MyVoIPnews

Vonage still working deals

DBL Distributing, Inc., a wholesale distributor of consumer electronics and related accessories, today announced a new distribution partnership with Vonage, which apparently still exists. Under terms of the agreement, DBL will deliver a full suite of Vonage-enabled devices. The agreement seeks to help “level the playing field among independent consumer electronics dealers as DBL delivers product opportunities typically associated with national ‘big box’ retailers.”

DBL will immediately begin marketing various Vonage-enabled VoIP solutions, products and accessories. Additionally, DBL promises a “dealer quick-start marketing kit” that includes visual merchandising signage, training materials and point-of-sale displays. DBL customers who participate in the program will earn an activation commission for each Vonage device sold resulting in a Vonage account activation.

The following Vonage-enabled products will be available through DBL:

● V-Tech IP 8100-1 Internet Telephone System, with 5.8GHz digital spread-spectrum technology;

● V-Tech IP 811 Handset, designed as an expansion handset for the V-Tech IP 8100-1 phone system which provides a “hands free” speakerphone, call transfer capability and intercom features;

● D-Link VTA Internet Phone Adapter;

● D-Link VWR Internet Phone Adapter with Wireless Router, which connects up to two Vonage lines through high-speed cable or DSL internet connection and includes a wireless router which allows connection up to four PCs directly; and

● the V-Phone, a portable USB 250MB flash drive.

DBL Distributing, Inc. is one of the nation’s top wholesale distributors of consumer electronics accessories and related products, with more than 32,000 retail customers nationwide. Headquartered in a 144,000 square foot facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., DBL carries more than 17,000 products from nearly 400 manufacturers.

Braaaaaaaaaaaaziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil…

UTZ Technologies, Inc. today announced that, effective May 27, the company has completed the acquisition of all the outstanding common stock of PhoneBrasil Inc. Telephonica VOIP Digital.

In connection with the acquisition, UTZ Technologies Inc. has changed its name to PhoneBrasil International Inc. and the board of directors appointed Anderson Alves Dias, Luis Cesar Busch, and Patricia Maris Mendes as directors. Also effective immediately Dennis Curtis will continue as a director and advisor to the new company and Anderson Alves Dias will become the new president and CEO.

PhoneBrasil Inc. is an American-based company specializing in hybrid VOIP solutions for the international market.

Oh, such a Deer(field)!

Deerfield Communications Inc., an international provider of VoIP solutions and 3CX, developer of the software-based Private Branch Exchange (PBX) for Windows, have announced a strategic distribution partnership that pairs 3CX’s PBX for Windows with Deerfield.com’s US electronic software distribution network.

3CX is an open standard, full-featured IP PBX server built to SIP standards. 3CX offers a fully featured free IP PBX that is supported via the 3CX forums. A product tour can be taken at the 3CX website.

3CX is a privately held company with a management team of network infrastructure software developers and salesmen.

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Gaylord, Mich., Deerfield.com is an international provider of web-based software and services designed for small- to medium-sized businesses and organizations.

1,000 for Which

Whichvoip.com has passed a landmark of sorts, announcing that over 1,000 consumers have now submitted VoIP reviews and VoIP ratings on their website The website enables VoIP users to post evaluations of their experiences with VoIP solutions, phone service and provider.

WhichVoip.com is based in Seattle, Wash. The company is composed of experts in the VoIP solutions and telecommunications fields.

News from Vonage today

Troubled telephone services provider Vonage Holdings Corporation will hold its shareholders meeting today.

Vonage, whose stock has fallen pretty much every week since its introduction onto the stock market back in May 2006 and has dropped a total of 78 percent of its value since the IPO. Some 34 percent of that total value has been shed since March 9, when a Virginia federal district court ruled that Vonage had thrice infringed on Verizon patents.

Vonage was at that time ordered to pay $58 million plus 5.5 percent in royalties on future sales. Vonage had been suing for $197 million and a 19 percent in royalties.

Last week, Vonagers reported losses lower than expected for the first quarter and reported revenue growth of 64 percent to $196 million.

A DialBridge to the 21st century

Arcosoft Inc., developer of VoIP call recording and what it dubs “productivity software,” today announced the release of VONaLink DialBridge. The DialBridge VoIP solution allows any VoIP service to be used from a standard phone line. Tested VoIP providers on the product include Vonage and Callcentric.

One feature touted in DialBridge is the capacity to perform callbacks so that instead of a long outgoing call from a cell phone, the call morphs into an incoming call in order to exploit unlimited incoming minutes of a cell phone plan.

DialBridge runs on Windows Vista, XP Pro, 2003, and 2000; it’s priced at $29. For an evulation download, check out the Vonalink homepage.

Founded in 1997, Arcosoft Inc. is the developer of VONaLink VoIP call recording software; the RunFAX fax server; TeamRecord for Windows or Linux; SoloRecord and ScreenPop for Windows and Mac OS X; and TeamOnCall for Windows.

VoIP from BT for PSP

Not exactly citing disappointing sales for the PlayStation Portable but implying them, British Telecommunications PLC last week announced that it is developing a software-based VoIP solutions package for the PSP which will allow users to make voice and, with an accessory camera added, video calls across a Wi-Fi network. BT PLC representatives also stated that the VoIP solution would later be augmented with capability to call PCs, land-line phones and cell phones.

BT plans on rolling out the service in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd. This particular VoIP solution may never actually hit the Western Hemisphere or Asia Pacific markets, though, primarily designed for European consumers.

As for sales of the PlayStation, Computer World online states that they have been “well below Sony's expectations. The company started the last fiscal year predicting it would ship 12 million of the units but cut the number by a quarter when it became clear that consumers were not buying the PSP at the levels anticipated by the company. At the close of the fiscal year in March Sony had shipped 8.4 million PSPs -- down significantly from the 14 million shipped in the prior year.”

Deutsche Telekom says “Ja” to “Jajah”

The big news on this Tuesday? How about Jajah’s new buddy Deutsche Telekom spotting the web-based calling company a few million bucks? That’s pretty big…

Jajah today announced the investment of T-Online Venture Fund. The fund is managed by T-Venture Holding GmbH, the corporate venture capital entity of Deutsche Telekom. The T-Online investment is part of a $20 million investment round, co-led by Intel Capital.

“The agreement is unprecedented,” said Jajah co-founder Roman Scharf, surely through a wide grin. “JAJAH is the first Voice 2.0 company to receive this level of industry validation and support. The long-term implications can't be understated.”

Deutsche Telekom, also known in the U.S. for its mobile arm, T-Mobile, is one of the worldwide giant telecommunication companies with over €61 billion (approximately $80 billion) in revenue reported for 2006.

Jajah recently announced it had rounded up over two million users from 55 countries in its first year of business. How? Company PR charmingly ascribed it to “providing innovative next-generation calling solutions, as well as ultra-low cost phone connections to the most called places on Earth.” No word on when a good interplanetary business VoIP solution may be forthcoming.

The T-Online Venture Fund was established in 2001 and is equipped with an investment volume of €100 million. It is managed by T-Venture, the venture capital entity of Deutsche Telekom, and its aim is to support the strategic business segment Broadband/Fixed Network of Deutsche Telekom in its objectives. Jajah was founded in 2005, and has offices in Mountain View, Calif., and in Luxembourg.

4100 reasons why

Mediatrix Telecom, dubbing itself the leader in the business, VoIP access devices and gateways specifically, has announced the release of the Mediatrix 4100 series line of VoIP access devices.

The 4100s promise the capability to connect 4, 8, 16, or 24 analog phones and/or faxes to a broadband modem or LAN based on a single platform. The Mediatrix 4100 Series is plugged as “the result of ten years of Mediatrix experience in the VoIP access device market.” In addition to the SNMPv3 complete interface, the Mediatrix 4100 series provides a web interface. The devices can also auto-provision by fetching their encrypted configuration from a TFTP or HTTP server.

Mediatrix Telecom develops and markets advanced VoIP solutions, access devices, gateways, routers, and value-added software enhancements for the enterprise, SOHO, and residential markets. Mediatrix is a wholly owned division of Media5 Corporation based in Montreal area, Canada. Mediatrix has corporate offices in the Sherbrooke area, in Canada and regional offices in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Lightening strikes with a loud VoX

VoX Communications Corp., provider of Voice over Internet Protocol services nationwide, announced today that Carnegie Stuyvesant LLC’s Lightening Broadband will private label and bundle VoX digital broadband phone services with their wireless broadband offerings.

Lightening Broadband specializes in offering wireless broadband services in rural America. Lightening will bundle its wireless broadband offering with digital voice service from VoX. The introductory price on the joint VoIP solution is $39.98 per month for the first quarter of service and $49.95 per month for continuous service.

VoX, a wholly owned subsidiary of eLEC Communications Corp., has announced plans to change its name to Pervasip Corp. at the next shareholders’ meeting.

(Now, as a businessVoIP solutions industry name connoisseur, My VoIP News sincerely hopes that second syllable has a long “A” sound and it is stressed, i.e. it’s “per-VAY-sip,” rather than “PERV-uh-sip.” Damn, these 21st-century names are tricky, eh?)