Snom’s model 300 SIP compliant IP phone has been qualified by Microsoft for use with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.

The Snom 300 is the company’s benchmark business IP phone offering features such as 4 SIP ‘line’ registrations per unit, a 2×16 character display and a second network socket to allow pass through to a desktop computer, negating the need for an extra network socket at the desk.

Snom press release http://www.snom.com/news/press-releases/press-releases-singleview/archive/2010/september/article/snom-technology-ag-has-joined-compatible-devices-program-for-microsoft-lync-2010/

Polycom’s Spectralink 8400 Series handsets have launched with the aim of providing mission-critical on-site communication via the latest in wireless voice-over-IP handset technology.

The Spectralink 8400 Series is designed with diverse workplaces in mind such as healthcare, hospitality, retail, manufacturing and general office.

The handset is designed to allow workers to communicate with other colleagues on site quickly and easily by utilising the industry standard SIP protocol for communication with VoIP PBXs and offering advanced features such as integrating communication with Microsoft® Office Communications Server instant messaging.

At the GSMA World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia announced that it would be partnering with Skype to provide Voice over IP functionality on future handsets starting with the forthcoming Nokia N97 smartphone.

Rather than running Skype as a seperate application for Symbian, Nokia will be integrating Skype with the built-in address book to allow simple and direct calling/answering of Skype contacts.

The Nokia N97 handset provides both 3G and 802.11b/g WiFi connectivity so owners should be able to use Skype wherever they are.

Skype is a proprietary peer-to-peer VoIP protocol and as such can only communicate with other Skpe devices. There is no word yet as to whether the Nokia N97 or other future Nokia handsets will be supporting any open VoIP protocols such as SIP which would allow for greater interoperability.

Due to the reported popularity of the white-bodied Snom 820 IP phone, Snom have decided to extend the color to some of their other phones for an (inexplicably?) limited period.

For the first half of this year, they will be offering ‘pure white’ ‘snow’ colored versions of their 3xx series IP phones along side the already-white Snom 820.

The limited edition models are:

• snom 370 snow edition phone
• snom 360 snow edition phone
• snom 320 snow edition phone
• snom 300 snow edition phone

The original Snom press release is a little unhelpful as to what the pricing regime is and whether there is any pricing difference between these and the traditional black Snom units.

The press release indicates that the Snom ‘snow’ edition phones are available through the end of March ’09. Presumably the Snom 820 IP phone will just remain white indefinitely.

Openmoko have launched the Neo Freerunner, it’s first mass-production open-source mobile handset.

Neo Freerunner does not yet have a VoIP application but with it’s built-in WiFi and linux based, open software architecture, it looks like it will only be a matter of time before a SIP compliant application is ported. Telepathy, a framework which allows IM and Voice over IP integration looks like a prime candidate.

The Neo Freerunner is designed with sensitive corporate environements in mind. The lack of camera and the possibility of a full code audit should put minds at ease in the board-room.

Specifications:

Connectivity:

• GSM
• Bluetooth 2.0
• GPRS
• AGPS
• WiFi (in final version)
• USB 1.1 slave and host
• 2.5-mm audio jack

Memory

• 128 MB SDRAM
• 256 MB NAND flash

Display

• 2.8 in. VGA (480×640) TFT

Dimensions

• 120.7mm × 62mm × 18.5mm

The Neo Freerunner is available now in North America, Europe and Asia with a MSRP of $399 US.