TippingPoint, a division of 3Com and the leader in intrusion prevention, announced Info Security Products Guide, one of the leading publications on security-related technologies, has named the TippingPoint X505 the winner of the Global Excellence in Integrated Security Appliance Customer Trust 2006 Award. More than 18,000 end users and prospective customers worldwide were invited to vote for the awards.

MonkeyDoo, a free online entertainment and prank website recently launched a service that would get any true prankster excited dubbed “The Ring Prank V.2.” What the service does is basically in the name, “The Ring Prank.” The way it works is, Person A (the prankster) creates a link by filling out a form on MonkeyDoo that asks details which will be used for the prank. Person A then sends the generated link to Person B (the prankee). Person B sees “The Ring” video (as popularized in the movie) with their name superimposed in various frames (creepy). At the end of the video, Person B then receives a call. The call is coming from “000-000-0000” (if Person B had caller id). If Person B picks up the phone they will hear a creepy voice say a custom message originally defined by Person A. Usually the message is something along the lines of, “You Will Die in Seven Days.”

Voice communications technology company PeerMe, Inc. is giving Internet users a new way to say in touch: digital "Voice Tags." PeerMe Voice Tags are simple button images that can be placed on a Web site, or even in email signatures, that allow Web users to click on these tags to make voice calls directly through a VoIP connection. Voice Tags, which work with any browser, can be downloaded for free from www.peerme.com.

Host Gator, a leading provider of shared, dedicated and reseller hosting, announced the launch of VOIPo, a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. VOIPo will operate as an independent subsidiary of Host Gator, and is targeting late September for a live launch.

VoiceOne Communications, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of VoIP, Inc., a leading provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications solutions for service providers, resellers and consumers, announced that a beta version of Click4Me.Net, the world's first Web-click calling service that utilizes the web for free phone-to-phone calling, is available for testing on VoiceOne's just launched Virtual Lab at http://Labs.Voiceone.Com.

Cordia Corporation, a global communications service provider, announced that it acquired a controlling interest in Canal West Solucoes em Informatica Ltda. ("Canal West"). Canal West, based in Florianopolis, Brazil, owns and operates a VoIP network in Brazil and markets National and International Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") Protocol) service in the Latin American region.

Intelsat announced that Station 53, a supplier of integrated communications services to luxury yachts, has signed a multi-year agreement to provide voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), data and Internet service through Intelsat's GlobalConnex(SM) managed network. Station 53 is the first maritime service provider dedicated exclusively to providing communications services to the luxury yacht market to sign with Intelsat.

Actiontec Electronics announced a new distributor agreement for its VoSKY family of Skype-certified products with Azlan, the Enterprise business unit of Tech Data Europe, serving resellers throughout the UK and Ireland. The agreement covers VoSKY Exchange, the first solution that enables businesses to take advantage of Skype's Internet phone service, as well as three other VoSKY products for making Skype calls from home phones, mobile phones, and hands-free speakerphones.

Intuitive Voice Technology LLC (IVT), a leading developer of IP telecom products, announced Evolution, PBX solutions for small businesses. Starting at $499 Evolution seamlessly integrates VoIP and standard phone lines. Evolution provides telecom capabilities previously not available to smaller companies.

VoIP, Inc., a leading provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications solutions for service providers, resellers and consumers, announced the launch of its "VoiceOne Lab Development Website" to showcase new technology and drive innovation through the testing and marketing of the company's new products and services.

8x8, Inc., the Packet8 broadband VoIP and videophone communications service provider announced the release of Packet8 Softalk, a video-enabled SIP softphone for use with Packet8 voice and video Internet phone services.

With Packet8 Softalk, subscribers can make and receive voice and video phone calls directly from their personal computers. Along with traditional landlines and cell phones, Softalk users can also call Packet8 VideoPhone subscribers to enjoy high quality video communications when traveling without needing to carry along a separate device.

Verizon has ceased collecting the 3 percent federal excise tax on monthly consumer telephone bills for long- distance and bundled services, effective today, following a decision by the Internal Revenue Service. Customers will be able to obtain a refund or credit from the IRS on their 2006 federal income tax returns for the portion of the excise tax that was applicable to those services and that customers paid over the past three years.

AT&T Inc. announced that Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC)'s Communications Solutions online magazine (http://www.tmcnet.com/comsol) has named AT&T BusinessDirect and AT&T Dynamic Network Applications as recipients of a 2005 Product of the Year Award.

SecureLogix Corporation announced that its Chief Technology Officer, Mark Collier, will be speaking at Black Hat USA 2006, a leading computer network security conference. Mr. Collier's presentation will preview some of the research findings set for release later this year in an upcoming book entitled "Hacking Exposed: VoIP" from publisher McGraw-Hill. Mr. Collier is co-authoring the book and co-presenting at Black Hat with David Endler, director of security research at 3Com and chairman of the Voice over IP Security Alliance (VOIPSA). The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, August 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Palace Ballroom 2 in Caesars Palace.

NETGEAR, Inc., a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, announced the first worldwide availability of the Integrated ADSL2+ Modem and Wireless Router with Voice (DG834GV). Six products in one, it combines an ADSL2+ Modem, Router, 10/100 Wired LAN Switch, 802.11g Wireless Access Point, Voice-over-IP (VoIP), and SPI Double Firewall -- offering greater simplicity for home and business networking. The Integrated Gateway is available now in Australia through engin with future rollout in other geographies through NETGEAR broadband service provider partners.