Appliance shrinks apps for IP phone screens

Net6 this week released a network appliance that could help businesses take IP phone applications to the next level.

The Telephony Transformation Gateway (TTG) from Net6 can convert Web content or applications such as Microsoft Outlook or SAP into a format and interface that is usable on the LCD screen of an IP telephone.

The TTG acts as an interpreter between HTTP- or XML-based server applications and an IP phone. The box can strip out items such as Web page banners or it can reformat an application's interface so that it is viewable and usable on IP phone LCDs, which are often the size of a PDA screen or smaller.

The core technology behind the TTG and Net6's previously released Content Mobility Engine has been resold by Cisco for the last year as its Content Transformation Engine (CTE) 1400. The CTE 1400 is an appliance that converts Web content and applications to work with handheld devices and cell phones, with Cisco IP phone support recently added to the box. Like Cisco's CTE 1400, Net6's Content Mobility Engine can be used to deliver content to mobile devices.

According to Net6, any content or application that uses HTML or XML can be formatted with the TTG for delivery on an IP phone. A tool called Design Studio reformats Web pages so they can be seen on the phone. The TTG also comes with a software module that allows Microsoft Outlook access from an IP phone screen. The company plans to work with other software vendors, such as SAP, PeopoleSoft and Oracle, for other application conversion modules.

The TTG out of the box is certified to work with IP phones from Polycom. Net6 says its device can work with any IP phone with an LCD screen, and software tools are included on the box to configure the TTG with phones from other vendors. Net6 says it is working with other IP phone vendors and expects to release patches for allowing the TTG to integrate with "90%" of the IP phones on the market.

The TTG is available now for $8,000.

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