Qwest Data Networking Services Give Minnesota Vikings' Home Field an Advantage

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced an exclusive two-year agreement with the Minnesota Vikings to connect the team’s stadium, practice field and offices using high-bandwidth data networking and Internet services.

As the Official Communications Provider of the Minnesota Vikings, Qwest already is the exclusive provider of high-speed Internet, DIRECTV® service and Qwest Digital Voice at the team’s training facility. Under this new contract, the Vikings will now connect the Metrodome, Winter Park practice field and the team’s marketing and sales offices using Qwest Metro Optical Ethernet (QMOE) services. With Internet speeds up to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps), this upgrade will maximize the user experience whenever players and staff log-on, tune in and talk over Qwest’s high-speed, secure and reliable network.

8x8, Inc. Introduces Small Business Videoconferencing Solution for Packet8 Virtual Office Hosted iPBX Subscribers

2008 International Consumer Electronics Show -- 8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT), provider of Packet8 (www.packet8.net) broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), videophone and mobile VoIP communication services, today introduced the Packet8 Virtual Office Tango Video Terminal Adapter (VTA), a convenient and affordable desktop videoconferencing solution that enhances the functionality of the Packet8 Virtual Office hosted iPBX phone system, now in use by over 10,000 U.S. based small businesses.

Vonage and Nortel Agree to Settle Patent Dispute

Vonage and Nortel today announced that they have agreed in principle to end the litigation pending between them. The contemplated settlement involves a limited cross
license to three Nortel and three Vonage patents and will not call for any monetary payments by any party. Claims relating to past damages and the remaining patents will be dismissed without prejudice. The settlement is subject to final documentation.

"We are pleased to resolve this issue and enter into a productive relationship with Nortel," said Vonage Chief Legal Officer Sharon O'Leary.

For more information on VoIP and digital voice visit www.bridgevine.com

Best Buy launches new VoIP services for businesses

by Brian White

Telecom companies are in trouble these days as more and more customer dump landlines for cellphones and use Voice-over-IP (VoIP) products instead of those expensive home telephone services. Did you ever think retailers would be competing with telecom companies for customers?

Best Buy, Inc.'s (NYSE: BBY) Best Buy for Business subsidiary has you covered on that topic, as the division of the nation's largest consumer electronics company is introducing its "EasyVoice" VoIP service for businesses. Best Buy's new service offering is being marketed on a "cost per employee" basis, starting at $19.95 per employee. This appears to be the largest-yet launch of a service that was born out of the Speakeasy purchase earlier in the year.

Will Best Buy be able to service companies at the required quality of service level that businesses demand? If telecom issues erupt with consumers, the world generally doesn't stop spinning. But, with companies, telecom problems cause revenue flow interruptions and customer service nightmares. As Best Buy begins to compete with established telecommunications companies with its new telephone service, it needs to keep that high in its mind. That, or customers will turn tail to companies like AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T) just as fast as they went to Best Buy for phone service.

Verizon Business Rolls Out VoIP Enhancements

Verizon's Integrated Communications Package upgrades its VoIP offering with access to e-mail, calendar synchronization, and fully managed voice communication

Verizon Communications' Business unit will launch a VoIP service for customers of its Hosted IP Centrex package that will give users access to new features like text messaging and calendar synchronization.

Verizon Business' Integrated Communications Package is targeted at businesses and government agencies whose employees want more collaboration and mobility functionality with their VoIP phones, Verizon said. The package is designed to reduce the time and effort needed to connect employees, the company said.

The package allows users to access voice e-mail, control incoming and outgoing calls, manage their online presence, send text messages, and synchronize contacts and calendars, Verizon said.

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Skype Blackout Fixed, Caused by Massive PC Restart

Skype Blackout Fixed, Caused by Massive PC Restart
By Clint Boulton
August 20, 2007

Microsoft Windows patches and millions of PC restarts cracked Skype

The blackout that left millions of Skype users without the ability to make Internet phone calls from their PCs for two days was, ironically, triggered by the service's users. Skype offers a P2P (peer-to-peer) VOIP (voice over IP) software service, which allows users to make phone calls, instant messages and videos over their computers with a broadband Internet connection. The service is free for users of the Skype network and is extremely popular, boasting more than 220 million users.

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Skype Hit By Bug

The popular Internet calling service Skype has been hit by a bug that has caused it to go offline in certain regions, it has been reported.

Many users in Europe and the Americas were unable to log on to the service on Thursday because of what Skype called a "software problem". Users in Germany, Finland, the US, Brazil and Colombia all reported problems with the service. Many could not log in for up to 14 hours. The company stated: "Our engineering team has determined that it's a software issue. "We expect this to be resolved within 12 to 24 hours."

Skype was founded by entrepreneurs Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis in 2003 and was sold to the internet auction giant eBay in 2005. Services offered by Skype include voice and video conferencing, transferring files and instant messaging. Zennstrom and Friis are also the team behind the new internet TV site, Joost and the file-sharer Kazaa. Click here for information on other digital products and services.