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  • ClearSight Networks' Steve Wong Talks About How To Ensure VoIP Call Quality


    Steve Wong, vp of marketing at ClearSight Networks, explains to VoIP.biz-news.com some simple steps for remedying poor VoIP quality once it has been uncovered in a network.

    As Voice over Internet Protocol has become a very common and inexpensive way to provide voice communication, it has expanded to include more forms of streaming audio and video. 

    However, there are many factors that can affect the quality of such a transmission, since it often has to compete for bandwidth over diverse  networks that it shares with other traffic. 

    It is important that a network administrator or network provider know what Quality of Service (QoS) can be expected for VoIP communications on a given network. 

    In particular, it is desirable to have an easy to interpret way to measure that quality. 

    The Mean Opinion Score (MOS) has been developed to provide such a measure. 

    The original idea of MOS was developed by the ITU-T using human subjects to subjectively rate the quality of spoken sentences. 

    MOS

    Quality

    Impairment

    5

    		 Excellent Imperceptible

    4

    		 Good Perceptible but not annoying

    3

    		 Fair Slightly annoying

    2

    		 Poor Annoying

    1

    		 Bad Very annoying
        TABLE 1.0

    The result of these experiments was a quality scale of 1 to 5 (see table 1.0)

    Factors Affecting Quality

    Four of the most common factors that can degrade the quality of a VoIP transmission are: 
    – The compressor/decompressor (Codec) used 
    – Network latency 
    – Jitter 
    – Dropped packets

    The choice of Codec establishes a maximum possible MOS score, irrespective of how well the network is working. 

    The situation in VoIP is different from other kinds of data compression. 

    For example, compressing fixed documents or graphics can often be done with lossless compression algorithms, meaning that they save bandwidth while still being able to reproduce the original data exactly. 

    VoIP compression is generally much more aggressive, and even the best Codecs are quite lossy (see Table 2.0). 

    Codec

    Data Rate (kbps)

    Max MOS Value
    G.711(ISDN)

    64

    4.3
    iLBC

    15.2

    4.14
    G.729

    8

    3.92
    G.729a

    8

    3.7
    GSM FR

    12.2

    3.5
        TABLE 2.0

    R-Value

    Another QoS metric in common use is R-value, which has a range of 1 (worst) to 100 (best). 

    In general terms it was designed to represent the percentage of users that might find the VoIP quality acceptable. 

    The relationship between R-value and MOS is not quite linear. 

    R-value

    MOS Value

    100

    5.0

    90

    4.3

    80

    4.0

    70

    3.6

    60

    3.1

    50

    2.6

    How Does CSA Calculates MOS and R-Value?

    The ClearSight Analyzer (CSA) and the Network Time Machine (NTM) family of products includes an ability to calculate the expected quality of VoIP transmission, based on the Codec used, and on actual observed values of latency, jitter, and packet loss.

    Basically it uses the formulas set forth by ITU-T Recommendations G.107 and G.113.

    It derives measured statistics from the RTP packets in the audio/video stream, and applies coefficients that can be set by
    the CSA or NTM user in an E-model configurati on screen. 

    The MOS values and R-values are calculated separately for each fl ow, and are displayed in stati sti cs tables and in VoIP reports. 

    CSA and NTM calculate and report Minimum, Mean, and Maximum values for MOS and R-value. 

    That way the user not only sees the overall average quality, but also gets an idea as to whether that quality varies much over time.

    How to Remedy Poor VoIP Quality?

    When CSA or NTM reports consistently low scores for MOS and R-value, there are oft en simple steps that can be taken to
    improve things, even without deploying extra bandwidth. 

    When you have made these changes to your network, simply use CSA or NTM again to see what diff erence it makes to your
    MOS and R-values.

    So, for example:
    – Load balancing: If some parts of the network are performing well and others are not, then it may be possible to re-route some of the traffic to better balance the load on selected network segments. 

    – Traffic Shaping: Often network providers contractually guarantee a certain level of performance in terms of committed bit rate, maximum burst length, average sustained bit rate, and other quantities characterizing available network resources. 

    This is known as provisioning a network segment. When traffic exceeds these guaranteed values, it may still be forwarded, but performance may deteriorate. 

    The process of traffic shaping controls the flow of traffic so that it does not exceed those contractually guaranteed performance
    values.
     
    If you suspect that you are overrunning some of these limits, you can check the flow of traffic over such provisioned segments, and change the traffic shaping algorithms to better match your traffic to the network’s capabilities. 

    – Traffic Prioritization: Situations may arise where VoIP quality deteriorates because of other traffic competing for bandwidth – for example, a large file transfer or the sudden occurrence of Windows updates. 

    A simple way to fix this is to program your switches and routers so that they use a higher priority for forwarding VoIP packets
    than other data packets. 

    It doesn’t hurt a data packet that is part of a fi le transfer to be delayed for a few extra milliseconds, but delaying VoIP packets can seriously degrade the VoIP QoS. 

    We’d be interested to hear your feedback on Steve Wong’s advice. Please send us your comments or any questions.

  • EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Eric Mergy, CEO of navigation software company ZorroGPS

    Zorro Confident Free GPS Software Download Will Capture Market Share

    Giving potential paying customers 48 hours to try out your product is a smart move – especially when you’re an unknown GPS navigation software company trying to break into new territory.

    That’s just what ZorroGPS is doing in an attempt to capture a chunk of the European and North American GPS markets.

    The company provides "on-board" navigation software that’s compatible with Windows Mobile devices – PNDs, smartphones and GPS mobile phones.
    It is already firmly established in China, where it launched a year ago and has its headquarters.

    Eric Mergy, CEO of ZorroGPS, told smartphone.biz-news that as a result of a partnership with Ritu Information Systems – which he described as the Chinese equivalent of TomTom – his company would be the leading GPS navigation software provider in China in 2009.

    Ritu supports more than 100 device brands and Mergy said it was gradually migrating ZorroGPS’s software to its product range.

    "Now we are launching into the European and North American markets, with Navteq as our partner," he said.

    "We have a special business model, which is mainly based on Internet downloads for mobile phones."

    Free software trial

    Mergy said since ZorroGPS is a newcomer and unknown to western consumers, users can download the software for a free 48-hour trial period from 19 January.

    He said they were aiming at the mass market and, for that reason, were offering easy-to-use software that was "very cute and attractive".

    "People do not know our software, but if they download it we are confident that they will be very happy with it," he said.

    Low Price Adds To Product’s Appeal


    Mergy, who trained as an engineer, said they are initially offering 28 country packages, with each solution containing detailed regional maps.

    ZorroGPS runs NAVTEQ MAPS for Europe, North America and Mexico and Ritu maps for China.

    The Frenchman believes their products are bringing something new to what are already fairly mature markets.

    "The most obvious thing is price – we are quite low compared to other products," he said.

    Key to ZorroGPS’s strategy in these new markets are those customers who buy 3G contract-free handsets.

    "There are those who are not interested in paying a high monthly charge with a telecom operator," said Mergy.

    "We are targetting customers who buy 3G mobile phones with unlocked SIM cards. In this case they have no navigation software.

    "Normally if they want to buy it, it will cost USD $100 for a whole country. We are selling that for USD $20."

    ZorroGPS expects to be able to offer its software to RIM handsets within the next six months and then to Symbian-based phones.

    Unique Features

    Clearly enthusiastic about his company’s potential, Mergy is refreshingly candid about the product.

    "We are not saying we are better than anybody else. But ZorroGPS functions very well and at a fifth of the price," he said.

    "Based on that we hope to attract people by offering some very attractive and unique features.

    "We truly believe we have some very new and interesting functions."

    These include being able to using your finger to map scroll during navigation, cartoon navigation, and day-time calculation.

    Other features include:

    • Calculation speed: 2,000km in 5 secs
    • Different user interfaces
    • Screen rotation
    • POI and text search
    • Radar and camera alerts: TTS
    • Highway and City guidance

    ZorroGPS software is available to download from 19 January, initially for France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the UK.
    Over the next few weeks it will be rolling out a total of 28 countries, including the US.

  • Snom Favors Italy Over UK For Expansion


    The VoIP phone maker and developer Snom Technology is making a push into Italy and opening an office in Milan.

    In what could be a barometer of the current state of Europe’s economies, the German company ruled out a move to the UK.

    Heike Cantzler, marketing manager for Snom Technology, said both the UK and Italy were considered for the expansion.

    She told voip.biz-news that both Italy and the UK had very active Web markets – which had made the decision about where to expand difficult.

    Ultimately, concerns over the UK’s economic situation and the perception that the Italian market was more receptive to new technology, tipped the balance in Italy’s favor.

    "The financial problems in the UK are worse than in Italy," said Cantzler.

    "The UK and US economies have big problems. With the rest of Europe, we are still waiting to see what will happen.

    "Maybe next year will be hard but at the moment we do not feel any difference."

    Snom develops and manufacturers VoIP telephones based on an open standard for enterprise communications.

    It employs 50 people worldwide, with offices in Germany, Italy, the US and China.

    In common with other VoIP industry businesses, Cantzler said a recession was likely to benefit Snom as companies sought ways to reduce costs.

    She said that as Snom phones can be operated with a large number of compatible IP-PBX that support SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), they offer customers a wider choice for enterprise communication systems.

    In October, the Berlin-based company launched the Snom 820, a VoIP business telephone with a high-resolution TFT color display.

    Cantzler said the 820 typified Snom’s philosophy of adding as many features to products while keeping prices down.

    "The 820 is the only phone worldwide – aside from Microsoft’s phones – that integrates with Microsoft Outlook," she said.

    "This is really interesting because the Microsoft phone is one that is very expensive and very difficult to handle. Even Microsoft developers tell us that they use a Snom phone because it’s easier."

    Praise indeed.

  • OnePhone VoIP Client Coming To Blackberry


    Devoteam is to release a Blackberry version of its VoIP client OnePhone that runs on mobile platforms enabling voice calls over an IP network.

    It is expected to be available for the RIM handset in the first quarter of 2009.

    OnePhone is a SIP-based, dual mode GSM-WiFi solution that is able to interwork with public and private WiFi hot spots, and with mobile networks.

    The application, which effectively turns mobile devices into extensions of employees’ desk phones, is also being made ready for Android and the iPhone.

    Christoph Wernli, business development manager at Devoteam, told voip.biz-news that legal requirements meant the application would have to be modified to comply with Apple’s legal requirements for services such as VoIP functionality.

    That aside, he said the aim was to expand beyond the current offering for Symbian and Windows Mobile handset to provide its clients – and in particular operators – with a wider choice of devices on which OnePhone can be used.

    "What we are aiming to do is create this same kind of convergence platform for all operating systems out there," he said.

  • OnePhone Seeks To Benefit From Shift To Open-source

    smartphone.biz-news spoke to Christoph Wernli, business development manager at Devoteam, about the convergence market and the opportunities offered by open-source operating systems.

    Devoteam is to release a Blackberry version of its VoIP client OnePhone that runs on mobile platforms enabling voice calls over an IP network.

    It is expected to be available for the RIM handset in the first quarter of 2009.

    The application, which effectively turns mobile devices into extensions of employees’ desk phones, is also being made ready for Android and the iPhone.

    Christoph Wernli, business development manager at Devoteam, said the application would have to be modified to comply with Apple’s legal requirements for services such as VoIP functionality.

    That aside, he said the aim was to expand beyond the current offering for Symbian and Windows Mobile handset to provide its clients – and in particular operators – with a wider choice of devices on which OnePhone can be used.

    "What we are aiming to do is create this same kind of convergence platform for all operating systems out there," he said.

    Convergence Is The Future

    OnePhone is a SIP-based, dual mode GSM-WiFi solution that is able to interwork with public and private WiFi hot spots, and with mobile networks.

    It was first released in 2004 – before the advent of smartphones – in an internal Bluetooth version.

    Wernli said they had anticipated the growth of WiFi and sophisticated handsets, and the application had evolved for use with 3G and WiFi.

    "The vision we had is that it’s not going to be a mobile world but a converged one," he said.

    From an infrastructure access point of view, this entails a plethora of wireless options – WiFi or GSM/GPRS/UMTS.

    Wernli said this meant that a device has to be agnostic in regards to the access methods it uses.

    Devoteam had also to consider the gamut of services required for mobile devices, including:

    • Traditional voice
    • Messaging – SMS, email, instant messaging
    • Location Based Services (LBS)
    • TV
    • Video calls

    "All these should be accessible seamlessly by whatever means is available, without having to choose different WiFi access points or UMTS, if you are in the field. That should be transparent," said Wernli.

    He said OnePhone has been set up based on these requirements. As a result, it sits on top of the different stacks for accessing GSM or WiFi but beneath the user interface.

    "That means that on one hand the OnePhone is not necessarily visible to the user, but can translate any kind of user action towards different access stacks," he said.

    "So, if you place a voice call, then of course you couldn’t care less if you are in the office or in range of WiFi access or outside on GSM.

    "You place the call, OnePhone intercepts it and depending on the parameters, processes the call over GSM or, if WiFi is available, it will transform this user action into a VoIP call."

    Wernli said that ability to seamlessly communicate via the best possible wireless option at any given moment was one of the fundamental concepts of OnePhone.

    He said it was this that gave it a huge advantage over other applications that were often separate add-ons that sat on top of the user interface.

    "OnePhone is structured so that it can be used by my grandmother – it’s point and click," he said.

    Convergence Platform

    Wernli explained that behind the scenes OnePhone was a convergence platform providing voice call functions as well as others such as video calling and access to data (email, mapping etc).

    A key element was its ability to provide call continuity, switching between GSM and WiFi mid-call without calls being dropped or any loss of call quality.

    He said other solutions relied on special boxes to provide this functionality, increasing the burden on enterprises.

    "OnePhone implements the hand-over mechanism, which is entirely client-based," he said.

    "It senses when it is losing the WiFi signal and starts transferring a call over to GSM or whatever is available."

    Signal strength is continuously measured and based on a series of complex factors the application decides when it is necessary to start the hand-over procedure.

    "It’s a trade-off. On the one hand you want to remain on VoIP as long as possible because it costs less," he said.

    "On the other hand you don’t want to have dropped calls."

    Encryption Becoming Essential

    A recent feature added to OnePhone was the ability to encrypt voice calls, something that is required particularly by users handling sensitive information such as banks.

    Wernli said there was still a certain wariness that someone could eavesdrop on calls.

    "With GSM it’s usually taken for granted that no-one can drop in on your call," he said.

    "With VoIP that’s not the impression people have."

    Wernli said because Devoteam developed and controls the entire stack within the application it has the flexibilty to implement such user requests speedily – something he said was almost certainly not always the case.

    "We don’t have to tell the customer that we would like to provide this feature, but you will have to wait until someone in Microsoft or Nokia agrees," he said.

    Market Expanding

    Devoteam’s main market is currently Italy, where it has over 60,000 users but it signed up a UK operator earlier this year and is currently in talks with operators in Spain and France.

    Typically sales are to operators who are able to sell OnePhone’s mobility function as a complementary product to an IP PBX.

    Wernli said that while efforts were being focussed on the European market, they weren’t ruling out future operations in the US.

    "We have seen a lot of interest in the upper segment of the market where OnePhone is used to offer additional services to complement other corporate functions and broaden an enterprise’s offering."

    Open-source World

    Wernli said he expected the penetration of OnePhone to increase as the shift towards handsets being mobile computers rather than simple phones quickened.

    He said that in addition to improvements in hardware towards iPhone-like handsets, the shift to open-source operating systems such as Android, LiMo and iPhone was extremely positive.

    "Open-source gives so much more choice to enable new kinds of services," he said."We will see a huge explosion of applications and services in the same way we saw it on the Internet 10 years ago."

  • Tried PC Videoconferencing – Well How About On An HDTV?


    With webcams now commonplace on PCs and laptops it seems natural that they should take the next step – to HDTVs.

    Videoconferencing expert Emblaze VCON says it has developed technology that allows up to six different users to interact through home TV screens.

    Linor Shachar, VP sales and marketing for the Israeli company, told hdtv.biz-news that it hoped to have found a partner "within months" to develop its TV videoconferencing solution.

    Emblaze is best known for its desktop videoconferencing applications.

    She said having the ability to videoconference from your home HDTV set was the logical "next stage" with the advent of internet-connected televisions.

    "It’s very interesting and we are very confident that it will be everywhere," she said.

    "We have the technology, now we are looking for a partner."

    Shachar said the preferred partnership was with a TV manufacturer and the intention was to have the technology embedded rather than as a set-top box.

    She said companies such as LG were already working on HDTVs with built-in cameras.

    The Emblaze technology will allow a user to open up to six windows on the screen and videotalk with others.

    "So, for instance, you might be watching a football match on TV and want to speak to a friend," said Shachar.

    "You can do that through a window within the main TV screen."

  • VoIP Business Phone Systems Made Simple


    As VoIP increasingly shifts into the mainstream more businesses are going through the process of selecting the best phone systems for their needs.


    VoIP.biz-news asked Terry Martin, CEO of Coms PLC, to explain some of the options surrounding business VoIP and offer some basic guidelines for SMEs.

    Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony uses the internet to make and receive phone calls using a broadband connection instead of standard phone lines.

    As broadband bandwidth increases, call quality and reliability has also greatly improved, making VoIP a realistic option for every business.

    However, as with all technologies, the options and choices can be just as confusing as the technology itself. There are four primary types of internet telephone system:

    • Free IP-PBX: Download free software and setup your own VoIP IP-PBX server
    • Managed IP-PBX: A vendor will install and manage an IP-PBX server on your premises
    • Hosted IP-PBX: A supplier delivers a VoIP service without a server on your premises
    • Add a VoIP Gateway or Card to your existing, traditional PBX.

    By far, the simplest, and most flexible options is the Hosted IP-PBX service which is centrally monitored, updated and managed.

    This means that the customer pays a monthly bill and the day to day management of the service is taken care of by the service provider.

    A hosted service provides all the benefits that might be expected in a VoIP solution but takes away the stress and confusion.

    Terry Martin, CEO ComsPLC

    But how can small and medium sized businesses benefit from a hosted VoIP service?

    Firstly, customers are immediately updated when new features are available. This means there is no expensive equipment upgrade a few years down the road.

    Scalability is an important point for ambitious, growing companies as customers only pay for the seats they need on a monthly basis. With a hosted service, extra network members can be added to a system at the click of a button without the cost of a new line.

    With a hosted VoIP service, the customer can integrate teleworkers and customer service lines through their own broadband connections. In addition, features such as an automated switchboard, voicemail to email, and conference calling for example, come as standard with most business packages.

    A hosted VoIP service is very mobile and lends itself well to remote working. Using a dual mode mobile, such as the new Nokia e Series range, the customer can access their network via a Wi-Fi connection and continue to make VoIP calls at the same minimal cost as they would in the office.

    Companies can choose which number they want to use wherever they are in the world. Businesses can take an ‘020’ number and adopt a virtual London presence. This means that companies have the freedom to move premises or even countries and keep the same contact number.

    The most notable advantage, however, is the dramatic financial savings available. Calls to other network members, for instance other regional offices, teleworkers, stockists or special clients, are free of charge. Also customers save substantial amounts on maintenance, line rental and upgrades as it is all centrally managed.

    What should SMEs consider when implementing a VoIP service?

    There are a number of questions that companies should consider before implementing a service:

    • Does the provider offer the whole range of geographic, non-geographic and International numbers?
    • Does the provider have any technology to compress more calls down a standard DSL line? Most SMEs use a standard ADSL broadband line and VoIP calls take up a lot of bandwidth. If the service uses technology to cut down the amount of bandwidth used on each call, then more calls can be made at the same time.
    • What are the disaster recovery systems in place if your IP connection is down? Should disaster strike and the broadband connection fail, what emergency processes are in place as back up.
    • What does the service provider offer in terms of quality, reliability and scalability?
    • Does the provider offer number portability to ensure you keep your existing numbers?
    • What support services are offered?
    • How competitive are the rates?
    • Can the provider support mobile devices and provision them over the air?

    About Coms Plc

    Coms Plc was founded by Jason Drummond in 2000. Coms.Net is the core service of Coms Plc, which provides a VoIP business telephony service.
    The Coms.Net solution is based upon the industry standard SIP protocol, which enables the widest possible connection of customers, devices and integrated Web 2.0 applications.
    Coms Plc is an OFCOM authorised Public Electronic Communications Network (PECN) and a member of the Internet Telephony Service Providers Association (ITSPA). Coms Plc is also listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market (LSE:COMS).

  • Mobile Videoconferencing Still Some Way To Go


    Improvements in call quality and economic conditions are doing wonders for global demand for videoconferencing – and in particular desktop video calling.

    But the day when globe-trotting executives hook up to a video conference call on their smartphone would still appear to be a little way off.

    Linor Shachar, VP sales and marketing for videoconferencing experts Emblaze VCON, said video over mobile had had limited success so far.

    "People are refusing to have a video call over mobile," she said. "It’s still not there in terms of end-user quality.

    "For the user it’s very annoying, so people tend to give up very quickly."

    Shachar said issues such as being to able to deliver the service over all types of phone and the cost of making video calls would remain barriers to the adoption of mobile videoconferencing.

    "Once you get over these, I’m sure people will be ready to try mobile video call. I am sure it will get there," she said.

  • Emblaze: Growing Global Demand For Desktop Videoconferencing Solutions


    As the global appetite for videoconferencing solutions grows, so do the possibilities they offer.



    hdtv.biz-news spoke to Linor Shachar, VP sales and marketing for videoconferencing experts Emblaze VCON, about the latest market trends and developments.


    It’s strange to hear an executive from a company that sells videoconferencing solutions admitting business people will always need to travel to meetings and conferences.

    Yet while Linor Shachar, VP sales and marketing for videoconferencing experts Emblaze VCON, believes there is a place for face-to-face meetings she has no doubts about the future of video calling.

    And she argues that future is shifting rapidly from expensive full-room telepresence systems to desktop videoconferencing applications.

    "Up until two years ago the market was driven by room systems," she said. "This was centred around specialist hardware companies that installed usually costly equipment in corporate conference rooms.

    "Everyone was looking to have such a system. But it was quite expensive and users had to get up from their desks and go to a conference room to make a video call."

    Shachar said that in the last couple of years the trend has shifted towards desktop solutions.

    Demand for these is growing quickly in Europe and the US, where the financial crisis is favoring videoconferencing solutions that enable businesses to reduce travel budgets.

    Shachar said interest was also growing rapidly in APAC nations, especially China and India, where there was a rush to adopt desktop videoconferencing.

    This preference for desktop options was partly driven by a desire to take advantage of a lower cost model of videoconferencing.

    But she said there was also the convenience factor of being able to make video calls easily and quickly from the PC or laptop on your desk.

    This was becoming more acceptable, especially as people are now increasingly familiar with VoIP and video calling from their experience of using them at home.

    Shachar said Emblaze has now developed a reputation for its desktop client – especially software delivering Full HD (1080p).

    A major success for the Israeli company was providing BMW’s group headquarters with over 3,000 desktop clients.

    She said rather than relying on email to communicate both internally and externally, BMW staff are able to work and interact via video calls.

    "Video is becoming more intuitive and simple to use. For, instance, it’s connected to Outlook so you simply have to click on a contact to make a video call, " she said.

    "Its use is growing at BMW, with more and more departments asking to join and more people using video.

    "In a huge organisation such as BMW, it’s very useful between sites but also within one site.

    "So you can ‘ping’ a colleague in the warehouse and get them to hold up a part for you to look at without having to leave your desk."

    Shachar said a key aspect of the success of the video conference system was the HD call quality.

    "If the quality was poor people would not use it," she said.

    So while Emblaze accepts that there will always be the need for people to travel to meetings, face-to-face meetings are increasingly being replaced by video calls.

    "A quarter of meetings are now done over video – that has changed very recently," she said.

    As people become more accustomed to the idea of meeting remotely that figure is certain to keep on rising.

    Does your business use videoconferencing? Are there some situations where it just isn’t effective?

    Please send us your comments.