It was another big week for news relating to voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) routers. With all that news, however, comes a need to consider how that news fits into the wider scale of things, and now that we've got a weekend on hand to consider just where all this news fits, we've also got the time to make those assessments. So settle in, because we're going to run down all the biggest news of the week that was with our Week in Review coverage.

First, VoIP customers get a significant new advantage this week, one that might sway a few more users to VoIP rather than traditional land-line phone service for those who can't wait for an expansion. The Nomorobo system—a portmanteau of sorts for “No More Robo”--looks to accomplish what even federal law by way of the federal do-not-call list could not: halting the flood of robo calls that arrive on phone lines most every day. Users can sign up for the service at Nomorobo.com, and the folks behind Nomorobo expect to bring it to wireless and landline systems soon.

Next came a new study from iGR, who brought out a five-year forecast on the overall level of data usage in connected cars. Between just 2013 and 2018, iGR expects that the amount of data involved in the connected car market will increase fully 188 percent. With this explosion of growth will come significant challenges in the field, including securing the data in question, as well as issues of network capacity.

The FBI and General Dynamics together brought in the next bit of news, as the agency tapped the company for secure communications via its Sectera vIPer Universal Secure Phone (News - Alert) line. The FBI reportedly believed its current line of Secure Terminal Equipment devices were outdated, and so turned to General Dynamics for better security in communications. Since the Sectera vIPer Universal Secure Phone is rated to protect information classified Top Secret / SCI or below, it made an excellent fit for the FBI's needs.

Then we had a look at the Wi-Fi Smart Plug from D-Link (News - Alert). With the D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug, users can not only turn on and turn off devices, but also can set devices to a schedule—lights going on at a certain time every day, for example—monitor energy consumption and perform a variety of other tasks. Devices can even be remotely monitored and controlled by devices that are linked to a network and running an app currently available on the iOS and Android (News - Alert) operating systems.

Finally, we looked at the VirtualDoorway system, which looked to offer a complete video chat solution as an online meeting room setup. With VirtualDoorway, users can not only offer up text-based chatting to customers, but can also step up to voice with VoIP audio, share documents, and even stage face-to-face video chatting for up to 16 live feeds at once, which also allows for personal product demonstrations. An upgrade to the system even allows for recording to step in.

That was the week that was in VoIP routers, and clearly there was plenty going on. With a wide array of new products making users' lives easier and better—blocking robocalls or just helping businesses get in touch with customers—the new developments this week may pose some wide-scale changes in the way we communicate. Our global online community was right in the thick of it, bringing back all the best in news. So be sure to join us back here next week for all the latest, and every weekend for our Week in Review coverage!