[November 2, 2004]

Bam! Linksys Kicks VoIP Up a Notch

BY JOHANNE TORRES

Linksys (news - alert), now a division of Cisco Systems Inc. (quote - news - alert), mostly known for its blue wireless routers, is kicking VoIP (define - news - alert) up a couple of notches by releasing a wide range of products by the end of the year. The company is said to be completing development plans for IP adapters for wireless IP phones and analog corded and cordless handsets.

The new products will be bundled into VoIP service contracts. Will these compete with Cisco’s own products, though? Apparently, Linksys will be pricing theirs a lot lower than its parent company.

Today’s news follows a recent announcement the company made last month about its deal with AT&T (quote - news - alert). Both companies are working together to provide CallVantage (news - alert) (AT&T’s VoIP calling service)’s customers with wired or wireless routers with analog telephone adapters (ATAs).

The new AT&T CallVantage Service Certified Linksys equipment now consists of a Wired Router with 2 Phone Ports and Wireless-G Router 2 phone ports, which are now available at retail outlets. Both companies say that these new devices help eliminate the need for multiple devices for broadband telephony and computer networking when a user wants both. In these situations, these devices make it easier and more economical to set up AT&T’s broadband phone service solution.

“We look forward to delivering AT&T CallVantage Service Certified Linksys wired and wireless routers with voice to our growing ranks of customers,” said Cathy Martine, AT&T senior vice president for Internet Telephony. “Linksys is one of the most recognizable and respected brands in home networking. Working together, we’ll provide households with the ability to quickly and efficiently optimize their communications and home networking needs.”