My friends at Aastra have done it again. You and I best know Aastra for providing high-end telephones with the Microsoft Response Point product. But Aastra is a much bigger story than that and is a bona fide leader in the telephony space. Today is has announced a new touch-screen telephone set – I provide the details here.

cheers…harrybbbbb

Aastra Unveils High End Touch Screen Phone

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aastra, a leading company at the forefront of the enterprise communication market, resets the standard for premium IP phones with the launch of the Aastra 6739i, its most advanced desk phone to date. The company unveiled the new color touch screen phone today to hundreds of telecom resellers and service providers at the BroadSoft Connections executive conference.

In an increasingly competitive business climate, executives need access to the highest quality communication technology available to facilitate personal communications and collaboration. The feature-packed Aastra 6739i is a market-leading touch screen business desk phone, delivering high quality enterprise communications with advanced features, such as Bluetooth and dual Gigabit Ethernet.

The Aastra 6739i offers an exceptional user experience with its large, high quality color touch screen combined with an intuitive interface and navigation menus. For unrivalled voice clarity, the Aastra 6739i brings high definition sound with Aastra Hi-Q™ audio technology combined with full wideband handset and speakerphone hardware.

Extending Aastra’s commitment to interoperability, the 6739i is part of Aastra’s 67xi SIP desk phone series. These are designed to integrate and deploy easily with Aastra’s own IP systems as well as all leading SIP compatible IP call managers, making them appeal to a wide range of SMB and enterprise customers.

“Business communications needs have evolved, and executives are demanding the best features and usability without having to make a huge up-front investment. The Aastra 6739i offers high definition audio quality and a full range of functions to a market that is continuing to demand best-in-class technology at a competitive price,” said Simon Beebe, Vice President of Product Management, responsible for SIP phones at Aastra.

The Aastra 6739i features:

• Large 5.7inch full VGA (640×480) color touch screen display
• Intuitive graphical user interface and navigation menus
• Integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports
• Bluetooth headset support
• USB port and expansion modules support
• Aastra Hi-Q™ audio technology
• Full wideband frequency response hardware: handset, headset port and speakerphone
• Additional headset connection options: modular RJ jack, built-in EHS/DHSG port
• Up to nine lines call appearances with multi-proxy support
• Up to 55 programmable softkeys
• XML support for productivity-enhancing applications

The Aastra 6739i can be pre-ordered now for shipping before year end. For more information on this new product please contact sales@aastrausa.com or visit Aastra in Booth #20 at BroadSoft Connections for a demonstration.

About Aastra USA

Aastra USA Inc. is the US business unit of Aastra Technologies Limited, a company at the forefront of the enterprise communication market. Headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, Aastra develops and delivers innovative communications products and applications for businesses. Aastra’s operations are truly global with more than 50 million installed lines around the world and a direct and indirect presence in more than 100 countries. Aastra USA is entirely dedicated to enterprise communications and offers IP telephony and Unified Communications solutions individually tailored to satisfy its customers’ requirements. These range from feature-rich call managers for small and medium businesses and highly scalable ones for large enterprises, integrated mobility, call center solutions to a wide selection of terminals. With a strong focus on open standards, Aastra USA enables enterprises to communicate and collaborate more efficiently. For additional information on Aastra, visit our website at http://www.aastrausa.com.

A Aastra Telecom fecha mais uma importante parceria no mercado. A nova parceira é a Across Telecom, que irá atuar como integradora das soluções de Comunicações Unificadas da Aastra.

A Across Telecom tem o foco na prestação de serviços multimarcas e na comercialização de produtos, oferecendo soluções que envolvem equipamentos de Telefonia e Comunicações Unificadas (Unified Communications -UC).

Presente no mercado desde 2002, a Across obteve um rápido crescimento e atualmente possui escritórios em São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte e Brasília além de presença técnica própria em Uberlândia e Goiânia. Seu quadro de funcionários conta com aproximadamente 70 colaboradores.

A empresa também acaba de se associar à Alpha Telecom, que já faz parte da rede de canais da Aastra. Desta forma esperam fortalecer sua atuação no mercado, colocando mais foco nas soluções da Aastra Telecom.

A Across passa agora a comercializar equipamentos da Aastra para o mercado corporativo, oferecendo soluções inovadoras e integradas, num conjunto completo de Comunicações Unificadas, que proporcionam ganho de produtividade e proteção do investimento às empresas, tais como Telefonia IP, Mobilidade, Colaboração e Contact Centers.

Com essa parceria, a Aastra e a Across pretendem ampliar seus negócios focando no desenvolvimento corporativo.

Using Tpad’s flexible mobile VoIP services makes connecting to customers and staff easy at home and abroad

Technology has opened new avenues of opportunity as well as created new challenges, the first being simply to keep abreast of the innovations and deciding which will work for your company. Tpad understands the importance crystal-clear communications to the progress and profits of a business. As a telephony provider for mobile VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), Tpad ensures that small business enterprises have more options in the ways they communicate with their customers as well as members of their organization in many different locations.

System flexibility and operational costs are two genuine concerns for every company, no matter whether they are a group of entrepreneurs in collaboration or an established business with several employees. As more companies employ individuals from remote locations the need for international VoIP and mobile Wi-Fi has focused attention on Tpad’s innovative approach.

Tpad has designed several packages that can be customized to the communication needs of growing companies throughout the world. One service that has been eagerly received by small to medium sized enterprises is the ultra-flexible IP PBX system, which enables them to reduce overhead costs while increasing their competitive edge.

Using the most advanced VoIP technology, Tpad is focused on providing businesses with uncomplicated telephony solutions that are on par or surpass the level of communication quality offered by Vonage and Packet8.

Commenting on the need for business to take a second look at Voice over Internet Protocol technology, Simon Jones, Sales Director of Tpad said:

“VoIP technology has evolved rapidly over the past three years to include an extensive array of benefits and features that many companies can use to move their business forward. Tpad has developed these economical and user-friendly communication solutions to attract and advance a company’s goals.”

Many customers of the VoIP services offered by Tpad turn to this communication solution for exactly these reasons. Tpad is aware that client care and responsiveness to the needs of the marketplace are just as important as state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

“Companies have specific business goals and unique characters.” said Jones. “With the need for increased productivity rising, we keep the timeline between the decision to use Tpad’s telephony to installation and use as short as possible. Rather than dedicate an extensive amount of time for installation and training, companies who select Tpad are able to focus their attention of developing and reinforcing their brand.”

Not only at the beginning or during the installation process is client care a valuable resource, but also on a day-to-day basis, each of the account advisors are highly qualified, respectful of your time and priorities. As a company that offers communication services, the Tpad company takes your business goals as seriously as you do; from initial contact to growth through the various stages of your enterprise.

Free Mobile WiFi Calls using Tpad IP PBX Telephone Systems

Tpad as a provider of global telephone communication solutions that proves that quality can be affordable with the satisfaction of customer’s preferences as the motivation. Companies can contact a Tpad representative with their requirements and a communication system can be developed to suit their budget as well as company style, by using the online customer enquiry form at: http://www.tpad.com/business/ or by telephone: +44 (0) 845 122 1746.

About Tpad (www.tpad.com):
Tpad, the world’s most flexible communications company, offers next-generation telephone systems for consumers and businesses. Tpad’s new telephone systems make it easier and cheaper for people and businesses to stay in touch using any device, on any network, anytime, anywhere. The ever-expanding global IP telephony company is based in the UK and has offices in the UAE. Tpad’s telephone systems are fully compatible with any SIP or VoIP telephone device; softphones (Xlite, ZoIPer or SJPhone), ATAs and IP phones (Linksys, Snom, Aastra, Yealink and Grandstream) as well as Wi-Fi mobile phones (Nokia E and N series).

Avaya and Aastra have made separate moves to get into the Nortel bankruptcy circus.  Avaya is offering cash for assets, while Aastra will offer migration incentives (i.e. a sale) to get customers to switch.

In a press release today, Avaya announced it has signed agreements to pick up Nortel’s enterprise solution business for $475 million.  The acquisition includes Nortel’s Enterprise Solutions voice, data and government systems businesses, but the transaction awaits clearing a competitive bidding process and approval by bankruptcy courts in Delaware and Ontario.

Avaya gets to scale a bit, expand its channel partner network, and add to its portfolio of products and services.   Nortel gets cash to pay off its creditors and some of its employees will land as Avaya employees.  Bell Canada and BT praised the move and BT went so far as to say it would “expand” its engagement with Avaya over the next year to offer a full unified communications portfolio.

Aastra’s move is less concrete, more ambulance-chasing.  For “a limited time” Aastra says it will offer “extraordinary incentives” to get Nortel large enterprise customers to move to its Clearspan UC solution. Discounts include free unlimited numbers of SIP integration trunks, “significant” discounts on Aastra 67ix SIP phones, free instructor-lead training for admins during the first year of deployment (up to 2 students per class) and free end user, web-based training for an unlimited number of users during the first two years of deployment.

Aastra says that a 3,000 user enterprise deploying 300 SIP integration trunks and 1500 new SIP phones to users can save $500,000.

Billy Mays, you passed too soon, my friend.  You could have made some serious coin off someone looking to rob Nortel of its customer base…

You are focused on bottom line and Tpad’s superior VoIP communication service plans are designed to save you money and deliver state-of-the-performance.

During the course of a business day for any given company, there could be hundreds of telephone conversations take place: using traditional PBX telephony services this can mean a considerable amount of expense from your operating budget. However, as many small businesses are discovering, there is a better way to support their vital communication nees by using the VoIP services provided by the Tpad. With support plans tailored to the requirements of the company, a small business owner can realize significant cost savings without sacrificing reliable performance.

Tpad Provider of Business Class Hosted and Managed Telephone Systems

Providing the top level of support required to deliver cutting edge telephony services can only be accomplished by a team of professionals who monitor the system around the clock. Growing companies need immediate access to information and timely responses to queries about their communications system, particularly during the period of migration from PBX to Business VoIP.

Tpad has over 10 years of experience as a global telephony service provider: our success is the result of the commitment of our expertly trained and seasoned Technical and Customer Care Team headquartered in the United Kingdom. The current financial tension in the marketplace has placed new emphasis on the importance of not only reducing costs, but also having the communication tools a company needs to remain competitive in the market place, with the flexibility to adjust to fluctuating conditions.

Tpad provides companies with a diverse array of communication tools and resources that are designed to support customer relations management. Tpad’s Sales Director, Simon Jones recently stated: “We recognize that companies only exist because of their customers: our primary motivation for every service we provide is to ensure that every company has the ability to provide customer care that exceeds their expectations.”

Flexibility to adjust to changing conditions is one of the key to business growth. The technology behind Business VoIP is straightforward and easy to implement and utilize without loss of productivity. Companies can make the transition confidently: the system for international or local clients include all of the traditional call features such as call forwarding, contact book, hunt groups and voicemail plus the ability to use IP (Linksys, Snom, Grandstream, and Aastra) or analogue phones, call blocking and voicemail or fax to email.

Tpad’s scalable service packages provide freedom for companies from otherwise more expensive, outdated communication platforms allowing them to utilize financial resources more efficiently. As your company grows, so will your communication requirements and Tpad is capable to deliver the reliable service you need to meet future customer demands. For external, intra-and inter-office communications VoIP technology services from Tpad bring increased gains to your financial bottom line. To review how your company can profit by using Tpad’s communication solution, telephone our client management support team at: +44 (0) 845 122 1746 or complete our customer enquiry form online at: http://www.tpad.com/business/ for a free telephone quote and expert advice.

About Tpad (http://www.tpad.com):
Tpad, the world’s most flexible communications company, offers next-generation telephone systems for consumers and businesses. Tpad’s new telephone systems make it easier and cheaper for people and businesses to stay in touch using any device, on any network, anytime, anywhere. The ever-expanding global IP telephony company is based in the UK and has offices in the UAE.

Tpad - Global ITSP VoIP Provider - Free Telephone Quote and Advice

Tpad.com is focused on providing superior telephony services that utilize state-of-the-art communications technology.

The focus of the Tpad Global Phone Network is to provide small businesses with cutting edge telephony services that reach beyond the capability of traditional PBX systems at reduced costs. Tpad is dedicated to filling the demand for a communications system that can easily manage the growing need for around the clock, instant access and response to information. It has been proven that companies that migrate to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology can realize a cost savings of nearly 50% compared to the same level of usage with a traditional PBX system.

While the various means of communication continues to evolve and expand, so does the need to be able to deliver the message efficiently and cost effectively. The global events that are re-shaping the commercial playing field are definitely challenging: companies that want to continue to prosper are taking a proactive approach to managing their communications systems and turning to Tpad for solutions.

Tpad Business Class Telephone Solutions

The motivation for the shift to alternative business communications systems that include both mobile and Internet telephony technology is simple: to provide greater flexibility in the method of being accessible to customers and being responsive to their needs. For residential clients throughout the United Kingdom and the world, it broadens their communication potential, providing alternative means to tailor a system that accommodates their lifestyle. The source of the cost savings that companies gain is based on more than just reduced rates. Superior call quality in addition to on-demand, online support from a responsive client services management team ensures that your time, as well as your budget, receives the attention and respect they deserve.

The business communication systems for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) today must be flexible enough to encompass a variety to applications from local calling to international as well as providing networking capabilities for branch offices and a travelling or telecommuting staff. Tpad’s services are not only affordable but they are scalable to suit any level of usage required, whether the company is an entrepreneurial venture or an international corporation.

Tpad keeps a watchful eye on your telephony system while providing you stress-free services that encourage an active dialogue with everyone regardless of where on the global they are physically located. Monitoring the system for international or local clients include all of the traditional call features such as forwarding, contact book, conference bridge and voicemail plus the ability to use IP phones (Linksys, Snom, Aastra or Grandstream) or analogue phones (via Linksys ATA), call blocking and voicemail to email.

Now with Tpad’s scalable service packages SMEs that require outstanding and reliable telephony services no longer need to allocate additional resources to accomplish their communication goals. Utilizing Tpad’s global phone network supports the short- and long-term business objectives for the world’s dynamic commercial environment.

To customize your company’s communication solution, you can telephone our client management support team at: 0845 1221746 or complete our customer enquiry form online at: http://www.tpad.com/business/ for a free telephone quote and specialised advice.

About Tpad (http://www.tpad.com):
Tpad, the world’s most flexible communications company, offers next-generation telephony solutions for consumers and businesses. Tpad’s new telephony services make it easier and cheaper for people to stay in touch using any device, on any network, anytime, anywhere. The ever-expanding global IP telephony company is based in the UK.

How to Make Free VoIP / SIP Calls with Tpad using a VoIP Device (Softphone / ATA / IP Phone / WiFi Mobile):

As a business grows from a few rooms into a larger suite and even adds a warehouse for storing materials, it comes harder to find employees who are immediately needed for phone calls and meetings. Do people at your office yell at the top of their lungs for someone to answer the phone call that just came in for them? That’s not a very professional way to handle finding a particular person. It’s also quite annoying for the other people not involved.

A VOIP phone system connects throughout your office via the network cabling system. It can easily be extended to cover any part of your office or warehouse by installing additional CAT5e cabling. Once the cabling is connected to an IP phone, your IP-PBX phone server can direct calls, pages and intercom service as you wish.

If you extend your phone to an area without power capability such as a remote part of a warehouse or up in a ceiling for a paging horn, a special type of network switch can be installed to send an electric current through the network cabling. This current is standardized as 48 V DC current and is known as an IEEE 802.3af compliant system or Power Over Ethernet aka POE. CAT5e cables have 8 wires inside in four twisted pairs. The network only uses wires 1, 2, 3 and 6 for transmitting and receiving data. The other wires can carry the DC current between the “injector” at the source and the “picker” at the destination.

The special switch mentioned earlier is called a POE switch. Some or all of the ports are powered with the POE current so that devices at the other end of the cables can use the 48 V DC current. These switches are a bit more expensive than a plain switch but when compared to the cost of having an electrician run a new circuit through conduit across a warehouse, it comes out as a bargain. Since POE is standardized, it works quite well with IP phones, paging horns, entry door security panels with microphones and speakers, surveillance cameras and other devices attuned to IEEE 802.3af. Performance of these POE-powered devices is identical to those plugged directly into a wall outlet for power.

When a POE-powered IP phone is mounted on a wall at eye level where the CAT5e cable comes from inside the wall, it has no visible trailing network or power cables. With some planning on where POE phones are best placed within an office or warehouse, a more professional appearance is achieved and a potential safety hazard is avoided.

Some IP phones have Intercom buttons built into the keypads. Aastra IP phones have them and an intercom/paging system is easily installed by an IP phone vendor. That allows employees to talk to any other extension alone, a particular group of extensions, or to broadcast over the entire phone system if necessary. When the shouting is all over with, you will have improved your office atmosphere and your employees will appreciate the benefits of the new easy to learn intercom and paging system.

Ask for your free phone system audit from Select Phone Solutions by calling 281-501-6464.

“Productivity Through Technology”

In den vergangenen Tagen ist ja schon kräftig darüber berichtet worden, wie Cisco den Markt für Rechenzentrumstechnik aufmischen will. Der weltgrößte Netzwerkausrüster verkauft ab Mitte des Jahres ein Paket aus Computer, Netztechnik und Software, mit dem Unternehmen ihre zentralen IT-Abteilungen besser auslasten und die Betriebskosten senken könnten.

IT-Dienste sollen laut Cisco-Chef John Chambers stärker ins Web verlegt werden – also folgt er dem Cloud Computing-Trend. Rechenzentrum 3.0 oder Unified Computer System (USC), unter welchem Begriff auch immer, Cisco greift massiv in den Servermarkt ein. Bestand die Produktstrategie bisher darin, Aplliances mit Software-Lizenzen und eigenen Betriebssystemen für Netzwerk-Funktionen anzubieten, geht Cisco nun in das Geschäft der Intel-basierten Server, der von IBM und HP dominiert wird, gefolgt von Dell und Sun. Cisco setzt dabei auf eine Kombination von Blade-Architektur (Cisco UCS-B), Virtualisierung (Integration von VMware vCenter), Hochgeschwindigkeitsvernetzung (10 Gigabit LANs), und das Service Management von BMC. Hinzu kommen Kooperatioonen mit Microsoft, Redhat, Novell und weiteren Softwareherstellern.

Die Servermarktstrategie von Cisco wird die Bereitschaft von anderen Schwergewichten wie IBM und HP beeinträchtigen, mit Cisco zu kooperieren. Da HP mit ProCurve bei Netzwerkkomponenten auf Expansion setzt, ist es abzusehen, dass Cisco und HP immer stärker gegnerische Positionen im Markt einnehmen. Bei der Partnersuche führte Procurve Schlüsselattribute wie Offenheit und Standardtreue ins Feld – ein Konzept, das offenbar ankam: F5 wird sich in dieser Allianz um die Beschleunigung von Enterprise-Applikationen kümmern, Riverbed um WAN-Optimierung, Aastra um Voice-over-IP und Ekahau um WLAN-basierte Ortung in Echtzeit.

Bei Großkunden ist es eher unwahrscheinlich, dass Anwender eine komplette Single-Vendor-Strategie auf Basis von Cisco wählen. Was Cisco mit UCS anbietet, ist eher eine Vor-Integration verschiedener Komponenten, die natürlich ein System-Integrator für seinen Kunden vornehmen kann. IBM und HP, die ja im Unterschied zum reinen Hersteller Cisco stark in der Systemintegration sind, dürften kaum Probleme haben, sich beim Kunden gegen Cisco UCS zu positionieren.

Für Mittelstandskunden, die den hohen individuellen Integrationsaufwand verschiedener Lösungen nicht wünschen, kann aber ein Komplettangebot von Cisco durchaus interessant sein. Unterm Strich ist aber noch nicht abzusehen, ob Cisco die Umsätze, die es über UCS gewinnen wird, nicht in anderen Bereichen durch verschärften Wettbewerb gleichzeitig verliert.

Alliant DataTel expands operations by offering more Voice over IP phone system choices

ATLANTA, GA., December 29, 2008 –– Alliant DataTel Inc., today announced an expanded office suite and the launching of several new marketing websites/blogs including http://www.phonesystemsatlanta.wordpress.com/ and http://www.cablingatlanta.wordpress.com/. Since 1996, Alliant DataTel an Atlanta, Georgia company has specialized in business phone systems, computer networks, cabling and PSTN circuits like PRI and T-1. Alliant’s new sales and support office at a prime location, 1200 Abernathy Road, Northpark Town Center is a mixed-use complex, located in Atlanta’s Central Perimeter business district. Here the company will conduct various business seminars, host “How to Choose an IP-PBX Luncheons,” plus perform demos on all offered business solutions to prospects and current clients utilizing the brand new live product showcase. The luncheon portion is complimentary and optional yet the hands-on mini-seminars require registration as the classes are small and expected to fill quickly. Visiting the http://www.goalliant.net/ website can provide upcoming dates and times to RSVP for the 2 hour seminar luncheons or call Alliant’s main number 770-441-9999 for more information.

Alliant DataTel has recently increased its product lines to include Aastralink Response Point and Sutus Business Central BC200 dealerships. The company’s core information technology services include designing, implementing and managing Voice over Internet Protocol phone systems known as VOIP or Voice over IP business phone solutions. Most systems offered have the ability to plug an IP phone into any broadband Internet connection, anywhere in the world, allowing seamless connectivity to the IP-PBX base system. From a single location to multiple sites around the world, both voice and data networks can be connected to a telecommunications infrastructure that can deliver many features including auto attendant, voicemail, Wi-Fi phones, headsets, door phones, access control, and call center applications to name a few. Alliant DataTel can integrate many systems into existing computer networks and can e-mail voicemail messages and incoming faxes directly to email clients, such as Outlook & Groupwise. In addition, voicemails and faxes can also be sent directly to cell phones. Cell phones such as Blackberry’s, devices utilizing Windows Mobile 5 & 6, & Symbian phones work seamlessly with most IP-PBX systems.

Alliant DataTel is a certified partner for Samsung, Zultys, Microsoft Response Point, Xblue Networks and Sutus. “Our primary objective is to inform businesses about features available in ‘Voice over IP’ phone solutions as well as TDM systems;” said Michael Kirchhoff, CEO of Alliant DataTel. “We educate business owners & decision makers in what to look for in purchasing the right system and setting up their complete infrastructure for their current and long term objectives.” When asked, Michael Kirchhoff says, “Many businesses are not aware of the amazing advancements that have occurred in telecommunications. It is not unusual for clients who need office cabling done during a move or renovation need a new updated phone system. There seems to be a lot of confusion with this upgrade between circuit providers, phone systems and their company’s data infrastructure,” said Kirchhoff; “when you add the new technology of VoIP on top; it becomes a major mountain in their eyes.” Kirchhoff continued, “The sticker shock for new technology first takes them by surprise. What we want to do is educate the end user to what their options are, utilizing their current requirements, budget, as well as their long range goals allowing them to run efficiently, while providing a cost effective solution. If their budget can’t handle everything at once, we break them down in mini-projects they can get their arms around. There is no sense in doing it half way; technology only works if you know how to use it.”

About Alliant DataTel Inc.

The IT professionals at Alliant are committed to providing excellent service, quality products and valuable solution resources that help companies achieve their corporate goals. The corporate website, (http://www.goalliant.net/) currently in redesign by http://www.3by400.com/ will be an interactive web portal that will make it easy for consumers to learn about the many options available when shopping for VoIP phone systems. Consumers will also have access to a knowledge base filled with guides on facilitating the buying process. The site will have detailed information about phone systems offered, along with their features and specifications. It is focused on educating the consumer about the technological advancements of phone systems.

Alliant is a one stop VAR from planning to deployment. Whether you are a Fortune 500 firm or an emerging organization, Alliant can help you plan, design and implement a robust IT infrastructure that grows with you. Find out more at http:// www.goalliant.net or 770-441-9999.

Aastra Telecom Announces the Launch of AastraLink™, a Microsoft® Response Point Phone System for Small Business

Powerful, easy to use and easy to manage system offers three compatible phone models including a cordless option for the North American SMB marketCONCORD, ON, CANADA/HOUSTON, TX — MICROSOFT WORLDWIDE PARTNER CONFERENCE JULY 8, 2008 — Aastra Telecom, a leading provider of enterprise grade corded and wireless SIP telephones in North America, today announced the launch of AastraLink RP™, a Microsoft® Response Point™ phone system, designed specifically for small businesses that have up to 50 employees.The AastraLink RP phone system is comprised of the RP 500 Base Unit which hosts the Response Point system software, the RP 540 Gateway with 4 analog telephone ports, and a choice of three Aastra Response Point IP phone models. Setting up features such as auto-discovery and auto-configuration, or changing the system can be done by an average PC user in minutes with no special phone training or additional license fees. In addition to supporting both IP and traditional analog calling, other innovative system features include: a voice-enabled user interface, advanced call routing, built-in voice mail, automated receptionist and contact integration with Microsoft Office Outlook®.

Three different enterprise-grade phones have been developed for the AastraLink RP system; the entry level 6751i RP, the full featured 6753i RP, and the advanced 6757i CT RP which comes with a cordless handset. Offering larger display screens, superior audio, programmable keys, full duplex speakerphones, and POE support, AastraLink RP terminals deliver enterprise level features and functionality to the SMB market. In addition, the 6753i RP and 6757i CT RP models have headset jacks and support up to three expansion modules providing additional choice and flexibility to meet specific small business requirements. The AastraLink RP base unit will ship pre-loaded with the SP1 software release just announced by Microsoft providing a host of new enhancements including SIP trunking.

“The combination of Microsoft’s unique voice-enabled telephony software, and Aastra’s robust feature rich phones, offers a powerful yet affordable telephone system for Small Businesses that have 1 to 50 employees” said Yves Laliberté, Executive Vice President at Aastra Telecom. “When you add the choice of three phone models to the mix, it allows Aastra to deliver the most comprehensive and complete end-to-end Response Point system solution available in the market today”
We are pleased to welcome Aastra and the AastraLink RP phone system to the Response Point community,” said Xuedong Huang, general manager of Microsoft Response Point. “Small businesses and channel partners can benefit from Aastra’s industry-leading expertise in telephony and enterprise telecommunications, and their focus on providing leading hardware solutions to meet the changing needs of business.”
The AastraLink RP system is now available for ordering from Aastra’s authorized distributor Wesbell Technologies. List pricing for a complete starter system bundle that includes a base station, gateway and three phones is $2,400, with additional phones ranging from $139 up to $399.
For further information on the AastraLink RP system, visit Aastra at www.aastralinkrp.com or Wesbell at www.wesbell.com/responsepoint. For more information on Response Point, visit www.microsoft.com/responsepoint.

Aastra Telecom Announces the Launch of AastraLink™, a Microsoft® Response Point Phone System for Small Business

Powerful, easy to use and easy to manage system offers three compatible phone models including a cordless option for the North American SMB marketCONCORD, ON, CANADA/HOUSTON, TX — MICROSOFT WORLDWIDE PARTNER CONFERENCE JULY 8, 2008 — Aastra Telecom, a leading provider of enterprise grade corded and wireless SIP telephones in North America, today announced the launch of AastraLink RP™, a Microsoft® Response Point™ phone system, designed specifically for small businesses that have up to 50 employees.The AastraLink RP phone system is comprised of the RP 500 Base Unit which hosts the Response Point system software, the RP 540 Gateway with 4 analog telephone ports, and a choice of three Aastra Response Point IP phone models. Setting up features such as auto-discovery and auto-configuration, or changing the system can be done by an average PC user in minutes with no special phone training or additional license fees. In addition to supporting both IP and traditional analog calling, other innovative system features include: a voice-enabled user interface, advanced call routing, built-in voice mail, automated receptionist and contact integration with Microsoft Office Outlook®.

Three different enterprise-grade phones have been developed for the AastraLink RP system; the entry level 6751i RP, the full featured 6753i RP, and the advanced 6757i CT RP which comes with a cordless handset. Offering larger display screens, superior audio, programmable keys, full duplex speakerphones, and POE support, AastraLink RP terminals deliver enterprise level features and functionality to the SMB market. In addition, the 6753i RP and 6757i CT RP models have headset jacks and support up to three expansion modules providing additional choice and flexibility to meet specific small business requirements. The AastraLink RP base unit will ship pre-loaded with the SP1 software release just announced by Microsoft providing a host of new enhancements including SIP trunking.

“The combination of Microsoft’s unique voice-enabled telephony software, and Aastra’s robust feature rich phones, offers a powerful yet affordable telephone system for Small Businesses that have 1 to 50 employees” said Yves Laliberté, Executive Vice President at Aastra Telecom. “When you add the choice of three phone models to the mix, it allows Aastra to deliver the most comprehensive and complete end-to-end Response Point system solution available in the market today”
We are pleased to welcome Aastra and the AastraLink RP phone system to the Response Point community,” said Xuedong Huang, general manager of Microsoft Response Point. “Small businesses and channel partners can benefit from Aastra’s industry-leading expertise in telephony and enterprise telecommunications, and their focus on providing leading hardware solutions to meet the changing needs of business.”
The AastraLink RP system is now available for ordering from Aastra’s authorized distributor Wesbell Technologies. List pricing for a complete starter system bundle that includes a base station, gateway and three phones is $2,400, with additional phones ranging from $139 up to $399.
For further information on the AastraLink RP system, visit Aastra at www.aastralinkrp.com or Wesbell at www.wesbell.com/responsepoint. For more information on Response Point, visit www.microsoft.com/responsepoint.

Aastra Telecom Expands its SIP Telephone Portfolio with the Launch of the Aastra 5i Series

New powerful SIP Telephones offer more choice and flexibility to customers

CONCORD, ON, CANADA, — February 20, 2007 — Aastra Telecom, a leading provider of traditional and VoIP communication products and systems, today announced that it has significantly expanded its SIP Telephone portfolio offering with the launch of the Aastra 5i Series. Comprised of four new telephones and two expansion modules, this new family of SIP-based products allows Aastra to offer additional choice and flexibility to customers looking for standards-based IP desktop and mobility solutions.

Designed by a team of North American and European engineers, the Aastra 5i family features an elegant global design, large LCD display screens, additional programmable function keys and expansion modules for console and reception functions. The family also incorporates all of the productivity enhancing features found on Aastra’s existing SIP telephones including; embedded XML browsers, full duplex speakerphones, and an industry leading simplified deployment and upgrade design. Continuing a commitment to be fully interoperable, the Aastra 5i series has also been designed to integrate with leading IP Telephony platforms making it appeal to a wide range of SMB and Enterprise customers.

“Our customers have been extremely pleased with how well Aastra’s current portfolio of affordable feature-rich SIP telephones tightly integrates with our IP Telephony system solution” said Hugo Hamel, President of Prival, a Montreal based provider of integrated VoIP solutions. “By adding Aastra’s 5i Series to our offering, we will be able deliver an even greater variety of options and configurations ensuring a flexible standards-based IP solution that can be easily customized to meet individual customer needs.”

The 5i Series consists of four telephones and two expansion modules;

53i Featured set with 3 line/16 character display and 6 programmable keys

55i Advanced Featured set with 144 x 75 backlit LCD display, up to 20 programmable function capability. Compatible with up to three 536M expansion modules.

57i Full Featured set with 144 x 128 backlit LCD display, up to 30 programmable function capability. Compatible with up to three 560M or 536M expansion modules

57i CT All the features of the Aastra 57i plus integrated cordless base providing VoIP mobility employing secure 2.4GHz Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum technology

536M Expansion Module with 36 programmable keys

560M Expansion Module with LCD Screen and 60 programmable keys

Organizations that are migrating to a converged IP environment whether it is Hosted VoIP, a Premised based IP-PBX / Hybrid PBX or Open Source PBX will be able to find an Aastra IP Telephone perfectly suited to meet their needs.

“We are very excited about expanding our IP portfolio with this family of SIP phones” said Yves Laliberte, executive vice president of sales at Aastra Telecom. “The 5i Series was designed to meet the needs of our partners and customers requiring console solutions and large display screens for advanced XML graphics. Adding the 5i Series to Aastra’s IP family means that we now offer one of the most extensive and complete portfolios of carrier/enterprise grade quality SIP Telephones in the marketplace today”

The Aastra 5i Series is available immediately through Aastra’s authorized IP distribution channels in North America.

About Aastra
Aastra Telecom is a North American business unit of Aastra Technologies Limited (“Aastra”), a rapidly growing global company at the forefront of the Enterprise Communication market. Headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, Aastra develops, markets, and supports a comprehensive portfolio of products, systems, and applications for building and accessing communication networks. Aastra’s products include a full range of both open-standard Internet Protocol (IP)-based and traditional networking solutions including; Enterprise Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs), IP-PBX’s, gateways, digital and analog telephone terminals, VoIP telephones, wireless handsets, and advanced software applications. For more information on Aastra, please visit our Web site at www.aastratelecom.com .

Aastra® is a registered trademark of Aastra Technologies Limited.
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Media Contact:

Aastra Telecom
Steve Hawkins
+1 905.760.4251
shawkins@aastra.com

Product review: Microsoft Response Point 1.0
Microsoft’s small-office VoIP system, buoyed by speech recognition, combines extraordinary ease and a restricted feature set

By Mike Heck

April 29, 2008

Microsoft’s Response Point is PBX software that runs on Embedded XP inside of hardware sold by three Microsoft partners — Aastra, D-Link, and Quanta — with more partners to come later in 2008, according to Microsoft. You can engage a VAR to install the system or do it yourself without much effort.

Response Point setup is remarkably straightforward, and so is day-to-day use. Thanks to an automated assistant that responds to voice commands, callers can do most anything with the push of a single button. The trade-off in keeping the system simple is a minimum of telephony features, and collaboration features such as presence awareness and instant messaging are absent.

Response Point requires Windows XP or Vista running on one PC; this functions as the management console. Additionally, each user may use an XP or Vista PC to take advantage of telephone functions and Outlook integration, but this isn’t a must because call routing and other configuration tasks may be done by your administrator. Also good: You don’t have to install separate servers, such as Exchange.

[ Read the review of Allworx 24x, Critical Links EdgeBox Office, Fonality PBXtra, or Sutus Business Central. Return to "VoIP phone systems walk the talk." ]

The Quanta Syspine DOS A50-8G base unit used for this review, like the Sutus Business Central unit, is a diminutive, attractive tabletop box that will fit into most any office décor. Installing a small system should take less than 30 minutes; just connect the base unit and phones to a network hub, and plug in your analog lines. The Syspine unit includes eight analog ports, and it supports PoE (Power over Ethernet), so phones don’t need to be placed near an outlet.

Next, using Response Point Administrator software, you configure the base unit, add users, and assign them to phones. But I was slowed by a similar problem I faced with Allworx: Administrator, 32-bit software, refused to run on my 64-bit Vista laptop. After finding a 32-bit XP system and loading the Administrator program, finalizing my setup proceeded quickly.

First, the phones on my network were automatically discovered. Next, I stepped through Administrator’s menus to assign handsets to specific users, groups, or locations (such as a conference room). There’s basic call routing for each user, such as forwarding to an outside line if the employee doesn’t pick up the call after a preset number of rings – but no options to have different greetings by time or day of the week.

Like other systems, Response Point has an auto-attendant and directory of users that I easily configured. For instance, I recorded custom greetings from a phone and designated an employee as the operator. Lastly, Response Point let me configure an outgoing SMTP e-mail server so that users would receive e-mail notification and an attached audio file of voice messages.

Surprisingly, there’s only minimal integration with Microsoft Outlook – and this requires each user to install Response Point Assistant (another 32-bit-only utility). Assistant correlates a caller ID with your Outlook contacts list and pops up their information. It also allows users to change voice mail, notifications, and call forwarding settings.

Besides voice mail, Response Point telephony features include call park/retrieval, three-way conferencing, and ringing all phones in a group. However, Response Point doesn’t support softphones.

During testing, Response Point performed without any issue. Up to eight concurrent calls were processed by the auto-attendant. The Syspine IP 310 phones provide a nice balance of usability and functions – with informative messages on the LCD, clear voice quality, and dedicated buttons for essential functions.

Response Point software lets users perform typical tasks from a phone, such as recording personal greetings. Moreover, the system stores about 100 hours of voice mail on the internal 500GB hard disk – messages that are accessed from a simple playback menu. I also appreciated the ability to bypass the auto-attendant when calling from an outside phone number to retrieve my voice mail.

If Response Point’s minimalist feature set might leave some unsatisfied, the built-in speech recognition will surely be a hit with others. Using technology from Microsoft Speech Server, Response Point is turned into a highly accurate voice recognition engine – without any additional setup or training.

To evaluate this feature, I simply pressed the blue button on the handset (which is part of the hardware specifications) and said something like “Dial Bob.” Every time I tried this with different names, the system dialed correctly. I liked the way you can park a call, go to another phone, and then retrieve it by saying, “Retrieve call,” or “Retrieve call two.” Call transfer works the same way, by simply speaking, “Transfer my call to Bob.”

Further, administrators can configure responses to three specific questions callers might ask, such as: “What is your location?”

Beyond cool, voice recognition comes of age with Response Point. That said, Microsoft’s solution will be most at home in small businesses already invested in Windows PCs and that need only a basic phone system. Specific to the Quanta hardware, you may need to purchase the optional Security Gateway for firewall protection, VPN, DHCP server, and QoS bandwidth management.

There’s talk of integrating Response Point with Microsoft Small Business Server. Microsoft wouldn’t discuss this, but I think it makes tremendous sense. After all, many potential Response Point customers are already running Microsoft servers, and this could bring collaboration capabilities to Response Point.

Microsoft has said that it will release Service Pack 1 for Response Point this summer. The free update will let you use Response Point to make outbound calls through an Internet telephony service provider, and will support Direct Inward Dialing to automatically route inbound callers to a specific extension. Plus, the admin client software will run on 64-bit Windows Vista and XP.

Product review: Microsoft Response Point 1.0
Microsoft’s small-office VoIP system, buoyed by speech recognition, combines extraordinary ease and a restricted feature set

By Mike Heck

April 29, 2008

Microsoft’s Response Point is PBX software that runs on Embedded XP inside of hardware sold by three Microsoft partners — Aastra, D-Link, and Quanta — with more partners to come later in 2008, according to Microsoft. You can engage a VAR to install the system or do it yourself without much effort.

Response Point setup is remarkably straightforward, and so is day-to-day use. Thanks to an automated assistant that responds to voice commands, callers can do most anything with the push of a single button. The trade-off in keeping the system simple is a minimum of telephony features, and collaboration features such as presence awareness and instant messaging are absent.

Response Point requires Windows XP or Vista running on one PC; this functions as the management console. Additionally, each user may use an XP or Vista PC to take advantage of telephone functions and Outlook integration, but this isn’t a must because call routing and other configuration tasks may be done by your administrator. Also good: You don’t have to install separate servers, such as Exchange.

[ Read the review of Allworx 24x, Critical Links EdgeBox Office, Fonality PBXtra, or Sutus Business Central. Return to "VoIP phone systems walk the talk." ]

The Quanta Syspine DOS A50-8G base unit used for this review, like the Sutus Business Central unit, is a diminutive, attractive tabletop box that will fit into most any office décor. Installing a small system should take less than 30 minutes; just connect the base unit and phones to a network hub, and plug in your analog lines. The Syspine unit includes eight analog ports, and it supports PoE (Power over Ethernet), so phones don’t need to be placed near an outlet.

Next, using Response Point Administrator software, you configure the base unit, add users, and assign them to phones. But I was slowed by a similar problem I faced with Allworx: Administrator, 32-bit software, refused to run on my 64-bit Vista laptop. After finding a 32-bit XP system and loading the Administrator program, finalizing my setup proceeded quickly.

First, the phones on my network were automatically discovered. Next, I stepped through Administrator’s menus to assign handsets to specific users, groups, or locations (such as a conference room). There’s basic call routing for each user, such as forwarding to an outside line if the employee doesn’t pick up the call after a preset number of rings – but no options to have different greetings by time or day of the week.

Like other systems, Response Point has an auto-attendant and directory of users that I easily configured. For instance, I recorded custom greetings from a phone and designated an employee as the operator. Lastly, Response Point let me configure an outgoing SMTP e-mail server so that users would receive e-mail notification and an attached audio file of voice messages.

Surprisingly, there’s only minimal integration with Microsoft Outlook – and this requires each user to install Response Point Assistant (another 32-bit-only utility). Assistant correlates a caller ID with your Outlook contacts list and pops up their information. It also allows users to change voice mail, notifications, and call forwarding settings.

Besides voice mail, Response Point telephony features include call park/retrieval, three-way conferencing, and ringing all phones in a group. However, Response Point doesn’t support softphones.

During testing, Response Point performed without any issue. Up to eight concurrent calls were processed by the auto-attendant. The Syspine IP 310 phones provide a nice balance of usability and functions – with informative messages on the LCD, clear voice quality, and dedicated buttons for essential functions.

Response Point software lets users perform typical tasks from a phone, such as recording personal greetings. Moreover, the system stores about 100 hours of voice mail on the internal 500GB hard disk – messages that are accessed from a simple playback menu. I also appreciated the ability to bypass the auto-attendant when calling from an outside phone number to retrieve my voice mail.

If Response Point’s minimalist feature set might leave some unsatisfied, the built-in speech recognition will surely be a hit with others. Using technology from Microsoft Speech Server, Response Point is turned into a highly accurate voice recognition engine – without any additional setup or training.

To evaluate this feature, I simply pressed the blue button on the handset (which is part of the hardware specifications) and said something like “Dial Bob.” Every time I tried this with different names, the system dialed correctly. I liked the way you can park a call, go to another phone, and then retrieve it by saying, “Retrieve call,” or “Retrieve call two.” Call transfer works the same way, by simply speaking, “Transfer my call to Bob.”

Further, administrators can configure responses to three specific questions callers might ask, such as: “What is your location?”

Beyond cool, voice recognition comes of age with Response Point. That said, Microsoft’s solution will be most at home in small businesses already invested in Windows PCs and that need only a basic phone system. Specific to the Quanta hardware, you may need to purchase the optional Security Gateway for firewall protection, VPN, DHCP server, and QoS bandwidth management.

There’s talk of integrating Response Point with Microsoft Small Business Server. Microsoft wouldn’t discuss this, but I think it makes tremendous sense. After all, many potential Response Point customers are already running Microsoft servers, and this could bring collaboration capabilities to Response Point.

Microsoft has said that it will release Service Pack 1 for Response Point this summer. The free update will let you use Response Point to make outbound calls through an Internet telephony service provider, and will support Direct Inward Dialing to automatically route inbound callers to a specific extension. Plus, the admin client software will run on 64-bit Windows Vista and XP.

Product review: Microsoft Response Point 1.0
Microsoft’s small-office VoIP system, buoyed by speech recognition, combines extraordinary ease and a restricted feature set

By Mike Heck

April 29, 2008

Microsoft’s Response Point is PBX software that runs on Embedded XP inside of hardware sold by three Microsoft partners — Aastra, D-Link, and Quanta — with more partners to come later in 2008, according to Microsoft. You can engage a VAR to install the system or do it yourself without much effort.

Response Point setup is remarkably straightforward, and so is day-to-day use. Thanks to an automated assistant that responds to voice commands, callers can do most anything with the push of a single button. The trade-off in keeping the system simple is a minimum of telephony features, and collaboration features such as presence awareness and instant messaging are absent.

Response Point requires Windows XP or Vista running on one PC; this functions as the management console. Additionally, each user may use an XP or Vista PC to take advantage of telephone functions and Outlook integration, but this isn’t a must because call routing and other configuration tasks may be done by your administrator. Also good: You don’t have to install separate servers, such as Exchange.

[ Read the review of Allworx 24x, Critical Links EdgeBox Office, Fonality PBXtra, or Sutus Business Central. Return to "VoIP phone systems walk the talk." ]

The Quanta Syspine DOS A50-8G base unit used for this review, like the Sutus Business Central unit, is a diminutive, attractive tabletop box that will fit into most any office décor. Installing a small system should take less than 30 minutes; just connect the base unit and phones to a network hub, and plug in your analog lines. The Syspine unit includes eight analog ports, and it supports PoE (Power over Ethernet), so phones don’t need to be placed near an outlet.

Next, using Response Point Administrator software, you configure the base unit, add users, and assign them to phones. But I was slowed by a similar problem I faced with Allworx: Administrator, 32-bit software, refused to run on my 64-bit Vista laptop. After finding a 32-bit XP system and loading the Administrator program, finalizing my setup proceeded quickly.

First, the phones on my network were automatically discovered. Next, I stepped through Administrator’s menus to assign handsets to specific users, groups, or locations (such as a conference room). There’s basic call routing for each user, such as forwarding to an outside line if the employee doesn’t pick up the call after a preset number of rings – but no options to have different greetings by time or day of the week.

Like other systems, Response Point has an auto-attendant and directory of users that I easily configured. For instance, I recorded custom greetings from a phone and designated an employee as the operator. Lastly, Response Point let me configure an outgoing SMTP e-mail server so that users would receive e-mail notification and an attached audio file of voice messages.

Surprisingly, there’s only minimal integration with Microsoft Outlook – and this requires each user to install Response Point Assistant (another 32-bit-only utility). Assistant correlates a caller ID with your Outlook contacts list and pops up their information. It also allows users to change voice mail, notifications, and call forwarding settings.

Besides voice mail, Response Point telephony features include call park/retrieval, three-way conferencing, and ringing all phones in a group. However, Response Point doesn’t support softphones.

During testing, Response Point performed without any issue. Up to eight concurrent calls were processed by the auto-attendant. The Syspine IP 310 phones provide a nice balance of usability and functions – with informative messages on the LCD, clear voice quality, and dedicated buttons for essential functions.

Response Point software lets users perform typical tasks from a phone, such as recording personal greetings. Moreover, the system stores about 100 hours of voice mail on the internal 500GB hard disk – messages that are accessed from a simple playback menu. I also appreciated the ability to bypass the auto-attendant when calling from an outside phone number to retrieve my voice mail.

If Response Point’s minimalist feature set might leave some unsatisfied, the built-in speech recognition will surely be a hit with others. Using technology from Microsoft Speech Server, Response Point is turned into a highly accurate voice recognition engine – without any additional setup or training.

To evaluate this feature, I simply pressed the blue button on the handset (which is part of the hardware specifications) and said something like “Dial Bob.” Every time I tried this with different names, the system dialed correctly. I liked the way you can park a call, go to another phone, and then retrieve it by saying, “Retrieve call,” or “Retrieve call two.” Call transfer works the same way, by simply speaking, “Transfer my call to Bob.”

Further, administrators can configure responses to three specific questions callers might ask, such as: “What is your location?”

Beyond cool, voice recognition comes of age with Response Point. That said, Microsoft’s solution will be most at home in small businesses already invested in Windows PCs and that need only a basic phone system. Specific to the Quanta hardware, you may need to purchase the optional Security Gateway for firewall protection, VPN, DHCP server, and QoS bandwidth management.

There’s talk of integrating Response Point with Microsoft Small Business Server. Microsoft wouldn’t discuss this, but I think it makes tremendous sense. After all, many potential Response Point customers are already running Microsoft servers, and this could bring collaboration capabilities to Response Point.

Microsoft has said that it will release Service Pack 1 for Response Point this summer. The free update will let you use Response Point to make outbound calls through an Internet telephony service provider, and will support Direct Inward Dialing to automatically route inbound callers to a specific extension. Plus, the admin client software will run on 64-bit Windows Vista and XP.

04/18/2008

Microsoft Corp. said Friday it has partnered with Cbeyond Inc. and New Global Telecom Inc. (NGT), to provide SIP trunking and other VoIP services along with its Response Point IP PBX, announced in October 2007, beginning this summer.

The partnerships will enable the respective channel partners of the companies to offer a CPE-service bundle geared to small businesses between five and 50 employees.

The two VoIP providers are the first to pass interoperability testing with the Microsoft IP PBX and will be included in the Microsoft Response Point Service Pack 1 when it is released this summer for sale through Microsoft Small Business Specialists, one of the software company’s indirect sales channels.

While Cbeyond already has an agent program of its own, NGT, a wholesaler, has developed the Digital Voice Partner Program specifically for the Microsoft Small Business Specialists selling Response Point. While the providers will be working to woo Microsoft’s VARs, they also will be able to introduce Response Point to channel partners, such as telephony agents, that might be selling SIP trunking products.

Interested channel partners can become certified to sell Response Point after a single day of training and an online assessment. Microsoft is beginning a 12-city training tour next week that includes not only sales and positioning for Response Point, but also for sales of VoIP services from NGT and Cbeyond. Cost for the training is $95. Partners that pass the test are listed on the Microsoft Response Point Web site and able to share in the leads.

Partners also must be agents of the VoIP providers in order to receive compensation for the service. In NGT’s case, becoming an agent is a simple matter of signing up via a Web-based form.

“Because voice over IP is so easy to learn for people who have backgrounds in networking, this is a great way for Microsoft Small Business Specialists to bring in a new business,” said Ben Brauer, senior product manager for Response Point at Microsoft. ”To sell a phone system is a cool concept for our small business specialist. Bringing a service into the mix makes it even more enticing. We already are getting a lot of interest from our VAR community, but I think this is going to make it even more interesting.”

For the Microsoft VARs the “interesting” part is developing an annuity revenue stream. “They get better services at a lower cost and Small Business Specialists can start to build an annuity revenue stream that allows them to grow their business year over year without having to expand the business or work harder to do that,” explained NGT CEO Mike Donnell.

In addition to basic local calling features like local number porting, directory listing, caller ID/CNAM and 911, NGT also offers partners the opportunity to sell toll free services and network-based desktop fax capabilities and on-demand audio and Web conferencing – increasing their residual commission.

In addition, Brauer said, the services can help partners justify the initial capital outlay for the phone system, which retails for about $2,500 ($3,000 with LAN optimization and installation). Microsoft conducted an ROI analysis and determined that the payback on the Response Point IP PBX sold along with a SIP trunking service can be swift. “What we found was that a small business with 10-19 employees would save upwards of $8,000 in the first year of deploying a voice over IP service. … So, they are already seeing an ROI within the first year,” said Brauer.

The bundle also is designed to be a low-maintenance sale for the partner. It includes auto discovery of end points and an automatic configuration tool for selecting analog service or a particular SIP provider.

Response Point is a software-based IP PBX that is packaged as an appliance by three OEMs – Aastra Technologies Ltd., DLink Corp. and Quanta Computer Inc. DLink’s channel is being trained to sell the appliance and Aastra, whose channel targets enterprises, is developing a small business channel to sell the system as well, Brauer said.

04/18/2008

Microsoft Corp. said Friday it has partnered with Cbeyond Inc. and New Global Telecom Inc. (NGT), to provide SIP trunking and other VoIP services along with its Response Point IP PBX, announced in October 2007, beginning this summer.

The partnerships will enable the respective channel partners of the companies to offer a CPE-service bundle geared to small businesses between five and 50 employees.

The two VoIP providers are the first to pass interoperability testing with the Microsoft IP PBX and will be included in the Microsoft Response Point Service Pack 1 when it is released this summer for sale through Microsoft Small Business Specialists, one of the software company’s indirect sales channels.

While Cbeyond already has an agent program of its own, NGT, a wholesaler, has developed the Digital Voice Partner Program specifically for the Microsoft Small Business Specialists selling Response Point. While the providers will be working to woo Microsoft’s VARs, they also will be able to introduce Response Point to channel partners, such as telephony agents, that might be selling SIP trunking products.

Interested channel partners can become certified to sell Response Point after a single day of training and an online assessment. Microsoft is beginning a 12-city training tour next week that includes not only sales and positioning for Response Point, but also for sales of VoIP services from NGT and Cbeyond. Cost for the training is $95. Partners that pass the test are listed on the Microsoft Response Point Web site and able to share in the leads.

Partners also must be agents of the VoIP providers in order to receive compensation for the service. In NGT’s case, becoming an agent is a simple matter of signing up via a Web-based form.

“Because voice over IP is so easy to learn for people who have backgrounds in networking, this is a great way for Microsoft Small Business Specialists to bring in a new business,” said Ben Brauer, senior product manager for Response Point at Microsoft. ”To sell a phone system is a cool concept for our small business specialist. Bringing a service into the mix makes it even more enticing. We already are getting a lot of interest from our VAR community, but I think this is going to make it even more interesting.”

For the Microsoft VARs the “interesting” part is developing an annuity revenue stream. “They get better services at a lower cost and Small Business Specialists can start to build an annuity revenue stream that allows them to grow their business year over year without having to expand the business or work harder to do that,” explained NGT CEO Mike Donnell.

In addition to basic local calling features like local number porting, directory listing, caller ID/CNAM and 911, NGT also offers partners the opportunity to sell toll free services and network-based desktop fax capabilities and on-demand audio and Web conferencing – increasing their residual commission.

In addition, Brauer said, the services can help partners justify the initial capital outlay for the phone system, which retails for about $2,500 ($3,000 with LAN optimization and installation). Microsoft conducted an ROI analysis and determined that the payback on the Response Point IP PBX sold along with a SIP trunking service can be swift. “What we found was that a small business with 10-19 employees would save upwards of $8,000 in the first year of deploying a voice over IP service. … So, they are already seeing an ROI within the first year,” said Brauer.

The bundle also is designed to be a low-maintenance sale for the partner. It includes auto discovery of end points and an automatic configuration tool for selecting analog service or a particular SIP provider.

Response Point is a software-based IP PBX that is packaged as an appliance by three OEMs – Aastra Technologies Ltd., DLink Corp. and Quanta Computer Inc. DLink’s channel is being trained to sell the appliance and Aastra, whose channel targets enterprises, is developing a small business channel to sell the system as well, Brauer said.

04/18/2008

Microsoft Corp. said Friday it has partnered with Cbeyond Inc. and New Global Telecom Inc. (NGT), to provide SIP trunking and other VoIP services along with its Response Point IP PBX, announced in October 2007, beginning this summer.

The partnerships will enable the respective channel partners of the companies to offer a CPE-service bundle geared to small businesses between five and 50 employees.

The two VoIP providers are the first to pass interoperability testing with the Microsoft IP PBX and will be included in the Microsoft Response Point Service Pack 1 when it is released this summer for sale through Microsoft Small Business Specialists, one of the software company’s indirect sales channels.

While Cbeyond already has an agent program of its own, NGT, a wholesaler, has developed the Digital Voice Partner Program specifically for the Microsoft Small Business Specialists selling Response Point. While the providers will be working to woo Microsoft’s VARs, they also will be able to introduce Response Point to channel partners, such as telephony agents, that might be selling SIP trunking products.

Interested channel partners can become certified to sell Response Point after a single day of training and an online assessment. Microsoft is beginning a 12-city training tour next week that includes not only sales and positioning for Response Point, but also for sales of VoIP services from NGT and Cbeyond. Cost for the training is $95. Partners that pass the test are listed on the Microsoft Response Point Web site and able to share in the leads.

Partners also must be agents of the VoIP providers in order to receive compensation for the service. In NGT’s case, becoming an agent is a simple matter of signing up via a Web-based form.

“Because voice over IP is so easy to learn for people who have backgrounds in networking, this is a great way for Microsoft Small Business Specialists to bring in a new business,” said Ben Brauer, senior product manager for Response Point at Microsoft. ”To sell a phone system is a cool concept for our small business specialist. Bringing a service into the mix makes it even more enticing. We already are getting a lot of interest from our VAR community, but I think this is going to make it even more interesting.”

For the Microsoft VARs the “interesting” part is developing an annuity revenue stream. “They get better services at a lower cost and Small Business Specialists can start to build an annuity revenue stream that allows them to grow their business year over year without having to expand the business or work harder to do that,” explained NGT CEO Mike Donnell.

In addition to basic local calling features like local number porting, directory listing, caller ID/CNAM and 911, NGT also offers partners the opportunity to sell toll free services and network-based desktop fax capabilities and on-demand audio and Web conferencing – increasing their residual commission.

In addition, Brauer said, the services can help partners justify the initial capital outlay for the phone system, which retails for about $2,500 ($3,000 with LAN optimization and installation). Microsoft conducted an ROI analysis and determined that the payback on the Response Point IP PBX sold along with a SIP trunking service can be swift. “What we found was that a small business with 10-19 employees would save upwards of $8,000 in the first year of deploying a voice over IP service. … So, they are already seeing an ROI within the first year,” said Brauer.

The bundle also is designed to be a low-maintenance sale for the partner. It includes auto discovery of end points and an automatic configuration tool for selecting analog service or a particular SIP provider.

Response Point is a software-based IP PBX that is packaged as an appliance by three OEMs – Aastra Technologies Ltd., DLink Corp. and Quanta Computer Inc. DLink’s channel is being trained to sell the appliance and Aastra, whose channel targets enterprises, is developing a small business channel to sell the system as well, Brauer said.

Zultys and Aastra Telecom have reached an OEM pact to delivery the next line of ZIP Phones. As part of the announcement, Zultys and Aastra announced full interoperability between the Aastra 5i Series and the Zultys MX (Media eXchange) line. I’m a huge fan of Aastra SIP-based VoIP phones and they are perhaps my favorite of any brand due to their XML capabilities and extensive customization capabilities. I have one sitting on my desk right now. The 57i CT in fact, which comes with a cool cordless handset that communicates wirelessly with the desktop IP phone.

“In Zultys, we are delighted to find a SIP PBX partner that shares our core underlying philosophy that open standards should afford customers an easy-to-use, cost-effective communications solution that offers the maximum flexibility,” says John Drolet, Vice President of Sales at Aastra Telecom USA.

The interoperability testing involving the Aastra 5i Series, which consists of a line of SIP-based desktop and wireless telephones and expansion modules, including:
• 51i – Entry level single line set with 3 line/16 character display and 9 configurable speed dial keys using the number keypad
• 53i – Featured set with 3 line/16 character display and 4 programmable keys; compatible with up to three 536M expansion modules
• 55i – Advanced Featured set with 144 x 75 backlit LCD display, up to 26 programmable function capability; compatible with up to three 560M or 536M expansion modules
• 57i – Full Featured set with 144 x 128 backlit LCD display, up to 30 programmable function capability; compatible with up to three 560M or 536M expansion modules
• 57i CT – All the features of the Aastra 57i plus integrated cordless base providing VoIP mobility employing secure 2.4GHz Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum technology
• 536M – Expansion Module with 36 programmable keys
• 560M – Expansion Module with LCD Screen and 60 programmable keys

Using any of the Aastra 5i series phones paired with the latest build of Zultys’ MX software (version 3.2 or higher), gives some cool “out of the box” advanced functionality. In fact, Zultys told me, “MX software tightly integrates a suite of predefined critical features, including the so-called “Four P’s” – that is, Paging, Parking, Pick-Up and Provisioning.”

As a result, Zultys will soon make available the following additions to its portfolio of award-winning phones: the ZIP 53i, ZIP 55i, ZIP 57i, ZIP 57i CT as well as the ZIP 536m and ZIP 560m expansion modules. Under the terms of the OEM arrangement, those phones will be rebranded by Zultys and made available to its distributors and resellers.

“The addition of the Aastra 5i Series to our Zultys community creates a truly unique opportunity for organizations of all size migrating to pure IP or a converged IP environment. This further reinforces our commitment to offering customers unprecedented freedom of choice in finding a solution that is perfectly suited to meet their needs,” explains Jonna Paquette, VP of Sales and Marketing at Zultys.

Zultys and Aastra Telecom have reached an OEM pact to delivery the next line of ZIP Phones. As part of the announcement, Zultys and Aastra announced full interoperability between the Aastra 5i Series and the Zultys MX (Media eXchange) line. I’m a huge fan of Aastra SIP-based VoIP phones and they are perhaps my favorite of any brand due to their XML capabilities and extensive customization capabilities. I have one sitting on my desk right now. The 57i CT in fact, which comes with a cool cordless handset that communicates wirelessly with the desktop IP phone.

“In Zultys, we are delighted to find a SIP PBX partner that shares our core underlying philosophy that open standards should afford customers an easy-to-use, cost-effective communications solution that offers the maximum flexibility,” says John Drolet, Vice President of Sales at Aastra Telecom USA.

The interoperability testing involving the Aastra 5i Series, which consists of a line of SIP-based desktop and wireless telephones and expansion modules, including:
• 51i – Entry level single line set with 3 line/16 character display and 9 configurable speed dial keys using the number keypad
• 53i – Featured set with 3 line/16 character display and 4 programmable keys; compatible with up to three 536M expansion modules
• 55i – Advanced Featured set with 144 x 75 backlit LCD display, up to 26 programmable function capability; compatible with up to three 560M or 536M expansion modules
• 57i – Full Featured set with 144 x 128 backlit LCD display, up to 30 programmable function capability; compatible with up to three 560M or 536M expansion modules
• 57i CT – All the features of the Aastra 57i plus integrated cordless base providing VoIP mobility employing secure 2.4GHz Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum technology
• 536M – Expansion Module with 36 programmable keys
• 560M – Expansion Module with LCD Screen and 60 programmable keys

Using any of the Aastra 5i series phones paired with the latest build of Zultys’ MX software (version 3.2 or higher), gives some cool “out of the box” advanced functionality. In fact, Zultys told me, “MX software tightly integrates a suite of predefined critical features, including the so-called “Four P’s” – that is, Paging, Parking, Pick-Up and Provisioning.”

As a result, Zultys will soon make available the following additions to its portfolio of award-winning phones: the ZIP 53i, ZIP 55i, ZIP 57i, ZIP 57i CT as well as the ZIP 536m and ZIP 560m expansion modules. Under the terms of the OEM arrangement, those phones will be rebranded by Zultys and made available to its distributors and resellers.

“The addition of the Aastra 5i Series to our Zultys community creates a truly unique opportunity for organizations of all size migrating to pure IP or a converged IP environment. This further reinforces our commitment to offering customers unprecedented freedom of choice in finding a solution that is perfectly suited to meet their needs,” explains Jonna Paquette, VP of Sales and Marketing at Zultys.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (April 30, 2008) – Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX: “AAH”) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of the Enterprise Communication Business of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) subject to certain jurisdictions being deferred in order to comply with applicable transfer requirements and corresponding post-closing adjustments.

With this acquisition, Aastra will now have a global installed base of Enterprise Communication customers with a leading presence in Western Europe and a significant extended footprint in key markets across Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand) and North and South America.

The addition of Ericsson’s Enterprise Communications extends Aastra’s reach in internet protocol Communication Servers, Unified Communication applications and integrated mobility, to address the communication needs of both small and large businesses. Aastra has grown rapidly by protecting its customers’ investment while offering a roadmap for customers to evolve to IP communications at their own pace. Aastra will continue to build on Ericsson’s success by supporting all existing products and applications, and by providing a smooth migration path to new technologies.

About Aastra

Aastra Technologies Limited, is a global company at the forefront of the Enterprise Communication market. Headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, Aastra develops and delivers innovative and integrated solutions that address the communication needs of businesses small and large around the world. Aastra enables Enterprises to communicate and collaborate more efficiently and effectively by offering customers a full range of open standard IP-based and traditional communications networking products, including terminals, systems, and applications. For additional information on Aastra, visit our website at http://www.aastra.com/ . “Aastra” is a registered trademark of Aastra Technologies Limited.

This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (“forward-looking statements”). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “believes”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “intends” or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aastra, or developments in Aastra’s business or in its industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the heading “Risk Factors” in our annual information form filed on http://www.sedar.com/ , for the material factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made today. It is important to note that: unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe Aastra’s expectations as of the date of this press release; Aastra cautions readers not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release as actual results may differ materially from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect Aastra’s business, or if estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Therefore, Aastra cannot provide any assurance that forward-looking statements will materialize and Aastra assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or other reason.

For further information contact:
Allan Brett, CFO,
(905) 760-4160
investors@aastra.com