Open IP CommunicationsJeff Pulver,

CEO

pulver.com

jeffp@pulver.com

Presentation to FCC VoIP Forum

December 1, 2003

pulver.com

The Public Good of IP Communication

• I have formed my opinions from my Ham Radio background and the phone patching I did for the military personnel growing up.

• I became a VoIP hobbyist in 1995 marrying my Ham Radio phone patching with my computer background. This perspective drives my efforts with Free World Dialup. A network of 80,000 worldwide users.

• I have no formal telecom background. As a Ham Radio operator my thought process is not constrained by anything other than my imagination.

Kodachrome by Paul Simon

When I think back on all the crap

I've learned in highschoolIt's a wonder I can think at

allThough my lack of

education hasn't hurt me much

I can read the writings on the walls

Chorus:

Kodachrome, they give us those nice bright colors

They give us the greens of summers

Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah

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VoIP is different than traditional telephony.

Infrastructure: POTSWiFi, Fiber, DSL, etc.

IP

Applications: E-mail, Voice, Video

Instant Messaging, etc.

Internet Protocol

No one e-mailing says, “I am SMTPing”No one web surfing says, “I am HTTPing”

So what makes us think that talking should be considered “VoIPing?”

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VoIP is an Open Innovative Application

Application / Services are separate from Transport.

Anyone can deploy new applications / services

Services / Applications can be deployed from anywhere to anywhere.

“Voice” will be enabled from a variety of everyday consumer devices using a variety of protocols.

We have the unique opportunity to deliver innovative new services and not be constrained by the legacy vision of the past; there is no need to replicate what we used to do when we can innovate upon the future.

Flowers are Red by Harry Chapin

the little boy said...There are so many colors in the

rainbowSo many colors in the morning sunSo many colors in the flower and I see

every one

The teacher put him in a cornerShe said.. It's for your own good..And you won't come out 'til you get it

rightAnd all responding like you shouldWell finally he got lonelyFrightened thoughts filled his headAnd he went up to the teacherAnd this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green.

There's no need to see flowers any other way

Than the way they always have been seen.

.

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Innovation is Happening

• Open source communications will drive the future of communications.• Advances in consumer electronics is bringing the “edge” a lot closer to everyday people.• Free World Dialup ( http://www.freeworldialup.com ) is an example of Open Source

Communications empowering a global broadband community.• Everyday People who are not traditional carriers and who defy normal boundaries are

getting real value from FWD. Some community members provide value to FWD by offering connectivity to the PSTN for toll-free dialing ability into the US, UK and Netherlands. More countries to follow in 2004.

• FWD provides a Presence and Instant Messaging network for the community which can be used for signaling voice calls.

• IPKall.com offers free US 360 area code number mapped to FWD numbers.• CallUK offers free 0870 UK number mapped to FWD numbers.• Buzz2Talk is a GPRS application which empowers GPRS users on Wireless with the

ability to speak to people on FWD.• FWD offers free Voice mail and free Click’to’Call applications• FWD provides a platform for experimentation with Voice XML.

• IP Innovation is happening outside of the Broadband World• “Push to Talk” on Wireless is driven by IP lead Innovations

• There is added value whenever legacy networks interconnect!

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Good Technology is Socially Responsible

• Social Policy concerns can be addressed by voluntary industry standards.• Disability Access• 911• CALEA

• The VoIP Industry is actively working with all appropriate parties.

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Beltway Buzz is not the same as Market Penetration…

• Market penetration for Voice over broadband services is currently less than one tenth of one percent of the access lines in the USA – 150,000 subs vs. 150,000,000 lines.

• VoIP penetration is totally dependent on broadband adoption and consumer’s comfort with the environment.

• Many challenges still exist:• IP phones and edge devices are still expensive.

• Traversing homes NATs and Firewalls and local QoS can be an issue at times.

• Excessive Hype and recent press has given the VoIP Industry a lot of exposure lately.

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Policy Implications

• We need room to innovate and experiment and in effect a regulation free zone for the Internet.

• If there is regulation, it should be smart regulation; • Recognize that VoIP is unique; • Please fix the broken problems rather than

applying old regulatory policy on new innovations.

• VoIP can be an engine for Competition.• Give voluntary standards a chance.

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Do we know the future’s requirements?

We need to build for an “Always – On” generation.

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