To alleviate the problem of tying up phone lines while connected to the
Internet, VocalTec Communications
Ltd. has announced Internet Phone Call Waiting.
Working much like traditional phone call waiting, a virtual second line is
created to receive incoming phone calls while a user is online. The user
can accept the call without disconnecting from the Internet if working from
a multimedia PC.
Users need only to install VocalTec’s Internet Phone Lite software to
enable the service. The tool includes caller ID information when alerting
users of incoming calls.
The service is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 1999 as part of
the VocalTec Ensemble Architecture (VEA) suite of telephony products. It is
targeted toward Internet service providers that want to offer the service
to its subscribers, said Elon Ganor, chairman of VocalTec Communications.
“We designed VEA to provide the foundation for a multi-service environment
enabling service providers to launch and manage scalable, new communications services that deliver leading edge voice quality,” he said.
“VocalTec Internet Phone Call Waiting allows service providers to diversify
their communications services and terminate more calls by providing end
users with a cost-effective and convenient virtual two-line solution. It
also offers advantages for ISPs that charge by the minute and need services
to encourage users to stay online.”