Digium introduces Asterisk Essentials, an online training curriculum for Asterisk users. This virtual training class includes more than six hours of interactive content focusing on the fundamentals required to install and configure a basic Asterisk system. Step-by-step technical examples, best-practice recommendations and Asterisk tips help application developers and systems administrators gain expertise to build communications systems for their companies or customers.

Asterisk Essentials provides numerous examples and teaches developers how to implement their own Asterisk solutions using the core interfaces-configuration files, dial plan scripts and the command line interface. Students will learn to install Asterisk; configure IP phones and VoIP services; create automated attendants; configure voicemail and company directories; set up call queues; and debug Asterisk systems.

F4W announces a radical change in the way VoIP performs over low bandwidth or high latency connections, such as cellular or satellite. A tremendous barrier to accessing the power and flexibility of VoIP during a disaster event or in remote locations is the inability of traditional VoIP to connect and sustain a connection over a satellite or 3G / 4G cellular data connection due to the high latency of those types of networks. Add security concerns via the implementation of third-party devices and the ability to support a full-scale operation with VoIP becomes impossible.

ClearOne announces that IBM has validated both the ClearOne CHAT® 150 group speakerphone and CHAT 50 personal speakerphone assuring interoperability with Sametime Unified Telephony, IBM's Unified Communications platform. The speakerphones, which connect via USB to a PC, VoIP softphone, and other devices, instantly provide Sametime users with hands-free voice communication for telephony, web, and video conferencing applications.

The CHAT 150 and CHAT 50 are advanced, business-grade speakerphones. Both incorporate HDConference, a suite of ClearOne audio technologies to maximize clarity, eliminate echo, suppress ambient noise, and optimize full-duplex performance so that participating parties can talk and listen at the same time and hear clearly without voices cutting in and out. For convenience, both models are designed with top-mounted volume level and mute buttons.

PATTON announces that the SmartNode 5400 Enterprise Session Border Router claimed INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year for 2010, maintaining a six-year winning streak for the brand.

Swiss-engineered and US-manufactured, Patton’s powerful session border controller provides secure connectivity between iPBX systems and Internet Telephony Service Provider with any-to-any SIP and H.323 protocol mediation.

Installed on customer premises, the SN5400 ESBR resolves the security, interoperability, and WAN optimization challenges businesses face when implementing SIP trunking solutions.

4PSA announces the official sponsorship of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, one of the area's largest non-profit organizations focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

4PSA's mission is to deliver solutions that help people communicate easily and collaborate on a whole new level. The company is committed to supporting all non-profit organizations that strive to make this world a better place. 4PSA provides free licensing for VoipNow Professional, its award-winning Unified Communications solution, to charities, non-profit, non-governmental, and non-commercial organizations, Open Source projects and communities, and last, but not least, to academic institutions for classroom learning purposes.

ASC announces the successful implementation of its VoIP communications recording solution, EVOip, supplemented with WEBplay and POWERplay, to ensure the safety of older and disabled citizens residing in the District of Harborough in the United Kingdom.

The solution was installed at the Harborough Lifeline Center, a contact center providing 24/7, 365-day service, integrated with community emergency organizations including police, ambulances and firemen. It allows immediate replay of the most recent call to assist operators in complex situations as well as remote access from any web browser to let managers working from home listen to a critical call and determine the best course of action.

Sipera Systems announced its innovative VoIP security solutions enable rapid and simple compliance with new guidance issued by the industry council for payment card privacy.

Earlier this month, the PCI Security Standards Council issued new guidance to protect credit card and payment card information in telephone-based transactions, including VoIP. The guidance advises businesses that handle credit cards to ensure the privacy and encryption of VoIP communications carrying cardholder data, and to control archiving and monitoring of these communications in compliance with PCI Data Security Standard rules.

Sipera's award-winning security appliance solution provides comprehensive application-layer security for VoIP, enabling an enterprise to implement these important security controls simply and easily.

VoIP Supply is pleased to announce that the 2011 operating budget for the Reclaim Equipment Buyback Program has been increased threefold to $3 million dollars.

In December 2009, VoIP Supply announced the introduction of their equipment buyback program called Reclaim. Customers were offered a channel to sell used or excess VoIP equipment to recoup some of their initial investment or to help offset the cost of their new technology purchases.

The simple five step process that sellers have been following has become so successful that VoIP Supply’s Reclaim budget for acquisitions has tripled from $1 million to $3 million annually. The tremendous response and demand for this service has been realized in just one calendar year.

Paltalk announces the addition of free calling worldwide, free SMS functionality and free push notifications for calls to its Vumber Mobile application. Vumber, which allows iOS device users to place calls through Wi-Fi or an existing cellular data connection and add multiple lines to their cell phone, will now also allow for free unlimited calling and texting worldwide enabling crossover from different carriers (ie. AT&T to Verizon), Vumber-to-Vumber calling and so on.

Vumber App users can now place free worldwide calls and texts from their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, to anywhere in the world. Customers are still required to maintain a carrier plan, but they can limit the amount of minutes and texts on their plan to save money. The app is available for free from the iTunes store and will be available for Android phones and tablets beginning Spring 2011.

Sigma Systems and Cable Bahamas announce that the operator will upgrade its Operational Support System with Sigma Systems' Device Provisioning Manager. Cable Bahamas will utilize Sigma Systems' Device Provisioning Manager to support its voice and broadband service delivery.

Cable Bahamas has a highly advanced broadband network, high-speed Internet subscribers and customers utilizing international and domestic private line data circuits, IP transit and telecom/data co-location.

Glowpoint has been recognized by Everything Channel's CRN on its "Need To Know" list for the VOIP and UC markets. The "Need to Know" list is designed to highlight the key players in growing market segments and notes Glowpoint as one of the key go-to companies.

"The 'Need to Know' list is a comprehensive directory of the major players in the UC and VOIP, making it easy for busy VARs to get in front of the right vendors and the right people in the IT security landscape," said Kelley Damore, Vice President, Editorial Director, Everything Channel. "This list will help VARs navigate through the myriad companies and technologies and ultimately find the right opportunities to help them grow their business. We recognized Glowpoint due to their demonstrated leadership, and unique capabilities with respect to merging video capabilities into the emerging UC sector."

VoX Communications has developed video voice mail, adding a unique and enhanced feature to the Ojo Vision phone. A video message cannot normally be sent to the mailbox of customers that use the Ojo Vision phone without this development effort.

Pervasip's Chief Information Officer, Mark Richards, noted, "We continue to use our expertise in cloud-based telephony and VoIP to bring exciting and innovative features to the devices that run on our network. Our customers, including the customers sold to by our new marketing partner, Globalpreneurs, can now send and receive a video voice-mail message on the Ojo Vision phone. We expect that the extra features that we provide to our customers will give an advantage to organizations that market our product. Now grandchildren can leave their grandparents a special video message, or people can leave friends and family a surprise video message."

BT announced the re-launch of its wholesale VoIP offering, to meet growing customer demand and match the latest internet standards in the market. The wholesale VoIP platform underwent a significant upgrade - including the renewal of its SIP core and gateways - assuring scalability and reliability. BT also added new features for its reseller community. The new features include the option to connect via direct access lines - using BT’s Ethernet service. Furthermore, a new automated system enables partners to perform number porting directly via the secure, web-based, European Reseller System portal.

netTALK.COM announces that it is extending its offer for free calling to Japan. Through the end of April (ending April 30th at 11:59PM ET) all fees for calls to and from Japan will be waived, in light of the ongoing difficulties in the country as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami.

“Part of our mission at netTALK is to do well by doing good,” commented Anastasios “Takis” Kyriakides, President of netTALK. “Our hearts go out to the people of Japan after the recent tragic events and during the ongoing difficulties and challenges. We hope that our offer of free calling to and from Japan can help enable both people in the country and those who have friends or loved ones there to stay in closer touch.”

Talari Networks announces that its appliance-based WAN Virtualization solutions are compliant with key IP telephony solutions from Avaya. Talari’s Adaptive Private Networking technology for WAN Virtualization enables enterprises to combine two or more sources of inexpensive and abundant public network connectivity to create a network with equivalent or better performance than expensive private WAN connectivity such as MPLS. The Talari APN appliances, running APN Software 2.1, now are compliance-tested by Avaya for compatibility with:

• Avaya Aura Communication Manager - 6.0
• Avaya Aura Session Manager - 6.0
• Avaya Aura Communication Manager Messaging - 6.0
• Avaya Modular Messaging - Messaging Application Server - 5.2
• Avaya 9600 Series IP Telephones (H.323 3.1.1) and (SIP 2.6.4)
• Avaya Modular Messaging Server (5.0).