Mobotix Installed as World’s Highest Webcam to View Mt. Everest

October 5, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Mobotix’s Outdoor IP Cameras are made from a fiberglass-reinforced plastic that’s normally used to manufacture hard-wearing exterior car components. 

So it’s no surprise that a solar powered Mobotix M12 camera is now the world’s highest webcam at 18,514 feet (5,643 meters) on the Kala Patthar mountain.

Mobotix Outdoor IP Cameras are deployed in arctic and desert extremes with an operating temperature range of -22° F (-30° C) to over 140° F (60° C). And with a low power consumption, temperatures inside a Mobotix camera remain temperate resulting in a longer life span. 

Perched on the Kala Patthar mountain to provide high definition, megapixel views of Mount Everest, the world’s highest Mobotix IP camera is being used with the world’s highest weather station on Mount Everest as part of the Everest Share 2011 research project with hopes that the images taken will provide a window into climate change.

You can view the Everest Share images here.

If you’re wondering what would happen to the camera if there’s an avalanche or a boulder falls on it, ABP Technology shows us that Mobotix IP cameras have a knack for surviving vandalism, lightning strikes, and missle attacks.
 

Best Mobile VoIP Apps

October 4, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

By using Wi-Fi to communicate on your phone you can save precious minutes on your calling plan and avoid additional fees. 

Using your smartphone, tablet, or desktop phone’s internet connection  is a great inexpensive or free way to take advantage of a second phone line. 

With improved latency, here are a few popular apps (for iPhone and Android) that make Wi-Fi calling practical:

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How to Waterproof a Dome IP Camera Installation

September 30, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

ACTi Dome IP Cameras have IP66 rated waterproof casings but, as ACTi points out, the cameras are only as waterproof as your installation.

Translation:  ACTi dome IP cameras can only guarantee weather imperviousness if both the camera and Ethernet cable are properly sealed off.

How to achieve watertight installation:

  • Employ waterproof junction box.
  • Use waterproof flex conduit to protect Ethernet cabling.
  • Mount flex conduit to camera using conduit gland / conduit fitting (not included with camera, sold separately).

ACTi dome IP cameras have a 3/4″ diameter side opening which you’ll need to know when purchasing the conduit gland/fitting.  The diameter of the conduit hose you want to use is up to you but it should obviously be wide enough to accomodate the head of the Ethernet cable.

Installation Guide

For more information on waterproofing your dome IP camera installation check out this article from ACTi, “Waterproof Installation of Dome Cameras,” that includes many helpful pictures and an explanation of how to deal with humidity during an install. 

Sangoma’s Planned New Gateway Appliances

September 22, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Known for their PC-based cards for enahancing IP voice and data, Sangoma is now adopting a cloud-based model to expand their offerings beyond their legacy business.

TMCnet’s Susan Campbell reports on Sangoma’s new direction unveiled at the recent ITExpo:

  • Cloud adoption is driving Sangoma reinvention.
  • In the next year Sangoma will be releasing media processing products, media gateway appliances, and more.
  • Customer requested External VoIP Gateway Appliances are now on the horizon.

Sangoma Purchases VegaStream

Aimed at billing themselves as “Not Just a Board Company Anymore” Sangoma purchesed VegaStream, a VoIP gateways manufacturer, to become a more comprehensive VoIP hardware provider:

For years, Sangoma has provided the industry’s leading portfolio of TDM to IP cards for use inside servers, and we will continue to dominate that space. However, external gateways which provide much of the same functionality but reside outside the server as their own appliance, are becoming increasingly popular, and we want to offer our customers both options. External gateways expand our addressable market, can be easily integrated into Virtualized and Cloud based solutions, and so we hope to capture additional opportunities in this space as well as in our traditional segment.

The all cash purchase of VegaStream is just the start to more growth, organic growth or acquisitions, by Sangoma in the coming year to complete their strategy of offering the choice of internal cards or external gateways for IP networking solutions.

Polycom SpectraLink Store Revamped and Recertified

September 15, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski


Looking for a wireless VoIP solution?  We’ve made it easier to find one.

Our Polycom SpectraLink store has been revamped and offers the latest:

SpectraLink phones are a wireless solution for industries needing a mobile workforce to maintain operational efficiency and better serve customers.

From entry level business grade to high-frequency usage, there’s a variety of SpectraLink handsets to choose from.  SpectraLink phone accessories keep your wireless phone charged and within reach to stay as mobile as you are.

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Group Webinar Solution With ClearOne Chat 160

September 9, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

A department  at an Australian college that runs small group webinars documented their use of the ClearOne Chat 160 USB Speakerphone.

The Workforce Development Unit at Sidney Institute, one of Australia’s largest education and training providers, uses Adobe Connect for their web conferencing series.

Looking for a simpler solution than wired or wireless microphones paired with amplified speakers, Stephan Ridgway of the Workforce Development Unit explains how he discovered and tested the ClearOne Chat 160 to acheive quality back-and-forth audio from both audience members and speakers:

“The unit connects to the computer via USB with plug and play operation so that no drivers are required. Working on both MAC and Windows, once connected the unit becomes the computers microphones and speakers.

By spreading the 2 pods apart on a table the unit can quite easily cover a conference room table ensuring reliable audio enabling participants to move around freely without being tethered with a headset. The unit also has built in mic gain and echo canceling so you avoid the feedback of the speaker audio into to microphones.”

So far Ridgway has had “excellent results.”  For an overview of his set-up and application, check out his video:

For another review, take a look at Michael Graves’ experience at:  ClearOne Chat 160 Earned Its Keep This Past Week.

Growing and Succeeding Are Not Always Going in the Same Direction

September 6, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

MO.com, the publication that explores what makes entrepreneur’s tick and their method of operating, has interviewed VoIP Supply’s founder and CEO Ben Sayers.

Mike Sullivan of MO.com takes a look into how Sayers has built VoIP Supply into North America’s  leading VoIP supplier including maintaining growth through the recent economic downturn.

As one of the Best Places to Work in Western New York, Sayers explains what makes VoIP Supply stand out, the unique model for customer service, and what the future holds for VoIP technology and the company as a whole.

Best Headsets for Microsoft Lync

September 2, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Q:  What’s the last piece of the puzzle after you’ve got Unified Communications coursing through your Microsoft Lync Server through optimized Microsoft Lync IP phones?

A:  A qualified Lync headset that provides the most power and the highest return on investment from your Lync usage.

Lync on the Go

Did you know that soldiers in the US Army rely on Lync for critical, instant communications?

“Instant communication is critical to soldiers on the front lines. In fact, soldiers rate instant messaging applications as the most important application they use. Adverse conditions, a wide variety of communications equipment, mobile personnel, and bandwidth constraints make communications difficult. Instant messaging helps the army overcome these challenges.”

When Volkswagen needed a bullet proof communications solution for it’s mobile workers, they also turned to Lync.  You can read and watch their experiences here; Taking Lync for a Test Drive.

What’s Your Style?

Whether you’re looking for Microsoft Lync Headsets with wired, wireless, DECT, or Bluetooth connectivity in headband, earhook, or over the head wearing styles; VoIP Supply has it.

All “Optimized for Microsoft Lync” and “Optimized for Microsoft Communicator” headsets support both Lync Server 2010 and Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

Not sure which VoIP headset goes with your VoIP phone? Download our headset compatibility guide.

Jabra UC Voice Headset Giveaway (This event has ended)

August 31, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

If you’re one of the first 500 participants of Jabra’s UC Voice Webcast on September 1, 2011 you can recieve a free Jabra Unified Communications headset.

Immediately following the UC Voice webcast, get to the Jabra UC voice headset giveaway link and register to win.  Jabra will match the registration list with the webcast participation list.  And that is it:

  • No trade-ins.
  • No shipping fees.
  • No lengthy terms and conditions.

Future of Business Communication

The webcast is a live opportunity to meet CEO Mogens Elsberg and learn about Jabra’s view for successfully adopting a UC solution:

“With the official launch of the Jabra UC VOICE™, Jabra is now taking the lead in all categories of hands-free communication for Unified Communications – learn how Jabra’s hands-free solutions help drive a successful adoption of UC and hear our vision for taking a leadership position in this market.”

For more information, check out our Jabra Headsets product page.

Unified Communications with Microsoft Lync Phones

August 30, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Even a short list of organizational benefits from Unified Communications (UC) is impressive:

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Integrated productivity tools
  • Cost-effective, secure communication from anywhere

An out of the box, collaborative solution from a single platform, it’s no wonder Unified Communications are coming of age in an economic downturn that forces efficiency and limits infrastructure investment.

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