September 28, 2016, Digium, Inc., the Asterisk Company, announced the release of the Asterisk 14, an open source communications engine, at AstriCon, a users and developers conference.

The Asterisk 14 is an updated version of the previous Asterisk releases, featuring the expanded DNS services, improved media API that includes remote media playback capabilities and a media cache, and more enhancements that make Asterisk function more efficiently in a larger communications ecosystem.

“For administrators using Asterisk in large, horizontally scalable service-based ecosystems, the additions and improvements made in version 14 are significant,” said Matt Fredrickson, project lead for Asterisk with Digium.

In May of 2016, VoIP Supply donated 1,669 lbs. of electronic equipment through the 2016 e-Scrap 4 Camp fundraiser hosted by Sunnking, a electronics recycling center.

This recycling effort contributed to a total donation of $11,219.94 to Camp Good Days & Special Times. They are a non-profit organization that provides children with cancer the opportunity to come together in a residential camping experience to be with the ones who truly understand what they have been through – other children with cancer.

As a B Corp, VoIP Supply follows the rigorous standard of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. We joined Sunnking’s recycling effort in 2012 and have been collecting and donating electronic equipment since then.

“We are proud to be part of the recycling movement, keeping electronic waste out of landfills,” said Ben Sayers, Founder and CEO of VoIP Supply “Thanks to Sunnking and Camp Good Days for giving us the chance to give back to the community.“

Have some Electronics to Recycle?

VoIP Supply now collects old electronics from the public all year round. If you’d like to contribute, please contact us at 1-800-398-VoIP to schedule a time to drop off your obsolete electronics.

The acceptable materials for recycling include computers (desktop & laptop), monitors, cables, printers, gaming devices, and more.

Download a list of Acceptable Materials

Please also note that we can’t accept the following materials.

As a VoIP consultant, I get a lot of calls from customers each day asking for recommended solutions that can fit the needs of their business.

Recently, I have received questions from customers using Polycom VVX phones in loud work environments such as warehouses, restaurants and machine shops, where they can’t hear the ringtones, resulting in missing important calls. If you are facing the same issue, you may find the following solution useful.

Hear Loud and Clear with the Algo 8180 Alerter

To reduce the missed calls in a noisy or large site, we recommend you use this straightforward solution – The Algo 8180 Audio Alerter with the Algo 1506 Polycom Ring Detector.

The Algo 8180 is a SIP compliant PoE speaker designed for voice paging, loud ringing, and emergency notification.

With its high-efficient amplifier and loudspeaker, the Algo 8180 is able to generate 8 times louder tone than a normal telephone ringer.

The Algo 8180’s most useful features include:

• Dual purpose loud ringing and talkback voice paging
• SoudSure ambient noise compensation adjusts output for noise level
• Selectable alert tones
• PoE eliminates local power supply
• More

Instead of adding an extension or “seat” to the noisy site, you can simply pair the Algo 8180 with the Algo 2506 detector which detects the audio from the headset jack and actives 8180 alerter directly without using SIP.

Common Setup

A basic, common setup is to have the Algo 2506 detector connect to both your Polycom VVX phone and the Algo 8180 audio alerter. When an incoming call is received by the Polycom VVX phone, the detector will trigger the audio alerter to amplify the ringtone.

You can also add an optional visual alerter or a horn speaker to work with the 8180 Audio Alerter. In this way, even when you can’t hear the ringtone, you can “see” it.

What’s your solution of using Polycom VVX phone in a loud environment? We want to know!

Follow the links for more information:

The Algo 8180 Product Sheet

Cisco IP Phones are known for their functionality and user-friendly design. A lot of professionals and managers enjoy Cisco phones’ advanced features such as the high resolution color displays and video support with touchscreen access.

To optimize your use of Cisco phones, selecting a headset that can work seamlessly with it is a must. Here, our VoIP experts made it easier for you by listing out the best headsets to pair with your Cisco phones.

Plantronics CS540

Featuring three wearing styles and up to 350 feet wireless range, the CS540 is one of the lightest DECT wireless headsets on the market. Its streamline design and reliable performance attract customers looking for hands-free solutions.

One-touch controls, energy efficiency power management, simple plug-and-talk installation – the CS540 gives you all you need.

Jabra PRO920

Jabra PRO920 is another great solution that works perfectly with Cisco desk phones. If you are searching for a solution for all-day use, you would like this PRO920’s soft, comfortable design.

Its enhanced ergonomics prevent neck strain caused by pressing a phone to your ear for long periods. The SafeTone technology even ensures that your ears only receive safe average sound levels, protecting your hearing.

With crystal clear sound, noise-cancelling microphone, mono/ duo speakers and other advanced features, Jabra PRO920 gives you all the essential functions you need in a simple design at a reasonable price.

VXI UC ProSet 21P DC

If you’d like to use your headset on multiple devices or communication platforms, consider VXI UC ProSet! This solution is ready to use with your Unified Communication system.

Our customers love the lightweight, ergonomic design for all day use and the interchangeability with other headset brands, enabling you to maximize your existing equipment investment.

That’s not all. The robust, high-quality construction and wide-band audio make VXI UC ProSet a great addition to your communication system that you won’t want to miss.

What’s your favorite headset to use with Cisco phones? Do you have any recommended solutions? Leave a comment below to share with us!

Digium Switchvox has announced the latest firmware release of Switchvox 6.3.2

Switchvox 6.3.2 is currently available to all on-premise users and has fixed the following bugs:

• The Contacts App now correctly offers Transfer to external phone numbers on a contact detail screen.
• The phone no longer experiences an error fetching configuration under certain rare circumstances.
• The phone now correctly updates under certain circumstances where changes are made in Switchvox.

For more information regarding Digium Switchvox click here.

September 22, 2016, Grandstream released a new 2-port ATA, the HT812. Watch our unboxing video to learn what it is all about!

Grandstream HT812 Unboxing Video

Hi guys, my name is Youleidy Vega, I am Product Marketing Specialist here at VoIP Supply, and today I’m going to be unboxing Grandstream’s latest ATA and router, the HandyTone812. So, let’s get to it!

Alright, so let’s see what’s in the box of the HT812 form Grandstream. Start guide, this is the actual ATA and router. This is the power cord, and lastly there is the Ethernet cord.
Alright, so let’s take a look at the ports that the HT812 has. It has the power supply port, the LAN, WAN and then it has two FXS ports.

So, we just got done unboxing Grandstream’s latest ATA, the HT812. This one replaces the HT502 and the major improvement from this one and the previous version is that this one is Gigabit, supports two SIP accounts and has an Integrated Network Address Translator, or NAT router built into it. It is perfect for small or medium size businesses.

If you want to know anything else about the HT812 please check us out online at www.voipsupply.com, or give us a call at 1-800-398-VoIP. We’d be happy to help you. My name is Youleidy Vega, Product Marketing Specialist here at VoIP Supply, thank you for watching.