Rebtel introduces ToIP (Text-over-IP) a new texting service that allows for SMS through local numbers over internet and also gives large SMS application providers a way to extend savings to their customers, while creating a better way to monetize these target groups.

In addition, Rebtel announced it has dramatically reduced rates on international text messages from the U.S. also for people who don’t own smartphones. Rebtel ToIP for feature phones, which is a complement to the SMS service in their smartphone offerings, is up to 92.5% less expensive than the going rate offered by Sprint, and up to 93% cheaper than AT&T and Verizon, the two largest mobile telecom carriers in the U.S.

Have you ever been chatting with a friend on Facebook only to realize it would be nice to actually hear the person’s voice? You’re not alone. A recent survey found that 88% of Facebook users want voice chat capabilities within the site. Today, Bobsled by T-Mobile, is making that possible.

Free Voice Calls Within Facebook
The new Bobsled application provides Facebook’s more than 500 million users worldwide with free, one-touch calling to their Facebook friends from a personal computer and through the social platform’s chat window. With Bobsled, T-Mobile is giving voice to social networking.

MegaNet Communications has announced the expansion of their VoIP services to cover any size customer, in both residential and business markets nationwide.

In addition to monthly cost savings that can range anywhere from 15%-40% over traditional voice services, VoIP enables businesses to take advantage of many features that used to only come with large hardware phone system purchases. MegaNet’s Virtual PBX service provides auto attendants, voicE:, automatic call forwarding, and interactive voice menus as part of the monthly service; traditionally businesses needed to purchase a costly hardware system to use these features.

West Corporation and Smoothstone IP Communications jointly announced that they have entered into an agreement whereby West will acquire Smoothstone. The acquisition adds to West’s expanding unified communications business, which includes InterCall.

Smoothstone develops and delivers highly flexible and scalable solutions for clients’ next-generation IP telephony needs. As enterprises upgrade their voice and data infrastructure, Smoothstone offers software-driven applications that exist in the cloud and are delivered through a software-as-a-service model. Smoothstone applications and services reduce the costs, risks and uncertainties of deploying new IP technology. Smoothstone’s solutions combine to bring the benefits of unified IP communications to enterprises quickly and reliably.

CommuniGate Systems announces the line up for its Annual Executive Summit in Berlin.

The summit takes place in Berlin, May 25th-27th and focuses on bringing together influential telecoms leaders to share and exchange innovative strategies for the future success of the telecoms sector, including:

• Robert Mane: Chief Executive Officer, Cablegroup
• Paul Wade: Chief Executive Officer, SmarterMobile
• Georges-Pierre Selmer: Multimedia and Content Services Manager, NRJ Mobile
• Jos de Kruijf: Owner dK Consult and Executive Advisor to Miyowa and eBuddy
• Dr Ulrich Hammerschmidt: Vice President Innovation Projects, Deutsche Telekom, International Carrier Sales & Solutions
• E. Brent Kelly: Senior Analyst and Partner, Wainhouse Research

Mirial announces that Motorola Xoom and HTC ThunderBoltT have been added to the list of certified devices for Mirial ClearSea.

Motorola Xoom is the first Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet. It features dual core processor and 10.1" widescreen HD display, 2-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel back.

ClearSea is the only professional video conferencing solution including a software client for Android devices that enables organization to connect Pc, Mac, Android or iOS devices and any standards-based H.323/SIP equipment, such as videoconferencing room systems.

Sipera Systems announced that its award-winning UC-Sec enterprise communications security solution is undergoing compatibility testing with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator security management platform.

When the testing is completed, security managers can gain visibility into the entire spectrum of IP-based business communications -- including voice, video, data and web applications -- from a single central management point. This enables security managers to have unprecedented control over the security of voice-over-IP, IP video conferencing, SIP trunks, collaboration applications and other UC applications.

Vonage introduced the World Premium Unlimited calling plan. This new offering builds on the value of the popular World plan by expanding the number of countries for unlimited calling from 60 to 80, including unlimited calling to mobile phones in 42 countries.

"People who make international calls to mobiles are frustrated by the huge premiums they pay to their phone company," said Mike Tempora, senior vice president of product management for Vonage. "World Premium provides these callers with the peace of mind to call any landline or mobile number in 42 countries including Brazil, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia, France, Spain and the UK for one flat price. Customers who use World Premium Unlimited to call as little as one hour a week to mobile phones in countries like Mexico and the UK will save over $400 a year versus the best pay per minute rates from major phone companies."

The SANS Institute will be teaching the first European session of its new Security 540: VoIP Security course at the upcoming SANS Secure Europe event in Amsterdam this May. The 6-day course which debuted last year in Sacramento has proven popular and is already at 50% capacity.

“Voice over IP is a rapidly growing area due to the huge cost saving potential but organisations often fail to consider the security impact,” explains Paul Henry, one of the world's foremost information security and computer forensic experts with more than 20 years' experience.

Henry points to examples such as arrests made In Budapest and London last year of 30 members of an organised criminal gang that allegedly stole 11 million Euro’s through VoIP toll fraud. The gang used thousands of stolen VoIP account details to make 1.5 million calls to premium rate numbers which, in turn paid the gang a percentage of the inflated call charges. Other cases like Edwin Andres Pena who was sentenced to 10 years in jail in a US Federal Court for stealing and reselling VoIP call credits are part of a growing trend. “The automated billing mechanisms of VoIP services using direct debit or credit cards make these prized targets for criminals who often have difficulty selling stolen data,” Henry adds.

netTALK.com announces that the netTALK DUO VoIP device and digital phone service is now being sold at Dell.com.

The netTALK DUO is a revolutionary VoIP device and digital phone service that enables free nationwide calls to any phone in the U.S. and Canada from anywhere in the world, as well as rock-bottom international rates and a slew of other features, detailed at www.nettalk.com. No computer is necessary to use the netTALK DUO, as it simply plugs directly into a router or modem (or computer). The suggested retail price for the devise is $69.95, including the entire first year of phone service and only $29.95 each year after.

TelcoDepot.com Hosted PBX VoIP service will provide businesses with easy, risk-free and affordable access to PBX VoIP services without the huge cost of acquiring a PBX phone or physical VoIP hardware. The solution is completely internet-based and remotely administered by TelcoDepot.com, providing customers with access to the full suite of PBX VoIP services including Voicemail, Extensions, Unified Messaging, Paging, Multi-Party VoIP Conferencing, Call Forwarding and Intercom services for only a fraction of the typical cost on a pay-as-you-go basis. Customers will be provided will fully programmed and provisioned desk phones to facilitate the service, and will need to pay a one-time refundable deposit for the phones.

JAJAH released the JAJAH App for iPhone, which allows anyone to call online Facebook friends anywhere in the world in just one click.

The beta is now available in the US and Canada. This follows Tuesday's release of the JAJAH App for Android, which attracted thousands of downloads in the first 48 hours.

Calls to Facebook friends are free from JAJAH, and the person receiving the call only needs to be your friend on Facebook. No need for them to download anything or for them even to be a JAJAH member.

JAJAH and Globe Telecom announce a partnership to deliver retail VOIP services to Filipinos abroad.

The new services will be built on the JAJAH IP Communications Platform, which enables operators, internet companies and other brands to roll out and manage cutting edge calling services. Globe Telecom is the latest major operator to partner with JAJAH since its acquisition by Telefónica Europe in early 2010.

With an estimated 10 million Filipinos living outside the Philippines, Globe Telecom has chosen JAJAH to deliver retail VOIP services aimed at letting overseas Filipinos call home simply and affordably, using their regular phone through a registration-based service offering.

PingTone continues to rank high in customer satisfaction among existing customers, according to a recent survey by Mojo, Marketing & Web Solutions.

The 2010 survey which included over 290 customers, found that over 99% expressed a high approval rating for PingTone’s hosted VoIP service. The customer survey addressed three broad areas: overall satisfaction with PingTone service (experience, quality, ROI, price), PingTone vs. the Competition, and Likes / Dislikes / Recommendations with PingTone service. Overall, existing customers are satisfied and continued to provide praise for PingTone service and the Customer Support organization.

Voxbone has collaborated with JAJAH to develop a value-added telecommunications service that makes international calling simple and affordable. The International Favorites service, which Jajah provides for mobile customers of O2 in the United Kingdom, offers a subscriber a virtual overseas number so friends and family abroad can call at local rates.

As part of the new service, Voxbone supplies an international “Call Me” number that directly reaches a customer’s mobile phone.