RED HERRING | Spam�s New Target: VoIP

"Fighting VoIP spam, which could end up making email spam seem like a minor irritant in comparison, has sparked venture capital interest. On March 15, Sipera raised $13.2 million in a second round of funding led by venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. The Richardson, Texas-based firm, which launched its first product earlier this year, protects businesses from viruses and other attacks on their VoIP systems in much the same way that security products shield computers. It monitors VoIP traffic and looks for anomalies in call patterns to detect SPIT.

SPIT could end up being a real drag for business. About 30 to 40 percent of new lines going into businesses are VoIP, says Seshu Madhavapeddy, Sipera�s CEO. �Voice-over-IP in enterprises is much more mature than most people realize,� says Mr. Madhavapeddy."