Sony Europe’s IT Peripherals division launchs two new headsets designed with comfort and mobility in mind. The DR-EX230DP is a compact in-ear headset with in-line microphone, which has three sizes of ear piece designed for ultimate comfort. The DR-G250DP is a lightweight neckband headset with a foldable strap mechanism and retractable pipe microphone. Each headset makes a perfect all-in-one solution whether the user is notebook or PC orientated.

The DR-G250DP offers an alternative design headset, with and an adjustable lightweight neckband for a precise and comfortable fit for long lasting wear. The fully retractable pipe microphone is ideal for online multi-player gaming, internet chat or VoIP calls. While the DR-G250DP features a noise cancelling microphone for speech recognition accuracy and maximum signal clarity. The strap folds and collapses for transport and the headset has a 3M cable and weighs just 75g.

Earlier this month I reported on Herb Greenberg's video demonstration of "The MagicJack" and how it might be a Skype or Vonage killer. Om Malik also reported on MagicJack Simpler VoIP than Skype. Well today Om Malik has a follow up from Spring VON 2007 on the MagicJack, which included a live demo and interesting tidbits from Dan Borislow.

"The consumer side of MagicJack goes like this: Users will plug the USB end of the ‘jack’ into their Internet-connected computer, and will plug a phone into the other end of the device. The device then boots a softphone onto the screen (in 28 seconds, in our impromptu test); you then can pick up the phone and start dialing. The MagicJack will cost $39.99 for a jack with a memory chip (for the softphone), or $29.99 for one without memory (you can alternatively download the client and keep it on your PC). Yearly subscriptions thereafter will cost $19.99, Borislow has said."

You should read Om's entire article on The Magic behind MagicJack.

Phoenix Audio Technologies introduces the “Quatro” Speakerphone, the highest performance device of its kind. The Quatro features revolutionary, patent pending, concepts and un-paralleled audio pickup and broadcast qualities.

The Quatro utilizes next generation digital signal processing technologies aimed to bring participants closer, even when they are situated far away from the speakerphone. With its multiple microphones and multiple speakers, the Quatro analyzes the room’s acoustics and eliminates noise, reverberations, echoes and other acoustic interferences.

The Quatro operates as an add-on device to existing telephones. It utilizes their Man Machine Interface features (like dialing, memory storing and other), while seamlessly taking over the audio portion of the communication and replacing it with its processed and improved audio stream.

Packet8 has begun shipping its recently introduced Packet8 Video Terminal Adapter, a one-of-a-kind broadband phone adapter with a built-in LCD screen that turns any regular home phone into a state-of-the-art, full motion videophone.

The Packet8 Tango Video Terminal Adapter takes the concept of traditional analog terminal adapters one step further with the addition of advanced H.264 video, allowing for significantly better video quality compared to H.263 at the same bandwidth. The Packet8 Tango is fully SIP compliant and interoperates with 8x8's previous generation videophone, the Packet8 DV326 as well as its video soft phone, Packet8 Softalk. This sleek-looking 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 1.38" free standing device incorporates a built-in, high resolution 5" LCD color display and 180 degree rotating CCD camera to deliver advanced full-motion video at up to 30 frames per second along with crisp, delay-free audio.

"The Packet8 Tango VTA received rave reviews during its debut at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show," said 8x8 Vice President of Marketing & Sales Huw Rees. "8x8's goal in developing this device was to create a very stylized, consumer friendly product that delivers outstanding video communications at an affordable price. Additionally, by enabling users to plug their regular home phone into the device and make voice-only Internet calls as well as video calls, we expanded the functionality beyond that of competitive offerings."

Fonality announce a new enterprise telephony appliance based on trixbox and a range of complementary professional support options. The trixbox Appliance comes pre-installed with the trixbox software platform and is an industrial grade rack-mountable server with dual hard disk and dual power supply redundancy options. It is aimed at businesses with five to 500 employees and can be purchased for use with VoIP, E1/T1 or up to 48 analog lines. Created for trixbox and Asterisk resellers, as well as IT professionals, the trixbox Appliance costs $999 and delivers the industry’s best price performance value for a PBX.

The trixbox Appliance is powered by Intel and comes with pre-configured Sangoma line cards with industry-leading Octasic echo-cancellation hardware inside. Broad support for the appliance has been announced by a growing trixbox ecosystem that includes phone manufacturers Polycom, Aastra, and Grandstream, as well as VoIP service providers VoicePulse and Teliax.

Vonage and Motorola announce the release of a new wireless router that will make it easy for customers to use fax, telephone and Internet services at the same time. Motorola, known for its innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications, developed the VT2542 to meet the sophisticated needs of Vonage's customers. The VT2542 enables Voice-over-IP (VoIP) telephony and includes a 4-port wired and 802.11 b/g wireless access point for home networking connectivity. This new device is available at http://www.vonage.com for $59.99 after a $40 instant rebate ($99.00-$40.00=$59.99) (a $9.95 shipping and handling fee and a $29.99 activation fee is charged).

Actiontec Electronics announces that three of its international corporate customers, each with significant international calling needs, have cut their overseas phone costs by an average of 50% or more through the use of VoSKY Exchange, Actiontec's PBX-to-Skype gateway product. In addition to their dramatic telecom savings, the companies have increased productivity and convenience for their employees by allowing them to access Skype lines from any standard desktop phone connected to the PBX.

VoSKY Exchange enables companies of all sizes to centralize and control Skype calling by bridging their Private Branch Exchange equipment directly to Skype, the world's largest VoIP supplier with over 130 million users. The VoSKY Exchange connects directly the company's PBX equipment, adding multiple Skype lines.

Panasonic and deltathree announce that deltathree's newly formed consumer brand, joip, will be the exclusive VoIP service provider for Panasonic's GLOBARANGE series of hybrid 2-line cordless phones. Through joip's VoIP offering and Panasonic's consumer electronics expertise, the two companies aim to create a global community by providing free calling between joip-enabled GLOBARANGE phones in all regions of the world.*

GLOBARANGE phones are hybrid 2-line 5.8GHz and DECT cordless phones, supporting both landline and joip-powered VoIP services. The phones allow calls to be made and received via both the VoIP line and a regular landline connection from any of its expandable cordless handsets. This innovative phone provides a solution for consumers who want to enjoy the best of both worlds: the traditional landline phone and VoIP. Consumers can maximize the benefits of VoIP service, including free and low-cost calls as well as advanced features, without the hassle of being tied to a computer or the need for an external adaptor. At the same time, they maintain their current landline service and traditional phone user experience.

Herb Greenberg columnist of Market Watch talks about "The Magic Jack" and how it might be a Skype and/or Vonage killer. Anyways here's the video so check it out and leave me some feedback.

Camrivox launches Microsoft Office Outlook integration for its Flexor 500 IP phone, a further extension of its Computer Telephony Integration capabilities.

With Camrivox’s Flexor 500 IP Phone, "call business" and "call mobile" buttons are added to Microsoft Outlook contacts, making dialing a contact a single-click task. When an incoming call is received, a pop-up window shows the relevant Outlook contact. The Outlook Journal also records details of all calls.

"The Outlook integration on the Flexor 500 is way ahead of all products in this class, which gives resellers and service providers a great opportunity to bring these advanced capabilities, previously associated only with enterprise-level VoIP installations, to small and medium sized businesses" said David Moorhouse, VP of marketing at Camrivox. "This increases the productivity and efficiency of business users by adding new capabilities and features to the most used business application"

SunRocket and American Telecom Services launch a fully certified DECT 6.0 cordless multi-handset Internet phone powered by SunRocket. The E6501S DECT phone will be available through nationwide retail channels beginning this month, starting with one of the nation's largest office superstores.

With an integrated router, users no longer require a separate Internet phone adapter, as full VoIP capabilities are already built in. In addition, because the DECT 6.0 phone operates in the 1.9 GHz frequency band, defined by the FCC specifically for cordless phones, the DECT phone avoids interference problems associated with home networks and other wireless devices operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies -- such as Wi-Fi, microwave ovens and garage door openers.

Citel launches the Portico Telephone VoIP Adapter, enabling enterprises to quickly and affordably convert existing PBX phones into IP phones over existing wiring infrastructure. The Portico platform delivers the features and functionality of VoIP without the costs associated with typical “rip and replace” VoIP migration solutions, such as network upgrades, new handsets, and retraining.

Citel’s Portico TVA connects legacy PBX handsets to a premise-based IP PBX or Hosted IP service provider network and dramatically reduces the expenditure and disruption usually associated with IP telephony migration. High-value VoIP features and services pass through Portico TVA directly to existing PBX handsets over existing wiring, transforming them into new IP phones. With Portico, enterprises avoid the expense of a LAN assessment, LAN upgrade, and new IP handsets. A laptop or desktop web browser is used for enhanced VoIP features such as click to call, simultaneous ringing, and Microsoft Outlook integration.

Panasonic announces the availability of the Panasonic Wi-Fi phone for use with Skype, the world's fastest-growing Internet communications offering.

The KX-WP1050, an easy to install and use Wi-Fi Panasonic product, is one in a series of planned products that are Skype Certified. This new device uses Wi-Fi access to allow Skype users to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype calls, make inexpensive SkypeOut calls to landlines and mobiles worldwide, and receive SkypeIn calls from landlines and mobiles. With the included Wi-Fi base unit, the solution is simple to plug in and use, without using a PC.

"With the growing popularity of Skype and the mass availability of broadband in homes, offices and hotels, the KX-WP1050 will be a powerful communications tool for anyone who wants to take advantage of easily accessible and either free or inexpensive Internet calling," said Mike Timar, national marketing manager, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "This exciting product will enable greater flexibility in communications for both home and business users."

Plantronics put the pedal to the metal with the launch of the Sound Coach, a 44-foot long mobile marketing unit designed to educate and train Plantronics' valued channel partners and end-users on the benefits of wireless headset solutions in the office, at home and on the go.

The Plantronics "Sound Innovation Experience" tour includes:

• self-guided iPod audio tours that highlight Plantronics' legacy of sound innovation, headset technology fundamentals and emerging trends driving headset usage for both businesses and consumers,
• product demonstrations that feature Plantronics' newest corded and wireless solutions for use with office, home and mobile phones, and for popular applications such as, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Unified Communications and PC and console gaming,
• an immersive presentation focused on current headset market opportunities with tips on identifying the ideal Plantronics headset, and
• a brief Q&A session with a Plantronics specialist to receive a certificate of completion confirming their education on Plantronics' award-winning offerings.

The Plantronics Sound Coach's first stop is at the VoiceCon Spring tradeshow, March 5-8, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. The Sound Coach will then visit numerous cities in Florida before driving across the U.S.

Aastra 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.