AMI Partners releases updated research on VoIP market for small business

Research Company AMI-Partners has released a report predicting growth in the VoIP market among small and medium businesses (SMBs). The research says that more than 30 percent of small businesses (1 – 99 employees) and 50 percent of medium businesses (100-999 employees) determines that VoIP will become basic form of voice communications in their business operations.

AMI’s 2010 report delivers an in-depth analysis of VoIP implementing by U.S. small and medium businesses. AMI considers that the market for IP-based voice communications, i.e. VoIP, IP PBX, will merge finally. However, last several years have been under the tensions of a tough recession and many small and medium sized companies put serious technology decisions on stand by mode. Nevertheless, the migration of voice and data will continue, the assets to leverage data networks with voice communications will get the boost, and the boarders for greater market penetration of IP solutions among the small business community remains wide open. Karen Nielsen, senior consultant with AMI, foresee that the facts and findings will be good news for the industry. “Most SMBs have limited IT resources; they will rely heavily on channel partners for VoIP installation and turnover, and to help with the crossover from analog to digital," Nielsen said. "The moment of conversion from analog to digital voice is the single biggest pain point for SMBs. Suppliers and channel partners should be prepared to make this switchover seamless. Partners should also understand and be able to prove that economic benefits stem not only from lower ongoing costs but also from a lower TCO." “From a supplier perspective, it is still early," AMI said in a prepared statement. The players are not fully known. The architectures are not completely defined. The markets are not structured. But AMI believes that down the road, the same things that are important to analog/TDM users will be important to digital/IP users: reliability, security, and quality. The winners will be those providers who can provide not only a reliable service, but an alternate back up, as well as the channel expertise to serve SMBs from soup to nuts if needed."

PrivateWave releases VoIP anti-tapping solution against industrial espionage

Company PrivateWave, being the expert in secure voice communications, launches an anti-tapping solution, created to ensure the secured transfer of information in mobile, VoIP or associated networks, in order to protect businesses from the leaks of sensitive information - a hottest issue than ever, with industrial espionage estimated to cost international businesses over 126 billion pounds annually, as experts says.

By implementing its dedicated ‘ ’ PrivateGSM’ ’ software, PrivateWave has created the Enterprise VoIP Security Suite (EVSS) which is aimed to secure voice communications between landline VoIP phones and mobile handsets devices, shielding business data. The software is compatible with Nokia, iPhone and Blackberry mobile devices and it is expected to be compatible with Android based devices soon. The advent of the EVSS is the outcome of the encrypting patterns of mobile communications and the implementing of new secure VoIP solutions. This mutually integrated unified system guarantees complete protection of voice communications from breaching, keeping closed all PBX conversations from landline VoIP phones to mobile devices and in opposite direction, resulting in highest level of privacy of all customers conversations. "With traditional channels of identity theft now closing, individuals are increasingly targeting unprotected voice conversations to obtain confidential information as it is almost always uncharted territory for businesses when considering security options," says Carlo Marchini, CEO, PrivateWave. "Recent wiretapping or 'phone hacking' stories reported in the media reveal how easy it has become for individuals to create low-cost illegal phone tapping systems and how this type of interception is a growing threat," he adds. "It has therefore become increasingly important, particularly from a financial and business point of view, for companies to adopt a robust anti- tapping solution that will protect these private conversations." Born as the merger of zerozero39 and the former Khamsa Italia, PrivateWave's intentions for the UK market are part of a well shaped company strategy to enhance its performance in foreign markets and in sectors such as business enterprise, public and non-profit organizations. Marchini concludes: "Our Enterprise VoIP Security Suite is the first solution in the world able to secure company mobile-PBX and fixed phone conversations which are often at risk of illegal tapping. Bringing our solution to the UK market is an exciting opportunity for us and we are confident it will be a success".

Cisco releases new tablet called Cisco Home Energy Controller for smart home market

 

Tablets or just gadgets in the broad sense that do our work is finally coming close to being a reality especially with the Cisco tablet that has been released recently. Seated at just one single area of the house, the tablet provides the user with complete control of all the other utility items in the house.

Named the Cisco Home Energy Controller, the tablet is an even more specialized product from Cisco that comes hot on the heels of the other tablet offering from the same company in the form of the Cius that has been built purely with a business scenario in mind.

This one is more focused towards monitoring the electricity usage of all the gadgets in the home from a single location while also suggesting means that will lead to optimum usage of electricity.The launch of the tablet can be seen as an extension of Cisco’s Home Energy Management Solution Suite which is a part of its Connected Grid portfolio of smart grid products as well as technologies that it had recently unveiled.

A 7 inch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 forms the main display area of the tablet. The screen is capacitive and incorporates touch screen features. An Intel Atom processor with a clock speed of 1.1GHz provides the Home Energy Controller tablet with its computing power and runs the open source Linux operating system.

The way the tablet works is this: the tablet connects to smart thermostats and appliances via 802.11n WiFi or gigabit Ethernet connection so as to form a successful interconnected web. It then allows the user to view on its screen which device is consuming how much of power. Based on this, the tablet in turn will allow the user to decide which of the gadgets needed to be turned off or slowed down in order to save power. The device itself can suggest methods for optimum usage of power.

For instance, with the air conditioning on during summer, the lights can be dimmed a bit to conserve electricity and hence, save money. The appliances that need to be monitored also have to be compatible to this device. In any case, the Home Energy Controller is a far cry and a lot more sci-fi in comparison to the current practice of monitoring electricity usage by sensing the rotation of a thin disc inside a meter placed on the exterior of the house and rotates as per the power consumption that is taking place in the house.

“With its simple and elegant user interface, the Cisco Home Energy Controller is like a virtual energy assistant for consumers, giving them valuable information about, and more discretion over, their energy use,” says the general manager of Cisco Smart Grid, Paul Fulton.

But then, the Cisco Home Energy Controller is not only about saving electricity, for the tablet can also playback videos via Mediafly. Then there’s also a dedicated application store to pick up applications from while it is also rumored the tablet can be used for VoIP processes as well.

Price for installation is likely to be around $900 per installation at home though there are expectations the cost will drop down further with subsidies from power companies. And if there are federal tax credits, things can be even more juicy. But in any case, the cost should be offset by the reduction in power bill. So there are savings to be made whichever way you look at it.

Source

 

Snom releases the 821 IP Phone that supports gigabit ethernet.

Snom technology AG, a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced voice over IP phones for enterprise and residential markets, announced today the launch of the snom 821, a new desktop Internet protocol (IP) phone with all the advanced functionality and interoperability of other snom 8xx series phones, as well as a new integrated gigabit switch.  In addition to the technological advancements to the phone, the snom 821 also comes in both light and dark colors, just like its big brother the snom 870. The snom 821 is expected to be fully available in the U.S. by the end of the second quarter.
"As desktop phones continue to migrate from being voice-centric devices to acting as complete dashboards for unified communications, the speed of application execution is becoming more and more critical," said Dr. Michael Knieling, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for snom technology AG. "The addition of a gigabit switch came from customer requests, and we are very pleased that we were able to add innovation while keeping the same price point."

The snom 821 offers a large high-resolution TFT color display for brilliant depiction of call lists, phone directories, and caller information via the integrated XML browser. In addition, the phone's wideband technology captures more than double the frequency spectrum that a standard handset does, providing crystal clear sound quality.

As a business communications endpoint, the snom 821 features snom's industry-renowned firmware, allowing for robust security supported through secure integrated open VPN, TLS and SRTP, and high sound quality using the handset or the speaker function. The snom 821 also supports all of the leading SIP-based IP PBX and unified communications environments, including Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

As with all of snom's desktop phones, the snom 821 also offers the necessary functionality for any business user, including features such as 5-way conferencing, multiple ringtones, and up to twelve different SIP identities.

The snom 821 and 870, as well as associated accessories such as the PA1 public address system, the MeetingPoint conference module, and the snom Vision sidecar, are designed to take the desktop business phone beyond its traditional position as a person-to-person voice communications device and make it a truly interactive and intelligent business communication device. Armed with full-color and touchscreen interfaces, web programmable ports, and a wide array of interoperable unified communications elements, the entire suite of next generation snom devices represents the future of desktop interaction.

 Source:  Snom Technologies AG

Cisco releases new tablet called Cisco Home Energy Controller for smart home market

 

Tablets or just gadgets in the broad sense that do our work is finally coming close to being a reality especially with the Cisco tablet that has been released recently. Seated at just one single area of the house, the tablet provides the user with complete control of all the other utility items in the house.

Named the Cisco Home Energy Controller, the tablet is an even more specialized product from Cisco that comes hot on the heels of the other tablet offering from the same company in the form of the Cius that has been built purely with a business scenario in mind.

This one is more focused towards monitoring the electricity usage of all the gadgets in the home from a single location while also suggesting means that will lead to optimum usage of electricity.The launch of the tablet can be seen as an extension of Cisco’s Home Energy Management Solution Suite which is a part of its Connected Grid portfolio of smart grid products as well as technologies that it had recently unveiled.

A 7 inch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 forms the main display area of the tablet. The screen is capacitive and incorporates touch screen features. An Intel Atom processor with a clock speed of 1.1GHz provides the Home Energy Controller tablet with its computing power and runs the open source Linux operating system.

The way the tablet works is this: the tablet connects to smart thermostats and appliances via 802.11n WiFi or gigabit Ethernet connection so as to form a successful interconnected web. It then allows the user to view on its screen which device is consuming how much of power. Based on this, the tablet in turn will allow the user to decide which of the gadgets needed to be turned off or slowed down in order to save power. The device itself can suggest methods for optimum usage of power.

For instance, with the air conditioning on during summer, the lights can be dimmed a bit to conserve electricity and hence, save money. The appliances that need to be monitored also have to be compatible to this device. In any case, the Home Energy Controller is a far cry and a lot more sci-fi in comparison to the current practice of monitoring electricity usage by sensing the rotation of a thin disc inside a meter placed on the exterior of the house and rotates as per the power consumption that is taking place in the house.

“With its simple and elegant user interface, the Cisco Home Energy Controller is like a virtual energy assistant for consumers, giving them valuable information about, and more discretion over, their energy use,” says the general manager of Cisco Smart Grid, Paul Fulton.

But then, the Cisco Home Energy Controller is not only about saving electricity, for the tablet can also playback videos via Mediafly. Then there’s also a dedicated application store to pick up applications from while it is also rumored the tablet can be used for VoIP processes as well.

Price for installation is likely to be around $900 per installation at home though there are expectations the cost will drop down further with subsidies from power companies. And if there are federal tax credits, things can be even more juicy. But in any case, the cost should be offset by the reduction in power bill. So there are savings to be made whichever way you look at it.

Source