ClearOne Introduces VoIP Tabletop Conference Phones
Jan 12, 2006 8:00 AM
ClearOne Communications, the developer of the MaxAttach wired and MaxAttach wireless conference phones, introduced the latest addition to its tabletop conferencing product line, the new MaxAttach IP and Max IP VoIP tabletop conference phones. These products represent ClearOne’s entry into the rapidly growing VoIP telephony market space and are based on the industry-standard SIP signaling protocol.
A key feature of the ClearOne MaxAttach IP and Max IP is the ability to daisy-chain multiple phones together. This capability provides multiple speakers, multiple microphones, and multiple dial pads distributed throughout the room for unmatched coverage. Customers can cover conferencing spaces ranging from small conference rooms up to large rooms with long or U-shaped table configurations.
The MaxAttach IP comes with two conference phones, and is also available in bundles, with an additional one or two phones. Also, the phones included with any of the MaxAttach IP bundles can be split up and used in separate rooms with the addition of an extra base unit, which results in an even lower cost per phone.
In addition, these VoIP conference phones offer the advanced audio signal processing technologies that were originally developed for ClearOne’s installed audio conferencing products. These technologies deliver clear audio to participants on both ends of the call, and it includes full-duplex audio, distributed echo cancellation, noise cancellation, first-microphone priority, and automatic gain and level controls.
“ClearOne continues to break new ground in the tabletop conferencing space,” says Zee Hakimoglu, president and CEO of ClearOne. “We created the concept of attaching conference phones together for vastly improved room coverage and user control, and remain the only company that offers that capability. We were also first to market with a wireless conference phone, and the first and only company to offer a completely wireless dual-unit conference phone solution.
“Now, with the addition of MaxAttach IP and Max IP to our tabletop product lineup, ClearOne is the only company to offer a VoIP conference phone solution with that same capability to daisy-chain up to four phones for unrivaled tabletop conferencing performance. Our enterprise customers are asking more frequently for VoIP solutions from ClearOne, and these products are our first answer to that request.
“With respect to our VoIP strategy, we evaluated the market, and determined that a SIP-based platform was the right direction to take. The momentum of SIP-based telephony offerings from other industry players clearly validates that decision,” Hakimoglu says.
In addition to advanced audio processing technologies that deliver crystal-clear sound, the new VoIP products offer a suite of SIP features, such as:
- 3-way calling allows for ad-hoc conferences without need for a conference bridge
- VLAN tagging allows users to manage bandwidth usage on the network
- TLS & SRTP encryption-ready (with future release of firmware upgrade) secures voice communications over the network
- Field upgrade ability allows users to easily download firmware upgrades from ClearOne website and load directly into the conference phone.
The Max IP (single VoIP conference phone) has a list price of $749, and the MaxAttach IP (two VoIP conference phones) is priced at $1,199. Extra conference phone units can be purchased to add to either product, expandable up to four total phones. Additional discounted bundles with three and four conference phones are also available. The product is scheduled to begin shipping at the end of February 2006.
For additional information, visit www.clearone.com or call (800) 707-6994.
