What's New February 2007

Whaleback Adds Business Continuity Capabilities to VoIP Offer

Whaleback Systems announced a new release of its managed CrystalBlue Voice Service that includes a number of new business continuity capabilities, such as the availability of multiple broadband circuits, redundant service provider gateway access and automatic telephone number failover. CrystalBlue customers now can deploy up to three secure voice-only broadband circuits for terminating local and long-distance phone calls, fax messages and related Whaleback voice applications. All billing is handled by Whaleback on a single invoice.
www.whalebacksystems.com

McLeodUSA Delivers IP PBX Trunking

McLeodUSA Inc. has unveiled a platform for business customers that provides voice and data services, including direct VoIP peering between a customers IP PBX and the McLeodUSA network. McLeodUSA IP PBX Trunking delivers the services over one high-speed connection with bandwidth capabilities ranging from 1.5mbps to 45mbps. The platform is intended to increase calling capacity, reduce local and long-distance costs, and provide a direct SIP between an IP PBX and the McLeodUSA VoIP network.
www.mcleodusa.com

BullsEye Telecom Adds Mobility Management

BullsEye Telecom is taking its multilocation voice and data management suite to a new level with the addition of cellular billing and management. BullsEye Telecoms flagship product, Corporate Advantage, combines broadband with local toll and long-distance services to meet the needs of multilocation companies. The new Mobile Advantage service allows clients to manage every aspect of their cellular service from buying new phones and managing contracts to rate plan optimization. In addition, BullsEye Telecom enables comparison of current rates against all major mobile carriers, their plans and packages.
www.bullseyetelecom.com

AITech Upgrades Network Performance Monitoring System

Advanced Integrated Technologies Inc. announced upgrades to its hosted PBX support and monitoring system. AITechs monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities provide per-call performance measurements and rapid response troubleshooting tools. Integrated mean opinion scoring (MOS) provides simultaneous LAN and WAN visibility of jitter, latency, packet loss and other quality-affecting factors. The company has made enhancements to several system modules, including configuration and setup of CPE and IP phones, MOS statistics capture, proactive notification of poor call quality using SNMP traps or e-mail and secure transfer of user authentication credentials.
www.goait.com

SMC Releases New IP Telephony Portfolio

SMC Networks has unveiled its new portfolio of IP telephony solutions made up of a SIP-based IP PBX, desktop phones and a portable 802.11g wireless SIP phone. The suite targets SMBs. The IP PBX is an embedded private branch exchange that communicates with client stations via SIP and works with various IP phones (desktop, Wi- Fi, DECT), VoIP gateways and analog telephone adapters to route calls among client phones, analog phones and the PSTN. Additional voice features such as conferencing, auto attendant and voice mail are enabled to all phones.
www.smc.com

TMone Increases Broadband Database Numbers

Telesales firm TMone has increased the amount of information in its broadband marketing database. Content and VoIP providers, and other companies, use TMone to get new customers. TMone says the database encompasses 90 percent of broadband subscribers in the United States.
www.tmone.com

Packet Island Unveils Micro-Appliance

Packet Island Inc. has released a new micro-appliance, part of the companys software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that lets VoIP service providers and VARs pre-assess SMB networks for VoIP readiness, and provide a continuous VoIP monitoring service to ensure service levels. The appliance incorporates several new capabilities, including fail-safe operation; the ability to work in front of NAT firewalls; the ability to work with mirrored switch ports; and VLAN support.
www.packetisland.com

Broadview Debuts FrontLine Managed Services

Broadview Networks is rolling out its new FrontLine Managed Services, which includes inbound e-mail security, managed firewall and secure VPN. Inbound e-mail security allows customers to define and control the information flow into their business, blocking spam, viruses and other dangerous executable attachments. In addition, the FrontLine managed firewall protects against the most current and advanced network attacks, including denial of service. Finally, the FrontLine secure VPN empowers customers to accommodate telecommuters and remote users with a secure, scalable network. Site-to-site and IPSec VPNs offer encrypted (DES and 3DES) service between locations so connecting offices is hassle-free.
www.broadviewnetworks.com

Hard Hat Develops Red Rhino for Telecom Contractors

Hard Hat Industry Solutions Inc. has introduced Red Rhino, which lets users create estimates, proposals, job financials, change orders, purchase orders and invoices in one place. They can e-mail any document with the click of a mouse. Once a user wins a bid, Red Rhino transfers the financial information from the estimate to create the new job. Interested parties can request a free online product demonstration.
www.hardhatis.com

Digium Updates Various Products

Digium Inc., the company that developed Asterisk, has updated AsteriskNOW, the Asterisk Appliance Developer Kit (AADK) and introduced an expanded product line based on VoiceBus technology. AsteriskNOW is the software appliance that includes the open- source distribution of Asterisk, a Digium-designed GUI and key Linux components. The AADK is a developer kit featuring the upcoming Asterisk hardware-based appliance. The new products include the TDM800P, an eight-port analog telephony interface card; the TE120P, a single-span digital telephony interface card; and Digiums High Performance Echo Canceller.
www.digium.com, www.asterisk.org

Digi Launches UMTS/HSDPA Version of WWAN Router

Digi International Inc. has introduced a UMTS/HSDPA (high- speed downlink packet access) version of its ConnectPort WAN VPN, an upgradeable wireless WAN router. The product provides a high-speed cellular connection to remote sites and devices. It features an embedded Sierra Wireless PCI Express Mini Card module and is certified for use on Cingulars 3G UMTS/HSDPA network. The ConnectPort has an embedded four-port Ethernet switch, two RS-232 serial ports and one USB port, all of which enable different kinds of devices to connect to a central site using one wireless connection.
www.digi.com (See related story)