CounterPath announces a new release of its Bria multimedia softphone will be available later this month. The Bria 3.2 update for Mac and Windows adds support for multiple Instant Message and Presence accounts and the introduction of a Ribbon for Microsoft Outlook 2010, among other features.

Bria is a highly secure, standards-based, multi-platform softphone that enables voice and high-definition video calls, making it ideal for enterprises, government agencies and other organizations that want to replace their desk phones or add unified communications functionality to their existing IP phone platform.

Bria integrates seamlessly with a wide variety of enterprise and carrier infrastructure equipment from major vendors, including Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco Systems, Genband, Metaswitch Networks, NEC and Nokia Siemens Networks, enabling fast, cost-effective implementations. Bria also supports Asterisk-based telephony systems.

The array of capabilities in Bria 3.2 includes:

• Multiple Account Integration. Bria users can pull in and communicate with contacts from different sources and accounts, including local and company directories, Microsoft Outlook, XMPP, XCAP and WebDav servers. Contacts can be merged into a single view with all of their information from different sources in one place.
• Enhanced Contact Management and Display. The latest updates enable Bria users to call or IM a contact with a single click, as well as expand or collapse their list to show more or less information about each contact.
• Ribbon for Microsoft Outlook®. Bria 3.2 includes a Ribbon for Microsoft Outlook 2010, allowing users to place calls directly from their email accounts. The new integration features also include a contextual display of contacts in Outlook's To-Do bar, providing quick access to Bria communications options.
• Company Chat Rooms. Bria now enables organizations to create their own chat rooms, providing employees and authorized external users, such as business partners, with a convenient new way to communicate, connect and collaborate.
• Improved User Interface. Bria 3.2 puts volume/mute controls, frequently used features and key information, such as status, all in a toolbar for convenient access.
• New Workgroup Management Options. Bria users now can manage workgroup functions and add or remove contacts to a workgroup directly from the contact list.

Current Bria 3.0 and 3.1 users will be automatically updated to Bria 3.2. Pricing for a single copy of Bria is $49.95, with additional volume pricing available.