, a signaling protocol for Internet conferencing, telephony, presence, events notification and
instant messaging. SIP initiates call setup, routing, authentication and
other feature messages to endpoints within an IP domain and is used by many
VoIP equipment makers.
Some VoIP companies are selling Wi-Fi phones, including BroadVoice, which
sells Pulver Innovations' Wi-Fi phone for $149.95. But Vonage has deeper
pockets than most and and a retail partner network with 8,000 total stores.
In addition to the UTStarcom agreement, Vonage and chipmaking giant Texas
Instruments will showcase the results of a partner pact inked at last year's CES.
The companies will debut a Vonage-compatible, TI-powered IP videophone and a
cordless broadband phone systems, from Viseon and VTech Communications,
respectively. "TI has been a phenomenal partner," Citron said. "We have been
able to take our initial relationship and make workable products."
Viseon's Visifone II broadband videophone uses technology from TI's VoIP and
digital media groups. Videophones have been hyped for decades, but
technical limitations and high costs have bedeviled vendors and carriers.
Citron said widespread broadband and TI technology have solved quality
issues, and while pricing hasn't been set, he expects it to be far less
expensive than earlier products. Still, he concedes that consumer demand is
untested.
VTech's ip8100-2 broadband telephone incorporates TI's VoIP gateway chipset.
The phone plugs directly into a customer's broadband connection or router,
eliminating the need for a standalone adapter and telephone. Both products
are expected to hit retailers by spring or summer, the companies said.
Terms of the Voice over WLAN deal, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
in Las Vegas, weren't disclosed.
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