Problems With VoIP Result in Cause For Concern

A September 2003 report in This Week in Consumerconsultant for Next Generation Security Software Ltd.
Electronices, estimates that VoIP revenue will reachstates that much of the notoriety of VoIP vulnerabilities
$13.76 Billion, yes that is with a "B", by 2010. However, itemerge because the technology is possibly new and
has its limitations and of course, being the new `kid` onits code was not necessarily written with security.
the block, its apparent problems.One of the more well known VoIP providers, SKYPE,
Darrell Dunn of Baseline reports of the dilemma ofbased out of the UK, has seen a share of its own
several U.S.-based companies in using Internetproblems in recent months. Skype has been trying to
Protocol(IP)-based telephony. He claims that chiefrestore service to millions of its customers after they
information officers and other information technologyhave experienced problems in logging onto the VoIP
decision-makers in the U.S. are faced with theservice. No reports indicate the amount of revenue lost
quandary in attempting to create a long-termor customers who abandoned the service.
communication strategy using the system to replaceGreg Scoblete of TWICE reports, "SunRocket, the
traditional circuit-switched networks. According to hissecond largest pure-play voice over Internet protocol
report, companies are facing the prospect of eitherprovider in Vienna, Virginia to shut down its telephony
joining the next generation of technology or clinging toservice earlier in August 2007." He adds, "that the
outdated tools.company laid off a portion of its workforce in July 3,
Entering the collegiate realm, "VoIP implementation at2007 and the company`s assets are being liquidated
the University of North Carolina at Charlotte aims toby Sherwood Partners." According to Adam Somer,
save money on long distance and PBX costs", claimspresident of American Telecom Services, one of
Elizabeth Millard of University Business. "TheSunRocket`s clients, "there were management
Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio made aproblems with its management and their systems. A
contract with Centrex to maintain charges to a VoIPlarge part of the problem was the company`s
system with the use of Siemens HiPath 4000 withnonsensical offers to consumers for two years which
HiPath Xpressions and HiPath Manager technologies."slowed the company`s growth since 2006."
Then of course there is always the question ofDue to is still relative infancy, as you can see, VoIP, as
security. Tim Greene of Network World reported inits share of problems. Many experts agree that not to
August that the launch of a hacking tool against VoIPworry. As with all new technology, there are going to
signaling protocols H323, AIX and tools to insert audiobe some bugs and hiccups along the way, and that
into VoIP calls by computer researchers in the U.S.consumers should just hang in there. Many of the hard
Defcon Tech has launched a tool that automaticallycore tech nuts do hang on, however, the average user
probe the Session Initiation Protocol for vulnerabilities towill more than likely wait out the problems until they are
convert piggy backing of data over VoIP streams.fixed and the rest will wait until the cost comes down.
According to Greene, Barrie Dempster, senior security