NEC combats VOIP spam

NEC has developed VOIP Seal, a new tool in the fight against spam over VOIP, reports Monster and Critics.

Spam over Internet telephony is a growing concern for companies that use VOIP technology in the working environment.

VOIP Seal has three major components. The first will target calls originating from spam-generating software and those originated from a real human. The calls are separated by a Turing test. VOIP Seal will detect and block the spam based on communication patterns observed during the call.

Some 54% of UK enterprise IT managers believe the benefits of implementing VOIP outweigh the negatives, One stop click news reports.

Fifty-seven percent of financial service companies were enticed by the potential for voice and data convergence rather than the possible savings, according to a survey by Vanson Bourne.

But looking at businesses as a whole, the potential for cost-savings was recognised, with 73% of IT managers considering voice and data convergence as the driving force for getting rid of circuit-switch networks. The retail, transport and distribution sectors were especially drawn to the money-saving potentials of VOIP, and companies did not seem to have any overwhelming concerns about implementation.

Nortel Networks has revamped its PT 1-2-3 programme to add product bundles aimed at bringing new customers into the VOIP fold, reports CRN.

The IPT 1-2-3 programme, which was unveiled last June, initially focused on helping North American channel partners roll-out pre-configured voice and data product packages, to existing Nortel customers who had not yet migrated to IP telephony.

Now Nortel is extending the programme with nine new packages ranging from 100 to approximately 700 lines, built for new customers, said Pat Patterson, director of North American IP telephony marketing at Nortel, Toronto.