Customers of consumer VoIP provider ooma lost service for about six hours Monday, but according to ooma, irate users should point the finger at Internap instead. Dennis Peng, vice president of product management for ooma, wrote in a blog post that all ooma customers were affected by the outage and that upstream Internet service provider Internap was the source of the connectivity issues. Internap didn't waste time firing back at ooma, as spokeswoman Debra Forrester said the problem was not Internap's fault, and that no other Internap customers experienced a connection failure, indicating the problem was within ooma's system, not Internap's. Ooma Chief Marketing Officer Rich Buchanan wrote an email saying ooma had network logs to prove the disruption was due to an issue with Internap's systems. Ooma representatives said the outage has prompted them to expedite plans to launch a second [+]

Continuing its forward march into the business world, Skype today announced the beta version of Skype for SIP for business users. With 438,000 IP PBXes shipped worldwide in 2008, there's a big market for Skype to tap into if it can master the SMB and channels game. The Skype For SIP service allows SIP-based IP PBXes to route calls through Skype for lower cost landline and mobile rates around the world. It also enables inbound calls from Skype users directly into an IP PBX system. Additionally, users in more than 20 countries can purchase Skype-In numbers to enable inbound "virtual" local number calling through Skype. Applicants for the beta test need to be businesses, have an installed SIP-based IP PBX system and a level of technical expertise available to configure said IP PBX. The initial beta will be available for a [+]

On Monday, Primus Telecommunications Group announced it and three affiliated holding companies were undertaking "consensual financial restructuring" with various debt holders - Chapter 11 bankruptcy by most any other name. Under the bankruptcy proceedings, the holding companies would shed more than 50 percent of their principal debit obligations - around $315 million - reduce interest payments by more than 50 percent, and extend certain debt maturities in exchange for stock and warrants to the debtors. Before entering bankruptcy, Primus had anywhere from $500 million to $1 billion in debt and $100 million to $500 million in assets. None of Primus' operating companies in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Europe and Brazil are included in the filing, and all operating units are expected to continue to manage and operate their businesses without interruption as a result of the filing. If anything, the [+]

VoIP provider ooma has just announced a series of premier Google Voice Extensions (GVE). The company says the new enhancements will simplify the Google Voice user experience; we're more interested in how those features were added. Google Voice features ooma is adding/supporting within its Premier (i.e. you gotta pay for it) package include: caller ID integration, allowing ooma users to display their Google Voice caller ID on outbound calls from ooma hardware without having to dial additional call prompts; forwarding inbound calls made to an ooma phone directly to a Google Voice number for routing; explicit forwarding of Google Voice calls to a specific handset in a home; an announcement of who in the household the call is for based upon which Google Voice account originated the call; and one-touch voice mail from ooma handsets (no need to dial a [+]

Apparently there is venture capital for VoIP. Growing VoIP service provider Jajah has taken in $2.75 million so far of an anticipated $5 million fourth round of private funding, say reports. Investors in the most recent round have not yet been disclosed; previously, Jajah raised $23 million from Globespan Capital Partners, Intel Capital, Deutsche Telekom and Sequoia Capital. Over the past three years, Jajah broke away from the me-too mobile web VoIP play of free client-to-client calls and oh-so-cheap international rates. The Silicon Valley-based company moved into providing VoIP back-end operations a year ago, picking up Yahoo and a number of other customers along the way. It's got a strategic partnership with Intel to get its technology onboard next-generation PCs, and it has rolled out a bunch of software clients to support VoIP calling on WiFi. [+]

The hot topic in telephony service provider circles is the media phone. The upside revenue potential for media phones is huge. In-Stat analysts project that this new broadband device category will quickly replace more traditional telephones and the standard voice service packages offered in homes and businesses worldwide. In fact, In-Stat estimates that media phones will generate revenue approaching $7-11 billion by 2013. Imagine something a bit smaller than a laptop with a touch-screen interface and a cordless handset that delivers wireline voice quality. Enjoy a device that is: • "Always on," ever ready to deliver the latest news, weather and traffic, help find restaurants or show times, or anything else you need to keep up with the speed of life • A consolidated directory of family contacts, a home calendar and a to-do list • A digital photo frame, allowing [+]

Polycom has rolled out a media phone for the business environment. Unlike the media phone Avaya introduced last week, the VVX 1500 includes a "personal" video conferencing system. In addition to video conferencing, the device includes a full-featured VoIP phone with HD voice, an XML-based open API for customization and a "microbrowser" for real time delivery of personalized web content and integration with business applications. The phone's software bundle includes Polycom's Productivity suite for enabling users to initiate and control audio conference calls right from the VVX's screen, as well as the ability to record calls locally using a flash drive in the phone's USB port. There's also a bundle to a free web portal for information updates. At a list price of $1099, the VVX 1500 includes a 7-inch color LCD touch-screen display, the aforementioned USB port, SIP, power over Ethernet [+]

Sony is going to shut down its VoIP Go!Messenger service for the PSP March 31. Sony launched the free service in Europe last year. Go!Messenger was supposed to be a four-year partnership between Sony and wireless network operator BT. PSP users were able to talk directly via video chat, as well as send videos, voice recordings and text messages; video was enabled through a PSP Go!Cam add-on. Why pull the plug? "Although Go!Messenger brought innovative communications features to the PSP community, the service has not developed the base of users that we were hoping for," Sony is quoted as saying. Sony Europe says there no direct jobs to Go!Messenger linked to the service, so there aren't any downsizing measures (at Sony) taking place from the shutdown. It's not clear if Sony is thinking about developing other applications for the Go!Cam or it has more [+]

The day before the Hub VoIP phone hits the shelves at more than 2,500 stores throughout the land, Verizon Wireless has announced pricing on both the gear and the supporting VoIP plan. The company says the phone will work with any broadband service. Will Verizon honor net neutrality in that case? A VoIP calling plan through Verizon Wireless will cost around $35 per month and includes unlimited calling in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories and Canada, plus unlimited messaging to and from Verizon Wireless phones with Unlimited Messaging. The Hub will cost $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a two year agreement. Yes, you have to sign up for two years of VoIP service and pay $200 for the gear. Additional DECT cordless handsets are available for $79.99 each. [+]

Unlike many other VoIP service providers, 8x8 managed to add some cash to its bottom line last quarter. The company announced its operating results for its Q3 quarter ending on December 31, 2008. Revenues were down slightly compared to last quarter, but up on a year-by-year comparison and the company added nearly a thousand new customers. Revenues for Q3 FY 2009 were $16.2 million, compared to $15.8 million for the same period last year and $16.4 million for the previous quarter. Business services revenue now makes up 66 percent of total revenue for 8x8, as compared to 48 percent in Q3 2008 and 60 percent last quarter. [+]