TMCnet News

VoIP Check: Verso Introduces Skype, P2P Filtering Application
[September 15, 2005]

VoIP Check: Verso Introduces Skype, P2P Filtering Application


By TED GLANZER
TMCnet Communications and Broadband Columnist
 
Here's another story that won't make Skype or its users very happy.


 
Verso Technologies, Inc. on Wednesday announced the introduction of its new carrier-grade application filter, which enables carriers to restrict peer-to-peer traffic, including Skype calls, P2P messaging, streaming media and instant messaging.

 
The new application, according to Verso's announcement, provides cable and Internet protocol service providers a means to optimize bandwidth and manage "undesirable" network traffic.  "Undesirable" in this case is defined as network traffic that takes up large amounts of bandwidth without generating any revenue for the carrier, such as Skype calls.
 
Verso Technologies president and chief operating officer Monty Bannerman told TMCnet that the filter application should be particularly welcomed by VoIP companies with revenue-based models.
 
The Atlanta-based company, which claims that the technology is the first of its kind for the carrier marketplace, is working with carriers to conduct the first production field trial for the application.
 
"This application should be of great interest to any facilities-based carrier in the world," Bannerman said in a prepared statement.  "We believe that the application has tremendous market opportunity because it addresses an increasingly critical carrier requirement as P2P traffic continues to grow worldwide."
 
Coupled with China Telecom's ban on Skype calls, today's news may have EBay Inc. rethinking the $2.6 billion that it shelled out to acquire the Luxemborg-based Internet telephone company.
 
"They (Skype) aren't happy," Bannerman told TMCnet in an interview today.  "Neither is EBay."
 
Though China Telecom is a customer of Verso, Bannerman insisted that the China Telecom/Skype news and today's announcements were not related.
 
"The [China Telecom] announcement is coincidental to ours," Bannerman said. "[Verso's announcement has] been completely under wraps until today." 
 
-----
 
Ted Glanzer is assistant editor for TMCnet. For more articles by Ted Glanzer, please visit:
 
 

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]