From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon May 3 18:11:48 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p2/8.11.3) id i43MBld14405; Mon, 3 May 2004 18:11:48 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 18:11:48 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200405032211.i43MBld14405@massis.lcs.mit.edu> X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f To: ptownson Approved: patsnewlist Subject: TELECOM Digest V23 #222 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on massis.lcs.mit.edu X-Spam-Status: No, hits=-0.5 required=4.0 tests=BAYES_00,MSGID_FROM_MTA_SHORT, NO_REAL_NAME,TO_MALFORMED autolearn=no version=2.63 X-Spam-Level: Status: RO TELECOM Digest Mon, 3 May 2004 18:08:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 223 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Motorola HD and Dual-Tuner DVR (Monty Solomon) Motorola Announces Home Media Architecture (Monty Solomon) Microsoft Introduces Microsoft TV Foundation Edition 1.7 (Monty Solomon) ADP Announces PATRIOT Act Customer ID Program Solution (Monty Solomon) Comcast Home Networking (Monty Solomon) New Version of Windows Media Digital Right Management Software (Solomon) Hollywood's New Lesson For Campus File Swappers (Monty Solomon) PayPal Announces 'PayPal Web Services' Suite of PayPal APIs (M Solomon) Verizon E-mail Problems (Monty Solomon) Re: Missouri Moves to Ban 'UnFees' -- Part of Larger Backlash (Robison) Re: A Link of Interest to Ham Radio Operators (William Warren) COMMENTARY: Big VoIP Dogs Will Have the Sharpest Bite (VOIP News) Hoping to Attract Callers to the Internet (VOIP News) Level 3 Launches Residential VoIP Service (VOIP News) Net2Phone Teams With Level 3 to Expand Cable VoIP Offerings (VOIP News) Re: Vonage Vs. AT&T (ilyaburshteyn) All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are included in the fair use quote. By using -any name or email address- included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the email. =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 09:29:17 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Motorola HD and Dual-Tuner DVR Motorola Extends Industry's Leading High-Definition Set-Top Platform by Integrating Dual-Tuner Digital Video Recording - May 3, 2004 08:02 AM (PR Newswire) Motorola Further Supports Broadband Operators' Plans to Drive Digital Penetration by Introducing an Advanced Set-Top Platform That Integrates the Powerful Combination of HD and Dual-Tuner DVR NEW ORLEANS, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today expanded the company's successful platform for high-definition television (HDTV) by introducing the Motorola DCT6400 series -- a digital set-top family that integrates HDTV with dual-tuner digital video recording (DVR) capabilities. Part of Motorola's "connected home" strategy, the DCT6400 will enhance the value of a digital cable subscriber's package by providing simple, unified access to the latest digital entertainment services, including HDTV decode and watch-and-record DVR. The Motorola DCT6400 Platform With over one million HD units shipped as of April 1, 2004, Motorola's digital set-top platform is the recognized leader for enabling operators to deliver high-definition services to subscribers. The new DCT6400 advanced set-top extends this digital entertainment platform by adding dual-tuner DVR capabilities -- enabling consumers to watch live HD content from one source, while recording HD content from another. With its integrated hard drive, the DCT6412 set-top enables users to record standard digital television as well as HDTV programming. Additionally, the DCT6400 family supports a full array of advanced interactive applications, including interactive program guide, and video-on- demand. With the HD capabilities of the Motorola DCT6400 platform, operators can realize additional revenue opportunities through such services as HD video-on-demand (HD-VOD). The platform's standard features include an integrated DOCSIS-compatible cable modem, a smart-card reader, Ethernet and Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces, Y-Pb-Pr video output, S/PDIF optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, and baseband and RF audio-video I/Os. All models enable direct digital connection to consumer audio and video devices via 1394-DTV and DVI interfaces. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41237277 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 09:32:38 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Motorola Announces Home Media Architecture Motorola Announces Home Media Architecture, Extending Digital Video Recording Capabilities Throughout the Home Motorola's Solution Provides a Cost-Effective Way to Share Digital Entertainment Programming Across 'Connected Home' Devices NEW ORLEANS, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) today announced that it has extended the functionality of its industry-leading digital set-top platform with the introduction of the Motorola Home Media Architecture (HMA). Providing cost-effective hardware and software solutions, Motorola HMA enables operators to bring the experience of multi-room digital video recording (DVR) and media distribution functionality to their subscribers. As part of Motorola's "connected home" strategy, Motorola HMA allows consumers to enjoy access to stored media on connected devices throughout the home. Motorola's highly scaleable and extensible architecture enables operators to deploy a basic multi-room DVR solution by leveraging legacy digital set-tops and currently deployed interactive program guide (IPG) or video on demand (VOD) applications. The architecture also provides a growth path to enable advanced services and capabilities utilizing technology from Ucentric Systems, a provider of home media networking software. These advanced capabilities of HMA, enabled by Ucentric Systems Multi-TV DVR technology, add a new level of in-home media networking. In addition to enhanced multi-room DVR functionality such as management of recording and viewing resources across the entire home network, advanced HMA leverages standards based IP technology to enable subscribers to connect a range of compatible devices through their in-home network. Consumers will be able to configure set-tops, digital cameras, camcorders, mp3 players, laptops, PCs and mobile phones through a simple user interface. With a Java-based open architecture for applications, the advanced capabilities of Motorola's HMA solution offers service providers the ability to introduce new IP-based services in areas such as home security, home monitoring, smart home management, remote education and remote health management. Motorola's basic multi-room architecture provides an easily-deployed solution for the access of DVR content throughout the home. Specifically, the solution enables content recorded on a DCT6208 or DCT6412 digital video recorder set-top to be accessed from any HMA-enabled DCT digital set-top. Further, the solution allows for the continued use of current program guides and application suites. Using IP-over-coaxial technology developed by Entropic for the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), the HMA enables "whole-home" networking for core and advanced digital set-tops already in the home. The Entropic technology enables multiple standard and high-definition video and data services to be simultaneously distributed throughout the home, over existing unmodified coaxial cable, without the need for a service call by a technician. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41237350 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 09:35:37 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Microsoft Introduces Microsoft TV Foundation Edition 1.7 Microsoft Introduces Microsoft TV Foundation Edition 1.7, One of the First Software Platforms to Support Motorola DCT6400 Series Set-Tops With Integrated Dual-Tuner DVR and High-Definition Functionality Enhanced Software Platform Offers Industry-Leading Digital Video Recording Functionality NEW ORLEANS, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at The National Show, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's (NCTA's) Annual Convention and International Exposition, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced Microsoft(R) TV Foundation Edition 1.7, the latest update of its digital cable software platform and one of the first to support the Motorola DCT6412 set-top with integrated dual-tuner digital video recording (DVR) and high definition functionality. Microsoft TV Foundation 1.7 provides cable operators with a comprehensive and flexible solution to deploy, market and merchandize premium services such as video on demand (VOD) and high-definition television (HDTV), and provides some of the most advanced support for DVR available today, taking full advantage of the new dual-tuner capabilities of the Motorola DCT6400 advanced digital set-top platform. Microsoft TV Foundation Edition 1.7 will be on display at Microsoft Booth No. 2223. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41237384 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 09:38:55 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: ADP Announces PATRIOT Act Customer Identification Program Solution NEW YORK, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ADP Brokerage Services Group (ADP), a division of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NYSE:ADP), announced today the launch of its new customer identity verification system. This system is fully integrated with ADP's Brokerage Processing Services (BPS) securities processing system to streamline the back office operation. This system enables a broker-dealer's compliance and new accounts departments to efficiently verify their customers' identities in accordance with the USA PATRIOT ACT and securities industry best practices as part of the firm's comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering Program. This new customer identification verification system, built in partnership with RemitPro, maximizes operational efficiency through the use of a web accessible case management tool with built-in exception handling and complete audit trail functionality. RemitPro's Risk Alert application receives customer identification information through a direct interface with the BPS Name and Address records. Based on client-controlled requirements, Risk Alert accesses multiple vendor and public databases to verify the identity of potential customers using sophisticated, automated matching criteria. Through the interface, Risk Alert provides extensive functionality to research and manage exceptions with complete audit trails, including updates to BPS. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41237529 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 09:43:45 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Comcast Home Networking Comcast Delivers Home Networking the Way Consumers Want It First CableHome(TM)-Certified Platform Offers Smart, Simple, Solution That Removes Technology Questions - and Replaces Them With Excitement NEW ORLEANS, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today announced the national launch of Comcast Home Networking -- the home networking solution designed for the consumer who wants to experience all of the benefits of home networking -- without needing to know technical jargon like: router, DMZ or Ethernet versus USB. While "simple home networking" may sound revolutionary, Comcast has made it reality by launching the first home networking platform to be certified under the CableHome(TM) specification. Comcast, the nation's top broadband provider, helped lead the development of CableLabs(R) CableHome specification, after speaking with consumers and identifying the need for an interoperable platform that would: -- Enable the cable service provider to manage the technology part of the home networking equation - enabling customers to simply focus on enjoying the experience. -- Help speed the development of advanced broadband applications and devices for the home. -- Ensure true seamless integration among these devices. About Comcast Home Networking Comcast Home Networking expands beyond simply sharing files and printers -- to a world that encompasses gaming, music, streaming video, and more. Installation and maintenance are simple, with Comcast handling set-up, equipment management, system management, and any troubleshooting. The Comcast Home Networking service package offers enhanced speeds, a wireless home gateway device (integrated cable modem and router), and networking gear for up to five devices in the home. Users can connect PCs or broadband-capable devices, and households can share access to the Internet, files, CD drives and printers across the network. In addition, users can access speeds of up to 4 Mbps downstream and 384 kbps upstream for seamless high-speed access across multiple devices. Comcast is also working with the industry's most innovative companies to ensure rapid development and seamless integration of new applications and devices to provide the ultimate consumer experience. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41237969 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 07:26:36 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: New Version of Windows Media Digital Rights Management Software Microsoft Announces New Version of Windows Media Digital Rights Management Software America Online, CinemaNow, Creative, Dell, Disney, Motorola, Napster and OD2 Embrace New DRM to Enable Delivery of Subscription or Video-on-Demand Content to Portable Devices and Over Home Networks REDMOND, Wash., May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today unveiled the features of the next version of its Windows Media(R) Digital Rights Management (DRM) software, and announced early adopters of the platform, including leading online music and movie services entertainment companies, consumer electronics manufacturers and chip makers. Microsoft's next generation of Windows Media DRM technology will make new scenarios possible, such as protecting, delivering and playing subscription- based or on-demand digital music and video. These scenarios span Windows(R)- based PCs and devices, including portable audio devices, Portable Media Centers, cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as Windows Mobile(TM)-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones, and networked devices connected within the home, including those that connect over a wireless network. The promise of how this DRM technology enables these new scenarios has already attracted support from the following companies: -- Content companies America Online Inc., The Disney Co. and OD2 -- Service providers CinemaNow Inc., Movielink LLC, MusicNow LLC, Napster LLC, VirginMega France and Yacast -- Consumer electronic device manufacturers Archos SA, Creative, Dell Inc., Digital 5 Inc., iRiver International, PRISMIQ Inc., PURE Digital, Rio, Samsung Electronics Company Ltd., SimpleDevices Inc. and 2Wire Inc. -- Chip makers BridgeCo AG, Equator Technologies Inc., Imagination Technologies, Micronas, Motorola Inc., Sigma Designs Inc. and SigmaTel Inc. There is also support for the new DRM by manufacturers of Windows Media Center Extender Technology and Windows Media Connect devices, including Alienware Corp., Creative and Dell. This new version of Windows Media DRM reinforces Microsoft's strong commitment to the digital media marketplace supporting the company's vision of enabling the seamless flow of music and movies for consumers while ensuring that content owners are able to build robust businesses. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41235912 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 07:34:52 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Hollywood's New Lesson For Campus File Swappers By Stefanie Olsen Staff Writer, CNET News.com Hollywood is poised to up the ante in its war against file swappers, with new technology that could make it easier to remove suspected pirates from campus networks, CNET News.com has learned. Movie studios, record labels and technology companies have been testing the system for months, according to sources familiar with the project. Known as the Automated Copyright Notice System (ACNS), the technology promises to make copyright enforcement easier on peer-to-peer networks, saving schools and Internet service providers (ISPs) time and money. ACNS allows them to automatically restrict or cut off Internet access for alleged infringers on notice from a record label or movie studio. For example, universities using ACNS could instantly send notices of copyright infringement to students by e-mail and restrict their network access until they have removed the file. Though not specifically ACNS, a similar system is set to go live Monday at the University of California at Los Angeles, one of the nation's largest universities with 37,500 students. http://news.com.com/2100-1027-5194341.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 09:19:42 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: PayPal Announces 'PayPal Web Services' Suite of New PayPal APIs PayPal Announces ''PayPal Web Services'' Suite of New PayPal APIs Enables Merchants and Developers to Automate Interaction with the PayPal eCommerce Platform SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2004--PayPal, the global online payment service, today introduced PayPal Web Services, a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) to the PayPal platform based on open standards. PayPal Web Services, currently in beta release, is comprised of four new informational and transactional APIs enabling developers and merchants of all sizes to create ecommerce solutions and applications that integrate with the PayPal platform. This new offering expands PayPal's existing family of Website Payments functionality and reporting features, and includes PayPal's popular Instant Payment Notification (IPN) service. In its initial release, the PayPal Web Services beta provides access to the following four API calls: -- TransactionSearch: Based on specified search criteria such as payment date or customer name, returns a set of matching transaction IDs and basic transaction details. -- GetTransactionDetails: For a given transaction, returns all details associated with the transaction, such as customer email address, time of payment, and purchase details. -- RefundTransaction: For a given transaction, reverses the transaction and issues a refund or partial refund to the purchaser. -- MassPay: Transfers funds to one or many recipients by providing an automated alternative to cutting paper checks or manually initiating individual payments (available end of second quarter, 2004). PayPal Web Services enables more streamlined and automated access to the PayPal platform, and broadens the audience for PayPal's ecommerce tools to include advanced technical developers and enterprise customers. PayPal Web Services are based on open standards, supporting Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and Web Services Description Language (WSDL). - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41237272 ------------------------------ Subject: Verizon E-mail Problems Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 15:50:46 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Scott Citron In the last several months I uncovered an unnerving problem that appears to be related to my Verizon DSL service. It seems emails sent to me from a number of my friends and business associates never arrive in my Inbox. Not only do they not arrive, but most times they never bounce back to the sender informing he or she that their message was never received. Apparently I'm not alone with this problem. Two other Verizon subscribers I know have reported the same behavior to the point where they've had to simply tell those with whom they communicate not to bother contacting them via email. http://www.macintouch.com/isp03.html ------------------------------ From: William Robison Subject: Re: Missouri Moves to Ban 'UnFees' - Part of Larger Backlash Organization: Universitry of Iowa Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 14:19:27 GMT On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 05:26:21 GMT, Michael D. Sullivan wrote: > Regulatory recovery charges typically seek to recover costs that have > been imposed on carriers that are not figured into their standard rates, > pursuant to provisions in tariffs or contracts that permit this. The problem, as I see it, is that I can't compare rate structures of two carriers. They never adversitse these "regulatory" fees, so about the only way to compare is to find frieds with each service and do a detailed analysis of these fees. In addition, I have (as would most consumers) difficulty determining which are really mandated fees, they seem to blame FCC, PUC, or any other agency that's convenient at the time). Perhaps having to live under this morass of regulation is the price the vendor pays for being a monopoly? -Willy ------------------------------ From: William Warren Subject: Re: A Link of Interest to Ham Radio Operators Organization: Comcast Online Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 15:44:36 GMT Fred Atkinson wrote in message news:telecom23.221.13@telecom-digest.org: > Some time back, I sent you an email asking for another link on the > telecom-digest.org site. I never saw it up there. Did you ever see > it? > It's for ham radio operators, but it's IT related. And there are > a good number of hams in the IT/telecom community. > The name of the article is Your Own Ham Domain and the URL is (on > my ham domain site, appropriately enough): > http://www.wb4aej.com/hamdomain Pat, Fred's basically saying that ham operators can get their call sign as a domain name. Since I'm a ham, I'll mention a couple of things hams (or anybody, for that matter) can do. 1. Use Godaddy: they're charging $7.95 a year for new domain right now. If anyone knows a better price, please pass it along. http://www.godaddy.com/. 2. You can put your web site on your own server if you have dsl or cable (always on) connections. You'll need a "dynamic" dns like http://www.dyndns.org/, but that's easy to set up. You can either pay the dns provider to handle your domain (dyndns is about $25/year), or Godaddy will forward it for you, free, and you can get the Javascript from Fred's site to show it as the destination when people click in. Just be sure you know what you're doing, because it means keeping a computer on 27/7/365, and keeping up with patches too. On the plus side, you can assign yourself any email address you want, and then delete it if it gets spam; this is great for those places that make you supply an email address when you register, because you can turn one on, get the serial number, and then never be annoyed by them again. 3. The ampr.org domain, which is the 44.0.0.0 network, is the ham's "real" home, since it's for AMateur Packet Radio. Any ham can get a free domain name that looks like http://w1aw.ampr.org/, and if you ask nicely, they'll even put in an MX record so that email coming from the Internet is redirected to your regular account at AOL or wherever, so you can get email addressed to, e.g., w1aw@w1aw.ampr.org. Of course, ampr.org is mostly for doing IP over AX.25, but they're not hard assed about it. 4. It's usually better to host your site on your ISP's computers, since they do all the backups and maintenance for you. That way, you get the best of all worlds. Most ISP's provide at least 5 MB of space as part of your basic package, and that's more than enough for a simple site, and you probably have an extra email address from your ISP anyway, unless your kids already took them. HTH. William Warren (Filter the noise out of my address for direct replies) ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 11:27:33 -0400 Subject: Commentary: Big VoIP Dogs Will Have the Sharpest Bite Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=94083 May 3, 2004 By: Al Senia With the Big Dogs barking, how long can the Little Dogs keep their bite? That was one of the principal questions left unanswered in the aftermath of the recent America's Network VoIP roundtable held in Washington, D.C. (A special report about the roundtable is featured in our May 1 issue, and the full transcript of the gathering is available online at http://www.americasnetwork.com ) As the co-moderator of this VoIP industry debate, I was fascinated to view firsthand the at times heated arguments among service provider executives about the fairness of the existing status quo and what is likely to occur as the market changes. Full story at: http://www.americasnetwork.com/americasnetwork/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=94083 How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home: http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/ ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 11:34:50 -0400 Subject: Hoping to Attract Callers to the Internet Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/03/technology/03voice.html?ex=1399003200&en=9167f90435a9a494&ei=5007&partner=Google By KEN BELSON and MATT RICHTEL NEW ORLEANS, May 2 - Some of America's biggest telecommunications companies are meeting here this week to discuss how best to provide phone services to consumers. It will not be telephone companies talking, though, but cable providers. The effort by the cable companies to make deeper inroads into telephone services by using Internet technology will be the No. 1 topic at the industry's annual trade show here that continues through Wednesday. There will be much backslapping given the success cable providers have had rolling out high-speed Internet, and they will be eager to show how their new Internet-based phone services that use those broadband connections will be just as triumphant. But selling high-speed connections and phone services are two different things, and cable companies are certain to face an uphill climb beating the telephone industry in this latest contest. Many consumers still see high-speed Internet connections as a largely generic service, which they can buy from many different vendors. But choosing a phone service is a more emotional decision. Telephone companies have well-established brands and have been reliable providers of voice calls for decades. Cable companies are still viewed, not as phone providers, but in terms of the television programming they offer. Moreover, phone calling over the Internet is relatively new, and providers of all types are still working out the technological flaws as well as customer and billing services. Those gaps in service may alienate customers, analysts said, if cable companies introduce Internet calling too quickly. Full story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/03/technology/03voice.html?ex=1399003200&en=9167f90435a9a494&ei=5007&partner=Google ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 11:59:31 -0400 Subject: Level 3 Launches Residential VoIP Service Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-03-2004/0002164885&STORY&EDATE= Level 3 Launches Residential VoIP Service in More Than 50 U.S. Markets New Service Enables Cable Operators and Others to Accelerate Rollout of Consumer VoIP Offerings NEW ORLEANS, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT) today announced that its (3)VoIP Enhanced(SM) Local residential phone service is commercially available in more than 50 U.S. markets, completing the first stage of a phased rollout in over 300 U.S. markets by the end of 2004. The company made the announcement at The 2004 National Show hosted by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). "(3)VoIP Enhanced Local service provides cable operators, enhanced service providers, and others the essential building blocks needed to cost-effectively accelerate their deployment of VoIP service to millions of consumers throughout the U.S.," said Sureel Choksi, president of Softswitch Services for Level 3. "We're pleased to be introducing our new (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service in over 50 U.S. markets, and are on schedule to complete the deployment of this service to more than 300 markets by the end of the year." (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service allows companies to develop and offer residential voice service using Level 3 provided building blocks, including local phone numbers, interconnection with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for local and long distance services, local number portability and E911 emergency services. (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service provides these essential components while enabling the voice service provider to retain the flexibility to manage and control end-user features without the headaches of implementing complex interconnection arrangements. Key features of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service include: * Local and long distance calling including access to the PSTN * Local phone numbers * Operator assistance * Directory listings and assistance * E911 emergency services * Local number portability "We believe today's commercial launch of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service underscores Level 3's growing leadership in VoIP," said Jack Waters, CTO and president of Voice Technologies for Level 3. "Level 3 is proud of its leadership role in helping to pioneer VoIP technology, having built its network to be completely optimized for IP and having introduced the first PSTN-quality VoIP service in 1999." "With today's announcement, Level 3 now enables residential VoIP service to be offered -- with local phone numbers -- to over 16 million households, with plans to increase its reach to approximately 63 million households by the end of year," said Myrle McNeal, vice president of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service. (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service is now available in many major markets including: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Portland, Tampa, and Orlando. For a complete list of market availability, please visit http://www.level3.com/userimages/DotCom/pdf/(3)VoIP_Enhanced_Local_Serv_Avail.pdf. In addition to residential VoIP services, Level 3 offers a full range of wholesale and business voice services. For more information about Level 3's portfolio of VoIP services, please stop by NCTA booth 4065, or visit http://www.Level3.com. About Level 3 Communications Level 3 (Nasdaq: LVLT) is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. The company offers a wide range of communications services over its 22,500 mile broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, and patented Softswitch managed modem and voice services. Its Web address is http://www.Level3.com. The company offers information services through its subsidiaries, Software Spectrum and (i)Structure. For additional information, visit their respective Web sites at http://www.softwarespectrum.com and http://www.i-structure.com. The Level 3 logo is a registered service mark and (3)VoIP Enhanced is a service mark of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service is offered by Level 3 Communications, LLC. ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 12:01:13 -0400 Subject: Net2Phone Teams With Level 3 to Expand Cable VoIP Offerings Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-03-2004/0002164902&STORY&EDATE= Leading VoIP Companies Join Forces to Offer Expansive End-to-End Telephony Solutions for Cable Operators NEW ORLEANS, May 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Net2Phone (Nasdaq: NTOP) and Level 3 Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT) today announced that they will join forces to offer end-to-end telephony solutions to cable operators. Net2Phone will use Level 3's new (3)VoIP Enhanced(SM) Local residential phone service as an enhancement to its current cable telephony solutions. The companies made the announcement today at The 2004 National Show hosted by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA). Net2Phone -- which currently empowers cable operators with both PacketCable and SIP compliant fully integrated broadband phone service -- plans to use Level 3's new VoIP offering to enhance and expand its end-to-end telephony solutions. By outsourcing telephony deployments to Net2Phone, cable operators can minimize their upfront cost to deploy telephony services while benefiting from accelerated time to market and drawing on Net2Phone's nine years of retail VoIP expertise, servicing more than 500,000 users worldwide. "Level 3's residential VoIP service will provide us with enhancements to our current telephony network, enabling us to accelerate and expand the availability of our innovative telephony solutions to cable operators," said Stephen Greenberg, CEO for Net2Phone. "Complementing our existing VoIP offerings with Level 3's industry-leading local coverage and expertise will only improve our value proposition, as we market diversified cable telephony solutions." "Our relationship with Net2Phone will enable cable operators to receive a robust suite of features, functionality, network availability and enhanced services from two of the most well-respected VoIP players in the market today," said Sureel Choksi, president of Softswitch Services for Level 3. "We're pleased that Net2Phone has elected to use our new (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service to augment the deployment of the VoIP services provided by Net2Phone to business and residential customers in the U.S." As a hosted service provider, Net2Phone enables cable operators with a choice of either PacketCable-compliant or SIP-based full-featured broadband phone service that they can sell as an enhancement and/or bundle to their existing product set. Net2Phone's PacketCable and SIP platform performs call management, provides Class 5 features, billing, provisioning, and seamlessly integrates into its partners' front and back office systems, thereby facilitating a unified bill for bundled services. Level 3 rounds out Net2Phone's solution with its (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service, which includes local phone numbers, interconnection with the public-switched telephone network for local and long distance services, local number portability and E911 emergency services. (3)VoIP Enhanced Local Service Now available in more than 50 U.S. markets, (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service allows companies to develop voice services using Level 3 provided building blocks while retaining the flexibility to manage and control the features offered to residential customers. Key Features of (3)VoIP Enhanced Local Service include: * Local calling including access to the PSTN * Local phone numbers * Operator assistance * Directory listings and assistance * E911 emergency services * Local number portability In addition to residential VoIP services, Level 3 offers a full range of wholesale and business voice services. For more information about Level 3's portfolio of VoIP services, please stop by NCTA booth #4065, or visit http://www.Level3.com. This relationship will serve as a complement to Net2Phone's agreement with IDT Solutions, formerly known as Winstar, which is currently providing local and long distance telecom services in major metropolitan markets. To learn more about Net2Phone's suite of services, please stop by NCTA booth #1859, or visit http://www.net2phone.com. About Net2Phone Net2Phone provides PacketCable, SIP and wireless VoIP solutions around in the world. As a leader in enabling telecom service providers and cable operators with turn-key hosted VoIP telephony services, Net2Phone has routed billions of retail VoIP minutes globally, servicing more than 100,000 users in the US as well as hundreds of thousands of more overseas. Net2Phone's hosted SIP platform provides partners with residential broadband telephony, calling cards, prefix dialing and enterprise services in over 100 countries. Net2Phone's PacketCable platform provides cable operators with the ability to deliver a primary line replacement service with guaranteed QoS and features such as E911. Traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol NTOP, Net2Phone's strategic partners and investors include Liberty Media Corporation and IDT Corporation. For more information about Net2Phone's products and services, please visit http://www.net2phone.com. About Level 3 Communications Level 3 (Nasdaq: LVLT) is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. The company offers a wide range of communications services over its 22,500 mile broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, and patented Softswitch managed modem and voice services. Its Web address is http://www.Level3.com. The company offers information services through its subsidiaries, Software Spectrum and (i)Structure. For additional information, visit their respective Web sites at http://www.softwarespectrum.com and http://www.i-structure.com. The Level 3 logo is a registered service mark and (3)VoIP Enhanced is a service mark of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service is offered by Level 3 Communications, LLC. ------------------------------ From: i_burshteyn@yahoo.com (ilyaburshteyn) Subject: Re: Vonage Vs. AT&T Date: 3 May 2004 08:28:15 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I got a couple of emails asking for a free second month coupon. I wanted to make some things clear to avoid any misunderstanding. I wrote my post with only one purpose to give some honest and firsthand information on the Vonage service, not to solicit referrals. If anyone is interested in a free second month I would be more then happy to refer you. This is a Vonage program, where a current customer can refer a new customer thereby getting a free second moth of service for the new customer and for himself. Just so all of you are aware of the fine print, when you sign up there is a $30 or $35 dollar activation fee, and a $10 delivery charge (the numbers might be off by a few bucks check the website for details). If you don't like the service cancel it with in the first 14 days and ship the box back. All you risk are the shipping costs. If you choose to keep the service, you will get the second month free of charge, and so will the person that referred you. If anyone wants this referral email me or any other Vonage customer. Once you are referred you will get an email from Vonage with a link. Press the link, and register. It's that simple. Vonage will send you a box the size of an external modem or a cable modem. Just put it in front of your router, and plug a phone into it. If you decide to keep the service, you can plug the Vonage box into one of your phone jacks, and all the phone jacks in your house will work of the Vonage service (before you do that, disconnect the phone wires coming in from the phone company, or you might fry the Vonage box). If you have questions, call or email Vonage support they respond quickly. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: A couple clarifications needed here. Vonage has no activation fee **as far as I know.** At least they did not when I first signed up more than a year ago. (Or was our writer speaking about AT&T?) When I first signed up using John Levine's e-coupon, I think Vonage charged my credit card about $83, which was the cost of the Cisco ATA box plus a month's service and tax. The fourteen day 'trial period' seems to kick in about the time they estimate your box arrived, so effectively you get 18-20 days of free trial. It used to be their residential plan was closer to $35; now they have a $14.99 plan which gives you 500 minutes per month to anywhere in the USA or (to) Canada. When I started with Vonage there was no 411 or 911 service. Now there are both; whomever they broker their directory service out to gets one dollar per call. I understand they are going to soon be starting zero operator service before too long; I do not know who is going to handle it for them, probably some company out of New Jersey where they are located, maybe Verizon? I do know they have vastly improved their overall quality of service since they started using the new Motorola MTA box with its built in Quality of Service firmware; they are getting their customer service/tech support holding queues down to a more reasonable time. When I first started using them they were only an east coast/west coast operation. (The east coast corridor is where the money is at, just ask MCI or ATT). Now they have service in every area code, often times in multiple. They started local service here in rural 620 territory not long ago, not just in Wichita(316) but actually **two** locations, one a few miles down Highway 169 from me, and they offer toll free 800 numbers as 'virtual numbers' now in addition for $4.99 per month, which includes, I think, a hundred minutes per month 'free' in the package. So Vonage is not a bad deal, and is getting better. Oh, e-coupon givers and recipients never pay to talk to each other; their traffic is free (that is, not counted against their allotment each month. So if you decide to try them and want a 'second month free' e-coupon and no one else will give you one, then write and ask me at ptownson@massis.csail.mit.edu . PAT] ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. Contact information: Patrick Townson/TELECOM Digest Post Office Box 50 Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-402-0134 Fax 1: 775-255-9970 Fax 2: 530-309-7234 Fax 3: 208-692-5145 Email: editor@telecom-digest.org Subscribe: telecom-subscribe@telecom-digest.org Unsubscribe:telecom-unsubscribe@telecom-digest.org URL information: http://telecom-digest.org Anonymous FTP: mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/ (or use our mirror site: ftp.epix.net/pub/telecom-archives) Email <==> FTP: telecom-archives@telecom-digest.org Send a simple, one line note to that automated address for a help file on how to use the automatic retrieval system for archives files. You can get desired files in email. ************************ --------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of fifty dollars per year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above. Please make at least a single donation to cover the cost of processing your name to the mailing list. If you donate at least fifty dollars per year we will send you our two-CD set of the entire Telecom Archives; this is every word published in this Digest since our beginning in 1981. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #223 ******************************