Skype's deal with Verizon has finally borne fruit. The new Skype mobile app for Verizon smartphones, allows users to make unlimited Skype calls via their mobile phones. The new application, launched Thursday March 25, 2010, lets users make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls and send and receive unlimited instant messages from other Skype users. It also offers special low rates for international callers who use the app. While Skype-to-Skype calls are not charged against monthly minute plans, all calls made through Skype mobile to international mobile and landline phones require Skype credit, which means the market may soon be seeing a rush of new users for Skype. 

The Open-Xchange Unified Communications solution is now integrated with the VoIPNow Professional solution, with several features aimed to allow service providers to target business customers and reduce operational costs. The features include fax and voicemail tagging in the Open-Xchange inbox, the ability to configure VoIP features like phone numbers and locations, and the ability to call, fax, and send files from InfoStore. In order to integrate VoIP with Open-Xchange to take advantage of these features, the product requires VoipNow Professional installation, SIP capable devices for users such as soft phones, hardware SIP phones, or traditional telephones connected through VoIP adapters, and an account with a SIP provider or hardware to connect to the PSTN network. The product is offered for the Open-Xchange Server Edition VoipNow Bundle, Server Edition for UCS VoipNow Bundle, and Hosting Edition VoipNow Bundle, and is integrated with VoipNow Professional, a Unified Communications platform which hosts companies and businesses from 4PSA. 

IPsmarx has now expanded its VoIP softswitch/billing platform to include a Multi-level IP-PBX and SIP trunking. IPsmarx aims to offer competitive service providers a complete solution for Small Mediums Business markets with its new platform. The platform, called MarketReady™ Softswitch and Application Suite, offers integrated switching, billing, unified customer management, innovative service marketing tools, and the complete range of applications required by Small Mediums Businesses. It lets competitive service providers sell SIP trunking to Small Mediums Businesses who need multiple channels for SIP connectivity of their premise-based PBXs. The platform’s single integrated server lets providers simplify the management of multiple accounts, create multiple plan rates and unlimited minutes packages, improve service, and cut costs by giving service provider networks, customer service reps, and resellers all access to a customized web-portal with an easy-to-use interface. MarketReady™ Softswitch also gives end user customers access to their own system, letting them enjoy self-service extension management, extension group management, extension range flexibility, flexible auto attendant routing, direct phone number assignment and DID assignment. The promotion system includes an integrated email platform to cross-promote, an e-store function including a user portal, customizable features, automated sign up, and online payment processes, multi-lingual IVR, and multiple currencies. Resellers can also set up customized discounts, promotions and coupons. 

Vonage has now recieved its second patent relating to virtual phone numbers. The first patent, No. 7,386,111, was issued June 10 2008. The new patent, No. 7,680,262, is titled “Method and Apparatus for Placing a Long Distance Call Based on a Virtual Phone Number,” and allows consumers to escape long distance and international calling charges when placing long-distance calls. The patent was issued on March 19, 2010. 

Skype has now published the source code for the SILK audio codec in an Internet Draft, available here: According to Skype’s chief technology officer Daniel Berg, "This means that anyone and everyone can now see, download, use and improve upon the software.” Berg goes on to say that “this represents a key step in the development of an international standard for a wideband codec for use on the Internet."

IP Connect and Frontier's other IP technology based solutions are completely integrated solutions for voice and data usage with a competitive long distance service, all through one service provider. These are versatile solutions that enable businesses to migrate to IP-based technology at their own pace, using their existing PBX equipment or through a Frontier managed PBX. IP technology provides a scalable, cost effective option that help businesses gain efficiencies, translating into lower costs and higher productivity.

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IPstudio™ 2.2 Offers Greater Efficiencies in Recording and Storing Calls for Desktop and Mobile Environments

 

“Call recording has become a critical business need for companies of all sizes,” added Anshul Shelley, VP of VoIP and Multimedia Recording Appliances, for IPcelerate, Inc. “Our goal for IPstudio™ was to provide a solution that not only records and stores calls, but does so easily and without requiring custom software configuration. IPstudio™2.2 does just that by offering enhanced flexibility in determining when and which calls to record, as well as storing and retrieving those calls.”

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Market-leading Net-Net Session Border Controller Used by Both Incumbent and Competitive Providers in All Regions of the World

To better understand usage patterns and growth opportunities, Acme Packet grouped customer responses into standard categories: competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and cable. Highlights from the study indicate that deployment of SIP trunks is increasing in each region as all types of service providers are adding it to their product portfolio. Growth in specific regions, however, is being driven largely by specific service provider types making Acme Packet believe that the SIP trunking market will be highly competitive for the next several years. Highlights of the survey reveal the following:

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"Within one week of signing with us, Spectrum sold and deployed their first AltiGen system which attests to the strong value proposition customers are immediately realizing with the AltiGen/Spectrum partnership," stated AltiGen Director of Channels Bill Glau. "With significant expertise in both data networking and business communications, Spectrum is well equipped to leverage AltiGen's modular, software-powered architecture to design and deliver cost-effective Unified Communications solutions for organizations utilizing Microsoft infrastructure technologies. We look forward to advancing our success with Spectrum Networks."

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"We are confident that Zultys' family of IP PBX and Unified Communications products and solutions will provide companies the advanced Unified Communications features they need across Windows 7 to increase productivity, improve customer service and grow profitability."

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