Mobile provider, Orange France have pushed new boundaries in the world of VoIP by installing a number of payphones around Paris that, through the miracle that is VoIP, allow a user to engage in internet browsing as well as phone calls.

Browse the web, check emails, look for local services, and make crystal clear quality phone calls all at one stylishly designed booth.

The twelve booths are the result of collaboration between Orange France and furtniture designer JCDecaux and were designed to match the current look of Parisian urban furniture.

While the mobile age has all but done away with the need for payphones, the addition of internet services provides a possible lifeline for people who’s phone batteries are low on charge. The booths are being trialed for 6 months with a decision on whether to be deployed at a national level to be made afterwards.

The full press release can be found here

Reports from the US have revealed that up 48% of government sector locations are now employing VoIP technology in some capacity.

A research paper released by Research and Markets states that the government market in the US is among the most promising in terms of actual and potential adoption of VoIP solutions.

So much so that a recent survey reported that 48% of government institutions have VoIP deployed in at least one of their locations.

The key towards this high level of adoption seems to be in the scalable features and capabilities of VoIP when compared to conventional communications solutions.

The report went on to reveal that Verizon are the most cited VoIP Provider among government institutions.

The full report can be purchased here

Polycom have announced that they have partnered up with technology leader, Hewlett Packard to sell their portfolio of video and voice communications solutions.

The new expanded agreement will see all Unified Communications (UC) products sold through HP as part of HP’s own Unified Communications and Collaboration Services.

The deal sees HP’s global position as a supplier of technology, especially to businesses, coupled with Polycom’s leading presence in the UC market.

As would be expected, the two companies are looking to enhance the interoperability between Polycom’s video conferencing solutions and HP’s Halo telepresence.

The agreement further cements an already healthy relationship between the two tech leaders and as an addition boost, sees other UC and tech providers such as Avaya and Microsoft pulled closer together, ultimately benefiting the end user who receives the widest possible range of options when looking at their IT infrastructure.

Mark Golden, vice president of Network Services at HP said “With the addition of Polycom technologies to our portfolio, HP can provide clients around the world with a complete range of open voice and visual communication solutions that simplify business communications while speeding collaboration with clients and key partners.”

Indeed, this does bode well for the end user. A one stop shop for VoIP Phone Systems and an unbeatable range of options with regards to equipment and applications.

Read the full press release here.

A recent press release from Plantronics’ Germanny office has announced that it’s existing portfolio of Unified Communications (UC) solutions is to be shaken up and split into a simpler grouping of products depending on the work environment.

The new groups cover such products as including Plantronics USB Desk phones, Plantronics Corded Headsets and Plantronics Wireless headsets.

The product families are now to be knowsn as: Blackwire (TM), Calisto (R), Savi (TM) and Plantronics Voyager (R) UC. The aim behind the portfolio restructure is to make decision making easier for company IT buyers.

With call control functions for compatible applications from Polycom partners such as Avaya and Alcatel-Lucent, the new UC families give IT departments a single point of contact for a wide range of audio solutions. With the new categorisation, executives, sales teams, and service staff can all benefit from the breadth of the product options available and the clear, reliable audio quality that proponents of Polycom have become used to.

All audio VoIP solutions  in the new families are easy to install, ensuring that IT departments do not become bogged down in lengthy installation processes.

Among the products available, as mentioned, as Corded USB Headsets – designed for in-office use and with handy in-line controls, USB Phones – for the stationary office work who primarily uses their PC for voice communications but desires a traditional phone set, Wireless USB Headsets – in both binaural and monaural style, and Bluetooth USB Headsets – such as the Voyager PRO models, allowing users to swithc between mobile phone and PC voice calls at the touch of a button.

The full portfolio and rollout of the new families is due this Spring so stay tuned.

Read the full press release here.