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September 17, 2008
Quintum Gateways to Help Bring User-Friendly Microsoft Response Point VoIP Systems to SMBsBy Michael Dinan, TMCnet Editor Saying it’s created a pair of easy and swiftly deployable gateways to support Microsoft’s SIP-based IP-PBX (News - Alert) system, officials from an Eatontown, New Jersey-based VoIP solutions company moments ago announced the imminent release of products that will allow businesses to deploy the system through a T1, E1 or PRI connection.
Officials from Quintum (News - Alert) Technologies – a subsidiary of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. – told TMCnet during an exclusive interview that their so-called “Quintum Response Point gateways” likely will be made generally available within a month.
Chuck Rutledge, vice president of marketing for Quintum and NET, said the gateways are designed specifically for Response Point.
“This is a product that’s going to address medium businesses that have T1 or E1 connections or fractional T1 or E1 connections, with a four-port FXS gate which will support existing analog equipment,” Rutledge said, such as fax machines, point of sale devices and existing analog phones. The gateways will tie into “the existing analog structure and (provide) a higher level of connectivity into digital T1 and E1 trunks.”
Response Point is designed to offer SMBs the ability to deploy VoIP throughout their networks with IP-PBX telephony advantages – until now, technologies enjoyed mainly by larger businesses. Features of Response Point include SIP trunking, click-to-call, call detail records and even the ability to play non-elevator music to people who are waiting on hold.
According to the general manager of Response Point, Microsoft’s (News - Alert) Xeudong Huang, SMBs want PBX functionality at an affordable price – something that the Quintum gateways are expected to help deliver.
“We are very excited to be working with Quintum,” Huang said. “When we shipped Response Point 1.0 (in July), one of the key responses we got was, ‘Hey, you guys don’t support T1 on my fax machine.’ I’ve been very impressed with the speed and quality of the product developed.”
The product is designed for SMB users who may not know much of anything about IP telephony, Rutledge said.
“What we’ve done I think is that, working v closely with RP team, we’ve been able to integrate into the management system, the provisioning systems of Response Point, making it very easy to put out into a businesses site,” he said. “This will actually be automatically configured by the Response Point system.”
Industry insiders are hailing the Quintum gateways for Response Point.
According to Brian Nickell, a product manager at D-Link (News - Alert), “Response Point customers will be pleasantly surprised at the ease with which they can be installed and how quickly their new phone systems will be up and running.”
For Rutledge, larger businesses also will benefit from the Response Point phone system.
“Now people are moving toward SIP trunking, they’re doing things that are innovative, so we’re moving along the technology and having things like fax machines fit into that solution,” he said. “So this is a phone system for more than just the simple user. This is a phone system that is positioned to do v well for larger businesses, and so it’s an exciting opportunity for both Microsoft and Quintum.”
Learn more about Quintum Technologies at Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO — the biggest and most comprehensive IP communications event of the year. ITEXPO (News - Alert) will take place in Los Angeles, California, September 16-18, 2008, featuring three valuable days of exhibits, conferences, and networking opportunities you can’t afford to miss. Visit Quintum at booth #420 in the exhibit hall. Don’t wait. Register now!
Michael Dinan is a contributing editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Michael’s articles, please visit his columnist page. Edited by Michael Dinan |