[plug] Telstra and Microsoft in VoIP trial

[sol]

Perhaps Mr Fels at the ACCC may be interested in this. Sounds mighty dodgy.
sol

On Wed, 17 Apr 2002 11:05, Gavin Rogers wrote:
> Forwarded press release below:
>
> Looks like Telstra and Microosft are joining forces for a VoIP trial.
>
> Does anyone else find it odd that aside from the fact that you need to use
> the latest Microsoft MSN messenger to use this thing (there are plenty
> of free voice over IP applications that are also multiplatform) - but you
> also nee to have a 'Telstra pre-paid account' - is this pre-paid as in
> calling card or BigPond internet access?
>
> To use the Microsoft/Telstra VoIP system _it seems_ you have to have an
> account with the Telstra ISP - BigPond (at least the trial is being aimed
> at BigPond broadband customers only). It isn't clear and 'telstra.com' has
> no information at all - If I needed some sort of an account with Telstra
> for billing, I'd understand.
>
> That doesn't appear to be the way it works - to use the VoIP from Telstra
> you a) need to use a Microsoft operating system and b) need an ISP account
> with BigPond. All teamed up into a nice package which is unhindered from
> competition in either the telephony or computer side.
>
> It also isn't clear if the VoIP parts of Microsoft MSN messenger only work
> with Windows XP (since the Microsoft rep talks about the wonderfulness of
> XP), but it says later that MSN messenger is available for all the
> flavours of Windows. I don't use MSN messenger - is anyone able to tell me
> if the 'make a phone call' is avaialble under messenger on older
> Windowses?
>
> These are only a few of the things that I find terribly wrong with this
> idea...
>
> Oh, I guess I'll get some replies that say 'What Telstra does is
> Telstra's business' - don't forget that they are still majority _taxpayer_
> owned and have an obligation of universal service. If Optus or AAPT or
> whoever had released the same press release I wouldn't have cared - it
> is their business as independant companies. If it's a bad idea, then you
> buy shares in the company and complain :-)
>
> If Telstra are going to make a computer-based telephony system, it had
> better work on any modern PC, regardless of operating system and with any
> ISP (Telstra's or not)
>
> This also means that the Australia government is (in a round-about way)
> investing against open source software when Telstra makes a commercial
> relationship with Microsoft.
>
> I think I'll formalise my comments and write to the ACCC. The last thing
> Australia needs is a monopolised VoIP system by a dominate Telco.
>
>
> Comments?
>
> Regards,
> Gavin Rogers
>
> ---
> Amateur radio station VK6HGR
> http:/vk6hgr.ampr.org/
>
> Email : grogers at vk6hgr.echidna.id.au
> Ampr  : grogers at vk6hgr.ampr.org
> Packet: vk6hgr at vk6hgr.#per.#wa.aus.oc
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>------
>
> Telstra and Microsoft join forces to trial phone calls over the internet
>
> 17 April, 2002
>
> Microsoft Australia and Telstra today announced the introduction of a
> trial that will enable users in Australia of certain Microsoft software
> (MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger) to make voice calls on their PCs to
> virtually any telephone in the world.
>
>   Customers on the trial will be able to make telephone calls from their
> PC over their internet connection. In the future, Telstra and Microsoft
> will look to include other features such as interactive services and
> unified messaging.   Executive Director Voice and Commercial, Telstra
> Retail, Stuart Lee said: "This partnership is a further demonstration of
> Telstras leadership in harnessing the capability of world leading
> technology for the future benefit of Telstra customers."
>
> Initially, Telstra and Microsoft will conduct a four-month capped trial
> targeted to 3,000 of Telstras broadband consumers.
>
> "Internet calling is not the same as ordinary voice telephony.  It is an
> internet application that interfaces with our telephone network and this
> creates new challenges, both in terms of technical delivery and customer
> requirements. However, IP telephony through MSN and Windows Messenger has
> the potential to offer many new services for our customers," Mr Lee said.
>
> Microsoft Australia Enterprise Director, Gerhard Rumpff, also expressed
> Microsofts enthusiasm for the pilots potential.
>
> "The impact of having the combined resources and knowledge of Telstra and
> Microsoft takes users a step closer to realising the digital age. We
> believe IP telephony will become an everyday consumer service and set a
> new standard for communication with friends, family and co-workers
> anywhere in the world," he said.
>
> "The easy-to-use PC-to-Phone client in Windows XP is one of the many
> reasons why Windows XP is the best, easiest, most exciting computing
> experience for consumers ever. This VOIP initiative is the initial step in
> exploring the range of communications options we can offer to Australian
> consumers."
>
> To use the Telstra Internet Calling Trial service, users will need to have
> MSN or Windows Messenger installed on their PC and open a pre-paid credit
> card account with Telstra.  (The latest version of MSN Messenger is
> downloadable from ninemsn* for use with Windows 95, 98, ME,  2000 and NT 4
> operating systems.)
>
> To utilise VOIP, the user will then simply need to log on, open up
> Windows/MSN messenger, choose the option "make a phone call" and then
> enter a phone number online and be connected to the other party anywhere
> in the world.
>
> The service will provide the highest quality sound for those with a
> high-speed internet connection, as the performance relies in part on the
> speed of the customers ISP.  Prices will be competitive with current
> standard mobile, long-distance and international calling rates.
>
> The Telstra Internet Calling trial will finish in August 2002.  The trial
> is limited to outbound calls only.  To participate in the trial customers
> will be required to open a pre-paid account with Telstra.
>
> Downloads are available from: http://messenger.ninemsn.com.au/default.asp.
>
> The trial can also be accessed from www.telstra.com.
>
> For online information, visit the Microsoft Web site at
> http://www.microsoft.com/ or the Telstra website at www.telstra.com.
>
> * MSN services such as MSN Instant Messenger, MSN Hotmail and MSN Search
> are available in Australia through ninemsn, a joint venture between
> Microsoft and PBLs online investment arm, eCorp. There are currently
> nearly 3 million customers in Australia using the MSN Messenger service
> from ninemsn.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> For further information, please contact:
>
> Stuart Gray
> Telstra
> Tel: 03 9632 7358
> stuart.gray at team.telstra.com
> E-mail: newsroom at team.telstra.com
>
> Selena Adams
> Microsoft Australia
> Tel: 02 9870 2316
> selenad at microsoft.com
> E-mail:
>
>
> Nathan Williams
> AUGUST.ONE COMMUNICATIONS
> Tel: 02 9955 1866
> nathan.williams at augustone.com.au
> E-mail: