CounterPath Solutions announced today that Technology Marketing Corporation's INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has named CounterPath's eyeBeam 1.5 softphone as a recipient of a 2006 Product of the Year Award. INTERNET TELEPHONY has been the VoIP Authority Since 1998.

CounterPath's SIP softphones, including the eyeBeam 1.5 softphone, and softphone SDKs (Software Development Kits) provide VoIP, Video over IP, IM (Instant Messaging) and Presence functionality and can be either co-branded or private labeled. Built upon open standards in conformance with SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), CounterPath's software application suite powers the VoIP solutions of some of the world's largest service providers and equipment manufacturers including Cisco, Lucent, AT&T, British Telecom and Deutsche Telecom.

Adondo Corporation announces the release of their Personal Audio Link (PAL) Version 1.1 software. With PAL, you can use Skype, Vonage, BroadVoice and other VoIP services to hear email, traffic reports, stock quotes, and blogs on a cell phone.

PAL enables the user to hear a wide range of information read or played over any cell phone or telephone. For example, PAL can read Internet-based content such as stock quotes, weather forecasts, blogs, RSS feeds, and web pages. It can play any podcast over the phone. For Outlook users, PAL reads and navigates email just like a voice-mail system, including the ability to delete, file, reply to, or skip messages; and to skip forward or back while it's reading a message. It also can send audio emails to any Outlook contact. PAL always retrieves and acts upon current PC-based information (file, delete, etc), so no synching to a handheld device is required. Outlook updates instantly.

Raketu will continue to offer free calling to over 42 countries globally irrespective of the origin of the call. Launching in mid-September 2006, Raketu has achieved spectacular growth in its user base, with over 750,000 downloads of the company’s voice-over-IP (VoIP) software.

“There are many Skype users who as of January 1, 2007 will be without access to free VoIP calling,” said Greg Parker, CEO of Raketu. “Raketu not only offers free calling to those regions previously offered by Skype, but also an additional 42 countries. Consumers can continue to get access to free calling, in addition to all our other services, including instant messaging, sms and podcast within one application.”

Raketu uses a unique peer-to-peer (p2p) technology, which allows the highest quality VoIP calling and highest call-completion in the industry. Raketu does not use Supernodes and to this end consumers who choose Raketu do not have the security risk and performance problems associated with other services.

damaka launches IM connectivity to MSN, Yahoo, AOL and Google. This feature allows damaka users to chat with friends across different platforms without having to launch multiple IM clients. Seamless instant messaging is a new element of the industry's smallest downloadable peer-to-peer damaka software, which includes Internet TV, desktop sharing, and video conferencing.

According to MIT student Laila Shabir, "I have been using damaka VoIP application to make free calls to my family in Dubai. The new damaka IM is easy to use as I can move from MSN to AOL by clicking on a button. I am so glad that I don't have to launch other IM clients to talk to my friends around the world. Also, it helps in removing the different communication tools clutter on my desktop and I am glad there's finally a company that can do everything in one application."

Esna Technologies announced it has added Skype support to its market leading Telephony Office-LinX unified communication platform version 7.5. As part of its ongoing goal for interoperability and to offer the most integrations in the market, Telephony Office-LinX will integrate Microsoft's Outlook Calendar with the popular SKYPE desktop VoIP application. Users of the Telephony Office-LinX platform will have their live Skype status tied into their Microsoft Exchange schedule, enabling other Skype users to see if they are available or not on their office telephone, or off the network. It will bridge the Skype Voip world with Enterprise telephony and Groupware status.

Pando Networks has been selected by Skype as a featured partner in the new Skype 3.0, to be released today. With the new Pando Extra, Skype users not only have enhanced file and folder transfer functionality but also the ability to subscribe to video RSS feeds from directly within Skype.

With the Pando Extra, Skype users can:

• Transfer large files and entire folders (up to 1GB) to Skype contacts and/or any email address
• Send to and receive from offline contacts or contacts away from their computers
• Enjoy super-fast, reliable and firewall-friendly file transfers with full auto-resume support
• Send multiple files to multiple recipients, simultaneously
• Post files (e.g. videos, photos, etc) to any web site, blog, MySpace etc.
• Subscribe to high quality Media RSS feeds

SoliCall has developed an innovative and breakthrough technology that will help VoIP users to reduce unwanted noises during calls, in real time. Screaming kids? Barking
dogs? Keyboard-strokes? With SoliCall it will sound less
disturbing than it really is.

This free beta version is aimed at improving the sound quality when making any type of VoIP call (e.g. PC-to-PC, PC-to-Phone). SoliCall is designated to reduce ambient sound that the speaker may have. Its noise reduction performance can be enhanced by tuning it to a specific speaker.

SoliCall supports major Voice over Internet Protocols telephony services like Skype, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger and others.

Convenos announced it has delivered the Convenos Meeting Center Extra for Skype 3.0. With the Convenos Meeting Center Extra, users can now launch meetings directly from within Skype, easily displaying, sharing and editing files and documents in an online meeting with one or more users whenever they want. This means business users can also move seamlessly from a Skype chat or conversation directly into a collaborative web meeting via Convenos Meeting Center.

"This solution makes it even easier to collaborate with anyone online -- a few clicks in Skype, and you're instantly in a Convenos meeting with your Skype contacts," said Thomas Torf, Convenos CEO. "We're extremely excited to deliver this solution to Skype customers as an early participant in the Skype Developer Program, and we anticipate delivering additional offerings as a top Skype for Business partner."

Skype has released its beta version of Skype 2.2 for Windows Mobile. Skype also announced that the number of pocket devices supporting Skype now totals 120. Meaning anyone with high-speed access and one of these devices can now save on mobile or roaming costs by using VoIP instead.

Skype for Windows Mobile can be downloaded for free. Enhancements include a screen with presence status, event notification, and proxy support (missed calls, new chat messages and voicemails). Skype calling features include Skype-to-Skype calls, support for SkypeOut, SkypeIn, voicemail and call forwarding.

This version keeps a similar look and feel to PC-based Skype. Features include one-click Skype access, multi-person chat and an enhanced contact list.

You can download it now at the http://www.skype.com/go/mobile website.

Raketu announced their Call Home Free For The Holidays promotion. Consumers will be able to call to their families and friends free to locations in over 40 countries around the world, regardless of where calls originate, using Raketu’s PC based "RakOut" dialout voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services.

“When you can’t get home for the holidays, it’s nice to be able to speak to friends and family,” said Greg Parker, President of Raketu Inc. “We want to make it possible for everyone to call home this holiday season, and encourage them no matter where they are, or where they are calling to, to call free with our Call Home Free For The Holidays promotion.”

Boingo Wireless, announced that the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype is the first Wi-Fi device to ship with the Boingo Embedded Wi-Fi Toolkit, an open-source software utility that enables Wi-Fi devices to roam on commercial hot spots.

The Boingo Embedded software provides background detection, association and authentication of public Wi-Fi signals automatically, making it easy for consumers to roam onto commercial hot spots and eliminating the need to enter user ID or credit card information for each hot spot they use.

The Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype incorporates familiar Skype features and can be used with either open wireless networks or commercial hot spots that are part of the Boingo Mobile service. The phone also supports WPA and WPA2 with PSK security and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network compatibility.

Talkster unveils a groundbreaking voice over Internet (VoIP) network that allows users to place calls from ordinary mobile phones to traditional and next generation voice services. As an important component of the company’s forthcoming enterprise communications service, the Talkster network connects mobile phones to VoIP networks and devices without phone numbers, such as IP-PBX office phones provisioned inside a corporate IP network.

To demonstrate this network capability, Talkster is offering an individual user beta service that substantially cuts the cost of international long distance and roaming, and is also the first service to enable mobile phones to call instant messenger with voice services such as MSN and Google Talk. The Talkster beta service can be used by the widest number of mobile phones without requiring software, special networks or convoluted calling methods. During this beta, calls to instant messaging services are free. People can sign up at www.talkster.com and start using the beta service today.

CounterPath Solutions has earned certified status in Microsoft Corp.'s Partner Program recognizing CounterPath's expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace.

As a Microsoft Certified Partner with an ISV/Software Solutions Competency, CounterPath has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customer needs. Microsoft Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, which give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

CounterPath's SIP softphones, including the eyeBeam 1.5 softphone, and softphone SDKs (Software Development Kits) provide VoIP, Video over IP, IM (Instant Messaging) and Presence functionality. They can be preconfigured to our customer's VoIP service and either co-branded or private labeled, making them the leading choice among VoIP service providers and manufacturers.

Ecotronics Ventures announced the beta launch of the mobile version of their leading VoIP client software, Kapanga Softphone.

The 30-day trial beta can be downloaded for free from Kapanga Softphone's website. Once installed, Kapanga Mobile users can establish simultaneous voice and video communications through a software PBX or VoIP provider using the mobile device's 802.11 Wifi connection. Kapanga Mobile can also communicate directly to another SIP client device. Supported codecs include G.711, G.729 and AMR for voice and H.263, H.263+ and H.264 for video.

SHAPE Services announces the official release of IM+ for Skype Software. IM+ for Skype gives the low-cost alternative to traditional calls and Skype-to-Skype voice and text communication from RIM BlackBerry and Symbian S60v3 phones. IM+ for Skype Software is based on SkypeOut service that allows users to make and receive calls for a fee. SkypeOut rates are considered to be the lowest rates in the industry to any local or international destination. IM+ for Skype will soon be available also for Pocket PC, Palm, Symbian and Smartphone devices with standard Internet connection. Being the leader of cross-platform mobile IM SHAPE expands Skype service to appeal to mobile phone users with different mobile platforms and without Wi-Fi limitation.

"Creation of IM+ for Skype Software is our answer to users' demand to be able to make cheap calls in classic IM+," said Igor Berezovsky, CEO of SHAPE Services. "Due to SkypeOut making a call with IM+ is ten times cheaper than making a call with ordinary VoIP client."