Business News Holding

Tag: hardware-and-technology

  • GIPS Enables HD Voice and One-Way Video Chat to the iPad

    Global IP Solutions announced the availability of high-definition and Super-wideband Voice as well as one-way Video Conferencing/Chat capabilities for iPad developers, powered by GIPS VideoEngine Mobile.

    According to GIPS, its VideoEngine Mobile supplies iPad developers with “a simple to integrate, high-level software API that contains the complex video conferencing/video chat capabilities into applications running on Apple’s iPad operating system.”

    As video access becomes available from Apple, GIPS VideoEngine will support two-way video chat/conferencing.

    “With over 600,000 unit sales of the iPad to date, demand for this device is clearly continuing to grow,” said GIPS’ Chief Marketing Officer Joyce Kim.

    “With the unique experience that a device like the iPad can deliver, it is imperative that the overall quality exceed all expectations and GIPS is proud to offer HD and Super HD voice and video for the iPad and other mobile devices.”

    Roopam Jain, Frost & Sullivan analyst said, “GIPS technology is becoming increasingly significant with the growth in IP traffic as it offers HD voice and video communication capabilities that adjusts dynamically to available bandwidth on Wi-Fi or cellular networks,” said.

    He added that the introduction of devices like the iPad will greatly increase wide scale voice and video communications beyond corporate boundaries.

    GIPS mobile technology is already available on the iPad, Android, iPhone, Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems.

    Related articles
    Global IP Solutions Brings Video Chat to Android Mobiles
    MWC 2010: Interview with John Hermansen of Global IP Solutions
    The Apple iPad is Here

  • Microsoft Introduces KIN Windows Phone

    Microsoft finally announced KIN, a new Windows Phone designed specifically for people who are actively navigating their social lives. The phone is brought to life through partnerships with Verizon Wireless, Vodafone and Sharp.

    KIN supports Microsoft’s new cloud computing service with an optimized GUI. The hardware design was developed in partnership with Sharp. There are two models called KIN ONE and KIN TWO. Both phones feature a touch screen, slide-out keyboard and very simple interface.

    ONE is small and compact; TWO has a larger screen and keyboard, in addition to more memory, a higher resolution camera, and the ability to record high-definition video. The 5 and 8 megapixel cameras in ONE and TWO, respectively, have image stabilization and a bright LumiLED flash.

    KIN automatically brings together feeds from Microsoft and third-party services such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. The home screen of the phone is called the KIN Loop, which is always up to date and always on, showing all the things happening in someone’s social world.

    Another new feature, the KIN Spot is a new way for people to share what’s going on in their world. It lets them focus first on the people and stuff they want to share rather than the specific application they want to use. Videos, photos, text messages, Web pages, location and status updates are shared by simply dragging them to a single place on the phone called the Spot. Once all the people and content are in the Spot to share, the consumer can choose how to share, and start broadcasting.

    KIN Studio is a phone online. Almost everything created on the phone is available in the cloud from any Web browser. Photos and videos are freed from the confines of the phone and presented in an online visual timeline.

    The KIN Studio automatically backs up texts, call history, photos, videos and contacts, and populates a personalized digital journal.

    It also gives customers tons of storage to keep all those photos, videos, contacts and texts.

    KIN will be the first Windows Phone to feature a Zune experience — including music, video, FM radio and podcast playback. With a Zune Pass subscription, users using Zune software on their PC can listen to millions of songs from Zune Marketplace on their KIN while on the go.

    KIN will be exclusively available from Verizon Wireless in the U.S. beginning in May and from Vodafone this autumn in Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

  • Apple Unveiled iPhone OS 4

    Apple previewed its iPhone OS 4 software and released a beta version of the software to iPhone Developer Program members.

    The iPhone OS 4 beta release includes an updated SDK with over 1,500 new APIs and over 100 new features that will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer.

    New features include Multitasking for third party apps; Folders to better organize and access apps; improved Mail with a unified inbox, fast inbox switching and threaded messages; enhanced Enterprise support with better data protection, mobile device management and wireless app distribution.

    It also comes with a new iAd mobile advertising platform and iBooks, the new ebook reader and online bookstore recently debuted on the iPad.

    iPhone OS 4’s multitasking allows us not only to quickly move between apps but also provides developers seven new multitasking services to add multitasking features to their apps. These services include background audio, so apps like Pandora can play music in the background, and VoIP, so VoIP apps can receive a VoIP call even when the iPhone is asleep or the user is running other apps.

    “iPhone OS 4 provides multitasking to third party apps while preserving battery life and foreground app performance, which has until now proved elusive on mobile devices,” as the Apple claims.

    Folders help us better organize and quickly access the apps. We simply drag one app icon onto another, and a new folder is automatically created. The folder is automatically given a name based on the App Store category of that app, such as “Games,” which we can easily rename. We can also create and manage iPhone folders on our Mac or PC using iTunes 9.2.

    Unified Inbox allows users to see messages from all their email accounts displayed together in a single inbox. We can quickly switch between inboxes to see messages from any single account. We can also thread our messages by conversation, as well as open email attachments with compatible apps from the App Store.

    Apple says that iAd, their new mobile advertising platform, “combines the emotion of TV ads with the interactivity of web ads.” Today, when users click on mobile ads they are almost always taken out of their app to a web browser, which loads the advertiser’s webpage. Users must then navigate back to their app, and it is often difficult or impossible to return to exactly where they left.

    According to Apple, iAd solves this problem by displaying full-screen video and interactive ad content without ever leaving the app, and letting users return to their app anytime they choose. iPhone OS 4 lets developers easily embed iAd opportunities within their apps, and the ads are dynamically and wirelessly delivered to the device. Apple will sell and serve the ads, and developers will receive an “industry-standard” 60 percent of iAd revenue.

    The iPhone OS 4 beta release includes a developer preview of Game Center, which contains a set of APIs that allows developers to create apps with the ability to invite friends to play a game, start a multiplayer game through matchmaking and track achievements and compare high scores on a leader board. Apps created with GameKit APIs will work with Game Center, Apple’s new social gaming network available to iPhone and iPod touch users later this year.

    New enterprise features in iPhone OS 4 include improvements in security, scalability and compatibility. The new Mobile Device Management service can be integrated with third party servers to wirelessly configure, query and wipe or lock managed iPhones, and iPhone OS 4 enables enterprises to host and wirelessly distribute their own in-house developed apps to employees.

    The new Data Protection feature uses a user’s passcode as an encryption key to protect mail messages and attachments stored on the iPhone. New iPhone OS provides the option to set a longer and more complex passcode. It also allows IT managers to set up multiple Exchange ActiveSync accounts, is compatible with Exchange Server 2010 and includes support for forthcoming SSL VPN applications from Juniper Networks and Cisco.

    iPhone OS 4 will be available as a software update to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer. A version of iPhone OS 4 will be coming to iPad this fall.

    Unfortunately, some features may not be available on all products. For example, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS or third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB).

  • Global IP Solutions Brings Video Chat to Android Mobiles

    Global IP Solutions, a provider of HD voice and video processing solutions, announced yesterday another first-to-market with GIPS VideoEngine for Android, which provides mobile developers the vital building blocks for integrating video conferencing/video chat into applications running Google’s Android mobile operating system.

    Mobile video application revenue is expected to double worldwide over the next four years to $2.42 billion, with much of the growth taking place this year, according to U.K.-based research firm Screen Digest.

    According to Joyce Kim, GIPS’ Chief Marketing Officer, mobile applications are becoming more and more sophisticated and by providing HD voice and video capabilities inside their applications, GIPS customers continually differentiate themselves to lead the mobile application market.

    “GIPS continues to innovate for mobile application developers by offering the ability to incorporate high-quality voice and video communications without having to worry about the complex challenges of wireless networks,” he said.

    Now with GIPS VideoEngine Mobile, developers can integrate the real-time video technology overcoming the multiple issues intrinsic to IP networks and devices. “By dealing with obstacles such as delay, packet loss, bandwidth limitations and echo; GIPS VideoEngine Mobile ensures video conversations dynamically adjust with Wi-Fi or 3G cellular network conditions maintaining great caliber video,” the company claims.

    “GIPS VideoEngine is capable of running on a wide variety of smartphone devices globally,” said Ronald Gruia, Frost & Sullivan’s Principal Analyst of Emerging Telecom.

    “Android is becoming the fastest growing operating system and with the addition of Android video support from GIPS, application developers can utilize established real-time video expertise without the need for heavy R&D investment to offer real time voice and video capabilities.”

    GIPS VideoEngine Mobile is available on Android, iPhone and Windows Mobile OS platforms.

  • IPsmarx and Superb Internet Announce an Alliance to Offer Turnkey VoIP Solutions

    Ipsmarx, a VoIP solution provider, announced their new strategic alliance with Superb Internet to further their mission to “provide turnkey VoIP solutions at competitive prices."

    IPsmarx’ MarketReady Softswitch places the communications services that VoIP Service Providers need on a single platform, with an integrated softswitch, billing, and a unified management console, to easily manage customers’ accounts.

    It also offers promotional tools that allow service providers to market and grow their business faster, such as an integrated E-store, and multi-tier administrative interfaces for the support of resellers and agents.

    The IPsmarx VoIP.Biz-News.com “Product of the Year Award” winning VoIP Calling Card platform offers innovative features, such as pinless service, a bonus point loyalty program, and a variety of recharge options.

    By partnering with Superb Internet, IPsmarx is able to offer their VoIP solutions bundled with a hosted server to clients who wish to transition into the VoIP market with low initial investment in hardware.

    “IPsmarx provides an all-in-one VoIP solution that combines integrated billing, switching, installation, and technical support–while Superb Internet offers a hosted server with bandwidth and security that meet IPsmarx’ specifications,” the companies announced.

    “The ability for service providers to be able to use our innovative VoIP applications and softswitch solutions, supported on a Superb Internet hosted server, allows us to offer a turnkey system,” said Arash Vahidnia, CEO of IPsmarx.

    “Our customers can now quickly deploy VoIP services with the peace of mind provided by Superb Internet’s managed hosting service.”

    “IPsmarx has a great reputation for a rich feature set and reliable software,” said Haralds Jass, President and CEO of Superb Internet.

    “We are excited about combining the IPsmarx VoIP service platforms with our highly reliable managed server offerings to simplify VoIP service deployment.”

  • Texas Memory Systems’ New RamSan-630 Achieves 1 Million IOPS in 6U Flash Storage

    Texas Memory Systems, Inc., maker of the World’s Fastest Storage, today announced the availability of the 10-TeraByte SLC Flash based RamSan-630 with 500,000 I/Os per second (IOPS) in a 3U enclosure.

    Currently, 10 Fibre Channel links (4-Gb) allow 4-GB/s of aggregated bandwidth for the RamSan-630. In a few months, new InfiniBand and 8-Gb Fibre Channel adapters will allow 8-GB/s of aggregated bandwidth. With these extreme performance numbers, the 10-TB RamSan-630 sets the standard for immediate (microseconds NOT milliseconds) high volume database storage access.

    Applications are constantly expanding capacity needs and performance requirements. As user loads continue to increase, the IT community is challenged to optimize limited data center resources, such as space, power and cooling. Traditional, mechanical Hard Disk Drive (HDD) based storage is inherently slow, bulky, and power-intensive when compared to Flash storage. However, simply incorporating Flash into HDD form factor systems delivers limited improvement in performance and power usage. Even Flash systems using PCIe interfaces do not allow multiple servers to access all of the capacity at this bandwidth level, a core requirement of the Enterprise.

    In contrast, the RamSan-630 has been engineered to optimize Flash capabilities to meet the full spectrum of Enterprise needs for performance, reliability, and efficiency. It is unique in its ability to scale horizontally and offer shared access to multiple servers. It is the 16th generation SSD from Texas Memory Systems, the supplier with the largest, most demanding SSD production installations worldwide.

    “Flash SSD is one of the most transformative technologies available in the data center,” said George Crump, Lead Analyst with Storage Switzerland. “With the RamSan-630, Texas Memory Systems is again demonstrating its innovation leadership. It has engineered a Flash system backplane that enables applications to leverage the full bandwidth in a networked environment without any changes to the application. Enterprise IT can expect to reap the performance and efficiency of Flash without any upheaval since applications are already architected to maximize bandwidth utilization in traditional HDD infrastructures.”

    The RamSan-630 delivers up to 500,000 sustained I/Os per second and 10 terabytes of storage with 8GB/second bandwidth in a single 3U chassis. Latency is less than 80 microseconds. Power utilization is just 450 watts. In order to deliver a similar bandwidth using HDD, it would require a full data center rack and consume 14 times as much power while still falling short of the RamSan-630 performance and latency.

    “The RamSan-630 is the smart choice for today’s demanding enterprise data centers,” said Levi Norman, Director of Marketing and OEM for Texas Memory Systems. “We developed it in response to observing how customers were struggling to boost performance without adding to their data center footprint. The explosive growth in IT and storage over the years is resulting in many data centers reaching their limits for space and power draw. High performance computing and data warehouses in particular need high performance, high efficiency storage for batch processes and simultaneous system access. The time is right for RamSan.”

    The RamSan-630 is available now from Texas Memory Systems and its partner network. Find more information about the RamSan-630, including price quotes, online at https://www.ramsan.com/products/ramsan-630.htm.

  • Nortel CVAS Enhances Its 4G Mobile VoIP Solution

    Nortel CVAS (Carrier VoIP and Application Solutions) unveiled new wireless and 4G mobile VoIP solution enhancements. According to Nortel, the enhancements equip carriers to deliver “a superior user experience, reduce network deployment costs and speed time to market.”

    It equips operators to integrate seamlessly with all cellular technologies, including 2G, 3G and the latest 4G LTE and WiMAX networks. The solution delivers a set of voice, messaging and multimedia services to all of the subscriber’s devices, with seamless hand-off across WiFi, GSM 2G/3G, CDMA 2G/3G, HSPA/+, WiMAX and LTE networks.

    Nortel CVAS says its new enhancements in 4G Mobile VoIP also equip carriers with “advanced routing capabilities for querying a Home Location Register“ to optimize call routing into the cellular network, billing enhancements to facilitate billing correlation between legacy cellular and SIP networks, and roaming support on a foreign cellular operator’s network.

    “The solution offers integrated wireless signaling gateway capability that allows operators to leverage their existing OAM systems for fault management, performance management, provisioning and billing. Subscribers can enjoy a better communication experience because the solution enables seamless hand-off between mobile and broadband networks, as well as advanced features like single identity, presence, web-based call screening, visual voicemail, and SMS to IM interworking,” the company says.

    Nortel is implementing large scale 4G VoIP network that offers voice continuity between 4G mobile VoIP, existing 2G/3G cellular voice and WiFi. In addition, they have deployed VoIP solutions that leverage the subscriber’s laptop and mobile device in parallel for call control and multimedia service enrichment.

    Nortel CVAS 4G Mobile VoIP solution enhancements are expected to be available in the second half of 2010. The solution can be deployed as a stand-alone SIP Application Server, as a 3GPP IMS-compliant application server or as an upgrade for carrier customers who have already deployed Nortel’s Communication Server (CS) 2000 IP Multimedia softswitch .

    Samih Elhage, president, CVAS, Nortel said, "Our 4G Mobile VoIP solution simplifies operator deployments and eliminates the need for costly upgrades to existing Mobile Service Control Points and back-office systems, which results in lower costs and faster time to market for carriers. In addition, Nortel CVAS mobile VoIP and FMC innovations have been deployed by several leading service providers across the globe."

  • Skype Mobile for Verizon Wireless Now Available

    At the CTIA WIRELESS 2010 in Las Vegas, Verizon and Skype announced that Skype mobile is already available with nine Verizon 3G smartphones.

    Skype mobile uses the Verizon voice network for the wireless connection of the Skype-to-Skype calls.

    Verizon customers with Android 3G smartphones and BlackBerry 3G smartphones can now call international phone numbers at Skype calling rates.

    They need a Verizon Wireless smartphone and data plan to use Skype mobile. Skype-to-Skype calls will not be charged against their monthly minute allowances or data plans.

    The service will be available initially on BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition, and Tour 9630, as well as Motorola’s DROID, DROID ERIS by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR.

    According to John Harrobin, Senior VP of Digital Media and Marketing at Verizon Wireless, "Skype mobile will change the way mobile consumers in the United States make and receive calls."

    "With an ‘always on’ capability, Skype mobile on your 3G smartphone means you never have to miss a call or make an appointment to connect with Skype users around the world. With Skype mobile, we’re untethering Skype users from their PCs and enabling them to stay connected – on the best wireless network in the country,” he said.

  • Sprint Announces First 4G Handset in the U.S. – the HTC EVO 4G

    Sprint and HTC announced summer availability of the world’s first 3G/4G Android handset, HTC EVO 4G.

    It runs Android OS 2.1 with Sense UI and features 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 4.3 inches 480 x 800 TFT display, 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder (720p), forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, HDMI out and GPS.

    It also comes with 1GB of built-in memory (8GB microSD card in the box!) and 512MB of RAM as well as with built-in mobile hotspot functionality, allowing up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 4G experience.

    According to Sprint, the custom Web browser is optimized for HTC EVO 4G’s large display. It supports Adobe Flash and features automatic text reflowing.

    The new HTC device features the newest version of theHTC Sense user experience. Along with all of the HTC Sense features it adds a number of new features, including Friend Stream, which aggregates multiple social communication channels including Facebook and Twitter into one organized flow of updates; a "Leap" thumbnail view to easily switch between home screen "panels"; the ability to download new, interactive widgets; and a "polite" ringer, which quiets the ringing phone once lifted up.

    Sprint said that in addition to today’s Android apps, the performance of which will be enhanced by 4G speed, application developers will be introducing new apps that take advantage of 4G power in new ways – games and communications tools and other apps that bring together video, presence and location simultaneously.

    “For example, an application developer might create an app that allows a customer to simultaneously watch a streaming sporting event while pulling down stats and conducting a video chat with a friend,” says Sprint.

    "The Android platform was developed to give people unmatched mobile connectivity to the Internet. By combining this vision with the promise of Sprint’s first-to-market 4G technology, HTC EVO 4G makes accessing thousands of applications from Android Market, using Google) services like Google Goggles, Google Earthand the all-new Gesture Search, or simply browsing the Web faster, easier and more enjoyable than ever before," said Andy Rubin, vice president, mobile platforms at Google.

    Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO, said, "Not only is this feature-rich device incredible on our Sprint 3G network, but Sprint 4G speeds will take mobile multimedia, including live video streaming, gaming and picture downloads, to a whole new level."

    Pre-registration started yesterday. The company informed that pricing will be announced at a later date.

    Today, Sprint offers wireless 4G service in 27 markets covering more than 30 million people. They expect to have up to 120 million people covered by the end of 2010. Sprint says their 4G network is up to 10 times faster than any 3G network.

  • Grandstream Now Skype for SIP Interoperable

    Grandstream, a manufacturer of IP voice/video telephony and video surveillance solutions and Skype announced that Skype for SIP interoperability testing and certification of Grandstream’s IP PBX and gateway has been completed successfully.

    Grandstream says that “with this interoperability, the thousands of SMBs using Grandstream’s GXE502x series IP PBX and related gateways can start to reap significant cost savings by directing their outbound calls to mobile phones and landlines worldwide via Skype at very competitive rates.”

    SMBs can also allow their customers and remote employees to make FREE inbound calls to their corporate PBX system using Skype from anywhere in the world.

    According to Grandstream, businesses can leverage the investment in their corporate website even further by enabling Skype users to click on a global click-to-call button on the website to place immediate calls to sales or support via Skype.

    Skype calls received through the Grandstream IP PBX are handled by the PBX in the same way as other inbound calls.

    David Gurle, VP and General Manager of Skype for Business said, "By certifying its PBX and gateway equipment as interoperable with Skype for SIP, Grandstream is enabling its thousands of business customers to easily connect their existing PBXs and gateways to Skype and to receive the same financial and productivity benefits that businesses already get when using Skype software on their desktops.”