VoIP Summaries - Thur Jun-01-2006

Here are some VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) news summaries for Thur, Jun 1, 2006:

• World Internet Usage stats show that the Middle East makes up for only 1.8% of Internet usage worldwide. Africa makes up for 2.3%. Despite these low numbers, Efonica, an Internet telephony company, is expanding it’s services in the Middle East, and Lagos, Nigeria is hosting the third annual African VoIP forum at the end of July. Key topics for the forum is “the impact of VoIP as a driving force” for the African telecom sector, and the “challenges of deploying VoIP in Africa”. One potential solution is VoIP over satellite, also a key topic.
• Teleclick.ca says that mobile VoIP use will increase in the coming years to as many as “100 million users by 2011″. There is no doubt that given quality Wi-Fi handsets and better coverage, people will turn to VoIP for both global and local communication rather than paying the cellular rates that network providers currently expect. Teleclick goes on to imply that what will really expand VoIP usage is if there is a convergence of Wi-Fi handsets and multimedia devices such as iPods.
• BT Ireland has decided not to offer residential VoIP. [via SB Post]
• As the owner of recently purchased Palm Treo 650p, it’s great to hear that MantraGroup’s MobiVoIP has put VoIP functionality on Palm OS-based PDAs. [via TMC Net] PalmPC units already have VoIP software available. Version 1.0 of the MobiVoIP software is free, and calling plans vary by region (payable only by credit card). MobiVoIP to MobiVoIP calls are free. The small size of the .PRC file (less than 330Kb) is a surprise. I was expecting something bigger. Unfortunately, three trial runs of the test call produced ear-splitting squeaks and blips, twice. The 2nd of 3 calls was partially audible, but packets were dropped. These test calls were made indoors.

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