Pure Play VoIP Reaches 2.9 million U.S. Consumers

The number of U.S. households subscribing to pure-play subscription VoIP services, who are either replacing or complementing existing traditional landline services, increased from 2.2 million in Q1 2006 to 2.9 million in Q2 2006, according to Telephia, a provider of performance measurement information to the converging communications and mobile industries. More than 27 percent of VoIP subscribers who are likely to change providers cite network quality as their primary reason for wanting to switch.



Top 10 Pure-Play Subscription VoIP Service Providers (U.S.)

Service Provider Share of Pure-Play VoIP Subscribers


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• 1. Vonage 53.9%


• 2. Verizon VoiceWing 5.5%


• 2. AT&T CallVantage (SBC) 5.5%


• 3. SunRocket 4.0%


• 4. Lingo 2.6%


• 5. NetZero Voice 2.5%


• 6. Broadvoice 2.2%


• 7. America Online (AOL) 1.6%


• 8. 8x8 (Packet8) 1.1%


• 9. Earthlink 0.9%


• 10. Other 20.5%

http://www.telephia.com

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Net Insight Supplies Optical Transport for Norway's DTV Network

Net Insight has received a first order from Norkring for delivery of equipment to the Norwegian digital terrestrial TV network. The order has an order value of approximately 20 MSEK, and deliveries will start during Q4. A contract awarded earlier this year specified the delivery of 400-700 Net Insight Nimbra nodes over the next 2 to 3 years.



The concession for digital terrestrial TV in Norway was given to NTV (Norway's television AS), owned by NRK, TV2 and Telenor, in the beginning of June. NTV has now given the assignment to Norkring to build the digital terrestrial TV network. http://www.netinsight.net

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U.N. Forms Group on the Information Society (UNGIS)

Following the recently concluded World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), a new United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) has been formed to serve as an interagency coordinating mechanism within the UN. The Group will enable synergies aimed at resolving substantive and policy issues, avoiding redundancies and enhancing effectiveness of the system while raising public awareness about the goals and objectives of the global Information Society.



High level representatives of twenty-two UN agencies met earlier this month at ITU Headquarters in Geneva under the chairmanship of ITU
Secretary-General Yoshio Utsumi to facilitate the process.

http://www.itu.int

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Shareholders Approve AT&T + BellSouth Merger

Stockholders of AT&T voted overwhelmingly to approve the issuance of common stock to BellSouth shareholders in connection with AT&T's acquisition of BellSouth. The proposal was approved by more than 98% of the votes cast.



Separately, shareholders of BellSouth voted to approve the acquisition. Approximately 97 percent of the shares that were voted approved the merger.



The two companies have now received clearance from regulators in all three foreign countries requiring a review as well as from 14 of the 18 U.S. states where they have filed for approval. Reviews continue in four other states and at the U.S. Department of Justice and the FCC.



The companies said they expect to complete the merger this fall. They also that by merging AT&T, BellSouth and Cingular under one brand and by creating a single wireless and wireline network they would be able to offer integrated communications and entertainment services.
http://www.att.comhttp://www.bellsouth.com

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