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VoIP and Video-over-IP's GIPS to Power Softphone in Hong Kong

By Michael Dinan, TMCnet Editor

Beefing up a device that IT analysts say is poised to take off, an international provider of real-time VoIP and video-over-IP processing today announced that a major telecom company in Hong Kong is using its technology to power a new PC softphone.

 

Officials at Global IP Solutions, whose U.S. headquarters are in San Francisco, say that PCCW (News - Alert) is using their so-called “VideoEngine” technology for the 006 Everywhere softphone (see dual-language ad below).

 

According to GIPS’ chief executive officer, Emerick Woods, PCCW is the only operator in Hong Kong able to deliver fixed-line, broadband Internet, mobile and TV services.

 

“With the rapid growth of its cutting-edge 0060 Everywhere service in one of the largest markets in the world, GIPS is committed to delivering the best possible quality and technical expertise in support of PCCW,” Woods said.

 

PCCW’s broadband Internet service includes more than 1 million retail and business customers.

 

The company’s director of product development and management, Allen Wong, said it’s important to provide those customers with a high level of quality for both voice and video in our 0060 Everywhere application.

 

“GIPS media processing technology and the technical support provided by them were clearly superior to the other offerings we considered and enable us to design a product targeting the needs of our discerning customers,” Wong said.

 

And people who are seeking devices such as the Everywhere 0060 are only expected to grow.

 

According to a new report from a Scottsdale, Arizona-based hi-tech market research firm, consumer media phones will generate between $4 billion and $8 billion in annual revenue worldwide by 2013.

 

Officials at In-Stat also say that business media phones will generate about $3.3 billion in annual revenue by that time, and that the U.S. market will open up this year, with Europe coming online in 2010.

 

“The media phone represents a new category of broadband multimedia device that has the potential to become the fourth screen in the home, complementing the PC, TV and mobile handset,” the firm says in its 51-page report, “The Media Phone Has Arrived.”

 

“The media phone delivers direct access to Internet-based entertainment and applications using a large (6- to 10-inch) color touchscreen display with a high-quality speakerphone,” In-Stat (News - Alert) says. “The media phone combines the power of a PC with the always-on functionality of the home telephone. Most units are configured with one or more cordless DECT (News - Alert) voice handsets, suitable for any room in the house.”

 

For Woods, having GIPS’ technology selected by a premier telecom provider such as PCCW validates the company’s achievement of delivering carrier-class quality.

 

“We look forward to continuing our ongoing innovation and differentiation for world-class embedded software and support to more telco customers,” Woods said.

 

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Michael Dinan is a contributing editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Michael's articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Michael Dinan