IP communications provider EtherSpeak Communications LLC has been named a qualified Microsoft SIP Trunking Provider.

In that capacity, the Virginia-based company which sells through VARs will provision unified communications (UC) services including VoIP over the Microsoft Lync platform.

The new designation puts another feather in EtherSpeaks cap since 2008, the company has maintained status as the only certified SIP Provider for ShoreTel systems with its SureTrunk for ShoreTel service brand. Now, with recognition of its SIP trunking brand for Microsoft Lync, EtherSpeak said users will experience rapid turn-up, tangible cost savings and options including voice packet encryption, auto failover and geographic redundancy.

All of that can be done without requiring customers to buy more, pricey on-premises equipment, EtherSpeak said.

EtherSpeak further said it will offer Microsoft partners and customers multiple connectivity options for public Internet and MPLS networks with QoS. Other products include infrastructure redundancy, managed connectivity, business communications continuity and iEtherFax, a fax-line replacement that works with a Microsoft UC users fax machine.