Allworx Unleashes Key System Killer

March 16 2010 by Josher in Allworx Phone System |No Comments

Allworx has announced the newest member of its product line, the Allworx 6X. Targeted at the small to mid-size business community, the 6X is a multi-faceted business communications tool designed to support up to 120 users, per server. The company seems very keen on positioning the product as a true key system killer. Various studies have shown that the smaller end of the SMB market has been underserved for years. Allworx is trying to amend that oversight by targeting this new product squarely at this market. And it appears theyre seeing some early success. Mark Rogers is a Sales Engineer for Tri-Tech International. Rogers had an old key system and needed to upgrade his phone system. Today, Tri-Tech is using a pair of Allworx 6Xs at two different sites and has them networked together. When asked to explain why Tri-Tech chose the Allworx solution, Rogers told INTERNET TELEPHONY, Were a small multi-location sales organization and we were in desperate need of an updated phone system. The Allworx 6X was the best solution in terms of size, features, cost, and expandability. The new offering from Allworx is actually three distinct tools rolled into one. The 6X comprises a full-featured phone system, a network server, and the Allworx message center. The system was designed to be easy to use and administer, so busy entrepreneurs can focus on running their businesses not managing their phone system. Furthermore, the resellers who are tasked with installing the 6X can take advantage of a wizard-based installation process that enables them to install the system and get their customers up and running in a matter of hours, not days. Another element of the launch that Allworx pointed out to me is the pricing. Allworx claims to offer the lowest installed cost of any fully-featured VoIP system and PC network, and at a $400$435 per user installation cost including all hardware and installation they may just be on to something. The pre-market literature I saw showcases a litany of cost-related savings for the customer:

No additional hidden charges for connection to VoIP, site-to-site and remote user connections, unified messaging, or any other VoIP features.
One time unlimited user license fee no matter regardless of how many users are added at a later date.
No third-party hosting fees for Web site.
No per user license fees for software.
No limitations on voicemail access when you use the external hard drive.
No additional charges for firewall, e-mail server, file server, and PC network server.
Use most of your existing phones so you can save money by not buying everything new.
Easy connection to Internet Service Providers (ITSPs) so you can immediately save on long-distance calls anywhere.

Regarding the features of the phone system, the 6X offers all the usual PBX and key system features in addition to support for analog and IP phones at the same time. The Allworx solution offers the following key features: VoIP Save money on long distance calling.
Site-to-site calling Eliminate inter-office call charges and keep up to 100 remote/branch sites connected.
Voicemail Virtually unlimited message storage; up to 16 people can access messages simultaneously.
DID Direct inward dialing allows each extension to have a direct number.
Call routing Customized call routing allows users to route their calls to follow them or forward to another extension.
Presence Management Seven unique states makes sure coworkers and callers alike know your status and availability.
Unified Messaging All messages (voicemail, e-mail, meeting requests) can be viewed form a single unified inbox. Additional text to speech functionality lets users review and respond to voice messages via e-mail.

Other features include the remote user functionality, customizable dialing plans, auto attendant, call tracking, conference calling for up to three, three-way conferences using analog phones (IP phones can each support up to eight seats in a conference bridge), call queues, and more. The network server combines a full suite of networking needs into the product, including LAN network server, WAN/Internet access, Firewall, E-mail server, Full VPN support, Spam blocker, Fax support, as well as several other business networking functions. The Allworx Message Center was designed to be a group calendaring application featuring contact management and information sharing applications. The 6X is TAPI-compliant, which instantly makes the Allworx solution compliant with any number of contact management solutions. Users can receive e-mail and voicemail and check them through a single unified interface. The system is compatible with Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. Rogers explained how the Allworx product has helped Tri-Tech achieve their business objectives. [the decision] has allowed us to seamlessly link our customers and suppliers with our various sales offices at a very affordable price, he said. Were very satisfied with our decision to deploy Allworx. Allworx is following up its release of the Allworx 6X by pre-announcing the June availability of the Allworx Call Assistant software add-on for the 6x. The Allworx Call Assistant is a live answering position that works in conjunction with any Allworx phones. The software price for this option is currently set at $320 for the 6X and is based on a one-time fee per system for unlimited number of users (no per seat license charges).

Source: tmcnet.com

AllWorx Releases the New Allworx 9204 IP Phone

February 22 2010 by Josher in Allworx Phone System |No Comments

Allworx continues to set new standards for quality, performance and price with the introduction of the Allworx 9204. This announcement reinforces Allworx’s vision of offering businesses the utmost in efficiency and flexibility. The Allworx 9204 is the newest addition to the Allworx series of IP phones and the latest significant enhancement to an already robust product line. The sleek, stylish design of the 9204 is ideal for any office setting, and its improved audio quality is optimal whether speaking on the handset, a headset, or on speakerphone.

Allworx 9204 phoneFeatures include:
• 4 programmable function keys
• Huge and easy-to-read 192 × 64 graphical backlit display with adjustable brightness
• Power over Ethernet (PoE)
• High-fidelity voice handset
• Wideband audio support
• Full-duplex speakerphone activated via a dedicated feature key
• Plug-and-play headset connectivity
• 4 soft keys and 3 navigation keys for using phone’s display menu
• 10 preprogrammed feature buttons
• Visual Ringing Indicator (VRI) to alert users of incoming calls
• Wall mountable
• Only supported with System Software 7.1 or higher

To purchase go to our Allworx Phones section.

Barracuda Networks Introduces the New Barracuda NG Firewall

February 22 2010 by Josher in Barracuda NG Firewall |No Comments

Barracuda Networks Introduces the Barracuda NG Firewall

Enterprise Firewall Platform Integrates Next Generation Firewall Protection, Industry-leading Centralized Management Capabilities and Optimization of Network Traffic Across WAN Link

Campbell, Calif., Feb. 2, 2010 – Barracuda Networks Inc. today launched the Barracuda NG Firewall, a line of virtual and hardware appliances designed to protect enterprise network infrastructure, improve site-to-site connectivity and simplify administration of network operations. This product launch is the first since Barracuda Networks’ successful acquisition of phion AG, a leading firewall provider based in Austria in September 2009.

“The Barracuda NG Firewall platform was built from the ground up as a project to manage more than 650 firewalls for a large Austrian banking data center,” said Stephen Pao, vice president of product management for Barracuda Networks. “With early development roots not only in centralized configuration, policy and reporting, but also in site-to-site WAN traffic management capabilities, the Barracuda NG Firewall is designed to optimize both the availability and performance of the WAN, with lower administrative overhead than incumbent solutions.”

The Barracuda NG Firewall intelligently combines Web and email filtering, intrusion prevention, Layer 7 application profiling, and network access control into a platform that can be centrally managed, across all enterprise network locations, including remote, home and branch offices, as well as regional headquarters and datacenters.

Centralized security management and content policy provides a number of benefits including:

  • Consistent security posture and policy enforcement across the enterprise
  • Real-time accounting and reporting across multiple gateways
  • Comprehensive history and rollback of configuration and policy changes across the network

IDC research has shown that a majority of enterprises feel it is important to consolidate existing point products such as firewall, intrusion prevention and anti-malware into a single solution.*

“Barracuda Networks comprehensive product portfolio satisfies the Web and messaging security needs of numerous enterprise and SMB customers, worldwide,” said Charles Kolodgy, IDC research director, Security Products. “To improve management, reduce costs, and consolidate security, customers have been turning to comprehensive products that integrate numerous security features into an integrated platform. Barracuda Networks is meeting this demand with the Barracuda NG Firewall, which implements phion’s proven and advanced technology. This network security product will open up new opportunities for their worldwide channel and help Barracuda Networks to penetrate and win more enterprise business.”

Intelligent Traffic Management
With the Barracuda NG Firewall, administrators can control application-level routing and prioritization of traffic across multiple links, tunnels and traffic conditions. To back up WAN connections, Barracuda NG Firewall appliances support a variety of links via most including T1/T3, DSL, ISDN, and 3G wireless mobile data standards. In the event of a WAN link loss VPN traffic is automatically reprioritized over the remaining WAN links. Barracuda NG Firewall appliances support the traditional IPSec protocol for cross vendor compatibility.

Flexible Remote Access Options
Barracuda NG Firewall appliances support multiple remote access options, including a light VPN client, a fully managed VPN client and a fully integrated SSL VPN. Network access controls enforce client security policies, including operating system patch level, desktop malware protection and personal firewall configuration.

Heritage Customers Place Confidence in Barracuda Networks
Although primarily known in EMEA, phion has a customer base of more than 1,000 customers and over 100,000 licensed VPN users at locations worldwide. One such customer, Austria-based RHI AG, which specializes in the field of refractory products and services for customers in the steel, cement, lime, glass, nonferrous metals, environment, energy and chemicals industries, is a large enterprise customer with more than 130 phion netfence appliances deployed across 84 locations worldwide. The primary product selection criteria for the company was driven by both technical and budgetary factors, including a means to decrease IT operating costs as well as to obtain secure, centralized management across the entire network.

“Within the first two months of deployment we had already realized dramatic cost savings per location as well as increased network traffic bandwidth,” said Gottfried Hofreither, CIO of RHI. “In addition we have secured a solution that allows for traffic prioritization and routing in case of a connectivity loss.”

With the acquisition of phion by Barracuda Networks, Hofreither is confident that the high levels of service and support he has experienced with the phion team will be further enhanced by Barracuda Networks’ wide international presence and strong track record for technical excellence. RHI’s operations in the Americas include 25 locations across South America, Mexico, the United States and Canada, supported by 40 appliances.

“Barracuda Networks is a highly reputable company throughout the world, known for its security expertise,” said Hofreither. “We are convinced that with Barracuda Networks as the new company behind our firewall infrastructure, we will be well-served and supported for many years to come.”

Pricing and Availability
Available immediately, the Barracuda NG Firewall is offered in seven hardware models ranging from small branch office to large enterprises and datacenters as well as a corresponding offering of virtual appliances. U.S. prices range from $599 to $40,000 and International pricing and availability varies based on region. For more information, please visit the Barracuda NG Firewall section.

About Barracuda Networks Inc.

Barracuda Networks Inc. combines premise-based gateways and software, cloud services, and sophisticated remote support to deliver comprehensive security, networking and storage solutions. The company’s expansive product portfolio includes offerings for protection against email, Web and IM threats as well as products that improve application delivery and network access, message archiving, backup and data protection. Coca-Cola, FedEx, Harvard University, IBM, L’Oreal, and Europcar are among the more than 100,000 organizations protecting their IT infrastructures with Barracuda Networks’ range of affordable, easy-to-deploy and manage solutions. Barracuda Networks is privately held with its International headquarters in Campbell, Calif.
*Source: IDC, Worldwide Quarterly Security Appliance Tracker, Q32009

read original article from Barracuda Networks website.

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e preview

January 4 2010 by Josher in Netbooks |No Comments

Lenovo x100eYou will not find Lenovo calling the ThinkPad X100e a netbook, but at first sight it’s impossible for you to avoid thinking that is precisely what it is.

From the outside it seems like a shrunken ThinkPad T series, though its matte lid is available in both standard black and red. Yes, you heard it : a ThinkPad in red. The 11.6 in. screen gives it a wider body than most ten inchers, yet Lenovo has managed to fit the same satisfying, chiclet keyboard as the ThinkPad Edge thirteen. And even regardless of the limited deck property there is a good old red pointing stick and a pleasant sized touchpad. So, why not just call it a netbook? Well, that’d be as it has stronger performance parts than the common Intel Atom CPU. Instead it is one of the 1st ThinkPads to have AMD processor options, including single and twin core Althon Neo and twin core Turion processors. In our short lived hands-on we could not gauge much on performance or battery lifespan ( though it does have a sticking out six-cell on the back ), but meanwhile you’ll have to banquet your eyes on the studio below and hold tight for our full review.

You can purchase this netbook here.

Original content from Engadget.com

Allworx 24x Voip Phone System Quick review

December 31 2009 by Josher in Allworx Phone System |No Comments

Allworx 24x Phone SystemAllworx’s threesome of products include 2 VoIP phone handsets, 3 combo telephony and network servers, and 5 software programs that are separately approved for limitless use. The PBX contains many standard features, including unified messaging and site-to-site access ; the 5 separate applications add precise complicated functions ,eg call queuing or conferencing, permitting you to get only the capacities you want. Each server eases administration with automated backup. Allworx loaned me its high-capacity Allworx 24x server ( supporting a hundred staff per site with extender hardware ) and top-of-the-line Allworx 9212 telephones. The slim server attached to my LAN center and external Web , and provided five FXS ports for analog telephone lines. Allworx advises configuration by a reseller, and I will not disagree. Though its Internet-based administration console centralizes setup of all server and telephony functions, and takes you thru a check list for a normal configuration network configuration, enabling VPN, and testing a large amount of settings are not particularly clear. It took me one or two days to get the system absolutely running. Still, I appreciated the network installation tools ( new in the newest Version 6.8 system software ). One helped me avoid IP address conflicts. Another, Trace Route, identified lags in my network so I could improve QoS. Experienced system directors can use this program to quickly perform other jobs , for example adding extensions and handling the 9 vehicle attendants. Again, you may want to leave this to your reseller, which can remotely manage your setup. My Allworx Chief , an internal site, lets users configure their private settings, including presence, meetings, call routes, and telephone features. Even with the depth of features , for example 7 presence settings for each user, the software makes these changes reasonably goof-proof. As an example, determining how calls are routed is all done thru drop-down list selections that you make in logical sequence. This solution, like PBXtra’s, has follow-me calling. Put as simply as possible based primarily on your presence setting, you can route your call to multiple external telephone numbers, and then back to Allworx voice mail. When I put Allworx phone system thru heavy real-world testing, its suppleness was extremely clear. The Allworx 9212 VoIP telephone, with twelve programmable function keys and an educational LCD, should be welcome by workers who place or receive a lot of calls ; this made jobs like call transfers a breeze. In addition, the handset’s voice quality was high. We would definitley recommend this phone system to small to medium sized companys.

HTC Nexus One aka Google phone video review

December 31 2009 by Josher in Smartphones |No Comments

We know you’re itching to get your hands on a Nexus One — Google’s managed to build buzz here the way only a couple companies in the world know how. Unfortunately, it sounds like you’re going to need to cross your fingers (or pull out that eBay emergency stash) to get one out of the gate, because we’ve got some intel here suggesting that it’ll be available only by “invitation” at first. Our tipster doesn’t have information on how those invites are going to be determined, other than the fact that it’s Google doing the inviting — if we had to guess, current registered developers are a strong possibility — but the good news, we suppose, is that T-Mobile will apparently sell the phone directly at some to-be-determined point in the future. Oh, but that’s not all — we’ve got specs, too. Lots of them. Here are the highlights, but follow the break for the whole shebang:

  • Android 2.1
  • 11.5mm thick
  • 512MB RAM, 512MB ROM, 4GB microSD in-box expandable to 32GB
  • 5 megapixel camera with mechanical AF and LED flash
  • HSPA 900 / 1700 / 2100, 7.2Mbps down and 2Mbps up — in other words, yes to T-Mobile 3G and no to AT&T 3G, though you’ll still be fine on EDGE
  • 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display

Video from droiddog.com

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