Negotiations started recently between Microsoft and Apple on one side, and UAE Telecoms controllers on the other, in order to check if the ban on Skype and FaceTime could be lifted. As Hamad Al Mansoori, head of the TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority), the “discussions are still ongoing”. According to arabic news Al Ittihad, those talks are a part of the two companies plan to extend their business in that part of the world. The goal of the UAE is to keep good relations with Microsoft and Apple, as the first is launching a data center in the UAE in order to cover the entire region. Etisalat and Emirates Integrated Communications have applications that offer similar features, called Botim and C’Me. Al Mansoori says that the number of people using those services are increasing. The main difference is that those apps are paid-for video applications. The telecoms in the UAE are…
The Irish government announced the signing with Apple of an agreement allowing the payment, in a blocked account, of 13 billion euros tax benefits deemed undue by the European Union. In August 2017, the EU commission said a sweetheart deal devised by the Irish government had allowed Apple to pay tax of just 0.005% in 2014 and an average rate of 1% over many years. Brussels estimates that the US company has paid too little tax in Ireland because of a tax agreement with the country’s authorities, which would have allowed the Government to tax only a tiny part of the billions earned by Apple in Europe. Ireland is home to the European headquarters of Apple, which records all the profits made in this geographical area as well as in Africa, the Middle East and India. The 13 billion euros should be transferred to the blocked account by the end of the…
Karolis Jurys, Commercial Manager at DIDWW, has a busy schedule managing two departments in the company: Sales and Carrier Relations. From his initial posting in the Support Department, Karolis has rapidly worked his way up through the organization and now fills this important position. During his eight years with the company, Karolis has taken part in 23 expos worldwide, and conducted hundreds of face-to-face meetings with customers and partners. Despite having a degree in business administration, he considers himself a technology and a sports lover. In his free time he browses the Internet to explore new technologies, plays games such as Counter-Strike and is competitive in basketball and squash. But after the birth of his first child, he now has very few spare moments between his responsibilities at work and enjoying his family. Karolis is a highly dedicated and motivated team member. “What I like about my work is that…
Fundamentally, Lina Zaboras is a people person. First thing every morning, the CEO of DIDWW devotes her time in walking through the company offices and taking the pulse of the team, because, as she says, “to us, relationships are everything, and only by developing personal connections, can we make a difference.” DIDWW views its staff as the distinction that makes the company successful. “We don’t see ourselves as producing products; rather, our people develop solutions,” Zaboras points out. “Almost every customer has very individual requirements, and it’s only by having dedicated and knowledgeable staff who can properly understand their challenges, that they can be confident of receiving a communications solution that will meet their needs.” Lessons learned outside the business Lina Zaboras’ appointment as the CEO of DIDWW was somewhat unusual. While she had ample skills and determination to take the business forward, her professional background in languages and education was very far…
Call centers are at the front line of customer service and are expected to run at peak efficiency while maintaining a high call volume. There are many challenges in managing and operating a call center, one of them being securing inbound calling services that meet both current and future needs. Voice support serves as the backbone for the call center, and it is short-sighted for a brand to risk their reputation by exposing consumers to a substandard voice product. Management is constantly concerned with basic communication issues. Are callers getting a busy signal? Are calls being dropped? Is the voice quality satisfactory? At the same time, the concurrent call requirements have to be managed, to ensure sufficient capacity without wasting money on excess channels. Furthermore, in recent years, organizations have seen their customer base contact them not only through more media channels but also from diverse locations around the globe.…
According to the American Cable Association (ACA), small VoIP providers may struggle to meet the technology demands of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposed robo calling solution plan. ACA represents around 750 of the smaller and mid-sized firms distributed around the US market. The association claims that most of its members might not afford the technology required for the SHAKEN/STIR FCC’s proposal. The SHAKEN (Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs) is a framework that has been developed by STIR (Secure Telephone Identity Revised), a working group that is looking for ways to prevent the 2.4 billion robo calls made to Americans every month. The system uses digital certificates, based on common public key cryptography techniques to ensure that a calling number is accurate and secure and has not been spoofed. The service can be provided by a carrier, a third party company or even via software built into a…
The term net neutrality, which pops up in Internet debate every few years, is the belief that all data on the Internet should be treated the same way by the Internet service providers (ISPs) and governments that regulate most of the Internet. The term suggests that there should be no discrimination and prices should not depend on user, content, website, platform, or application. There is always an uproar about the subject every time the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) submits a new rule on the topic, but then the matter quickly fades away. This ongoing cycle has resulted in tired businesses and consumers that have become insensitive towards the issue. However, they must not forget that most businesses now rely on the Internet for various workflows, and therefore any changes in the rules of net neutrality can significantly affect the VoIP industry and way companies function, particularly VoIP providers, since they…
Whether you are a newcomer in the business world or an established business owner that is struggling to maintain efficiency, low operation costs, and a strong phone system, switching your traditional phone system to a virtual PBX may be the best solution. Virtual PBX, which stands for Private Branch Exchange, is an advanced budget-friendly, easy-to-use phone system that is accessible from anywhere. The system transmits calls via the Internet and usually only handles inbound calls. It also enables businesses to route and forward their incoming calls, create automated greetings and more. In the past PBX used the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) technology for the operation. Nowadays, it uses the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology that is owned and maintained offsite by a VoIP service provider. Virtual PBX is an ideal solution for small business with up to 10 employees and which typically have low-volume telephone traffic. Advantages of Virtual PBX systems:…
Everyone that has experienced the impeccable voice quality of landline phones has certainly complained, at some point, about the quality of the sound during VoIP calls. Since the first Skype call was made, there has been lots of improvement in the quality and reliability of VoIP calls. However, there are still a few things that can influence the quality of your call. Here are the 5 main factors that have an impact on voice quality during VoIP calls and tips on what can be done to boost your calling experience: 1. Bandwidth is key Internet connection is the main factor that affects voice quality in VoIP conversations. The kind of bandwidth used for VoIP is crucial for a voice call system’s success. Dial-up connections are slower and consequently will not deliver the expected quality. On the other hand, broadband connections provide a much higher voice quality, as long as it is not being…
If you are working or interested in the VoIP technology industry and looking for some insights, tips, and trends on the market- then these are the 10 VoIP specialists in that you should be paying attention to on social networks. The slideshow below gives you a short biographical summary of each expert. For more information and links to their social media profiles, please scroll down. [cycloneslider id=”top-ten”] Jeff Keni Pulver – VoIP Market Specialist and Entrepreneur The North American Internet entrepreneur, Jeff Keni Pulver, is the co-founder of some of the best-known companies in the VoIP market, such as Free World Dialup, MoNage, Vonage, and the Zula application. As a well-known expert and pioneer in the VoIP market, Pulver is now hosting several events focused on the future of communication, including the use of bots. In addition, he has been investing in numerous startups related to the sector. LinkedIn: /in/jpulver…