The VAR Guy

First, a disclaimer: Neither Alteva nor The VAR Guy are promoting e-mailing and texting while driving. But when it does inevitably happen, Alteva has a solution that’s apparently safer and more productive: the integration of voice-powered Microsoft Exchange into their hosted unified communications (UC) package. I had the chance to see — well, hear — a demo, and I came away intrigued. Here’s why.

Back in December 2009, I reported on enterprise VoIP services provider M5 Networks and their push to build smarter phone systems for SMBs. Now, fast forward to the present: I had the chance to catch up with M5 Networks CEO Dan Hoffman (pictured) on where the company’s going, how the cloud is helping them get there, and how the Apple iPad fits into their vision for enterprise telephony. Here’s the scoop.

What a difference two years can make. At least, that’s what Dave Ehrhardt, president and CEO of hosted communications company Apptix, tells me. When his executive team came on in 2008, Apptix was a company in crisis, struggling to grow its business even as Apptix tried to figure out exactly what market it was servicing. Today, they’re providing messaging for 100,000-seat enterprises and making money amid a mixed economy. Here’s how Apptix apparently got back on track, and where VARs fit in.

New Jersey-based Phone.com is the latest company to target the increasingly crowded SMB VoIP channel. Specifically, Phone.com has officially launch a partner program, giving VARs a potential option for customers with less than 40 phone lines. Here’s the scoop.

That’s right, you read it here first. You can actually justify jailbreaking your new iPad on the grounds that it’ll help you do more work. Don’t believe me? In just one week since the hack has been out, I’ve done a few things on my iPad you wouldn’t normally be able to do without a little non-Apple sanctioned software. Here’s a why work-savvy iPad owners want to care..

Hosted phone automation solution provider Ifbyphone has launched their voice-to-text transcription service, accessible to any customer’s application through an API. Like Google Voice, it can be used to send e-mails with transcribed voicemails. Unlike Google Voice, Ifbyphone is giving customers the option of paying for human transcription. Here’s the scoop.

Motorola’s PartnerEmpower partner program has a new Wireless Network Solutions track for channel partners. We recently spoke with Gregory Kalman, VP of channel management for Wireless Networking Solutions, to get a feel for Motorola’s strategy. Here’s a recap of the conversation.

Digium’s decision to engage channel partners seems to be paying dividends in the unified communications market. Nearly 70 percent of Digium’s revenue for Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — now involves partners, according to The VAR Guy’s second annual Open Source 50 survey. Here are deeper details about Digium’s partner momentum.

Lenovo is developing a sweet tooth for the SMB market. That obsession includes Lenovo’s new ThinkPad Edge 14 and 15 inch models. You may remember I reviewed the 13 inch model. If the bigger units are anything like their younger brother, the new ThinkPads may be ideal for your SMB customers. Here’s why.

We’d previously reported that hosted Internet telephony automation service provider Ifbyphone had acquired VoIP application development environment Cloudvox, but now it looks like the acquisition is yielding its first fruit. Cloudvox has announced a pay-as-you-go rate of $0.03/minute and some new features for developers. Here’s the scoop.

Alteva claims to be the largest provider of enterprise hosted voice-over-IP (VoIP) providers in North America, so it’s no wonder that the company’s newly-announced porting capabilities for international numbers is rolling out in Canada first. But thanks to a strategic partnership with Microsoft, phone calls are only part of the hosted telephony solution they can offer VARs. Here’s the deal.

First, F5 Networks delivered strong Q1 financial results. Now, the company is preparing to announce the BIG-IP Edge Gateway. F5′s goal is to deliver “LAN-speed application performance for remote and mobile workers.” Here are the details.

Ifbyphone, which provides hosted Internet telephony automation solutions, has acquired Cloudvox. The move gives Ifbyphone a voice application developer platform that alledgedly “changes the face of cloud telephony.” That sounds like hype. But we’re intrigued. Here’s why VARs should pay attention.

Digium continues to build stronger partnerships in the unified communications market. The latest evidence: From Polycom to Skype, a long list of companies will evangelize Digium’s open source IP PBX during the Asterisk World conference (January 20-22, Miami Beach, Fla.). And yes, Digium will dial up channel partners during the event. Here’s the scoop.

Voice over IP technology has quietly matured from its status as cutting-edge to mainstream. But that doesn’t mean the technology isn’t moving forward. Quite the contrary: recent advances point to VoIP as a technology to watch (yet again) in 2010 = thanks to moves by Google and others. Here’s why.

I’ve had a Google Voice account since it was known as GrandCentral, but I never had much use for it. Until now. When I started blogging regularly I needed a desk phone to speak with my industry sources and with The VAR Guy’s staff. So I figured now is the time to take Google’s VoIP telephony solution for a test run.

When I wrote about my adventures in VoIP telephony back at the end of November, I only discussed the consumer-grade stuff. Well, after I spoke to the New York City-based M5 Networks, I have a new appreciation for what an enterprise-grade system can do (assuming Google doesn’t eat their lunch when they’re not looking). Here’s a little of what partners should know about M5 Networks in particular and VoIP systems in general.

My tiny apartment in one of the outer boroughs of New York City isn’t really set up to receive phone service without punching through more walls than my landlord would be comfortable with — but I still needed a desk phone for business. That’s when I decided that voice-over-IP (VoIP) Internet telephony might be the answer, since I didn’t need a phone jack and, at least in theory, it’d drive my phone bills down. So far, I’ve had the chance to try out MagicJack and netTALK. Here are my conclusions after weeks spent experimenting.

The VAR Guy has spent plenty of time covering Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — in recent weeks. But a few solutions providers are telling our resident blogger to give equal time to 3CX, which develops a software PBX for Windows. What’s the story?  You’re about to find out.

Has Google embraced Digium’s Asterisk, the open source IP PBX? Google Open Source Programs Manager Chris DiBona (pictured) provides some answers during the AstriCon conference in Glendale, Ariz. The VAR Guy captured DiBona’s thoughts in this FastChat video…

At the Astricon conference in Arizona, Digium announced the AsteriskExchange application store, an overhauled Asterisk.org community site and AsteriskForge for software developers. The three moves potentially solidify Asterisk and Digium as a disruptive force in the IP PBX market and the channel. Digium Founder and CTO Mark Spencer explained the strategy to The VAR Guy.

Asterisk, the open source IP PBX, is turning 10 years old. And Digium, the fast-growing provider of commercial Asterisk solutions, is hosting the Astricon conference this week. All sounds well. But The VAR Guy will raise seven key questions when he speaks with Digium officials later today. Here they are.

When the Astricon conference kicks off Oct. 13 in Glendale, Ariz., The VAR Guy will be checking to see if Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — is ready for mainstream VARs and solutions providers. Actually, The VAR Guy thinks he already knows the answer to that question. Here’s why.