ClearOne Introduces VoIP Tabletop Conference Phones: MAXAttach IP and MAX IP

11:18 pm - January 9th, 2006

ClearOne Communications, Inc. (OTC: CLRO), the developer of the industry-first and award-winning MAXAttach(TM) wired and MAXAttach wireless conference phones, today introduced the latest addition to its tabletop conferencing product line, the new MAXAttach IP(TM) and MAX IP(TM) VoIP tabletop conference phones.

These products represent ClearOne’s entry into the rapidly growing VoIP telephony market space, and are based on the industry-standard SIP signaling protocol. Up until now, users have had a limited choice for adding high-quality audio conference phones to VoIP telephony systems. With the introduction of MAXAttach IP and MAX IP, customers with SIP-based VoIP systems can now enjoy the outstanding audio clarity and superior room coverage that ClearOne’s analog MAX wired and wireless products have provided for several years, at a price point well below the competition.

A key feature that sets the ClearOne MAXAttach IP and MAX IP apart from any other competitive offerings is the ability to daisy-chain multiple phones together. This unique capability provides multiple speakers, multiple microphones, and multiple dial pads distributed throughout the room for unmatched coverage. Customers can now easily cover conferencing spaces ranging from small conference rooms up to large rooms with long or U-shaped table configurations.

The MAXAttach IP comes with two conference phones, and is also available in bundles with an additional one or two phones. Also, the phones included with any of the MAXAttach IP bundles can be split up and used in separate rooms with the addition of an extra base unit, which results in an even lower cost per phone.

In addition, these VoIP conference phones offer the advanced audio signal processing technologies that were originally developed for ClearOne’s market-leading installed audio conferencing products. These technologies deliver crystal-clear audio to participants on both ends of the call, and include full-duplex audio, distributed echo cancellation, noise cancellation, first microphone priority, and automatic gain and level controls.

“ClearOne continues to break new ground in the tabletop conferencing space,” said Zee Hakimoglu, President and CEO of ClearOne. “We created the concept of attaching conference phones together for vastly improved room coverage and user control, and remain the only company that offers that capability. We were also first to market with a wireless conference phone, and the first and only company to offer a completely wireless dual-unit conference phone solution.”

“Now, with the addition of MAXAttach IP and MAX IP to our tabletop product lineup, ClearOne is the only company to offer a VoIP conference phone solution with that same capability to daisy-chain up to four phones for unrivaled tabletop conferencing performance. Our enterprise customers are asking more frequently for VoIP solutions from ClearOne, and these products are our first answer to that request.”

“With respect to our VoIP strategy, we evaluated the market, and determined that a SIP-based platform was the right direction to take. The momentum of SIP-based telephony offerings from other industry players clearly validates that decision,” continued Hakimoglu.

In addition to advanced audio processing technologies that deliver crystal-clear sound, the new VoIP products offer a suite of SIP features, such as:

* 3-way calling — allows for ad-hoc conferences without need for a conference bridge
* VLAN tagging — allows users to manage bandwidth usage on the network
* TLS & SRTP encryption-ready (with future release of firmware upgrade) — secures voice communications over the network
* Field upgradeability — allows users to easily download firmware upgrades from ClearOne website and load directly into the conference
phone

The MAX IP (single VoIP conference phone) has a list price of $749, and the MAXAttach IP (two VoIP conference phones) is priced at $1199. Extra conference phone units can be purchased to add to either product to expand up to four total phones. Additional discounted bundles with three and four conference phones are also available. International pricing may vary.

The product is scheduled to begin shipping by the end of February 2006.