VoIP News: March 2008

Polycom has launched a new WiFi phone intended for the small-to-medium business (SMB) market.

Introducing the SpectraLink 8002 Wireless Telephone, Polycom said it will allow users the freedom of movement whilst also being able to wirelessly take and receive calls.

The company also said that the phone will deliver enterprise-grade voice connectivity to SMBs over a wireless LAN.

As Ben Guderian, vice president of product management at Polycom's wireless business unit, said in a statement;

"Until recently, it's been considered cost-prohibitive for SMBs to take advantage of this technology,"

"But with the introduction of the SpectraLink 8002, businesses of any size can benefit from high-quality Wi-Fi telephony."

The phone will be available in the second quarter of 2008 and is priced at $399 (£200).

Posted on: 2008-03-31, in: General VoIP, VoIP Hardware

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Digium today released Switchvox SMB 3.5 software and AA60 Switchvox Appliance hardware, both based on the Asterisk communication system.

Switchvox IP PBX technologies enable users to easily integrate telephone systems with internet applications, even if users have limited programming knowledge.

The Switchvox SMB 3.5 is intended for larger businesses of around 50 users thanks to its ability to quickly and easily integrate large phone systems with tailored software applications.

Instead, the AA60 Switchvox Appliance is suitable for small businesses largely due to its compact size and low cost.

Dave Michels, president of VoIP solutions provider Buffalo Communications, welcomed the new technology.

"Switchvox SMB 3.5 automates the time-consuming tasks associated with setting up a phone system for the larger organizations we’re installing Switchvox in and frees us up to focus on delivering even more value."

Digium, via the Asterisk Company, delivers the most widely used open source telephony system on the market.

Posted on: 2008-03-31, in: General VoIP, IP PBX, VoIP Hardware

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VoIP telephone manufacturer snom technology has announced the launch of its new IP DECT phone, the snom m3.

The phone is snom's first cordless offering, the snom m3 provides an optimal VoIP communication system for the home office, SMB or enterprise, according to Michael Knieling.

The CFO and executive vice president of marketing and sales for snom, said: "Despite the fact that the trend in VoIP is increasing movement toward mobility, the supply of IP DECT phones is fairly limited,"

"With the new snom m3, we will be able to provide all VoIP users with the latest in mobility and design, without having to forgo premium audio quality."

The phone was designed by Sebastian Stroschein of Stroschein Product Design, Berlin. Mr Stroschein is known for luxury car installations including the Bluetooth handset installed in the Maybach limousine and handsets in Porsches and BMWs.

"It was a great challenge for me to work with snom," Mr Stroschein said.

"The task was by no means less demanding than working with the large car manufacturers,

"I am convinced of the advantages of VoIP, and I look forward to this phone, which - with its high-quality design - will make the innovative technology 'visible' on the outside."

The m3 has an indoor range of 50 metres and an outdoor range of 100 metres.

It is an expandable system with multiline functionality for up to eight handsets - allowing for up to three parallel calls at time. It has a 128 x 128 pixel color display with backlight function and operates for ten hours talk time or 100 hours standby.

Posted on: 2008-03-28, in: Telephony technology, VoIP Hardware

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Nokia has announced the introduction of its new 6300i phone which benefits from both GSM and VoIP connectivity.

The new mobile phone can make calls via the mobile internet or Wi-Fi networks and allows up to two thousand VoIP, home and mobile numbers to be stored.

Dedicated WLAN and VoIP symbols show the connection status and type of phone call, whether it is using GSM network or VoIP.

The phone is an upgrade to the original 6300 and is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2008.

Other features of the phone include a 2.0-megapixel camera, 30 MB internal user memory, 512 MB microSD card, built-in MP3 player and an FM radio.

Applications include Nokia Maps, WidSets and Download!

Posted on: 2008-03-28, in: Telephony technology, VoIP Hardware

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Businesses and consumers in the UK could find that paying a little extra for their broadband service is worth it in the long-run.

Michael Phillips, product director from Broadband Choices, said that the industry tends to compete on the basis of cutting prices to very low levels.

"One of the results is that ISPs will cut back on service levels to try and make those very low cost levels profitable," he said.

A recent survey from uSwitch found that there is a 21 per cent gap in customer satisfaction between the best and the worst providers.

The report also revealed that more than eight million broadband users are unsure whether they are on the best value deal for their requirements.

"Certainly I would encourage all consumers to take into account the findings of our survey and the uSwitch survey, and potentially pay more for their broadband to get a better customer service experience," Mr Phillips added.

Posted on: 2008-03-27, in: Broadband

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