SiTel Semiconductor today announced how its collaboration with Target Compiler Technologies led to the creation of customized audio DSPs for its SC14452 Green VoIP processor. The DSPs combine extreme energy efficiency with high processing performance, enabling industry-leading audio quality and power consumption. Key components of the SC14452 that won a 2009 Frost and Sullivan Green Excellence Award, the DSPs were developed using Target’s IP Designer retargetable tool suite.

Target’s tools allowed SiTel to develop application-specific Gen2DSPs including a C-compiler, which means customers can program the DSPs themselves. The DSPs operate at low frequency to minimize energy consumption, yet provide high processing power. The SC14552 features two of these DSPs, which together deliver 160 MIPS. At the same time, they help minimize power consumption, enabling in-call power figures below 600 mW.

 With these powerful DSPs on-board, the SC14452 delivers outstanding sound quality for crystal clear communications. It can support four concurrent IP connections, independent of the codec chosen. Currently supported codecs include G.711, G.729, G.722, G.726, iLBC and MP3. Highly integrated, this VoIP solution reduces the overall system bill of materials (BoM) for enterprise VoIP desktop phones and IP-DECT base stations. It features integrated DECT, CAT-iq, DECT 6.0 and KDECT support and a dedicated cryptography engine for complete call confidentially.

SiTel’s drive towards more advanced and flexible System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions is the reason behind the company’s choice of Target’s tools. Target’s IP Designer is the leading retargetable tool suite for the design, programming and verification of application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIPs).

About Green VoIP
Concerns over climate change and fossil fuel supplies have put energy efficiency of all products at the forefront of both consumer and government agendas. For example, the European Commission Regulation on ecodesign (implementing Directive 2005/32/EC) proposes limiting the standby power consumption of domestic and office devices initially to 2 W if the device has a display and 1 W otherwise. A future second phase will further tighten these limits to 1 W and 0.5 W. Similar legislation is currently making its way through Congress in the US.

To help customers respond to these concerns and regulations, SiTel launched the Green VoIP range in 2008. These energy-efficient ICs allow manufacturers to create VoIP solutions that are environmentally friendly and reduce electricity bills. The first Green VoIP product, the SC14450, reduced the net system power consumption for typical applications by 50% to around 800 mW during calls and 550 mW in idle mode. The next Green VoIP processor, the SC14452, pushed down power consumption even further to 550 and 350 mW respectively – meeting the most stringent proposed limits.

VTech rolled out its new lineup in the US, including the company's first DECT 6.0 system with push-to-talk (PTT) functionality.

The LS6325 cordless phones can use PTT through the handset speakerphone. Talk range is listed as 1,500 feet and each model in the series is expandable up to five handsets (using the LS6305 accessory handset, sold separately for $19.95).

The PTT feature was first developed by VTech for its four-line cordless SynJ product for small businesses, Brad Pittmon, the company's product manager, told TWICE. "We quickly recognized that this PTT feature would also benefit the residential market.  We believe families in a multiple story dwelling would love this feature to communicate throughout the home effectively," he added.

When asked if more VTech models would see PTT, Pittmon said, "In 2010, the LS6325 series will be the only VTech residential single line product line that includes Push-to-Talk.  We are looking to expand this feature in 2011 into multiple product lines."

Other features of the LS6325 phones include a low-profile handset keypad, metallic silver finishing, high-gloss black detailing, speakerphones and backlit LCDs.

The three-handset LS6325-3 ($79.95 suggested retail) and four-handset LS6325-4 ($89.95) will be available in April.

Also introduced were CS-series models, each expandable with up to five handsets using a single phone jack.

Suggested retails will be as follows: CS6319-2, $34.95; CS6329-2, $44.95; CS6329-3, $59.95; CS6328-3, $54.95; and CS6309 (accessory handset), $14.95.

Features include backlit LCD display, a handset speakerphone, glossy crystal keypad with green backlighting, and the option for a digital answering system. They will be available in April as well.

VTech also announced that its 2010 DECT phones are Energy Star certified and RoHS compliant.

The two-line BeoCom 5 supports both landline and IP telephony and can expand out up to eight handsets.

The jet-black glossy phone features a 2-inch LCD display with 176 by 220-pixel resolution, nine display colors and eight ringtones. Menu browsing is done via an aluminum navigation wheel with four push points at the edge and a selection button in the middle which activates the most frequently used functions.

The phone boasts some unique visual effects. In standby mode, the phone's surface appears uniformly black and glass-like, but when the BeoCom 5 is placed in the charger, a dimmed digital clock illuminates. The clock adds an alternate visual mode in which the minute and the hour hands are replaced by circles that move like planets orbiting each other, the company said. And when the handset is picked up, the backlight in the display and keypad activate revealing a customizable color theme for each individual handset.

The dedicated two-line BeoLine 2 base includes a speakerphone, a magnetic cradleless charger with table or wall placement options. The base can be detached from the power supply and taken from room to room, which B&O suggested was ideal for conference calling in small or home offices. Up to 400 contacts can be stored in the phonebook when the BeoCom 5 is used with the BeoLine 2.

• BroadSoft BroadWorks VoIP application platform
• CAT-iq
• Asterisk
• IETF SIP version 2 (RFC3261 and companion RFCs)

Back in April Ooma unveiled its next-generation phone system, the Telo, which combines DECT 6.0 cordless-phone technology with Internet-based (VoIP) calling. Well, after nearly 10 months of waiting, the Telo is finally landing in stores and is available for $249.99.

Ooma's claim to fame is that it sells VoIP phone systems that let you make free domestic U.S. calls and low-priced international calls. To help drive home the point that you don't have to pay for phone service, Amazon labeled Ooma's first product, which remains on sale, the Ooma Core VoIP Phone System with No Monthly Phone Service Bills.

Once you shell out the $250 for the Telo, you can make unlimited domestic calls for free, and such features as caller ID and access to online call logs are included at no additional charge. If you want to port your existing number, that will cost you $39.99, but if you want a brand-new number, you don't have to pay anything.

From a design standpoint, the Telo is sexier-looking than its predecessor and more importantly, improves on the feature set, as well as on the call quality. While you can connect a standard cordless phone to the Telo, in November Ooma will also begin offering its own handsets for the system at $49.99 a pop (up to six Ooma handsets can be added to the system). Oooma reps are also highlighting how you can have calls from your cell phone redirected to the Telo.

Now, if you're wondering how Telo makes money, the company does offer a premium service plan. (You're looking at a freemium/premium business model.) Ooma's optional Premier costs $9.99 per month and includes the following features:

• Enhanced Voicemail: Listen to voice mail through the speaker of the Ooma Telo device or forward voice mail and listen to messages on a mobile phone or a computer.
• Call Screening and Intercept: Listen through the speaker as callers leave their voice mail. Pick up at anytime to answer or tap a key to send the call away.
• Personal and Community Blacklists: Tap into Ooma's extensive database of telemarketers and phone spammers and have the option of blocking unwanted callers or sending them straight to voice mail.
• Multi-Ring: Configure your Ooma system to simultaneously ring or forward a call to a mobile phone.
• Three-way Conferencing: Easily talk to two parties at once with easy three-way conference calling.
• Personal Number: Choose a second number anywhere in the U.S. and have it ring distinctively so you know who the call is for.
• Instant Second Line: Always have an available dial tone even if someone else is using the phone; users can also make or take a second call without missing a beat. (This feature requires an Ooma Telo Handset, which will be available in November.)
  

Source Cnet news

Back in April Ooma unveiled its next-generation phone system, the Telo, which combines DECT 6.0 cordless-phone technology with Internet-based (VoIP) calling. Well, after nearly 10 months of waiting, the Telo is finally landing in stores and is available for $249.99.

Ooma's claim to fame is that it sells VoIP phone systems that let you make free domestic U.S. calls and low-priced international calls. To help drive home the point that you don't have to pay for phone service, Amazon labeled Ooma's first product, which remains on sale, the Ooma Core VoIP Phone System with No Monthly Phone Service Bills.

Once you shell out the $250 for the Telo, you can make unlimited domestic calls for free, and such features as caller ID and access to online call logs are included at no additional charge. If you want to port your existing number, that will cost you $39.99, but if you want a brand-new number, you don't have to pay anything.

From a design standpoint, the Telo is sexier-looking than its predecessor and more importantly, improves on the feature set, as well as on the call quality. While you can connect a standard cordless phone to the Telo, in November Ooma will also begin offering its own handsets for the system at $49.99 a pop (up to six Ooma handsets can be added to the system). Oooma reps are also highlighting how you can have calls from your cell phone redirected to the Telo.

Now, if you're wondering how Telo makes money, the company does offer a premium service plan. (You're looking at a freemium/premium business model.) Ooma's optional Premier costs $9.99 per month and includes the following features:

• Enhanced Voicemail: Listen to voice mail through the speaker of the Ooma Telo device or forward voice mail and listen to messages on a mobile phone or a computer.
• Call Screening and Intercept: Listen through the speaker as callers leave their voice mail. Pick up at anytime to answer or tap a key to send the call away.
• Personal and Community Blacklists: Tap into Ooma's extensive database of telemarketers and phone spammers and have the option of blocking unwanted callers or sending them straight to voice mail.
• Multi-Ring: Configure your Ooma system to simultaneously ring or forward a call to a mobile phone.
• Three-way Conferencing: Easily talk to two parties at once with easy three-way conference calling.
• Personal Number: Choose a second number anywhere in the U.S. and have it ring distinctively so you know who the call is for.
• Instant Second Line: Always have an available dial tone even if someone else is using the phone; users can also make or take a second call without missing a beat. (This feature requires an Ooma Telo Handset, which will be available in November.)
  

Source Cnet news