Companies race to give voice over IP

By PETER GRIFFIN

Voice over internet protocol services are finally to get their spot in the sun. TelstraClear, Telecom and Wired Country are all set to launch VoIP products.

TelstraClear claims a partnership with US IP telephony software company Broadsoft and Cisco Systems will allow it to reach customers nationwide with voice telephony, using Telecom's network where it has no infrastructure itself.

TelstraClear group product manager, voice solutions, Rod Grieve said that in 60 per cent of business areas TelstraClear had no network but that IP technology allowed it to offer voice as a service over other providers' infrastructure, similar to how internet providers operate.

"We can deliver this service over Telecom frame relay tails. It potentially increases our reach to 100 per cent of New Zealand."

While service quality levels are notoriously hard to maintain using VoIP systems, network upgrades and software improvements have begun to make it a viable option for some telcos.

Grieve admitted it would be a challenge to guarantee service levels because customers used a range of access devices and bandwidth capacities.

TelstraClear has already discovered the difficulties of maintaining network reliability on its IP network.

In a memo to staff last week, Howard said: "We have a plan in place to take our network reliability to 99.99 per cent and we're working closely with our vendors to achieve this goal."

If that level of reliability is achieved it still leaves customers with network downtime of 52 minutes a year.

Meanwhile, Telecom is testing its first network-based VoIP, call management system, an IP version of its popular Centrex product, which Telecom hosts for its customers.

Again, through the move to IP phone users will begin managing their calls through computer screens.

"The new service will also enable staff to log into an IP Centrex phone and have their work details and settings follow them so they can work from a number of sites," said Graham Walmsley, the Telecom group marketing manager for business.

Last week, Wired Country declared "Independence Day" for residents in the Franklin and Papakura District, where it has built a fibre optic network and plans to reach surrounding customers with wireless equipment.

Independence, that is, from Telecom. Wired Country has secured Worldxchange as a voice interconnect partner, allowing it to offer VoIP services in the region.

Wired Country is testing voice, internet, security and video products and plans to introduce services in several regions within a year.

The road to VoIP

* TelstraClear partners with IP specialist BroadSoft, planning an IP telephony release nationwide by the end of the year.

* Telecom is testing IP Centrex, a more sophisticated version of its existing call management system, and will begin offering the service in major centres in the coming months.

* Wired Country secures WorldXchange as voice interconnect partner allowing it to deliver a VoIP service independent to Telecom.