Next week is VoiceCon SF 2008 but some vendors are looking to get an early start with the press releases. AudioCodes, probably best known for their UC media gateways, made a major announcement around HD Voice solutions; 2 actually.
From the first release around their HD Voice technology, “High Definition (HD) VoIP delivers higher voice clarity, better intelligibility and richer sound, as well as significantly improving a user’s experience by doubling the audible voice spectrum. AudioCodes plans to embed HD VoIP across its product portfolio throughout 2009.” In addition to some other codecs, AudioCodes is supporting the Microsoft adaptive RTAudio codec. This should make for a simpler integration with OCS environments. The next step, and core to this announcement is AudioCodes VoIPerfectHD.
Now, what would the technology be without an endpoint. AudioCodes has that covered as well with their new HD phone line. They’ll support G.711.1, G.729.1 and a host of other wideband codecs. You cna check out the phones here: https://www.audiocodes.com/Content.aspx?voip=3112 I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a handset as soon as they are more widely available.
When VoIP was just starting out I heard a lot of complaints around voice quality. With new HD voice solutions entering the market the quality is actually mush higher than traditional PSTN. And, as codecs become adaptive to network conditions they simply remote worker and road warrior scenarios as well. Economy be damned, this is a great time to be involved in UC!!
