__/ [r.e.ballard@xxxxxxx] on Friday 04 November 2005 10:38 \__
>
> Au79 wrote:
>> CNET News.com - United States
>>
<http://news.com.com/Other+companies+in+Microsofts+crosshairs/2100-1011_3-5927345.html>
>
> Yet another attempt by Microsoft to introduce it's own proprietary
> product as an "Innovation" which is based on Open Source code.
>
> Vonage, Skype, and a number of other VOIP carriers have been offering
> their services on a number of small "appliance" boxes which plug into
> an ethernet port, then into the telephone wiring, or just a local
> phone. And guess what all these little appliances run as software?
>
> If you guessed Linux - you're right on the money.
That includes Asterisk servers. I know someone who was introduced to Linux
through his passion for VoIP. To Microsoft, such introduction are a
substantial threat.
> The fact is that Linux has offered VOIP for quite a while. It's
> technology based on the h.323 standard (I'm not sure of the exact ansii
> numbers). The big problem in the past has been that there weren't
> enough servers to handle millions of VOIP boxes dialing to cities all
> over the world. The other problem was that there weren't millions of
> users with high reliability high-bandwidth connections.
Do not forget inertia due to hype, as well as the willingness among users to
cut down their bills. They are now able to connect with many people as the
growth of VoIP is exponential. Imagine yourself a Linux router/box at every
home. Then imagine Gates' reaction.
> Most of these appliances use a combination of LDAP to find locations,
> and the h.323 or h.325 VOIP standards to support the connections.
> These are usually coupled with ipsec based virtual private networks
> which can then be used to simulate static IP addresses.
>
> Many of these now VOIP "appliances" also have something similar to a
> MAC Address which can be used by the VOIP provider to securely map the
> phone number to the virtual static IP even though the customer is
> connected via DHCP IP which can change on a whim.
>
> Since these applications were written for Linux, it's trivial to have
> them working on a Linux workstation.
>
> Net2Phone has been around for quite a while and provides the ability to
> deliver phone service to users, including Windows users. They charge
> about 2 cents/minute and bill in $25 increments which can be
> replenished in a "pay as you go" model. Since most people use
> Voice-over-PC VOIP much less frequently than cell phones or appliance
> VOIP, this is often a very practical model.
>
> For years, the traditional phone companies have been resisting VOIP and
> even tried to derail VOIP efforts. Now that most telephone companies
> are offering DSL to retail customers, and are competing with Cable TV
> companies, who can also provide high-bandwidth services, they are now
> beginning to make the VOIP service part of their own DSL package.
>
> Microsoft is again trying to subvert accepted public standards in hopes
> of extending it's monopoly into the telephony realm. This should be a
> wake-up call to the telephone companies to resist the temptation to
> allow Microsoft to add some field protected by an NDA, and then use
> that proprietary field to extend it's monopoly control to all VOIP
> services.
VoIP opens to the door to a few more lock-ins. Assuming the telephone, the
computer, the TV, and the cellphone are bound to merge at one level or
another, it is important for Microsoft to have presence in all. They have
already entered the market of mobile devices; DRM comes to mind too. Need I
mention live.com, an Internet version of Office, and .Net? All of these are
intended to grant Windows ownership over the Net.
Roy
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