Stanley Puts Interactive Intelligence's VoIP Solution to Work
By Greg Galitzine

New Britain, Connecticut-based Stanley Works has announced it has deployed Interactive Intelligence's (news - alert) Customer Interaction Center (CIC) to replace the company's numerous legacy PBX systems from Avaya, Siemens, and others. Stanley employs nearly 20,000 associates across nearly 40 countries worldwide, and in its early stages of deploying the Interactive Intelligence solution, Stanley is looking to roll out CIC across multiple sites across North America.

According to Scott Rudden, director of worldwide telecommunications and network engineering for Stanley Works, "We plan on expanding the deployment of CIC to additional sites across North America as part of our migration strategy to convert traditional legacy environments to VoIP and SIP-based architectures."

Customer Interaction Center gives contact centers a pre-integrated application suite and multimedia ACD capability to manage phone calls, faxes, e-mail and Web interactions from a single platform. Among the solution's key benefits, Interactive Intelligence delivers a lower total cost of ownership by replacing multi-box proprietary hardware with CIC's pre-integrated application suite and single set of business routing rules, anchored by a single administrative interface for PBX, ACD, outbound campaigns, recording strategies and other CIC functions.

In addition to CIC, Stanley Works has deployed Interactive's Interaction SIP Proxy, a server-based appliance used to route calls over IP networks, including the ability to dynamically redirect calls in the event of an emergency, and to adjust call loads across sites during spikes in volume.

http://www.inin.com

Siemens HiPath Xpressions Delivers Open, Standards-Based Unified Messaging

Siemens Communications (news - alert) announced the latest release of its award-winning HiPath Xpressions unified messaging solution. As part of Siemens' range of unified communications solutions, the new release includes native SIP integration with the high-performance Siemens HiPath 8000 IP softswitch, supporting up to 100,000 users. This demonstrates Siemens' commitment to open communication standards while offering new open capabilities such as the ability to emulate virtually any voicemail Telephony User Interface (TUI), and access to voice messages onthe- fly from any Web browser with no requirement for email client integration. These enhancements introduce more flexibility and choices, meeting the needs of diverse clients while improving business process optimization and worker productivity.

A key component of Siemens' Open Communications strategy, HiPath Xpressions V5.0 is a proven, enterprise-class unified messaging solution built on a standards-based and flexible architecture. The solution supports multiple Siemens and third-party communications platforms, using SIP, IP and ISDN, providing superior investment protection. In addition, it integrates with all industry leading groupware including Microsoft Exchange/Outlook, IBM Lotus Domino/Notes, Novell GroupWise, and Qualcomm Eudora, and supports simultaneous email systems on a single platform.

http://www.siemens.com

snom Unveils New IP Business Phone

snom technology (news - alert) announced the latest addition to its line of IP business phones, the snom 370. The snom 370 will provide users with the flexibility and features needed to maximize productivity and efficiency in a business environment. Larger display, expanded memory and VPN access offer business users a simple and secure way to manage calls.

The snom 370 features a larger display area with built-in grayscales to provide users with a clearer view and allow for more information on the screen. The expanded memory capacity enables the phone to support more applications, such as presence indication and presence displays of other users. The phone will also provide users with the ability to customize the display by depicting graphics and high resolution pictures to show the status of contacts. The snom 370 can support several audio devices simultaneously, such as the handset, headset, and loudspeaker. The multicast paging mode makes it possible to use the phone for large-scale public announcements.

With the addition of a new provisioning mechanism, the 370 allows for the dropping of configuration files and software loads into a file system, simplifying configuration and management for administrators. Updated security features include direct access to a VPN in order to secure communication to an insecure PBX system.

http://www.snom.com

Azaire Networks Introduces New IP-CNP with eXtended Mobility

Azaire Networks, (news - alert) provider of multiaccess network solutions, announced the availability of its new IP Converged Network Platform with eXtended Mobility (IP-CNP with XM), enabling delivery of enhanced IMS/SIP voice services over both WiFi and cellular access networks. The new solution is fully compliant with 3GPP's TS 23.206 voice call continuity (VCC) standard. Azaire Networks customers now have the ability to offer a complete range of rich voice, data and IMS services across existing cellular networks and new broadband IP wireless access networks.

Azaire Networks new IP-CNP with XM fulfills the mobile users need to access subscribed services in a seamless manner whether at home, at the office or on the road. Additionally, operators can cost effectively deliver a combination of existing voice and data services in conjunction with new, rich VoIP and multimedia services. The new IP-CNP with XM leverages the SIP-based IMS architecture to extend operators existing voice services over WiFi access. It also delivers new SIPbased applications, such as IM, presence, push-to-talk, and video sharing over the same access network. Delivery of rich interactive applications over WiFi and cellular networks in combination with data services like push e-mail and broadband streaming video downloads/uploads, mobile TV and music downloads, ensures that users can experience All Services Everywhere.

The IP-CNP with XM solution is a complete, standards-compliant solution based on 3GPP IWLAN and VCC standards. 3GPP IWLAN functionality implements the highest level of security based on EAPSIM/ EAP-AKA and IPsec/IKEv2 and provides access to existing and new mobile packet mode services. VCC enables handover between WLAN packet access and macro circuit-switched cellular networks.

http://www.azairenet.com

SIP-based VoIP Platform Enables Online Whiteboarding
By Erik Linask

damaka (news - alert) is making the communications process more efficient for users by way of its patent pending SIP-based Personal Softswitch, which is revolutionary in that it brings the VoIP platform to the end user, meaning that anyone, whether in the office, at home, or in a hotel, can take advantage of the benefits of SIP-based communications, regardless of what other equipment is available to them.

Now, in addition to phone and video calling, including presence features and IM capabilities, and desktop sharing and file transfer, damaka is introducing a secure whiteboard feature. With it, users can draw freehand with online contact globally, just as they can speak, share files, and instant message, enabling real-time collaboration on technical projects, document editing, or anything else that can benefit from live mark-up capabilities, like distance learning facilities and designers.

In addition to offering its services to the consumer market, damaka offers its platform to enterprise customers and service providers on a white label basis, allowing business users to also benefit from a secure, functional, and inexpensive set of VoIP and collaboration tools. Its IM tool enables connectivity with Yahoo!, AOL, Google, and MSN messaging tools.

http://www.damaka.com

Software IP PBX Offers Value and Flexibility
By Erik Linask

Massachusetts-based pbxnsip (news - alert) released version 2.0 of its Windows- and Linux-compatible software, which adds features users are commonly requesting and that make their communications simpler, unified, and generally more effective.

New features include: a user portal that houses call lists, click to play voice mail, personal address book; call recording; cell phone support; IM and presence capabilities; improved plug and play endpoint support; music on hold; new auto attendant functionality; integration with Microsoft Exchange 2007; ENUM support; multicast paging and intercom functions; and more.

"The new version contains some not so obvious features for management of the system," said Kevin Moroz, VP of sales at pbxnsip. "For example, it keeps track of the resource usage and reacts in real time to adjust performance limits and makes backup easy by locating all data in the file system relative to one directory."

In addition to the new features introduced with version 2.0, the pbxnsip product offers all the traditional IP PBX functionality, from end to end security to remote management, from trunking support to PSTN interconnect, from support for remote users via a built-in session border controller (SBC) to P2P communication. It also enables a wide range of user functions, like call control features, multiple appearance, hunt groups, conferencing, push2talk, IVR trees, and more, all of which help make both inbound and outbound communications from efficient.

http://www.pbxnsip.com

Avaya Broadens Commitment to SMBs

Avaya (quote - news - alert) has announced significant enhancements to its Intelligent Communications suite of converged IP telephony solutions specially designed for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). The enhancements give even the smallest firm an easy, affordable way to take advantage of advanced, IP-based communications to improve productivity, customer service, and virtually any business process. Avaya' s new developments also enable companies to access less expensive call services from service providers offering SIP trunking, which can cut calling costs in half.

Based on Avaya developments in converged communications technology, the company is introducing two versions of enhanced software for Avaya IP Office, the company's flagship solution for SMBs. The Standard edition is designed for very small businesses and serves up to 32 users. The Professional edition enables firms to take advantage of enhanced mobility, multi-site networking or customer service intelligence and scales to support up to 270 users.

In addition to new IP Office software, Avaya is expanding its current portfolio of servers by introducing a new IP Office 500 communications server. Its compact, modular, and flexible design supports telephony, voice messaging, and a complete customer service suite -- all at an attractive price for small and mid-size businesses.

Together, the new IP Office software and communications server deliver a solution that enables SMBs to buy only what they need today, while easily adding users or functionality via software licenses that are also compatible with existing IP Office solutions.

http://www.avaya.com