FREETALK Connect Alliance Formed at IT EXPO 2010 with 14 Charter Members; Open Alliance Members Will Offer Products and Services that Leverage FREETALK Connect, Voice 2.0 Applications and Cloud-Based Services

MIAMI, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- FREETALK® and 13 other companies today announced the formation of the FREETALK Connect Alliance, an open alliance of companies that will provide innovative applications, products and services to expand the capabilities of the FREETALK Connect communications system. The alliance is open to companies that offer products and services which build on the capabilities of the FREETALK Connect, "Voice 2.0" in concept, and can interoperate with Asterisk, Skype™, SIP, Skype for SIP or the PSTN.

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The FREETALK Connect simplifies set up, enabling small business users that are not tech savvy to use it quickly and simply, without formal training. Supported telephones are plugged into the company's network and the FREETALK Connect auto-detects and configures them. An on-screen wizard then guides the customer through a few business-related questions that help configure the company's communication system and enables Skype calling from every supported desktop phone in the office. Adding users and administering the system after installation is just as easy.

The FREETALK Connect Alliance opens the door for many new developers, service providers, including cloud computing and Internet communications providers to offer new and innovative applications, products and services for businesses of any size. These will be available later this year in the U.S. through the FREETALK Connect Store (http://www.freetalkconnect.com) and the Skype Shop (http://skype.com/shop), both of which are operated by In Store Solutions.

The charter members of the FREETALK Connect Alliance include:

• AbbeyNet/Sitofono (Italy)
• Cloudvox (USA)
• FlatPlanet Phone Company (Israel)
• FREETALK (Spain)
• IfByPhone (USA)
• In Store Solutions (Hong Kong)
• Iotum/Calliflower (Canada)
• Jazinga (Canada)
• Skype (Luxembourg)
• Tatung (Taiwan)
• Thomas Howe's Light and Electric (USA)
• Voxeo (US)
• Voxygen (UK)
• Voxbone (Belgium)

"The FREETALK Connect Alliance members are building an entire ecosystem of products, applications and services around the FREETALK Connect communications system," said Andrew Hansen, B2B manager at FREETALK. "The Alliance's products and services build on, and powerfully leverage, the strengths of each other, and the market reach of the extremely affordable, fully featured and self-configuring FREETALK Connect."

Companies that want more information about this alliance, or want to join the FREETALK Connect Alliance should contact FREETALK at [email protected].  

About FREETALK

FREETALK is a product innovation catalyst – identifying market gaps and working with its global partners to design, manufacture and quickly bring to market products that disrupt traditional categories.  Leveraging untapped market opportunities, FREETALK products are designed to be environmentally friendly, sold online and delivered globally at aggressive price-points. Always at the forefront of innovation, FREETALK is known for creating synergistic products that add unique value to its partners' branded points-of-sale.

About Skype

Skype is software that enables the world's conversations. Millions of individuals and businesses use Skype to make free video and voice calls send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. Every day, people everywhere also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and mobiles. Download Skype to your computer or mobile phone at skype.com.

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required. Skype is not a replacement for traditional telephone services and cannot be used for emergency calling. Skype for SIP is meant to complement existing traditional telephone services used with a corporate PBX, not as a stand-alone solution. Skype for SIP users need to ensure all calls to emergency services are terminated through traditional fixed line telephone services, connected to the local exchange, or through other emergency calling capable telephone services.

Skype, associated trademarks and logos and the "S" symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

SOURCE FREETALK