Kerio Technologies, a unified communications, collaboration and security solutions provider for SMBs, has updated its hybrid voice-PBX phone system with the release of Kerio Operator 1.2.
Aimed at SMBs, the newest version is built on the industry-standard SIP VoIP protocol and Asterisk 1.8 software.
With support for the Digium TDM410 card and the ability to connect to up to four analog phone lines with a trunk module, Operator 1.2 allows SMBs to use IP PBX features both internally and externally.
The reason for analog support is its reliability in areas where SIP availability is limited. Also, Kerio aimed to provide a solution that IT administrators could manage and repair, eliminating the need for hiring telephony agents for simple adjustments to networks.
The solution works with Kerio Control, which comes preconfigured to reserve enough bandwidth for SIP voice traffic to ensure clear voice communication.
With Kerio Connect integration, the solution also allows users to access, listen, or delete voicemail through their email inbox.
Additional features in the 1.2 version include call pickup, allowing users to answer incoming calls from other phones with their extension number, Busy Lamp Field (BLF) support to determine phone status, and auto-provisioning for plug-and-play setup and configuration.
Kerio CEO and president, Scott Schreiman, said, “With Kerio Operator 1.2, we have found the balance between functionality and simplicity.
“Because of its integration and similarity to other Kerio products, our channel will find it easy to deploy Kerio Operator for clients who are looking for an economical way to upgrade their phone system."
Kerio Operator 1.2 is available as a software appliance with its own security-hardened operating system, a VMware virtual appliance for accelerated deployment in production or evaluation environments, and in two hardware appliance configurations.
The solutions are priced per person, with a minimum five-user server license available for $150, with additional licenses costing $30.
Alternatively, the Kerio Operator box 1210 and 3210 hardware appliances are available for $US900 and $US1400 respectively, and come with a five-user license.
Licenses include one year of version upgrades, and one year of email and telephone access to technical support.
