting to look very astute.

IDG Enterprise CEO Interview Series: Meru President and CEO Ihab Abu-Hakima

uphan — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:18:34 +0000

Meru Networks claims to have been the first company to deliver an 802.11n access point and is now riding that technology's popularity as enterprises move increasingly to high-speed wireless networks.

Microsoft preps Lync 2010 as unified communications juggernaut

InfoWorld Tech Watch — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:16:51 +0000

You may not have noticed, but Microsoft is making a strong play for a lucrative piece of the unified communications (UC) pie with