Small and medium businesses worldwide feel confused by the multiple and complex range of VoIP solutions, despite all the hype about VoIP’s projected toll cost savings, productivity improvements, and a more professional market presence. Over the past few years, an increasing number of VoIP solutions have come to market that are aimed at the SMB segment. Yet, most SMBs are unable to evaluate and decide which VoIP solution is best for them.

That’s the conclusion from the latest global study by Access Markets International (AMI) Partners, Inc. “The market opportunity for VoIP solutions is burgeoning for SMBs,” says Sanjeev Aggarwal, AMI-Partners’ New York-based Vice President for SMB Infrastructure Solutions. “Whichever solutions or vendors SMBs choose, most companies will move to VoIP over the next five years—creating a huge opportunity for equipment vendors, service providers, and VARs.”

NewStep Networks, was named by NetworkWorld as one of 10 companies to watch as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) overtakes traditional telephony.

NewStep is worth watching because its technology allows enterprises and carriers to expand their VoIP services to new devices without an expensive and complex overhaul of systems now in place, according to the article by NetworkWorld senior editors Phil Hochmuth and Tim Greene.

The article in the January 29 issue notes in its introduction that “it’s a given that with time VoIP will replace traditional voice technology in corporate networks” and that “in the meantime companies will need technology to make the transition smoothly and expand VoIP to wireless phones, handhelds, laptops and other devices.”

Today the commercial availability of the MobileSTICK solution has been made, first previewed at 3GSM World Congress in February 2006 (then referred to as SoftMOBILE with USB SIM authentication).

The MobileSTICK solution transforms personal computers into voice, SMS and multimedia messaging terminals for mobile operator services, leveraging standards-based Voice over Internet Protocol technology. Bringing together the mobile number identity with the benefits of Internet VoIP and messaging services, MobileSTICK can use virtually any broadband-connected PC, while maintaining security and mobile operator control via the same SIM card-based authentication already trusted by GSM and UMTS operators.

D-Link has entered into an agreement with Brightpoint. Under terms of the agreement, Brightpoint will distribute D-Link cost-effective Internet Protocol communications and networking solutions in scalable bundles tailored specifically for small-to-medium businesses to drive mobility, streamline workflow, and reduce operational costs.

Brightpoint, a global leader in the distribution of wireless devices and provider of customized logistic services, will immediately offer through its distribution channel seven bundled D-Link office solution packages that provide complete integration of networking infrastructure and digital telephony with a range of Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), wired and wireless connectivity products. These D-Link solution packages offered by Brightpoint are geared towards solving fundamental small to medium business needs, including basic office setup, mobile sales team deployment and remote office interconnectivity.

VocalTec partners with Energo Complect, a leading Russian systems integrator to Extend Sales of Essentra VoIP Solutions in Russia.

VocalTec and Energo Complect will focus on the delivery of the Essentra VoIP solution to regional service providers and enterprises. The cooperation between the companies grants Energo Complect the ability to market, sell, install and support Essentra products. VocalTec’s recent class 4 certification by Infokom is expected to further enhance the market opportunity for both companies.

With the VoIP widget, jointly developed by JAJAH and Pageflakes, everyone is able to make cheap or even free calls just as easy as making a traditional landline call. What's more: Now users don't even have to leave their browser startpage to initiate a call. Until recently, most low-cost computer calling solutions were accessible only to the technically savvy with a broadband Internet connection - times have changed.

No headset, no download and no broadband connection. Last year, JAJAH launched a revolutionary new solution that allows users to make VoIP-based phone-to-phone calls without technical obstacles. Callers simply enter both their own phone number and the desired destination number on www.jajah.com, and JAJAH connects the call.

By teaming up with Pageflakes, a leading player in the rapidly-growing startpage space, JAJAH is now taking VoIP convenience and simplicity to a new level again. Users can now add a little widget to their personal startpage at www.pageflakes.com and initiate calls from the widget - without having to go to any other website.

Vocalscape Networks announced that their turnkey VoIP system now includes provisions for providing VoIP service using a prepaid ATA model. The new model allows service providers to deliver prepaid Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone service to users who are using traditional phones with an analog telephone adapter (ATA) or softphone.

"Vocalscape's prepaid ATA model gives service providers more flexibility in their offerings," commented Ron McIntyre, President of Vocalscape. "The ability to mix prepaid, postpaid and subscription services means, for example, that customers who are on basic subscription plans can make long distance calls outside their plan using prepaid funds instead of being billed later. This allows end-users to meter their spending and significantly reduces risk for the service provider as calls outside the plan are paid in advance."

CNet Technology and VIVOphone are teaming together to offer customers a series of VOIP solutions. This association marks CNet’s entry into the VOIP market and capitalizes on its established distribution and support network in the U.S. and Latin America.

“We believe that by choosing VIVOphone as our VOIP partner and by working as a team, we can consolidate our individual strengths and spur further growth for each company,” said Bryan Chan, EVP of CNet Technology. “In addition, VIVOphone has strong presence in Latin America and CNet is eager to leverage VIVOphone’s visibility in order to serve the needs of the market.”

XO Communications announced that the amount of voice traffic carried across its nationwide IP network exceeded 15 billion minutes in 2006. During the course of 2006, voice traffic carried across its nationwide IP grew by 80 percent, from 822 million minutes in January 2006 to approximately 1.5 billion minutes in December 2006.

"XO is a leader in VoIP solutions for businesses and communications service providers, providing the essential building blocks and end-to-end solutions that enable customers to deliver services across our nationwide, next generation IP network," said Carl Grivner, CEO of XO Communications. "Through the investments we have made and continue to make in our network, XO is well-positioned to support the growing demand for IP voice services."

Digium and Polycom announce a high-quality VoIP solution for small and medium-size businesses that simplifies the technical aspects of purchasing, configuring and deploying a complete VoIP phone system. The integrated solution, featuring the Digium AsteriskNOW software appliance and Polycom SoundPoint IP desktop phones can significantly lower the time and technical expertise needed to deploy a high quality VoIP solution; enabling more small and medium businesses to enjoy the cost savings, enhanced quality and productivity benefits of advanced IP telephony.

The simplified purchasing, configuration and deployment process is enabled by new capabilities in the Digium AsteriskNOW software appliance, including a one-click function called BuyNOW that enables customers to purchase Polycom SoundPoint IP phones, and an intuitive configuration process that automatically provisions the phones for immediate customer use. In addition, Digium's Asterisk software now supports Polycom HD Voice technology that enables calls with twice the clarity and sound quality of traditional analog calls.

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."

Eschelon Telecom plans to add Voice Over Internet Protocol product capabilities to its network. The new IP applications will leverage the existing network infrastructure from Nortel and Cisco Systems, and will be available in addition to existing TDM products.

“We have always maintained that VoIP products can work very well for some customers,” stated Richard A. Smith, Eschelon’s President and CEO. “At the same time, there are customers with applications that do not work well over this technology. By offering both technologies, we will be able to offer the best solution to fit the customer’s needs, rather than forcing the customer into the only technology we offer.”

GlobeTel announces that through its joint development and marketing venture its new ANYWHERE CALLER flat rate calling product, www.AnyWhereCaller.com, will be sold through MetroTel’s retail stores in Texas and Michigan. MetroTel is an authorized independent dealer of Metro PCS Communications.

ANYWHERE CALLER is designed to allow cell phone users to call internationally without paying high rates and tariffs. The plan is priced at $19.99 per month, and extends to more than 40 international destinations. Destinations outside the plan are billed at a reasonable per minute rate.

Allworx has partnered with Bandwidth.com, to provide resellers that service small and medium businesses with the first all-inclusive VoIP solution that delivers significant cost savings, extensive feature sets, and exceptional customer service.

Bandwidth.com is a complete nationwide communications provider, offering business-class VoIP services that include SIP Trunk connectivity across IP-PBX/Key systems, T1 or T3 data circuits, network monitoring, management and security. The company’s services are delivered over the most reliable and diverse network of top tier fiber providers in the country, including ATT, Verizon, Qwest, Sprint and Level3.

Allworx’s family of IP-PBX/Key systems include the award winning Allworx 6x, 10x, & 24x offerings, which are designed for businesses from 30 to 100 employees per site. Allworx’s VoIP phones and systems bring the power of extensive PBX, and key-based systems to small businesses at a fraction of the cost of other offerings, and provide numerous differentiators, such as:

• the industry’s lowest installed cost of any full-featured VoIP PBX/Key-system
• the richest SMB feature set available anywhere including true key-system operation
• superior flexibility to help SMBs transition to VoIP risk-free, and at their own pace
• and the simplest system to install, use and administer

Global Crossing announced that Alpine Access is using Global Crossing's converged IP services to ease their network expansion, penetrate new markets and deliver superior customer service.

Recently named one of the fastest-growing large private companies in Colorado by the Denver Business Journal, Alpine Access is using Global Crossing's VoIP Local Service to expand the reach of their network and to support a rapidly growing agent workforce. Alpine Access recently announced that it is adding 500 employees in the Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tampa, Fla., markets.

Global Crossing's VoIP Local Service, a direct inward dial service, lets Alpine Access' "work-at-home" agents receive calls from customers simply by calling a local telephone number. Global Crossing's voice network accepts the call from the public switched telephone network, converts it to IP and transports it to its final destination via Global Crossing's MPLS IP-based network.