I went to the ‘Channel Partners’ conference in Chicago back in September 2011 and this question was being asked so many times it got me thinking that.

There is no single and clear explanation that people can use over and over again and be sure that the client understands what SIP trunks are.

Of course, a lot of clever people out there have no problems explaining what a SIP trunk is and their clients are making SIP calls all day long and reaping the benefits of this ever evolving technology.

But after hearing this question repeated over and over again not just at Channel Partners but other events such as ITEXPO and Enterprise.

Connect I thought that people in the Telco business could help me out in my quest.

So, I placed the question on a number of groups on Linkedin and received around 90 responses.

The remit was to be able to describe SIP trunks to a client; so some of the good but overly technical suggestions we put to one side and after a little more sifting we got them down to what we (at The SIP School) thought were the better ones.

Then we posted them all on our website for people to vote on them.

353 votes later and we’ve now decided to announce the winner!

With 19% of the votes (67 out of 353) the winning description is:

“SIP Trunking is a Voice over IP (VoIP) solution that uses a data network or internet connection to connect a business telephone system to the PSTN.”

Well done to Bruce McKay of Allstream OK, so we have a winner yet with 19% of the votes it wasn’t a runaway victory and I’m certain that some of you may not completely agree – but there it is.

The ‘challenge’ was meant to be informative as well as fun and now if you need to find that snappy explanation to help your clients understand this could be the phrase you can use to ensure no glassy eyes!.

Why not try it out next time you are speaking with people and let us know your reactions on the Linkedin group SIP Trunking – Trials and Tribulations.

But wait..!

I’ve got a funny feeling that we may have to ask this question again at some point because there are a couple of things that I want to add to wrap up this (completely) non-scientific exercise.

Firstly, the winning comment mentions connecting to the PSTN.

Well maybe this should be saying the PSTN and other VoIP enabled networks?.

Connectivity to the PSTN is important yet as people try to avoid the PSTN then what are they connecting to?.

Yes, it’s other branches, partner companies etc, over Data networks.

Also, a fair number of entries were clear in saying that the term ‘Trunk’ shouldn’t be used at all!.

I understand why they say this i.e. it’s linked to old technology etc. etc.

But actually it’s a word that everyone is used; it’s not going to disappear, so let’s make it work by explaining it clearly.

Finally I have to say that if the winning explanation or even your own still confuses your client, then try the one from Steve Barret (Portel AV Ltd in the UK).

“I spent ages recently trying to explain what SIP was all about.

In the end I told my client it was a ‘magic door’ he understood this and asked why I hadn’t said that in the first place!”.

And with those final words, that’s it until the next challenge – Watch this space!.

Graham Francis is the CEO of the SIP School and can be contacted at graham@thesipschool.com.
FollowGraham on Twitter.

Mozat Pte Ltd, a leading mobile social platform for operators, today announced that it has made this year’s Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in the APAC region.

Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth over three years.

Through MOZAT, its mobile social platform, it is now serving 16 million subscribers worldwide, with strong presence in the Middle East and is now widening its footprint in the Asia Pacific.

Mozat’s CEO, Dr Michael Yin, credits product innovation, key partnerships with telecom operators and new market penetration with the company’s significant growth over the past three years.

He said, “This recognition is testament to our commitment in enriching people’s lives by driving mobile innovation.

We continuously improve and strive for excellence in providing a mobile social platform that places operators at the centre of the mobile ecosystem, helping them expand their market share.”

At present, Mozat has 15 telco partners, including Vodafone in Egypt, STC in Saudi Arabia, Viva Telecom in Kuwait and Bahrain, Umniah Telecom in Jordan, among others.

Its mobile social platform supports more than 600 types of devices from major mobile platforms (Android, BlackBerry, iOS, J2ME, Symbian and soon, Windows Phone 7).

“Because Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific measures sustained revenue growth over three years.

Being one of the 500 fastest growing technology companies in Asia Pacific is an impressive achievement,” said Yoshitaka Asaeda, partner in charge of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific program.

”Mozat deserves a lot of credit for its remarkable growth.”

Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific selection and qualifications

The Technology Fast 500 list is compiled from the Deloitte Asia Pacific Technology Fast 50 programs, nominations submitted directly to the Technology Fast 500, and public company database research.

To qualify for the Technology Fast 500, entrants must have had base-year operating revenues of at least US$ 50,000.

Entrants must also be public or private companies headquartered in Asia Pacific and must be a “technology company,” defined as a company that develops or owns proprietary technology.

That contributes to a significant portion of the company’s operating revenues; or manufactures a technology-related product or devotes a high percentage of effort to the research and development of technology.

Using other companies’ technology in a unique way does not qualify.

About Mozat Pte Ltd

Mozat Pte Ltd is a leading mobile social platform for operators worldwide. Mozat’s award-winning mobile social platform envisions connecting mobile communities for long-term brand loyalty and engagement.

It enables integrated social networking, communication tools and multi-player gaming on a single application.

It supports over 600 different handsets across all popular mobile operating systems, such as Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, iOS and J2ME.

Serving over 16 million mobile users worldwide, Mozat is building the “social hub” for the world’s top telecommunications operators.

Mozat is backed by JAFCO Asia and seed-funded by Singapore investment funds BAF Spectrum Pte Ltd, Symphony Investments Pte Ltd, SPRING SEEDS Capital Pte Ltd and NUS Enterprise Pte Ltd.

For more information, please visit http://www.mozat.com.

At technology shows, the Korean company has also demonstrated flexible screens just 0.3mm thick.

Its latest video demo shows off truly out there technology a tablet of the future that offers instant translation video and a level of 3D beyond anything yet available.

Samsung has said that it will start to ship ‘bendy screened’ gadgets in the first half of 2012 with the first ‘flexible’ gizmos on the market certain to be mobile phones.

Samsung’s transparent  flexible AMOLED screen isn’t as wacky as it seems.

The company has already promised that it will ship flexible AMOLED devices in 2012, starting with mobile phones.

This is where it all starts to get a little far-fetched the screen seems to be able to ‘throw’ a holographic 3D image so solid it looks like you could touch it. Glasses free 3D does exist .

The screen has the functions of a high end tablet computer  and appears to be able to translate instantly from French into Korean Language.

But while Samsung’s video demo might be ‘concept technology’.

Factories in the Far East are already working on ‘real’ versions flexible phones that will hit the market in early 2012.

Both Samsung and Nokia are working on the technology.

During a company results conference, investor relations chief Robert Yi said, ‘The flexible display, we are looking to introduce sometime in 2012, hopefully the earlier part.’

Yi said that the first devices to ship with flexible screens would be phones.

Other possible applications include ‘foldable’ iPad style tablets.

It’s not an out-there prediction, either.

Rival smartphone giant Nokia unveiled a basic prototype of the Nokia Kinectic a bendable smartphone at Nokia World.

Kinectic allowed users to bend the screen to control functions such as music and video.

Nokia refuses to say when its Kinectic smartphones will be on sale.

Earlier Samsung demonstrations have shown off OLED screens which can be folded over.

The company demonstrated ‘bendable’ AMOLED screens 4.5 inches across and just 0.3mm thick in January this year.

Another paper by Samsung scientists showed off an AMOLED screen with a section that could be folded over completely without cracking.

Managed to get a hold of a prototype and film it you can’t feel the actual effect on video but you do get the idea and all the possibilities this brings for anything from photography to even gaming.

Senseg’s amazing E-sense technology in the past but now that see the first prototype displays in action it seems that the technology is actually close to being deployed on an actual device.

What does it do? Imagine a blind person being able to read braille on a touchscreen or you touching the picture of your cat and feeling the fur.

That’s what the Swedes from Senseg want to bring to reality and they use electrostatic fields simulating different levels of friction.

This allows you to get the sensation of touch anything from fur to sand paper.

The technology is demonstrated on a tablet and that’s probably the best guess about where it could end up  but Senseg says there are no restrictions to screen size.

In order for this to happen, Senseg has to close some contracts with hardware partners to implement the technology.

Company representative Dave Rice says that this is in the process of being negotiated now and within a 12 to 24 month period we could see the technology on real products.

Additionally unlike most other haptic feedback technologies of today the company doesn’t physically alter the display.

So all current screens could be turned into ones conveying friction.

Toyota Motor Corp  unveiled the futuristic concept car resembling a giant smartphone to demonstrate.

How Japan’s top automaker is trying to take the lead in technology at the upcoming Tokyo auto show, which opens to the public this weekend.

Toyota Fun-Vii, a futuristic concept car that Toyota’s president described as a smartphone on four  wheels.

Smartphone screens have certainly been growing, from 3.5-inches, to 4-inches, to 4.5-inches.

Toyota’s concept of the future is a whimsical one, where people would get out of their cars and use the giant touch screen to do some internetting.

Also, do you know how expensive body work already is when someone side-swipes your parked car?.

Now imagine adding the cost of a gigantic, curved, back-lit touchscreen.

The Fun-Vii is beautiful, need more sci-fi in future, not because things like this are great ideas, but because they are creative and they inspire a sense of awe and possibility.

The Fun-Vii, which stands for ‘vehicle interactive internet’, is a concept car with a bodyshell made of touch-screen panels that not only allow the driver to change the pattern on display but also connect the car to the dealership’s website for a check up.

It even greets its driver with a message that flashes up on the door.

Meanwhile, inter vehicle connectivity helps the Fun-Vii to be aware of, for example, a vehicle in its blind spot, the car ahead is making an emergency stop or other potential road hazard.

No less than 323 Apple patents list Jobs among the inventors responsible for them.

Now the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is honoring the Apple founder with a dedicated exhibit.

The late Steve Jobs has been hailed as a brilliant businessman, marketer, and visionary.

He was also an prolific inventor, if the number of patents bearing his name are any indication.

The Patents and Trademarks of Steve Jobs, Art and Technology that Changed the World puts Jobs’ patents on display in the USPTO’s National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum.

Conceived by the nonprofit Invent Now, the exhibit has a look that’s instantly recognizable  30 giant size iPhones, lined up screen to screen in a simple rectangular formation, like a military salute designed by Jonathan Ive.

Most prominently, Samsung has been engaged in patent wars with Apple over how closely its Galaxy products mimic the design and operation of iPhones and iPads, as shown in this infographic.

To a lesser extent, Nokia, Motorola, and even LG have tussled with Apple over patent infringement.

The Jobs exhibit kicked off Nov, 16 and is on display until Jan. 15, 2012. Located in the atrium of the Madison Building on the USPTO’s campus in Alexandria, Va.

it’s free to attend during the museum’s regular business hours.

Among the patents Jobs is credited with, Method and apparatus for use of rotational user inputs, which essentially patented the iPod clickwheel.

Voicemail manager for portable multifunction device, the basis for the iPhone’s visual voicemail; and 13 separate patents on product packaging alone.

TelcoBridges Inc., the preferred hardware and software supplier for telecom resellers, system integrators, and solution developers, has partnered with Smart Network Solutions integrator and a value-added distributor for the United States and Latin America.

With the liberalisation of the telecom market within LATAM, its vast geography and an ever growing population make it a lucrative market to pursue.

In 2011, TelcoBridges has signed five+ (5+) new partners within the Latin American market, establishing a secure channel of distribution for its Tmedia family of VoIP gateway products and its TB Support Services.

Smart Network’s dynamic entrepreneurial spirit allowed it stand out from the crowd, and made it that much more appealing to TelcoBridges to win as a new partner.

Smart Network Solutions is a dynamic company with over 10 years experience in the telecom industry.

Focusing its selling efforts in: Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Smart Network’s vision is to become the leading CALA Value Added IP Solutions Distribution Channel, bringing innovation to their clients based on new technology concepts, devices and foreseeing the future of technology.

Smart Network has differentiated itself by generating new business models and market opportunities for their clients.

“We expect exceptional growth in the next two (2) years based on the forecasted needs of the booming contact center industry within Latin America.

Many of the IP Telephony Providers have important contracts with various Telecom Operators which required SS7 interconnect.

Top performance, high quality SS7 signalling and competitive prices are required and TelcoBridges has aligned themselves to do just that.

We are very excited to work with the leaders in the SS7 Industry.” states Mrs Sandra Valencia, Vice-President Sales, Smart Network Solutions.

“TelcoBridges is dedicated to forging solid, long-term partnerships which create value for carriers worldwide.

Smart Network Solutions is a natural fit with our corporate culture, and their industry experience and know-how paired with our high-density, carrier grade VoIP gateways creates a synergy which will benefit the LATAM.”

States Mr. Gaetan Campeau, President and CEO, TelcoBridges Inc. “Our goal in the next six (6) months is to win over the market by presenting the company our products, and allowing potential clients to try the product for themselves.

Our team is second to none and by working with TelcoBridges, it becomes quickly evident that you are working with one of the rare companies who provide a reliable product that is supported by passionate industry professionals.”

For more information with regard to Smart Network Solutions or TelcoBrigdes, please visit: http://www.smartisvoip.com/ andwww.telcobridges.com respectively.

Microsoft Corp. is encouraging artistic creativity through the launch of an international art project called “The Art of Touch,” at http://www.artoftouch.com.

Inspired by the Microsoft family of Touch mice consisting of the Microsoft Touch Mouse, Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse and Microsoft Explorer Touch Mouse.

These three unique mice raise the bar on innovation and customer experience.

Visitors to the site can easily create original works of art with a palette of brushes and effects built into the application.

Art created with the palette may be submitted, easily shared with their social networks and voted on, allowing the artist with the most votes to be awarded the grand prize of “featured artist” status on the Art of Touch website.

With the Art of Touch palette, people have access to an exclusive set of digital brushes and effects to create art in a modern Web browser using their mouse.

Three brushes produce a ribbon, smoke or streak and, initially, five different effects can be added to each stroke with the click, swipe or flick of a mouse.

Some of the effects include starbursts, trees, ribbons and splats.

New effects will debut throughout the campaign, along with special effects created by featured generative artists, Erik Natzke, Dr. Woohoo! and Marius Watz.

The canvas feature of HTML5 is combined with JavaScript libraries to draw the strokes and computer generated animations in real time in the Web browser.

“We wanted to reinvigorate the magic of technology in a dynamic and new way by redefining what a mouse can create, and we welcome everyone to contribute to the communal canvas,” said François Ruault, senior director of marketing for Microsoft Hardware.

“People can further their experience on the Art of Touch website by learning about the Microsoft family of Touch mice.”

This evening at the Microsoft Store at University Village in Seattle, the Art of Touch project will launch with Watz demonstrating the Art of Touch palette.

Those people attending will be among the first to contribute their original artwork to the Art of Touch website, with the intention that the artwork will be an ever-evolving community masterpiece.

In addition, they can save and repurpose their creations for customized items such as desktop wallpaper, postcards or design covers for electronic devices, and they can even print them on canvas.

At the Microsoft 2011 Partners in Learning Global Forum, the Microsoft Corp.

Announced new and continuing collaborations with the U.S. Department of Education, the British Council and the Smithsonian Institution to engage educators from their initial desire to enter the profession to successfully inspiring students in their classrooms.

Microsoft believes that well-prepared educators can help today’s youth overcome the emerging opportunity divide and can help put students on a path toward the education, skills and opportunities they need to prosper in the 21st century.

The Microsoft Partners in Learning Global Forum is the culmination of a year’s worth of country and regional events honoring teachers and school leaders who are creatively and effectively using technology in their curriculum.

The event provides these exceptional educators with an opportunity to compete and gain recognition at the global level and to share and collaborate on best practices, key learnings and how to implement creative ideas.

“The Partners in Learning program is one of the many investments Microsoft is making to help educators more effectively prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president of education at Microsoft Corp.

“At Microsoft, we believe that magic happens when business needs merge with social responsibility, and in an increasingly competitive global economy, bringing together organizations that are equally passionate about education can be a successful formula for preparing the next generation of leaders.”

Talented educators are critical to ensuring that students are better prepared to compete for the higher-skilled jobs demanded by today’s economy.

To help fulfill the growing need for educators in the United States, Salcito announced in today’s keynote that Microsoft will collaborate with the U.S. Department of Education to support a campaign aimed at inspiring and recruiting young people to enter the teaching profession.

As part of this, Microsoft is assuming overall management of the TEACH website.

In the coming months, Microsoft will be taking the lead in developing a coalition of private-sector companies and other key organizations to further support the campaign and will be moving the site to teach.org.

Microsoft also announced a new, five-year partnership with the British Council, an international organization for educational opportunities and cultural relations, to increase quality and access in education and training around the world.

This partnership will combine the assets of Microsoft and the British Council to nurture the use of information communications technology for innovative practice in teaching and learning in order to equip millions of students with the knowledge and skills they need for life and work in the 21st century.

Microsoft and the British Council have each committed $1 million (U.S.) to the partnership’s first project, which will build 80 digital hubs at schools across Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda using Windows MultiPoint Server.

The project is expected to train more than 20,000 school leaders and teachers and provide more than 100,000 learners and communities with digital access, while promoting literacy throughout the region.

The project was inspired by similar work already underway in Africa by the British Council and by a commitment that Microsoft and other partners made at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2010 to build labs powered by Windows MultiPoint Server in 40 “lighthouse” schools in Haiti, serving 24,000 students.

“I welcome our new partnership with Microsoft, which will enable us to create opportunities for millions of educators and students around the world,” said Martin Davidson, chief executive, British Council.

“By working together to harness technology for education and training, we can make a powerful contribution to preparing young people throughout the world for life and work in the 21st century.”

Microsoft Partners in Learning, the Smithsonian Institution and TakingITGlobal are continuing to expand the Shout program, which was announced at last year’s Global Forum in South Africa.

The partnership harnesses the power of technology to connect research and education resources with teachers and their students so they can act as a driving force for significant, positive contributions to the environment.

This year’s program will focus on water quality and quantity, to ensure that water is safe for both people and the environment, as well as managing the crises of too much water and not enough water.

The 2011 Partners in Learning Global Forum is being held in Washington, D.C., Nov. 7–10.

Winners of the 18 Global Forum Educator Awards will be announced, and 18 new Mentor Schools will be recognized at a gala dinner at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture.

More information about the event can be found at http://bit.ly/pu4GSO or https://www.facebook.com/partnersinlearning and by following #PILGF on Twitter.

A leading Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer Hisense Group signed a licensing agreement with eyeSight Mobile Technologies, a developer of touch free interfaces for digital devices.

Together the two will integrate eyeSight’s innovative Hand Gesture Recognition Technology into new models of Android based Smart TV sets.

Yes Android is coming to the TV.

The first model of Hisense Smart TV with this unique feature is Series XT710, which has been introduced to consumer markets in China.

Users will enjoy a natural, new intuitive way of interacting with their TV sets.

They will be able to control basic TV functions, without having to move out of their comfortable viewing position to reach the remote control.

Users will also be able to play games using intuitive gestures and touchless use other applications on the device.

But how does all this work, your all too human neurons might be asking you.

These smart TVs will use motion monitoring cameras to read a persons hand and body gestures and in turn control various functions.

Hisense will be making use of eyeSights SDK on their new XT710 smart TV, which makes use of 2D cameras to monitor hand gestures and movements.