VoIp Service Providers

CTIA at odds with Skype over Internet Freedom Act

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 06:59:56 -0500

Rep. Edward Markey (D.-Mass.) finally introduced his long-awaited Net neutrality bill late yesterday. Called the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, the bill would encourage Internet service providers to move network traffic along without making prioritization decisions based on traffic type or traffic sources. While it does not give the FCC the teeth to enforce these provisions, it does require the FCC to conduct an annual review of service providers' network management practices. Last year, the FCC classified wireless data services as broadband services.

"This bill is an attempt to cure a problem that simply does not exist," CTIA president and CEO Steve Largent said in a statement. "Overwhelming evidence collected by the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and independent research analysts proves that wireless broadband adoption is spreading like wildfire across this country. This wouldn't be happening if consumers weren't getting the service, value, and access to content they desire... we believe a thoughtful and balanced examination will lead to what we already know--government intervention is not necessary."

VoIP service provider Skype had a different opinion. "Chairman Markey's bill is the right approach to preserving an Open Internet at the right time," said Christopher Libertelli, Skype's Senior Director of Government & Regulatory Affairs. "Since the Senate took up this issue last year, the public has seen a number of examples of the need to put in place safeguards for Skype users so they can free up their conversations and have them anywhere, at any time."

- see what Skype's Libertelli has to say about 700 MHz

Corrected: Nothing travels swifter...

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

Nothing travels swifter...
The tech industry, and wireless industry in particular, loves rumors. Today's issue boasts three of them: our number four story about Dell maybe developing a PDA, an "Also Noted" about more rumored details surrounding the supposed "Google phone" and this editorial regarding Sprint buying Vonage. While each of these three may sound implausible on some level, the third is certainly the less digestible. Dell just hired ex-Motorola executive Ron Garriques. Google said mobile is the future. Sprint, well, Sprint has enough problems--it doesn't need Vonage's too.

A recent report from Light Reading claims that Vonage is considering selling itself to Sprint. The talks arose amid discussions over the patent issue that the VoIP service provider has with Verizon. Of course, that issue could lead to a service shutdown for Vonage over three VoIP-related patents Verizon holds. In a week's time a federal court will decide whether to uphold a lower court order to prevent Vonage from signing up new customers because of the patents. So why would Sprint want Vonage? It doesn't seem likely that Sprint has a license to use those Verizon patents, but that would be the only logical basis for acquisition talks.

As Techdirt points out, Light Reading's sister site Unstrung recently claimed that Palm would be sold by Thursday, March 22. No dice, there. Of course, that would factor in nicely with the Dell story below, so maybe time will tell. -Brian

FCC: Enough"advantageous regulatory filings"

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:01:34 -0400

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin brushed off companies seeking "advantageous regulatory rulings" from the commission, saying that the FCC "doesn't want to get caught up dealing with these." Martin then declared the wireless industry is "the most competitive industry that the FCC regulates" since prices are falling and market penetration worldwide continues to increase.

The commentary comes weeks after Skype filed a high-profile petition to the FCC that sought to clarify whether Carterphone rules apply to wireless networks. Carterphone rules were applied to PSTN networks in the late '60s and allowed phone makers to attach any non-harmful device to AT&T's network. Such rules would force wireless carriers to allow handset makers to attach any "non-harmful" mobile phone or other wireless-enabled device to their networks. One key factor influencing the thinking behind the decision is whether or not there is sufficient competition in the wireless industry. Since Skype filed the petition, it would certainly be an "advantageous regulatory ruling" for the VoIP service provider, should it come to fruition. While Martin did not specifically mention the Skype case, his commentary seemed to speak to it.

Martin, however, said the FCC wishes to focus on the upcoming spectrum auction: determine whether appropriate allocation rules are in place, take into account public safety issues given the location of the spectrum and be sure the process for buying spectrum is going to work. -Brian

JAJAH threatens telecom landscape

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 19:01:37 -0500

JAJAH, a Luxembourg-based VoIP service provider, is threatening to change the telecom landscape, even Skype's business. JAJAH, with backing from Sequoia Capital, is introducing a VoIP system that doesn't require the user to download any software like Skype or any hardware like Vonage. Users need only have a telephone number, either wireline or mobile, and they type in their phone number and the phone number they want to call on JAJAH's Web site. They then press a big green call button and JAJAH will then call the two numbers and route the connection over the Internet. The company charges rates between $0.017 and $0.019 per minute. JAJAH executives said they will introduce a software download in the near future that will enable users of mobile phones to initiate calls. I suppose users have to weigh ease of use versus cost. It's not as simple as just picking up the phone to make a call.

To read more bout JAJAH's VoIP plans:
- check out this article from Red Herring

Vonage weighs $600M IPO or $2B acquisition

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 19:01:38 -0500

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, VoIP service provider Vonage is sending mixed signals. The company is considering a $2 billion acquisition deal or an initial public offering (IPO) of stock that could raise as much as $600 million. The report claims Vonage has held initial talks with potential suitors Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA. The price tag is an obvious nod to eBay's $2.6 billion acquisition of Skype, which could escalate to $4.1 billion depending on Skype's financial performance. Vonage has reportedly raised more than $408 million in venture capital, with top investors that include Bain Capital, 3i Group and Institutional Venture Partners. Vonage offers consumer VoIP phone services in more than 800,000 US homes. Vonage has yet to comment on the report.

For more on the Vonage IPO/sale:
- read this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

VC: VoIP dominates telecom VC

Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:01:32 -0400

VoIP companies dominate wireless telecom VC.

VENTURE CAPITAL
COMPANY	AMOUNT/ROUND	LEAD INVESTORS	DESCRIPTION
SunRocket Vienna, VA	$25M second round	Mayfield	SunRocket is a VoIP service provider.
Stoke Mountain View, CA	$19.8M second round	Sequoia Capital	Stoke is manufacturing a new category of service delivery infrastructure that enables fixed-mobile convergence supporting any service over any infrastructure using any end-user device.
Axerra Networks Tel Aviv, Israel	$16.5M third round	Carmel Ventures	Axerra develops circuit emulation and service emulation solutions over packet access networks.
fastmobile Rolling Meadows, Illinois	$12M second round	N/A	fastmobile develops voice instant messaging that simulates push-to-talk and text instant messaging.
Versatel Networks Quebec, Canada	$10M third round	Solidarity Fund	Versatel Networks provides VoIP gateway and service delivery solutions to carriers.
Ruckus Wireless Mountain View, CA	$9M third round	Sutter Hill Ventures and Investor Growth Capital	Ruckus Wireless develops multimedia 801.11 wireless systems.
TapRoot Systems Morrisville, NC	$6.5M second round	Harbert Venture Partners	TapRoot makes software for smart phones.
Vivox N/A	$6M first round	GrandBanks Capital and Canaan Partners	Vivox makes an embedded communications service.
Xelor Systems Salem, NH	$6M second round	Still River Fund	Xelor Systems provides QoS management for enterprises deploying VoIP systems.
Handmark Kansas City. KS	$5M second round	Apax Partners, Borealis Ventures, Village Ventures, Argnor Wireless Ventures	Handmark is a content aggregator and wireless solutions developer.
SharpCast Palo Alto, CA	$3M first round	Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Selby Ventures	SharpCast makes a wireless software platform.
Tropos Networks Sunnyvale, CA	N/A N/A	Siemens Venture Capital	Tropos develops mesh networking solutions.

Trend: Microsoft, AOL announce VoIP services

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:01:37 -0400

Microsoft, AOL, and Motorola each plan to launch VoIP services in the coming months. AOL's TotalTalk service launches October 4th. The company expects subscribers to TotalTalk to save up to 40 percent on phone bills. Microsoft is teaming up with Qwest Communications for its VoIP offering aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. Microsoft bought VoIP developer Teleo last month and expects to launch its new VoIP service in early 2006. Motorola is providing its broadband infrastructure to VoIP service provider Sonus, a move that demonstrates one path for convergence of the technology into major carriers' portfolios.

For more on the VoIP trend:
- check out this blog from ZDNet

Plus: Sonus, Motorola showcase VoIP Release

Microsoft buys VoIP startup Teleo

Tue, 30 Aug 2005 20:01:39 -0400

Microsoft has acquired VoIP startup Teleo. Teleo offers a peer-to-peer VoIP service that looks a lot like Skype. Microsoft said it plans to incorporate Teleo's technology into its MSN Messenger platform, allowing MSN Messenger to compete with Skype and other P2P VoIP services. Financial details of the deal were not released.

This is the third major VoIP related announcement from a major IT company in the last week. Last week Google launched Google Talk, the company's new instant messenger and P2P VoIP solution. Microsoft last week also launched the latest version MSN Messenger. Insiders are split on whether this news will help or hurt leading P2P VoIP service provider Skype. Some critics claim that Skype's valuation could suffer due to the growing competition. Others claim that since IT giants such as Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google are copying it, investors and financial analysts could raise their estimates for Skype.

For more on Microsoft's deal for Teleo:
- read this article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

PLUS: Skype says it's not for sale. Article

Intel invests in Skype, companies partner to improve VoIP

Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:01:36 -0400

Intel has invested in Skype in an effort to make certain that the VoIP service provider's software products are streamlined for Intel's next generation of dual-core processors. The companies say they will work together at the R&D level to build enhanced audio for VoIP networks. The chipmaker wants to ensure that Skype runs as well as possible on the upcoming Centrino mobile platform, code-named "Napa," which is due out in the first half of next year. Financial terms of the investment and partnership were not disclosed. Skype is a member of the 2005 FierceWireless Fierce 15, an annual list of the top emerging wireless companies.

For more on Intel's VoIP partnership with Skype:
- go to this piece from silicon.com

Rumor Mill: Vonage to file for $600M IPO

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 20:01:39 -0400

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, VoIP service provider Vonage plans to file for an initial public offering (IPO) of stock that could raise as much as $600 million. Vonage has reportedly raised more than $400 million in venture capital, with top investors that include Bain Capital, 3i Group and Institutional Venture Partners. Vonage offers consumer VoIP phone services in more than 800,000 US homes. Vonage has yet to comment on the report.

For more on the Vonage IPO rumor:
- read this article from CBS MarketWatch

Skype opens IM to outside developers

Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:01:36 -0400

Peer-to-peer VoIP service provider Skype said it will open the IM part of its platform to outside developers. The move will allow outsiders to incorporate Skype's IM app, Skype Instant Messenger, into websites and other Internet-based applications. As a part of the move, Skype launched two developer tools, SkypeWeb and SkypeNet. Skype claims 51 million registered user names, almost twice as many as Yahoo's instant messenger and six times that of AOL. The move, however, does not open up Skype's Internet telephony functions to outside developers. Skype is a member of the 2005 FierceWireless Fierce 15, an annual list of the top emerging wireless companies.

For more on Skype's open IM initiative:
- go to this article from CNET

Metric: Skype leads US VoIP market

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 20:01:36 -0400

New research from intelligent broadband network equipment maker Sandvine reveals that Skype is the leading VoIP service provider in North America. The company is responsible for 35.8 percent of all VoIP calls in the US. When it comes to share of minutes, Skype takes an even more commanding lead of 46.2 percent, suggesting that Skype users are also making longer calls. Other PC-based VoIP services like Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL chat are distant seconds.

Third-party paid VoIP providers represent 35.7 percent of all VoIP minutes. Broadband service providers hold the strongest position in this category since joining the race, quickly closing the gap with an 18.1 percent share of all VoIP minutes. Vonage, Primus, and AT&T CallVantage hold the next three positions.

For more on the US VoIP market:
- see this piece from TMCnet

TowerStream, Vonage partner for wVoIP

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 20:01:37 -0400

Wireless ISP TowerStream and VoIP service provider Vonage inked a partnership to deliver IP telephony to TowerStream's subscribers. TowerStream uses pre-WiMax equipment to offer fixed-wireless broadband service to business customers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, and Providence, Rhode Island. TowerStream COO Jeff Thompson has previously said that he expects fixed-wireless companies to become major players in the VoIP market. No financial details of the partnership were released.

For more on the TowerStream, Vonage partnership:
- check out this press release

ALSO NOTED: Nextel questions value of Nextel Partners; Syniverse inks JV with mTLD; and much more...

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 20:00:41 -0400

> Nextel Communications questions value of Nextel Partners. Article

> Syniverse Technologies enters a joint venture with mTLD Top Level Domain to manage .mobi Internet domain and services. Release

> Brightpoint inks a master agent deal with VoIP service provider Vonage. Release

And Finally... As Walt Disney plans to launch an MVNO, the company reverses its position on mobile phone safety. Article

Skype, Boingo launch wireless VoIP service

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:01:39 -0400

WiFi hotspot aggregator Boingo Wireless and VoIP software and service provider Skype today announced Skype Zones - Powered by Boingo, a wireless VoIP service designed to give access to Skype across Boingo's network of hotspots. Skype Zones will allow customers access to Skype's service by using a custom version of Boingo's WiFi connection software. Unlimited WiFi access for Skype Internet calls is available through the service for $7.95 per month or $2.95 for two hours of access. Skype Zones is available for download for Windows PCs and is currently a beta service. Skype is a member of the 2005 FierceWireless Fierce 15 and Boingo Wireless is a member of the 2003 FierceWireless Fierce 15. The FierceWireless Fierce 15 is an annual list of the top emerging wireless companies.

This is Boingo Wireless' second VoIP partnership. Earlier this year Boingo forged a deal with VoIP service provider Vonage through which the two companies agreed to co-market each other's services. Boingo has said it is working with handset makers to integrate its software into WiFi-enabled mobile phones.

For more on the Skype, Boingo wireless VoIP partnership:
- read this article from CNET

Linksys, Vonage unveil WiFi giveaway

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:01:36 -0400

Cisco Systems' Linksys division and VoIP service provider Vonage have introduced a trade-in program for customers interested in upgrading their existing router for a Linksys Wireless-G Router configured with Vonage. Through July 23, customers can trade in their used router -- any brand, any model -- for a Linksys Wireless-G Router with 2 Phone Ports (WRTP54G) for free (after rebates) when they sign up for Vonage's broadband phone service. By adopting the strategy, Vonage is breaking the industry practice of simply giving away telephone adapters.

"As more Americans are moving to wireless networks, they can now easily configure their home networks by switching to Vonage, and immediately start getting more for their communications dollar," said Matthew Deatrick, Vonage's senior vice president of sales, in a statement.

For more on the Linksys/Vonage WiFi giveaway:
- read this CNET News.com article

VC: Vonage breaks the VC bank with $200M round

Wed, 18 May 2005 20:01:32 -0400

Wireless venture capital activity this week totaled $236.3 million. This is a dramatic increase from the $46.6 million total we reported on May 5, and up from the $32.81 million total we reported on April 21. The bulk of this week's investments, though, went to one company: VoIP service provider Vonage.

VENTURE CAPITAL
COMPANY	AMOUNT/ROUND	LEAD INVESTORS	DESCRIPTION
Vonage Edison, NJ	$200M undisclosed	Bain Capital	Vonage is one of the VoIP market's leaders, claiming a subscriber base of 650,000 while adding 15,000 lines per week.
Outsmart Israel	$17M undisclosed	Accel Partners, Gemini Israel Funds and Magnum Communications	Outsmart provides fixed-mobile convergence and intelligent networks solutions for landline and wireless carriers and service providers.
fastmobile Chicago	$12M second round	Doll Capital Management (DCM) and Walden International	Fastmobile's solutions include multimedia Instant Messaging and push-to-talk, and presence-based address book applications, instant media and content exchange, and multimedia mobile blogging and community applications.
Nellymoser Arlington, MA	$5.3M undisclosed	Softbank Capital	Nellymoser's technology powers the Warner Mobile Music Streaming Jukebox, which launched last year on AT&T Wireless' mMode service.
Sennari Los Angeles	$2M seed round	Novak Biddle Venture Partners and Blacksmith Capital	Sennari is developing solutions that let carriers manage mobile media relationships.

Rumor Mill: Is Vonage testing wireless VoIP phones?

Sun, 15 May 2005 20:01:36 -0400

According to a series of reports, Vonage is testing a new Linksys WiFi router designed to let subscribers use VoIP over home and office WLANs. The VoIP service provider is also rumored to be testing wireless VoIP handsets that some insiders claim will debut later this year. Vonage for a time had a trial with hotspot aggregator Boingo Wireless testing the company's VoIP service at Boingo's hotspots.

For more on the Vonage wireless VoIP rumors:
- go to this blog entry

Vonage secures $200M in new funding

Sun, 08 May 2005 20:01:39 -0400

VoIP service provider Vonage announced $200 million in new funding. The round was led by Bain Capital, with participation from previous investors including New Enterprise Associates (NEA), 3i, Meritech Capital Partners, Institutional Venture Partners, and others. Vonage has raised a total of $408 million to date. This round is one of the largest single VC investments of the decade. The fact that Vonage secured the funding despite the arrival of hundreds of competitors, including major cable companies and incumbent landline carriers, demonstrates that many investors and analysts think the company is well-positioned to cash in on VoIP. This investment could also spur another round of VC investments in the VoIP market, prompting many investors who have already funded VoIP startups to increase their previous commitments.

Vonage is one of the VoIP market's leaders, claiming a subscriber base of 650,000 while adding 15,000 lines per week. The company recently launched service in the UK and has hinted that its next area of expansion may be the Asia-Pacific region. The company has also positioned itself in the fast-emerging wireless VoIP market, bundling WiFi routers with its service packages.

For more on Vonage's latest investment:
- read this report from The New York Times