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.

“Improving voice clarity is extremely important in business communications because it greatly reduces costly misunderstandings and minimizes listener fatigue,” said Sunil Bhalla, senior vice president and general manager, voice communications at Polycom. “The combination of Polycom’s SoundPoint IP650 with Pingtel’s SIPxchange ECS IP PBX offers customers an integrated solution that provides a high-quality VoIP communications experience.” SIPxchange 3.6 is a major release of the Pingtel ECS software. The new version implements a unified messaging core based on standard SIP, offers a significantly enhanced graphical user interface for simplified installation, system operation and maintenance, and provides intercom and lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) support along with a long list of other enhanced features. These new features extend the capabilities of SIPxchange ECS to easily integrate into an existing IT environment, comply with best practices for IT management, and make the overall experience with the system even easier.

SIPxchange ECS 3.6 also extends the high-availability capabilities first introduced in release 3.4. As a fully distributed system, SIPxchange 3.6 is now typically deployed in high-availability configuration offering full redundancy of the call control infrastructure. An additional benefit of this feature is the doubling of performance under normal operating conditions as redundant systems automatically share the load. SIPxchange HA is simple to deploy and maintain as it does not require any cluster or similar technology. Redundant systems can be co-located in the same data center or distributed to different offices, further enhancing usability and performance while keeping operating cost low.

“The new additions and enhancements to SIPxchange ECS 3.6 make it the best and most robust release to date,” said Martin Steinmann, senior vice president of marketing at Pingtel. “Our new developments make it easier for enterprise users to adopt and deploy a unified communications solution that will benefit their business.”

SIPxchange version 3.6 is available for download at Pingtel’s online web shop at http://www.pingtel.com/store, and can also be ordered through Pingtel by calling 1-800-PINGTEL or through Pingtel’s reseller community, a list of which is available on Pingtel’s website at http://www.pingtel.com.