snom released a new version of its award-winning snom ONE IP PBX, adding advanced mobility capabilities that extend standard IP PBX calling features to employee mobile devices. The new release, introduced at ITEXPO East (Booth #512) in Miami, January 31 - February 3, also features new management and security features to more easily provision and integrate a businesses cell phone cell fleet with the snom ONE IP PBX.

snom ONE IP PBX release highlights include:

• "Cell phone as an extension": The snom ONE allows cell phones to act as truly integrated extensions, incorporating call transfers, conferencing, internal extension dialling and other features.
• Broad SIP client support: The snom ONE now supports mobile SIP clients, running on popular platforms such as Android and the iPhone.
• Enhanced management features: The web-based interface has been enhanced to make administering the system even easier and more productive.
• Enhanced remote phone security: snom ONE provides WAN-based authentication for plug and play with snom 7xx and snom 8xx series phones, alleviating the need for users to enter password information and increasing simplicity and security for remote workers.
• Plug and play deployment: The snom ONE is optimized for all snom phones, enabling plug-and-play deployment and provisioning for the snom 3xx, snom 8xx and newly released snom 7xx series desktop phones, as well as other endpoints, including the snom M9 DECT phone, the snom PA1 public address system and the snom MeetingPoint conference phone.
• Virtual appliance: snom ONE is available as virtual appliances for VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V via a .vhd file. This addresses the demand for hardware failover without dropping calls.
• Enhanced Software Update Mechanism: The system can be updated easily via the web interface, alleviating the need to connect to the operating system to perform upgrades.

The snom ONE IP PBX is a SIP-based, full featured IP PBX optimized to work with snom phones, offering advanced features including agent groups, conference rooms, call recording, and many other features typical in a mature SIP based communications system.

The snom ONE is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac environments and is equipped with robust web security through HTTPS and call security through TLS and SRTP. snom ONE supports mixed IPv4/IPv6 LAN and WAN environments and comes with an automatic blacklisting feature that makes it possible to expose public IP addresses. The snom ONE is also available as a turnkey system in snom ONE Plus appliances.

The snom ONE IP PBX is available in three versions: snom ONE free (downloadable), for up to 10 extensions, snom ONE yellow (for up to 20 extensions) and snom ONE blue (unlimited number of extensions and multi-tenant capabilities up to five companies). All versions offer the full feature set, including hunt and ACD groups, mailbox, auto attendant, conference rooms and paging, and are designed to take full advantage of the hardware features of snom's suite of desktop phones and endpoints. snom ONE blue also allows up to five separate corporate tenants, supporting multiple organizations to operate using a single IP PBX.

LogMeIn (Nasdaq: LOGM) has purchased Bold Software, a provider of web chat and customer communications software, in what the company said is part of a larger strategy to expand LogMeIn's portfolio of call centers, external help desks and customer service teams.

The move strengthens LogMeIn's customer care product portfolio by adding a well-known and respected provider of live chat and click-to-call services used by thousands of retail, financial services, manufacturing, software and telecommunications organizations.

Under the terms of the deal, LogMeIn acquired substantially all of the net assets of Bold Software for total consideration of approximately $16.5 million in cash. LogMeIn expects the acquisition to be accreted to its non-GAAP operating results within twelve months.

The move, said CEO Michael Simon, reflects a change in the customer care environment from self-help and deflection to one of more customer engagement.

"We believe this acquisition significantly expands the unique services we can offer to help facilitate customer engagement, while broadening the value to a wider group of customer service staff," he said.

LogMeIn plans to continue to offer BoldChat as a standalone offering while integrating the BoldChat service with its other product lines.

LogMeIn's customer care services are used by 50 of the world's top mobile operators, support organizations like Best Buy's Geek Squad and OEMs like Sling Media-- to remotely diagnose and resolve technical issues.

For more:
- see this release

Call center tech vendor OAISYS has rolled out the latest iteration of its Talkument and Tracer call recording software.

The new version, 7.1, includes a cloud licensing service to enable automatic registration of an OAISYS recording system and the ability to apply additional licenses directly via the cloud; it also allows authorized users to view the live desktop activity of an agent and synchronized with live voice monitoring and gives businesses more information on callers by displaying a map that shows a caller's location based on physical address or longitude/latitude coordinate information.

"We make a point to stay in touch with our customer's evolving needs while concurrently keeping an eye on the dynamic technology evolution of the marketplace, and 7.1 shows tangible results of both efforts," said Brian Spencer, president of OAISYS.

The solution is compatible with systems from Avaya, Mitel, ShoreTel, Toshiba and others, as well as SIP-based communications services.

For more:
- see this release

Related articles:
OAISYS releases updated Talkument and Tracer solutions
M5 debuts its Callfinity Contact Center offering six months after acquisition
Virtual PBX Complete gets 'anywhere' features to enhance smartphone use

Digium releases Asterisk 10. Asterisk is a communications platform that allows developers to create powerful business phone systems and unified communications solutions. Since its introduction 12 years ago, Asterisk has been used, free of charge, in nearly every country of the world to power telephone and other communications systems. It has been downloaded millions of times, including two million last year alone, establishing Asterisk as the most popular open source telephony engine.

The most important new feature in Asterisk 10 is its wide-band media engine. Digium has replaced Asterisk’s telephony-grade media engine with a more advanced one, providing support for studio-quality audio and a nearly unlimited number of codecs. By supporting high and ultra high-definition voice, Asterisk can now be used to power communications applications that would have otherwise required specialized or expensive equipment and service in order to convey nuances in speech or emotion. Digium has also updated Asterisk’s media support for Asterisk 10, with several new codecs, including Skype’s SILK codec, 32kHz Speex support and pass-through support for CELT.

Built with open source community support

Digium is advancing Asterisk with version 10, while simultaneously leading work on the Asterisk Scalable Communications Framework. Asterisk SCF will allow developers to create real-time communications applications that include voice, video and text that meet the demands of a full range of uses, from embedded applications to enterprise and carrier solutions.

Asterisk 10 makes its debut at AstriCon, the Asterisk User Conference & Expo, in Denver. Hundreds of attendees, including software and PBX developers, enterprise IT pros, systems integrators and call center and CRM developers, welcomed the announcement. In its eighth year, AstriCon is offering conference tracks focusing on technical information, carriers and call centers, cloud computing, commerce, government, enterprise and the Asterisk ecosystem. Developer conferences geared toward contributors to the Asterisk and Asterisk SCF projects are also taking place during this year’s AstriCon.

Asterisk 10 is available for free download and is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2.

New features in Asterisk 10

Asterisk 10 offers developers, integrators, resellers and telephony pros a range of new capabilities. A few include:

• New media engine—Asterisk 10 supports more media types and virtually any type of audio. The overhaul to the media engine allows Asterisk to support a nearly unlimited number of codecs.
• More codecs—The platform includes new codecs, including the wideband version of Speex, Skype’s super-wideband SILK and pass-through support for several CELT variants.
• Additional sampling rates—Asterisk previously operated on 8 and 16 kHz sampled audio, but now supports super- and ultra-wideband sampling rates as file format types for file playback or recording. Asterisk now supports 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 96 and 192 kHz rates for superb audio quality.
• New conferencing application—Digium replaced the MeetMe conferencing bridge with an HD-capable intelligent bridge application called ConfBridge. It supports all codecs and conference rates and works on any Asterisk 10 system, regardless of operating system or architecture. Intelligent mixing algorithms provide each participant with the optimal audio quality for their connection. Also, ConfBridge is fully customizable, so systems administrators and integrators can configure call-in menus on a caller-by-caller basis.
• Support for videoconferencing—ConfBridge relays video of a designated speaker or the current speaker to other participants in the conference. Video-capable SIP devices that use the same codec are required.
• Significant new fax capabilities—Asterisk 10 includes T.38 gateway capabilities that allow outgoing fax calls from analog fax machines to be connected to T.38 fax endpoints over SIP and incoming T.38 fax calls to be delivered directly to fax machines. This allows for more straightforward integration of fax capabilities into an Asterisk system and allows users to get delivery confirmation from other fax machines.
• Text message routing—Asterisk has long been able to send and receive text messages, but can now route messages as well. Asterisk 10 supports the SIP MESSAGE and XMPP protocols, allowing it to act as a text messaging server and bridge between different messaging protocols.

Speedflow Communications now offers a wide range of carrier-grade software products, including class 4 and class 5 softswitches. The company’s highly innovative VoIP software solutions are designed for VoIP carriers and other IP telephony-related companies.

8x8 announces the release of "8x8 Virtual Office Pro 2.0," an upgraded edition of its award-winning hosted unified communications offering with improvements designed to further enhance the productivity and mobility advantages of this powerful web-based solution.

Originally introduced in January 2010, 8x8 Virtual Office Pro delivers a complete suite of web-based communications and collaboration services - such as phone, fax, web conferencing, call recording, chat, mobile application and more - via a single online dashboard, enabling access to these tools remotely from any location using just a PC and web browser. In addition, 8x8 Virtual Office Pro reduces a business' communications costs by combining the services (including unlimited local and long distance VoIP calling) in a bundled offering priced at under $50 per user, significantly less than the cost of acquiring the same services separately from individual providers.

Enhancements included in 8x8 Virtual Office Pro 2.0 are as follows:

• Improved softphone functionality -- with advanced and instant call forwarding, call transfer, call waiting, 3-way calling, multiple call appearance lines, blind, warm and voicemail transfers, one click calling from Outlook, Google and social media networks; complete PBX functionality without the need for a desktop IP phone
• Added fax capabilities -- users can now send multiple documents in the same fax and create a customized fax cover sheet; service allows for sending and receiving unlimited faxes
• iPhone iOS4 multitasking support -- Virtual Office Mobile application now supports iPhone iOS4 multitasking and background operation; provides one-button access to voicemail, conference bridge and auto-attendant
• Social Media Integration -- easily post, tweet, chat and send status to your Twitter and Facebook contacts directly from the Virtual Office Online dashboard
• Enhanced Call Queuing -- subscribers with call queuing capability can now have agents log in and out of their call queues from within the online dashboard
• Video Chat -- users can now add live video to chats and calls with co-workers

These feature upgrades add to 8x8 Virtual Office Pro's existing core capabilities which include:

• 8x8 Virtual Office Online - a flexible, online dashboard that lets subscribers manage the key features and functions of their Virtual Office business phone service remotely, through an easy-to-use web portal
• Designate any convenient handset or computer headset to place and receive calls from
• Set call handling rules, listen to voicemail online and view a comprehensive listing of voicemails, phone calls and chats.
• Reduce costly roaming and international calling charges by using an 8x8 VoIP extension instead of a cell phone, hotel phone or landline desk phone, to place outbound calls
• 8x8 Virtual Office hosted PBX phone service - reliable, high quality business VoIP phone service with advanced features and unlimited local and long distance calling
• 8x8 Virtual Meeting -- flash-based web conferencing solution that allows users to create, join and invite participants to web, audio and video meetings
• Virtual Office Mobile -- place and receive (VoIP) calls and access common Virtual Office services and functions from an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad
• Internet fax - send and receive unlimited online faxes from any computer; includes free local U.S. fax number
• Call recording and archiving - enables any inbound or outbound call to be recorded and later reviewed, downloaded, deleted and archived
• Presence management - tells other co-workers whether you are logged in, logged off, on the phone, off the phone or currently unavailable

8x8 Virtual Office Pro 2.0 is available to existing 8x8 Virtual Office Unlimited, Metered or Global Extension subscribers as an optional service for an additional $20 per extension per month. New 8x8 Virtual Office subscribers can receive the entire bundle (Unlimited Extension plus Virtual Office Pro) for a promotional price of $49.99 per month.

With the latest version of Vopium for Android, users can make free calls over Wi-Fi and mobile data networks. Vopium automatically finds the lowest call rate on your mobile phone. International calls are made using Vopium'slow-rate server, while calls to local mobile phones are cheapest using local mobile providers. Vopium also offers an instant messaging feature, allowing users to chat on Facebook and Windows Live Messenger. Vopium is currently offering 15 minutes of free calls worldwide.

Vopium has improved its Android application and is now offering free calls to other mobile phones with Vopium on either Wi-Fi or mobile data networks.

Vopium features an advanced built-in phone function, which always finds the lowest rate for calls and text messages on your Android mobile phone- either via regular calls on your mobile, 3G or Wi-Fi network. International calls, for example, are made over Vopium's servers to the overseas mobile phone.

Vopium is already very popular among Android users and is downloaded more than 1,000 times every day from Android Market. Vopium was even elected as the 'Essential Android App 2010' by the major tech site CNET.com.

International calls at the lowest rates

With Vopium, calls to landline and mobile phones are offered at a very low rate, even if they do not have Vopium installed. Rates include calls to any landline or mobile phone in Thailand for just under three cents plus the local mobile rate - working out at about the same cost as a local call.

15 minutes of free worldwide calls

Vopium is currently offering 15 minutes of free calls to all new users, which is a great opportunity to try out the application on an Android mobile phone or one of the more than 900 other supported mobile phones. To get started, log onto http://www.vopium.com and enter your mobile phone number.

Vopium has been tested on several of the most popular Android phones such as HTC Desire, HTC Legend and Motorola Milestone/Droid.

ASC will demonstrate its new quality management software, INSPIRATIONpro version 10.0 and it’s VoIP recording solution, EVOip at the CSA & DBSG Annual Conference, at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham on 8th-9th September, at Stand 18.

The Credit Services Association is the National Association in the UK for companies active in the area of unpaid credit accounts, debt recovery agencies, tracing and allied professional services. The DBSG works for the benefit of those involved in buying or selling debts (or intermediaries in the sale process).

The CSA & DBSG Annual Conference is an important conference for everyone involved in the Credit Collection and Debt Sale and Purchase industry. Over 230 delegates are expected at the Conference, which includes seminars, networking and exhibitors supporting the collections industry.

At the CSA & DBSG Conference, ASC will show how its solution portfolio supports “Business Process Optimization”, a new approach encompassing communications recording, quality management, speech analytics, e-learning and workforce management, enriched with vital information from CRM and ERP systems.

Mike Murley, Sales Director, ASC telecom UK, said “The CSA & DBSG event is an ideal backdrop for ASC to promote its recording and quality management solutions within this key financial segment. ASC will be able to engage with other solution providers and assist end users on the correct management and deployment of our VoIP recording, achieving PCI DSS compliant recording and enhancing Business Process Optimization programmes”.

ASC’s new version of its award-winning VoIP recording software, EVOip 10.0, offers the strictest adherence to security requirements, which help to achieve the payment card industry’s data security standards (PCI DSS). Other new features include one-click backup and dynamic enterprise licensing. New and enhanced integrations with Aastra MX ONE and Avaya ACM complement the existing range of integrations with major IP phone switches including Alcatel, Cisco, Genesys, Mitel, Nortel and Siemens.

EVOip captures telephone calls from the network and enables storage, playback and archiving of the entire interaction. The software can record hundreds of channels simultaneously, including encrypted calls, and is entirely software based. Many functions may be accessed directly through the IP phone, such as record-on demand, start/stop, keep/delete and search-and-replay for recorded calls.

INSPIRATIONpro helps managers learn about their agents’ service level through analysis and evaluation of recorded call data and screen activities. ASC’s latest release 10.0 facilitates new capabilities for supervisor interaction. The E-Learning module spots the weak points in individual agent training and delivers customized instruction directly to each desktop, thus creating a loop of continuous learning. INSPIRATIONpro also includes audio analytics which allows automatic categorization of calls or the ability to search for keywords and phrase, particularly useful for high-volume call centers with an otherwise unmanageable number of conversations.

VoX Communications has a downloadable mobile VoIP app on the Ovi Store by Nokia for the Nokia N900. Nokia N900 users can download the VoIP app from VoX Communications or by going to store.ovi.com from their Nokia N900.

Nokia N900 users will be able to download the VoX mobile VoIP plan with a simple signup process that will deliver the install software package straight to the Nokia N900. Nokia N900 owners worldwide can use the app to make calls to the United States for $.02 per minute, or less, if an unlimited plan is purchased.

Other benefits of downloading the VoX app from the Ovi Store include:

• The app works on GSM or WiFi, enabling dual-mode functionality
• Low cost US calling
• Low cost international calling
• Seamless integration with the Nokia N900 contact list
• Provides users with a second line for inbound and outbound calls that also supports anonymous call rejection, call blocking and call forwarding
• Allows you to add a toll free number
• Allows you to add several virtual numbers
• Number porting is available
• Does not use up your monthly cell phone plan voice-minutes

2600 Hz is the frequency that the phone companies used back in the day and was hacked by those seeking to make free long distance phone calls. In order to do so, one needed a device that generated the 2600 Hz tone, called the blue box. The new venture is an homage to that heritage.

From what I understand, the new company was formed after some disagreements between the FreePBX developers and the original backers of the project. FreePBX is a graphical user interface that sits on top of open-source telephony software such as Asterisk. FreePBX was promoted by Bandwidth.com.

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VoicePulse has been officially tested and named a verified VoIP operator for Acrobits Softphone app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Acrobits is a privately owned software development company with a focus on mobile software development.

For many VoIP users, getting the correct settings for your provider in a SIP client can be a complicated process. Customers will only have to enter their VoicePulse SIP credentials and password to get started using Acrobits Softphone. The SIP app from Acrobits costs just $7.99 in iTunes. Download the SIP app here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/acrobits-softphone-sip-phone/id314192799?mt=8. VoicePulse will also be participating in upcoming beta testing for Acrobits softphone application for the Android OS.

VoicePulse brings its VoIP services to business and wholesale customers with VoicePulse SIP trunking. Businesses using IP PBXs such as Digium's Asterisk, AsteriskNow, Switchvox, Fonality's PBXtra, trixbox, FreePBX, or FreeSwitch will find that VoicePulse is the perfect complement with its one-of-a-kind, one-click auto-configuration module.

CounterPath announces a new release of its Bria multimedia softphone. With analysts forecasting that unified communications client shipments will grow 65 percent annually through 2015, Bria 3.1 is ideal for enterprises that want to replace their deskphones or integrate a UC application as an adjunct to their IP phone solutions.

CounterPath's Bria 3.1 is a highly secure, standards-based softphone that enables voice and high-definition (1280x720p) video calls. With this latest version, Bria has expanded its interoperability to integrate seamlessly with a broader variety of enterprise and carrier infrastructure equipment from major vendors including Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco, NEC and Nokia Siemens Networks. Bria also supports Asterisk-based telephony systems.

One of the most significant additions to Bria 3.1 is support for multiple accounts, an increasingly common requirement in today's enterprise and government markets. With Bria 3.1, users now can select on the fly which account to use for voice, IM and HD video calling, whether it's over a wired or wireless IP network, including 3G/4G and Wi-Fi.

Bria 3.1 also features an enhanced, streamlined user interface to provide a better overall softphone experience. The improved organization and layout makes it even easier for users to navigate between their preferred methods of communication, such as making a call from the IM window or sending an IM during a call.

The new UI enhances Bria 3.1's expanded conferencing features, including additional multi-tasking options when multiple audio and/or video calls are in progress. Bria 3.1 also supports server-based conference calling using Bria's built-in native contact list and call manager.

Bria 3.1's other major new features include:

• Deskphone mode for using Bria to control basic functions of a deskphone
• Short Message Service support (for custom builds), providing additional messaging capabilities
• User-configurable favorites lists, which provide quick and easy access to preferred methods of communication
• User-configurable keyboard shortcuts for quickly accessing Bria functions (Windows only)
• Additional call-management options, including call hold collapse and streamlined steps for common tasks such as conferencing and transferring
• Bandwidth-saving features, including the ability to select from three levels of performance and codecs depending on a PC's capability to display video
• Improved USB HID support (more devices)
• Embedded Web module support
• Additional languages: Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Russian (Windows only)

"With Bria 3.1, we have enhanced the user experience and broadened the applicability of our flagship softphone," said Todd Carothers, vice president of product management, CounterPath. "Bria 3.1 proves that small and medium businesses, large enterprises, government agencies and other users don't have to compromise on call quality, video quality or usability when choosing to take advantage of all of the bottom-line benefits that multimedia softphones provide. With Bria 3.1, CounterPath is able to extend Bria to more countries, interoperate with a greater number of PBX systems and continues to raise the bar for enterprise-grade, carrier-class softphones that users can bet their business on."

Current Bria 3.0 users will be automatically updated to Bria 3.1 when the new software is available. Regular pricing for a single copy of Bria is $49.95 USD, with additional volume pricing options. The retail version of Bria 3.1 will be available mid-July in CounterPath's online store.

CounterPath announces the worldwide availability of Bria iPhone Edition for Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Bria iPhone Edition is a highly secure, standards-based VoIP softphone that works over both 3G and Wi-Fi networks.

Bria iPhone Edition integrates seamlessly with other CounterPath desktop and convergence solutions, as well as with enterprise and carrier infrastructure equipment from major vendors such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, BroadSoft, Metaswitch, Avaya, Cisco and NEC. Bria iPhone Edition also supports Asterisk-based telephony systems.

Bria iPhone Edition is the latest CounterPath solution for mobile platforms and its first standalone mobile SIP application. Earlier this year, CounterPath launched Linux, Mac and Windows versions of Bria, all of which received strong approval and endorsement from Internet telephony service providers and telecom infrastructure vendors. In addition to the Bria-branded version, CounterPath will also be developing customized white-label versions of Bria iPhone Edition for carriers, OEMs and enterprise customers worldwide through its professional services team.

One hundred percent compatible with Apple's iPhone 3.0 and new iOS (formerly iPhone 4.0), the CounterPath softphone client takes advantage of the growing number of SMEs, large enterprises and governments that are deploying iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads for mobile workers, many of whom require full access to their communications services while away from their desk or office. Bria iPhone Edition leverages the iPhone's native address book and its embedded Bluetooth technology to provide a seamless calling experience while on the move.

Apple currently ranks third in smartphone shipments, with 16 percent of all units in the category in Q1 2010, according to several analyst firms. For all handset types – smartphones and feature phones – Apple is No. 6, with more than 8.7 million shipped worldwide in Q1.

Bria iPhone Edition's key features include:

• Full SIP compliance, enabling use with any SIP-compliant server and hundreds of ITSPs that currently offer CounterPath-based services.
  • Bria iPhone Edition appears as another endpoint to service providers or PBX equipment, enabling fast, cost-effective deployments.
• Call quality that's superior to circuit-switched wireline and wireless voice, and based on the G.711, G.729 and GSM codecs.
• An intuitive user interface that provides one-touch access to voicemail, call history, speakerphone and other frequently used telephony features such as 4-digit dialing.
• Support for DTMF, which lets users enter numbers to access an auto attendant.
• Bluetooth support, enabling hands-free calling for convenience, as well as safety while driving.
• Multi-call management options, including the ability to switch between, merge and split calls, all in ways that are already familiar to iPhone users so they can start using these features immediately.
• Signaling and call encryption via TLS and SRTP, enabling enterprise-class security.
• Optional customized branding available for enterprises and telephony providers.

Bria iPhone Edition is sold exclusively through the following link on the iTunes Store for an introductory price of $3.99. Customers have the ability to upgrade the client to include G.729 support.

Acrobits announces the latest feature of Acrobits Softphone, provider provisioning. In just a few minutes, any SIP based VoIP operator can have their settings added to Acrobits Softphone’s preconfigured provider list completely free. Acrobits Softphone, the leading SIP Client for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, just became even more attractive to both SIP providers and users.

As any VoIP veteran knows, getting the correct settings for your provider entered in your SIP client can be a painful process. Since ease of use is a high priority for customers shopping for a service provider, this results in many customers picking a provider that has their own softphone client on multiple platforms. Since the iPhone OS is the leading mobile platform, having a reliable SIP client on Apple’s App Store is an important component to attracting new business. “By adding themselves to our list of preconfigured providers,” says Acrobits, “VoIP operators can provide their customers with a proven SIP client on the App Store and an easy way to use their service on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch."

Once Acrobits has added a provider to their preconfigured list, most customers will only have to enter their username and password to get started using their service on Acrobits Softphone. There is a separate list of providers for every country and the providers can choose the countries in which they want to appear. To give fair conditions to the providers and the best value to customers, the list is ordered by popularity. The more customers you have that use the Softphone, the higher you will appear on the list. With this new service, Acrobits Softphone has become the best way for providers to extend their service to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

CounterPath announces Bria for Linux. Already deployed by two Fortune 500 companies, the new retail version of the Bria for Linux softphone client, Bria 3.0, now natively supports Linux, Mac and Windows, giving enterprises a new option for extending VoIP across multiple operating systems and a broad range of devices by leveraging the CounterPath SDK and media engine. This expanded breadth gives CounterPath customers unprecedented flexibility when implementing VoIP in their organizations, enabling them to reduce communications and travel costs, while improving productivity and responsiveness.

Bria for Linux is also available for embedded products ranging from voice terminals and mobile handsets all the way to set-top boxes in addition to the desktop and laptop softphone versions.

Bria for Linux features include support for:

• Multiple VoIP accounts
• Ubuntu 9.10 & 10.04, the world's most widely used Linux distribution
• A wide variety of codecs, including G.711 u/aLaw, iLBC, Speex, Speex WB, GSM, DV14, DV14 WB and L16 PCM WB
• LDAP
• Echo cancellation, reduced background noise, automatic gain control and other mechanisms that enable clear, lifelike audio
• DTMF via RFC 2833 and in-band/out-of-band DTMF
• Speakerphone
• Provisioning server

Pricing & Availability

Bria for Linux will be available worldwide in late July for a suggested retail price of US$49.95. Bria for Linux will be sold through the CounterPath Store, CounterPath's sales team and select CounterPath Authorized Resellers.

TalkFree has added new features to its popular 1LegCall wireless VoIP application and Zonefone mobile VoIP dialers. Both solutions now support the S60 5th Edition, Symbian OS version 9.4 Nokia mobile phone models and Short Message Service.

1LegCall and Zonefone now can be used with nearly the entire Nokia S60 phone series, including popular models X6, N97 and 5800 XpressMusic. These new edition phones are selling fast in the Middle East and Africa, which are strong markets for TalkFree. Indeed, the carrier uses its mobile VoIP platform to complete more than 500,000 calls originating in these markets daily.

Additionally, TalkFree has integrated SMS functionality into its existing mobile VoIP platform. With 1LegCall, the carrier’s resellers now can give their customers the ability to send international SMS messages at a fraction of the rate charged by traditional wireless carriers. “The same application that empowers our customers to make affordable calls using their mobile phone and VoIP now allows them to send affordable international SMS,” says Jean Templin, director, product marketing for TalkFree.

TalkFree’s 1LegCall application uses existing mobile handsets to deliver an inexpensive call solution using VoIP technology. Customers simply load the dialer application onto their existing phone using their 3G or WIFI connections and they can instantly bypass expensive fixed-line infrastructure and phone rates. The1LegCall application currently runs over 3 million minutes of traffic daily and has a growth trajectory of nearly 300 percent annually, demonstrating the strong demand for mobile VoIP technologies in emerging markets and Third World countries.

TalkFree operates primarily in the Middle East and Africa with targeted growth coming from Southeast Asia and rural areas of South America. The company specializes in assisting local in-country communications providers by delivering a turnkey, plug-and-play VoIP “business in a box” with no contractual obligations and inexpensive start-up costs. TalkFree’s multiple access techniques ensure high-quality voice connections regardless of Internet traffic volumes. All applications are managed in real time, in local language and local currency, and are supported by customer service experts who are available 24/7.