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Esnatech Releases Office-LinX 8.5, a Cloud-based UC Platform

January 19, 2012

Esnatech, today announced the release of version 8.5 of Office-LinX, a unified communications platform that enables enterprises to integrate UC with cloud -based technologies such as Google Apps, VMware Zimbra , Salesforce.com, and Microsoft BPOS/Office 365. Office-LinX is optimized to work in mixed, distributed environments integrating with multiple on- and off-premise telecommunications technologies and cloud-based applications and infrastructure. It can for instance integrate with solutions from Asterisk, Avaya, NEC, Cisco, Toshiba, Panasonic, Shoretel, and more.

The latest high availability (HA) version of Office-LinX supports full virtualization of its voice clusters with VMware vSphere support. With Office-LinX 8.5, organizations have the ability to distribute the application and resources over multiple virtual servers connected to a single or distributed telephony infrastructure.

Posted in Asterisk, Avaya, Cisco, Cloud, Internet, Unified Communications, VoIP

As Predicted - the Cisco Umi Demise

January 4, 2012

First Cisco killed the popular Flip Cam they acquired, now this - Cisco has killed their Skype-alternative UMI videoconferencing product. Rich Tehrani gave 10 reasons why he thought Cisco UMI would fail, plus an 11th reason later on (Kinect, Skype-enabled Bluray players). I didn't even bother to write about Cisco Umi because I knew it would be a failed venture. We were both right.

Posted in Cisco, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP

Google to Keynote at Super WiFi Summit in Miami

January 3, 2012

TMC's ITEXPO has had its fair share of high-profile keynoters, including Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, Bob Metcalfe, former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, former FCC Chairman Michael Powell, former HP Chair Carly Fiorina, Digium / Asterisk founder Mark Spencer, and of course TMC's very own Rich Tehrani on multiple occasions. We've also had representatives from Microsoft, Cisco, Yahoo, Avaya, Nortel, Polycom, and other telecom / wireless heavyweights. Now in 2012 TMC lands a Google keynoter! Google will keynote at ITEXPO's co-located Super WiFi Summit.

Richard S. Whitt is Director and Managing Counsel for Telecom and Media Policy for Google Inc.

Posted in Asterisk, Avaya, Cisco, Google, ITEXPO, Nortel, Skype, Technology and Science, Wireless

Jabra PRO 900 Series Unveiled

December 6, 2011

Today, Jabra launched the Jabra PRO 900 series, which includes two headset models - the Jabra PRO 920 (base unit wired to desk phone + headset is wireless) and the Jabra PRO 930 (base unit wired to PC [USB] + wireless headset). Jabra stated these are entry-level wireless headsets with a retail price of $199 is aimed at companies that cannot afford typically expensive wireless headsets, so they designed these headsets for this market.

I'm not sure $199 is exactly inexpensive, but I'd have to see how much competing products from Plantronics and others cost. In any event, they are targeting the Jabra PRO 930 for companies implementing Unified Communications and leveraging PC-based telephony, i.e. a SIP softphone, Cisco softphone, etc. The Jabra PRO 920 on the other hand works with any desktop phone that supports Electronic hook switch control (EHS/HHC) and then you simply wear the wireless headset, freeing you from your desk by eliminating the need to disconnect or remove the headset.

Both the Jabra PRO 920 and Jabra PRO 930 contain sound quality enhancements such as Jabra SafeTone™, which protects hearing by cutting off sudden loud noises and securing safe average sound levels. Each wireless headset also features a noise-canceling microphone that eliminates ambient background noise from an office environment when on an important call.

Posted in Cisco, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Headsets, SIP, VoIP, Wireless

Polycom RealPresence Connects Non-standard TIP TelePresence Systems

November 16, 2011

I've written about Polycom supporting TIP (Telepresence Interoperability Protocol) and Cisco's response to Polycom supporting it. Well, today Polycom announced a new software update for Polycom RealPresence Platform designed to "free users locked into proprietary telepresence solutions."

This update will allow customers with standards-based video collaboration solutions, like Polycom, to join calls with non-standard based telepresence systems, like Cisco. The solution is made possible by Polycom's support for the Telepresence Interoperability Protocol (TIP), developed by Cisco and only implemented on Cisco TelePresence System suites. The latest RealPresence Platform software update, released today, also further extends interoperability across Microsoft and IBM UC environments.

“This is a great win for anyone using video collaboration.

Posted in Cisco, Microsoft, Polycom, SIP, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, VoIP

Cisco UC320W Review

October 5, 2011

Cisco isn’t known for hitting the SOHO/SMB space of 1-24 users, even with their feature-rich, but not entirely inexpensive Unified Communications Manager Express (UCME) product line. UCME’s sweet spot is 30-100 users, while Cisco’s new UC 320W product works with 1-24 users, with a sweet spot of 4-16 users. Also, the big brother to the UC320W, the UC500 has a sweet spot of 12-80 users addressing the small to mid-sized market. The list price of a UC320W system with 10 users, including voicemail is just $995, which is under the psychological $1,000 price-point. This $995 price includes the hardware and licensing, making it very cost-competitive with Avaya IP Office, Panasonic KX series, Toshiba CIX 40, Mitel 3300, Digium’s SwitchVox, and various Asterisk-based phone systems. In fact, running the numbers, surprisingly it appears Cisco is less expensive than all of them.

Cisco sent me a UC320W to test.

Posted in Cisco, Reviews, SIP, TMCnet, Unified Communications, VoIP

Cisco Senior Vice President Ian Pennell Keynoting ITEXPO

September 1, 2011

In addition to magicJack Vocaltec keynoting and Internet legend Bob Metcalfe at ITEXPO in two weeks, we also have Cisco Senior Vice President Ian Pennell keynoting as well. TMC has really lined up some major IP communications players at this next ITEXPO, which will be out biggest show ever!

Check out the news:

Cisco's Ian Pennell to Deliver An Opening Keynote Address at ITEXPO West in Austin

Senior Vice President of Cisco’s Small Business Technology Group to Kick-Off ‘The Communications and Technology Conference’

TMC today announced that Ian Pennell, Cisco’s Senior Vice President, Small Business Technology Group, will deliver a Grand Opening Keynote Address at their ITEXPO West 2011 conference and trade show in Austin, Texas.

ITEXPO takes place September 13-15 at the Austin Convention Center. Mr. Pennell’s address is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13 at 9:15am.

As Senior Vice President of Cisco's Small Business Technology Group, Mr.

Posted in Cisco, Unified Communications, VoIP

China's telecom patent boom - Is China Ready to Enforce IP?

August 25, 2011

China has a reputation for not enforcing other countries' patents and copyrights, including bootleg DVDs that can be found in just about any major Chinese city street corner. It was even alleged that China's telecom giant Huawei stole Cisco's routing software. According to one article: Bootleg DVDs in China are very slickly produced and packaged. In fact, many have extra features that make them better than those found on legitimate discs.

Posted in Cisco, TMCnet, Technology and Science, Unified Communications, VoIP, Wireless

Cotendo Accelerates Mobile Content Delivery Via Mobile Acceleration Suite

June 15, 2011

Companies are struggling to keep up with their customer’s mobile browsing usage, which is one of the fastest growing data consumption segments. Problems include limited bandwidth on mobile devices, smaller screens, and limited capabilities, such as no Flash on the iPhone. Companies can lose out on financial transactions if the user experience isn’t good. Part of the challenge is different devices have different capabilities.

Posted in Android, Cisco, Gadgets, Internet, Mobile Phones, PDAs & Handhelds, TMCnet, Wireless

Top 20 VoIP Innovators of All Time

June 13, 2011

VoIP has come a long way since it was first popularized by VocalTec in the mid 1990s. Here is a slideshow of the Top 20 VoIP Innovators of all time with photo captions explaining why they merit this top 20 ranking. Most innovators are companies, but not all. Two important VoIP standards make the list, which cannot be attributed to a single individual or company.

Posted in Asterisk, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, News, Polycom, Reviews, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, Unified Communications, Video Conferencing, VoIP, Vonage

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