VoIP News: July 2007

US-based VoIP systems manufacturer Switchvox has upgraded its IP PBX to include customer relationship management (CRM) tools. These are intended to allow users of the call management system to automatically see the details of its customers when they make contact as records pop up inside the control panel. Switchvox's small business phone system, SMV v3.

VoIP users will soon have the option to make calls from anywhere using a wireless network connection after the launch of a new SIP-based phone from EnGenius. The EnGenius SI-680H phone has been designed to be of most use to workers outside of the office, who can use its roaming capabilities to find and access available web networks. "With VoIP technology making huge strides, its clearly emerging as the future of telephone communication," said Steve Mace of VoIP provider Solwise.

Software giant Microsoft has announced some 430,000 licences have been handed out for its unified communications (UC) products, developed jointly with Nortel. The two companies teamed up last year to create a common platform for business communications, including instant messaging and voice calls over IP networks (VoIP), to allow new products to be made specifically to fit into this system and so allow easy 'plug and play' functionality for users.

There may be as many as 30 million users of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services come the start of next year, according to predictions from industry analysts. Research from TeleGeography suggested the 30 million barrier could be near to being breached by 2008, which would be a dramatic rise from the 6. 5 million VoIP users of two years ago.

The popular virtual online world Second Life is to get an upgrade to include voice communication to allow users to chat without having to type. VoIP communications are set to launch server-wide "in a couple of weeks" according to Linden Labs, which runs Second Life. Chief executive Phillip Rosedale told IT website The Register: "This thing has a positive impact for everybody on Earth.