Internet based business

Flaws in Cisco Systems software for routers and IP telephony could be a conduit for attacks on enterprise networks, the company has warned. On Wednesday, it released two security alerts along with fixes for Cisco CallManager, which runs Internet-based phone calling. Two flaws exist in the software: One could allow an attacker to paralyze a Cisco IP telephony installation, the other could allow someone with read-only access to the system to gain full privileges, according to the alerts. VoIP technology allows companies to send voice traffic over the same infrastructure they use for data traffic, such as e-mail. ***

Cable provider Cox Communications launched on Monday its first VoIP-based telephone service, part of an effort focused on smaller markets, where it wouldn't be cost-effective for the company to offer its more traditional phone service. Cox is selling the voice-over-Internet Protocol service in Roanoke, Va., the 12th market in which the company has begun selling cable TV, broadband and its Cox Digital Telephone service. In its 11 other telephone markets, the Cox Digital service relies on traditional telephone networking equipment called circuit switches, more reliable but more expensive to operate than VoIP. VoIP systems use the Net to carry their signals. ***

A growing number of giant credit card companies and new specialty payment firms are jockeying to provide online payment systems for business e-commerce transactions. Online business marketplaces are sprouting daily, but financial transactions for most of these exchanges are still tethered to traditional and inefficient offline payment methods. Credit card companies like American Express, Visa and MasterCard--which have benefited from the booming use of credit cards by consumers for online purchases--see a profit windfall in bringing e-business transactions up to Internet speed. "The next stage is definitely the transaction phase of the whole process," said J.C. Simbana, an analyst at American Frontier, a Denver-based brokerage firm. ***