Com2001.com Inc. has added features to its IP PBX software aimed at bringing unified messaging to corporate road warriors and providing detailed statistics on system usage and user calling records.
Version 2.0 of Com2001.com's InternetPBX software includes a virtual extension feature, which lets mobile users be assigned a virtual extension that can forward calls to an assigned remote number. This feature also ties mobile users into InternetPBX's unified messaging system.
"Remote users and mobile workers can be anywhere and receive calls and manage messages as if they were in the office" through a Microsoft Outlook interface, says Perry King, director of product marketing for Com2001.com.
Also for mobile users, a "follow-me" service has been added, which can contact employees via office extension, cell phone or pager when their numbers are dialed.
For network professionals, the new software includes a real-time monitoring module - an extension of the Windows NT performance monitor - that can alert them by pager if call traffic is nearing system capacity. A new Station Message Detail Reporting module provides information on where outgoing calls originate, what trunk a call used, and the call's destination and length.
InternetPBX 2.0 runs on the InternetPBX server, which is a Dell PowerEdge server running NT, and fitted with interface cards supporting circuit-switched and IP voice ports. The voice interface cards are provided by Analogic, Brooktrout, Pika and DSP Research. InternetPBX can be linked to a router for connecting to an IP WAN to support remote offices and mobile users. A trunk to the public phone network can be added through a port in the circuit-switched voice cards.
InternetPBX can support up to 250 regular digital or analog phone extensions, and up to 60 voice-over-IP phone extensions. Standard 2500 phones from companies such as Nortel, Lucent and GTE can be used with the analogue/digital ports, and any H.323-compliant IP phones can be used for the 48 voice-over-IP stations.
Microsoft Exchange is the engine for InternetPBX's unified messaging system, which lets users tie voice, e-mail and fax messages into a single Outlook interface.
Hochman and Cohen LLP, an accounting firm in San Diego, installed InternetPBX to support its users who are often on the road. David Cohen, a partner with the firm who oversaw the installation, says the remote access features are most useful to him.
"I can set up a profile to be anywhere, and all my calls come in through one access number," with the follow-me feature, Cohen says. "If I'm stuck in traffic coming into work in the morning, I can clear all my messages before I even arrive."
The Com2001.com competes against companies such as 3Com and Vertical Networks in the IP PBX market for midsize businesses and enterprise branch offices. According to King, the InternetPBX's tight integration with Microsoft Exchange helps set it apart from the slew of IP PBX products on the market.
InternetPBX 2.0 will be available this month and costs US$450 per user. Com2001.com is not surprisingly located at www.com2001.com.