VoIP Insider

VoIP Supply has added the new Sangoma Vega Gateways to increase connectivity options for your VoIP application. 

Sangoma is “not just a board company anymore.”  Realizing the popularity of gateway appliances and the need for different but equal solutions for varied VoIP application scenarios, the Sangoma Vega Gateway line was launched to provide greater flexibility for VoIP integrators. 

Sangoma Vega Gateways provide interconnectivity between the co-existing traditional, analog voice networks and VoIP networks.  Reducing customer’s outlay and preserving ROI on your existing infrastructure, Vega gateways are offered in three highly flexible configurations:

• Vega 50:  For low density analog or BRI connectivity.
• Vega 5000:  For high density analog connectivity up to 50 FXS ports.
• Vega 400:  For high density digital interfaces with multiple T1s or E1s.

“Sangoma is already a leader in providing VoIP connectivity solutions,” said Garrett Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at VoIP Supply.  “Customers now have even more trusted options in the new Vega Gateway line-up that provides great flexibility and cost savings for connecting VoIP service provider access.”

For more information about Sangoma Vega Gateways give us a call toll-free 1-800-398-8647 or check out the Sangoma Vega Gateways product page.

In earlier posts we looked at several ways for you to use SIP with your device of choice inlcuding SIP softphones, SIP for Apple, and SIP for Android.

Wrapping up this series we can’t leave out the “As Seen on TV” juggernaut, magicJack.

A lot of you have heard of magicJack, a phone system that promises free local and long-distance calling in addition to free call waiting, free voicemail, free caller ID – basically, the whole works.

It sounds like a great offer, and certainly the type of offer a startup business would like to use to reduce overhead as much as possible.

But we live in a digital age, and the Internet makes phone calling via computer a top-flight convenience for businesses of any type. It’s hard to weigh which phone system to use.

The good news is that magicJack uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which means you can use the Magic Jack service with a standard VoIP product. Given how cheap Magic Jack is to use – and how easy it is to use SIP and VoIP technology in today’s world – there should be no excuse for any startup to spend a lot of money on expensive phone systems.

Read more

Note:  This is a guest post by James Kander, North American Sales Manager for Polycom KIRK, and the 1st installment in a three part series.

Polycom has two great wireless VoIP solutions to increase mobility in your workplace; the Polyom KIRK (DECT) line and the Polycom SpectraLink (Wi-Fi) option.  Both scenarios employ wirless handsets that will:

• Eliminate paging delays and improve operations.
• Enable faster responses to problems and emergencies.
• Improve employee mobility, responsiveness and productivity.

What’s the best way for users to distinguish the true differences between DECT and Wi-Fi?  With that question in mind we decided to ask the authority themselves, Polycom.  Jim Kander, the North American Sales Manager for the Polycom KIRK line, gladly agreed to clear up the confusion.  Below is his response.

Why choose DECT over Wi-Fi?

VoIP Supply:  Jim, for our readers, can you paint a scenario of when DECT would be a great solution? Specifically, when would you choose DECT over WiFI?

James Kander, Polycom:  DECT is ideal for customers looking for a cost effective wireless solution that is interference free. The DECT standard operates on a dedicated 1.9GHz frequency band with built-in dynamic channel selection and allocation to ensure that the best channel is used during a call.

It also ensures handover between base stations are handled quickly and efficiently. In addition, KIRK handsets and infrastructure elements are backed by a strong engineering DECT expertise allowing for the highest overall voice quality in the product. DECT is well positioned for those customers wanting to have a dedicated voice network. Our DECT base stations can be flexibly deployed via the LAN network or directly wired to the server.

The DECT standard also allows for lower power consumption thereby allowing handsets to have standby battery life of up to 200 hours and 24 hours of talk time. The KIRK DECT solution has specialized handsets for various verticals such as healthcare, manufacturing, office and retail.

The solution enables third party application integration developers to deliver even greater productivity for mobile workers through open APIs. Finally, the DECT solution integrates directly with Microsoft Lync.

Making the Solution Work

We hope this gets you started on deciding what’s best for your application, DECT or Wi-Fi.  This is only the first installment of a three part Q & A series with Kander.  Coming up next are the prerequisites needed to make the solution work and best practices for installation.

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.

Read more

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:

Read more

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.

Read more