Channel Seven places Engin call

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  Telstra unveils T[Life] Melbourne

  Telstra has thrown the covers off three new stores in Melbourne including the company's largest retail outlet located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD.

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  ISPs: Govt porn filters 'could cripple internet'

  Broadband providers Internode and iiNet have hit out against the Federal government's ISP-level content filtering initiative — a scheme that could cripple Australia's high-speed internet access, according to one exec.

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  Conroy gives rural ISPs guidance on bush broadband

  Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy has issued a new set of guidelines for ISPs servicing rural and regional Australia, on the back of the Federal government's decision to extend the Australian Broadband Guarantee as part of last Tuesday's budget.

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  ISP filtering to get Fed govt subsidy: Budget 08

  ISPs will be granted a one-off government subsidy towards the cost of installing filtering technology as part of the Rudd government's AU$125.8 million cybersafety plan.

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  Rural broadband guarantee extended till 2012

  The government has extended its subsidy to help rural Australians establish a broadband connection by four years.

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  Broadband network big ticket item in budget

  Senator Conroy says the proposed national broadband network will rival the Snowy Mountains hydro scheme in terms of scale and significance.

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  Australia's uncapped broadband data dream dies

  The dream of broadband without data limits is set to slip through Australians' fingers, as countries like the UK start to wave goodbye to their own uncapped plans.

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  Smile, you're on a bar Webcam

  Around the United States, bars and clubs are tapping the Internet to let people know when they're hopping -- or dreadfully quiet. Will this idea catch on in Australia?

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  Farmers: We need broadband for business

  Broadband is a vital tool for Australia's farmers, new research has found.

More news »

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  Photos: T[Life] Melbourne

  Telstra's new T[Life] store in Melbourne is glossy and enormous, and those south-of-the-border should count themselves lucky. Everyone else we bring you a virtual walk through.

• 

  Getting Steamed: digital distribution for games isn't there yet

  Online distribution should be world-wide, and yet we're still thinking inside old market models.

• 

  See and speak: a guide to making video calls

  Would you like to see who you're talking to? Making video calls is easier than you think. CNET.com.au steps you through the options.

• 

  Australian Federal Election 2007: a CNET.com.au guide

  This Saturday's federal election promises to be the most exciting in at least a decade. If you're undecided as to who to vote for or just can't wait until the first results dribble through, there's a plethora of ways to stay informed.

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  Photos: Australian broadband coverage

  With a fierce battle raging over Australia's broadband future and how bush users should be connected, regulators have weighed in to produce a state of nation report into the country's communications infrastructure and how well consumers are being served by their providers.

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  The world is your local calling zone

  VoIP may save you on interstate calls, but it's also great for keeping in touch when you're overseas. David Braue explains how it has helped him move his virtual office to Singapore at almost no cost.

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  Is it time to ditch your landline?

  Tired of watching your phone bill soar as Telstra uses fixed-line rental increases to jack up its profits? Getting rid of your land line is now easier than ever. CNET.com.au weighs up the options.

• 

  Speed up your Web downloads

  When it comes to the Internet, speed is everything. Here are some top downloads that can help your Web speed blaze.

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  Photos: CeBIT 2006 - VoIP takes centre stage

  Without a shadow of a doubt, the star of CeBit 2006 was VoIP. We take a look at some of the products on offer.

More features »

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  Oi!: 3's wire-free USB

  3 Mobile's HSDPA broadband modems have shrugged off the shackles of a wired connection and been given a sleek-looking makeover in the process.

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  Oi!: Christmas Karma

  If you want to shop online for a socially responsible gift, try something new called Karma Currency, Australia's first charity gift voucher.

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  Oi!: Mardi Gras announces $10 parade webcast

  Instant toilet access, cheap drinks, no teetering on the top of a stack of upturned milk crates that you've just bought from an enterprising young chap at Hyde Park. Tempting way to watch Sydney's Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade?

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  Oi!: ReelTime movies: yours for keeps

  Universal and ReelTime have paired up to launch Australia's first download-to-own movie service.

More oi! »

• 

  VoIP guide: Voice over IP in Australia

  Making phone calls over the Internet isn't just for the tech savvy anymore. Using VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) is easier than ever before, with several services out there that can help drastically reduce your phone bill. Here's everything you need to know about VoIP in Australia.

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  Channel Seven places Engin call

  Australian television broadcaster Seven Network has taken a 33 percent stake in fledgling Internet telephony company Engin in a move heralding the convergence of telecommunications and media assets Down Under.

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  Trojan horse targets Skype users

  Miscreants have again adapted the Warezov Trojan horse to target Skype users, Websense Security Labs warned last week.

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  Skype's 'unprecedented' outage

  The VoIP company offers a mea culpa for its disrupted service last week, which it says stemmed from a routine Windows update.

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  3 working on low-cost Skype mobile

  3 is thought to be working on a Skype mobile, which will give the VoIP service more presence on mobiles.

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  Australian VoIP providers 'must do better on 000'

  The Australian Communications and Media Authority has urged VoIP service providers to enable users to access the triple zero emergency call number.

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  Malicious software disguised as Skype Defender

  Skype is sounding the security alert, and users should take note before using the Internet calling service.

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  Gotalk VoIP service targets Engin customers

  Emerging telco Gotalk launched the second phase of its VoIP service yesterday, prompting what it believes will be the beginning of a "price war" in the Australian market.

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  3's free Skype mobile calls go live

  The long-awaited 3 Skypephone has launched today across Australia.

• Broadband Internet speed test

• Choosing a broadband plan

• A guide to VoIP in Australia

• 

  Engin Voicebox 3102

  If you want a simple VoIP box with PSTN pass-through, the Voicebox 3102 is it. It's a pity that it's locked to one VoIP provider, however, making it a slightly expensive option.

• 

  MyNetFone Netgear TA612V

  The TA612V is a solid unit that provides a low-cost way to make VoIP calls. It is a good choice for a household or small home office where users are keen to cut their telephone bills.

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  Netgear SPH101 Wi-Fi Skype Phone

  If you're hopeless Skypeaholic with a home Wi-Fi router, the SPH101 is your dream product. If you're a budget minded VoIP fanatic, maybe not.

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  Linksys CIT400 Skype Phone

  The Linksys CIT400 allows you to make both land-line and Skype calls, all without a PC.

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  MyNetFone Linksys SPA2100

  The SPA2100 is a good quality VoIP ATA, and comes highly recommended, although we'd suggest shopping around for an unlocked unit.

More reviews »

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  NetComm NB9W

  The NB9W is a solid performer, combining a modem, router and VoIP gateway in one, making it an ideal solution for the home or office.

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  Philips VOIP433 Dual Phone

  A handy cordless phone that allows for both landline and VoIP calling through Windows Live Messenger.

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  Linksys CIT200 Skype Phone

  Linksys' CIT200 Skype Phone does a good job of bringing the Skype experience to the cordless handset world. It's not without its flaws, however, and you'd be well advised to carefully research your VoIP options before making a purchasing decision.

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  NetComm V35 portable USB VoIP speakerphone

  The V35 works admirably as a speakerphone for any VoIP application on any modern computer platform, although you may have a touch of sticker shock at the asking price.

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  Freshtel Firefly

  Firefly seems unlikely to usurp Skype as the web surfer's voice client of choice, but it's a decent alternative with reasonable but not spectacular calling rates.

More popular reviews »

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  Freshtel 4030 Stick Phone

  Travellers with VoIP fixations will love Freshtel's excellent and easily transportable USB VoIP adaptor.

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  Netcomm NB9W ADSL2+ Wireless Broadband Modem router with VoIP Gateway

  The NB9W is a solid performer, combining a modem, router and VoIP gateway in one, making it an ideal solution for the home or office.

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  Netcomm MyNetFone V-100

  The V-100 combines solid technology and a service that's cheaper to run than competing VoIP services.

More editors' choice »