Arcosoft announced the release of VONaLink TeamRecord. TeamRecord works with any VoIP phone system based on the open SIP standard, such as Asterisk or Vonage, to centrally record all phone calls for a company workgroup. TeamRecord was previously available only for Windows.

Call recording benefits a company by allowing business transactions over the phone to be verified and disputes resolved. With traditional phone systems, calls are recorded with either analog equipment or expensive, proprietary products from the phone company. With the latest VoIP systems built on open, standard protocols, calls can be recorded by monitoring network packets.

TeamRecord unobtrusively accesses voice data using the port mirroring capability of a network switch. No additional software needs to be installed at each workstation. The call is recorded as a stereo WAV or MP3. An inaudible watermark can be added to the recording for later verification that the file has not been changed. Users can listen to recordings of their own calls from any web browser.

VONaLink TeamRecord runs on x86 Linux or Windows. Pricing starts at $500 USD for 5 phone licenses. Each additional phone license is $100 USD. Download evaluation from www.vonalink.com

Raketu launches Raketu.tv, its beta ipTV and Video on Demand (VOD) services. Raketu.tv is the first integrated ipTV and social networking service available to all consumers. Beginning immediately, users will be able to watch videos and streaming TV from around the world while interacting with each other through Raketu’s peer-to-peer (p2p) communications service.

Raketu also announced that the company has entered into a content partnership with Media Global Intertainment for ipTV streaming of their content through Raketu, which includes exclusive content seen on the syndicated hit TV music video program Fearless Music. As well, Raketu signed a VOD content partnership with KlikVU.com, providing pay-for Sports, Horror, Extreme Wrestling, Brazilian Models, Soccer Highlights, Extreme Sports Brazil, Medical Minutes, and other entertainment to the company’s user base of over 750,000 consumers worldwide.

Buzz Technologies has embarked on a bold strategy to take on the giants of the internet. Buzz Technologies has developed a suite of internet ready products. Buzz Technologies internet products are ready for the convergent media future. Buzz Technologies internet products make the internet, TV and mobile phones all wireless.

At the web level, the Buzz Browser, the Buzz Instant Messenger, the SMS, VoIP and search engines are all operational. These products are integrated into a single powerful platform. These products compete directly with Windows Live and Windows IE. Buzz Technologies is developing the Buzz Browser to be able to be a competitor to Windows Vista and XP. The Buzz Virtual Computer will see a stage 1 release this week allowing individuals and corporations the ability to store their files within the browser. Files stored on the Buzz virtual computer will be available wherever the user logs on.

Sutida Suwunnavid Chairwoman of Buzz Technologies said, "While we could explain in detail the technical specifications we think as a user you should simply compare the products."

I believe you are correct Sutida Suwunnavid, so if you have used any of the Buzzalicious software please leave us your feedback.

Raketu announces the immediate availability of its Japanese language version. Currently, all pre-paid customers of Raketu’s "RakOut" dial-out voice over IP (VoIP) service enjoy free calling to over 40 countries. This same service offer will now be available for Japanese speaking consumers, wherever they live in the world, as all calls to locations in these countries are free regardless of where they originate.

“In response to the tremendous interest in Raketu from Japan, Raketu has released its Japanese language version,” said Greg Parker, President of Raketu. “With our Japanese language release of Raketu, we are continuing to deliver on our promise of localization, enabling our users to use Raketu in their native language.”

Raketu is now available in English, Czech, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. The Spanish language version of Raketu will be released next week.

Pingtel, announced that version 3.6 of the company’s SIPxchange ECS solution has been released. The 3.6 version is focused on extending Pingtel’s Enterprise Communications Server (SIP PBX) leadership through more robust technology and features, improved flexibility, and increased value of the SIPxchange solution by further reducing operational cost.

The new version of Pingtel’s SIPxchange ECS also enhances the solution’s superior voice quality. By being built on the SIP standard, SIPxchange ECS has always routed voice packets on a peer-to-peer basis along the fastest path between end-points and not through the PBX. Now, in version 3.6, SIPxchange ECS fully supports Polycom HD Voice technology and the new HDVoice-equipped Polycom IP phone, the SoundPoint IP 650. Using the SoundPoint IP 650 with SIPxchange ECS will enable clearer calls and more productive communications.

Opera Software announces that Iwatsu Electric has selected the Opera browser to provide the full Web to its Visual IP phone, a part of Iwatsu's new communication system called PRECOT (Premium Communication Tool). PRECOT is a next generation solution over a broadband IP connection for the enterprise market. With Opera, PRECOT users can access Web mail or any Web page from the convenience of their screen phones.

Intended for use in businesses, the PRECOT solution enables users of this phone to access full Internet and Intranet content from the convenience of the Visual IP phone. The Opera browser includes phone-to-tag support making it easy to call from the browser. This means that a user can visit an online telephone directory and simply select the number to place the call.

"Iwatsu's PRECOT solution is breaking new ground in integrating the Web into IP telephony. Opera is excited to provide a Web browser to Iwatsu's Visual IP phone to enable access to the Internet on their new IP video phone," says Scott Hedrick, Executive Vice President, Opera Software. "Having a full Internet browser as a part of the phone allows rich integration of corporate data, Web applications, voice and video calling. Users will be able to initiate calls directly from a Web site or the corporate Intranet."

Vocalscape announces that they are participating in an open source softphone project - the Ekiga softphone.

"Joining the open source community working on the Ekiga softphone allows Vocalscape to share our experience with VoIP technology and provides our customers and end-users with added functionality more quickly," said Ron McIntyre, President of Vocalscape. "Soon, in addition to our Eyefon softphone for Windows, end-users running Linux operating systems will be able to make calls on the Vocalscape network. Additionally, the Ekiga softphone will give users some added functionality such as video calling and text messaging." The number of subscribers to retail VoIP services rose by 83% during 2005, from 10.3 million at the beginning of 2005 to over 18.7 million subscribers worldwide by the end of 2005.

Ekiga (formerly known as GnomeMeeting) is an open source VoIP and video conferencing application for GNOME. Additionally, the first version of Ekiga for Windows was released recently. Ekiga uses both the H.323 and SIP protocols. It supports many audio and video codecs, and is interoperable with other SIP compliant software and also with Microsoft NetMeeting. Learn more about the Ekiga softphone at: http://ekiga.org

Arcosoft announces the release of VONaLink SoloRecord for Mac OS X. SoloRecord works with any VoIP phone system based on the open SIP standard, such as Vonage, to record phone calls and to provide screen pops. Also available is a separate ScreenPop product, if recording is not required. SoloRecord and ScreenPop were previously available only for Windows.

With traditional phone systems, calls are recorded with either analog equipment or expensive, proprietary products from the phone company. With the latest VoIP systems built on open, standard protocols, calls can be recorded by monitoring network packets. Call recording benefits a company by allowing business transactions over the phone to be verified and disputes resolved.

BlasterPhone started its operations in July 2003 and soon became VoIP provider of choice for customers worldwide due to its strategically positioned infrastructure in both North and South America. The company's business model allows individuals and business customers, resellers and carriers to benefit from our offerings and expertise by reducing telecommunication costs and expanding their global reach.

The BlasterPhone VoIP Reseller Program is designed for businesses that operate in the communications sector and want to utilize BlasterPhone's infrastructure to expand their range of service options or service areas.

Resellers are provided with access to BlasterPhone's sophisticated billing platform which allows total control over an entire VoIP operation. Calls termination services are powered by MVTS with SIP-HIT Session Border Controllers which ensures smooth interoperability between industry standard protocols such as SIP and H323.

fring further underlines its leading position as the only true end-to-end mVoIP (mobile VoIP) application provider certified by Symbian ‘Signed for Nokia Program’. Operating on all Nokia S60 3rd edition handsets, fringsters can now talk and chat over Skype, Google Talk and MSN Messenger in addition to other fring users, for free.

fring is a free, PC-independent, downloadable mobile phone application that enables anyone with a compatible handset1 to talk and chat for free. fring users calling over 3G mobile networks use only the data within their existing subscription agreement and are not charged for air time. fring can also be used over Wi-Fi at home, in the office or at the many “hot spot” cafes making mobile calls completely free. fring is mobile-operator independent and is available by SMS invitation from a fring user or by registering at www.fring.com.

Truphone confirmes that its mobile VoIP service is supported on three new Nokia handsets: the Wi-Fi-equipped Nokia E61i, Nokia E65 and Nokia E90 models.

Truphone enables Wi-Fi-equipped mobile phones to make internet-rate phone calls (VoIP calls) over Wi-Fi connections. When the handset is not in Wi-Fi range it reverts from being a 'Truphone' to being a normal mobile handset, so people need only one device.

"The new Nokia E61i, Nokia E65 and Nokia E90 phones will be very popular and Truphone works on them from day one," said James Tagg, CEO of Truphone. "With other manufacturers also starting to put Wi-Fi on handsets, 2007 is the year that mobile meets the Internet - and that means Truphone VoIP," he added.

The Truphone client software has completed the Symbian signing process and is available for all new and existing Nokia Wi-Fi VoIP handsets.

HelloSoft announces BenQ has licensed HelloSoft's VoIP technologies (HelloDual-Mode) for use in BenQ's dual-mode handsets. HelloSoft products can enable mobile device manufacturers to design and architect products that are power-efficient and provide substantial cost benefits.

HelloSoft provides the most optimized and comprehensive software solution for enabling VoIP on mobile handsets without having to make changes to the existing hardware designs. Using HelloDual-Mode, OEMs and ODMs can deliver VoIP enabled multi-media mobile handsets with a shorter time to market.

"With HelloSoft's highly optimized and power-efficient VoIP software integrated into BenQ's multi-mode handsets, users can enjoy the benefits of high quality voice coupled with reduced power consumption at lower costs," said Dr. Irwin Chen, General Manager of BenQ Mobile Communications Group. "We are excited about integrating HelloDual-Mode into our handset products."

Users of Truphone's low-cost mobile VoIP service can now make and receive internet phone calls on their mobiles from more than 700 additional Wi-Fi hotspots in popular locations across 14 countries in Europe, following an agreement between Truphone and free-hotspot.com.

This latest roaming agreement extends Truphone users' access to public Wi-Fi. The company expects to conclude further roaming agreements throughout 2007, creating an ever-bigger network of hotspots where log-on is automatic for Truphone users.

As a special launch offer, access to free-hotspot.com's Wi-Fi network will be 100% free to Truphone users, with calls charged at Truphone's characteristically low VoIP call rates. From May 15th, calls will be billed at just 3p/minute above these rates.

barablu's easy to use service expands VoIP beyond the PC and promises to benefit millions who use the mobile as their preferred choice of communication.

barablu has achieved advances which gives users not just free calls via a mobile but also -

• Free text message
• Free voice mail

Free phone calls using the Internet is attracting a growing number of converts daily and this demand has up to now been driven by the likes of Skype but barablu takes the development into next generation.

Details of the company's global expansion have been revealed at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona (February 12-15).

Fonality announces the Fonality trixbox Open Communications Certification (FtOCC) workshop, the first in a series of training and certification courses for the trixbox application platform. trixbox, the largest and fastest growing Asterisk-based platform and community, is quickly becoming the de facto standard for open source telephony. The FtOCC program will provide the tools and knowledge necessary to successfully implement trixbox in a business environment.

“Telephony is in the midst of a sea change and sea changes mean huge opportunity. But capitalizing on opportunity requires training and education,” said Chris Lyman, Fonality founder and CEO. “The FtOCC courses will quickly teach attendees how to begin earning real money from trixbox and Asterisk.”