Columns "Before the Dawn of IP Telephony"
These contents translated a serialization article carried by ITPro IP telephony ONLINE published by Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. Jump to the original (Japanese).
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Final Episode
Aiming for the true dawn of IP telephony
IP telephony will bring forth new value. The beliefs of the author will lead IP telephony product into the ideal image to aim for the true dawn of IP telephony.
Read the whole of Final Episode.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 36
Looking back at the starting point (1995)
In this episode, prior to the last, I will introduce my thoughts that became the roots for developing IP telephony. It all began on January 17, 1995 when the Kobe earthquake struck.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 35
The ultimate concept of "eSound" (2003)
Through much thought, we discovered that broadband VoIP has a potential of becoming an infrastructure that can revitalize consumption.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 34
Broadband voice will revitalize consumption (March ~ July 2003)
During the four months of participation in the incubation support program from March 2003, we spent time thoroughly considering the true value of broadband VoIP. And then we were enlightened.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 33
Attaining enlightenment of broadband VoIP (2003 ~)
The program that started from the concept of "a telephone with superior voice quality" had made me realize that voice quality only amounted to a small percent of "broadband voice" by the time program ended.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 32
CEO's "Workout" (end of 2002 ~ 2003)
The decision for the commercialization of broadband voice was facing difficulty moving forward into a form of a product. Looking for an in-house sponsor also failed.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 31
Expression discovered in human voice (fall 2002)
After obtaining the chip handling broadband voice, I decided to give it a test. After much effort in obtaining a handset, I was disappointed to find that the voice I heard was no different from a normal phone.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 30
IP is the key to high-quality telephones (fall 2002)
I was beginning to feel a change in quality of communication with the widespread deployment of broadband. And I had a hint for something new.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 29
Thinking of the broadband generation (fall 2002)
The development of the indoor device for telecommunication carriers was finally finished. The widespread deployment of broadband was starting and we were examining the business opportunities.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 28
Transistor destroyed for unknown reason (summer ~ October 2002)
A new and groundbreaking device was decided for use in the development of indoor device for telecommunication carriers despite its lack of performance history. And even as a fan of this new device, we were faced with problems one after another.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 27
Noise and then more noise (summer 2002)
When entering 2002, the development of IP telephony devices and parts was set into motion. The author becomes involved in the development of an indoor device for telecommunication carriers and was busy with the selection of used parts.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 26
Avoiding the pitfall of material selection (spring 2002)
Broadband IP telephony was finally on its way to dissemination. Market and development environments took on a drastic change, and the selection of materials increased rapidly.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 25
Success in the acceleration of VoIP gateway development (October 2001 ~ March 2002)
We succeeded in developing the first VoIP gateway for broadband providers in just three months. Low price and short delivery were achieved using common parts.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 24
Develop a broadband VoIP gateway (June ~ October 2001)
Due to the drastic drop in prices of broadband services, we started the development of a broadband VoIP gateway. It was a development effort with different requirements from the corporate gateway.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 23
Shock of low-price broadband (June 2001)
Developments for fiscal 2001 had started. Many development plans were launched starting with VoIP gateways, but we were forced to review them due to an incident. It was in June 2001 when it occurred.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 22
Busy with market handling (August 2000 ~ spring 2001)
PHS accommodation in IP-PBX was finally complete, and everything needing attention was accommodated. The generation for handling voice over an IP network was finally arriving.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 21
Difficulty in finding a location for testing PHS (March ~ July 2000)
We started the development of the second generation IP-PBX. Our challenge this time was PHS. Handling PHS was extremely difficult for IP networks that result in communication error when synchronization is not properly made.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 20
Aiming at integration with LAN (2000)
After the first IP-PBX product was released into the market, we tackled the difficult but significant task of integrating it with the LAN.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 19
Valentine's Day is the commemoration day (January 2000)
The day of the shipment judgment meeting came while verifications of the remaining issue were not yet complete. While I stood making my explanation, the atmosphere became noticeably uncomfortable.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 18
Shipment judgment while bearing pain (January 2000)
After months of suffering during the development of the line unit (LU), we finally reached the point of shipment judgment. But two days prior to the meeting, I was awakened by a sharp pain running through my back.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 17
"BAKUON GA GINSEKAI NO KOUGEN NI HIROGARU" (December 1999 ~ January 2000)
We were at the final stage of line unit (LU) development. It was then discovered that the LSI, which had already entered mass production, did not perform sufficiently under certain conditions during software assessment. The situation seemed hopeless with no measures to be found.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 16
Frozen by discovery of fatal problem (latter half of 1999)
After the transfer to the affiliated company, I became a leader of the team developing component parts for OKI's IP-PBX called Line Unit (LU). Then, I discovered that I had taken charge of a task that no one dared.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 15
Development of line interface at subsidiary (1999)
IP telephony was beyond common sense 10 years ago. The experience during the development stage of VoIP, from the activities involving handling of voice over LAN to the commercialization of VoIP gateway, was described in the previous series. In this series, the innovative changes up to the acquisition of franchise under the name of "IP telephony" is explained from the viewpoint of a single engineer involved in the product development with faith in the possibilities of VoIP.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 14
Mountain of treasure discovered through a single and honest determination
Immediately before the completion of the simultaneous development of two products that seemed almost impossible, I was transferred to an affiliated company. Fortunately, my involvement in VoIP product development continued.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 13
Tears from words of appreciation (March 1999)
Despite the preparation for the shipment of large-capacity VoIP gateway BV2000, the team must now simultaneously develop a product for Europe.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 12
Developing two products at one time (end of 1998 ~ 1999)
At the end of December, the first user of the large-capacity gateway BV2000 was decided. The deadline was end of March 1999. Not an easy journey, I thought. But I had no idea the reckless deed I would further be getting myself into.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 11
Derogatory words for a product name is unacceptable (1998)
The author returns to the development of VoIP gateway. Development of a large-capacity model is given a go sign. But the team takes an unexpected stumble.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 10
Return to the development of VoIP products (1998)
After the development of the first product, the author had moved on to another project. However, he held a strong desire to return to VoIP product development after feeling the reaction during the presentation at ISS.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 9
What awaited us after the presentation
The presentation at the internal symposium called ISS held in Toronto, Canada during September 1997 ended with somewhat of a success.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 8
Successful presentation (September 1997)
The research paper on VOICEHUB was selected by an international academic conference called ISS for a presentation in Toronto, Canada. Although we were relaxed at first, we felt the tension build gradually as the day of the presentation came upon us.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 7
The unexpected presentation at an academic conference (1997)
Completing the development of the first VoIP product at the end of 1996, I left the scene of VoIP gateway product development for the time being.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 6
Originality and ingenuity for establishing voice quality
At the end of 1996, we finally reached the stage of VoIP product shipment. The technologies that had a major impact on subsequent implementations are introduced here.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 5
The product finished at last (latter half of 1996)
The use of VoIP technology was officially approved by the integrator during the beginning of October 1996. Only 3 months left until the start of shipment at the end of the year. Days of craziness had started once again.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 4
The difficulties of convincing (latter half of 1996)
In April 1996, VOICEHUB that converts voice to IP packets was displayed as reference exhibition at Communication Tokyo for the first time. The success led to the use of VOICEHUB in a system by a certain integrator. Despite the exciting news, there was only seven months to shipment. And we also had to convince the integrator the device really works.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 3
Toward product commercialization (1996)
We were developing "VOICEHUB", the first IP telephony related product, for the Communication Tokyo exhibition to be held in April 1996. Although the road was never easy, including a major modification one month prior to the exhibition, we somehow managed to take the device to the exhibition hall on the morning of first day.
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 2
First exhibition realized by obsession (1996)
This is the story about the development of the first IP Telephony related product. The goal was to display a working device at the "Communication Tokyo" exhibition in April 1996. The discovery of a fatal LSI bug only one month prior to the exhibition had left us completely lost. That was, until Mr.Kuboki muttered the words, "We may still have a chance..."
Before the Dawn of IP Telephony - Part 1
Uphill battle for the development of the first IP telephony (1995 ~ 1996)
Handling voice over an IP network-a concept that seems somewhat of common sense at the present with the widespread of IP Telephony was a challenge that was simply unheard of 10 years ago. It was about then when I first started the development of IP telephony related products. Here's a review of the efforts at the time.
