December 20th, 2011
Chromis Technology wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday, and a very happy new year!
Please note that our holiday office hours will be:
Closed Friday, Dec 23rd
Closed Monday, Dec 26th
Closing early Friday, Dec 30th (1:00pm MST)
Closed Monday, Jan 2nd
Thank you for your continued support as a loyal Chromis Technology customer.
Sincerely,
The Chromis Technology Team
*Thinking about adding video to your UC solution in 2012? Give us a call and ask about our Polycom video solutions!
Posted in General, chromis | No Comments »
July 20th, 2011
So you purchased that shiny new video conferencing solution for your conference room and all is well. But what happens when you want to want to bring in your roadwarrior sales rep who’s in New York, your engineering team in Seattle and your potential new client in Florida? You would either have to fly everyone to a central meeting location while your video gear collects dust or pull off a miraculous technical miracle (i.e. spend a lot of $$$$$) to make it happen.
Enter the new cloud based Video Conferencing service from 8×8 which connects up to 20 participants from any location just by clicking on a web page or dialing a simple 10 digit telephone number. The flat rate service is available in three tiers supporting low, standard and high definition telepresence video, starting at $199 per month. Customers who subscribe before September 30, 2011 are eligible for special introductory pricing of $99 per month for the first year of service. The 8×8 Virtual Room services are enabled by the Polycom UC Intelligent Core software platform, which seamlessly handles all of the video collaboration management behind the scenes. Unlike video conferences where participants sit in fixed locations equipped with video conference equipment, Virtual Room allows individuals to access the conference from any location over the public Internet using any web browser, plug-and-play Polycom VVX business media phones or Polycom HDX video solutions. No software downloads are required to use the Virtual Room service.
“When we witnessed a demonstration of the Virtual Room solution powered by Polycom, we were amazed at how easy it was to schedule and initiate a video conference and how excellent the video quality was,” said Jonathan Rusk of Chromis Technology, a Polycom and 8×8 channel partner. “As a Value Added Reseller of Polycom voice and video equipment, 8×8 voice and video service offerings are the final piece of the puzzle in being able to offer our customer base a complete end to end solution without breaking the bank. The simplicity, reliability and cost effectiveness of Virtual Room will go a long way toward speeding the adoption of video collaboration in the SMB market space.”
If you’d like a demo of the new 8×8 video service, please give Chromis Technology a call at 602.357.8070.
Read the full press release here.
Tags: 8x8, HDX, Polycom, SMB, Virtual Room, VVX, VVX 1500
Posted in 8x8, HDX, Polycom, SMB, Telepresence, VVX, Video | No Comments »
June 10th, 2011
Digium has released the next iteration of their award winning Switchvox SMB platform. Click here to read the official Digium press release.
Based on Digium’s Open Source Asterisk platform, Here is a list of key features introduced in Switchvox version 5.0:
• Switchvox Graphical User Interface (GUI) – A newly refreshed Switchvox GUI simplifies the configuration for groups of users for administrators and users. This new design is probably what existing admins and users will notice right off the bat. It really is a pleasant refresh to the tired old interface. We’ve found that the menus and submenus are far more intuitive than before. See these and more features: http://www.digium.com/switchvox-features
• Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) – Built-in integration for six phones, allowing for seamless transfers and recording from any phone. This is probably the biggest advantage to mobile professionals using Switchvox. Find out more: http://www.digium.com/mobility
• Detailed Call Queue Reports and Logs – Granular call queue data for multiple queues and queue members. Our existing customers have been asking for these for a while now. What used to have to be done through the API can now be done natively in the interface. Speaking of the API…
• Additional Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) – Organizations can create custom integrations with third-party business applications for communications-enabled business processes (CEBP). See a complete list: http://www.digium.com/switchvox/api
Our own Jonathan Rusk had this to say: “”We are excited about many aspects of Switchvox 5.0, from its new graphical user interface-a significant and pleasant redesign that users will embrace-to the improved call queue reporting and ability to make group changes to users on the system. We believe that the updated GUI and fixed mobile convergence will bring additional sales opportunities and increase our competitive edge.”
Switchvox 5.0 is currently available to current users on a valid Digium Support contract in English only. Additional language package support will be available soon in version 5.1. To upgrade your server go to Machine Admin > Upgrades. For assistance in upgrading your server please give us a call at 602.357.8070 or email support@chromis.com.
Tags: Asterisk, digium, Switchvox, Switchvox SMB, Switchvox SMB 5.0
Posted in Switchvox, digium | No Comments »
May 24th, 2011
Only days after Microsoft announced its acquisition of Skype, comes a Product Announcement from Digium that Skype for Asterisk will not be available for sale or activation after July 26, 2011. Perhaps a victim of the software giant’s new control over the popular Skype platform? I’ll let you decide. Here is the official product notification as it was sent to Digium partners:
Skype for Asterisk will not be available for sale or activation after July 26, 2011.
Skype for Asterisk was developed by Digium in cooperation with Skype. It includes proprietary software from Skype that allows Asterisk to join the Skype network as a native client. Skype has decided not to renew the agreement that permits us to package this proprietary software. Therefore Skype for Asterisk sales and activations will cease on July 26, 2011.
This change should not affect any existing users of Skype for Asterisk. Representatives of Skype have assured us that they will continue to support and maintain the Skype for Asterisk software for a period of two years thereafter, as specified in the agreement with Digium. We expect that users of Skype for Asterisk will be able to continue using their Asterisk systems on the Skype network until at least July 26, 2013. Skype may extend this at their discretion.
Skype for Asterisk remains for sale and activation until July 26, 2011. Please complete any purchases and activations before that date.
Thank you for your business.
Digium Product Management
Tags: Asterisk, digium, skype, skype for asterisk
Posted in digium, skype | No Comments »
April 12th, 2011
If you plan on using phones or accessing your Digium Switchvox PBX from remote locations such as home or a hotel, your network administrator must forward certain ports back to your PBX. (There are other ways to reach your server as well, such as VPN tunnels and SIP gateways, but we’ll concentrate on Port Forwarding for this article.) That way you can reach your Switchboard panel or use the Switchvox moblie applications with ease. You can do this by entering either the Public IP address of your Switchvox server (Such as http://12.34.56.789/) or if your network admin has set it up correctly, a fully qualified domain name (Such as http://pbx.yourcompany.com/). Please see your network administrator for your Switchvox address.
The following is a list of ports that are used by the PBX. Depending on your requirements, you can forward just the ports needed by phone, just the web access ports, or all of them.
| TCP/UDP |
Port(s) |
Description |
| Used by Remote Phones |
| UDP |
5060 |
SIP signaling port needed for phones outside your network |
| UDP |
10000-20000 |
RTP audio ports needed for phones outside your network |
| Used for accessing the PBX web interface remotely |
| TCP |
80 |
HTTP port for remote web voicemail access |
| TCP |
443 |
HTTPS port for remote web admin access |
| TCP |
5222 & 843 |
SMB Systems Only – ports for using the Switchboard remotely |
| TCP |
5269 |
SMB Systems Only - port for remote XMPP (Jabber/chat) access (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) |
| Used by Tech Support Access |
| UDP |
1194 |
Must be open to outgoing traffic |
Please note that your Swtichvox administrator will also need to enable the “Allow Nat Port Forwarding” option in the Machine Admin > Network Settings section of your Switchvox Web interface. You will also need to add remote access rules under Machine Admin > Access Control in order to be authorized as a remote user. For more detailed information on Switchvox network settings, including Static IP vs. DHCP network address schemes, PBX and phone placement, and Quality of Service (QoS), please refer to the Digium knowledge base article found here: http://kb.digium.com/entry/303/ or call Chromis Technology at 602.357.8070.
Tags: digium, SMB, Switchvox, Switchvox SMB, Voice over IP, VoIP
Posted in Switchvox, digium | No Comments »
March 2nd, 2011
The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853) was signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 17, 2010. Included in this legislation is a benefit regarding the purchase of certain assets used in a business.
The legislation allows taxpayers to take a deduction for 100% of the cost of equipment acquired from Sept. 8, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2011. To be eligible for the 100% bonus depreciation, the equipment must have a recovery period of 20 years or less. Generally, network and telephony equipment will meet these requirements and qualify for the 100% bonus depreciation as most equipment has a recovery period of five or seven years. Additionally, the equipment must be new and the original use of the equipment must commence with the taxpayer claiming the bonus depreciation on its timely filed tax return. The equipment must also be used in the United States.
Example: With the 100% write-off, a $10,000 investment in equipment would provide an immediate $3,500 in tax savings, assuming a 35% tax rate ($10,000 X 35% = $3,500). Without the 100% write-off and assuming the equipment is depreciated over seven years, the tax savings would be $500 a year for seven years. ($10,000 X 35% = $3,500 / 7 = $500 a year for seven years)
So what can you buy? Digium Switchvox phone systems, Adtran Routers and Switches, Polycom Video Conferencing systems, ShoreTel telephone systems, really the options are endless! Contact your local tax professional for more information on these huge tax savings! Contact Chromis Technology at 602.357.8070 to purchase Adtran, Digium, Polycom, and ShoreTel and more!
Tags: Adtran, digium, Polycom, ShoreTel, Tax Savings
Posted in Adtran, Jabra, Polycom, ShoreTel, Switchvox, digium | No Comments »
November 8th, 2010
Bria Android Edition is now available on the CounterPath Store or from the Android Market for $7.99 USD.
Bria Android Edition is a highly secure, standards-based mobile VoIP softphone that works over both 3G and Wi-Fi networks. Bria allows you to use your Android device to make and receive calls as an extension on your Switchvox (or Asterisk or other SIP server).
Using the device’s existing contact list, Bria Android Edition facilitates easy and effective communication management with an easy to use interface. Deskphone-class calling functionality includes the ability to swap between two calls, merge calls and perform attended and unattended transfers.
Bria Android Edition incorporates advanced security settings which allow for secure call signaling. It also contains enhanced audio features including 711a/u, iLBC, GSM and an optional G.729 codec for an additional $8.99 USD.
Bria Android Edition requires Android 2.1 or later and has been tested, and is fully supported, on the following devices. Please note that Bria Android Edition may operate well on other non-supported devices.
- HTC EVO
- HTC Incredible
- HTC Desire
- Nexus One
- Samsung Galaxy S (i9000, Epic, Vibrant, Fascinate, Captivate)
- Motorola Droid 1,2,x
- Motorola Charm
Configuration for Switchvox is easy if you’ve configured any other SIP phone before: create the extension in Switchvox, open Bria on your Android device, enter the username and password (the phone password that you created in Switchvox – not the voicemail password – in Switchvox click the Show Advanced Options link and find the Phone Password), enter the Domain (your Switchvox IP address or domain name), enter 899 as the VM (unless you customized this in Switchvox).
Please visit www.counterpath.com for more information on our mobile VoIP products, or for more information on Bria Android Edition.
Tags: Android, Asterisk, Bria, counterpath, digium, Switchvox
Posted in Bria, Mobile Applications, Switchvox, counterpath, digium | 1 Comment »
July 12th, 2010
- The User Interface of Bria 3.0 for Mac
Desktop and mobile VoIP software manufacturer, CounterPath, has released a new version of its Bria softphone for Mac and Windows. Bria 3.1 is a secure standards-based softphone that include 1280x720p HD video calls. The upgrade sees an improved user interface which makes features easier to access. Bria has also expanded its interoperability with equipment from major vendors like Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, BroadSoft, Cisco, NEC and Nokia Siemens Networks as well as Asterisk-based telephony systems. This includes the Switchvox platform.
Another new feature coming to this latest upgrade is multiple account support. Users can now choose on the fly which account to use for voice, IM and HD calling.
Bria 3.1′s other major new features include:
- Deskphone mode for using Bria to control basic functions of a deskphone
- Short Message Service (SMS) support (for custom builds), providing additional messaging capabilities
- User-configurable favorites lists, which provide quick and easy access to preferred methods of communication
- User-configurable keyboard shortcuts for quickly accessing Bria functions (Windows only)
- Additional call-management options, including call hold collapse and streamlined steps for common tasks such as conferencing and transferring
- Bandwidth-saving features, including the ability to select from three levels of performance and codecs depending on a PC’s capability to display video
- Improved USB HID support (more devices)
- Embedded Web module support
- Additional languages: Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Russian (Windows only)
Current Bria 3.0 users will be automatically updated to Bria 3.1 when the new software is available. For more information about Bria 3.1, visit http://www.counterpath.com/bria.html.
Tags: Asterisk, Bria, counterpath, softphone, Switchvox
Posted in Asterisk, Bria, Switchvox, counterpath | No Comments »
July 9th, 2010
How to configure hardware independent faxing using HylaFAX and IAXModem is well documented for Asterisk and trixbox, but not for Switchvox, so Chromis customer Jill Rouleau from Liberty Distribution created a Switchvox-specific walk-through. Jill used Debian 5.0, HylaFAX, IAXModem, a Xen virtual machine, and Switchvox. Read on for Jill’s how-to… Thanks Jill!
Tags: Asterisk, digium, Fax for Asterisk, IAX, Switchvox, Switchvox SMB
Posted in Asterisk, Switchvox, digium | No Comments »
OK – so we do admit that we’re not the first to do it in Arizona, but we’re really excited to announce that Chromis has finished certifications to sell 
ell we see a big future in Video Telepresence. The collaboration, the savings of travel, the lower prices and higher quality equipment, it all makes for a compelling proposition. Here is what top Industry analysts see: