I just got my hands on a Polycom CX200 OCS phone. Watch my video first impression review.
Ever Wish You Could Be Notified When Your VOIP Quality Drops? VoIPspear Does it for $1 a Month!
Just today I had a location that started getting crummy VoIP quality. Guess how I found out? Yeah, my client had to call me! I hate that! So I started looking for a MOS VoIP quality monitor web service and VoIPspear showed up. They have a free version that will show you a chart of your MOS quality for last 6 hours. Or for $1 a month they will send an email. Check them out at http://www.voipspear.com and let me know what you think of them. Or if you know a better service, please let a comment.
Quality VoIPing fellows!
OCS--A Product No Windows PBX Professional Should Overlook
I don’t usually get this excited about a product. But we have been reviewing OCS 2007 R2 and I am blown away. This product is just—WOW. Not only video conferencing but Hi-Def video conferencing. Super high quality screen sharing: Yes, others can control your screen if you allow them. How about MAC screen sharing client? Windows Mobile and Java OCS clients take your communications on the road. Let UC read your email to you and, oh yes, if you want it can turn your voicemails into email also. Hey, want to have a forwarding rule based on an appointment in Outlook? No problem. How about a full featured, full screen Attendent console. And I haven’t mentioned all the little touches that make things go smoother like…Windows Media player being turned down when you get a call, a little indicator for EACH conference attendee to show if they are currently speaking, IM’ing or viewing your screen cast…
If you are a Windows PBX professional you will NOT want to overlook this product. My opinion is that OCS will change the Windows-based communication landscape. If Microsoft makes an OCS edition that is simplified & catered to the small business--I predict it will be devastatingly disruptive in that market.
What Microsoft Must Do to Make OCS Work in the Small Business
Joe Schurman, Response Point and OCS expert, lays out what Microsoft must do to make OCS work in the small business now that Response Point has be tabled. He has some excellent insights.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/43423
You may also have interest in my own blog article about the same topic:
How to Configure snom Phone to Register with OCS
snom is the only open SIP based phone to also natively connect to OCS. (yes, you can connect to OCS and a SIP IP PBX at the same time!) Here are the instructions on how to connect them to OCS.
http://www.snom.com/en/products/unified-communications/microsoft-ocs/how-to-configure/
OCS Connectivity Test Website
Checkout https://www.testocsconnectivity.com/
New Phone Form Factor OCS End Point: Polycom CX300 USB
There are a limited number of OCS (Office Communication Server) hardware endpoints at this point. Some of the ones I know about are:
-Polycom CX700 (sometimes call Tanjay)
-Polycom CX700 (sometimes call Tanjay)
-Polycom CX200 USB w/ no display
-Polycom Conference Phone
-Snom 3XX, 8XX, and MeetingPoint OCS Editions
The Polycom CX300 is unique in the it is a traditional phone form factor complete with LCD display that works in tandem with the software Microsoft Office Communicator. It is also a very reasonable price at $199 USD list. (The phone does not work if your PC is not running)
Read more about it at Jason Shave's Blog:
-Snom 3XX, 8XX, and MeetingPoint OCS Editions
The Polycom CX300 is unique in the it is a traditional phone form factor complete with LCD display that works in tandem with the software Microsoft Office Communicator. It is also a very reasonable price at $199 USD list. (The phone does not work if your PC is not running)
Read more about it at Jason Shave's Blog:
Get Free Hosted Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 R2 for 60 Days
https://r2.uctrial.com/register.aspx
SIP Video Camera by Z3 Technology
Integrated 802.11g and wired Ethernet
SIP Camera (Unify internet and Telco networks); IP Camera + SIP Phone
Multiple Access Point; 3G Phone, Softphone access via PC, VoIP/Video Phone, PSTN phone
Two-way audio and one-way video; Speakerphone with echo cancellation
Remote Contols via DTMF Tones (PCM, RFC2833, SIP Info), Control PTZ
Monitoring (Intrusion Detection); PIR Body Detection, Motion Detection, A/V Streaming
Remote Notification; SMS, email with attached JPEG, emergency call button
Network Management; Web-based configuration tool, HTTP upgrade via web GUI
Call Management; A/V calls, emergency call list, speakerphone
Approximate USD cost is $250.
http://www.z3technology.com/SIP-Camera.htm
I'm Once Again Astonished by pbxnsip's Ease of Administration
Just this afternoon I received a call from a client that wanted 2 phones to be switched. For the sake of simplicity we’ll say they wanted extension 101 to have a fancier model phone and extension 102 to have the cheaper phone. How complicated should this be?
I logged into the remote pbxnsip phone server using the web administration console. I just copied the MAC address from one pbxnsip extension to the other, clicked “save” and then click “check-sync” to reboot the phones. One minute later the phone identities were switched! (I didn’t have to log into any of the snom phones.)
Wow! That is ease of administration!
snom To Release IP PBX Phone System?
Looking for a Windows Mobile SIP Softphone?
http://www.tabletmedia.com/ifon.html
Will SIP Automate Our Homes Someday?
I was thinking about how to automate our office and did a little research. I’ve been noticing more SIP devices: Security camera, door controllers, door video camera, SIP speaker and more. Will SIP eventually control our homes? These guys say SIP will make a great home automation protocol:
http://www.research.telcordia.com/iapp/
http://www.enseirb.fr/cosynux/HomeSIP/
Looking for a Standard SIP Operator Panel Software?
Take a look here:
http://www.voiceoperatorpanel.com/
http://www.voiceoperatorpanel.com/videos.shtml
I'm waiting to get a live demo and the cost. (not free) The website says tested with pbxnsip, Communigate, Asterisk and SipXecs.
This just in: I just recieved an update from voiceoperatorpanel.com and the price is $99 for the Lite edition and $399 for full edition. Not bad in my opinion. You can also get a trial version which the company sent VERY quick!
Microsoft PC Cordless Phone System --Circa 1999?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0A8n4POU4
Tom Keating in this article (last paragraph) noted the product flopped.
http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/microsoft-response-point-voip-for-business.asp
SNOM Adds SIP PA Announcement Unit to Lineup
Snom is certainly not sitting around! The new snom m9 DECT phone just showed up on their website and now they are offering a SIP PA Announcement system unit too. POE or traditional power, Web management interface, 4Watt amplifier, pass through ethernet, multi-cast, and 4 free progammable output pins. I haven't seen pricing or availability date yet. Also I'm hoping it features the Snom SIP stack. Take a look for yourself:
Syspine Makes FREE Softphone for Response Point
Response Point is going through it's struggles but apparently OEM's are still moving things forward as Syspine has just released a softphone for Response Point. Call pop, Skins, and remote phone are all features it has. Take a look at it over at:
http://www.syspine.com/RP-310Softphone.aspx