The term “cloud computing” has gone mainstream, which indicates the technology itself is taking root among industries and entities outside of communications. But there still are issues to work through, from security, billing and third-party development, to answering the pressing question of whether cloud computing is just a hip new term for hosted and managed services.

Unified communications has gone through several evolutions, and several cycles of the hype curve, in recent years, but the last 12 months have been a watershed for what many see as the critical enabling communications technology for enterprises in the next few years.

Despite the hundreds of millions that have been invested in security-based technologies for networks and PCs, there are successful attacks on IP networks everyday. Add in Mobile IP and the anxiety goes through the roof.

This week some of the IP world’s most influential and innovative companies will gather at VON to showcase their wares and build relationships with colleagues, peers, customers, partners and competitors alike. VON recently spoke with one of those exhibitors, Smoothstone IP Communications, and what follows is a transcript of the conversation with James Whitemore, chief marketing officer for Smoothstone.

This week at VON, expert panelists will address one of the most talked about areas of IP communications – security. Richard Stiennon, chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, will moderate the panel discussion about the primary security threats to IP networks and the tools and tactics for dealing with them. VON associate editor Cara Sievers spoke with Stiennon about his thoughts regarding the upcoming session, and what follows is a transcript of that discussion.

Telco Global Access IP of Virginia has chosen the DIGITALK Multiservice Platform to launch prepaid services in North and Central America.