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Panasonic (News - Alert) Communications Company of North America has reportedly enhanced its popular KX-TDA50G business communications system by adding support for caller ID and SIP trunking.

Designed for small- to medium-sized businesses -- including law firms, real estate companies, hotels/motels and medical offices -- the KX-TDA50G phone system supports analog, digital or IP phones, as well as cordless phones such as DECT (News - Alert) (News - Alert) devices. The system supports up to 48 extensions, including up to four IP phones (eight with SIP expansion card). It also offers VoIP softphone support, enabling a PC to operate as a system telephone.

The latest iteration of this phone system now includes built-in Caller ID (which has to be included with your phone service). More impressively, the system now offers support for SIP trunking, which is where a VoIP service provider hooks the phone system up to VoIP lines for the purpose of reducing communications costs (especially long distance communications costs). All calls originating from or terminating at a company’s phone system are VoIP, even though internally the system may be digital or even TDM-based (i.e. traditional phone lines). Using SIP trunking, companies gain the benefits of VoIP without having to make a significant investment in new equipment and network architecture. Panasonic currently only supports Broadvox and CBeyond for SIP trunking.

The TDA50G system can also automatically route incoming calls to a cell phone or other alternative number. What’s more it supports centralized voicemail for all locations within an extended voicemail network and records messages automatically.

With the addition of an optional KX-TVA series voice processing system, the TDA50G can also manage calls using an automated attendant, integrate voicemail with e-mail, and simplify mailbox management through the use of LCD menus and soft keys.

The system can be easily expanded simply by daisy-chaining units together or by deploying one unit at each branch location.

The TDA50G system is compatible with Panasonic's new KX-DT300 series of business phones, which includes models KX-DT346, KX-DT343, KX-DT333 and KX-DT321. These phones sport a "double-tilt" design, with a base unit and display that can be adjusted separately to match any work environment. These phones also offer Bluetooth-enabled wireless headset compatibility and large alphanumeric displays. The system also is compatible with Panasonic's KX-T7600 digital and KX-T7700 analog series phones.

"Panasonic continues to lead the way in providing innovative, cutting-edge features in its phone systems," said Bill Taylor (News - Alert), president of Panasonic Communications Corporation of North America, in a release. "As Panasonic's latest small business communications solution, the TDA50G is reliable, affordable and customizable to meet present and future needs. The system allows businesses to be more responsive to their customers and stay better connected with colleagues who are both on the go and work from remote locations."

Panasonic continues to be a leader in the business telephone space but the company has been badly battered by the recession due to the fact that it mainly makes consumer electronics. In May the company reported a $4 billion loss. To help bolster sales, Panasonic Communications Company of North America recently announced that it is offering a new financing program on select business telephone systems and all IP cameras.

With so many people out of work and now establishing their own home-based businesses, it could be that increased phone system sales might be in the cards for the now-struggling consumer electronics giant.