Free VoIP, make and receive IP Telephony calls. ineen has a laundry list of features which include voice, video, instant messaging, and most important - free. It is definitely a viable alternative to Skype and it has a nice interface. It is also available for Windows and Mac OS X. Try it out, its pretty nice!

For those interested in offering their own simliar product, ineen was built using Xten's eyeBeam SDK.

Well it would seem that Packet8 has been rated "best VoIP provider" according to TomsNetworking. Packet8 was compared to Voange, ATT&T CallVantage, iConnectHere, and Verizon VoiceWing and they were still able to steal the show.

"There's no doubt in my mind. Of the services I've used, Packet 8 is by far the best VoIP provider out there."

Read the entire article at TomsNetworking to see for yourself!

Juniper Networks announced its plans to buy Kagoor Networks in order to expand its list of services. Kagoor's session border controller product, VoiceFlow, will help to eliminate issues that VoIP traffic can experience over NAT networks or through firewalls.

Bell Canada is now (or soon will be) offering VoIP service to three Quebec cities: Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, and Sherbrooke. Go Canada!

Ezmax will begin selling their new MP3 player this May. Its a pretty standard unit considering their normal MP3 products, except for one thing - its also a VoIP phone!? You simply connect the MP3 player to a computer with high-speed internet using its USB cable and *presto* you can make (or receive a call). Well thats assuming you have previously signed up for a compatible VoIP provider and you don't own a Mac. The MP3 player has a built-in microphone on its earphone cord, it weighs 24grams (without battery), plays MP3, WMA, ASF, and Ogg (why not Audible?), built-in radio, and a two color screen. Now all we have to do is find a use for it.

Take a WLAN router, throw in a high-speed internet connection and what do you have? Easy and inexpensive internet telephony!

This device also has a portable handset which makes VoIP an option even on the road. In your hotel, at the airport, or at your local coffee shop, you only one click away.

The phone also includes speakerphone, address book, and CLIP (caller id). Oh and don't forget the voice-mail indicator which works even when the computer is turned off and a choice of ring-tones. How much more can you ask for!

Though the discussion of SPIT (SPam over Internet Telephony) was not a major topic during the VON Expo, it was brought up. Jeffrey Citron, chief executive of Vonage, answered a few questions in regards to security issues but he apparently wasn't ready to share their strategy.

The Daily Republican Register has a nice write-up about the difficulties in accessing 911 from VoIP. In short you need to make sure you find a service that offers E911 and I would definitely test it shortly after getting the service (not all services have 911 available immediately after hookup).

Check out their article.

There are several options for 911 depending on the VoIP provider but I read on America's Network that deltathree and TeleCommuincation Systems have signed an agreement. This agreement apparently enables deltathree to offer TCS' VoIP solution automatic routing of 911 calls of their current location.

Read the article at America's Network.

SearchEngineJournal has a quick write-up about "VoIP Phone Service Advantages and Drawbacks". They cover monthly fees, taxes, features, flexibility, connection, and 911.

conaito is offering an ActiveX SDK for VoIP applications. I've yet to try it but it can be used with VB6, VB.NET, C#, C++, Delphi, and Javascript and I've seen it for roughly $369 per license.

I'm not really sure what information MSNBC was trying to share in their "Tip Sheet" on VoIP but maybe for the general user its a little more informative. About a paragraph each on Vonage, Verizon, AT&T, and Cablevision (who isn't really much of a player). So, with that in mind check out their tips at MSNBC.

Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC(R)) today announced that total attendance at its VON Conference and EXPO exceeded 6,200 total attendees over the course of the event. That makes it the most successful INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO to-date. The conference was first launched in 1999.

BridgeCo, a leading provider of digital home entertainment networking solutions, announced a new reference design that brings VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) telephone service to consumer electronics in the living room. Working with HelloSoft, a leading provider of communication intellectual property, the BridgeCo reference design enables consumer electronics OEMs and ODMs to quickly develop cost-effective, secure VoIP ATAs (analog telephone adapters). Consumers can plug any type of conventional telephone -- wired or cordless -- into the RJ-11 jack of an ATA to make free and low-cost domestic and international VoIP telephone calls through the Internet to their friends and families.

CNET reports of a 17-year-old girl who, earlier this month, tried to call 911 after both her parents were shot by intruders but was informed from their VoIP provider that 911 was not available. Fortunately she was able to escape and contact the police through other means but how long can this continue?

There are two key reasons why the current 911 system does not work with most VoIP providers.