Xorcom Clarifies TwinStar Resiliency Capabilities

January 4, 2012 by Nathan Miloszewski

With Digium’s help in a previous post I outlined how the new Digium R-Series failover appliances stack up against leading competitors solutions, including Xorcom.

If you’ve been comparing hardware, are in the market for a resiliency solution, and in need of how-to resources for maintaining Asterisk based communications in the event of a hardware or software failure; you are now in luck.

Xorcom has taken has taken the time to offer a point-by-point comparison of their software and devices in an article of their own.

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Digium R-Series Redundancy vs. Xorcom and RedFone

December 23, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Got resiliency?

The newly released Digium R-Series redundancy appliances enable your network to recover from hardware or software failures and maintain communication with the outside world.

Digium failover appliances work with their open source telephony platform Asterisk to ensure that you have an open line of communication even in demanding enviroments.

There are two models in the R-Series. They work on Asterisk based open sourced PBX’s but do not work on Switchvox. Both models are 1U rack mount devices:

Digium R800: Supports up to eight analog (POTS) circuits.
Digium R850: Handles up to eight digital (T1, E1, PRI or BRI) spans.

What’s The Difference?

So even in the event of a catastrophic failure, your communications system will stay up and running with the Digium R-Series. That sounds great but, what makes these appliances different from other redundant systems that work with Asterisk?

With the help of Digium engineer Pete Engler, here’s how the R-Series stacks up agains other popular appliances from Xorcom and RedFone.

Digium vs. Xorcom

The combination of Xorcom Astribank (HW Channel Bank) and Xorcom TwinStar (Software for redundancy) is a similar application to the Digium R-Series. Below are the main differences between using the R-Series and Xorcom for redundancy:

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SIP for Android

December 22, 2011 by Garrett Smith

Utilizing new phone technology can be great for both business and personal use. People who embrace VoIP and SIP technology see new capabilities, new conveniences, and a lot of money saved.

New enhanced options of using a computer-based phone can, in fact, be downright exciting. But what if you used SIP over a mobile phone? How much would that impact your life – and how easy would it make your newfound dedication to VoIP?

Well, it’s not only possible, but it’s already going on for the Droid. SIPDroid allows you to sync up your Google Voice VoIP phone system with the Droid, making your VoIP strategies easy to use – and available in your pocket. So let’s explore these capabilities and reflect on how it might change the life of anyone who knows about SIPDroid.

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Switchvox Tech Tip – VoIP Faxing

December 21, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

If you’re looking for technical help on how to fax with Switchvox, the helpful engineers at Digium have put together a primer to get you on your way.

Incoming Faxes

With the fax software installed, you can enter a default fax extension for each channel group or SIP provider so when faxes are received, they are routed to this extension.
You can set up an incoming call route so that one extension can handle both voice calls and faxes.
You can set up an incoming call route so that all activity on an extension is treated as a fax and sent to the same extension. This is useful if you want a dedicated incoming fax extension.

Outgoing Faxes

With the fax software installed, if you want to use a fax machine, you can dedicate its extension to just sending faxes.
In the User Suite under Fax Options, there is a setting that can be enabled to treat all outgoing calls as faxes.
If this is set to YES, Switchvox handles all outgoing activity as a fax. It receives a fax-file, puts it in the Fax Outbox folder in that extension’s mailbox, and sends the fax.
If this is set to NO, this indicates that this extension may make voice calls and send faxes.

Summary

By treating incoming and outgoing calls as faxes, Switchvox immediately processes the call as a fax instead of waiting to detect fax tones before processing the call as a fax.

Fax License

There is one free fax license reserved for every Switchvox registration code. This can be accessed in the Admin Suite via the Digium Addon Products link.

You must have your 16-digit registration code to access the fax license.

VoIP Supply Triples Holiday Season Donations to Buffalo City Mission

December 19, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Helping the Buffalo City Mission fill emply plates this holiday season, VoIP Supply donated 3,000 dinners, and called on local competitors to do the same.

Just a few weeks ago VoIP Supply made a 1,000 Thanksgiving dinner donation and now with Christmas rapidly approaching, an additional 2,000 dinners were gifted to the Buffalo City Mission to feed needy families.

Benjamin Sayers, CEO and owner of VoIP Supply, is personally splitting this donation with the company:

“We just can’t bear the thought of thousands of families not being able to enjoy a holiday meal,” said Sayers. “Because VoIP Supply is thriving, we feel an obligation to give back to our community. We are sure that other Buffalo area companies feel the same, and urge them to match or exceed our commitment this year.”

Stuart Harper, Executive Director of Buffalo City mission, comments on how the effects of the recent economy are encompassing a brand new swath of people who are struggling or worse, homeless:

“Everywhere we turn, we’re seeing how the economy is having a dramatic impact on the number of individuals who need our help,” said Harper. “With 58% of the homeless population experiencing homelessness for the first time, the generosity of VoIP Supply is a true blessing. For their donation has helped provide 3,000 meals during this holiday season for those of whom we serve.”

Make A Donation!

Help the Buffalo City Mission fill empty plates during this holiday season. To make a donation, please visit: https://www.buffalocitymission.org/.

Volunteer!

The Volunteer Department at the Buffalo City Mission is now accepting volunteers to generously assist with their Christmas Hambone Express.

There are several ways that you can either help prepare and/or deliver meals to needy folks on Christmas Day, Sunday, Dember 25, 2011 between 8am and 2pm.

SIP for Apple

December 15, 2011 by Garrett Smith

SIP for Apple Using today’s technology for communication has now gone beyond email and instant messaging. Total integration – for both the office and the home – is possible for communication on a single source: the computer.

Of course, not all of us use the same types of computers, which can make things a little complicated for the SIP-uninitiated, to say the least. But using Session Initiation Protocol technology as part of a VoIP service will be worth the setup – especially considering just how easy SIP can be to set up.

Let’s focus on the world of Apple computer lovers today and recommend a few ways that you can set up SIP for Apple.

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TMCnet Reviews VoIP Supply’s 2011 Highlights

December 13, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

With VoIP technology poised to be one of the most dynamic industries in the next five years, VoIP Supply itself certainly had a busy year. Helping us wrap up the year before the holidays, TMCnet’s Carrie Schmelkin higlighted some of thebest of 2011 for VoIP Supply:

The company purchased and moved in to a new 20,000 square foot headquarters.
Named 2010 Vendor Supplier of the Year by TMC
Nominated for Best Places to Work in WNY for the fourth time.
Named to the list of Western New York’s Top CEO’s / Top Private Companies for the seventh straight year.

VoIP Supply also expanded its services, added the new VoP Fulfillment division, added new product lines, improved customer experience, and hired a handful of new employees.

Click here to read the full article.

Shoestring Venture Features VoIP Supply’s Cloud Solution

December 9, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

Shoestring Venture, the startup bible blog, recently featured VoIP Supply on their site. Including a synopsis of our hosted, cloud based VoIP solutions and other services that are great for small businesses or entrepreneurs just getting started, VoIP Supply was asked to answer questions about how we can best help customers and where the company is heading.

First Look: Panasonic SIP Phones

December 7, 2011 by Christina Smith

Did you know that Panasonic makes SIP Phones? Me neither, until I received a pack of four to demo in our lab at VoIP Supply. If you have been using Grandstream, Yealink, Aastra, or Polycom, you owe yourself a peek at the Panasonic SIP Phone Lineup.

What Makes Panasonic the Same

Just like the others out there, Panasonic offers all the great features you have come to expect in a decent SIP Phone:

PoE
Dual 10/100 Ethernet Ports
HD Voice
Full Duplex Speakerphone
Call Waiting
BLF
Three-Way Conference
Integration with other IP-Enabled devices such as intercoms, cameras, and door phones.

The Deskphone Linecard currently has four models available ranging from entry level to management-type. The Panasonic SIP lineup even includes a DECT phone. The Panasonic KX-TGP550 is a deskphone/DECT Phone hybrid.

Similar to the Aastra CT models, the TGP550 includes a Wired deskphone with a KX-TPA50 DECT handset. The DECT system will support up to three simultaneous calls and up to eight DID’s.

Panasonic SIP Phones Features

Main features of Panasonic SIP phones include:

2 x 10/100 Ethernet Ports (All models except KX-UT113B Deskphone and KX-TPA50 Dect handset)
PoE Enabled, order power supply separately
HD Voice Equipped
Bright Backlit LCD (All except KX-UT113B)
Support for G.711, G.722, G.726, and G.729a codecs
KX-UT136B and KX-UT133B support Plantronics EHS for wireless headsets
2.5mm Headset Port
Asterisk/open-source, Broadsoft, and Broadworks certified

What Makes Panasonic Different

You will not find a Panasonic deskphone that comes in different colors or that offers a colored LCD display – YET. The five models of Panasonic desk phones all have the basic and enhanced features you would expect from a high quality SIP Phones but not the luxury features. They are all business.

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New Polycom CX7000 & Microsoft Lync Solution – Live Webinar 12/6

December 5, 2011 by Nathan Miloszewski

On Tuesday, December 6th Polycom will co-host a live webinar with Microsoft to show how new Polycom solutions combined with Microsoft Lync create powerful unified communications (UC) systems.

Polycom plus Microsoft Lync create an interoperable environment enabling users to:

Quickly find each other with IM/presence and web conferencing.
Launch video and voice calls easily and intuitively within Microsoft Lync.
Share content via Microsoft Lync to Polycom HD video systems.

Explaining the value of this solution and answer questions, this webinar will feature Microsoft and Polycom executives and a customer speaker. Webinar starts December 6th at 11 am EST. Follow this link for event registration:

Learn How Your Business Can Be More Productive & Effective with NEW Polycom® UC Solutions for Microsoft® Lync

Also to be discussed is the new Polycom CX7000, the first video collaboration solution to be qualified by Microsoft as “optimized for Microsoft Lync.”

Related Articles:

Xorcom Clarifies TwinStar Resiliency Capabilities

Digium R-Series Redundancy vs. Xorcom and RedFone

What’s The Difference?

Digium vs. Xorcom

SIP for Android

Switchvox Tech Tip – VoIP Faxing

Incoming Faxes

Outgoing Faxes

Summary

Fax License

VoIP Supply Triples Holiday Season Donations to Buffalo City Mission

Make A Donation!

Volunteer!

SIP for Apple

TMCnet Reviews VoIP Supply’s 2011 Highlights

Shoestring Venture Features VoIP Supply’s Cloud Solution

First Look: Panasonic SIP Phones

What Makes Panasonic the Same

Panasonic SIP Phones Features

What Makes Panasonic Different

New Polycom CX7000 & Microsoft Lync Solution – Live Webinar 12/6

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