The software, known as iCall allows for incoming call notification even when the application is not running.

This signals a lifting of the 3G VoIP calling restrictions which Apple imposed on iPhone apps.

The deal will allow free* Skype-to-Skype calling over the Verizon network.

As The Inquirer points out, major mobile telecom network providers have been reluctant to embrace VoIP communications due to the effective change in business model which it could herald. The deal which is to be offered to US Verizon Wireless customers is seen as being a big push to take marketshare from AT&T who are only providing Skype for their iPhone customers.

*free meaning the call itself between the Skype clients, obviously the network costs remain.

The advantage of the concept is that keeping your old hardware in place and just hooking it up to Speakeasy’s SIP based network will save significant expenditure on hardware procurement. It’s not a particularly new approach to the problem of voip deployment in the sense that analog to voip converters have been around since the first days of voip but the offering of an integrated product with support for fairly-large existing PBXs certainly is.

That’s all assuming I understood their press release correctly

Speakeasy press release: http://www.speakeasy.net/press/pr/pr030209b.php

It seems that the two operators are worried that the bundling of a voice-over-ip application with a smartphone would lose them voice-call revenue on their networks. The supposition being that users would opt for ‘cheap’ ‘unlimited’ data plans. From where I stand, ‘cheap’ ‘unlimited’ data plans are rather ‘invisible’ and I can’t really see voip being a lot cheaper in most cases except where the phone could be used with a non-network WiFi connection. Perhaps this is what actually worries O2 and Orange.

The cost of data plans also vary from country to country and both Orange and O2 are international operators so presumably there must be markets where their data plans are currently particularly cheap.

Naturally, if O2 and Orange choose to block the use of the N97 or it’s voice over ip abilities, they risk upsetting their customer base who may move to other operators such as T-Mobile who are said to be more ‘voip-friendly’.

In a new press release dated the 25th February which again mentions Skype directly, EUROJUST state their position as having had their first strategic meeting on internet telephony in 2006 which had included Skype SA as participants.

“There was a positive message from the Skype representatives during the meeting, showing their commitment to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities in the fight against serious, cross-border organised crime. The participants took into consideration that new VoIP technologies could offer a possible communication channel to criminals and criminal networks.”

Whether Skype’s level of co-opertation extends to handing over the encryption keys to their proprietary voip protocol is a good question. As with most proprietary systems, it is usually impossible for the end-user to tell whether there are any back-doors built-in by the manufacturer.

It may also mean that EUROJUST wants to avoid frightening off the fledgling European Voice over IP industry which, in the current recession, could prove extremely valuable to the European economy.

“Voice over IP Security gives you everything you need to understand the latest security threats and design solutions to protect your VoIP network from fraud and security incidents.”

The book, written by Patrick Park, is part of the Cisco Press Networking Technology Series and is available now priced at $49.50

ISBN: 1587054698

We reported the launch of the Go! Messenger service for PSP just last year. In conjunction with BT, the service allowed VoIP communication between users at Openzone hotspots across the UK.

It is worth bearing in mind though that thus far, the only confirmation of the cancellation is a now-missing post on a Sony Europe message board. The message reported that the service would end on March 31st 2009.

I will attempt to verify the statement and update here.

While a number of debit and credit cards were already accepted, customers will now be able to use Paypal through their device to add land-line calling credit without the need to resort to using a web-browser equipped personal computer.

EUROJUST, the European Union’s judicial cooperation unit, is to examine the possibilities of bugging voip calls within the EU.

This comes after news that Italian law-enforcement agencies have requested help from EUROJUST in tapping voip calls made by criminals in Italy.

EUROJUST mention Skype by name but also include their intention to examine other voip systems in their press release. In the case of Skype which uses a proprietary protocol and encryption system, EUROJUST would presumably need to coerce Skype who are incorporated in Luxembourg to hand over encryption keys or create a ‘back door’ in their software to allow government wiretapping.

In the alternate case of SIP or similar VoIP communications, many calls may currently be transmitted ‘in the clear’ and be easy to intercept by simply capturing the packet stream for later playback. In cases where encryption is employed either in the protocol or the connection level, wiretapping may prove to be considerably more difficult as even the fact that a call is being made over a normally-encrypted data connection may be difficult or impossible to detect.

CeBIT March 3-8 2009

Fairground, Hannover, Germany. Not specifically a VoIP event however all the major suppliers will be present.

Unified Communications Expo March 11-12 2009

National Hall, Olympia Exhibition Centre, London, UK

VoiceCon Orlando March 30 – April 2 2009

Gaylord Palms, Orlando, Florida

Voice & IP Comms May 12-14 2009

Part of CeBIT Australia, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour Sydney, Australia

China VoIP May 13-14 2009

Presidential Plaza Hotel, Beijing, China

ITEXPO West October 27-29, 2009

Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA

VoiceCon San Francisco November 2-9 2009

Unsure of Venue pending page update – check with organizers.

If you think I have left anyone out or you spot an error or emission, please let me know in the comments field below.