8x8 to Offer Packet8 Softalk Office with New Intel VoIP-Enabled PC Solutions
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 17 // -- 8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ:EGHT), provider of Packet8 broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and videophone communication services, today announced its plans to offer the Packet8 Softalk(TM) Office VoIP application with the Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter, providing a PC-ready small business VoIP solution for personal computer system integrators and OEMs.
The Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter incorporates Packet8's Softalk Office voice and video soft phone client in a turnkey solution that allows PC manufacturers and integrators to bundle a VoIP solution in their offerings for small and medium sized businesses. Personal computers equipped with Softalk Office and Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter provide users with the ability to use a standard telephone, instead of a PC headset or other special purpose device, to make and receive calls to and from any phone in the world. Users also have access to Packet8's feature-rich Virtual Office internet phone service, which includes powerful VoIP-hosted PBX calling features along with unlimited local and long distance calling plans in the U.S. and Canada.
"We are very pleased to be working with Intel to bring 8x8's Packet8 small business VoIP services to PC vendors and resellers in a manner that makes it easy for end users to access VoIP services," said Christopher Peters, 8x8's vice president of strategic alliances. "This affiliation with Intel provides 8x8 with a ground floor opportunity to gain exposure in the expansive small business marketplace."
Bundling the Packet8 Softalk Office VoIP solution with the Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter enables personal computer OEMs that serve the small and medium sized business market to differentiate themselves from competitors, while adding incremental revenue through the addition of value added communications services and accessories.
"We are pleased to work with 8x8 on our new desktop-focused VoIP product, the Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter. Systems built on Intel(R) Desktop boards featuring the increased performance of Intel(R) dual-core technology and integrated with the Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter, are uniquely suited to handle the performance demands of VoIP applications. The exponential growth of the worldwide VoIP telephony market will allow small businesses and residential customers to realize the significant cost-saving benefits and powerful phone services traditionally associated with the enterprise segment," says Philip Chen, Marketing Director, Intel.
PCs based on Intel dual core processors deliver an enhanced user experience with high quality, reliability, and compatibility with a broad range of hardware and software solutions.
Softalk Office provides small businesses with access to Packet8's comprehensive VoIP-hosted PBX phone service that includes features such as auto attendants, conference bridges, extension-to-extension dialing, business class voicemail and sophisticated call routing, in addition to a rich variety of other business class functions normally found on high end, premise-based PBX systems. With Softalk Office integrated with the Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter-based PCs, users can plug their existing office telephone into the computer's built-in phone port to utilize the Virtual Office service. Customers who purchase these PCs can also take advantage of one or two month free trial offers for the Virtual Office service.
The Softalk Office-enabled Intel(R) 600SM PCI Phone Adapter will be available to PC OEMs beginning September 2006.
About 8x8, Inc.
VoIP (voice over internet protocol) service provider 8x8, Inc. offers internet-based telephony solutions ( packet8.net ) for individual residential and business users as well as small to medium sized business organizations. In addition to regular Packet8 VoIP service plans priced as low as $19.99 per month for unlimited anytime calling to the U.S. and Canada, 8x8 offers the Packet8 DV 326 VideoPhone, the industry's first stand alone broadband consumer videophone, and accompanying monthly service plans also priced at $19.99 per month. Packet8 Virtual Office, 8x8's small business phone solution, is a VoIP-hosted PBX service comprised of powerful business class features. Companies subscribing to Virtual Office pay just $39.99 per month per extension for enterprise class PBX functionality along with unlimited local and long distance calling in the U.S. and Canada. Packet8 Softalk(TM), 8x8's PC-based soft phone client, offers high quality voice and video in-network calling for no charge as well as PSTN calling capability and other Packet8 features for as low as $5.99 per month. For additional company information, visit 8x8's web site at www.8x8.com .
