Sprint Launches EV-DO Rev. A

Sprint Nextel Corp. has rolled CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev. A technology in San Diego, the first of 21 markets scheduled to be upgraded this year. Sprint, the first U.S. carrier to deploy Rev. A, expects to completely upgrade its network by the third quarter of 2007. Sprints existing EV-DO network, Power Vision, covers more than 164 million people with average u p l o a d speeds of 50kbps-70kbps and average download speeds of 400kbps-700kbps. The upgrade will increase average upload speeds to 300kbps-400kbps and average download speeds to 450kbps-800kbps. Sprint also has rolled out backward-compatible broadband cards in advance of the network turn-up. It offers three network cards for the PC, from Novatel Wireless Inc., Sierra Wireless and Pantech Wireless Inc.

www.sprint.com

Siemens Expands Wireless LAN Portfolio

Siemens Enterprise Communications is expanding its wireless LAN portfolio with the launch of HiPath Wireless Manager, a centralized LAN management platform that can manage thousands of access points and tens of thousands of users from a single console. Businesses can monitor and optimize performance using heat maps, statistics, alerts and reports. An element of the HiPath Wireless Manager software is its open-services framework, which facilitates the third-party development of integrated converged voice, data and video applications for business-wide mobility.

www.siemens.com

Tele-Tech Releases SLC Index

Database provider Tele-Tech Services Inc. has released the SLC Index, which provides up-to-date subscriber line rates for each states three largest LECs, to help CLECs maintain competitive pricing. Tele-Tech gathers the rate and tariff information from PUCs nationwide and maintains the SLC Index, so it includes ratecenter name, OCN, NPA, rate-group identifier and applicable EAS charges.

www.telecomdb.com

3Com Debuts New Wireless IP Phone

3Com Corp. has released to the channel a new wireless, SIPbased IP phone for enterprises so users can roam a building or campus environment and stay connected to phone calls, e-mail and data applications. The device targets people working in education, government, health care and retail verticals.

The 3Com phone provides secure communications over any 802.11b/g wireless LAN infrastructure and can be paired with the 3Com Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24, which lets users add the phone to a corporate wireless infrastructure.

www.3com.com

Switchvox Enhances SMB IP PBX

IP PBX maker Switchvox has launched version 2.6 of its Switchvox SMB platform available for sale through resellers. The enhanced system extends the callmonitoring feature and supports features such as the ability to jump in on calls, or allow colleagues to listen in on conversations. The new version also contains updates to the Switchbox Switchboard that gives administrators more control over user and supervisor permissions. Companies now can see who is on the phone, and monitor, record or pick up calls with the click of a button. Real-time call queue visibility further lets users see the status of other agents in the queue and statistics, such as how long someone has been on hold.

www.switchvox.com

4S newcom Turns the Mac Mini Into IP PBX

Berlin-based 4S newcom GmbH rolled out the blue4S, which is delivered on an Apple iPod Shuffle and is the worlds smallest IP PBX. blue4S, based on the 4S software-based IP PBX, uses SIP for VoIP communication and runs on a Mac mini. It is booted off an iPod Shuffle, which hosts the complete system from OS to IP PBX all the while continuing to serve as an MP3 player. Once the system is booted off the iPod shuffle, it can be installed on the built-in hard disk, leaving the iPod Shuffle as installation media in case of emergency.

The blue4S entry-level system, which costs about $3,800, consists of a Mac mini, the iPod Shuffle with the 4S IP PBX licensed for up to 250 users and 30 parallel calls, as well as five snom300 VoIP phones. Online sales began Nov. 6.

www.4Snewcom.de

Fonality Asterisk-based PBXtra Professional Edition

Fonality, a developer of Asterisk-based IP telephony systems, released in November its PBXtra Professional Edition IP PBX and HUD (Heads-Up Display) Team application to target the mid-market (50-500 seats) at 40 percent to 80 percent less cost than traditional solutions.

PBXtra Pro includes all the features in PBXtra Standard Edition, such as telecommuting, branch office support, voice-mail-to-e-mail, click-to-call, VoIP, softphones and support for IP and analog phones. It adds advanced callmanagement capabilities, such as creating groups of employees and assigning them permissions. HUD Team, Fonalitys new universal contact management application, provides presence management. PBXtra Professional Edition and HUD Team are available immediately for $1,995 and $995, respectively.

www.fonality.com