Code of Practice for UK VoIP services

[Zippeyrude]

Not quite sure where to post this, if not appropriate pls delete.

22/03/2005

The UK’s Internet Telephony Services Provider’s Association (ITSPA) yesterday launched a Code of Practice to improve residential customer awareness and confidence in the fledgling VoIP industry. A version for business customers will be published shortly.

Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as VoIP or IP telephony, is basically the transport of telephone calls over an internet connection. Until recently, it was a niche phenomenon, but VoIP now has hit the mainstream consumer and business markets, offering cheaper calls and disrupting the dominance of the traditional communications companies.

ITSPA, which counts Call UK, Intervivo, Mistral Internet and Telco Global among its founding members, is keen to help customers in finding a reputable VoIP provider among the bewildering array of Internet Telephony Service Providers (or ITSPs) in the UK. It has therefore published a Code of Practice targeting the needs of residential customers.

ITSPA members complying with the Code will have the right to display the ITSPA logo on their web site. ITSPA hopes that consumers will come to recognise the logo as a badge of excellence for VoIP providers, giving them the confidence to try VoIP services from its members.

"This is a world first, and vital to ensure the rapid uptake by the mass-market of this new generation of services,” said Eli Katz, XConnect and ITSPA Council member. “We believe that this is a 'Fair CoP'; and we intend, as ITSPA, to act efficiently in administering and enforcing it".

The DTI and Ofcom have welcomed ITSPA's initiative. Claire Hobson, Head of Telecoms Policy at the DTI, said, "ITSPA's launch is a good step towards putting the interests of consumers at the forefront of the Voice-over Internet Protocol industry. We'll certainly be working closely with the new Association in our work to encourage the development of VoIP in the UK".

Click here to download Code of practice

[Porthos]

Someone told me that BT will have VoIP for ALL calls in 2008. I know very little about VoIP but don't think I need to to say that is complete bollox. Anyone else confirm this?

[Raptor]

if they don't they will be dead in the water.

they know it.
i know it.
we all know it.

[Thrush]

This all ties in to the Bluephone system, or should i say, it will do.

[unclepercy]

I'm an American, and I read all digital forums trying to learn as much as possible. Do I detect that you (UK) do not have VoIP? I got it several weeks ago free and can call anywhere in the US or Canada free. To buy, it ranges $24.99 USD to $29.99 USD.
There are already hundred of thousands of Americans with VoIP. I love it.

Uncle Percy

[casio]

Someone told me that BT will have VoIP for ALL calls in 2008. I know very little about VoIP but don't think I need to to say that is complete bollox. Anyone else confirm this?

i work for bt and have been told not to say anything about VoIP to any customers when they call up about it and even if they know about it to play dumb and make it sound like im hidding something, to put it bluntly the upper management are bricking it and they know theyre fecked when it hits the mainstream and thats one of the reasons they ran a trial of it at chrimbo when people got broadband they got voip to landlines for 12 months for free and its cost em a packet so far

cas

[Pyro Steve]

I just built some 42u racks of Sun clusters and acme-packet servers for BT for running VOIP..so guess they may be starting to do something lol

[salvadorescobar]

Does anyone know what the difference with the large commercial VOIP system and something like skype? i.e. If BT were to introduce a VOIP system would it tie into the regular telephone system and be completely transaprent to the user; something that skype definately isn't?

[Pyro Steve]

I was told that the whole point of the BT setup was to use VOIP and tie it transaprently to the normal users phone bill..

[Porthos]

ohhh, the thought of how BT must be feeling with this impending revolution, I love it! For once, their physical infrastructure has been partially bypassed (by the use of the internet). Sorry to look pushy but is it likely that EVERYONE will be on VoIP by 2008, I know BT might want to do this, but surely it can't be done?
I mean analogue television is meant to run til like 2012 or something isn't it? I know there are differences there (eg you have to pay to upgrade your box) and digital services merge with analogue where as BT could lose loads if they let OTHER people in on VoIP but it just seems too soon.

[canardo]

porthos just a small point to remember whos lines do you think that internet traffic is going through?

[grizwildfire]

The Thing about VoIP is that its internet traffic, the exact same packet stream that brings you this post.

BT is a main provider of services, but only owns a small part of the network that carries internet traffic. The internet (big beast) is smart enough to route your phone convo, web page, etc along the best route. So you may go down BT's broadband server, jump into N*L's fibre trunk for a few nano seconds, find your way to a server on finlandTelecoms network before making your way into the states. The point is that no one owns the internet, and companies like BT have infrastructure in place that charge for bandwidth.

If the masses move to VoIP, BT will die. As they can no longer charge each customer a bill for line rental. The cost of the internet boradband connection is all they need.

Without big players like BT etc, your going to have masses of private companies offering phone services and the need for regulation is going to be critical. With BT they were big enough and well known enough that any bad press cost them. Small companies wont care. And the public will get screwed. Prank calls, Advert calls, nothing can stop them. Since its all on the computer, any old idiot with a program that can auto dial can phone ten houses at once to push viagra sales at 3 in the morning. Hell.


Food for thought , lunchtime :>
Griz

[c0axial]

The Thing about VoIP is that its internet traffic, the exact same packet stream that brings you this post.

BT is a main provider of services, but only owns a small part of the network that carries internet traffic. The internet (big beast) is smart enough to route your phone convo, web page, etc along the best route. So you may go down BT's broadband server, jump into N*L's fibre trunk for a few nano seconds, find your way to a server on finlandTelecoms network before making your way into the states. The point is that no one owns the internet, and companies like BT have infrastructure in place that charge for bandwidth.

If the masses move to VoIP, BT will die. As they can no longer charge each customer a bill for line rental. The cost of the internet boradband connection is all they need.

Without big players like BT etc, your going to have masses of private companies offering phone services and the need for regulation is going to be critical. With BT they were big enough and well known enough that any bad press cost them. Small companies wont care. And the public will get screwed. Prank calls, Advert calls, nothing can stop them. Since its all on the computer, any old idiot with a program that can auto dial can phone ten houses at once to push viagra sales at 3 in the morning. Hell.


Food for thought , lunchtime :>
Griz

10,000 IP Addresses to block, here i come.. :Q

[Quator2000]

BT are already starting there VoIP but at a cost they will have to bring their prices for broadband down and with the unbundling and many different ISP's they will have to start offering it to all not just BT Customers!