Toshiba launches its new Strata CIX voice mail circuit card (LVMU1A), which enhances and expands the auto attendant and voice mail features for its Strata CIX VoIP business communication systems. It can be installed in the Strata CIX100, 200 and 670 systems and is specifically targeted for smaller applications up to 8 ports.

“Toshiba’s new voice mail card was designed with the high-quality standards customers have come to expect from Toshiba. With the new card, Strata CIX SMB users have essential voice mail and auto attendant features as well as advanced functionality in a cost effective, yet reliable platform,” said Ron Hunsaker, senior product manager at Toshiba’s Telecommunication Systems Division. Standard features include the ability to add up to eight voice ports in two-port increments, 40 hours of voice mail storage and support for 360 mailboxes.

At Microsoft’s annual TechEd conference, the company unveiled the 2007 release of Microsoft Office Live Meeting, a new version designed to dramatically improve online meetings, events and training. New capabilities include a redesigned user interface and an integrated collaboration experience as well as support for live video, VoIP and rich media.

Scheduled for availability in fall 2007, the new version of Office Live Meeting will make it easier for organizations of all sizes to experience the benefits of Web conferencing, whether people are conducting simple ad-hoc collaboration sessions, formal Web-based meetings, advanced online training or large communication events.

The enhancements included in the 2007 release of Microsoft Office Live Meeting resulted from more than 10 years of Web conferencing operating experience and customer feedback.

Truphone selects FreeSWITCH and TelcoBridges' proven, reliable and highly redundant carrier-grade telephony platform to enable VoIP calls on mobile phones. Truphone is a mobile internet network operator that brings VoIP to mobile phones via WiFi using SIP. The three companies have collaborated closely to port FreeSWITCH's open source telephony application code to TelcoBridges' hardware platform and have adapted it successfully to fulfill Truphone's requirements for a media gateway, bridging calls between the Internet, using VoIP, and the PSTN.

"Truphone is an innovative mobile VoIP company requiring carrier-grade solutions to deliver free or VoIP-rate calls from mobile phones. Truphone works wherever there is access to the Internet via WiFi," said James Body, Network Director of Truphone: "Scalability, reliability and support for the AMR voice codec were the key decision criteria for Truphone when selecting our media gateway solution. We found all this with TelcoBridges' platform."

snom announces a strategic partnership with Brekeke. Now, snom’s VoIP phones are interoperable with the recently introduced Brekeke PBX v2.x.

Brekeke’s award-winning product, Brekeke PBX is a full-featured IP-PBX system, easily managed through a Web-based administrative interface. Brekeke PBX is feature rich and fully scalable to meet the needs of any size organization. Brekeke PBX solutions are flexible and affordable, from Basic with traditional telephony features, to Pro which includes a full set of Call Center features.

It's been awhile since I did some speed linking (link love) for the VoIP blogosphere. Soooo, here are some recent articles that caught my attention from some great VoIP bloggers.

Skype cuts SMS rates again [ blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating ]

Vodafone Offering Lower Prices For Mobile Data--VoIP Is A Maybe [ andyabramson.blogs.com ]

Court says VoIP companies must pay USF [ saunderslog.com ]

and

Federal Appeals Court Ruled that VoIP Providers Must Pay USF Fees [ solokay.blogspot.com ]

Linksys WIP320 Review [ www.smithonvoip.com ]

Attackers targets VoIP [ solokay.blogspot.com ]

iPhone vs Nokia N95 [ lucafiligheddu.blogspot.com ] also the iPhone release date is now 6/29/07 :(

Vonage VOIP to cost more? [ voipguides.blogspot.com ]

Everpeace EP-880: This VoIP phone cannot be tapped [ www.voip-weblog.com ]

Consumers searching online at http://maps.live.com for businesses such as area restaurants, hotels or car dealerships can now conveniently click to make free PC-to-phone calls to many advertisers, using the power of the Verizon Business IP network.

Windows Live Call for Free from Microsoft uses Verizon Business' advanced VoIP capabilities and expansive global network to give consumers an easy-to-use, convenient and no-cost way to find services they need.

"We continue to deliver on the promise of our strategic alliance with Microsoft by developing and delivering next-generation services," said Nancy Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Business. "This new service, which adds value for Microsoft advertising partners while enhancing the Live Search experience, is the latest in a long string of innovations that Verizon and Microsoft have brought to market since entering into a global strategic relationship in May 2004."

Simpliphones small business PBX system will now be available through Staples.com nation-wide. Simpliphones is the first in the telecom industry to create an "all-in-one-box" PBX system that can be set up by the buyer without enlisting expensive technicians or VAR help. Each Simpliphones package comes complete with a full featured, high quality PBX system, Voice over IP capability (VoIP), robust voice mail (500 hours), auto attendants, Control Center and all the other features needed by small business. Simpliphones can also grow with company needs by adding additional expansion cards and telephones without on-site technical help. Simpliphones 8-phone, 16-phone and 24-phone products available on Staples.com can all easily expand up to 40 phones, 20 lines and 10 VoIP ports.

Rebtel announces a new mobile website. The mobile site is aimed to provide consumers the ability to sign up and use the Rebtel service on the go from their mobile phone without the immediate need for access to a personal computer.

Whenever and wherever they are, consumers can make calls to international friends and family in more than 37 countries and reap the amazing cost savings benefits of mobile VoIP. The Rebtel service does not require the consumer to download any special software or use specific devices.

Zarlink announces that it is demonstrating its latest hands-free voice processing products with 5V Technologies at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2007.

The Zarlink and 5V Technologies solution combines their respective voice enhancement and IP phone expertise to allow equipment manufacturers to rapidly evaluate and develop cost-effective IP phones sets supporting high-quality speakerphone capability. The solution integrates Zarlink's high-performance acoustic echo canceller technology and 5VT's cost-effective ARM9-based VoIP SOC (5VT13XX Series). This solution is available as a reference design for qualified customers.

Zarlink's ZL 38004 voice processing platform helps solve quality concerns that have plagued voice-over-IP equipment. The platform is based on the same technologies currently deployed in telecom applications, where voice quality is an absolute requirement. This proven expertise allows hands-free and IP-based communication equipment manufacturers to ensure reliable voice performance.

Microtune unveils a high-performance cable modem tuner designed to expand network capacity and reduce power consumption for battery-backed VoIP cable modems.

Supporting the Cable Labs DOCSIS 2.0, EuroDOCSIS 2.0 and PacketCable specifications, Microtune’s new tuner (the MicroTuner MT2064) expands modem bandwidth to 1-GigaHertz networks, while drawing only 800 milliWatts of power. When integrated into consumer cable equipment, the new MicroTuner MT2064 enables VoIP digital phone service to meet primary-line levels of quality and functionality with increased reliability.

Market News First is proud to bring you the Web 2.0 Special hosted by the star of "Coffey Grinds" Andrew Coffey. The companies participating in this must-see event are DigitalPost Interactive, Web2Corp and Find Internet TV. Tune in to Market News First on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 from 12 to 1 p.m. CDT for this special event.

“We are excited to be on Market News First’s live video program to talk about Internet TV, online video, and what we’re doing at Find Internet TV. What better way to announce our new online TV programming listing, then by going on Market News First’s live online TV,” said Curtis Sund, founder of Find Internet TV.

This event will focus on each of the companies' unique product lines and business plans and how they relate to the "Future of the Internet."

The Internet is evolving at a geometric rate and leaving complacent companies in the dust. The participating companies all have a grasp on the Net's direction and will offer their insights for all to listen.

Don't miss this exciting and informative event live Tuesday, June 5, 2007 from 12 to 1 p.m. CDT at www.mn1.com.

Here are some interesting articles from Brian Dipert on his experience with SureWest, an experienced VoIP and IPTV provider in sunny California. His first article, "SureWest: Initial Post-Install Fiber Details and Thoughts," highlights his initial impressions on broadband, IPTV, and VoIP as well as the insitallation process to receive fiber-based triple play. He has since posted a follow up to this article entitled "SureWest: Broadband, IPTV and VoIP Hands-On," which deals with everything from his installation guy (Chris) wiggling through his dirty crawl space, discussing SureWest's VoIP service and features, and his thoughts on SureWest's IPTV solution including their PVR (or lack there-of) and the AmiNET120 set-top box.

NexTone announces the company will participate in a Light Reading Webinar, “VoIP Peering: Essentials for Direct Services Interconnection.” The event will examine VoIP peering and key technology decisions that need to be made for carriers to engage at a VoIP peering point. The Webinar will feature commentary from John Longo, vice president of marketing at NexTone. Prior to joining NexTone, Longo served as a senior analyst at Heavy Reading where he was the lead analyst covering VoIP platforms and services. He authored the report, “VoIP Peering and the Future of Telecom Network Interconnection” (Heavy Reading, August 2006).

This Webinar will be hosted by Light Reading Research Analyst Denise Culver. It will explore the current state of VoIP peering, the critical edge functions for operators in peering, and the challenges for service management. The presenters will also discuss case studies of intelligent interconnects and wholesale carrier peering.

The Webinar will take place on Monday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. New York / 7:00 p.m. London time.

To register to attend this free Webinar, please go to: http://metacast.agora.com/link.asp?m=41224&s=6842260&l=0

HOP-ON announces the first carrier deployment of its Skye-phone product to Dubai's national telephone carrier Etisalat. The distribution approval, received last Monday, completes the first phase of Skye-phones' Global Peer Program.

Speaking at an Industry event in Internet city, Dubai Mr. Mohamed Salem, chief manager of new product development, stated, "The Skye-phone service will enable Etisalat to exploit a previously underserved and untapped market in the region. The first deployment of service is expected in 3Q of this year in Dubai."