Mobile VOIP set for breakthrough

Technology experts at the BBC have highlighted the potential of mobile VOIP telephony services and suggested that 2008 may be its breakthrough year, reports Telappliant.

Having IP telephony on mobile phones was placed sixth in a list of 2007's innovative technologies that are looking to make it big this year.

The BBC news Web site placed mobile VOIP alongside the likes of Web TV, WiMax wireless broadband and ultra mobile PCs in their top 10 technologies list.

Sony has teamed with Skype to enable users of its new slim PlayStation Portable handheld video game machine to make free or low-cost telephone calls around the world, reports News24.

In the latest move by the electronics giant to try to broaden the appeal of its consoles amid fierce competition with rival Nintendo, Sony said the new service would be available in late January for PSP-2000 owners.

After a system software update, PSP users will be able to chat for free to other Skype users and, for a charge, call landlines and cellphones anywhere in the world, Sony Computer Entertainment said in a statement.

IT managers are turning a blind eye to security threats which could compromise their VOIP infrastructure, according to a recent survey conducted by NetIQ, reports SecurityPark.

The findings come as the SANS Institute, in its annual round-up of the most significant risks facing end-users, recently announced that VOIP servers and phones ranked within its top 20 security risks for 2007.

Its experts have warned that the fast adoption of systems in order to achieve cost savings has led organisations to overlook vulnerabilities such as VOIP phishing scams, eavesdropping, toll fraud, or denial-of-service attacks.