i2 Telecom's InternetTalker Gateway Offers Cost-Effective But Limited VoIP

The recent market explosion in voice-over IP services and products has brought the technology to the forefront of businesses both large and small. But with VoIP still far from being the plug-and-play solution desired by smaller businesses, solution providers have become key players in selecting and deploying the technology. What's more, many of the products on the market are evolving into niche solutions, forcing SMB adopters to rely more than ever on solution providers.

With niche markets in mind, i2 Telecom created the InternetTalker i2MG-2A VoIP gateway and associated service, which promises to reduce long-distance toll charges and eliminate branch-to-branch call costs. Once a subscriber signs up for service with i2 Telecom, a VoIP routing account is set up and InternetTalker is installed to handle branch-to-branch or long-distance calls. Calls between i2 subscribers are free, while long-distance calls are offered at a fraction of the traditional cost.

FRANK J. OHLHORST Technology Editor

The hardware component of i2 Telecom's solution is the InternetTalker i2MG-2A VoIP gateway. The InternetTalker is about the size of an external modem and includes a wall-plug power transformer, two 10BaseT Ethernet ports, two RJ11 phone jacks and four status LEDs. Documentation consists of little more than a four-page setup guide and an account information letter.

Solution providers will find the unit a good fit in very small offices that make a significant amount of long-distance calls and for small, geographically separated branch offices that communicate with each other frequently. Although the unit can be used with a dial-up Internet service, for best performance and convenience, a broadband connection is the way to go.

Retail prices for monthly service plans range from $14.99 per month for 300 minutes to $22.99 per month for 600 minutes, and the i2MG-2A gateway costs $99. International calling minutes can be added in dollar-amount blocks. All pricing is based on a mandatory one-year service contract.

Authorized resellers have the ability to create custom service plans with varying margins based on location, included minutes and bundled services. I2 Telecom's six-month-old channel program provides free training, technical support, lead generation, joint sales calls, demo units, sales training, and co-op and development funds. In the near future, a dedicated VAR Web site will also be available, offering account-management capabilities.

CRN Test Center engineers used two i2MG-2A VoIP gateways to test both subscriber-to-subscriber calling and subscriber-to-standard phone number calling. The devices came preconfigured, with subscriber phone numbers included.

Basic setup of the gateways consists of simply connecting the power supply, an analog phone and an Ethernet cable from a broadband connection to the unit's ports. The gateway is both small and light, making it easy for business travelers to bring the unit with them. An analog phone is required to use the unit, and solution providers can choose from most any analog phone, either wired or wireless, to use with the unit. The unit also can be integrated into an existing PBX that supports an analog input, allowing i2 Telecom's service to act like another line on a PBX system.

Managing i2's service options proves to be just as simple. Subscribers have access to a Web-based account management system that shows account status and generates custom reports. The basics are covered quite well by the service, but those looking for perks such as voice mail, caller ID and other options will be disappointed. Furthermore, i2 Telecom does not have a soft phone available, which forces users to rely exclusively on the included hardware. A soft phone would allow travelers to use their PC as their phone wherever they have Internet access, a significant savings when compared to the fees hotels charge for phone calls.

CRN Test Center engineers found subscriber-to-subscriber voice calls clear and subscriber-to-standard phone calls hard to distinguish from a non-VoIP connection. The Web-based management console is easy to use and offers detailed call reports.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
> INTERNETTALKER I2MG-2A VOIP GATEWAY
COMPANY: i2 %7CTelecom International
Boca Raton, Fla.
(561) 994-5470
www.internettalker.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Calfo BVI, Cotran technologies, Sabio Communications
TECH RATING:
CHANNEL RATING:

Note: Vendors can earn up to five stars for technical merit and five for their channel program. If the average of these two scores is four stars or greater, the product earns CRN Test Center Recommended status.

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