The UK’s Office of Communications has released the details of new VoIP regulations it is putting in place in the next few months, via the Independent:
Ofcom has established a code of practice for VoIP providers so consumers have more information when subscribing to services. From June, VoIP companies will have to state clearly whether users can access emergency services numbers and the extent to which the service depends on the customer’s home power supply. VoIP providers will also need to inform consumers whether they can keep their phone numbers when switching providers and whether traditional telecoms services such as operator assistance and itemised billing are available.
… Ofcom also said it will open a consultation later this year about whether certain VoIP providers might be forced to offer access to emergency services numbers.
Vonage 
issued a release yesterday indicating that a US District Court in Arlington, VA has issued an order enjoining it from using certain VoIP technology that Verizon claims it has a patent on. However, the order is not immediately effective, and Vonage "is confident that customers will see no change in their phone service.
The court announced its intent to hear stay argument in two weeks’ time. At that time, the court intends to render a decision regarding the stay, as well as making the injunction effective. If the court denies the stay, Vonage will seek a stay through appeal from the Federal Court of Appeals. Vonage is confident it will be able to obtain a stay through appeal.
"Our appeal centers on erroneous patent claim construction, and we remain confident that Vonage has not infringed on any of Verizon’s patents - a position we will continue to vigorously assert in federal appeals court," said Sharon O’Leary, Vonage’s executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary. "Vonage relied on open-standard, off-the-shelf technology when developing its service. In fact, evidence introduced in court failed to prove that Vonage relied on Verizon’s VoIP technology, and instead showed that in 2003 Verizon began exploring ways to copy Vonage’s technology," she added.
Microsoft gets into VoIP PBX, via iTWire:
Microsoft has unveiled an IP phone system for small businesses, with a voice activated user interface. It will be OEMed by D-Link, Quanta and Uniden, initially.
The move will put the company in head on competition with the leading IP PBX vendors such as Cisco, Avaya and Nortel with whom Microsoft has been collaborating to integrate its unified communications tools with their products.
Code named ‘Response Point’, the product is presently in beta testing and will be generally available later this year as an OEM product. It supports both VoIP and traditional analogue phone lines, and includes a voice-activated user interface. It will be launched commercially as the D-Link DVX-2000, Quanta Syspine and Uniden Evolo.
The product was announced at Microsoft’s annual small business summit by Microsoft COO Kevin Turner who said: " 20 years ago Bill Gates had a vision for our company which said, look, I want a PC on every desk and in every home… Now, his new vision for Microsoft is we need to be that uniquely positioned company in the marketplace that can connect the digital lifestyle and the digital work style. And that’s the vision and aspiration for our company. And no better customer segment, again, fits that than the small business owners. And that’s what we’re working hard on.
WinSock XP Fix is a quick little utility which attempts to fix Internet connectivity issues which are caused by a corrupted WinSock configuration.
If some application has tweaked your WinSock configuration beyond repair, download WinSock XP Fix from Snapfiles.com and give it a try.
It’s one heck of a lot easier than reinstalling Windows.
Themes and Display
The capability of Windows Vista to make full use of the newest graphics accelerators technology makes it able to display resizable icons, special window panels and previews of windows and documents. Switching from application to application with Vista is a lot easier, too, because of the Flip 3D View feature.
Start Menu and Search Function
The new graphics and display modes can also be seen using the search function and the start menu. In Vista, the start button, when clicked, displays available programs in an expanding tree-like view that makes finding a particular program easier. Moreover, the search box at start can display the required folders almost immediately upon typing the search phrase by making use of enhanced full-text search features that takes into account a specified modification date and file type.
Windows Explorer
Thumbnails of icons can be magnified or reduced in size. This makes it a lot easier for users to look for the files they need. Users can zoom in a directory symbol or icon to check its contents through the thumbnails of the actual files. Moreover, users can add or use a variety of metadata (tags, ratings, author name, etc) to further differentiate the files and make it easier to find when doing a search. An alternative to directory tree control used by Windows XP is also available in the Vista Edition. With Vista, you can use address bar breadcrumbs or indicators of directory hierarchy in the address bar to navigate through the folders and files.
Vista Sidebar
Vista has a see-through pane that can be displayed on the side of the monitor. This transparent panel also serves as a sidebar wherein users can drag and drop various applications or tools such as a calendar, notepad, clock, etc. This makes it easier for the user to access the needed or frequently viewed information without having to minimize windows. Moreover, users can change or replace the applications or tools in the sidebar with other tools he or she prefers.
Help System
The modified assistance system for Windows Vista is also a vast improvement from the Help Center found in Windows XP. It updates the information routinely. It performs tasks and no longer just instructs the user on how to fix the problem. Videos that walk one through the troubleshooting process can also be displayed using the help center.
Internet Explorer 7
The web browser for Windows Vista has also been upgraded to support tabbed browsing, zoom feature, and thumbnail views of open web pages through Quick Tabs. Moreover, the new Internet Explorer has more security features than the older version including anti-phishing capabilities. Windows XP users can try the new Internet Explorer 7 by downloading the program from Microsoft.com.
Other Improved Applications
Other improved applications of Windows Vista are Windows Photo Gallery digital photo management and editing application, Windows Media Player 11, Windows Movie Maker, Parental Control, Back Up and Restore Center that uses full disc imaging, speech recognition and text to speech program and games.
