Ivor Jones wrote:
> "Steven Sumpter" <ssumpter@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:A0BWe.7745$st1.6325@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net
>
> [snip]
>
>
>>Mapping domain names to IP addresses may help a bit, but
>>I think that we will continue to use phone numbers long
>>after all phones are VoIP and we will continue to need
>>phone companies to issue those numbers and provide
>>additional services such as call records and voicemail.
>
>
> Which is precisely the function of "eNum" (Electronic Number Mapping).
> It's how Sipgate, Vonage or whoever allocate a normal phone number to your
> account.
>
> More info here:
>
> http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/enum-charter.html
> http://www.epic.org/privacy/enum/default.html
> http://www.sipgate.co.uk/user/infotour.php?tp=5
>
> A Google search on "enum" produces a load more..!
>
> Ivor
>
>
I had e164 in mind when I mention mapping numbers to domains, but I
don't think that solves the problem of who allocates numbers. Another
problem is that many people have installed equipment that requires a SIP
proxy to work and doesn't necessarily work with direct calls to the IP
address of the sort via enum.

I think we will need SIP providers for the next decade at least.

Steve.