FreedomVOICE announces the launch of the brand new FreedomIQ Hosted VoIP Blog. The blog will act as a resource for the VoIP industry. FreedomVOICE feels that the FreedomIQ Hosted VoIP PBX is the perfect product to be represented by a blog. Blogs are a tool for free expression, and this is something the company values as an integral part of their corporate culture.

SecureLogix's CTO and VP of Engineering Mark Collier will moderate a panel discussion of the current state of VoIP security risks at the VoiceCon San Francisco conference and exhibition. The conference is being held Nov. 10–13 at the Moscone North Convention Center in San Francisco. Collier is a telephony security expert and co-author of the book Hacking Exposed: VoIP. He is also the author of the widely read VoIP Security Blog.

After hearing from Giga Om that Packet8 has been selected as the replacement VoIP service provider for SunRocket customers I immediately went to checkout Packet8's home page. Upon arrival I noticed their great little advertisement that you see here. I couldn't help but laugh and spread the word. You really get the warm fuzzy feeling that Packet8 has a lot of sympathy for SunRocket's implosion.

Just refresh to watch the entertaining animation again.

As many have already heard, SunRocket has ceased operations and closed its doors. Many VoIP bloggers have been hinting at this outcome since early June. Well now it seems the vultures are out as Tom Keating writes SunRocket ceases, Vonage fights for the scraps. Should we be surprised? Not really and Vonage isn't the only one going after SunRockets customer base as Nuvio is now accelerating number porting for SunRocket customers in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Having noticed a recent increase in VoIP provider press releases trying to win over SunRocket's customer base and get them signed up, it would appear the hyenas have shown up to fight for whatever remains.

We provide a list of VoIP providers and services that allows you to make your own decision on what VoIP provider will best suit your needs. We also invite visitors to comment about their own personal experiences in dealing with VoIP providers.

ShoreTel’s IPO should elevate their competitive posture in enterprise VoIP by ZDNet's Russell Shaw -- You may not have heard of ShoreTel, so some factoidness to get you started. I consider them a leader in the Enterprise VoIP space. ShoreTel 7 has some new features, including Programmable Toolbars that enable end users to execute telephony applications via the Personal Call Manager as well as the Contact Center. There’s also a new [...]

It's been awhile since I did some speed linking (link love) for the VoIP blogosphere. Soooo, here are some recent articles that caught my attention from some great VoIP bloggers.

Skype cuts SMS rates again [ blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating ]

Vodafone Offering Lower Prices For Mobile Data--VoIP Is A Maybe [ andyabramson.blogs.com ]

Court says VoIP companies must pay USF [ saunderslog.com ]

and

Federal Appeals Court Ruled that VoIP Providers Must Pay USF Fees [ solokay.blogspot.com ]

Linksys WIP320 Review [ www.smithonvoip.com ]

Attackers targets VoIP [ solokay.blogspot.com ]

iPhone vs Nokia N95 [ lucafiligheddu.blogspot.com ] also the iPhone release date is now 6/29/07 :(

Vonage VOIP to cost more? [ voipguides.blogspot.com ]

Everpeace EP-880: This VoIP phone cannot be tapped [ www.voip-weblog.com ]

I was just doing a little catching up around the VoIP blogosphere and came across many great articles. So without further a due let's get to the good stuff and let VoIP Monitor keep you in the loop.

Fellow writer and friend Garrett Smith shares his insight on why the Skype - WalMart Deal Will Be a Flop.

Chris Hansen save the UK! SkypeJournal.com writes on, UK: Paedophiles use Skype to find and pursue likely targets. I think they meant Pedophiles, but I'd call them much worse.

VoIP Guide writes about a Jaduka hack to make free calls anywhere in the world in Best VOIP Solution for Free Calls.

I wanted to write on this article last week after I came across it over the Google newswire, however I simply ran out of time. The good news is voip-weblog.com has a great write up about it at Don't fall into the trap of VoIP Pyramid Scheme.

TheVOIPGirl shares Fring, Talkster, Nimbuzz and Barablu Reviewed.

And what would a VoIP blogosphere update be without the latest from Tom Keating? Well it just wouldn't as much fun, simple as that. Tom has a reminder of what summer fun used to be with a Slip 'n Slide and now the NEW Banzai Falls Twin Blast Rapids Waterslide. I couldn't help but think back to all the old neighborhood friends who broke bones on the WHAM-O Slip 'n Slide. Ahhh memories...

With today being 'Thirsty Thursday' hopefully these articles will help quench your thirst for some VoIP news. Just be sure to read in moderation.

Tricks and Tips: Use Skype as a Home Security System
Fring enables VOIP on N95
Senate committee extends E911 provisions to VoIP providers
Broadband Service Providers Face Wiretapping Deadline
Skype claims 10m Extras downloads
Free Wi-Fi for all in San Francisco

Just have time for a quick news roundup post today. So let's get right too it!

• Looking For VoIP Values. Great tips to consider if your organization is looking into VoIP.
• VoIP Supply Named ONE of WNY’s Best Places to Work. I keep in contact with Garrett Smith of VoIP Supply and I'm happy to pass along my congrats to VoIP Supply being named on of the best places to work!
• Tom Keating has been busy this week with his thoughts on Vonage inks deal with VoIP Inc bypassing Verizon patent claim and Vonage NOT Saved by VoIP, Inc.
• Review of KX-WP1050, the Latest Wi-Fi Phone from Panasonic.
• Joost, not that cool and I agree. After beta testing it months ago I'm still not overly impressed with Joost.
• India to ban VOIP -Skype, Yahoo, Vonage?
• Gumiyo users brought closer with Jajah.

I'm always checking VoIP bloggers websites for the latest and greatest news to bring to my readers attention. Today while looking at Jeff Pulver's blog it appears he's rolled out the red carpet and taken up the roll of paparazzi at Spring VON 2007. He's provided us with many pictures of attendee's and a great inside look of the event.

While over looking these pictures I couldn't help myself when I ran across a Patrick Dempsey look-a-like. I don't know this gentleman’s name and I hope he doesn't mind me drawing the similarity. You decide 'does he or doesn't he' look like Patrick Dempsey of Grey's Anatomy?

In other VoIP speedlinking news:

• Courts Rule In Favor of VoIP
• The biggest VoIP security threats - and how to stop them
• Microsoft Response Point - VoIP for Business
• Using VOIP in the real world
• Metro-scale Wi-Fi VoIP Phone in beta unveiled by EarthLink

Since today's VoIP news is rather slow, but no slower than any other Friday. Why not provide a weekly roundup of what VoIP bloggers have been writing. Just incase you missed it.

Yesterday I did a quick post on Herb Greenberg's take on "The MagicJack" which included a nice video. It seems other VoIP bloggers were picking up on the same story and provided their take on the topic. Tom Keating writes, magicJack - New VoIP Player launches and Paul Kapustka of GigaOM in MagicJack, Simpler VoIP than Skype?

Skype made news this week as it tops 500 million downloads which reminded me of this post Digg Hits 750,000 Sock Puppets (Great image included). In other Skype news Andy Abramson has hinted at Is Skype Getting Sexy? and Gautam of voip-weblog.com on Skype Prime Beta - get paid for the calls.

Last but not least this weeks big news came yesterday when the "Vonage" hit the fan. Great titles referenced everything, but Anita Ward's "Ring my Bell" song.

• Verizon 1, Vonage 0. End of the Seventh Inning.
• Vonage Gets It's Bell Rung by Verizon
• and Vonage loses in court, spins PR, promises no break in service

GrandCentral is adding support for the free Gizmo Project Internet VoIP service scheduled to be announced later today.

Jyve, a maker of Skype plug-ins aims to take on Google with it's "ask engine". Where searches provide a live chat, instant message or phone call from a person with expertise on the searched topic.

Last but not least is yet another Verizon customer service horror story.

It's early so be sure to check back for the latest in VoIP news and hopefully I can expand on these stories more.

With Valentines Day just around the corner Tom Keating gives us a heads up on a Vonage-gram for Valentine's Day. I'd also like to point out a few more sweet innovative Valentine gifts for your loved one. Thanks to Fortune Small Business February 2007 for spotlighting these products made by small companies, incase you feel like helping out the little guy.

• Plush Puffs Marshmallows: $8 for six as pictured in this post thanks for the image.
• Little Flower's Candy's Sea Salt Caramels: $26 a pound.
• Hammond's Candies' Lollipops: $15 for four.
• The Popcorn Suite's Strawberry Shortcake: $24 for four boxes.

Alec Saunders writes that Pat Phelan’s AllFreeCalls, now in Ireland. AllFreeCalls.ie lets Irish residents make a local call, and then enter the number of the place they wish to call. It’s a two stage calling system, financed by termination revenues from the local telco.

VoIP news earlier this week featured 25 Skype hacks some you might not have known about.

I've been meaning to highlight Leanne Tremblay aka VOIPGirl's blog for awhile now. Leanne reports PhoneGnome Feature: Reach Beyond. A feature that helps you stay connected to 10 frequently called non-PhoneGnome numbers.

Andy Abramson chimes in on Truphone Gets Google Eyed and Is GTalking and so does Gautam in The engagement of Truphone and Google Talk which comes with a nice Truphone video demo giving you an idea on the look and feel of how it all works.

Fellow blogger Jan Geirnaert over at www.Skype-Gadgets.com is attending 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain this Feb. 12th-15th. We wish him a safe flight from his "fortress" in Malaysia and look forward to an insiders view of the event. Keep up the great work Jan.

Just some VoIP news that I thought deserved some highlighting for today. So lets just jump right in.

First off I'd like to point out that the Phone tax refund is no scam. Taxpayers who paid excise taxes for Internet-based phone service, known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), are also eligible for the refund. The refunds range from $30 to $60, depending on the number of exemptions you claim on your tax return. So check out this article for information and a brief history on how the federal government first imposed a federal excise tax on phone services and how to get some money back.

My cousin informed me of 1500 free FON Wi-Fi routers at Giveaway Thursday: FON Wi-Fi routers, Joost and some Babelgum. I always love free stuff so do like they say, "give us some Digg love, click here. Help spread the word"

VoIP products who doesn't love them. Tom Keating brought my attention to VoIP products on QVC channel. Like Tom, I'd like to clearly state that I don't watch QVC. Tom's other news includes Skype for Mac 2.5 Goes Gold.

Jan writes about Skype Call forwarding plugin. Testing it now. Something fishy here and gives his scenario of what could happen if it falls into the wrong hands.

Todays last bit of news comes from Andy Abramson on fring and he explains it nicely at Fring Is Here so check it out. A brief description: fring uses your mobile internet connection to make peer-to-peer VoIP calls, send instant messages and talk with VoIP applications such as Skype and Google Talk, at no extra cost.

I posted an image of how fring works above. I know it's tiny, but that's why we use the lightbox script here on VoIPMonitor.net allowing you to simply click the image and see it in full scale. It works great for those over sized product images we receive too.

Jan writes about a new Skype Extra Ringjacker - Hijack your friends Ringtone! Ring them up with your music!. Great.... let's hope this doesn't lead to an invasion of ABBA calls. Here's where you can find the Ringjacker download.

Tom Keating comments Skype Pro launches all while giving props where props are due to Rich Tehrani who rummored it last week at ITEXPO.

Alec Saunders, helping to discover a new, yet old VoIP blogger source Thomas Anglero who's been writing Telecom's Tsunami since 2003. I'm always interested in helping spread the word of a new resource of VoIP information. I enjoyed reading Anglero's post on Opening the VoIP community... to everyone. If I can't bring you the news myself, why not share the work of others and help open the gates of the VoIP blogging community. Alec makes a great point that "As with any blogger, the quickest way to get my attention is write something that links to something I’ve written, or drop me an email." Amen to that.

What better way to end todays VoIP blog round up than with an episode of VoIP cops busy in Bangladesh and even More “Cops” in Bangladesh. Busts include $360,000 worth of VoIP equipment being rounded up in the latest 14th and 15th crack downs.