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IN THIS ISSUE:
** CRTC Asked to Enforce VoIP 9-1-1 Procedures ** Bell Fires Salvo in Broadband Wars ** AOL Privacy Breach Leads to Dismissals ** AT&T Sues Brokers over Customer Information ** Mitel Upgrades Mobility Portfolio ** NEC Adds Managed IP Telephony ** Avaya Upgrades Call Centre, Teleworker Software ** Founder Raises Bid for Inter-Tel ** IBM Buys Security Company ** MTS Offers High-Definition TV ** Telehop Net Income Rises ** Correction--Rogers Home Phone ** Feelings Mixed on Anytime ConnectivityCRTC ASKED TO ENFORCE VoIP 9-1-1 PROCEDURES: 9-1-1 call centre providers in eight provinces have told the CRTC that most of the 9-1-1 calls forwarded by VoIP providers reach them over administrative lines not designed for emergency use, creating "a safety risk for the public."
** The 9-1-1 agencies ask the Commission (1) to tell VoIP service providers to adhere to the call routing provisions of Telecom Decision 2006-5 and Telecom Order 2006-168 and (2) to tell Local Exchange Carriers to include this requirement in contracts with VoIP providers. (See Telecom Update #515)AOL PRIVACY BREACH LEADS TO DISMISSALS: AOL has announced the resignation of its CTO and has fired two other employees in connection with the recent posting on the Internet of three months' worth of search queries by 650,000 customers. The query sequences, which included intimate and sometimes identifiable data, were widely reposted and discussed on the Net. AOL says it is taking action to prevent a recurrence.
AT&T SUES BROKERS OVER CUSTOMER INFORMATION: AT&T has sued 25 data brokers for fraudulently setting up thousands of online billing accounts using the identities of the telco's customers. The accounts can be used to obtain and sell the customers' calling histories.
MITEL UPGRADES MOBILITY PORTFOLIO: Mitel Networks has announced a "second generation" enterprise mobility portfolio that gives softphones and teleworker devices encrypted access to the PBX's voice, presence, secure IM, and Web collaboration features, without using a Virtual Private Network.
** Mitel also now offers Quick Conferencing, an 8 to 32-port SIP-based audio conferencing bridge.NEC ADDS MANAGED IP TELEPHONY: NEC Unified Solutions now offers Managed IP Telephony, consisting of its Univerge IP-PBX platform plus maintenance and management services, for a monthly fee. "Essential" and "Comprehensive" options provide differing levels of data network support.
AVAYA UPGRADES CALL CENTRE, TELEWORKER SOFTWARE: Avaya has released version 7.1 of its Interaction Center product, which adds a new software development kit.
** Version 2.0 of VPNremote for IP Phones adds support for Cisco and Juniper VPN environments.FOUNDER RAISES BID FOR INTER-TEL: An investment group including Steven Mihaylo has raised its offer to buy Inter-Tel to about US$615 million. Mihaylo is founder and former CEO of the Arizona-based business communications systems manufacturer.
IBM BUYS SECURITY COMPANY: IBM Corp. has agreed to acquire Atlanta-based Internet Security Systems, which provides enterprises with managed security services, for US$1.3 billion.
MTS OFFERS HIGH-DEFINITION TV: Manitoba Telecom's TV subscribers can now receive up to seven High Definition channels for $4.99 a month (forgivable for customers on contract) plus $349 for equipment and an installation fee.
TELEHOP NET INCOME RISES: Telehop Communications, a Toronto-based long distance carrier, reports a profit of $483,785 for the six months ended June 30, four times as high as during the same period last year. Revenue edged up 3.9% to $10.2 million.
CORRECTION -- ROGERS HOME PHONE: Telecom Update #542 incorrectly reported that Rogers had added residential phone service to several small cities in Ontario using cable telephony. In fact, Rogers is providing the expanded coverage with circuit-switched lines.
FEELINGS MIXED ON ANYTIME CONNECTIVITY: A Korn/Ferry International survey of 2,300 global executives found that 81% have their communications devices on all the time. 77% say the devices enhance their work/life balance, but more than a third (38%) believe they spend too much time connected.
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