ooVoo announces the results of a blind study conducted by a third party research firm to demonstrate how its product stacks up against category leader Skype.

The study results show that ooVoo is preferred by 8 out of 10 Skype users, who cited superior sound and video quality as some of the reasons why they favored ooVoo for a better video communication experience delivered anywhere, anytime.

In addition to quality, a number of factors contribute to users’ overall preference of ooVoo over Skype. For example, ooVoo offers 6-way multi-point chat, versus Skype which offers only 5-way, a feature that’s currently in a beta testing phase and has experienced a number of bugs1. ooVoo hosts video chat on dedicated servers that keep quality more consistent. Skype’s technology relies on users’ individual processors making service less reliable in situations with uncertain bandwidth.

VoicePulse has been officially tested and named a verified VoIP operator for Acrobits Softphone app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Acrobits is a privately owned software development company with a focus on mobile software development.

For many VoIP users, getting the correct settings for your provider in a SIP client can be a complicated process. Customers will only have to enter their VoicePulse SIP credentials and password to get started using Acrobits Softphone. The SIP app from Acrobits costs just $7.99 in iTunes. Download the SIP app here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/acrobits-softphone-sip-phone/id314192799?mt=8. VoicePulse will also be participating in upcoming beta testing for Acrobits softphone application for the Android OS.

CounterPath announces a new release of its Bria multimedia softphone. With analysts forecasting that unified communications client shipments will grow 65 percent annually through 2015, Bria 3.1 is ideal for enterprises that want to replace their deskphones or integrate a UC application as an adjunct to their IP phone solutions.

CounterPath's Bria 3.1 is a highly secure, standards-based softphone that enables voice and high-definition (1280x720p) video calls. With this latest version, Bria has expanded its interoperability to integrate seamlessly with a broader variety of enterprise and carrier infrastructure equipment from major vendors including Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco, NEC and Nokia Siemens Networks. Bria also supports Asterisk-based telephony systems.

CounterPath announces the worldwide availability of Bria iPhone Edition for Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Bria iPhone Edition is a highly secure, standards-based VoIP softphone that works over both 3G and Wi-Fi networks.

Bria iPhone Edition integrates seamlessly with other CounterPath desktop and convergence solutions, as well as with enterprise and carrier infrastructure equipment from major vendors such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, BroadSoft, Metaswitch, Avaya, Cisco and NEC. Bria iPhone Edition also supports Asterisk-based telephony systems.

Acrobits announces the latest feature of Acrobits Softphone, provider provisioning. In just a few minutes, any SIP based VoIP operator can have their settings added to Acrobits Softphone’s preconfigured provider list completely free. Acrobits Softphone, the leading SIP Client for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, just became even more attractive to both SIP providers and users.

As any VoIP veteran knows, getting the correct settings for your provider entered in your SIP client can be a painful process. Since ease of use is a high priority for customers shopping for a service provider, this results in many customers picking a provider that has their own softphone client on multiple platforms. Since the iPhone OS is the leading mobile platform, having a reliable SIP client on Apple’s App Store is an important component to attracting new business. “By adding themselves to our list of preconfigured providers,” says Acrobits, “VoIP operators can provide their customers with a proven SIP client on the App Store and an easy way to use their service on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch."

CounterPath announces Bria for Linux. Already deployed by two Fortune 500 companies, the new retail version of the Bria for Linux softphone client, Bria 3.0, now natively supports Linux, Mac and Windows, giving enterprises a new option for extending VoIP across multiple operating systems and a broad range of devices by leveraging the CounterPath SDK and media engine. This expanded breadth gives CounterPath customers unprecedented flexibility when implementing VoIP in their organizations, enabling them to reduce communications and travel costs, while improving productivity and responsiveness.

D2 Technologies is showcasing the industry’s broadest range of VoIP platform offerings for OEMs/ODMs through on- and off-floor demonstrations with the world’s leading semiconductor vendors during the COMPUTEX 30 Taipei tradeshow. D2’s vPort Gateway embedded VoIP software allows manufacturers to use their IC platforms of choice to quickly deliver advanced Integrated Access Devices, residential gateways and other CPE with optimized, carrier-grade VoIP functionality over wireline, WiFi and WiMAX connections.

DSCI Corporation has added the Bria for BroadWorks softphone from CounterPath Corporation to its iPBX Hosted Communications Service offerings. Because the iPBX Hosted Communications Service resides on BroadSoft’s BroadWorks platform, Bria for Broadworks tightly integrates with and enhances iPBX capabilities. The Bria softphone provides advanced call control capabilities, auto-provisioning, and feature integration with iPBX. Service management, call history, and contact directory information on Bria interfaces directly with the BroadWorks platform, allowing seamless operation and increased productivity.

TalkFree has added new features to its popular 1LegCall wireless VoIP application and Zonefone mobile VoIP dialers. Both solutions now support the S60 5th Edition, Symbian OS version 9.4 Nokia mobile phone models and Short Message Service.

1LegCall and Zonefone now can be used with nearly the entire Nokia S60 phone series, including popular models X6, N97 and 5800 XpressMusic. These new edition phones are selling fast in the Middle East and Africa, which are strong markets for TalkFree. Indeed, the carrier uses its mobile VoIP platform to complete more than 500,000 calls originating in these markets daily.

Goober Networks announces goober 3.0 as a public beta, a completely new collaboration solution that includes multi-protocol instant messaging, HD Voice to landlines and cell phones and 6-way video conferencing calls to PCs including Windows and Macintosh (the current beta version offers 4-way video conferencing; however, the final public release of goober 3.0 will support a record-setting 6-way video conferencing capability).

Research In Motion announces BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with voice over Wi-Fi calling. BlackBerry MVS 5 works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to provide a business user with the ability to use their regular desk phone number and extension from their BlackBerry smartphone. With the new version 5, an employee will be able to use a single work phone number shared between their desk phone and BlackBerry smartphone and make and receive enterprise calls on their BlackBerry smartphone over a Wi-Fi connection, adding to the existing capability available over cellular networks.

ASC will demonstrate its new VoIP recording solution, EVOip 10.0 together with its new quality monitoring solution, INSPIRATIONpro 10.0, at UC Expo, London, England on March 10-11, at the Olympia Exhibition Center.

UC Expo is widely considered to be Great Britain’s leading business communications event focusing on collaboration, mobile, visual and voice solutions. More than 100 exhibitions and seminars will be presented for a target audience of IT and telecommunications professionals, system integrators, infrastructure providers and end users.

CounterPath announces an advanced version of its multimedia communications softphone, Bria 3.0. Available immediately for Windows and Mac, Bria's new features include HD video, user customization, presence alert and additional troubleshooting tools, all designed to enhance the overall user experience and the enterprise feature set.

Bria 3.0 is the first CounterPath softphone based on Windows Presentation Foundation and .net for Windows, and Cocoa for Mac, the most flexible user interface frameworks currently available. This foundation enables an unprecedented user experience, including user interface features such as transparency, extensive customization options and support for rich media.

Digium releases Switchvox SMB 4.5 the full-featured and cost-effective VoIP Unified Communications solution designed for small- to mid-sized businesses. Switchvox SMB 4.5 delivers mission-critical applications traditionally accessed through the web interface directly to phone handsets, and adds greater flexibility and control for both users and administrators. Digium is demonstrating Switchvox SMB 4.5 at Digium|Asterisk World at ITEXPO in booth D01, held January 20-22, 2010, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

3CX announces a new version of its popular free VoIP softphone for Windows, 3CXPhone 4.0. 3CXPhone 4.0 sports an all new interface that should be familiar to millions of users the world over. Similar in look and feel to popular smart-phones, users will be able to make and receive calls without requiring any training.