BroadSoft adds Windows video softphone to IP centrex

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 19 October 2005 18:55

Business IT - Technology

IP centrex developer, BroadSoft, has announced BroadWorks Communicator - a Windows-based softphone integrated with its BroadWorks hosted VoIP platform, allowing audio of video calls to be placed from a PC over a high-speed Internet connection.

BroadSoft CEO, Mike Tessler, hailed the development as "a major milestone in the BroadWorks VoIP application platform roadmap. Service providers can now confidently and quickly launch video services...With the Communicator, we're driving video into the mainstream by eliminating costs associated with traditional video phones and extending the familiarity of voice calls to video."

The launch raises the interesting prospect of Australian ISPs being able to easily offer video telephony services between their broadband customers.

The BroadWorks platform is used in Australia by Telstra, AAPT, IP Systems, Internode and iiNet to provide VoIP services and in New Zealand by TelstraClear. BroadSoft recently acquired Australian software company Carbon Twelve which develops applications exclusively for the BroadWorks platform.

End-users can download the BroadWorks Communicator "to start making and receiving calls immediately". According to BroadSoft, it automatically configures user settings, eliminating challenges associated with third-party application integration.

In addition to making point-to-point video calls, the BroadWorks Communicator supports other BroadSoft video services such as video messaging, video add-on, video auto attendant, video on hold, video call centre and video custom ringback. Users can conference five additional parties.

BroadSoft user conference draws 500
BroadSoft's annual user conference, BroadSoft Connections 2005, being held in San Diego this week has attracted 500 attendees representing carrier, service provider, and BroadSoft partner senior executives from over 25 countries, the company says. More than 50 BroadSoft partners and sponsors, including IBM, Juniper Networks and Polycom, are exhibiting at the conference.