Monthly Archives: September 2008

Skype vs Gizmo5: On Open Networks

Over the past week Skype has been making some waves, starting with a speech at ITXPO where they declared “VOIP is Dead.” Then Michael Robertson of Gizmo5 fired back in response to their petition to the FCC arguing for more open wireless networks (aka cellular.) What folly, a closed network operator (Skype) preaching open networks to other closed network operators (cellular carriers.)

Dan York has collected up the actions & reactions, as well as the Calliflower conference call on the matter from last Friday. Michael Robertson was on that call. It’s definitely worth a listen.

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Houston Utilities In The Post-Ike Period

Now I still have a major issue with AT&T, and very much prefer to not give them my business. However, in The Woodland Heights neighborhood where I live we have now been without electricity and cable tv for 9 days. That in an of itself is bad but not entirely unexpected.

The unexpected part is that we have not seen ANY Centerpoint or Comcast branded vehicles in the area. Accepting that Centerpoint, the electrical distribution utility, is using help from utilities all over the state I can say that we have not seen any kind of electrical utility vehicles in the neighborhood, branded for whomever.

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Exceptional Customer Service: e4 Strategies

A few weeks ago I bought a couple of Polycom IP650 SIP phones from Michael White at E4 Strategies. This company was recommended by Karl Fife, a regular on the weekly Voip User Conference.

e4 had some IP650s listed as “open box” and offered at a discount so I ordered a pair. A day later Michael responded that in fact the open box units were sold out, but he’d honor the price for my small order. That’s great, I thought. And they were delivered quickly, too. All in all an excellent purchase experience.

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ZipDX: A Wideband Conference Service

A couple of weeks ago I penned a post about my search for a wideband capable soft phone. A short while later I was contacted by David Frankel of ZipDX. His company offers a standards compatible wideband conference service. It seems that he’s been down the path of wideband telephony a fair distance.

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