Aastra releases Response Point to SIP standard firmware

June 8, 2010 by Garrett Smith

It looks like Response Point is officially kaput.

This morning Aastra telecom announced their first software to take your existing Aastra Response Point phones from their proprietary protocol (that only works with Microsoft Response Point systems) to an open SIP-Standards based platform. This will allow your Aastra RP Phones to communicate with any SIP based platforms such as Broadsoft and Asterisk.

The new firmware applies for all Aastra “RP” phones including the 6751i RP, 6753i RP, and 6757i CT RP models and is available for download here.

The only catch to the firmware process is that once you perform the upgrade to go from RP to SIP, you CANNOT go back to RP. So be very careful and ensure 100 percent that you are ready to go to SIP protocol. Once transitioned to the SIP Standards based protocol, the Aastra models will NOT function with Response Point and will now act and be treated like any other SIP based Aastra phone. This means that future firmware updates would be consistent with the regular line of SIP Aastra phones including the 6753i, 6755i, 6757i CT. These updates can be found on the individual product website on pages on http://mitel.ca/ .

In regards to the “Magic Blue Button” that all RP phones are suited with, the voice recognition will no longer function. After converting to the SIP standards software the Blue button will no function as the following:

6751i – Blue button will function as a Swap key
6753i – Blue button will function as a Line 3 key
6757i CT – Blue button will function as a Line 4 key
6757i CT Mobile handset – Blue button will function as a Re-dial key

This is smart move on Aastra’s part as it will give their current Response Point users the option to transition to an open SIP based solution without having to Ebay their current hardware. If you don’t already know, Microsoft Response Point has been EOL’ed by Microsoft and will be completely discontinued this August.

Maybe Aastra will release firmware to take the RP Base unit (RP-500) to theirAastra Pro Link 160 solution. That would be pretty nice; this way a solution that is falling by the wayside can be transitioned to a fully functional and supported solution by Aastra. These are only my feelings though at this moment and currently Aastra only supports the transition on RP Aastra Phones.

So what do you think, any Response Point users out there thinking about doing this transition? What are your reactions to this release? What are your plans for your current RP system? Was it that successful and is it still?

Video conferencing for everyone

June 7, 2010 by Garrett Smith

It use to be that video conferencing was only available to the largest of enterprises. Video conferencing systems cost too much and required too much bandwidth for the average user or small business to even think about deploying.

Thanks to market disruptors, falling bandwidth costs and increased demand a lot has changed in the last few years when it comes to video conferencing. Today video conferencing technology is available just about anyone who has a need for it.

And it’s taken on multiple different forms…

Personal Web Based Video Conferencing

At the bottom of the video conferencing food chain is personal web based video conferencing. Personal video conferencing is typically comprised of a simple web camera and corresponding video conferencing service that allows a user to conduct video calls with other participants utilizing the service.
Though personal web based video conferencing is often simple and very low cost, it’s still incredibly powerful and effective for users. Simply look at the number of folks leveraging Skype for video calling as proof.

Hardware Cost: $0 – $200 depending on the web camera used

Service Cost: $0 – $50/month depending on usage and provider

Desktop Video Conferencing

One rung up from personal web based video conferencing is desktop video conferencing. Desktop video conferencing is typically characterized by the use of a desktop video phone, multimedia phone or hardware system that is located, well, at one’s desk.

Desktop video conferencing systems are designed for more robust use and costs more than web based video conferencing, but provides a more personalized experience than a room based video conferencing system.

Most desktop video conferencing system allow for high definition video streams, multi-party conferencing and basic content sharing.

Hardware Cost: $250 – $5,000 depending on device

Service Cost: $50 – $5,000+ depending on usage and number of users

Room Based Video Conferencing

Room based video conferencing is what most people think of when they hear the term video conferencing. Room-based systems are housed in a conference room, sometimes dedicated only to video conferencing.

Generally these systems are used for multi-point video conferencing between office locations or partners/customers.

Room based video conferencing systems usually come with state-of-the art room designs, high definition video/audio, large display screens and collaboration software. They also require a large amount of bandwidth and can get quite expensive.

Hardware Cost: $2,500 – $500,000 per room depending on need

Service Cost: Varies based on usage

Telepresence

At the top of the video conferencing food chain is telepresence. Telepresence is best thought of as video conferencing on steriods.

The concept behind telepresence is that users actually “feel” like they are in the same room, even though they are not. This feeling is accomplished through the use of advanced video and audio technologies that come very very close to recreating the “in-person” effect.

Telepresence is still a relatively new form of video conferencing and as such is not widely available to the average user, due to the costs associated. As such a number of companies have sprung up to offer telepresence rooms that companies can rent on a hourly basis to conduct telepresence sessions.

Hardware and Service Cost: It’ll make your CFO cry…or smack you upside the head for asking.

Summary

Video conferencing has come along way and as you can see there are a number of different ways to start leveraging video to improve productivity and decrease costs. For more information about video conferencing and affordable solutions for the average business, check out the video conferencing section on VoIPSupply.com.

The Phoenix Audio Quattro2 Finds a Home at Top Universities

by Arthur Miller

If you’ve been in any sort of sales or marketing role long enough you know the age old adage that you don’t sell a product, you sell a solution.

There are many reasons for this of course, but the primary reason is that one might think a product only does “X” when it really does “Y and Z” as well.

One such product is the Phoenix Audio Quattro2. At first glance the Phoenix Audio Quattro2 looks like a USB speakerphone for use with services like Skype or a softphone client.

And the Phoenix Audio Quattro2 performs well for applications such as this. But the Quattro2 is finding a home in school districts, colleges and universities across the US for a number of uses.

One example is the Quattro2 MT-301 being utilized for a video conferencing network consisting of scientists from Penn State, Southern University & AM College, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Purdue University which are all members of a solar energy research center. In this scenario the universities are utilizing the MT-301 as the default microphone and speaker for the video conferencing system that they are using.

The MT-301 is connected to the local system via USB and within seconds the MT-301 is up and running – no drivers needed! This is important to note because if you’ve ever dabbled with a video conferencing system, you know that there is nothing plug-and-play about them.

According to Chet Swalina, a research associate at Penn State Department of Chemistry, “The Quattro2 was easy to install and so far they have performed well in smaller conference rooms with handfuls of people.”

Thanks to five on-board echo cancellers, the Quattro2 is also finding a home in schools who need to cover a large area with high performance two way audio. One school which asked to remain nameless, is using the Quattro2 MT-304 to cascade multiple “pods.” The largest of these deployment’s is a chain of 13 units in one single classroom!

Due to the value, performance and versatility of the Phoenix Audio Quattro 2 many schools, colleges and universities are putting these solutions on their bid lists. With the educational buy season just around the corner, if you service these types of accounts, you take a look at the Phoenix Audio line.

Open Source PBX Requirements

June 2, 2010 by Garrett Smith

In my last post we covered the many options that are available for open-source telephony software. But open source telephony software isn’t all you need to consider.

You also need to take a look at the hardware you’ll be using with your open source PBX. And there are many factors that go into determining what type of hardware is needed in a VoIP application…
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From Analog to IP Paging

June 1, 2010 by Darren Hartman

As one of the senior sales representatives at VoIP Supply I field numerous calls each day from folks like you who are looking to migrate to a VoIP phone system. It is such an exciting time to be in this industry and to have the opportunity to help businesses understand all of the savings and benefits they can achieve by installing a VoIP phone system.

From your start-up operation out of a small office on a tight budget to your Fortune 500, it seems like just about everyone is now making the switch. But no matter the size and scope of the deployment, most businesses that I speak with fail to consider how some of their other communications systems are impacted by making the switch to VoIP.

That’s why once we dive into setting up a VoIP phone system solution the conversation always goes into other technology solutions too.

One of the other communications systems I always inquire about is paging…and the conversation usually start with a talk about what is already installed at the premise.

Normally businesses will not even think about what they are going to do with that analog paging system that has been there for so long. Others still have not even considered the benefits that paging can bring to their operation.

Most of the time their first response to questions about paging is pose is silence 😉

For most, the thought of ripping all of the wire, speakers and amplifiers that come with their existing system can seem quite daunting. For others, the thought of spending additional money can be met with objections.

Whether you have an existing paging system or you’ve just been asked to consider an IP paging system to go with your new VoIP System, you shouldn’t fret.

Today there are numerous solutions available from the likes of company like CyberData which make IP paging simple and very beneficial. From paging gateways to IP enable analog paging systems to full blown IP based speakers and amplifiers, paging has come a long way the last few years.

Regardless of your situation, just take a look at the benefits of IP paging for your business:

shared network infrastructure
lower installation and implementation costs
seamless integration into existing networks including legacy analog wiring
simple installation and configuration
scalable to intercoms and paging stations — locally, regionally or globally
remote control and simple end-point expansion in intercom systems
software based zone management in paging systems

Now obviously there are others and you should never make a decision about a communications system based off a single blog post. But you should be able to get a better idea of why IP paging is something you should be considering if you’re not already.

Connecting a VoIP System to the PSTN

May 25, 2010 by Brian Hyrek

The PSTN still (believe it or not) has its place in today’s telecommunications world.

With communications being the “beating heart” of your business, you certainly cannot afford to be without the ability to send and receive valuable phone calls. It is possible, with VoIP, that your network crashes or Internet connectivity can be lost. Meaning, of course, the your ability to send or receive calls, emergency included, is stripped.

That’s the problem and I herein present you with the solution: an FXO VoIP Gateway!

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Selecting a Phone for use with Skype

by Garrett Smith

Last week we took a look at how to select a headset for use with Skype.

In that post we went through the basic options available to Skype users and how to go about ensuring that you select the right headset for your needs.

Now we’re going to take a closer look at selecting a phone for use with Skype

Types of Skype Phones

As Skype has continued to grow in popularity, equipment manufacturers have rushed to release a variety of phones designed to meet the different needs of Skype users.

Today one will find four different types of phones for use with Skype:

USB – USB phones are the primary type of phones that most consider when using Skype. These USB phones connect directly into your PC or Laptop and come in standard versions as well as speakerphone versions.
Desktop – Desktop Skype phones perform similar functions to USB phones, but they do not require you to connect to your PC or Laptop. Desktop Skype phones plug directly into your network via Ethernet and have soft-buttons to control the various Skype functions.
Conference – Skype conference phones are more like speakerphones than full blown room conferencing solutions, but they do the trick if you are looking to do a lot of small group meetings.
Wireless – Wireless Skype phones are, as the name suggests, 802.11 b/g phones that provide Skype users with a mobility solution. Wireless Skype phones are excellent for use in small home environments and for those who spend a lot of “talking time” in cafe’s or hotspots.
Video – Skype Video phones are the latest phone type to hit the market. Skype video phones allow you to take advantage of Skype’s voice and video capabilities and can be found in USB, Ethernet and Wireless versions.

Selecting a Skype phone

Now that you have a general idea of the different options when it comes to Skype phones the next things to do is narrow down the choice based on need and preference. This can be done in three easy steps:

Step One – Where will you be using Skype? The easiest way to start the search for a Skype phone is to first define where you will be using Skype. For example if you normally use Skype at your PC or Laptop, a simple USB Skype phone might be a perfect fit. Or alternatively if you’re constantly on the road, you might want to look into a Wireless Skype phone that can be used anywhere a wireless internet connection is available.
Step Two – What Skype features and functions are needed? Everyone uses Skype differently and not every Skype phone supports all Skype features. To avoid purchasing a Skype phone that does not support some of the features and or functions you may wish to access via the phone, write down some of your “must haves” and then compare those with the supported Skype features and functions of the phone.
Step Three – What is your budget? The last step is determine what you are willing to shell out to buy a Skype phone. Skype phones range in price, from under $50 USD to over $300 USD. You should expect to pay more for Skype phones with more functionality, so if you have a laundry list of needs from Step Two be prepared to pay more.

Yealink IP Phone Test Packages

by Garrett Smith

yealink
When it comes to evaluating which equipment you should be using with your VoIP system or service nothing beats hand-on testing.

Sure you can do your research online. You can chat with other companies and professionals to what they are doing.

But in the end nothing beats putting a piece of equipment through it’s paces in a testing or live environment.

Yealink IP Phone Test Packs

You may have heard that VoIP Supply recently brought on the Yealink line of IP phones.

Throughout our lab and live internal testing (using our call center), the Yealink IP phones performed exceptionally well. (That’s why we brought them on.)

However you may have never heard of Yealink AND you might be a little skeptical that a new market entrant has a polished product that is ready for the demands of your environment.

That’s why VoIP Supply has put together two Yealink IP Phone test packs.

These test packs give you a low cost way to test the various Yealink models to see if they are a fit for your offering or organization.

Yealink Voice Bundle

The Yealink Voice Bundle combines three of the most popular Yealink IP phones into one single test pack. The kit includes one T22PEX and OEM power supply, one T22P and one T28P. Each of these SIP based phones can be powered by either PoE or AC, support HD voice and are interoperable with most SIP based VoIP systems and services.

For more information, visit the Yealink Voice Bundle page.

Yealink Voice and Video Bundle

For those of you who are interested in exploring video conferencing or just want to see what else Yealink has to offer, we’ve created the Yealink Voice and Video Bundle. Like the Yealink Voice Bundle, the Voice and Video bundle contains one T22PEX and OEM power supply, one T22P, one T28P, as well as the Yealink VP-2009P video phone. Each of these SIP based phones can be powered by either PoE or AC, support HD voice and are interoperable with most SIP based VoIP systems and services.

My Favorite Business VoIP Phones

May 20, 2010 by Garrett Smith

I remember when I first walked through the doors of VoIP Supply.

The industry was in its infancy and VoIP phone choices were made for you rather than having to decide on what you wanted due to the limited number of manufacturers and offerings at that time.

Today, the market is very different.You have the “pick of the litter” with so many choices ranging from Polycom, Cisco (Linksys), Aastra, Snom, Grandstream, Yealink, Siemens (told you there were a lot out there) you really have to think what functions and features you need when settling on the phone of your choice.

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Selecting a Headset for Skype

May 19, 2010 by Garrett Smith

Four Easy Steps to Selecting a Skype Headset

Most folks who are utilizing a VoIP service these days don’t realize the importance having the right equipment plays in a quality calling experience.

This is especially true for Skype.

If you’re not yet familiar with Skype, it’s a free piece of software that allows you to make voice and video calls (alongside IM, conferencing and content sharing). Today it is the most widely used VoIP service in the world, with over 1 billion downloads and 5 million active users at any given time.

Now just because Skype is free to download, use and offers low cost international calling options doesn’t mean that it is a low quality service. Skype is actually a very capable service that even overs high definition calling with its SILK codec.

But in order to take advantage of Skype’s audio quality and utilize Skype’s SILK codec for high definition calling, you need to make sure you have the right equipment. That’s why selecting the right hardware for Skype is important.

Today there are number of devices for use with Skype. From headsets to web cameras to desktop IP phones, there is a piece of Skype hardware for everyone.

For now lets focus on Skype headsets and how to go about selecting the right one!
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