Whether it is high-quality audio or an extension to a whole new LTE (News - Alert) network, VoIP continues to make progress on all fronts. So it comes as no surprise to see VoIP routers sector was abuzz with all sorts of activities this past week.

Microsoft Lync is one of the leading unified communications (UC) options on the market today. It gives enterprises contact availability (or “presence”), instant message capability, audio, video and Web conferencing, telephony and integration with Microsoft (News - Alert) Office. It ultimately brings UC with a familiar Microsoft interface. To help many small and medium-sized businesses transition to Microsoft Lync, Patton (News - Alert) Electronics unveiled a SmartNode gateway, reported TMCnet contributor Mae Kowalke.

SMBs will need to upgrade equipment eventually, and Patton hopes to make that a gentle transition the way a first-time smartphone buyer may start with an iPhone (News - Alert) 3GS even though the iPhone 5 is on the market, wrote Kowalke.

Likewise, contributing TMCnet writer Steve Anderson reported on MetroPCS’ move toward voice over LTE (VoLTE). To bring this service to its communications offerings, the number-five mobile operator acquired Acme Packet's Net-Net Session Director. With the Acme Packet Net-Net Session Director in place, MetroPCS now has the ability to better support what is the world's first VoLTE service, reported Anderson.

In other news, TMCnet contributor Robbie Pleasant reported that Fraunhofer’s new full-HD voice codec, the Enhanced Low Delay AAC (AAC-ELD), now supports apps for smartphones, tablets and even televisions based on both iOS and Android (News - Alert) operating systems. With it, developers can provide VoIP applications with the quality of full-HD voice, giving a new and improved communication experience to their end-users.

Since industrial Ethernet is becoming popular in factory automation, programmable logic controller (PLC) and motor control designs, Altera Corp. has developed a licensing structure that simplifies the integration of FPGA-based industrial Ethernet designs in factory automation systems, reported Raju Shanbhag.

This new licensing structure has been created in partnership with Softing Industrial Automation GmbH. It offers system developers access to major industrial Ethernet protocols, wrote Shanbhag. 

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