Global Crossing announced the launch of a hosted Voice over IP (VoIP) service. Global Crossing Hosted IP Voice combines the functionality of a traditional private branch exchange (PBX) with additional value-added services, delivered over Global Crossing's MPLS-based global IP network. The service has been developed in collaboration with TeleWare Plc, the UK's leading provider of intelligent business communication solutions to enterprises and service providers.

Centillium Communications, Inc., a leading provider of broadband access solutions, announced that NETGEAR has selected Centillium's newest Atlanta system-on-chip (SoC) solutions to optimize cost and speed production of its latest Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) platform for the consumer and small business markets. Centillium's newly expanded Atlanta series -- which includes four unique devices and easy-to-use, intuitive application software is one of the most complete, turnkey SoC solutions that allows equipment manufacturers to significantly reduce development time and preserve software investments across multiple platforms.

Though Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can add many desirable new features to business telecom systems, vendors and customers face difficult security challenges to realize these benefits, reports In-Stat. As a result, more than 75% of the companies that have implemented VoIP plan to replace their security appliances within the next year, the high-tech market research firm says. The security appliance market is poised for strong growth over the next few years, and will reach $7 billion by 2009, In-Stat forecasts.

Netcentrex, the leading enabler of next generation converged voice and video solutions, today announced that according to a quarterly report issued by industry research firm, iLocus, Netcentrex delivered 27.2% of VoIP local call volume minutes based on standards-based call agent platforms, in the second quarter of 2005 (2Q05), making the company leader in this market.

iLocus, who reported the finding in "VoIP Minutes, 2Q05 Update", stated in the report that total VoIP local call volume for 2Q05 was 32.6 billion minutes of which an estimated 11.9 billion minutes were generated by voice over broadband (VoBB) services.

8x8 announced the availability of a new, lower-priced unlimited international calling plan for Packet8 residential subscribers.

The Freedom Unlimited Global plan offers unlimited residential calling to the United States and Canada as well as unlimited non-mobile and non-premium calling to the following countries and cities: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Caracas, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guadalajara, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico City, Monterey, Moscow-Central, Moscow-Suburb, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Sao Paulo, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, St. Petersburg, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

AT&T announced that it has successfully implemented an Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) for Allied Electronics, a distributor of electronic and electromechanical component products, under a $2.1 million contract. AT&T also won an additional $1.4 million contract to extend and expand voice networking services for the company. Both contracts run for three years.

NetworkIP, a leader in stored value solutions, has announced it will launch a prepaid Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service for overseas consumers and businesses needing a local US-based phone number accessible from anywhere in the world.

NetworkIP's Prepaid Broadband Phone Service will initially feature telephone numbers from rate centers across the United States with coverage expanding globally in the near future. Additionally, customers will have real-time access to account management features giving them the ability to monitor call history and account balance as well as recharge the account when funds are low. NetworkIP has also certified several industry leading hardware devices as being compatible with the product.

Kentrox and ShoreTel have teamed up to offer small to medium-sized businesses the advantages of call-quality Voice over IP (VoIP) in a combined solution that pairs the ShoreTel Smart IP phone system and the Kentrox Q-Series Quality of Service (QoS) Access Router. By integrating these products, customers are assured of consistent and reliable call quality.

As companies consider deploying VoIP for the potential return-on-investment, concerns arise about call quality degradation. VoIP call quality can be degraded by other traffic running on the same WAN line, as voice and data traffic compete for limited bandwidth. When using the DiffServ features in the ShoreTel ShoreWare Director, the Q-Series router automatically prioritizes VoIP traffic to help ensure quality calls, even during peak congestion periods without adding bandwidth.

TigerJet Network, Inc. announces Tiger560C the world's first single chip solution for interfacing any standard phone to a USB port to provide VoIP functionality. TigerJet Network believes that integrating all of the required features into a single chip changes the economic argument so dramatically that VoIP solutions will migrate from using dedicated handsets or headsets towards the use of standard phones to provide that functionality. The Tiger560C enables the use of the same phone (including cordless phones) for all phone calls whether those calls are regular calls or calls using a VoIP service like Skype.

Global IP Telecommunications, Representative and Preferred Development Partner of the worldwide leading softphone manufacturer Xten Networks, Inc., is proud to announce the release of X-Pro TAPI, the first fully TAPI (Telephony API) compliant software telephone on the market.

X-Pro TAPI is the result of continuous development of the X-Pro softphone, the award winning SIP telephone from the market leader Xten Networks.

"In contrast to other solutions, X-Pro TAPI supports real TAPI, which enables you to link professional Customer Relationship Management software with VoIP," says Sal Luzzi, CEO of Global IP Telecommunications, Inc.

Lucent Technologies announced that Hanaro Telecom, Korea's second largest wireline and broadband service provider, will deploy Lucent's Voice over the Internet Protocol ( VoIP ) solution to offer advanced services to enterprise customers. Hanaro Telecom will be the first Korean carrier to offer carrier-based VoIP Services to businesses.

The Lucent solution, part of Lucent Technologies Accelerate Next Generation Communications Solutions portfolio, can enable Hanaro to provide traditional business voice services, such as call forwarding and conference calling, as well as innovative IP-based features that can include interactive voice response, one-number calling and Web-based integrated business features that allow customers to manage their voice services via their computers.

AT&T announced additional efforts to strengthen the emergency communications infrastructure and calling capabilities throughout the hurricane stricken Gulf Coast community.

"There's no way to quickly rebuild the communities or lives destroyed by a disaster of this magnitude," said AT&T Chairman and CEO David W. Dorman. "But we can facilitate restoration efforts and aid those whose lives have been disrupted by restoring crucial communications along the devastated Gulf Coast."

AT&T has offered its services to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will establish IP-based calling centers where directed by the federal agency to give evacuees and emergency workers access to free calling.