Siemens Releases AudioPresence HD and OpenStage 5

Siemens Enterprise Communications has recently announced the release of two new products: OpenStage 5 SIP phone, and AudioPresence HD.

OpenStage 5 is a cost-effective entry level phone, providing key business features, enterprise security, and AudioPresence HD. It's easy to use, high-quality, and affordable, with enterprise-level security and flexibility for advanced features. Integration with other unified communications platforms is managed centrally over the Deployment Service, and it can be used as a unified communications audio front-end with third-party CTI applications.

AudioPresence HD is Siemen's latest innovation, designed to maximize productivity and improve communication quality for OpenStage IP phones. It leverages the standards-based G.722 HD audio codec, high-quality speaker, microphone, and acoustic components, as well as advanced noise rejection and echo cancellation. With the release of OpenScape UC Version 6, AudioPresence HD will be supported by multi-party audio conferences as well.

"HD audio is one of those things that seems trivial, but it is not," says Dave Michels. "Narrow band voice made sense in the early days of copper analog telephony - and all the prior technical upgrades have ignored it. VoIP won't stand for it, and HD audio is as logical as it is clear. Not only did Siemens HD-enable its entire line of desktop phones, but upgraded its conference bridge technology too."

According to David Yedwab: "HD Voice, or wideband voice, or any other of a whole slew of 'quotables' about higher quality voice has been a confusing transformation. Will it be premium or free? What codecs are supported? Siemens entering the HD Voice play is a positive move that should further support its adoption."

The OpenStage 5 SIP phone and AudioPresence HD are available now. For more information, visit www.siemens-enterprise.com.