As expected, the new iPhone has a front-facing camera for video calling. But unlike many similarly equipped 3G handsets it does not support video calling functionality on cellular networks. This positions FaceTime more as a video chat application, similar to Skype. In fact, the underlying open protocols mentioned by Jobs (referring to the acronyms on the accompanying slide as “alphabet soup”) are used in many PC-based video chat clients, including Apple’s own iChat AV.

Cellular video calls

Video calls in 3G cellular networks today use the 3G-H.324M standard. Basically it is an evolution of ITU’s H.324 standard (which in turn builds on H.320 and H.323), multiplexing audio, video and control protocols into the same TDM circuits normally used for voice calls.

Note that H.324M does not use IP transport: it is circuit switched technology. Because of this it does not have to deal with NAT traversal or the quality of service issues that IP-based real-time communication can suffer from. Moreover, since subscribers are addressed using the same E.164 phone number users already know and use for voice calls on a daily basis, the barrier for users should be pretty low: all it takes is compatible devices on either end (and a willingness to pay the per-call fees, which may be more than for a voice-only call).

Video chat

Video chat, on the other hand, has its roots on the Internet, and is therefore inherently based on IP protocols. Most video chat client applications today are PC-based, and many of them originally started as Instant Messaging or voice chat applications. There are various protocols, some open and some proprietary, and many audio and video codecs. Apple uses SIP signaling, H.264 video and AAC audio, over RTP or SRTP. The other protocols in the “alphabet soup” deal with NAT traversal; in particular the support of ICE is important, as it should take care of all but the most obscure network topologies.

In order to use a video chat application, users typically have to sign-up with one of the networks. Since not all networks use the same protocols (and even if they do, they sometimes artificially restrict ‘federation’ with other networks), users may even have to sign up with several networks in other to communicate with friends that happen to be in other networks.

Addressing issues

This fragmentation of the (video) chat networks leaves the mobile carriers with a key advantage: all you need to know to call someone is their phone number, regardless of the service provider the called party is using. Attempts to make VoIP communication use the same addressing scheme, in the form of ENUM, have failed to see any major deployments. Services that allow the user to sign-in once and connect to users in various networks through gateways make life a little easier, but it is still necessary to set up a client with a username and password, and to add IM screen names to all contacts.

While Apple’s FaceTime appears to contribute to more fragmentation (for now only iPhone 4 users can call one another), it does manage to hide the addressing complexity of typical chat networks: there is no need to enter account details, no need to add screen names to contacts, and video calling is an integral part of the phone dialer interface.

Open standard?

Jobs announced that Apple will ‘open up’ FaceTime as an open standard. Since much of the underlying communication protocols/codecs are already well established standards, the only ‘missing link’ for now appears to be the ‘zero-configuration’ aspect of the system. It will be interesting to see what Apple will come up with, but if this is something that can be made to work on other handsets too (Android, anyone?), then the future of mobile video chat may be bright, especially once the service works over 3G/LTE data connections as well. However, it is difficult to see what’s in it for Apple’s carrier partners: have they resigned to the idea of being a ‘data pipe’ for all IP-based services, and are they ready to let go of their voice calling stronghold?

We attracted many customers and prospects with our Fixed VoIP solutions and especially with our mobile VoIP solutions. This is the first time we presented our mobile solutions in a trade show, and I was please with our customers’ reaction – many of then see the importance of mobile VoIP today and were very interested in the benefits that MultiLine offers them and their subscribers. The live Plug ‘n Talk service showcased in the booth clearly received a lot of attention.

The exhibition also presented a good opportunity to catch up with our partners, see what they have been up to and update them on our achievements. These include some large scale projects in Russia and the CIS, demonstrating the quality of VocalTec’s solutions and delivery capabilities.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the VocalTec Russian team who represented us at Sviaz/Expo Comm. You made me very proud with your professionalism, devotion and focus on the business.

If so, I wish you a very speedy return home. In the mean time, there are some pretty good VoIP based tools to help you stay connected published by WebWorker Daily.

Orange France announced a pilot of new payphones featuring 17-inch touch screens and VoIP service in various parts of Paris. The booths can also be used to browse the internet and check e-mail. They have been rolled mainly in  tourist and shopping areas.

I love reading items like this, where products and services that seem obsolete, gain new life with the help of VoIP and broadband technology.

The answer was that they bought a product, but got a full solution from VocalTec.  When they started their business it was their first step in V0IP.  They didn’t know how to face the challenges that came up along the way.  He says that with the training and close support of our engineers, his technical team became SS7 and VoIP experts.  Thanks to the intelligent features of the Essentra, he was able to shape his strategy and maximize his business revenue.

He also mentioned that he never had a vendor that was willing to customize and develop new features just for him and in such a short time.

As someone who used to work for a large service provider, I can also say that what makes the difference is a vendor that is available to assist, responsive to customer’s needs, and committed.

I am Daniel Redel, VP Professional Services, at VocalTec.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at daniel@vocaltec.com

With the desire to significantly improve communications with both company personnel and customers, as well as offer a range of hosted enterprise services, LUKOIL INFORM decided to base their infrastructure on a VoIP solution.

The vendor selection process called for a cost-effective, reliable VoIP solution that would connect new future subscribers to an IP-based telephony networks offering a full set of Class 5 and enterprise services. LUKOIL INFORM also sought a central management system that would bring all network components under one user-friendly umbrella.

Following a stringent vendor selection process, LUKOIL INFORM decided to deploy VocalTec’s Essentra solutions, including Essentra™ CX trunking solution, Essentra™ EX peering manager, Essentra™ BAX application server, and Essentra™ OSS management application. In the first stage, the VocalTec solution was  installed at Lukoil’s main office.

Essentra BAX is a VoIP application server that provides LUKOIL INFORM with cost-effective entry into broadband VoIP services. The solution enables LUKOIL INFORM to introduce a comprehensive set of enterprise services, including a range of innovative IP Centrex features facilitating internal communications and end-user productivity.

Essentra CX, a carrier-grade SIP-based media gateway controller (MGC), complements the solution by enabling seamless interconnection with the local PSTN. Handling all TDM/SS7 interconnect requirements from a central location, Essentra CX significantly reduces transport and operations expenses for LUKOIL INFORM. Equipped with an intelligent routing engine, the solution delivers high voice quality, carrier-grade reliability and maximum service flexibility, while enabling LUKOIL INFORM to smoothly migrate its legacy infrastructure to a packet-based telephony network.

Addressing LUKOIL INFORM’s demand for a single management system, the VocalTec solution also features Essentra OSS. A centralized, web-based management system, Essentra OSS provides LUKOIL INFORM with remote element management, service configuration, monitoring and provisioning capabilities. Equipped with a user-friendly GUI, the operational support server is a flexible, customizable management system that easily integrates into LUKOIL INFORM’s current environment.

Allowing VoIP over 3G has been a debate for a long while. I believe this will assist and pushing service provider mobile-VoIP forward.

We’ll be happy to update you on Vocaltec’s latest solutions and developments

To schedule a meeting, please send an email to  meeting@vocaltec.com

See you there!!

For those of you who don’t know, Amazon EC2 is the latest technology in the virtualization world.  By allowing you to pay only for the capacity that you actually use, Amazon EC2 makes their hosting solution extremely cost effective.

Service Providers and those who want to be service providers will find it very helpful since they will be able to start their own VoIP service without investing money on hardware and at the same time run their service on a scalable and a reliable hosting platform.

Here are the results summary: