Source: www.voip-news.com

What could a company want with a memory stick that turns any PC into a VoIP phone? What could they want with it so much that they would spend $6.5 billion to get it? Interesting stuff. Read about it here.

Faxing over IP stinks, says the VoIP Weblog. Does it really?

Apparently Vonage refused to comment about reliability in a recent news story. Odd. Read about it here.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

MINNEAPOLIS, DECEMBER 18, 2007 – A major challenge in sending faxes directly to the desktop is designing a fax server to understand the various phone systems’ (i.e., PBXs) codes for where to send the fax. PBXs vary in the way those codes (i.e., DTMF digits) are presented, and it is up to the fax server to adapt to them. Multi-Tech® Systems, Inc., a leading data communications and telecommunications technology company based in suburban Minneapolis produces a line of FaxFinder® fax servers that, so far, have been interfaced to over 40 PBX models.

To operate, the Multi-Tech FaxFinder is connected to a PBX via a standard analog port and to the company’s Local Area Network (LAN) by a built-in 10/100BaseT Ethernet® interface. The call comes in as a DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number and the PBX converts the number to DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) tones, which define the destination location or extension on the network. The PBX then sends the DTMF signals along with the actual fax data to the FaxFinder. The FaxFinder translates the DTMF digits into an email address and converts the fax into a PDF or TIFF file. The file and email address are then sent to an email server for delivery to the correct desktop. That final location can be anywhere in the world that has an email address. The Multi-Tech FaxFinder is a very easy and straightforward method of implementing unified fax and email communications.

"This solution does not require expensive new equipment or extensive upgrading of your existing infrastructure," states Mike Kydd, Vice President of Sales for Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. "It only requires that your PBX be able to transmit DTMF signals and fax data through an analog port to a FaxFinder fax server, and that the FaxFinder be able to interpret the DTMF signals properly. To find out if your PBX can work with the FaxFinder please contact us and we will let you know if you to can unify your fax and email communications as easily as adding a Multi-Tech fax server."

The FaxFinder fax server is a turnkey solution that connects to an analog port(s) of a PBX capable of DID-to-DTMF conversion. It converts faxes to PDF or TIFF files allowing received faxes to be emailed and to send faxes from any application that can print. Available in one-, two-, four- and eight-port models (FF120, FF220, FF420 and FF820 respectively), it includes a Web server interface for configuration and management, and synchronizes addresses with Microsoft® Outlook® email. The FaxFinder fax server can schedule delivery times and build faxes from multiple documents using multiple applications.

Multi-Tech Systems is an ISO 9001:2000 certified global manufacturer of telephony, Internet and device networking products connecting voice and data over IP networks. Multi-Tech Systems has 75 U.S. patents and numerous international patents. Contact Multi-Tech in the U.S. at 800/328-9717 or +763/785-3500, via fax at +763/785-9874, EMEA at T: +(44) 118 959 7774 (UK) or T: +(33) 1 49 19 22 06 (France), or via fax at F: +(44) 118 959 7775 (UK) or F: +(33) 1 49 19 21 00 (France) or at http://www.multitech.com.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Another open source Asterisk based has come to bloom at 1bizcom. The open source software based 1bizCom is next generation web-based, multi-tenant, distributed, mulit-lingual, inbound, outbound Video enabled VoIP & VVoIP call/ contact center solution for Asterisk with Built-in phone, IVR, CRM, Predictive dialer, ACD, Chat, Mail, Fax, Video and other features.
The system runs on Windows IIs web server and the MySQL data base could reside on a Linux server if preferred. The system is in beta and the current version seems to be 0.8.0.0b1 and the application package is known as 1bC.
According to the 1bizcom site;

1BizCom has all the salient features which goes beyond with new creations like efficient call handling, Automatic Call Routing (ACD), Voice Logging/Recording, Authentication, Conferencing, Data base screen pops, Answering machine detection with detailed statistics and reporting for reduced response time, improved customer experience and quality management of the operations. 1BizCom is a highly scalable Call Center Solution supporting three-dimensional scalability, which will enable client to scale up and optimize the operations as per changing requirements with vendor independence. 1Bizcom helps users to take care of the entire value chain and continuously work on processes & help to generate value at peak places.
Exclusive Features

Automatic Call Distribution (ACD)
Call handling features
Call connection notification on the screen
Call transfer, Call Conferencing, 3rd party verifications
Voice Logging, Monitoring
Call Detail Record (CDR) and Reporting
Web based solution
Maintaining call history

I have not tested the application, due to the fact that builds were pulled off by the developer. The developer left the following message on the Sourceforge Forum;
"Thanks for outstanding support that has been landed to 1bizcom since its lauch few days back…Unfortunately, due to some critical issues, I have to pull the builds…But, please note that we are highly motivated by the initial community support landed and we are firm to provide you a very strong collaborative open source platform.
Please, give us some time and we will get you an improved version of the software very soon. "

But if you are handy with subversion, it is possible to grab the application and the code. See the links bellow. But I will watch out as the developer might have had a good reason to pull out the build.

I have gone through the demo provided on the side and I feel that his Asterisk add on has clear long path ahead.

Links;
1bizcom site
Sourceforge project
1bizcom SVN at Sourceforge

Source: voipcentral.org

Sagem Interstar’s XMediusFAX T.38 Fax over IP fax server software is improving E-mail faxing and IP fax broadcasting system with Cisco VoIP and combined messaging installment for users.

Sagem Interstar Corporation, the global leader in boardless IP fax is going to show its Cisco Compatible XMediusFAX fax server software at the Cisco Networkers 2006 at Montreal, Canada. This is the good opportunity for Cisco system engineers, partners and users to learn the Cisco technologies.

The European mobile and broadband communication leader, Sagem Communication acquired Sagem Interstar Corporation in May 2006, formerly known as Interstar Technologies. Sagem Communication is a leader in the global fax industry dominating the fax terminal market.

As a Cisco Technology Developer Partner, Sagem Interstar, is also showing its pioneer software-based, XMediusFAX T.38 FoIP server software at Cisco Networkers 2006. XMediusFAX will provide desktop faxing software to users.

According to General Manager of Sagem Interstar Corporation Martin Demers, since Interstar Technologies is already a leading vendor of FoIP fax server in the world. He told that the new Sagem Interstar would play major role in fax server market.

Via: telephony