An innovative approach to VoIP-to-PSTN connectivity

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: STEVE TAYLOR AND LARRY HETTICK ON
CONVERGENCE
06/06/05
Today's focus: An innovative approach to VoIP-to-PSTN
connectivity

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Single-line gateway optimized for Skype-to-PSTN connectivity
* Links related to Convergence
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Cisco Systems
TOP MYTHS OF IP COMMUNICATIONS

As more organizations are seeing the value in deploying IP
business communications solutions, including IP telephony,
unified messaging, and audio, video, and Web conferencing,
questions about these technologies have arisen, as well as some
common myths. Get the facts and information that can help you
make an intelligent decision about deploying a converged
network.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106227
_______________________________________________________________
Exclusive new event eliminates analysis-paralysis in the world
of anytime-anywhere broadband

Working in any of these key wireless spaces?--LAN * WAN * Mobile
Services * Subscriber Units * Remote Applications.  Wireless &
Mobility: Commanding Broadband Everywhere is the breakthrough
event and expo you've been waiting for.  Tools, tech, and
solutions.  Click for cities and dates, reg details and
qualifications that get you in free
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=105756
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: An innovative approach to VoIP-to-PSTN
connectivity

By Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick

Innovation comes in many forms and sometimes a small, seemingly
obvious device can make a lot of difference. Responding to our
recent columns about VoIP over Wi-Fi, a reader mentioned that he
had come across a cool device that could let him connect to his
office using Skype and then to make calls from Skype's PBX.

As he explained: "Whenever I call the Skype name of the gateway
PC, I can talk to people in the office on their regular
extension for free, and I can get an outside line and make local
calls, or even international calls at the cost of the discounted
office plan. Apparently the PBX recognizes the tones of the
keypad on Skype."

As it turns out, the device that he is using comes from a small
San Francisco Bay Area company called CuPhone (
<http://www.cuphone.com/> ). The device is called Personal
Phone Gateway (PPG) and it connects to the USB port or the PCI
bus on a PC and also to a regular phone line. If you're running
Skype, depending on how you program the device, a call that
remains unanswered after a given number of rings is transferred
to a predefined number.

From the other direction, if you're traveling and you receive an
inbound call on your "real" phone line, the PPG can transfer the
call to your Skype account - wherever you are. Quite a mobility
solution.

A third application for the PPG would be for a small (or large)
multinational company to deploy a PPG in multiple countries,
allowing "local" calling from the phone line in the host
country. This is the situation the reader referenced above in
which he used the PCI version of the device in a spare PC and
was connected to a port on the corporate PBX.

According to the CuPhone Web site, the price for the USB version
of the PPG is $59, while the PCI version of the PPG saves you a
few bucks at $29.

This is an innovative approach, but next time we'll continue the
discussion and tell you about a possible nomination for cool
product of the year, even though it's only June.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

VoIP over Wi-Fi from the Ottawa airport
Network World, 05/16/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlconvergence2219
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick

Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates
and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed
information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter,
connect to Webtorials <http://www.webtorials.com/>, the premier
site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and
market research. Taylor can be reached at
<mailto:taylor@webtorials.com>

Larry Hettick an industry veteran with over 20 years of
experience in voice and data. He is currently Vice President
for Wireline Solutions at Current Analysis, the leading
competitive response solutions company. He can be reached at
<mailto:larry@larryhettick.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Dupont
Reduce Fire Safety Risk in Your Network!

Concerns are rising about the growing number of combustible
cables present in buildings required to service the
ever-increasing demands of IT networks. More workstations are
taxing the infrastructure. These concerns are the thrust behind
new "limited combustible" cables that reduce fire safety risk.
Click here for news, a free demo CD and more. Visit DuPont's
Cabling center today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106098
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archives of the Convergence newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2005 ENTERPRISE ALL-STAR AWARDS

Network World is looking for entries for its inaugural
Enterprise All-Star Awards program. The Enterprise All-Star
Awards will honor user organizations that demonstrate
exceptional use of network technology to further business
objectives. Network World will honor dozens of user
organizations from a wide variety of industries, based on a
technology category. Deadline: July 8. Enter today:
<http://www.networkworld.com/survey/easform.html?net>
_______________________________________________________________
May We Send You a Free Print Subscription?
You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered
at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by
receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply
today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2

International subscribers click here:
http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html
_______________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail
newsletters, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx>

To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Preferences.aspx>

To change your e-mail address, go to:
<http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx>

Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to
this message.

This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com
Please use this address when modifying your subscription.
_______________________________________________________________

Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor,
at: <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>

Inquiries to: NL Customer Service, Network World, Inc., 118
Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772

For advertising information, write Kevin Normandeau, V.P. of
Online Development, at: <mailto:sponsorships@nwfusion.com>

Copyright Network World, Inc., 2005