Cisco introduces VoIP adaptor

(Telephony) Cisco Systems yesterday announced the availability of its handset-to-Ethernet analog telephone adaptor that enables voice-over-IP (VoIP) services using traditional touch-tone phones and existing IP infrastructure.

Billed as a second-line residential VoIP service, Cisco said its ATA 186 will let Internet service providers offer customers more cost-effective, end-to-end VoIP solutions.

Though the networking company has concentrated almost exclusively on the enterprise segment with its Cisco-brand VoIP telephone, the adaptor provides a more attractive alternative for the more price sensitive residential market, analysts said.

“From a business perspective, it’s always going to be important to tie in analog phones with the IP phone systems, because some of the IP phones cost $400 or $500,” said Joe Gagan, an analyst at The Yankee Group. “People want to get all the benefits that voice-over-IP solutions bring, but some of the price points are high.”

The adaptor supports two voice ports, each with independent telephone numbers, and is installed at a subscriber’s residence. Cisco said the device utilizes existing broadband connections for cable, DSL and fixed wireless.

The adaptors will be sold through service providers, which determine retail purchase and monthly fee rates for end users. Although only two ISPs are using the adaptor commercially, several others are conducting trials, a Cisco spokeswoman said.

Philadelphia-based Voicenet Communications, which rolled out the device nine months ago via beta tests, said the Cisco device is superior to similar devices it tested.

“The quality is essentially equivalent to conventional telephony,” said Voicenet President Carmen DiCamillo. “We’ve been using it now for quite some time, and most folks are completely unaware of the fact that they’re using something that isn’t conventional.”

Using the device, Voicenet’s patent-pending Local Presence feature lets customers select local telephone numbers in more than 300 cities across the U.S. that ring back to the adaptor, providing local-call convenience for long-distance calls.

Voicenet also can offer customers automated, Web-based telephone management to administer features, including changing telephone numbers, checking account usage, activating voice mail and programming speed-dial numbers.