|
|
iBlue turns Mac into IP-based PBX
2006-10-17
The iBlue package uses the iPod Shuffle as a boot device for the Mac Mini. The Shuffle boots the Mini into a Linux From Scratch environment that also includes 4S Newcom's "4S IP PBX" software. The Linux OS and IP PBX software can optionally be installed directly onto the Mac Mini's hard drive, after which the Shuffle can serve as an emergency repair disk -- and as "the world's most elegant MP3 player," according to 4S Newcom.
4S Newcom spun off from Snom, a Berlin-based company that has long sold Linux-based VoIP business phones. The iBlue package also includes five of Snom's Snom300 model, a basic but programmable business phone featuring a simple, menu-driven user interface, browser interface, two-port switch, four-way navigation button, and a simple, two-line LCD display.
The 4S IP PBX software that runs on the Mac Mini includes a web-based user interface described as "slick and intuitive." It lets administrators configure inbound number blocks, users, extensions, outbound routing, and advanced features such as auto attendant, voicemail, and conferencing, according to 4S Newcom.
Additional touted IP PBX features include:
- SIP proxy, registrar, and location server according to RFC3261
- Automatic forwarding
- Music on hold
- Multi-user telephone conferences
- Voicemail
- Auto-attendant
- Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
- Automatic Call Distribution (ACD)
- Low-rate codecs
- Maintenance via web interface
- Call hunting
- Dialog agent
- Speed dial
- Available for Linux and Windows 2000/XP
Dr. Harry Behrens, managing director of 4S Newcom, says, "We have put our complete IP PBX on [the iPod Shuffle]. It is so compact that even on the smallest iPod Shuffle (512 MB) enough room is left for four full hours of music."
Behrens adds, "Conventional PBX systems at this configuration cost ten times as much."
4S Newcom claims that its iBlue is the "world's smallest IP PBX." However, a Netstix running AstLinux is obviously much, much smaller.
Availability
The iBlue entry level system will ship Nov. 6, priced at 3,000 Euros (approx. $ 3,750), according to the company. It includes a Mac Mini, iPod Shuffle, five Snom300 phones, and a 4S IP PBX license for up to 250 users, and 30 parallel calls.
The launch is timed to correspond with the VON Europe trade show in Berlin, Nov. 6-8.
Fifty-one percent of the first thousand systems sold will be donated to the VoIP Competence Center at the Technical University of Dresden. Behrens comments, "We are an East German company and like to invest in the local human capital."
|
|
|
|
VoIP Providers List Information |
|
|
|
If you have any constructive thoughts, creative ideas, or reasonable offers, please, contact us.
|
|
Send Email to Helen O'Neill if you have any questions either about this website, or about VoIP providers, or VoIP in general.
|
|
Send Email to our technical support if you have any technical queries.
|
About VoIP Providers List
VoIP Providers List services save time for companies searching both for information and interconnection partners, interested in voice minutes exchange, i.e. VoIP minutes termination and origination, as well as hardware and software trade. We provide information on interconnection services, VoIP hardware solutions and VoIP software , as well as overall situation in the VoIP industry.
VoIP Providers List is constantly moderated, and thus we can guarantee that any VoIP provider published in the web-based company catalogue has provided accurate details on its services and operations.
We are constantly working on improvement and development of our services. Your comments and proposals regarding the services are highly welcome. Please, do not hesitate to contact us providing with your ideas, opinion, and feed-back. We will be grateful for any information and useful links on Voice over IP, VoIP hardware, VoIP software, and VoIP Providers. |
|
|
|
|
VoIP Providers Statistics |
|
|
Providers in database: 3315
Users Online: 263
|
|
|
