April 8, 2002, Seattle, Wash. – ipDialog™, Inc., San Jose, Calif., is demonstrating a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone set that provides a low cost of entry, standards-based VoIP telephone at the VON® Conference here this week. At $150 each in quantities of 1,000, ipDialog’s SipTone™ Ethernet Phone with SIP protocol support is less than one-half the price of leading legacy enterprise phone sets, and affords even greater savings over some of the elaborately featured VoIP phone sets on the market today. ipDialog is now taking orders for this precedent-breaking phone with first delivery scheduled this month.

The product, which is targeted at service providers, systems integrators, and contract manufacturers, addresses a critical need in the VoIP market – an affordable phone that will not intimidate end users. VoIP enables companies and individuals to integrate their voice and data services over their data network. Because all voice connections are "local," VoIP has the potential to significantly reduce voice communications costs.

The SipTone phone combines high-end legacy telephone functionality with the benefits of phone/computer integration. By eliminating the exotic features found on many VoIP phone sets today, ipDialog can offer a product that has the look and feel of a regular phone, but includes the flexibility and upgradeability that characterize the VoIP market.

"ipDialog’s objectives are to remove barriers to VoIP ubiquity and to grow the market as quickly as possible by offering low-entry-cost, standards-compliant, interoperable solutions," said Hardish Singh, ipDialog CEO. "This benefits suppliers, integrators, and end users." Singh noted that the market has been slow to develop because of the high-ticket products based on VoIP technology that have outstripped mainstream application requirements, and are thus only attractive to early adopters.

Recognizing that interoperability is critical for VoIP success, ipDialog has participated successfully in numerous industry-wide interoperability testing events. In addition, the SipTone phone has been in lab tests with marketing partners such as CommWorks, a 3Com Company, Sonus Networks, and Mockingbird Networks.

According to Mockingbird Networks President and CEO Ken Murray, "ipDialog has succeeded in producing a full-featured, standards-based yet affordable IP telephone.  Understanding the importance of VoIP vendor interoperability, Mockingbird has been testing with ipDialog since the very early stages to provide comprehensive solutions to our end customers that will include the SipTone phone." 

The SipTone phone is built on ipDialog’s VoIP communication technology, which supports the standards necessary to ensure interoperability and also has a flexible application layer that supports customization by service providers and system integrators. The phone supports SIP with authentication and session timer, RFC 2833, DHCP, DNS, URL address resolution, DTMF tone generation, and G.711 A/U Law and G.729A audio.

The phone provides a web server interface for ease of installation and LAN-based directory management functionality. Its flash-upgradeable design ensures fast, painless field reconfiguration as features or protocols are added. Facilities managers appreciate the portability of the VoIP phone, which requires no rewiring when a phone connection needs to be moved.

The SipTone Ethernet phone offers all the functionality of a high-end legacy phone such as Caller ID, full-duplex speaker phone, LCD-display-based features menu, Do Not Disturb, Call Hold, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, voicemail indicator, and tracking for missed, outgoing, and incoming calls.

Measuring 8.8 x 6.0 x 3.2 inches, with a 2 x 16, 5 x 7 character display, the SipTone phone looks similar to a legacy phone. It has an Ethernet bridge with two RJ-45 10/100 Mbps ports, each with an LED activity indicator, making it VoIP-ready. External power is available in 120 and 220V options to support global markets.

The SipTone Ethernet phone is built on STMicroelectronics, Inc.’s Stradivarius STLC1502 digital system-on-a-chip device for VoIP.

"ipDialog has a strong offering for the VoIP market. Their standards-based software technology, integrated with the Stradivarius VoIP system-on-a-chip offers the robustness, flexibility, and standards-compliance that developers of VoIP require," said Pietro Malusardi, senior marketing manager for STMicroelectronics’ Wireline Communication Division.

The SipTone phone is available now and is priced at $150 in quantities of 1,000. Delivery is quoted at eight weeks ARO.

ipDialog, Inc., San Jose, Calif., founded in 1999, designs, manufactures, and markets products designed to make Internet telephony ubiquitous. In addition to company headquarters in San Jose, Calif., the company has R&D offices in Austin, Tex. and New Delhi, India.

The company offers affordable, standards-based products that remove barriers to widespread adoption of Voice over IP (VoIP) technology. ipDialog markets its products through a network of system integrators and equipment vendors. ipDialog is the developer of proven and robust multi-protocol VoIP communication technology that supports the standards necessary to ensure interoperability and also has a flexible application layer that supports customization for OEM and enterprise applications. After completing successful private funding rounds, ipDialog is in the process of seeking additional funding for continued development of new products.

For more information on ipDialog, visit www.ipDialog.com

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