Killing Skype?

[crbuys]

Hi all,

The world may be gaga about peer-to-peer VoIP, but Verso Technologies has just announced a literal Skype killer.

Atlanta-based Verso Technologies last week announced the introduction of a carrier grade tool or 'application filter' designed to let cable operators and other IP service providers "selectively disable undesirable network traffic and improve service levels on their networks," according to a press release. The product is aimed specifically at peer-to-peer (p2p) applications, such as VoIP, instant messaging, conferencing, and other types of streaming media.

Full article: http://internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3550691

Regards,

 

[antowan]

There will always be someone who develops stuff like this. In a corporate environment some peeps may find a reason for it. Personally I will never restrict the Internet for my employees more than need be, if at all.

I wish more people (especially at Telkom) could think and internalise the original spirit of the net. Free, open and for all! If a business can at least translate that to cheap, quick and for the broad market I will be happy...

 

[jeinnor30]

There will always be someone who develops stuff like this. In a corporate environment some peeps may find a reason for it. Personally I will never restrict the Internet for my employees more than need be, if at all.

I wish more people (especially at Telkom) could think and internalise the original spirit of the net. Free, open and for all! If a business can at least translate that to cheap, quick and for the broad market I will be happy...

That is so cool that you dont restrict your employees, wish I had a boss like you.

 

[int03h]

But when does someone need to take control?

This is all very easy to say when you have a cap of N and the internet usage is N/2. But when do network ops people need to step in .. when network usage is N*2. It kinda like a pay increase .. your expenses will expand and exceed whatever is available. In reality this is simple economics .. people see VOIP as cheap telephony.. the question is at who's expense. VOIP demands and creates QOS which basically queues up/slows down other potentially more important traffic. The true cost needs to be carried by the individuals that create the "problem" i.e. if they want QOS then they need to pay for it. So these shaping tools are there to create fairness, its unreasonable to expect people to do what is right and not abuse services that are free and available with no control and no monatory or other punative measures. The reason the net was originally free whas because it was created on the basis of no QOS/SLA/expectation, remember also that SMTP traffic ( UUCP actually if you can remember ) was the primary traffic ( hundreds of 15-20k text messages ), almost nobody had colour monitors or vga card, so no graphics .. so bandwidth was not a huge problem. The reason the net has become commercialised is because people are demanding richer content, hence it is unlikely to ever become cheaper.. as the technology allows the net grow(speed up) .. so do people expectations of more and more content. Its a balancing act .. and again the shapers allow things to stay somewhat saner. i.e. Love your shaper its what allows you to have access to the net. PS IMHO Shapers suck.. but you have to know why they do it.

 

[mccrack]

This might only be heresay but somewhere along the line someone told me that in the States it's illegal too shape or throttle internet traffic ?