Sipera Systems debutes the Sipera IPCS 410 and the IPCS 510 for the enterprise. These platforms support new VoIP VPN capabilities for encrypted signaling, encrypted media and strong two-factor authentication. Both the IPCS 410 and 510 also offer VoIP Firewall/Border Control functionality to enable enterprises to solve firewall/NAT issues and apply granular signaling, media and security policies to every VoIP, IM and multimedia session based on network, user, device and time of day.

Sipera Unified Communications Policies characterize each call flow and create actions to allow, deny, or apply routing and security functionality to each session. With this capability, enterprises can deploy soft phones, VoIP remote users, WiFi/dual-mode phones, SIP Trunks and Click-to-Talk applications without compromising established security policies. The inherent flexibility and power of this framework also lowers TCO by minimizing expensive network changes; provides redundancy and cost-savings with flexible call routing; and transfers control back to enterprise IT managers for all real-time unified communications.

Allworx says that demand for its VoIP phones among small and medium businesses has exceeded all expectations - illustrated by the fact that the company has reached the 15,000 unit sales milestone for its VoIP phones well ahead of schedule.

“The reason demand for this product is so high is the fact that there are a number of distinct advantages the Allworx phones provide versus other competitive offerings,” stated Sandra Gault, EVP of Marketing for Allworx. “We know the SMB customer needs a strong feature set, maximum flexibility and a great price point. Unlike most phone offerings, the Allworx phones can be set to behave like a key or PBX system or a mix of the two. Additionally, our phones are the only IP phones that provide BLF/DSS, SIP appearance and line appearance to remote users. Finally, state-of-the-art echo canceling enables superior voice quality. These advantages, in addition to many others, have fuelled the increasing demand for the Allworx 9112 and 9102 VoIP phones within the SMB market.”

Actiontec Electronics announces a new generation of VoSKY Exchange, a family of PBX-to-Skype gateways. With these products, businesses can use standard desktop phones to make and receive free and low-cost long-distance and international calls over Skype, the world’s fastest-growing Internet communication offering. The new 9140/9180 series adds remote access to Exchange-based Skype lines for users who are out of the office, other convenience features, and a new PBX connectivity strategy that reduces costs.

VoSKY Exchange is a rack-mountable, PBX voice gateway that adds up to eight outgoing Skype lines to the office PBX without changes to existing PBX or phone equipment. Multiple Exchange boxes can be set up in company offices in different locations worldwide to enable free calls between colleagues. Calls to other Skype users are free, while SkypeOut calls to landline or mobile phones are charged at very low rates. The system eliminates the need to use a PC and headset to make Skype calls, has a low one-time cost, and can pay for itself in a few months. Skype itself has no signup or monthly access fees.

TRENDnet has started shipping its ClearLink VoIP USB Phone Adapter (Model TVP-SP5G). This pocket sized product links your telephone to your computer via USB connection and allows you to make Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, using Skype, from your standard phone. Now you have the choice to make and receive either a standard call or a Skype call when you pick up your phone. Users can take advantage of free Skype to Skype calling, Skype subscription plans, or keep in contact with regular phone users with their existing telephone.

Perfectly suited for home and office use, the ClearLink VoIP USB Phone Adapter installs in a flash. No need to find room on your crowded power strip, the unit is powered from the USB connection to your computer. A simple hot key allows you to switch between SkypeTM and regular phone calls. The ClearLink VoIP USB Phone Adapter is an affordable Skype solution and a great addition to TRENDnet’s growing stable of VoIP products.

AltiGen Communications announces the availability of the MAX1000 Voice over IP (VoIP) phone system.

The MAX1000 is a premium full-featured VoIP phone system designed for branch offices and locations with up to 48 users with support for such features as SIP trunking, Meet-me conference bridge capability with scheduling application, On-demand Voice Recording, 4,500 hours of voice mail storage, ExtensionAnywhere mobility and many other features in a single-box appliance.

"The MAX1000 is completely different from competing phone systems in that every branch office is fully autonomous," said Ray Lutteroty, president of AltiGen reseller SRMS Network Technologies. "We will be installing nine MAX1000 systems in the next month for a multi-location credit union because of this advantage."

ClearOne announced that their market-leading audio technologies and state-of-the-art conferencing products are being showcased at the Internet Telephony Conference & Expo East in Ft. Lauderdale, from January 23-26. Some of the unique VoIP-capable products on display at the show include the Company’s personal conferencing products, the Chat 50 and Chat 150. ClearOne will also showcase their VoIP tabletop conferencing solutions, the MAXAttach IP and MAX IP.

ClearOne’s Chat 50 is the award-winning personal audio peripheral that connects to a wide variety of devices and provides crystal clear, hands-free audio communications. Its unmatched full-duplex capability enables users to simultaneously speak and listen with high-performance two-way audio. The crossover technology in the Chat 50, which allows it to connect to PCs, Macs, cell phones, telephones, and desktop video conferencing devices, enables hands-free communications in new ways that have not previously been possible. It also provides rich audio playback for music, gaming and other audio applications. It is slightly larger than a deck of cards, making it a truly one-of-a-kind go-anywhere personal conferencing device.

TRENDnet has started shipping its first to market ClearSky Bluetooth VoIP Conference Phone Kit for Skype. The distinctively designed Skype conference kit is the first product to enable hands-free Voice over IP conferencing for small businesses anywhere in the office using a wireless Bluetooth connection.

The ClearSky kit includes a conference phone base unit and a USB Class 1 Bluetooth adapter. Together they create a long-range Bluetooth connection that provides high quality conferencing anywhere within a 100 meter (328 feet) range. Gone are the days of being tied down by wires, just grab the conference phone and take it where you need it.

The conference phone’s integrated LCD screen and touchpad offer easy control and viewing of Skype contacts, call history, status and SkypeOut credit balance. This allows users to place and receive calls and control Skype content directly from the conference phone.

The AiGuru S2 is a cordless USB Internet phone offering support for Skype software, Windows Vista SideShow, and both Apple iTunes and Windows Media Player for wireless music play. The AiGuru S2 remains true to ASUS' three main product design concepts – style, ease of use and seamless integration with PC applications that users are no longer tied down to their PCs or laptops. The premium slim design, brilliant color display and backlit keypad make the AiGuru S2 comfortable to use around the house or office, regardless of where the computer is located. Access to broadband Internet is required.

The AiGuru S2's simplified menu structure and user-friendly interface make it easy to leverage all of Skype's capabilities. Besides Skype's basic features, the AiGuru S2 also provides the ability for users to manage their personal information and contact lists. Users can also see callers' photos or avatars and Skype ID when receiving an incoming call.

For portable music enjoyment, the AiGuru S2 comes equipped with a high quality speaker and five EQ voice modes to support streaming music from a PC using Wi-Fi technology. Through Windows Vista SideShow support, users can also use the AiGuru S2 handset to access their e-mail information on their PC.

Asus AiGuru S2 Product Specifications

"Many imitators are likely to crib the style and innovative features of Philips's DECT ID9371B, announced at CES. Designed like a cell phone, this slim cordless handset has a 65,000-color screen and stores 250 names and numbers in its phone book."

"Hidden inside the device is an answering machine that holds 15 minutes of voicemail messages. Users can export phone book entries from a cell phone's SIM card to the cordless handset. The phone is slated to ship with a $180 price tag in the second quarter of the year."






"Also notable for its svelte design is Philips's new VoIP841 cordless handset, which can make both land-line and Internet calls via Skype's Voice-over-IP service without requiring a PC. You plug the ethernet cable into the base station at one end and your router at the other, and voila--the device is ready to make Skype calls."

"The VoIP841 doesn't support Wi-Fi; instead, it uses DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) wireless technology, which cordless phones in Europe commonly use, to communicate with the base station. It stores 500 Skype contacts and supports free Skype-to-Skype calls. Another snazzy feature is the handset's ability to emit different ringtones to signal whether a call is coming from a land line or from Skype. Like the DECT ID9371B, the VoIP841 has a 65,000-color display. Philips says that the phone should become available for $199."

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128506-c,tradeshows/article.html

High Res Images courtesy of http://www.ces.philips.com/:

• DECT Phone ID9371
• VoIP Phone VoIP841

iSkoot client software has been Skype Certified.

This confirms that iSkoot meets Skype's standards for usability and quality, making it the first third-party mobile client software to be certified by Skype. iSkoot allows mobile phone users to place and receive Skype calls from their handsets, without the need for PCs, special hardware, or WiFi hot spots. Users simply use local rates or minutes from their plans to speak to Skype contacts or use SkypeOut to make inexpensive calls to any phone from their mobiles. This will initially be made available in the US with more markets to follow.

"Skype's endorsement of iSkoot represents a significant benefit for the 136 million plus Skype users who can now enjoy Skype on their cell phone, without needing PCs, special hardware or WiFi hot spots," said iSkoot CEO Jacob Guedalia.

Cardo Systems has begun shipping its scala-700 VoIP, a dual-purpose Bluetooth wireless headset for talking while using Skype enabled PCs and laptops as well as hands-free mobile phones. The scala-700 VoIP allows users to chat wirelessly on Skype by voice command for up to 8 hours. A Bluetooth audio Adapter plugs into a computer’s USB port allowing the headset to perform hands-free voice control of phone calls on the screen of a computer or laptop.

The innovative headset offers voice-controlled Skype operation and mobile phone communication in one device. Calls can be made and received up to 30 ft/10 m from the computer or mobile phone.

The headset also includes SWAP technology, which offers users the convenience of switching the headset’s connection between VoIP and mobile phone conversations.

8x8 provider of Packet8 introduces its next generation consumer videophone solution, a one-of-a- kind broadband phone adapter with a built-in LCD screen that turns any regular home phone into a state-of-the-art, full motion videophone.

The Packet8 Tango Video Terminal Adapter (VTA) takes the concept of traditional analog terminal adapters (ATAs) one step further with the addition of advanced H.264 video, allowing for significantly better video quality compared to H.263 at the same bandwidth. The Packet8 Tango is fully SIP compliant and interoperates with 8x8's previous generation videophone, the Packet8 DV326 as well as its video soft phone, Packet8 Softalk. This sleek-looking 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 1.38" free standing device incorporates a built-in, high resolution 5" LCD color display and 180 degree rotating CCD camera to deliver advanced full-motion video at up to 30 frames per second along with crisp, delay-free audio.

NETGEAR launchs the company’s first dual-mode DECT cordless phone to support both landline phone calls and Skype Internet calls. The NETGEAR Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D) includes a handset and a base station which simultaneously connects to a user’s home network router and phone line wall jack enabling users to place and receive both traditional phone calls and Skype Internet calls from a single cordless handset without the need to be connected to a computer.

The Skype Certified SPH200D incorporates DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony) technology which utilizes the 1.9GHz band enabling the included cordless phone to avoid interference from WiFi networks to provide longer range and ensure crystal clear voice quality. The Cordless Phone Base Station, which supports up to four handsets (additional handsets sold separately), saves consumers money and eliminates clutter by enabling users to improve the quality of their traditional telephone service and add the cost-saving benefits of Skype Internet calling by simply replacing their current cordless phones throughout the home.

Panasonic debuted its Globarange series of hybrid 2-Line cordless telephones with Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) broadband technology that will create a Panasonic Globarange global community by providing free calling between Globarange phones throughout the world.

"This is the first Panasonic telephone to launch simultaneously in over 12 countries on the same day," stated Panasonic telephone national marketing manager Wayne Borg. "It is easy to set up, does not need to be attached to a computer and you can talk as long as you want to any other Globarange phone user."

Parrot is introducing Bluetooth convenience to corporate boardrooms, offices and conference rooms with the launch of its new high-performance Bluetooth wireless speakerphone.

Called the Parrot CONFERENCE, the speakerphone features Parrot’s proprietary advanced digital signal processing technology with full duplexing for clear, echo-free conversations in both small and large rooms. Its three highly sensitive microphones provide complete 360-degree voice pickup and a powerful 5-watt speaker allows conversations in normal voice levels for all participants.

“With over 100 million registered users of Skype worldwide, professionals will be able to enjoy a high-quality conference speaker in an untethered way,” says Henri Seydoux, founder and CEO of Parrot. “Our new Parrot CONFERENCE transforms our innovative Bluetooth expertise from our automotive and home product lines to bring convenience and ease of use to the office.”