Comunicano

Astronomical Roaming Costs Have Contributed to Lost Business in One of Four Fortune 1000 Companies Surveyed

Corporations Forced To Consider Alternatives To Save On International Calling

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., (Jan. 27, 2012): Research from CCMI, a leading information source for the telecom industry, reveals that a majority of Fortune 1000 companies are pursuing alternatives to control the exorbitant wireless bills incurred when employees do business internationally.

The report, commissioned by Truphone, the world’s first truly global mobile operator, found that 40 percent of companies are forbidding or curtailing business usage of wireless devices while abroad to help manage costs. In addition, 24 percent said that they have lost business as a result of roaming costs. Perhaps most shocking is that nearly 37 percent of companies surveyed spend $1,000 or more per month per user on average wireless roaming costs for their international travelers, with stories of single monthly bill charges ranging from $10,000 to $200,000.

“These survey findings highlight the fact that among the biggest organizations in the country, the cost of roaming is a genuine pain point and significant expense item,” said Gary Cohen, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Truphone Americas. “There is also evidence that small- and mid-sized companies are burdened with the same challenges.” 

George David, President of CCMI, said, “The key take-away from the survey is that virtually all respondents demonstrate a high degree of correlation in their desire for a more effective solution to control runaway wireless roaming costs. For a player that brings a high quality service to bear, this is a clearly valuable market niche.” 

The study reveals other key findings related to roaming expenditures, alternatives corporations are using to offset roaming costs, travel trends and more. Click here to download the white paper and learn more. 

About the research

CCMI conducted the research on behalf of Truphone, with a statistically significant sample size of 128 telecom expense management decision makers from Fortune 1,000 companies taking part.  The purpose of the survey was to understand current trends in international travel, international wireless spending and best practices used to control international roaming costs.

About Truphone

 Truphone is the world’s first truly global wireless carrier, helping people and businesses around the world thrive. 

Founded in 2006, the company uses innovation to drive convenience up and costs down. The company’s flagship GSM service, Tru, helps international business by delivering significant savings via local rates while abroad and Tru’s least cost roaming. 

Tru service works in over 200 countries around the world. Truphone is currently selling its service in the UK and will be broadly selling in the US and several other countries this year. Truphone offers multiple local numbers on one SIM card, allowing customers and contacts to reach each other without footing the bill of high international call charges. 

The company is also a pioneer in the mobile VoIP space. It launched the first downloadable mobile VoIP app for Nokia in 2006 and has since been the first on the iPhone, iPod and iPad devices.  Tru supports all leading mobile platforms and devices including Blackberry, iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Nokia E and N series, and Android.

About CCMI

CCMI is the industry’s leading provider of telecom rate and data solutions and information. We are dedicated to delivering relevant, highly specialized and strategically focused content. Find a complete product listing at http://www.ccmi.com/Products. CCMI publishes Voice Report, the leading independent source of telecom news, analysis and award-winning guidance on communications technology services and equipment for the enterprise. For analysis and guidance on the latest telecom happenings, visit http://www.TheVoiceReport.com, and sign up to receive email updates. 

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Voxbone Sees Continued VoIP Growth After Strong 2011

Revenue Rose 19 Percent, Network Traffic Increased 33 Percent From 2010 Levels

BRUSSELS – Jan. 25, 2012 – Voxbone announced today that despite economic uncertainties in some parts of the world last year, its pattern of steady year-after-year growth in VoIP communications continued as demand from existing customers increased, coupled with new business wins from some of the fastest-rising operators in telecommunications.

The company is calling 2011 a breakthrough year because it enjoyed lift for the first time from customers such as Telefónica and iBasis, while most growth came from direct sales to its customers among providers of next-generation VoIP communications services. Overall, Voxbone said, revenue grew 19 percent, while minutes of use on its global network increased by 33 percent to 2.8 billion.

The company’s trajectory of growth over the past several years reflects the evolution toward Internet-based communications services in business and consumer applications, and away from older and longer-established legacy switched networks. For example, as a result of large corporations adopting cloud communications during 2011, Voxbone saw a significant upswing in business with global B2B network service providers.

“Personally, it’s very satisfying to realize the dream we had for Voxbone in starting the company in 2005,” said CEO Rod Ullens. “The progress we have seen since our start and the magnitude of the customers we continue to attract, especially in recent years, firmly indicate that Voxbone has achieved a reputation for quality in the global telecoms market.”

Ullens pointed to several other indicators of growth for Voxbone in 2011, including:

• Gaining Deloitte “Technology Fast 50 Benelux” recognition as the fastest-growing technology company in Belgium;
• Expanding its global presence by having its United States subsidiary become incorporated, appointing regional business development executives in North America and Southeast Asia, opening an office in Mumbai, and extending services to Vietnam;
• Deploying its own network infrastructure in Germany, Luxemburg and Spain;
• Being selected by the United Nations to implement the UN’s own unique country code for disaster relief: +888;
• Moving to vibrantly colored new headquarters in central Brussels that nearly tripled the amount of occupied office space;
• Growing to 67 employees worldwide and truly embodying a multicultural global company by employing people representing 23 nationalities.

This year, Voxbone plans to launch a series of new product lines, enhance its existing services, and expand its network footprint from its current 51 countries to an additional five to seven countries in Asia and South America.

The company is particularly targeting larger wholesale operators.

“We’re seeing indications of accelerated adoption of cloud communications services in a number of areas that lead us to project major demand in wholesale VoIP services,” said Ullens. “As the technological bridge between cloud communications networks and traditional PSTN and mobile networks, Voxbone should have a great 2012.” 

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About Voxbone

Voxbone is the market leader in providing worldwide geographical, toll-free and iNum^® telephone numbers, enabling Internet communications services providers, global carriers, national operators and enterprises to extend the reach of their voice services internationally, rapidly and with limited costs. The company delivers high-quality inbound communications (often referred to as direct inward dialing, or DID) from more than 50 countries and more than 4,000 cities around the world. For more information, visit www.voxbone.com.

Vidtel Selected By Channel Reseller News as a Need-to-Know Video Conferencing Vendor

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Jan. 24, 2012 – Vidtel, the pioneer of any-to-any cloud video conferencing, has been selected as a Channel Reseller News (CRN)’s Emerging Video Vendor You Need to Know.  CRN identified ten video service providers who are leading the way video is being adopted by business customers and the channel.

“Being chosen as CRN’s Emerging Video Vendor builds on the momentum we’ve seen since announcing our Channel Program in November.  As the only cloud video conferencing service provider with an exclusively channel-focused strategy, we’re excited to see video VARs and integrators are recognizing that Vidtel’s affordable, high-quality video conferencing service is a win-win for them and their customers,” said Vidtel CEO Scott Wharton.

“Enabling customers with the tools and strategies to solve real business problems has always been a priority to solution providers. As the market grows more competitive, the demand for innovative, channel-friendly technologies increases,” said Kelley Damore, VP and Editorial Director at UBM Channel. “From the cloud to semantic technology, this year’s list of Emerging Technology Vendors highlights the emphasis on innovation and ease of use that has been the hallmark of any successful channel offering. We congratulate Vidtel for receiving CRN’s Emerging Vendor award in the video category and recognize them for their remarkable ability to offer interoperability among diverse, video systems.”

Vidtel enables small and medium enterprises to affordably experience enterprise-grade video conferencing by enabling users to bring their own device to a video call. This means that Vidtel’s service will work using consumer-grade video conferencing on Google Talk or Skype and high-end equipment from Polycom, LifeSize, Cisco and other video conferencing services. Since Vidtel’s video conferencing rooms are based in the cloud, users can be up and running on group video calls in little time.

For more information, visit www.vidtel.com.

About Vidtel

Founded in 2008, Vidtel is the pioneer of any-to-any cloud video conferencing services, the first to provide interoperability between SIP, H.323, Skype and Google technologies. Our easy-to-use service provides compatibility between a diverse set of business-grade and consumer-grade video endpoints. Vidtel enables even small and medium enterprises to affordably experience the productivity of high-quality video conferencing between dispersed employees, partners, and customers. Vidtel is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA.

VoIP Supply Announces Results of Customer Experience Survey

Revealing Extraordinary Customer Loyalty Due to Product Availability, Price and Expertise—

97 Percent of Customers Likely or Very Likely to Buy Again

BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 24, 2012—VoIP Supply LLC (www.voipsupply.com), North America’s leading supplier of VoIP equipment and complete solutions, announced the results of a customer satisfaction survey conducted in December, 2011.  In a survey of more than 500 of its customers, VoIP Supply learned just how completely over-the-top it is appreciated by them: 

• 98 percent are likely or very likely to recommend VoIP Supply to colleagues or other businesses.
• 97 percent are likely or very likely to purchase from VoIP Supply again.
• 87 percent report an exceptional or above average experience with VoIP Supply.
• Half of the customers consider VoIP Supply literally the best in the industry. 

According to survey respondents, that astonishing customer loyalty to VoIP Supply is due to a variety of reasons, foremost among them: 81 percent cite product availability, 76 percent say its price, and more than half for its customer service and expertise.

“Our number one goal at VoIP Supply is to provide outstanding service to all of our customers throughout their experience,” said Benjamin P. Sayers, President and CEO of VoIP Supply. “I am really pleased at the strong degree of satisfaction our customers have for all we do. We will continue to strive to always exceed their expectations.”

For additional information about VoIP Supply, call toll-free 1-800-398-8647, or visit http://www.voipsupply.com.

About VoIP Supply

VoIP Supply, LLC (www.voipsupply.com), a division of Sayers Technology Holdings, is North America’s leading supplier of VoIP Equipment and complete systems with offerings for businesses, service providers and resellers. In addition to a comprehensive product catalog, the company offers technical support, extended warranties, device configuration, installations and logistical services. VoIP Supply is a three-time INC 5,000 honoree and in 2007, was ranked number 45 on the Entrepreneur Magazine’s Hot 100 fastest growing companies in the U.S. VoIP Supply has also been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Western New York by Buffalo’s Business First Newspaper, one of the Top 100 privately held companies in WNY, as well as the fastest growing company in WNY for 2006 by winning the Business First Fast Track 50 Award.

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Vopium Innovates with Upgraded iPhone App

 

 

Vopium, an award-winning mobile VoIP provider that offers low-cost, high-quality calling to more than 1 million users in 52 countries, is announcing immediate availability of its upgraded iPhone app.

The update, Version 2.1, available from iTunes here, offers these significant enhancements:

• An in-app payment feature that enables a user to conveniently top up an account in iTunes instead of having to enter credit card details for calls to non-Vopium users.
• A presence indication of Vopium contacts for push-notification-based calling. This feature increases the likelihood of free calls by ensuring that Wi-Fi/3G calls go through even when the app is in the background or closed. The moment the app is launched, Vopium users among a customer’s contacts are highlighted.

“The world of iPhone apps is in a constantly evolving dimension, and we made sure our new iPhone app resonates the convenience, innovation and pioneering technology that iPhone users are accustomed to,” said Babar Baig, Vopium’s Director of Marketing.

The updated iPhone app follows Vopium’s announcements of the first real BlackBerry Wi-Fi calling app and an upgraded Android app. 

CounterPath and Vidtel Extend SIP- and Cloud-Based Video Conferencing to Bria-Enabled PCs and iPhones

                                                                        

CounterPath’s Bria Softphones expand interoperability with Vidtel’s MeetMe Video Conferencing Delivers enterprise-grade video conferencing between room-based systems,executive desktop products, PCs and iOS devices

Vancouver, BC, Canada, and Sunnyvale, Calif., Jan. 19, 2012 —The six-figure upfront cost of video conferencing typically forces small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to make do with consumer-grade services such as Google Hangouts or Skype. To further bridge the gap between these services and expensive telepresence solutions, CounterPath Corporation (TSX-V: CCV) (OTCBB: CPAH) and Vidtel, Inc. today announced interoperability to provide SMEs with an affordable, high-quality mobile video conferencing alternative.

Interoperability between CounterPath’s Bria softphone for PCs and mobile devices and Vidtel's MeetMe service offers users an affordable cross-platform, multi-standards based, enterprise-grade alternative to other more expensive services, without having to make do with unpredictable consumer grade offerings or purchase new and expensive hardware-based video conferencing systems. Now small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other businesses can benefit from cost-efficient, high-quality multi-endpoint video conferencing that interoperates with the large installed base of leading room-based systems, executive desktop products, as well as all versions of Bria for Macs and PCs and the recently updated Bria mobile for iPhones that now includes video.

Vidtel also becomes the first IVSP (Internet Video Service Provider) to join the CounterPath Partner Program enabling users to quickly configure their Bria clients without needing to know more than a few provider-supplied settings. 

 Interoperability between MeetMe and Bria allows SMEs and other customers to:

• Participate in video conferences from hotel rooms, airports, home offices, coffee shops, client facilities and other remote locations with mobile devices.
• Enter a video conference room using the already familiar methods of simply dialing a phone number, PBX extension or SIP address (eliminating the need to add a contact/buddy or learn the unique requirements of third-party services).
• Achieve high video conference quality by using SIP-based native interoperability rather than transcoding.

CounterPath’s Bria is a carrier- and enterprise-grade application that enables unified voice and video calling, messaging and presence management across multiple platforms and endpoints. Vidtel’s MeetMe is a cloud-based service that enables any-to-any video conferencing between room-based systems, executive desktop video systems, PCs/Macs, smartphones and tablets using any combination of SIP, H.323, and other technologies.  With Bria installed on PCs or iPhones, MeetMe can be accessed over the Internet via a wired Ethernet connection, Wi-Fi or while connected over 3G/4G/LTE or WiMax mobile networks.

Existing Bria customers can begin using MeetMe immediately. Available through a variety of channels, MeetMe is affordably and predictably priced, with flat rate and per minute plans starting low as $.15 cents per minute for video participation. Even without a subscription, any Bria user can participate in video conferences hosted by other Vidtel subscribers.

“Businesses of every size value the bottom-line benefits of video communications, including on tablets and smartphones,” said Todd Carothers, CounterPath Senior Vice President, Marketing and Products. “The interoperability with Vidtel enables CounterPath to meet that need by providing device- and network-agnostic video conferencing solutions that are as intuitive as dialing a telephone. Together, we’re liberating businesses from the costs, constraints and uncertainties that come with video communication services that are ruled by a single company.”

“CounterPath’s enterprise-grade softphones are a natural complement to Vidtel in a smartphone and tablet environment; both companies are committed to providing SMEs with convenient, cost-effective and high-quality video communications, “ said Scott Wharton, CEO of Vidtel. “We offer no hidden caveats when it comes to price and interoperability. This interoperability creates an exciting range of opportunities for both our companies and our customers, now and in the near future.”

Bria for Macs and PCs can be purchased from the CounterPath online store and the Mac App Store, while Bria mobile is available through the iTunes App Store. 

About Vidtel

Vidtel is the pioneer of any-to-any cloud video conferencing services. Our easy-to-use service provides compatibility between a diverse set of business-grade and consumer-grade video endpoints. Vidtel enables even small and medium enterprises to affordably experience the productivity of high-quality video conferencing between dispersed employees, partners, and customers. Vidtel is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA. 

About CounterPath

CounterPath Corporation is an award-winning provider of innovative desktop and mobile VoIP software products and solutions. The company’s product suite includes SIP-based softphones, server applications and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to cost-effectively integrate voice, video, presence and Instant Messaging (IM) applications into their VoIP offerings and extend functionality across both fixed and mobile networks.

CounterPath’s customers include some of the world's largest telecommunications service providers and network equipment providers including AT&T, Verizon, BT (British Telecommunications PLC), Mobilkom Austria, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco Systems, GENBAND, Metaswitch Networks and Mitel. For more information please visit www.counterpath.com.  

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Disclaimer: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

HarQen Adds In-Browser Recording to Voice Advantage

Job candidates can now use Voice Advantage anywhere they have an Internet connection—with cost savings for international job interviews

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 18, 2012 — HarQen, Inc., today announced the addition of in-browser recording to Voice Advantage, its flagship product that lets users use their phone and a simple web-based dashboard to create and distribute custom, recorded phone interviews. For the first time, job candidates will be able to use Voice Advantage anywhere they have an Internet connection and browser.

Voice Advantage in-browser recording is a free upgrade to Voice Advantage customers, and does not require any software download.  All that’s required is a PC or Mac with a microphone.  Users now have complete flexibility to use either a telephone or the in-browser recording feature to record their conversation.

Voice Advantage candidates can now record interview answers using their PC, Mac microphones or their telephone. 

“As HarQen expands our reach internationally, Voice Advantage has already solved international interview scheduling problems by allowing recruiters to record interviews that candidates can take at any time. Now with in-browser recording, candidates can respond to interviews with their computer instead of a phone. This combination provides employers a powerful and cost-effective alternative to high international recruiting telephony costs,” said HarQen CEO E. Kelly Fitzsimmons.

In addition to international cost savings, in-browser recording also allows candidates to participate in self-service voice interviews at kiosks in regional offices or retail locations. This is a very convenient option for drop-in candidates to progress quickly in the interview process without additional burden on recruiters.

In-browser recording is also being added to HarQen’s newest product, Symposia, which adds presentation, collaboration, archiving, note-taking and sharing tools to any conference call.

Availability

Voice Advantage in-browser recording is available immediately as an option for all Voice Advantage.

In-browser recording for Symposia will be available to beta customers immediately.

About HarQen

HarQen unleashes the richness of information trapped inside conversations – transforming talk into actionable insights.  HarQen’s award-winning Intelligent Voice Services enable conversations to be captured, enriched, organized, navigated, shared and analyzed – improving collaboration and adding an entirely new layer of business intelligence to existing data management systems. Milwaukee-based HarQen was founded in 2007 and is privately funded. 

For more information on HarQen:

Web http://harqen.com/

Twitter twitter.com/harqen

XConnect Announces Major Partnership with DE-CIX to Create Germany’s First Next Generation Network/VoIP Communications Exchange

                            

Operators to Gain Access to IP Voice and New Multimedia Federation-Based Interconnection and ENUM-Registry Services

LONDON, Jan. 18, 2012 – XConnect, the leader in federation-based IP interconnection and ENUM-registry services, today announced it has entered an exclusive partnership agreement with DE-CIX, the world’s largest Internet exchange (IX), to establish the first Next Generation Network (NGN)/VoIP federation in Germany, enabling service providers to directly exchange IP voice and multimedia traffic.

The partnership will create a secure and scalable federation hub and central carrier ENUM-based routing and number-management platform that will enable hundreds of fixed, mobile, ASP and Web 2.0 operators to interconnect securely end to end on an all-IP basis.

Interconnection via the hub will benefit operators significantly. It will reduce the technical complexity and commercial and operational costs of NGN interconnection, allowing for migration from bilateral, legacy-network TDM interconnects to IP. In addition, operators will be able to securely and multilaterally interconnect to multiple networks via a single IP connection to the hub, supporting the interworking and interoperability of IP voice and multimedia services, such as HD voice, video and Unified Communications (UC).

The ENUM registry will, for the first time, offer a central number-management and number-portability platform for German operators, facilitating ENUM-based number discovery and routing that will enable calls to be delivered accurately and directly across networks.

DE-CIX, a wholly owned subsidiary of the largest European Internet industry association, eco, already provides direct and settlement-free Internet interconnection infrastructure services to more than 400 operators. 

The partnership agreement announced today combines DE-CIX’s experience in managing high-volume Internet exchange services and market reach with XConnect’s expertise and global leadership in carrier-neutral NGN interconnection services and technology. XConnect currently operates other national federations in Europe, Asia and Africa, and the company is in talks about establishing additional federations.

"We are delighted to join with XConnect in spearheading VoIP federation initiatives in Germany,” said DE-CIX CEO Harald Summa. “Partnering with XConnect will enable DE-CIX to consolidate our leading market position by delivering additional VoIP and Next Generation Network peering, as well as interconnection services.

“The complexities and associated costs of interconnecting networks have become a key concern for service providers. The partnership will address these challenges, providing cost and service efficiencies while driving adoption of new services.”

XConnect CEO Eli Katz said: “In line with the global trend of evolution to IP-based communications, we are thrilled to have been selected by the world’s leading Internet exchange to bring all-IP telecoms and Interconnect 2.0 services to Germany and beyond.

“Our partnership will, for the first time, enable operators in Germany to launch IP voice and new multimedia services on a cross-network basis, which the legacy PSTN infrastructure cannot support. This will bring new revenue opportunities, as well as cost savings, to all operators.”

J. Scott Marcus, Director at WIK-Consult GmbH, said: "The benefits of a migration to hub-based IP interconnection for voice and multimedia communications have long been recognised. Now for the first time in Germany, this arrangement brings together the key enabling elements to provide the catalyst for direct IP voice interconnection and the widespread adoption of cross-network services, such as HD voice, video and Unified Communications.”

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About XConnect
The global leader in network peering, XConnect is trusted by IP-based service providers in 20 countries to offer a suite of Interconnect 2.0 services, including next-generation multimedia interconnection hub and carrier ENUM-registry solutions for voice and video. London-based XConnect offers the most comprehensive and reliable solutions to help service providers deliver rich multimedia IP communications across networks while reducing costs and improving service quality. Backed by Tier 1 venture capital firms, XConnect operates the largest worldwide ENUM-based IP-peering federation, the Global Alliance, and the world’s first national VoIP/NGN interconnection federations. For more information, please visit www.xconnect.net.

Independa to Offer Free Webinar Jan. 17 on Using Connected Health Tech to Improve Remote Eldercare

CEO Kian Saneii Will Advise on How to “Integrate or Go Broke”

Caregiving enterprises face increasing pressure to extend their reach and manage growing numbers of elderly care recipients. Traditional approaches are becoming outdated and inadequate. Technologies are emerging to enable, better, more cost-effective remote care, but the plethora of options can be confusing.

The answer from Independa: “Integrate or Go Broke.”

In a free webinar Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 10-11 a.m. PST, Independa CEO Kian Saneii, whose company provides technology-driven independent-living solutions, will offer advice on how caregiving enterprises can:

• Develop the right questions to construct a technology acquisition strategy
• Balance the requirements of their staff, their care-receiving customers and their corporate infrastructure
• Implement technology to optimize care and results while minimizing obsolescence, costs and stress

To learn more and register, please visit http://independa.com/webinar.

Independa Unveils Health Measures – An Easy, Affordable Option for Home Health Monitoring

Cloud-Based Service Works with Any Wireline or Mobile Phone, Allowing Convenient Monitoring of the Elderly

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 11, 2012 – Independa today announced plans during the 2012 International CES for Health Measures – a platform combining conventional telephony with existing Independa cloud-based services to improve remote care for the elderly.

Simple, affordable Health Measures doesn’t require cellular coverage, broadband service or wireless devices in the home, making it ideal for care recipients who live in rural areas with poor cellular coverage, have limited funds to invest in wireless health devices, or have limited time to implement wireless health monitoring solutions immediately after leaving the hospital.

Health Measures allows home-health and home-care professionals, as well as senior-living facilities and family caregivers, to easily record a multitude of crucial biometric data, including weight, blood pressure, glucose level, temperature, pulse and heart rate. Information entered using a wireline or mobile phone is converted to digital form and delivered to Independa’s cloud-based telecare solution. All information collected is merged with other data to provide a complete and perpetual view of a person’s body telemetry and bio-informatics. The information is presented on the Independa Caregiver Web App, which also enables caregivers to create and follow responses to automatic reminders for those being cared for to take their medications, exercise, eat, hydrate and keep medical appointments.

“We have designed Health Measures to help mitigate expensive and often debilitating conditions that commonly arise during transitions in care,” said Independa CEO Kian Saneii. “Our new service will enable hospitals, other caregiving organizations and family caregivers to begin monitoring a care recipient’s biotelemetry as soon as the person returns to their residence. Professional and family caregivers will receive timely information, avoiding the need for time-consuming and costly routine home visits.

“Health Measures offers a convenient, intuitive way to provide better, more cost-effective care for elderly people who need remote observation but whose residences  don’t have the technological infrastructure for sophisticated wireless health monitoring solutions,” said Dr. Richard Della Penna, Independa Chief Medical Officer and former Kaiser Permanente national eldercare lead. “Considering that most conditions requiring a return to the hospital emerge in the first three days after discharge, Health Measures provides hospitals and other healthcare organizations new opportunities to avoid readmissions and related Medicare and Medicaid penalties.”

Independa plans to make Health Measures available in February after a month of pilot testing. Health Measures offers a no-hardware, no-installation, lower-cost alternative to complement Independa’s Artemis™ solution, a wireless health and home sensor platform. The same alerts and thresholds apply, whether health information is received conveniently via a telephone or a wireless health device.

Health Measures and Artemis both build on the Caregiver Web App and on Independa’s touchscreen-based Angela™ offering, which focuses on social engagement for the care recipient. Angela provides single-touch access to games, puzzles, favorite websites, video Web chat, Facebook, email, a photo album and a calendar planner, as well as health-metrics reporting.

For more information about Health Measures, visit www.independa.com/health-measures.

About Independa, Inc.

Independa offers leading technology-enabled independent-living solutions. Independa’s best-of-breed cloud-based services enable organizations and individuals providing eldercare to cost-effectively allow the elderly to stay home longer, safer and more comfortably. Independa Integrated CloudCare services include medication and appointment reminders, support for activities of daily living, comprehensive social engagement benefits, and wireless health and safety monitoring.

Web: http://www.independa.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/independa
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Independa

Independa and LG Team to Provide Industry-First Suite of TV-Based Eldercare Services to Senior Living Market

Alliance Extends Independa Integrated CloudCare Solutions to LG Pro:Centric TVs for Long-Term Care Facilities

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2012 – Nearly 1 in 8 Americans are age 65 or older, with higher percentages in countries such as Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom. To serve the rapidly-growing aging population, Independa today announced a strategic relationship with Zenith, the U.S. R&D subsidiary of LG Electronics, to deploy technology that will provide residents of eldercare facilities an industry-first suite of video calling, messaging, reminders and other services that enables them to keep in touch with professional and family caregivers.

Under the agreement announced today at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas, the companies plan to offer Independa’s cloud-based Angela™ application on LG Electronics’ Pro:Centric™- enabled commercial televisions designed for the unique needs of communities for the elderly. The Independa Angela social-engagement platform enhances independent living by providing single-click access to multimedia communication and social interaction.

With Angela, seniors can conduct video calls with loved ones, review shared photos, access email and Facebook, browse the Web, play games and receive medication and calendar reminders – all directly through the TV and all without any computer knowledge. Angela is a touchscreen application running on tablets and desktops, offered to consumers through channel partners, such as home care and home health care providers. This agreement extends Angela for the first time to televisions specifically designed for long-term care facilities.

Supported by and fully incorporated with Independa’s Integrated CloudCare platform, Angela allows the elderly care recipients to enjoy connectivity and social interactivity even as they change residences. For example, they can easily take Angela with them as they move between a private home, a retirement community and an assisted living facility. The cloud-based design also provides facility management with a turnkey solution for uploading events, reminders and other information to their residents via Pro:Centric televisions.

“As the leading commercial television vendor in the U.S. health care and hospitality markets, LG Electronics is the ideal partner for extending Angela to senior living and long-term care facilities,” said Independa CEO Kian Saneii. “This strategic alliance complements Independa’s core technology and strengthens our market penetration, brand recognition, product excellence and industry relationships, all of which are key as we serve the expanding elderly population.”

Under the agreement, the companies plan to conduct customer trials and collaborate on marketing and development support toward commercial deployments in long-term care facilities.

“Working with Independa provides a powerful new opportunity for adding value to LG commercial TVs for the large and rapidly growing eldercare market,” said LG’s Richard M. Lewis, Zenith senior vice president, technology and research. “With Independa, we are planning to provide seniors, their loved ones and their professional caregivers an industry-first suite of multimedia services for staying in touch and active.”

"This partnership is game-changing for technology adoption in long-term care facilities, as well as the homes of those aging in place," said Harry Wang, director of health and mobile product research with Parks Associates. “Everyone knows how to use a television, and this combination of a comprehensive integrated software solution and an innovative commercial TV platform creates a model for how long-term care facilities can deploy and leverage easy-to-use technology solutions for their residents."

About Independa, Inc.
Independa offers leading technology-enabled independent-living solutions. Independa’s best-of-breed cloud-based services enable organizations and individuals providing eldercare to cost-effectively allow the elderly to stay home longer, safer and more comfortably. Independa Integrated CloudCare services include medication and appointment reminders, support for activities of daily living, comprehensive social engagement benefits, and wireless health and safety monitoring.

Web: http://www.independa.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/independa
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Independa

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COUNTERPATH CONVERGES VOICE, MESSAGING AND NOW VIDEO INTO A SINGLE MOBILE APPLICATION

Addition of Live Video Calling Offers Apple iOS and Android Users a Communications Package Unlike Any Other

VANCOUVER, BC, Canada – Jan. 4, 2012 –  CounterPath Corporation (TSX-V: CCV) (OTCBB: CPAH) will debut live video calling across its range of Bria mobile softphone applications at this year’s ShowStoppers event (booth F17) on Tuesday evening Jan. 10 during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  The company’s converged application delivers on an industry’s promise to consumers and businesses that want a single, unified communications service that goes beyond basic voice and messaging features.

The new video calling feature will be included across CounterPath’s entire suite of Bria mobile softphone applications including Bria iPhone, iPad and Android editions. CounterPath plans to have the video calling feature for Bria iPhone/iPod Touch edition available globally this month, with the iPad and Android editions to quickly follow in February. 

"In a world where social networking and real-time, anytime, anywhere communication has become the norm, mobile video use continues to outpace all other features.  We believe 2012 is finally the year where video calling transitions from the ‘whatever app’ to the ‘got to have it app’,” said Todd Carothers, SVP of Marketing and Products at CounterPath.

"Mobile devices are getting more powerful processors, connecting over faster networks and running more content-rich applications than a year ago. People are using these various applications available to them that result in a fragmented user experience,” Carothers continued.  “Video calling, like voice calling and texting, is the next logical step in the evolution to a single application and platform that is network and device agnostic.  Landline or mobile phone, desktop or tablet computer – no technical or geographical boundaries should exist when communicating. Our entire Bria softphone suite complements that.”

While video calling has been available from others, CounterPath’s Bria softphone application goes beyond offers from competitors. Based on the SIP and H.264 standards, Bria mobile seamlessly combines voice, instant messaging and presence, and now video into a single application that can be easily and quickly downloaded to a mobile device. By adding video to Bria mobile for smartphones and tablets seamlessly interacting with the video capabilities on CounterPath’s existing desktop and web softphones, video is now truly available to more people, anyplace, across any network and on many more devices.

As CounterPath has kept ahead of the market in delivering converged communications services, its introduction of mobile video calling aligns more closely with the acceptance and use of video communications by customers and with mobile operators’ network investments. The success of Apple’s FaceTime and other proprietary applications has already demonstrated consumer demand. By featuring high-quality, standards-based video calling with its feature-rich softphone, CounterPath continues to lead the industry by introducing competitive new offers focused on interoperability across all devices, operating systems and networks.

Analyst firm MobileSQUARED stated nearly three-quarters of global mobile operators are using, deploying, trialing or planning to deploy Long Term Evolution (LTE), which can better handle “network heavy” features like mobile video calling. CounterPath’s addition of video calling is closely aligned with network operators’ deployment of 4G LTE networks and expansion of Wi-Fi hotspots.  Sometimes referred to as “Over the Top” or OTT services, CounterPath’s video calling offer meets the need of customers who are enjoying faster and more capable networks fueled by 4G LTE deployments.

“Anyone using Bria today for voice calling can immediately make video calls between users and connect to video conferencing systems and bridges as long as they are connected to the Internet,” said Jon Arnold, principal analyst, J. Arnold & Associates.

CounterPath leverages years of experience in desktop softphone applications to create a carrier-grade mobile application giving mobile and wireline network operators an opportunity to compete with the OTT rivals by offering a powerful softphone endpoint.  Additionally, by working with key partners, CounterPath is in a unique position to help create a truly competitive solution for service providers at a time when voice revenues are decreasing and alternative opportunities for growth are being sought.

Key video features include:

• Video calling across both Wi-Fi or 3G/4G (mobile data network)
• H.264 CODEC support
• Support for two quality settings:

(1)  Lower: QCIF (Quarter Common Intermediate Format - 176 pixels by 144 lines)

(2)  Higher: CIF (Common Intermediate Format - 352 pixels x 288 lines)

For more information on Bria mobile applications, please visit http://www.counterpath.com/softphone-products.html

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About CounterPath

CounterPath Corporation is an award-winning provider of innovative desktop and mobile VoIP software products and solutions. The company’s product suite includes SIP-based softphones, server applications and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to cost-effectively integrate voice, video, presence and Instant Messaging (IM) applications into their VoIP offerings and extend functionality across both fixed and mobile networks.

CounterPath’s customers include some of the world's largest telecommunications service providers and network equipment providers including AT&T, Verizon, BT (British Telecommunications PLC), Mobilkom Austria, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco Systems, GENBAND, Metaswitch Networks and Mitel.

For more information please visit www.counterpath.com.  

Disclaimer: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

 

 

Vopium Android App Takes VoIP Experience to New Level

Enhanced Features Make VoIP Calling, SMS and

Other Communications Easy, Enjoyable and Cost-Effective

 

COPENHAGEN, Jan. 4, 2012 – Vopium, the award-winning mobile VoIP service provider, has announced a major update to its flagship application for Android smartphones and tablets. The new version of Vopium for Android features a streamlined user interface that improves communications and enhances the user experience.

Keeping pace with rapid innovation in the Android world, Vopium’s app automatically optimizes itself to match each device’s resolution and screen size. The new app also includes a guided tour of Vopium’s intelligent analytics of user habits and preferences that help maximize savings on local and international calls. A wizard gathers call-quality feedback and provides the per-minute rate before each call is placed.

Vopium’s new app is completely integrated with the native contacts and dialer and is designed to offer users more flexibility. It automatically updates the status of contacts, indicating whether a contact’s mobile device is connected to GSM, CDMA or Wi-Fi, which makes it easy to place free Wi-Fi-to-Wi-Fi calls. Vopium’s app also works with Android tablets, enabling calling from Wi-Fi-only tablets like the Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi.

Additionally, the upgrades include social networking features, letting users earn Vopium calling credits through Facebook and Twitter. These features help friends and followers save money, too – all part of Vopium’s drive to stay closely engaged with its global user base.

“We know the value of our users in today’s highly-competitive mobile calling environment,” said Vopium Chief Technology Officer Asad Parvaiz. “The addition of more user-centric product interaction recognizes that value by providing them with even more ways to communicate and save money.”

“We’ve completely updated the Vopium app to take advantage of all of the exciting features and capabilities in each new version of Android,” said Vopium CEO Tanveer Sharif. “The new app helps maintain Vopium’s reputation among users, analysts and the media as a leader in providing convenient, user-friendly ways for people worldwide to communicate on their terms and within their budgets.”

The updated Vopium for Android app is available in the Android Marketplace here.

About Vopium

Vopium A/S, the award-winning mobile VoIP provider, delivers mobile phone calls without borders. With the Vopium app, customers can make international mobile phone calls that feel, sound and are priced like local calls. Taking advantage of VoIP and GSM technologies, the Vopium app works across all major mobile operating systems and on more than 900 handset models, from smartphones to feature phones.

With more than 1 million users in 52 countries, Vopium powers reliable, cost-effective mobile communications around the world. Vopium is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris Exchange. For more information, please visit vopium.com.

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Vidtel Appoints Brian Coulter Vice President of Sales

 Industry veteran to accelerate the development of Vidtel’s cloud video conferencing channel 

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan.  3, 2011— Vidtel today announced the appointment of videoconferencing industry veteran Brian Coulter as its VP of Sales. Coulter will lead the company’s growth efforts surrounding its pioneering any-to-any video calling and MeetMe cloud video conferencing solutions.

For more than two decades, Coulter has been at the forefront of video conferencing and telecom industries, leading business development organizations at Alcatel-Lucent, BT/Ribbit and at industry leader Polycom.  Coulter’s experience as a business development executive in the VoIP, video conferencing and unified communications industries brings to Vidtel a unique blend of skills. Coulter has built successful channel sales in early stage companies, service providers and large enterprises.  

From his experience during the earliest days of hardware-based bridging for multi-party conferencing, through his experience with cloud-based services at BT/Ribbit, Coulter has been an acute observer and participant in emerging trends. Coulter brings to Vidtel a comprehensive understanding of the industry ecosystem, from proprietary systems, IP networks, endpoint devices, leading videoconferencing video vendors and managed service providers to VoIP service providers.  Coulter earned a BA degree at Johns Hopkins University.

“Brian’s unique background in sales, business development and service provider management, and in building channel sales organizations at early-stage and large companies will accelerate our market growth dramatically,” said Vidtel CEO Scott Wharton. “His experience will help us scale our business, building upon our market momentum.”  

As business-centric applications are moving to the cloud, Coulter’s vision is that the cloud is where videoconferencing belongs. “It’s clear to me that cloud video conferencing is the next big trend and that Vidtel is in one of the strongest positions to capture that market,“ he said. “I’m excited to be back at the forefront of the video conferencing market and help scale an early stage business like Vidtel into a dominant market player.”

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About Vidtel
Vidtel is the pioneer of any-to-any cloud video conferencing. Our enterprise-grade service provides compatibility between a diverse set of business-grade and consumer-grade video endpoints. Vidtel enables even small and medium enterprises to affordably experience the productivity of high-quality video conferencing between dispersed employees, partners, and customers. Vidtel is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA.

Vopium Launches First Real BlackBerry Wi-Fi Calling App

International and Domestic Wi-Fi Calling to All Vopium Users is Free, Including to Those with Android, iPhone, Symbian and Windows Mobile Phones

 

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 19, 2011 – Although calling apps for the BlackBerry are widely available, they suffer from limitations and carrier-imposed requirements that undermine the benefits. Vopium, which has established an industry first with its BlackBerry Wi-Fi calling app, eliminates those drawbacks and provides consumers and business users with free international and domestic Wi-Fi calls, as well as international calls over GSM and CDMA for as little as less than 1 cent per minute.

Vopium is the first VoIP service provider to offer a Wi-Fi calling app through BlackBerry App World. The Vopium app does not require users to connect with a local call – a major limitation of many other Wi-Fi calling apps. Unlike UMA-based Wi-Fi calling services provided by a few mobile operators, the Vopium app offers least-cost routing to both mobile and landline numbers whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi.

This design provides users significant savings with no trade-offs in call quality. For example, U.S. BlackBerry owners can make Wi-Fi calls with Vopium to mobile or landline numbers globally without their carrier’s international charges because the calls are routed through Vopium’s network. The Vopium users don’t consume their cellular voice minutes, aren’t limited to only calling other Vopium users and avoid the many hassles of using a calling card.

When connected to Wi-Fi, there are no international-roaming charges, so when traveling internationally, Vopium users can make local and international calls to mobile or landline numbers for as little as less than 1 cent per minute. When the other party also has a Vopium app on their Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian or Windows Mobile smartphone, Wi-Fi calls and text messages are free.

The Vopium app makes it easy for users to know if they are connected to and placing calls via Wi-Fi. Vopium designed the app to minimize battery consumption, so users can make frequent Wi-Fi calls and still have battery life that lasts at least a full day. This makes Wi-Fi calling a viable replacement for office desk phones and home phones.

“The new Vopium BlackBerry app is the latest example of our commitment to provide consumers and business users with high-quality, low-cost international and domestic calling,” said Vopium founder and CEO Tanveer Sharif. “Unlike other Wi-Fi calling apps that rely on bridging and other limited architectures, the Vopium BlackBerry app frees users to make calls in more places and on their terms. No other BlackBerry Wi-Fi calling app can match Vopium’s combination of savings, convenience, battery life, wireline interoperability and mobile operator independence. This app democratizes Wi-Fi calling for BlackBerry users, with no caveats and gotchas.”

Available now in beta version, the Vopium app supports BlackBerry smartphones running OS 6 or later versions. The app is available directly from Vopium at http://vopium.com/blackberry-beta and from BlackBerry App World at https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/68003.

About Vopium

Vopium A/S, the award-winning mobile VoIP provider, delivers mobile phone calls without borders. With the Vopium app, customers can make international mobile phone calls that feel, sound and are priced like local calls. Taking advantage of VoIP and GSM technologies, the Vopium app works across all major mobile operating systems and on more than 900 handset models, from smartphones to feature phones.

With more than 1 million users in 52 countries, Vopium powers reliable, cost-effective mobile communications around the world. Vopium is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris Exchange. For more information, please visit vopium.com.

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VoIP Supply Triples Its Holiday Season Donation For Local Homeless Relief

VoIP Supply Donates 3,000 Holiday Season Dinners To The Buffalo City Mission — And Calls On Local Competitors To Follow Suit

BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 19, 2011—VoIP Supply, North America's leading VoIP solutions provider, will be donating an additional 2,000 dinners to the Buffalo City Mission to feed needy families this Christmas.  Just a few weeks ago, VoIP Supply donated 1,000 Thanksgiving dinners, and now it is donating again.  The company and its CEO, Benjamin P. Sayers, are each donating an additional 1,000 dinners.

“We just can’t bear the thought of thousands of families not being able to enjoy a holiday meal,” said Sayers. “Because VoIP Supply is thriving, we feel an obligation to give back to our community. We are sure that other Buffalo area companies feel the same, and urge them to match or exceed our commitment this year.”

“Everywhere we turn, we’re seeing how the economy is having a dramatic impact on the number of individuals who need our help,” said Stuart Harper, executive director of the Buffalo City Mission. “With 58% of the homeless population experiencing homelessness for the first time, the generosity of VoIP Supply is a true blessing. For their donation has helped provide 3,000 meals during this holiday season for those of whom we serve.”

Help the Buffalo City Mission fill empty plates during this holiday season. To make a donation, please visit: www.buffalocitymission.org. For additional information about VoIP Supply, call toll-free 1-800-398-8647, or visit http://www.voipsupply.com.

About VoIP Supply

VoIP Supply, LLC (www.voipsupply.com), a division of Sayers Technology Holdings, is North America’s leading supplier of VoIP Equipment and complete systems with offerings for businesses, service providers and resellers. In addition to a comprehensive product catalog, the company offers technical support, extended warranties, device configuration, installations and logistical services. VoIP Supply is a three-time INC 5,000 honoree and in 2007, was ranked number 45 on the Entrepreneur Magazine’s Hot 100 fastest growing companies in the U.S. VoIP Supply has also been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Western New York by Buffalo’s Business First Newspaper, one of the Top 100 privately held companies in WNY, as well as the fastest growing company in WNY for 2006 by winning the Business First Fast Track 50 Award.

About the Buffalo City Mission

 The Buffalo City Mission, founded in 1917, is a not-for-profit organization that provides preventative, emergency and long-term recovery services to thousands of people who are homeless or impoverished. The Mission includes: Women and Children’s Shelter (Cornerstone Manor); the Men’s Community Center; the Mission Automotive Vehicle Donation Program; and our Dick Road thrift store location to better serve our community. For more information, please visit www.buffalocitymission.org or call 854-8181.

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Diversinet Appoints Dr. Hon Pak as Interim CEO

Veteran Healthcare IT Executive Succeeds Retiring CEO

TORONTO, Dec. 14, 2011 – Diversinet Corp. (TSX Venture: DIV, OTCBB: DVNTF), a leader in “Connected and Protected” mobile healthcare communications, has appointed Dr. Hon Pak as its interim Chief Executive Officer. Dr Pak succeeds Albert Wahbe, who has retired as CEO but will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors until March 31, 2012. Dr. Pak has served on the company’s executive advisory board since September.

“Dr. Pak brings the perfect blend of extensive medical and technology knowledge along with strong leadership experience,” stated Wahbe. “His healthcare expertise will help lead our team in managing several now fully-functional MobiSecure^® deployments and the further market penetration of our leading secure mobile applications.”

Diversinet’s Board expressed their appreciation for Wahbe’s many contributions as CEO and particularly for helping to establish the company’s leadership position as a recognized innovator in secured mobile healthcare.

Pak is a recently retired Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the U.S. Army Medical Department, an $11 billion healthcare system with more than 60,000 employees. He was the Army’s first Chief Medical Information Officer before his promotion to CIO. Pak also previously served as president of the American Telemedicine Association, leading the effort on global health and standards development for telehealth. In addition, he has also headed the Advanced Information Technology Group within the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, which has served as the U.S. Department of Defense health IT research and development arm.

"Healthcare is starting to undergo significant changes, becoming more outcome based and patient centered,” Pak said. “Mobility will be critical for healthcare organizations to achieve this transformation. Diversinet, with its proven and secure mobile development platform, is well positioned to meet this demand. I decided to join Diversinet because of my passion for its technology and even more importantly, its people."

Pak is recognized for the design and development of a health IT strategy around patient-centered care and as an innovator who helped transform Army Medicine into a systems based organization. He also shaped a federal investment in electronic health record exchanges and health information technology for active military, veteran and civilian populations. He holds a medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and completed a fellowship in dermatology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Pak is a distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy.

About Diversinet
Diversinet Corp. (TSX Venture: DIV, OTCBB: DVNTF) provides patented and proven secure products that enable healthcare organizations to rapidly deploy HIPAA-compliant mobile healthcare (mHealth) applications to anyone, anytime, anywhere, on mobile devices. Learn more about how Diversinet is delivering “Healthcare. Connected and Protected” at www.diversinet.com.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws provide a “safe harbour” for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the company) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the success of current product offerings. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the company. For a description of additional risks and uncertainties, please refer to the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov and Canadian securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

MobiSecure is a registered trademark of Diversinet Corp.

Vidtel and Preferred Data Systems Deliver Affordable, Hosted, Enterprise-Grade Video Conferencing to SMEs

SUNNYVALE, Calif., and FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (Dec. 13, 2011) –Preferred Data Systems today announced a distribution agreement with Vidtel to deliver enterprise-grade video conferencing services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as part of the Vidtel channel partner program.

Vidtel’s cloud-based MeetMe service provides SMEs with an affordable, user-friendly solution for enabling multi-party video conferencing across virtually all endpoint types, vendors and platforms, including room-based systems, desktop and laptop PCs/Macs, executive-desktop products, mobile devices, Skype and Google Talk. MeetMe is available immediately to PDS customers in the Southeast Michigan region.

Through Vidtel’s service, PDS customers can now conduct enterprise-quality, multi-party video conferences regardless of endpoint, vendor, platform or service, and without the need for expensive bridges or exchange services. MeetMe’s architecture enables PDS customers to pursue a best-of-breed approach to their video conferencing endpoints, using the combination of conference room, office and mobile solutions that best suits their business needs and budget.

MeetMe’s cloud-based design frees SMEs from expensive, premises-based infrastructure such as bridges and hassles such as firewall traversal and multi-vendor interoperability. Instead, SMEs can quickly implement video conferencing throughout their organization and use it as regularly and as easily as a telephone.

Under the distribution agreement with Vidtel, PDS offers MeetMe for both the Mondopad and other video conferencing devices. PDS also offers Vidtel Connect, a point-to-point connectivity service that traverses firewalls, on InFocus’s 55-inch Mondopad wall tablet through their agreement with InFocus.

“The Vidtel any-to-any cloud solution breaks down the primary barriers that typically prevent SMEs from enjoying enterprise-level video conferencing: cost, know-how and usability,” said Scott Wharton, Vidtel CEO. “By partnering with innovative resellers such as PDS, Vidtel is giving SMEs access to the kind of high-quality video conferencing services that used to be available only to large enterprises.”

“Vidtel’s services will enable PDS to be on the forefront of innovative video conferencing technologies and to deliver enterprise-grade video conferencing services to our customers with a budget of any size,” said Kelly Comeaux, President of PDS. 

Vidtel’s channel strategy addresses the underserved SME market through partnerships with video conferencing vendors, video VARs, AV integrators, VoIP providers and managed service providers that have existing IT relationships with SME customers.  Vidtel’s newest channel partner, PDS, joins previously announced partners InFocus (Vidtel is the provider of video conferencing service on the InFocus Mondopad), RealLinx (hosted VoIP provider) and CMIT Solutions (IT service provider).

SMEs in the Southeast Michigan region can contact info@pdsnetworking.com to get started. 
For more information about Vidtel’s new MeetMe channel program, visit www.vidtel.com/vidtel-partnerships.html.

About Vidtel

Vidtel is an innovative cloud video conferencing provider. Our any-to-any service provides compatibility between a diverse set of business-grade and consumer-grade video endpoints. Vidtel enables even small and medium enterprises to affordably experience the productivity of high-quality video conferencing between dispersed employees, partners, and customers. Vidtel is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA.

About Preferred Data Systems, LLC

Preferred Data Systems, LLC. (PDS) specializes in the design, development, administration and support of computer information systems including hardware integration. After several years of operating as a subsidiary of Parameter Driven Software, Inc., we became incorporated in 1998. Since then, PDS has evolved into one of the premier networking service companies in Southeast Michigan. Computer networks often support the integrity of a business. We appreciate the importance of understanding the applications, technologies and equipment, to ensure that the integrations we recommend are compatible.

Symposia Helps Providers Save the Conversation

HarQen’s white label solution allows telecoms and collaboration service providers to employ game-changing new technology—and integration with enterprise systems—to capture the value otherwise lost in business conference calls

MILWAUKEE, DECEMBER 8, 2011 — HarQen, Inc., whose products unlock the value of the human voice in business conversations, today announced the immediate availability of HarQen Symposia to deliver the conference call of the future. With Symposia, business conversations are no longer just about listening; communications can now be captured, shared, enriched, searched, and analyzed—all of which makes insights actionable. 

HarQen’s Jeff Fitzsimmons, co-founder and VP of product development, will debut Symposia and speak today at GigaOM’s Net:Work conference in San Francisco.

Symposia is a cloud-based collaboration offering that dynamically transforms any conversation into an interactive synopsis that lives long after the conference call, meeting, webinar or presentation has ended. Symposia’s hosted voice management platform and API enables the configuration and deployment of enterprise grade, white-label solutions, making Symposia compatible with applications and business environments such as collaboration and telecom service providers, Salesforce.com, SAP, and Oracle.

With Symposia, conversations are forever accessible, interactive, and useful for specific business purposes in the proper business context. Customer communication can be conducted and accessed in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) applications and job candidates can be interviewed and archived right in the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) environment. In addition, Symposia provides an in-depth set of analytics that enable businesses to gain critical insights into their performance.

“Symposia lets communication services deliver an entirely new level of value for their customers,” said Fitzsimmons. “Why are we sending our top resources into meetings to share their valuable ideas and then throwing them all away when the meetings are over?”

Because Symposia collaborative notes and collective feedback on calls, events and meetings, can be navigated, analyzed and shared with individuals or groups (even those unable to participate), the most relevant audio snippets that capture the essence or details of any insights can be gained without having to listen to the entire session recording.  Symposia lets users pluck back the few minutes that really matter. For example, participants can quickly review detailed information about a follow-up item discussed in a meeting. A VP can review the conversation around the specific slides that matter to her in a presentation that she missed, and the moments where customer support resolves a tricky customer issue can be shared with the entire support team. And this value can be realized globally.

“Since we focus mainly on collaboration and activity-based organizations, Symposia is equally valuable in any language,” said Fitzsimmons. “There is a tremendous amount of business intelligence and huge competitive advantage to be gained by capturing and organizing these important conversations that happen every day.”

"There were over 45 billion minutes of conference calls through more three dozen different conference service bureaus in North America in 2010, with minutes growing at about 8 percent per year," according to Elliot Gold of TeleSpan Publishing Corporation, which has tracked the conference call industry for over 30 years.

Availability

HarQen Symposia is available immediately as a SaaS white-label service for collaboration and communications service providers.

About HarQen

HarQen unleashes the richness of information trapped inside conversations – transforming talk into actionable insights.  HarQen’s award-winning Intelligent Voice Service enables conversations to be captured, enriched, organized, navigated, shared and analyzed – improving collaboration and adding a new layer of business intelligence to existing data management systems. Milwaukee-based HarQen was founded in 2007 and is privately funded. 

For more information on HarQen:

Web http://harqen.com/

Twitter twitter.com/harqen 

 

Independa Introduces Artemis™ – Integrated Health, Safety and Activity Monitoring for the Independent Elderly

Artemis™ Completes the Most Integrated – and Easy-to-Use –Telecare Offering for Supported Independence at mHealth Summit

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 5, 2011 – Independa™, Inc. today announced plans for the Independa Artemis™ platform of health, safety and activity sensors to complete its integrated telecare suite for the independent elderly and their professional or family caregivers. Artemis debuts this week at the 2011 mHealth Summit in National Harbor, Md.

Artemis, which Independa plans to launch early next year, will be fully integrated with and complement Independa’s current best-of-breed solutions: the Independa Caregiver Web App and Angela™, the touchscreen-based, in-residence social engagement platform.

Artemis will connect sensors to monitor vital signs, safety and home conditions via a wireless hub to Independa’s cloud solution. Care providers will use the Caregiver Web App to track care recipients’ well-being remotely, while recipients interact using Angela.

The new monitoring platform will expand caregivers’ ability to help the elderly continue living healthy, safe, rewarding lives in their own residences through simple, cost-effective virtual care. Knowing how their patients or loved ones are doing in real time enables remote caregivers to serve more care recipients, gain critical peace of mind, and intervene if necessary. 

“Independa Artemis, in conjunction with our other cloud-based integrated telecare offerings, delivers on our vision of providing Independa customers and channel partners the most integrated solution for supported independence,” said Independa CEO Kian Saneii. “Artemis is designed to deliver the next level of home monitoring, versus traditional methods and technologies. It will seamlessly integrate health, safety and activity information to provide virtual caregivers unprecedented visibility across multiple aspects of health and well-being.” 

Independa’s new, integrated monitoring solution is tailor-made for the non-technical elderly. Running as an out-of-the-box, power-and-play suite of home sensors, Artemis will support a custom package of monitors preconfigured to the individual’s activities and daily challenges. Sensors will include an ear thermometer, blood pressure cuff, weight scale, pulse oximeter, glucometer, passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor, door sensor, panic button and pressure pad, as well as sensors to detect flooding, toilet flushing, room temperature, smoke, and carbon monoxide.

Meticulously developed for aging adults, Artemis will offer wireless sensors and connectivity to the Internet, where Independa will aggregate information collected from the in-residence sensors. Users won’t need to worry about pairing or matching devices with a wireless hub or computer because the sensors will be paired prior to shipment. Artemis will convert raw data into integrated, actionable knowledge.

In support of this solution, Independa announced a partnership with Boston Life Labs LLC. Independa will include in Artemis Boston Life Labs Smart Medical Home Hbox Hub and other plug-and-play wireless telehealth sensors.

“Boston Life Labs is excited to enable and support Independa’s Artemis offering," said Boston Life Labs CEO Richard Binier. “We believe that this combination of innovative technical efforts will provide significant value to the older adult population in the home environment.”

“Trillions of dollars of infrastructure development in the U.S. would be required to build and equip facilities to house the tsunami of seniors who are reaching the age of fragility and dependence,” said Robert B. McCray, President & CEO of the Wireless-Life Sciences Alliance (WLSA).

“Staffing those facilities is an additional expense, and seniors want to live independently as long as possible. Fortunately, the smart combination of technology and applications in Independa's platform will enable fragile seniors to extend their period of independent living and caregivers to extend their services to a greater number of clients. This blend of consumer satisfaction and institutional efficiency is a winning combination.”

Independa Artemis™ builds on and enhances Independa’s existing offerings, launched earlier this year:

• Independa Caregiver Web App – Cloud-based Web Application of Caregivers –  Uses patent-pending technology to enable caregivers to create automatic reminders for care receivers to take their medications, keep medical and social appointments, and record ever-popular “Life Stories.

• Independa Angela – Personal Interaction Device for the Care Receiver –  Adds single-touch access to games, puzzles, favorite websites, health metrics reporting, a photo album with picture frame capabilities, a calendar planner, and social engagement features from simple video Web chat to Facebook and email connectivity.

Independa Artemis is scheduled for beta testing in February and general availability in Q2 2012 and will be sold through Independa partners.

For more information on Artemis, visit http://www.independa.com/artemis.

About Independa, Inc.
Independa, Inc. provides an integrated telecare platform to help professional and family caregivers enable their care recipients to continue living at the residence of their choice longer, more safely and more comfortably. Independa supports home-care and other professional enterprises offering remote care, assisted living, and home health care. With Independa, care recipients can delay or even eliminate the costly and dreaded move to significantly more expensive and cumbersome levels of care.

Independa’s cross-disciplined leadership team and expert advisory board intimately understand the market, technology and needs of the elderly and their caregivers.

Web: http://www.independa.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/independa

 

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XConnect Helps Resolve Complexity of Cross-Network Video Calling

Federation Interconnection and ENUM Registry Services Promote More Rapid Adoption of Video Communications

LONDON – Dec. 5, 2011 – With VoIP now a mature, dependable service capability for users and service providers around the world, one of the next big milestones on the global communications horizon is widespread adoption of IP-based video communications.

But unlike attaining the delivery of consistently high-quality voice services worldwide – which service providers, equipment manufacturers and exchanges reached fairly quickly by agreeing on SIP – achieving broad, global interconnectivity of video calling of acceptable quality for conducting business anywhere in the world at any time is exponentially more complicated.

XConnect helps service providers, and ultimately their users, see their way through bewildering choices by enabling secure and multi-protocol interconnection and interworking between disparate video communities, networks and devices. The company’s services make video calling as simple and ubiquitous as traditional voice calling – regardless of network, video service or device – and remove the need for any prerequisite knowledge on the part of call participants. 

The XConnect Video Interconnection Exchange (VIE) provides the world’s first neutral clearinghouse for exchanging video traffic between network and video service providers. A single connection to VIE offers video-enabled operators immediate multilateral interconnection to each other, with full configurability, control and policy. Five service providers and operators have partnered with XConnect for these interconnection services.

Video service providers and exchanges also may use XConnect’s ENUM-based registry – the largest directory of its kind – separately from VIE to route video traffic. This streamlines the routing of video sessions between video endpoints reached by any network. The registry can be used to determine whether an endpoint can support video calls; the type of device; and other technical information, such as type of codec used, frame rates and size of screen, to ensure optimal quality.

“With voice, we have shown that a federation approach holds many benefits for service providers and users,” said XConnect CEO Eli Katz. “Now we’re applying the same concept to raise video calling to the next level. Users get the ability to conduct business-quality video calls more quickly, while service providers save on their investments in facilities. Clearly, the federation and ENUM registry solutions provide a win-win scenario for all concerned.”

Primarily focused on enabling cross-network service provider video calling, XConnect’s VIE is designed to dramatically accelerate worldwide adoption of video calling and conferencing by service providers, enterprises and consumers. 

In one example, BCS Global, a managed videoconferencing, telepresence and visual collaboration service provider, has interconnected its Public Switched Video Network (PSVN) with VIE. PSVN enables videoconferencing service providers and carriers to seamlessly interconnect their B2B video exchanges.

The two companies view their interconnection arrangement as a significant step toward further resolving B2B video interoperability, directory and interconnection challenges. The relationship provides scalable, secure and policy-based video interconnections.

"Partnering with XConnect will expand the number of reachable video endpoints to BCS Global's user community, and also provide XConnect's service provider customer base with easy access to BCS Global's B2B video exchange and VNOC services," said BCS CTO Dan Tanel.

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About XConnect
The global leader in network peering, XConnect is trusted by IP-based service providers in 20 countries to offer a suite of Interconnect 2.0 services, including carrier ENUM-registry and next-generation multimedia interconnection hub solutions for voice and video. London-based XConnect offers the most comprehensive and reliable solutions to help service providers deliver rich multimedia IP communications across networks while reducing costs and improving service quality. Backed by Tier 1 venture capital firms, XConnect operates the largest worldwide ENUM-based IP-peering federation, the Global Alliance, and the world’s first national VoIP/NGN interconnection federations, in the Netherlands, Korea and South Africa. For more information, please visit www.xconnect.net.

 

 

 

YouMail Visual Voicemail Plus Now Available to All Viaero Wireless Subscribers

 

Viaero’s Android Smartphones Will Have App Preloaded

IRVINE, Calif.  – Nov. 30, 2011 – YouMail (http://www.youmail.com), a leading provider of cloud-based, enhanced telecommunication services, announced today that the company’s popular Visual Voicemail Plus application will now be available for free to all Viaero Wireless subscribers.  The feature-rich voicemail application will be preloaded on the regional wireless carrier’s Android smartphones, and Viaero’s iPhone and BlackBerry users can now download the app directly from respective app stores.

“Like most carriers, Viaero Wireless is seeing its customers move to smartphones,” said Mike Felicissimo, executive vice president of Viaero Wireless which serves territories in Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas.  “With YouMail, Viaero can offer its smartphone customers a state-of-the-art visual voicemail service without having to deal with time and expense of integrating new equipment into its network operations.”

YouMail CEO Alex Quilici said this distribution agreement presents his company with an opportunity to further showcase its popular, free visual voicemail app to consumers.  Quilici said YouMail also stands to gain more users of its premium offerings through an easy, one-click upgrade process that simply appears on a user’s wireless bill and does not require the entry of credit card information.

The development with Viaero Wireless comes on the heels of an announcement earlier in November where YouMail revealed that since its February 2009 launch the Visual Voicemail Plus app had been downloaded more than three million times.  Additionally, the company can now boast having had 75 million distinct callers interact with the company’s service at one point or another.

YouMail’s Visual Voicemail application has numerous innovative and popular features, including:

-       Visual Caller ID, which visually identifies most callers with an appropriate image (such as a Facebook photo) and name, even when they’re not in a user’s address book.

-       Smart Greetings, which automatically greets callers by name, with little or no setup.

-       Simple Sharing, which allows users to post interesting voicemails to Facebook and Twitter in just a few clicks, from anywhere.

-       Any Device Access, which lets users pick up their mobile voicemail on phones, tablets, computers, or even through e-mail or txt messages.

YouMail, which can be downloaded for free by smartphone owners on major U.S. wireless carriers, currently supports applications for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices, as well as third-party applications developed for other mobile operating systems such as Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 6.5 and WebOS.

“We’re finding that more and more carriers are distributing YouMail to their users in lieu of trying to build or integrate their own next generation voicemail experiences,” Quilici said. “We see YouMail as the future of enhanced telecommunications services, like voicemail, where those services are moved out of the network and into the cloud, made social, optimized for smartphones, and are made available through a freemium model.”   

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About YouMail
YouMail, Inc., is the leading provider of cloud-based enhanced telecommunication services.  YouMail’s completely free flagship Visual Voicemail Plus application offers a true multi-platform, unified and social voicemail experience for its users on BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, WebOS, Windows Phone 7 and Windows 6.5 platforms, and is being increasingly adopted by consumers and by carriers as either the default or recommended voicemail service.  Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Irvine, Calif., YouMail is backed by VantagePoint Capital Partners, the Tech Coast Angels, the Tech Coast Angels ACE Fund, Siemer Ventures, and the CrunchFund.

Additional information can be found by visiting the YouMail website at http://www.youmail.com/ .

About Viaero Wireless

Viaero Wireless, a wireless phone company based in Fort Morgan, Colorado with retail locations in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, offers competitive nationwide plans for residential and business customers in four states. Viaero Wireless enables customers in its rural coverage areas to access voice, data and messaging services, utilizing a variety of leading technology devices, across the world.  For more information, visit http://www.viaero.com .

 

VoIP Supply Named As “Top 50” Western New York Private Company

Ascends Prestigious Regional Rankings for Seven Consecutive Years

BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 29, 2011—VoIP Supply LLC (www.voipsupply.com), North America’s leading supplier of VoIP equipment and complete solutions, has been named as one of Western New York’s Top CEO’s/Top Private Companies for 2011.  Buffalo Business First and Dopkins & Co. LLP unveiled their annual list of top chief executive officers leading Western New York’s top private companies, marking this the seventh straight year that VoIP Supply has been honored with the ranking.  

Starting in 2005, when the award was known as Western New York’s Top 100 Private Companies, VoIP Supply occupied the modest 96th ranking.  After six consecutive years of nominations, VoIP Supply climbed to the 56th position in 2010.  Now, in less than a decade, VoIP Supply ranks as the 50^th top private company in the region.

“Being named to the top 100 private companies in Western New York is a tremendous honor for everyone at VoIP Supply,” said Benjamin P. Sayers, President and CEO of VoIP Supply. “Continuing to move up the list every year is testament to the value we deliver to our customers, and proof that Western New York is a place of positive business growth.”

For additional information about VoIP Supply, call toll-free 1-800-398-8647, or visit http://www.voipsupply.com.

About VoIP Supply

VoIP Supply, LLC (www.voipsupply.com), a division of Sayers Technology Holdings, is North America’s leading supplier of VoIP Equipment and complete systems with offerings for businesses, service providers and resellers. In addition to a comprehensive product catalog, the company offers technical support, extended warranties, device configuration, installations and logistical services. VoIP Supply is a three-time INC 5,000 honoree and in 2007, was ranked number 45 on the Entrepreneur Magazine’s Hot 100 fastest growing companies in the U.S. VoIP Supply has also been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Western New York by Buffalo’s Business First Newspaper, one of the Top 100 privately held companies in WNY, as well as the fastest growing company in WNY for 2006 by winning the Business First Fast Track 50 Award.

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Renowned Voice Strategist Joins HarQen as Chief Intellectual Property Officer

Jim O'Shaughnessy adds HarQen to his storied career in global IP positioning

MILWAUKEE (Nov. 16, 2011) — HarQen today announced the appointment of Jim O'Shaughnessy as its chief intellectual property officer responsible for expanding HarQen’s patent portfolio to maximize market opportunities globally.   O'Shaughnessy brings more than three decades of strategic expertise to HarQen’s intellectual property initiatives. 

As a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP in the 1990s, O'Shaughnessy helped grow Foley’s practice into the then largest intellectual property practice worldwide. Recruited away by Rockwell International to be its Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, he was responsible for successfully compiling and then selling Rockwell’s expansive voice-patent portfolio to Aspect Technologies in 2004 among a range of other duties in the intellectual property space.

“I have had the good fortune to know and work with Jim since my earliest days as an entrepreneur,” said HarQen CEO E. Kelly Fitzsimmons.  “Jim understands the global nature of the unfolding competitive landscape and possesses the rare expertise necessary to align HarQen’s intellectual property strategies and portfolio with the extraordinary market conditions today.”

In little more than the past 90 days alone, more than $18 billion has been spent acquiring not companies, but voice-related intellectual property.  These transactions have included Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility Holdings for $12.5 billion; the purchase of Nortel patents at auction for $4.5 billion by Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Ericsson and others, and IBM’s sale of more than 1,000 voice patents to Google for $1 billion. 

“We view Voice 3.0 – which distinguishes itself from Voice 2.0 by the ability to monetize voice as content -- as an emerging trillion dollar market,” said Fitzsimmons. “And it’s clear we are not alone.”

“HarQen is a trifecta for me — smart and highly energetic people who are defining new market opportunities,” commented O’Shaughnessy. 

“Were any one missing, I would be too,” joked O’Shaughnessy.

O’Shaughnessy views intellectual property as the DNA of the organization and has played a vital role in its development and positioning for many Global 500 companies throughout the Americas, Europe and Austral-Asia. He has also served as an expert witness in several patent-infringement cases, including the Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing LP litigation. 

O'Shaughnessy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before earning his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977.  Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of Rovi Corporation (Nasdaq: ROVI) and the Council of Advisors of The National Institute for Play. 

About HarQen

HarQen unleashes the richness of information trapped inside conversations – transforming talk into actionable insights.  HarQen’s award-winning Intelligent Voice Service enables conversations to be captured, enriched, organized, navigated, shared and analyzed – improving collaboration and adding a new layer of business intelligence to existing data management systems. Midwest-based HarQen was founded in 2007 and is privately funded.

For more information on HarQen:
Web http://harqen.com/
Twitter twitter.com/harqen
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/HarQen/101744769868019

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Last Minute Donation Provides Thanksgiving Relief For Local Homeless

VoIP Supply Donates 1,000 Thanksgiving Dinners To The Buffalo City Mission And Challenges Other Businesses To Do The Same

BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2011—VoIP Supply, North America's leading VoIP solutions provider, will be donating 1,000 turkey dinners to the Buffalo City Mission to feed needy families this Thanksgiving.  Just a few weeks ago, the City Mission announced that it “still needs donations to help feed many impacted families this year,” and VoIP Supply is stepping up as part of its civic duty.

“We have experienced remarkable success and feel strongly about giving back to the community,” said Garrett Smith, VoIP Supply’s CMO. “Thriving local companies like VoIP Supply have an obligation to be socially responsible and civic aware. We’re happy to help and know that fewer families will go hungry this holiday season. As a company that likes a good challenge, we challenge other Buffalo area companies to match or exceed our commitment this year.”

Help further the Buffalo City Mission’s goal and make a donation. For additional information about VoIP Supply, call toll-free 1-800-398-8647, or visit http://www.voipsupply.com.

 

About VoIP Supply

VoIP Supply, LLC (www.voipsupply.com), a division of Sayers Technology Holdings, is North America’s leading supplier of VoIP Equipment and complete systems with offerings for businesses, service providers and resellers. In addition to a comprehensive product catalog, the company offers technical support, extended warranties, device configuration, installations and logistical services. VoIP Supply is a three-time INC 5,000 honoree and in 2007, was ranked number 45 on the Entrepreneur Magazine’s Hot 100 fastest growing companies in the U.S. VoIP Supply has also been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Western New York by Buffalo’s Business First Newspaper, one of the Top 100 privately held companies in WNY, as well as the fastest growing company in WNY for 2006 by winning the Business First Fast Track 50 Award.

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