ZigBee - IP-PBX Integration Earns Xorcom “Best of Show”

Union of energy-efficient high level radio-based communication protocol and open source IP-PBX recognized as “Most Innovative Product” at leading IP communications conference in Miami

The ZigBee - Xorcom IP-PBX integration wins "Best of Show" in "Most Innovative Product" category at the IT Expo East - 2010.

Xorcom, a privately-held manufacturer of business telephony interfaces and appliances based on Asterisk open source software, announces today that its integration of the ZigBee protocol into its Asterisk®-based IP-PBX has received a “Best of Show” award in the “Most Innovative Product” category at TMC’s ITEXPO East 2010 in Miami, Florida.

ZigBee – GPL Specification for Economic, Secure Communications

ZigBee is based on the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard for wireless secured personal area networks (WPANs), and is targeted at radio-frequency (RF) applications that require a low data rate, long battery life, and secure, meshed networking. To date, ZigBee has been utilized in a wide variety of vertical industries: utilities (energy management, smart grid), health care, security, manufacturing (location and tracking, inventory control), hospitality (assisted living), etc.

Integration of Existing Technologies Enables Unique, Optimized Applications

In a demonstration of true innovation, whereby two existing technologies are combined to provide unique and optimized applications, Xorcom has integrated the ZigBee protocol and hardware into its high-end IP-PBX systems in order to provide an interactive bi-directional interface to the data available through ZigBee. As far as we know, this is the very first integration of ZigBee in a commercial telephony system.

Xorcom Open Source PBX at the Corporate Communications Crossroads

Xorcom’s basic premise is that by using an intelligent console at the crossroads of corporate communications, e.g., an IP-PBX, ZigBee can be utilized efficiently and cost-effectively in the workplace. The Xorcom Asterisk-based IP-PBX can notify a human operator immediately about information collected using ZigBee (e.g., utility consumption aberrations, fire hazards, person/inventory location, smart panic buttons, etc.) using a variety of communication methods: via telephone, text message to mobile (SMS), pager, public address, e-mail, fax, etc. In addition, the Xorcom IP-PBX can be programmed to present the operator with an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system for on-the-spot decision-making and device control.

New Standards Set by TMC at ITEXPO

“Last week in Miami we set new standards at ITEXPO in terms of attendee traffic, exhibitor news, and overall quality for the show, and we feel the best-of-show winners worked even harder to stand out from our field of exhibitors,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO and group editor-in-chief of TMC. “All of the companies that participated in ITEXPO helped to make it our best show ever, and we’re proud to honor companies like Xorcom with a Best-of-Show Award.”

About the Best of Show Awards

The ITEXPO Best of Show Awards recognize innovative products and solutions that were featured in the Exhibit Hall during the event. This designation serves to highlight the technological achievement and creative product features that set these winners apart from the rest of the crowd. TMC’s editorial staff evaluated the pre-show nominations, and met with vendors to inspect and review the displayed products on the first day of the Expo. A full list of the winners is posted at www.firpr.com.