New Support Center and Information Technology Product Showcase Opens in Atlanta

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.

United Seal & Rubber selects Premise-Based IP Communications System from Zultys

ATLANTA, GA., October 6, 2008 – Zultys, Inc., a Silicon Valley company known for its open standards IP communications and telephony products, today recognized an innovative solution devised by Alliant DataTel, Inc. for a minority supplier of custom and standard rubber products.

United Seal & Rubber Co., Inc. (http://www.unitedseal.com/ ) recently needed to replace its aging phone and voice mail platforms. Alliant DataTel, Atlanta, Georgia ( http://www.goalliant.net/ ), a Zultys value added reseller since August 2004, was selected by Shirley Waters, United Seal’s controller, to displace an out-dated Tadiran Coral PBX and Callware Callerga voice mail server with a Zultys MX250 media exchange.

Shirley Waters explains; “Michael Kirchhoff, of Alliant installed the hardware in a couple of days, held training sessions before we went live on the system, and was here throughout the deployment. He was available to us when we needed assistance. In addition to an enhanced phone system with dynamic features, we can also send and receive fax information to our desktops. We have an IM (instant messaging) feature that is available to the users of the company. Also, some users now only answer their phone through their PC without touching the stylish Aastra handset. At this point, we are considering wireless headsets for them. From an administrative standpoint, Michael has been very helpful in answering questions, allowing me to learn the various features. We now have real time history reports available. I now can make changes to the phones, add, edit and delete users without waiting on a tech to arrive on site. We have increased the response time to our customers and improved the efficiency of our employees with this technology.”

“Our new system simultaneously manages both the data network and our voice communications. It provides secure instant messaging between colleagues, advanced voicemail, fax, and call recording features. I am most excited about the unified management dashboard. Just by looking at the presence icons, I know when anyone on my team is speaking with a client or engaged in a meeting. This is possible anywhere I have an Internet connection.”

“We will realize our nominal initial investment in four to six months. This whole voice-over-IP project came off exactly like Alliant promised and clearly in a speedy manner. The network and PSTN voice quality is excellent and we could not be happier with our decision in selecting Zultys and Alliant.”

Zultys’ award winning IP PBX systems offer an all-in-one turnkey system with pre-loaded software that does not require additional or external servers. It supports PC, Mac, and Linux equipment. Companies interested in learning more how they might benefit with a Zultys MX may contact Alliant at 1-770-441-9999.

About Alliant DataTel Inc.
Alliant DataTel, Inc., an Atlanta based company is a Zultys dealer. It was founded in 1996 to provide telecommunication and computer networking integration services to small – medium sized companies. The IT professionals at Alliant are committed to providing excellent service, quality products and valuable solution resources that help companies achieve their corporate goals.

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/.

About Zultys Inc.
Zultys, a Silicon Valley company founded in 2002, is showing what’s possible for Open Standards IP communications and telephony. The company’s Open Standards IP technology is the building block for its award winning IP PBX systems. Companies and organizations around the world are experiencing the benefits of an Open Standards IP platform for their communications needs. Find out more at http://www.zultys.com/.
###

SOURCE: Alliant DataTel, Inc.
Alliant DataTel, Inc.
Michael Kirchhoff, CEO
1.770.441.9999 ext. 307
1.877.GO ALLIANT
michaelk@goalliant.net

Zultys Introduces New ONE Pre-Packaged IP PBX Systems

Zultys Introduces New ONE Pre-Packaged IP PBX Systems
ONE Simplifies the Purchase Decision for Small to Medium Sized Businesses

Last update: 11:17 a.m. EDT Oct. 1, 2008
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Zultys, Inc. today announced a new line of hardware and software packages that make it easy for small to medium sized companies to purchase IP PBX enterprise systems. A Zultys ONE system is simple to buy and deploy, and scales in capacity as a company grows.

“We’ve been listening to customers in the marketplace,” said Steve Rothenberg, CEO of Zultys, Inc. “Most business owners want to focus on their mission, not on technology. They asked us to develop a streamlined process for purchasing an integrated suite of pre-packaged, pre-configured systems that would work seamlessly together, and would be easy to administer.”
The ready-to-use packages start with the award-winning MX250 platform. Customers then purchase a kit sized for the number of users in their organization. ONE packages will support up to 250 people without adding equipment, and can be extended to as many as 10,000 users across an entire system.

The entry level ONE Essential is built on the MX 30 platform for 10 users and is expandable to 30 users. Additional ONE packages available include the ONE/20, ONE/50, ONE/100, and ONE/200, and they include every necessary component for a state-of-the-art IP PBX communications system, except for the phones themselves.

Zultys, a Silicon Valley company known for developing innovative, open standards IP communications and telephony products, will offer the ONE systems through its national network of distributors and value-added resellers.

“I’m very excited to provide my customers with a simplified method of evaluating, selecting, and installing powerful phone systems,” said George Richardson, CEO of CT Distributing based in Greenville, South Carolina, one of Zultys’ largest U.S. distributors. “ONE kits come complete with the most requested features, like call forwarding, call routing, faxing, and centralized administration.”

“We’ve designed the ONE bundles to aggressively improve our competitive position in the small to medium size business market, and we expect to see an increase in sales as a result,” said Rothenberg.

Richardson continued, “CT Distributing prefers to recommend Zultys’ ONE because it is based on solid, open standards IP technology, which provides smarter, and more affordable, enterprise-level communications systems.”

Zultys’ award winning IP PBX systems offer an all-in-one turnkey system with pre-loaded software and do not require additional or external servers. The platform supports PC, Mac, and Linux equipment, so installation and maintenance are less complex, deploy faster, and are more cost effective than with other brands.

Companies interested in learning more about Zultys ONE and reseller opportunities may contact the company at 1-408-328-0450, Ext. 800.

About CT Distributing

Computer Telephony Distributing is a value-added distributor of products within the computer telephony and VoIP technology space. It provides full service sales engineering and technical support services, product warehousing and fulfillment, and reseller-oriented professional services. Coupled with over 30 years of traditional telecommunications and networking experience, its VoIP-centric expertise enables the company to help its resellers develop the VoIP solutions that they require to meet the needs of their customers. For more information, visit http://www.ctdistributing.com/.

About Zultys Inc.

Zultys, a Silicon Valley company founded in 2002, is defining what’s possible for Open Standards IP communications and telephony. The company’s Open Standards IP technology is the building block for its award winning IP PBX systems. Companies and organizations around the world are experiencing the benefits of an Open Standards IP platform for their communications needs. Find out more at http://www.zultys.com/.

SOURCE: Zultys, Inc. Zultys, Inc.
Jack Irving, 1-408-328-0450 ext. 206
Marketing
jack.irving@zultys.com

Providers Rally to Offer VoIP for Microsoft Response Point

Providers Rally to Offer VoIP for Microsoft Response Point
Cbeyond and New Global Telecom will offer leading digital voice service for small-business phone system Response Point.
Related Links

REDMOND, Wash. — April 18, 2008 — Industry-leading voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) providers are rallying around the Microsoft Response Point phone system to offer an easy-to-use, complete digital voice solution for small businesses. Today Microsoft Corp. announced that Cbeyond, Inc., and New Global Telecom, Inc. (NGT), will offer their superior digital voice services for Response Point. Small-business customers will be able to take advantage of simple, fully integrated VoIP service from these providers on Microsoft Response Point Service Pack 1 when it is released this summer.

“We’ve conducted thorough tests of the services delivered by Cbeyond and NGT and are pleased to align with these leaders and engage their channels to deliver Response Point as a complete VoIP solution to small businesses,” said Xuedong Huang, general manager of Microsoft Response Point. “Brought together, small businesses will experience all the benefits of Response Point’s magic blue button for voice dialing with the reliable voice services of these providers.”

Response Point chose to align with Cbeyond and NGT because of their focus on coverage, high quality of voice service and customer satisfaction. Each service provider uses the industry standard Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking, which institutes a common protocol among digital voice providers worldwide and will boost quality of service and overall network health. Response Point customers will be able to take advantage of digital voice service based on SIP.

“Microsoft’s attention to detail in catering to the small-business segment makes Response Point a natural fit for Cbeyond’s Internet protocol-based voice and data applications,” said Rob Consolazio, vice president of Marketing and Business Development at Cbeyond. “Small businesses that combine our BeyondVoice with SIPconnect service and the Response Point phone system will gain the advantage of communication tools that big businesses enjoy, at an affordable price.”

Each service provider plans to roll out unique partner programs for value-added resellers that will bolster their ability to reach and service small-business customers with Response Point.

“We have designed the Digital Voice Partner Program to cater to the needs of Microsoft Small Business Specialists and are pleased to provide a nationwide digital voice program to the Microsoft community,” said Mike Donnell, president and CEO of NGT. “As a leader in outsourced VoIP services, NGT’s focus and core expertise is on providing our partners with complete communications for the small-business customer.”

Cbeyond and NGT both will participate in the upcoming Response Point 12-city training tour for small-business specialists and value-added resellers, offering tutorials and guidance on their services. Training information and registration are available at http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=9241. Response Point will continue to test additional digital service providers and evaluate their ability to provide high-quality, easy-to-use digital voice service to Response Point customers.

About Cbeyond

Cbeyond, Inc. is a leading IP-based managed services provider that delivers integrated packages of communications and IT services to more than 33,000 small businesses throughout the United States. Cbeyond offers more than 20 productivity-enhancing applications including local and long-distance voice, broadband Internet, mobile, BlackBerry(R), broadband laptop access, voicemail, email, web hosting, fax-to-email, data backup, file-sharing and virtual private networking. Cbeyond manages these services over a private, 100-percent Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) facilities-based network. For more information on Cbeyond, visit www.cbeyond.net.

About New Global Telecom

New Global Telecom, Inc. is the leading provider of wholesale hosted and trunk-based VoIP solutions in the United States. The company’s nationwide services enable VARs, cable operators, CLECs, and ISPs to deliver a high quality, complete communication solution to address business end-user needs. NGT’s Network Performance Platform is a cornerstone of the service suites, and is an industry-leading network approach to delivering predictable end-user quality. NGT’s digital voice services include a complete range of telephony features, nationwide phone service, worldwide audio & web conferencing, desktop fax services, E911 service, training and other support. For more information, please visit www.ngt.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Telecommunications Equipment & Services

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Your structured cabling system is the backbone of the communications network that gives you an efficient means of gathering information, collaborating, and making decisions. Whether you’re calling a customer, e- mailing a vendor, or accessing your company’s product database, you’re relying on your communications components and cabling products to perform.

Recognizing this fundamental truth, Alliant DataTel, Inc. combines superior workmanship with high quality products to design and implement cabling systems that deliver reliability and performance. Our highly trained technicians will work with you to define your current requirements and to anticipate your future ones, enabling us to structure a cabling system that satisfies your evolving technology needs.

By offering a variety of cabling and hardware components from leading manufacturers, we deliver a broad selection and solid opportunities for cost savings. We’ll install and certify your cabling system with the utmost attention to detail, and we’ll stand behind our work with a 15-year cable warranty. We’ll even provide you with wiring maps and equipment inventories to simplify record keeping and maintenance.

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“VoIP vs. Digital"

What is the Best Solution for Small Business?

The VoIP system vs. the digital key system debate is very intriguing. Both platforms have their distinct benefits. At XBLUE Networks we have both types of system platforms included in our product plan. We made the business decision to develop and introduce our digital key system (45p Small Business Communications system) first for one very basic reason. We are convinced that digital key systems, in an overwhelming majority of applications, still offers the best value to small business (and to the small business system reseller as well, which is equally as important).

Let’s start with the benefits of VoIP. The one benefit that definitely has traction is the “sizzle factor of IP”. This certainly correctly conveys that the product is of the latest technology which is an immediate attention getter. However, the other supposedly substantive benefits claimed by VoIP proponents tend to fizzle out considerably. This is especially true for small business applications.

In almost every instance with VoIP systems, the same top feature/benefits are always highlighted. These are as follows:

Remote office: One unique benefit of VoIP systems is the ability to seamlessly mesh other branch offices communications without the need of PSTN lines and/or long distance charges (of course, the long distance expense benefit of VoIP is quickly evaporating as most carriers now offer unlimited LD with their service).

Still, seamlessly connecting remote offices is a real and valuable benefit. The problem is, most small businesses (easily over 90%) are single site applications. This renders this major benefit of VoIP as virtually worthless to the overwhelming majority of potential small business customers. Yet in almost all VoIP system sales literature remote office is consistently drilled as a “unique” system benefit of VoIP. This is a true statement, however, just as true is the reality that it is a “unique” occurrence when a small business actually desires this capability.

Remote Worker: This benefit has more substance for small business than the remote site application. Some small businesses do have remote workers, but again this is still a very small percentage of companies. Another application of this feature is a business owner who wants to stay in touch with his office 24/7. In this case, with VoIP the business owner could have a telephone extension from his office system in his home. However, most small business owners who have the need to always stay in touch find that their cell phone best meets this need. And, most digital key systems offer as a standard feature “remote call forwarding to a cell phone.”

Unified Messaging: This is a big one and has some wallop. At least it used to, until XBLUE launched our email delivery for small business as a standard feature of our XBLUE 45p system. This has virtually eliminated the unified messaging advantage of VoIP systems as the key benefit of UM is delivering VM messages to your email in-box (which we now do).

Some other VoIP benefits are as follows:

System administration: Combines voice and data network administration/programming. This is a big advantage for large businesses but again not too important to a small business. In a large business the IT manager is usually involved in the buying decision and centralized administration is very beneficial as “moves, adds and changes” are required on a daily basis. However, in a small business, this is rarely the case. Once programming is set-up and initialized changes are not very frequent. The “install and walk away” scenario for the small business system market is as true today as it ever was.

Calendar: This feature does not appear to provide any real benefit over Microsoft’s Outlook Calendar which is already prominently utilized.

Call Assistant: Most small businesses do not use a dedicated operator position. In fact, auto attendants are most common to distribute calls in a small business.

Call Queuing: Most digital key systems have some version of this feature as well but it is rarely used since most small businesses do not have a call center.

Now for the benefits of digital key systems:

Call processing features: Today’s digital key systems are loaded with call processing features that have been designed, developed and implemented over many years of experience working directly with customers for their voice needs. VoIP systems, understandably, have not yet caught up. These call processing needs are normally only discovered after an examination of each small businesses unique application. A mistake a new VoIP system customer often makes is they assume the new VoIP system will have all of the same features of their previous phone system. This is obviously not always the case as VoIP is primarily and simply a new call transport technology, not necessarily a better call processing solution.

External interface: Like call processing features these applications have evolved over time and much direct interface with customers. These can range from simple interface needs like analog ports for cordless phones, external page, door phones, physical contacts for external ringing or to open a gate. VoIP systems are beginning to address some of these needs but often some important external interface applications are not yet available.

Line appearances: In the key system market, customers have long preferred to have a direct button access/status for each line. In fact, this benefit is the origin of the name “key system – a key for each line.” Over the years several manufacturers tried to introduce small PBXs (which use line access “pool” keys instead of dedicated line buttons) into the key system space but to little avail. Small business customers like their key telephone with its direct line access and status. Many VoIP systems also “pool” the line keys like a PBX and do not offer a full benefit of direct line access for all lines.

Buttons: Even the manufacturers of key systems have fought this one for years and introduced lower cost phones with fewer buttons but with limited results at best. Customers still want their buttons. A key system mainstay, DSS/BLF station keys, are still prominent as a key benefit of small business telephone systems. Also, having direct access to features via a button is still a big deal; Voice Mail box, Paging, DND, Conference, Redial, Transfer, Headset mode, the list is long and differs in significance by customer. Like the situation with line appearances, most VoIP systems cannot match the digital key systems in this area of importance.

Total Cost of Ownership: There is no avoiding it; despite the claims of VoIP manufacturers the best communications value for a small business is still overwhelmingly a digital key system. The VoIP systems are beginning to get closer, and they will get there someday, but they still have a ways to go.

The Reseller: As a manufacturer or distributor, you can’t sell phone systems unless you have a reseller network of dealers. So far, in the small business space, the reseller is still predominantly the traditional telephony reseller (interconnect), not the data VAR. This dynamic is slowly changing as both the telephony reseller and data VAR begin to “crossover” but there are other reasons for this situation as well.

First of all, the telephony reseller is fully aware of all the issues listed above. Which means they are still convinced that at least for now and the near future, the digital key system is still the best choice for a small business. Add in the fact that the telephony reseller is far more comfortable and knowledgeable with the key system product (and also the key system manufacturer) and this provides a telling summary of the existing landscape.

Also, many data VARs have so far limited their “crossover to voice” efforts to larger business and system opportunities. Many of the smaller independent telephony resellers are still more than willing and able to provide a high level of quality service to the small business market.

In summary, at XBLUE, we embrace both VoIP and existing digital platforms. It’s just that when we had to decide which system would provide the best immediate results for our company, we let the market landscape and related prospects make the decision for us. This led us directly to the digital key system.

Our VoIP system will be released in the next few months which we believe will be excellent timing to offer customers a new choice. By developing and implementing a “balanced technology product plan” our future success is not bound by any specific projection of acceptance of a new technology or particular doctrine. We won’t have to subjectively force either side of the argument as others may to support a more limited R & D plan. And then we will let the market decide; on its own terms and indefinite timing, whatever that may be.

We believe the best approach is to place the prospects of our future success firmly in our commitment to deliver the best value to small business. And, that this absolute goal will become and remain clearly evident as the distinguishing feature and core value of XBLUE.

Are You Ready For VoIP?

General Information
November 23, 2007 • Vol.29 Issue 47

SMEs Are Ramping Up For The Big Move

If only Voice over IP systems were easy to snap into the small to midsized enterprise. While we may not be far away from the perfect VoIP world, the technology is getting closer, as SMEs move toward replacing existing PBX systems or mixing both systems together. So how do you break your SME into the VoIP side of enterprise communications? How do you know your network is ready for VoIP? And what questions should you ask before implementing VoIP?

Chad Agate, co-founder and CEO of NeoPhonetics (http://www.neophonetics.com/), says SMEs are moving toward VoIP systems for good reason. He says SMEs are interested in VoIP for two reasons. First, SMEs understand the total cost of management savings associated with migrating to VoIP systems. Second, SMEs can uniquely benefit from the productivity gains associated with unified communications.

Agate says, “Unfortunately, smaller businesses that want to achieve both significant savings and advanced unified communications have limited options in the market today because incremental licensing fees associated with additional users and additional features can make complete IP PBX systems more expensive than anticipated.” He says the combination of wanting to maximize cost savings and achieve better unified communications is leading some SMEs to open-source IP PBX solutions.

Michael Kirchhoff, senior convergence engineer at Alliant DataTel in Atlanta (http://www.goalliant.net/), says medium-sized businesses are ready to make the move to VoIP. Alliant DataTel is a reseller for Zultys Technologies (http://www.zultys.com/), a California-based communications solution manufacturer. Kirchhoff says Zultys has had great successes since August 2004 focusing almost exclusively on VoIP solutions for its clients. “The greatest successes,” he says, “have been multisite companies with clearly defined IT personnel who are able to support VoIP. The failures have been very small companies not having the budget and staff to support and understand the technology.”

Ready Or Not

So how can SMEs tell if their networks are ready for VoIP? Kirchhoff says for starters, many VoIP technology prospects do not fully understand the necessary requirements to get ready for VoIP. He says many refuse to admit the necessity for backend upgrades, as well. Agate, on the other hand, says while these requirements may seem technical to some, increasingly, he is finding that some organizations meet them whether they realize it or not.

Agate says networks need three basic features to be VoIP ready. “First,” he says, “the cabling infrastructure must be Category 5 or better to adequately handle voice traffic. Second, the network switches must have PoE (Power over Ethernet), Quality of Service, and virtual local-area networks to create prioritization for voice traffic and to be able to carry voice traffic if electricity is interrupted. Finally, the network must have 80Kbps of bandwidth for every concurrent phone call your business needs to make.”

Network evaluations also play a key role in SME VoIP system readiness. But Agate recommends keeping things simple. He says, “For example, we provide a simple remote network evaluation that simulates voice traffic across a network that only takes less than an hour. After this evaluation is complete, a business can rest assured they are ready for VoIP.” Agate says if not, NeoPhonetics provides the specific steps that are necessary to get ready for VoIP. Kirchhoff says as part of the evaluation process, it’s important for any SME to have the ability to support VLANs (virtual LANs) and Quality of Service.

Upgrades also play a key part for SMEs looking to move to VoIP systems. Kirchhoff says SMEs should not be without managed switches and enterprise VPN devices supporting telephony feature sets. The good news here, Agate says, is that the majority of SMEs he sees already have enough bandwidth and Category 5 cabling to handle VoIP. He says a clear majority also tends to have a number of network switches with QoS, VLAN, and PoE capability, but generally, SMEs need to purchase some number of additional switches or routers with these features to ensure a quality VoIP deployment.

Answered Questions

Agate says without a doubt the single most important question to answer is: What is your organization trying to achieve with VoIP? He says, “Too often, organizations begin trying to achieve specific cost savings and then decide to invest larger sums in advanced unified communications capabilities. Understanding how your organization will use its new communications capabilities will help keep the focus on the correct balance between new features and cost savings.” He says before considering a solution or vendor, an organization must understand the level of expertise and service it will need from outside integration experts.

According to Agate, too many small to medium-sized enterprises select a solution that is adequate for immediate needs, but they do not consider the horizon in terms of how long they will be using their solution of choice. He notes, “Organizations that consider their expansion and business process integration needs over the next three to five years make better decisions about which solutions and vendors to select.”

by Chris A. MacKinnon

http://www.goalliant.net/

INTERNET TELEPHONY® Magazine’s Awards Zultys its 2007 Product of the Year Award

MX Version 3.2 Recognized as Outstanding Innovation

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Zultys Technologies, the premier developer and manufacturer of pure SIP communication solutions for small to medium size businesses and enterprises ranging from 10 to 10,000 users, announced today that Technology Marketing Corporation’s (TMC®) INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has named the MX SIP PBX running Software Version 3.2 as a recipient of its 2007 Product of the Year Award. INTERNET TELEPHONY has been the VoIP Authority Since 1998.
“Zultys has proven they are committed to quality and excellence while addressing real needs in the marketplace. INTERNET TELEPHONY is pleased to grant a 2007 Product of the Year Award to the MX system,” said Rich Tehrani, TMC President and Editor-in-Chief of INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. “We’re proud to honor their hard work and accomplishments and look forward to more innovative solutions in the future.”
Released in September 2007, MX Software Version 3.2 represents a significant upgrade for the award-winning MX30 and MX250 IP PBX systems. Among its most relevant functional enhancements include:
Z-Connect (NAT Traversal for SIP) – Supports remote users to connecting directly to the MX phone system without the need to set up a complex VPN or other specialized network configuration. For information on NAT Traversal for SIP can be found in a White Paper available via the Zultys Knowledge Base System (http://kbs.zultys.com).
Third-party phone integration – This enables tighter integration (paging, park, pick-up, provisioning and busy lamp indication) with third-party SIP phones manufactured by leading companies like Aastra Telecom and Polycom.
Software Patch Manager – The installation, removal and management of firmware patches for MX products are now facilitated through the MX Admin UI. This represents a major advantage for VARs, end users, and anyone responsible for maintaining the MX product by making it easy to keep the operating software at its most current level. For more details please refer to the Patch Manager White Paper available via the Zultys KBS.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the applications, products and features integration enabled by a standard-based platform like our MX system. In the weeks to come, we plan to further demonstrate the engineering prowess that serves as the foundation of this company,” said Avi Wienrib, Chairman and CEO, Zultys Technologies.
A full list of Product of the Year winners will be published in the February, 2008 issue of INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. (www.itmag.com) For more information about TMC, please visit www.tmcnet.com.
About INTERNET TELEPHONY magazineINTERNET TELEPHONY has been the VoIP Authority since 1998. Since the first issue in February of 1998, INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has been providing unbiased views of the complicated converged communications space. INTERNET TELEPHONY offers rich content from solutions-focused editorial content to reviews on products and services from TMC Labs. INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has a circulation of 225,000 including pass-along readers. For more information, please visit www.itmag.com.
About TMCTechnology Marketing Corporation (TMC) publishes Customer Interaction Solutions, INTERNET TELEPHONY, Unified Communications, and IMS Magazine. TMCnet, TMC’s Web site, is the leading source of news and articles for the communications and technology industries. Ranked in the top 6,000 most visited Web sites in the world by alexa.com*, TMCnet serves as many as three million unique visitors each month. TMC is also the first publisher to test new products in its own on-site laboratories, TMC Labs. In addition, TMC produces INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO, and Call Center 2.0 Conference. For more information about TMC, visit www.tmcnet.com. (*alexa.com is an amazon.com company that ranks Web sites by their traffic levels. Neither alexa.com nor amazon.com is affiliated with TMCnet.) For more information about TMC, visit www.tmcnet.com.
About Zultys TechnologiesZultys Technologies is the premier developer and manufacturer of pure SIP communication solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses and enterprises ranging from 10 to 10,000 users. The award-winning standalone design of the MX product line offers innovative solutions that increase worker productivity, scalability for future growth and investment protection, and interoperability with industry standard SIP devices. Zultys is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the world. For more information on Zultys as well as our products and solutions, please visit: http://www.zultys.com.
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Contacts:Robert LiuZultys Technologies(408) 328-0450 ext. 726Bob.Liu@zultys.comwww.zultys.com
Jan PierretTMC203-852-6800, ext. 228 jpierret@tmcnet.com