CounterPath announces its latest softphone client application, Bria 2.0. Bria 2.0 introduces a number of new usability and customization features to the CounterPath Multimedia Communicator product suite and enables service providers and equipment manufacturers to present a highly flexible, user-friendly VoIP solution for consumer markets.

"Built on the same reliable SIP-based platform as our eyeBeam softphone, Bria 2.0 further enhances the end user experience by enabling communication over voice, video and IM intuitively based on personal preference," said Donovan Jones, president and COO of CounterPath. "The user interface we've created for Bria 2.0 offers not only a fresh look and feel for the client, but offers a number of different voice/video calling and IM management options including drag-and-drop for contacts, auto-complete dialing and an extendable call management module, making it more convenient and efficient for both novice and power users."

Gizmo Project software now supports AOL Instant Messenger and MSN Messenger buddies. Starting today, users can see who's online and send and receive messages with contacts on these networks directly from Gizmo Project software with no additional installation. Expansion to include Yahoo Messenger, GoogleTalk and iChat contacts is planned as well. As always, Gizmo Project is a free download at http://gizmoproject.com.

Through this new feature, users can add all of their contacts from these networks with just a few simple clicks. Once the user completes this process, all of their buddies from each network will appear in their Gizmo Project buddy list. No need to add contacts one by one, no need to add contacts when changing computers or devices; contacts are stored safely and securely online along with existing Gizmo buddies.

ooVoo announces its free, real-time video technology that lets consumers experience face-to-face conversations over the Internet. ooVoo's new video communication service features clear, high-quality video and audio in real-time. By sharing a story, a smile and visible emotions with ooVoo, communication becomes more meaningful and fun.

With ooVoo up to six people can connect on a call at the same time with high-quality audio and video that allows them to see one another, talk and share in the same way they would in person. Consumers only need a broadband internet connection, web camera, speakers and microphone. In addition to video, ooVoo lets consumers send video messages to both ooVoo and non-ooVoo users, Instant Message, and share files, such as documents or pictures-for a complete communication experience.

ooVoo gives consumers:

• A meaningful and fun communication experience
• An easy-to-use and free tool, that can be shared with friends and family around the globe
• A high-quality technology for seeing, talking, IMing, sharing files, or sending video messages

Linugen releases the newest version of its much appraised Sipcat VoIP PBX telephony platform. Since the first release ten months ago, Sipcat software has been installed on over two thousand systems worldwide. This latest release incorporates much of the customer feedback received since the first release and introduces a number of new features.

Arcosoft announces the release of VONaLink DialBridge. Directly making a long distance call from a cell phone, especially international, is so expensive that it is unthinkable. Services exist to enable someone to call a local access number, enter the destination number, and then be connected at a cheaper rate. The concept of DialBridge is similar, except that the DialBridge software runs on a home or office personal computer so that any VoIP service could be used, benefiting from the ultra-low cost for long distance VoIP. Tested VoIP providers include Vonage and Callcentric.

Caller authentication is by caller ID or password. Optionally, DialBridge could do a callback so that instead of a long outgoing call from a cell phone, the call is turned into an incoming call, allowing the unlimited incoming minutes of a cell phone plan to be used.

SightSpeed has announced that the latest version of its software, SightSpeed 6.0, was honored by PC World with a "100 Best Products of 2007 Award." The article is available now on PCWorld.com and also will be featured in the July 2007 issue of PC World, which hits newsstands June 12.

SightSpeed 6.0 placed in the top quarter of the list, landing in spot No. 21.

SightSpeed offers the first complete suite of personal video services delivered over the Internet. The services are available for both Windows PCs and Macintosh personal computers, and are interoperable between both.

MediaRing announced a strategic collaboration with Hewlett-Packard to develop and deliver enhanced VoIP communications services targeting a rich end-user experience. Under this relationship, HP will pre-install the Singapore-based VoIP service provider’s MediaRing Talk VoIP client application on consumer desktops and notebooks shipped with Microsoft Vista platform.

MediaRing is launching their MediaRing Talk service, which offers a feature-rich Session Initiation Protocol standards-based VoIP client. Amongst its multiplicity of features, MediaRing Talk offers PC-to-PC, PC-to-Phone and Phone-to-PC calls along with Instant Messaging. The service also has Text Collaboration and on-demand Voice Conferencing capability.

Raketu introduced its new Global Short Message Service Text Service. Through Raketu, consumers can now send SMS text messages to the mobile phones of their friends, family, and co-workers anywhere in the world. Raketu offers a flat rate for each text message sent to a given country regardless of the location of where the message originates. Raketu currently offers the lowest published rates of any SMS text message provider in any country globally.

“In China consumers send 750 million SMS text messages each day and in 2007 it is estimated that the Western Europe SMS market will reach 25 billion euros,” said Greg Parker, CEO of Raketu. “Raketu is taking one more step in reducing the cost of communications globally, offering not only free calling to over 40 countries around the world, but now the cheapest SMS text message rates available anywhere in the world.”

Voip.com announces its Mobile Line2 service. Mobile Line2 allows users to have a second phone line connected to one cell phone, making it possible to make VOIP calls through a cellular phone have a conference call between up to five people on one phone. To obtain a Mobile Line2-ready phone line, users must simply sign up for a new number online and download Mobile Line2 software to their cell phone.

Mobile Line2 makes it possible for users to add a second phone line to their cellular phone service. The VOIP technology not only makes it possible for customers to select a phone number with an area code pointing to any state in the U.S., but the system also enables users to track phone calls, manage their accounts, forward calls and perform a wide variety of advanced functions that increase their cell phone usability and features.

Busta is growing in popularity having already built a substantial user base in over 210 countries. Busta is a Web 2.0 gadget with an ultra slim 140kb software footprint which takes just a few seconds to load using broadband or a few minutes to add to a browser on a dial up connection.

Busta has more functionality than Skype but is 99% smaller in size. Busta includes free voice and the Busta system means that users to log on anywhere, get access to their messages, text, voice or video mail, and make calls, send SMS messages, and access or update address books. Phone calls are charged per second, with the first 10 seconds always free.

To add Busta to the Google desktop takes just a few minutes, opening a Busta account is easy and normally includes free phone or text credits which allow users to try before they buy.

YFonGlobal and CounterPath announced that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership to integrate CounterPath's award-winning softphone technology into wyndstorm - YFonGlobal's social network and social media product offering.

"By partnering with CounterPath in integrating their calling technology, wyndstorm customers and community members will enjoy the most advanced, secure and collaborative communication environment available on the market today," said Marian Sabety, President and CEO of YFonGlobal. "YFonGlobal is thrilled to launch this latest version of wyndstorm, which is among the first platforms in the social network industry to offer integrated voice/video calling and Instant Messaging capabilities, enabling customers to offer a more dynamic and interactive communication experience to their members."

iotum and JAJAH, two of the brightest lights in the emerging world of Voice 2.0 and New Presence, today announced a strategic alliance to deliver new capabilities to mobile users and further their shared vision of the future for Internet telephony and mobility.

As a first step, iotum and JAJAH are leveraging their expertise to offer BlackBerry users the power of iotum’s Talk-Now application for presence-enabled call management combined with JAJAH’s low rates for calling anywhere in the world.

“We saw a clear opportunity to enhance the experience for mobile users by partnering with JAJAH,” said iotum CEO Alec Saunders. “Initially, our collaboration means that iotum Talk-Now users will have one-click access to JAJAH for all their contacts. In the future, iotum will release other ‘New Presence’–enabled applications in conjunction with JAJAH, such as PIN-less, mobile conferencing.”

NCH Swift Sound releases Express Talk for Pocket PCs. Express Talk for Pocket PC is a solution that enables business employees to take advantage of VoIP technology and rates through their handheld devices. It provides nearly all the features available on the PC version via a Windows CE handheld device.

Including features such as two lines, call recording, on-hold, conferencing, transfer and push to talk the application offers similar functionality as it's competitors. The underlying core audio technology that NCH Swift Sound has developed over the last 14 years, however, ensures the quality of the primary function of the application is not compromised by bells and whistles.

ExpressTalk for Pocket PC can be downloaded from the Express Talk product page. Due for release in the next few months will be Express Talk for Mac OS X.

Raketu now includes support for Jabber instant messaging, in addition to already supporting Google, Skype, Yahoo, MSN, AOL and ICQ, in its suite of voice and text communication options. Raketu includes high quality voice calling, SMS-text messaging, file transfers/sharing, news, sports, weather, stock feeds, an advanced internet and travel searching facility, podcast reader, and a full featured multi-media player. Raketu also includes its recently announced interactive ipTV and Video On Demand offerings. Through Raketu consumers can now use one single application to access all their instant messaging accounts and address books, and even transparently conference across them.

Raketu currently has over a million consumers using its VoIP, ipTV streaming video and other services globally. Free to download and use, Raketu enables computers to be full-featured world-wide communications, information, and entertainment tools.

WiFiMobile launches a Mobile VOIP service on the Nokia S60 handsets which enables users to make free calls to each other over Wi-Fi regardless of location. Mobile VOIP calls can also be made where no Wi-Fi connection is available by utilising a network operator data plan.

The WiFiMobile service is available at www.wifimobile.com. Using the basic service users can call other VOIP users completely for free. A premium service is also available that permits calls to be made to ordinary landlines or mobile phones at heavily discounted costs.

Calls can be made when the user is in a Wi-Fi zone. Alternatively WiFiMobile also enables VOIP calls to be made over a conventional GSM service by routing the call over an existing 3G data plan. In either of these situations VOIP calls will not eat up any bundled voice minutes.