SIP for magicJack

January 9, 2012 by Garrett Smith

In earlier posts we looked at several ways for you to use SIP with your device of choice including 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.

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Guest Post: When To Choose DECT Over Wi-Fi?

January 6, 2012 by Nathan Miloszewski

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.

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

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.

SIP for magicJack

Guest Post: When To Choose DECT Over Wi-Fi?

Why choose DECT over Wi-Fi?

Making the Solution Work

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

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