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TELECOM Digest Fri, 13 May 2005 17:03:00 EDT Volume 24 : Issue 211
Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson
Canadian Telecom Update #481 (John Riddle)
Front Lines - May 13 Issue(Jonathan Marashlian)
FAQ: How Real ID Will Affect You (Monty Solomon)
GSM Roaming (Graham Gower)
AT&T-Cingular-Alltel; They Broke MY Contract! (Steve)
Do Cell Phones Still Offer "A" and "B" Carriers? (Lisa Hancock)
CRTC Reins in Major Carriers on VoIP (Jack Decker)
SBC Joins VoIP E911 Club (Jack Decker)
Cell Phone as (Only) Home Service (Ken Abrams)
Gates: Mobile Phones Will Supplant iPod (Telecom dailyLead from USTA)
Re: AOL Jumps Into Free E-Mail Business (nstrom@ananzi.co.za)
Re: Spyware ... Ugh! (nstrom@ananzi.co.za)
Re: Setting up an Automated RSS Feed (nstrom@ananzi.co.za)
Re: Will 911 Difficulties Derail VoIP? (Dean M.)
Last Laugh! Telco Smears Other Telcos on Moral Issues (Lisa Minter)
Telecom and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Digest for the
Internet. 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.
===========================
Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be
sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters,
viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome.
We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we
are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because
we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands
against crime. Geoffrey Welsh
===========================
See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details
and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Telecom Update (Canada) #481, May 13, 2005
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 14:52:20 -0400
From: John Riddell <jriddell@angustel.ca>
************************************************************
TELECOM UPDATE
************************************************************
published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 481: May 13, 2005
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** ALLSTREAM: www.allstream.com
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/en/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MITEL NETWORKS: www.mitel.com/
** SPRINT CANADA: www.sprint.ca
** UTC CANADA: www.canada.utc.org/
************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
** CRTC Keeps VoIP Under Local Service Rules
** Telcos Outraged, Competitors Happy
** Rogers to Buy Call-Net
** 2004 Telecom Statistics Ready Next Week
** FCC to Consider VoIP-911 Rules
** Nortel Unveils New Small-Office IP-PBX
** VoIP Boosts Videotron Telecom
** CRTC Proposes Price Cap Extension
** Shaw, Bell VoIP Services Under Review
** Ottawa Launches Spectrum Policy Review
** BlackBerry Adds a Million Subscribers
** Cisco Telecom Sales Up 35%
** Mail Boxes Etc. to Offer Wi-Fi
** Conference Marks 20 Years of Cellphones
** More Cellphones Than Citizens in Ten Countries
** Vote Now for CATA Innovation Awards
CRTC KEEPS VoIP UNDER LOCAL SERVICE RULES: CRTC Telecom
Decision 2005-28, released yesterday, rejects arguments
by Bell and Telus that VoIP-based local telephone services
are, or should be, forborne from regulation. With two
Commissioners dissenting, the Commission ruled that Voice
over IP services come under the same regulatory framework as
circuit-switched services. Key rulings include:
** The incumbent telcos must file tariffs for "in-territory"
local VoIP services, at rates that at least cover costs,
and must comply with existing rules on bundling and
winback promotions. "In-territory" is defined by the
customer's phone number.
** Cablecos that offer local phone service must register as
Competitive Local Exchange Carriers and comply with all
CLEC obligations.
** Incumbent telcos and CLECs must allow VoIP customers equal
access to all long distance service providers. Resellers
are not bound by this rule.
** Incumbent telcos and cablecos must amend their wholesale
broadband tariffs to allow ISPs and other resellers to
provide VoIP over these connections.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2005/dt2005-28.htm
TELCOS OUTRAGED, COMPETITORS HAPPY: Industry responses to the CRTC's
VoIP decision depended, for the most part, on whether the responder
was an incumbent phone company or not, but the division was not
clear-cut:
** Most incumbent phone companies were outraged. Bell,
Telus, Aliant, and SaskTel all said they will appeal the
decision. Bell's Lawson Hunter called the ruling "an
historic mistake," and Janet Yale of Telus said the CRTC
"chose to look backward and to impose restrictions from
the past that are no longer relevant."
** However, MTS Allstream said the decision is "good for
consumers and competition" because it limits the ability
of "dominant providers like Bell Canada ... to stamp out
their smaller rivals."
** The cable industry and most IP telephony providers also
said the decision will prevent the telcos from crushing
new entrants.
** Montreal-based BabyTel said the CRTC should regulate
services offered by the cablecos, not just the telcos.
** The Coalition for Competitive Telecommunications
criticized the CRTC's "intrusive regulatory approach,"
and called the decision "bad news for business."
ROGERS TO BUY CALL-NET: Rogers Communications has agreed to buy
Call-Net Enterprises, the parent of Sprint Canada, in a share swap
valued at approximately $330 million. The deal, which could close as
early as July 1, will give Rogers some 600,000 consumer and business
customers across Canada.
** Sprint Canada will probably be rebranded with the Rogers name.
** Rogers says that when it deploys its cable telephony
service some of Call-Net local service customers will be
migrated to that platform.
2004 TELECOM STATISTICS READY NEXT WEEK: The Monday, May 16, edition
of Statistics Canada's "Daily" will summarize telecom industry
statistics for Q4 2004. The full report will be available later in the
week.
FCC TO CONSIDER VoIP-911 RULES: The U.S. Federal Communications
Commission will hold a public meeting on Thursday May 19 to consider
E911 requirements for IP-ba telephone services. (See Telecom Update
#480)
** Last week a Florida couple said that their three-month-old
daughter died because a 9-1-1 call on a Vonage phone was
routed to an admin phone in the sheriff's office, which
was closed for the day.
NORTEL UNVEILS NEW SMALL-OFFICE IP-PBX: On May 27 Nortel Networks will
launch Business Communications Manager 50, an IP-based phone system
targeted at offices with fewer than 50 users. It can support up to 80
extensions.
VoIP BOOSTS VIDEOTRON TELECOM: Quebecor's Videotron Telecom unit had
first-quarter revenues of $23.6 millthan the same period last
year. The company attributes the gain in part to Videotron's consumer
VoIP service, which now has 23,000 subscribers. Videotron Telecom is
being integrated into Videotron Ltee this year.
** CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau says Quebecor will offer wireless service
this year.
CRTC PROPOSES PRICE CAP EXTENSION: The CRTC has invited comments on
extending the current price cap regime for the major incumbent telcos,
as well as for Telebec and Telus Quebec, by two years. A review at
that time would allow the Commission to take into account the impact
of VoIP competition and the framework for local service forbearance,
to be decided in 2006. To participate, notify the CRTC by June 2.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2005/pt2005-3.htm
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2005/pt2005-4.htm
SHAW, BELL VoIP SERVICES UNDER REVIEW: The CRTC has resumed
consideration of Telus's complaint that Shaw is not complying with
CLEC obligations (see Telecom Update #475) and the complaints by
Cogeco, Quebecor, and the CCTA that Bell's Digital Voice service
violates Commission rules (see Telecom Update #476). Both disputes had
been suspended pending the release of the VoIP decision.
OTTAWA LAUNCHES SPECTRUM POLICY REVIEW: The federal government has
begun a full review of Industry Canada's spectrum policy, and is
inviting public comment. A public consultation paper has been posted
on Industry Canada's website.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08383e.html
BLACKBERRY ADDS A MILLION SUBSCRIBERS: Research In Motion's BlackBerry
platform now has three million users worldwide, after adding a million
subscribers in six months. BlackBerry is now sold at 50,000 retail
outlets.
CISCO TELECOM SALES UP 35%: Cisco Systems' results for the quarter
ending April 30 show a 35% rise in telecom revenues compared to the
same period a year ago. Net income of US$1.41 billion was up
17%. Overall sales were $6.19 billion, up 2.1% on the quarter and
10.1% on the year, which was about half the rate of increase recorded
during the preceding year.
MAIL BOXES ETC. TO OFFER WI-FI: Mail Boxes Etc. is equipping most of
its 275 Canadian centres with Wi-Fi Internet access for business
travelers. Bell Canada, which is partnering with Boldstreet Wireless
to provide the service, hopes to enlist other carriers to bill usage
to cellphone accounts.
CONFERENCE MARKS 20 YEARS OF CELLPHONES: Mobile Telephony in Canada, a
conference organized by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications
Association on June 8 in Ottawa, will mark the twentieth anniversary
of the introduction of cellular service in Canada.
http://www.cwta.ca
MORE CELLPHONES THAN CITIZENS IN TEN COUNTRIES: TeleGeography says
that at the end of 2004 in Luxembourg there were four wireless
accounts for every three inhabitants. Ten countries, including
Germany, exceeded 100% wireless penetration. Canada edged past 50%
penetration early this year.
VOTE NOW FOR CATA INNOVATION AWARDS: The Canadian Advanced Technology
Alliance will hold its twentieth annual Innovation Awards Gala June 21
at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. Online voting for the awards,
offered in five categories, closes on May 20.
www1.cata.ca/cata/news/awards/innovation/innovnominate2005.cfm
HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE
E-mail ianangus@angustel.ca and jriddell@angustel.ca
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE)
TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There are two
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1. The fully-formatted edition is posted on the World Wide
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2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge.
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We do not give Telecom Update subscribers' e-mail
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COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2005 Angus
TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please
e-mail rosita@angustel.ca or phone 905-686-5050 ext 500.
The information and data included has been obtained from sources which
we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no
warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy,
completeness, or adequacy. Opinions expressed are based on
interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If
expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a
competent professional should be obtained.
------------------------------
From: Jonathan Marashlian" <jsm@thlglaw.com>
Subject: The Front Lines - May 13, 2005
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 14:38:09 -0400
Organization: The Helein Law Group
http://www.thefrontlines-hlg.com/ The FRONT LINES
http://www.thlglaw.com/
Advancing The Cause of Competition in the Telecommunications Industry
FCC DENIES SBC FORBEARANCE PETITION; CITES PROCEDURAL FLAWS AND LACK OF
EVIDENCE
In an Order released May 5, 2005, the Federal Communications
Commission ("FCC") denied a Petition, filed by SBC Communications
("SBC") in February of last year, in which SBC requested forbearance
from Title II common carrier regulation applicable to "IP Platform
Services," which SBC defined as "those services that enable any
customer to send or receive communications in IP format over an IP
platform, and the IP platforms on which those services are provided."
The FCC found that it would be inappropriate to grant SBC's petition
because it asks the Commission to forbear from requirements that may
not even apply to the facilities and services in question. The FCC
also found that SBC's petition and the evidence in support thereof
were not sufficiently specific to enable the Commission to determine
whether the requested forbearance satisfies the requirements of
section 10.
Although SBC's petition asked the FCC to forbear from applying Title
II of the Act to IP Platform Services, SBC did not concede in its
petition that Title II currently applies to such services. SBC thus
acknowledges, in its forbearance petition that the Commission has not
yet decided the extent to which IP-enabled services are covered by
Title II and its implementing rules. In its Order, the FCC concluded
that SBC's petition was procedurally flawed because section 10 neither
contemplates nor permits grants of forbearance relating to obligations
that "may or may not" apply to the telecommunications carrier or
telecommunications service at issue.
The FCC also denied SBC's petition for the independent reason that it
was not sufficiently specific to determine whether the requested
forbearance satisfied the requirements of section 10. According to
the FCC, "we are unable to determine with certainty which services and
facilities SBC's petition is meant to cover, as well as the specific
statutory and regulatory provisions from which SBC seeks forbearance."
Without a clear understanding of the scope of the petition, the FCC
stated that it could not determine whether SBC's request for
forbearance satisfied the criteria of section 10(a) and that granting
SBC's petition under such circumstances would create regulatory
uncertainty.
Similarly, SBC stated that its petition was intended to apply only to
the "common carrier" provisions of Title II, but, according to the
FCC, SBC never clearly identified which specific provisions of Title
II for which forbearance was sought. According to the FCC, the degree
of uncertainty with respect to the intended scope of SBC's petition
would make it difficult, if not impossible, to determine that the
three prongs of section 10(a) had been satisfied.
For all these reasons, the FCC denied SBC's forbearance petition.
NECA PROPOSED TRS FUND CARRIER CONTRIBUTION
The FCC announced NECA's proposed Telecommunications Relay Service
("TRS") Fund contribution factor for the period beginning July 1, 2005
through June 30, 2006. NECA proposed a carrier contribution factor of
0.00528, and a fund size requirement of $413.3 million. The proposed
factor reflects a significant increase over the current factor, which
is $0.00356. TRS contributions are calculated based on interstate and
international telecommunications end user revenue, as reported in
interstate service providers' FCC Form 499-A.
FCC SEEKS COMMENTS ON PETITION TO PREEMPT STATE REGULATION OF TELEMARKETING
The FCC is requesting comments on an April 29, 2005, petition filed by
a coalition of 33 organizations, including trade associations,
individual companies, and non-profit entities engaged in interstate
telemarketing activities ("Joint Petitioners"). The Joint Petition
raises issues concerning the scope of the FCC's jurisdiction over
interstate telemarketing calls under the Telephone Consumer Protection
Act ("TCPA"). In particular, Joint Petitioners ask the Commission to
issue a ruling declaring the Commission's exclusive regulatory
jurisdiction over interstate telemarketing calls and barring state
regulation of such calls.
Joint Petitioners assert that, in the TCPA, Congress sought to
"establish uniform national standards that balance the concerns of
consumers with the legitimate interests of telemarketers." According
to Joint Petitioners, states have adopted and proposed "divergent
rules applicable to interstate telemarketing that undermine the
desired uniform federal regulatory regime." Citing dozens of existing
and proposed state laws that differ from the Commission's TCPA rules
and that do not distinguish between intrastate and interstate
telemarketing calls, Joint Petitioners contend that these state
regulations place "undue and at times impossible compliance burdens on
interstate telemarketers, and lead[] state courts in enforcement
actions to.impose substantial fines on telemarketers for interstate
calls expressly permitted by the federal rules."
To resolve this situation, Joint Petitioners ask the FCC to assert its
federal authority to preempt state laws and regulations which conflict
or are otherwise not in keeping with the federal program adopted
pursuant to the TCPA.
Comments on the Petition are due 30 days after publication of the FCC Notice
in the Federal Register.
FCC INITIATES RULEMAKING TO ESTABLISH NEW PER CALL PAYPHONE COMPENSATION
RATE
In a further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding payphone
services, the FCC is seeking current and accurate data on the average
number of compensable dial-around calls made from payphones on a
monthly basis in order to establish a new per call payphone
compensation rate.
In its First Payphone Order, the FCC fixed the default compensation
rate at $0.35 per call. This rate was recently increased to $0.494.
Data submissions in the form of Comments on the NPRM are due June 27,
2005 with Replies due July 25, 2005.
FCC IMPLEMENTS MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FILING FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
On May 11, 2005, the FCC ordered the implementation of mandatory
electronic filing for all international services.
Electronic filing has been the method of choice for many applicants
since establishment of the FCC's internet-based filing systems more
than six years ago. According to the FCC, the transition to mandatory
electronic filing for all international services will enable the
Commission to further streamline its filing processes, reduce
unnecessary costs associated with processing paper filings, and
respond more efficiently to evolving user needs.
The FCC's Order applies to applications and associated filings in
connection with: section 214 authorizations; cable landing licenses;
accounting rate changes; assignment of data network identification
codes; recognized operating agency status; assignment of an
international signaling point code; and foreign carrier notifications.
The requirement for electronic filing will take effect in several
phases. First, mandatory electronic filing of applications for
international telecommunications services that can currently be filed
via IBFS will take effect following a 60-day transition period that
will begin this Spring. These include:
* applications for initial International Section 214 Authority
* assignments and transfers of existing International Section 214
* Authority requests for Special Temporary Authority related
* to International Section 214 Authority
* applications for a new Submarine Cable Landing License
* new or modified international Accounting Rate Change filings
* requests for initial assignment of Data Network Identification
* Codes notifications of Foreign Carrier Affiliation
* requests for Recognized Operating Agency status
* request for initial assignment of an International Signaling Point
* Code
Next, in cases where electronic forms are not currently available,
mandatory electronic filing will be phased-in as IBFS is enhanced to
accept the filings. As each new electronic form is available, the
International Bureau will release a public notice announcing the start
of a 60-day transition period, after which only electronic filings
will be accepted. Paper filings made after the close of the
transition period will be returned to applicants without processing.
====================================
The Front Lines is a free publication of The Helein Law Group, LLP,
providing clients and interested parties with valuable information,
news, and updates regarding regulatory and legal developments
primarily impacting companies engaged in the competitive
telecommunications industry.
The Front Lines does not purport to offer legal advice nor does it
establish a lawyer-client relationship with the reader. If you have
questions about a particular article, general concerns, or wish to
seek legal counsel regarding a specific regulatory or legal matter
affecting your company, please contact our firm at 703-714-1313 or
visit our website:
http://www.thlglaw.com/
The Helein Law Group, LLP
8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 700
McLean, Virginia 22102
THLG Affiliations:
http://www.voicelog.com/
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 01:29:49 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: FAQ: How Real ID Will Affect You
By Declan McCullagh
What's all the fuss with the Real ID Act about? President Bush is
expected to sign an $82 billion military spending bill soon that will,
in part, create electronically readable, federally approved ID cards
for Americans. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved
the package -- which includes the Real ID Act -- on Thursday.
What does that mean for me?
Starting three years from now, if you live or work in the United
States, you'll need a federally approved ID card to travel on an
airplane, open a bank account, collect Social Security payments, or
take advantage of nearly any government service. Practically speaking,
your driver's license likely will have to be reissued to meet federal
standards.
The Real ID Act hands the Department of Homeland Security the power to
set these standards and determine whether state drivers' licenses and
other ID cards pass muster. Only ID cards approved by Homeland
Security can be accepted "for any official purpose" by the feds.
...
http://news.com.com/2100-1028-5697111.html
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Times are getting tough all over in
this country; all I can say is I am _so glad_ that over the next ten
to fifteen years, as the United States sinks deeper and deeper into
trouble and strays further and further away from the type of life I
remember here, I will probably be dead and not have to deal with it.
Do not misunderstand; I do not intend to off myself, I'll just let
nature takes its normal course, but I am very fearful about how
'things will be' for the younger guys forty or fifty years from now,
assuming the United States is still around, with about half the
population in prison and the other half employed to guard them, etc.
The laws will be _so restrictive_; social security will be a thing
of the past, etc. I guess you saw in the papers or on the computer
yesterday that the FBI arrested _three dozen_ individuals, mostly
American soldiers (National Guardsmen mostly) _and several border
patrol agents _and_ several law enforcement officers in a 'drug
sting on the Nexican/US border. Things are getting so depressing
everywhere one goes in this country these days. I agree with the
words of Johann Sebastian Bach in his work "Come Sweet Death, Come
Blest Repose". Some days it couldn't be soon enough for me. PAT]
------------------------------
From: Graham Gower <graham.gower@gmail.com>
Subject: GSM Roaming
Date: 12 May 2005 20:31:01 -0700
Do switching centres lookup a person's phone in the local VLR before
searching for its HLR?
e.g., If my friend from Sydney calls me when I get off the plane
(at Sydney airport), does the switching centre realise that I'm
already connected to the local VLR, or will it try to find me
via my HLR instead?
Would this happen often enough for it to be a worthwhile optimisation?
Graham
------------------------------
From: Steve <sfsokc@softhome.net>
Subject: AT&T - Cingular - Alltel; They Broke MY Contract!
Date: 12 May 2005 21:04:23 -0700
I am apparently one of those "unlucky few" who got switched from AT&T
to Alltel (via Cingular). Though I wasn't very happy with AT&T to
begin with, I was happy to find that Cingular bought them out, given
Cingular's rollover, roaming, and other options.
Unfortunately, I then discovered that I was nothing more than an asset
that was being sold to Alltel. All-WHO?!
All I want to know is if anyone has successfully used this MESS as an
excuse to terminate service w/o a fine. As far as I'm concerned, my
contract was with AT&T, NOT Alltel (or even Cingular for that matter).
I was not warned about Alltel and (like most people), believed all the
hoopla that I was now a Cingular customer, with all the associated
benefits. This thing smells like class-action lawsuit to me!!!
Disgusted in Oklahoma.
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I think what you will find is the
contract you signed at some point or another expressly gives _them_
the right to assign your contract. It did not give _you_ any rights
like that however; just AT&T. PAT]
------------------------------
From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
Subject: Do Cell Phones Still Offer "A" and "B" Carriers?
Date: 13 May 2005 07:41:58 -0700
As mentioned on this newsgroup, in the early days of cell phones,
users could switch their phones from their primary carrier to the
alternate carrier serving their area (originally there were two). I
wonder in practice how many people bothered to do that; indeed if they
knew that option was available.
Do today's cell phones have any option to do that?
------------------------------
From: Jack Decker <jack-yahoogroups@withheld_on_request>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 11:22:12 -0400
Subject: CRTC Reins in Major Carriers on VoIP
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050512.wvoipgm0511/BNStory/Technology/
By SIMON TUCK
Thursday, May 12, 2005 Updated at 10:10 PM EDT
From Friday's Globe and Mail
Canada's telecommunications regulator ruled Thursday that the
country's dominant phone companies will not be able to set their own
prices for on-line telephone services, part of its effort to create
more competition and lower prices in the budding market.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
rejected the arguments of the country's largest telephone companies
Bell Canada and Telus Corp., who had argued that voice over
Internet protocol (VoIP) should be left unregulated like other
Internet applications.
Instead, the commission decided that it would regulate the large phone
companies' prices in the VoIP market, preventing them from cutting
rates to keep out rivals at least until there is legitimate
competition in local phone services. The large phone companies'
challengers, however, such as upstarts and cable companies, will not
have their VoIP prices regulated, as The Globe and Mail reported last
week.
CRTC chairman Charles Dalfen said the market could reach an acceptable
level of competition within the next two years. "This is precisely
the moment when Canada needs a regulatory framework that will provide
the quickest road to competition," Mr. Dalfen said.
Bell and Telus reacted harshly to the ruling, and they plan to appeal
the decision to the federal cabinet and may launch legal challenges.
Full story at:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050512.wvoipgm0511/BNStory/Technology/
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: Jack Decker <jack-yahoogroups@withheld_on_request>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 11:47:48 -0400
Subject: SBC Joins VoIP E911 Club
http://www.telecomweb.com/news/1115924718.htm
SBC has become the latest -- and last -- of the so-called Baby
Bells to publicly agree to provide E911 services to VoIP carriers. The
Baby Bells run the vast majority of all E911 services in the United
States.
SBC had been known to be working with VoIP carrier Vonage on E911, but
reportedly the two have been dickering over technical and business
details. Speculation is that SBC didn't want to announce E911
services until it had resolved the issues with Vonage, but recent
events have overtaken the carrier.
Last week BellSouth said that it would provide E911 service to VoIP
providers. That announcement came shortly after Vonage announced it
had cut an E911 pact with Verizon (Initial reports in TelecomWeb had
indicated that Verizon was providing E911 only to Vonage, but Verizon
has since informed us that the offer is open to all VoIP
carriers). Qwest, too, has acknowledged tests with Vonage and
reportedly agreed to provide E911 to all providers.
Full story at:
http://www.telecomweb.com/news/1115924718.htm
------------------------------
From: Ken Abrams <k_abrams@[REMOVETHIS] sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Cell Phone as (Only) Home Service
Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 19:09:11 GMT
Does anything like this exist:
Cordless home phone equipment that uses a cell phone as the network
connection?
More specifically, I would like to be able to plug my cell phone into
a stand at home that charges it AND extends the service to two (or
more) cordless extensions. Seems like this would be easy to do using
the headset contacts on the cell phone.
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: It _is_ easy to do, and requires just
a few pieces of equipment. You want to get a device referred to
generically as a 'Cell Socket' (but various companies making them
refer to them under different names). The best supplier I know of on
this is Mike Sandman mailto: mike@sandman.com or his catalog at
http://www.sandman.com . The pinouts on a cell phone (as well as the
general shape and size is such that there is _no_ standardization.
Mike can tell you more about this and if it is possible to get a 'cell
socket' device for your particular make/model of cell phone. You can
reach his office at 630-980-7710 in the Chicago area. *Have your phone
make/model/type/serial number handy when you call or write him.*
(That's how varied the devices are). If you can find one, then you set
the cell phone in its cradle, plug the modular jack into an idle
wall jack somewhere, and telephone instruments plugged in the line
elsewhere give dial tone, and you dial calls in the normal way. On
mine, you then press the '#' key at the end of the dialing string and
that functions as the cell phone's 'send' key. When not in use, the
cell socket keeps the cell phone charged. Also, on mine, -- used in the
old Nokia 5100/6100 'series' of phones -- there is an external antenna
connection which it helps to use. I would say you can usually get by
with one or two external phones; don't press your luck; the REN is not
all that high. What I did, because of my disability and I need to
have phones around every few feet it seems, is I plugged the output
of the Cell Socket into my mini-PBX. I go 'off hook' on the cell
socket (and thus the cell phone) by dialing '7' from any phone in
my house. (Dialing '8' uses my Vonage/VOIP line; dialing '9' uses my
SBC/Prairie Stream landline.) Plus which, as sort of icing on the
cake, the various extensions around my house can dial each other using
the format '100' through '105', or the 'operator' by dialing '0' but
I rarely use any of that stuff. Whatever you do, though, the Cell
Socket is *easily offended*, just like the VOIP telephone adapters.
_Make certain_ there is no 'live' dial tone from somewhere that might
come in contact with Cell Socket. If it does, you'll lose your new
toy in a minute, and maybe your cell phone as well, if the backwash
gets that far up the line before you catch it.
You may need a couple of modular patch cords for convenience, Mike
has those also as needed. PAT]
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 12:31:12 EDT
From: Telecom dailyLead from USTA <usta@dailylead.com>
Subject: Gates: Mobile Phones Will Supplant iPod
Telecom dailyLead from USTA
May 13, 2005
http://www.dailylead.com/latestIssue.jsp?i=21574&l=2017006
TODAY'S HEADLINES
NEWS OF THE DAY
* Gates: Mobile phones will supplant iPod
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY WATCH
* Report: Alcatel to stop development of IPTV product
* Dell may link laptops, mobile phone networks
* Major MCI shareholders oppose Verizon deal
* T-Mobile USA reports earnings
USTA SPOTLIGHT
* See USTA's Small Company Summit Presentations Online -- Free
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
* Microsoft unveils next-generation Xbox
VOIP DOWNLOAD
* Cisco, British Airways sign VoIP deal
* Canadian regulators rule in favor of VoIP upstarts
* Chip makers team up to develop VoIP chips
REGULATORY & LEGISLATIVE
* Locating many wireless 911 callers remains a problem
Follow the link below to read quick summaries of these stories and others.
http://www.dailylead.com/latestIssue.jsp?i=21574&l=2017006
Legal and Privacy information at
http://www.dailylead.com/about/privacy_legal.jsp
SmartBrief, Inc.
1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
------------------------------
From: nstrom@ananzi.co.za
Subject: Re: AOL Jumps Into Free E-Mail Business
Date: 13 May 2005 06:27:15 -0700
Organization: http://groups.google.com
Monty Solomon wrote:
> By ANICK JESDANUN AP Internet Writer
> NEW YORK (AP) -- Its subscription business in decline, America Online
> Inc. is launching yet another product on the open Web: a free,
> ad-supported e-mail service tied to its instant-messaging platform.
> Users of AOL Instant Messenger will be able to send and receive mail
> with "aim.com" addresses using their existing AIM screen names.
Can't AOL screen name holders already get free webmail using their
screenname @netscape.net?
------------------------------
From: nstrom@ananzi.co.za
Subject: Re: Spyware ... Ugh!
Date: 13 May 2005 06:31:30 -0700
bob@coolgroups.com wrote:
> Did they change the name of Hijack This to Alertspy or is Alertspy
> something else?
Nope; it's still Hijack This and is available at
http://www.merijn.org/.
Note that the official Hijack This page has the following to say:
-- snip --
April 22, 2005:
Just a short note on the domain HIJACK-THIS.NET: this is not mine! It
has been registered by an affiliate of XoftSpy (who are also on the
Rogue Antispyware List on SpywareWarrior.com) and they are luring
people into downloading their software believing it is HijackThis.
Also, they have registered a few AdWords at Google leading to the same
result. We'll see where this goes.
In the meantime, if you want to download any of my programs, the
official domain is and always will be www.merijn.org.
-- snip --
The domain hijack-this.net is hyping some "Alert Spy" product; this
must be where you got tricked.
Anyways, on the topic of Spyware, I use AdAware and Spybot S&D and
recommend them both. Sometimes one catches something that the other
doesn't. Also keep in mind that if you have spyware in memory, it
often can't be removed until you reboot your computer into safe mode.
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: And for a long time, they were each
accusing the other one of being a spy because the characteristics
in each. But a warning when you first start either program tells you
about that propensity they have and how to deal with it. PAT]
------------------------------
From: nstrom@ananzi.co.za
Subject: Re: Setting up an Automated RSS Feed
Date: 13 May 2005 06:40:03 -0700
Organization: http://groups.google.com
TELECOM Digest Editor wrote:
> Do any Digest readers know how to go about setting up an _automated_
> RSS feed? I would make this Digest available using RSS if I knew
> how to do it. If so, could you please email me? I will really
> appreciate your help.
I'm not sure if this helps, but the new Google Groups interface
provides Atom feeds for the usenet version of the digest; see here:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.dcom.telecom/about
The feed seems to work for me as a live bookmark in Firefox; note that
the links point to the messages on groups-beta.google.com and not the
archives on telecom-digest.org.
(As an aside, I personally hate the new Google Groups interface and
still use the old interface which is still accessible via some tricks.)
------------------------------
From: Dean M. <cjmebox-telecomdigest@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Will 911 Difficulties Derail VoIP?
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 16:42:32 GMT
AES <siegman@stanford.edu> wrote in message
news:telecom24.210.13@telecom-digest.org:
> To recap a speculative post I made some time back, seems to me that at
> least in those (quite widespread) situations where copper (or cable,
> or fiber) connections to business and residential premises already
> exist, or will continue to be created:
> a) VOIP telephone service totally without 911 could be the norm.
> b) All of the existing "hardwired connections" could continue to exist
> (including copper pairs included in or installed with fiber or TV
> cables), but would extend only to the telco (or cable, or fiber)
> "central office" and not be expected to provide any telco service
> beyond that point.
> c) These would however provide the hard-wired connections not just for
> "911" services (activated perhaps by "pushbuttons" or the equivalent
> in the hardwired premises), but also for many other kinds of related
> security services (fire alarms, home security systems, home control
> systems, alarm bracelets for the elderly, "iPots", etc), provided by
> vendors who would take over the wiring infrastructure, and very
> possibly some or all of the CO facilities, from the telco. Utility
> meter reading via these hardwired connections would be another
> potential user -- not to mention DSL for those cases where cable,
> fiber or wireless didn't provide the broadband services to a given
> premises.
> I appreciate there are many sunk costs, vested interests, and so on in
> this whole infrastructure, so it may not be obvious how to get from
> here to there; but if the vast majority of telephone traffic ended up
> on VOIP, wouldn't this make some sense, and in fact, maybe be the way
> in which you'd set up new green-field developments?
I'm a little perplexed by your speculation. Why would a move to VoIP
have anything to do with killing off use of cable/fiber/copper for
telco services? Are you predicting a move to a completely wireless
service provision or am I just misunderstanding your comments? And if
indeed you are predicting a move to an entirely wireless world, why
are you portraying VoIP as the cause for this? Can you elaborate?
Dean
------------------------------
From: Lisa Minter <lisa_minter2001@yahoo.com>
Subject: Last Laugh! Christian Telco in Gay Smear Allegations
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 12:00:42 -0500
Unholy marketing department
By Nick Farrell: Thursday 12 May 2005, 10:28
A CHRISTIAN TELCO in Oklahoma, has been drumming up business by
smearing its rivals on moral affairs.
United American Technologies has been billing itself as "the only
carrier that is taking an active stand against same sex marriages and
hardcore child pornography." According to the Wonkette, here, its
sales and marketing division has been even more explicit to customers
who ring them up with questions.
One of Wonkette's readers asked the outfit if AT&T sponsors child
pornography and was told no, but MCI did.
The sales person made the outrageous suggestion that MCI has "a
paedophile Web site for men who love boys" based in Montreal. Verzon,
said United American Technology, trains its employees to accept the
gay and lesbian lifestyle.
Without a trace of irony, the salesman agrees with the caller that,
"God hates AT&T, MCI, and Verizon".
You can here recordings of the conversations here and here.
Caller Eugine Mirman is clearly having a bit of fun with the very
straight UAT marketing salesperson.
Apparently the company is doing quite well with more than 2000 people
switching a month, which says some people obviously think it is
important to have a right-wing phone company.
A cut of the proceeds helps fund conservative political campaigns, via
a 527 called "Faith Family and Freedom" created by the Republican
floor leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
However, it will be interesting to see how long it all lasts, briefs
for MCI and Verizon should be in a holding pattern as we speak.
Copyright 2005 Breakthrough Publishing Ltd.
NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the
daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at
http://telecom-digest.org/td-extra/more-news.html . Hundreds of new
articles daily.
*** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material the
use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. This Internet discussion group is making it available without
profit to group members who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the
understanding of literary, educational, political, and economic
issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I
believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material
as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish
to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go
beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner, in this instance, Breakthrough Publishing Ltd/Inquirer.
For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Neither Lisa nor myself could find
where the .wav files (indicated by 'here' and 'here' above) went to.
If you are reading the text-based mailing list of this Digest, you
may wish to look up the web site for the (British) Inquirer, read
the article and see if you can locate the missing .wav files. It should
make good listening.
Too bad these folks were not around when AT&T _was_ sliding into this
territory a little. Remember a few years ago when the big deal on
chat/sex telephone lines was 'this is a free call; all you pay is
toll charges'. The catch was, it was always _overseas, international_
toll, in some god-forsaken backward island country somewhere, or so
they claimed in the process of re-routing the call. You _had_ to place
the call over AT&T; they used T-1 lines to reroute you and deliver
your call as needed. Of course the chat was 'free', AT&T made its
money from the sheer volume of inbound traffic diverted to it and the
associated tolls. In their ads, AT&T had clever ways of parsing the
number they gave you to call supposedly so you would not discover it
was the country code for Guyana or wherever. In the ads, always with
an S&M overtone, we'd see these 'Mistresses' or gay 'masters' with
the proper boots, leather clothing, whips, etc. And the text would be
something like "Reach Out and Touch a New Friend" and AT&T's helpful
advice, 'this is a free call; no charge for chat; just pay tolls'.
AT&T learned years ago there was a lot of money to be made from
'obscene' long distance calls which went on for an hour or so per
call all night long, commonly known as 'phone sex'. Had the very
conservative (it would appear) United American Technologies and their
right wing allies been around in the late seventies when long distance
phone sex chat was so common, they'd have had a field day making
accusations against AT&T, Sprint, MCI and others. I wonder if any of
those people even remember the reputation 'area code 900' had when
it was in the news so much 20 years ago? Geeze, and _you_ thought
the net was wide-open wild-west territory. PAT]
------------------------------
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