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Sonexis Conference Manager 12.0 is full of great new features including WebCam Video and Synchronized Call Recording to make your conference calls more productive.

Telephone system hacking is as old as the telephone it’s self. From climbing telephone poles like our favorite Eddie Albert’s character Oliver Wendell Douglas on the 60s TV show Green Acres to the latest high profile FEMA phone system hacking, making free phone calls has not lost it’s appeal. Most hacker calls being made are going to the Middle East to countries like Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey and Yemen, Once a system has been hacked the code is often sold on the street. From small businesses to the phone companies, hacking is big business. How big can a hacking problem get? Consider Edwin Pena. He set up two companies Fortes Telecom Inc. and Miami Tech & Consulting Inc. and through sophisticated hacking and VoIP call routing, profited over one million dollars back in 2006. With today’s sophisticated VoIP phone systems hackers have more opportunities then ever before. Below is a list of 10 ways you can help protect your company from hackers. 1. Hire a company to do a thorough security analysis of your phone system security. If you can’t afford a $ 12,000.00 phone bill from hackers your company may need this more then a large company. 2. Hackers that left FEMA holding the bag for $ 12,000.00 recently used the Voice Mail system to get in to the system. Make sure your voice mail system does not have the default passwords and that out bound calling features are turned off or addressed. Many voice mail systems can make out bound calls to notify you of messages. This can be used to make calls through your phone system. 3. Old voice mail boxes need to be deleted. If your business is like most, people come and go but voice mail boxes remain active and do not get removed. Delete all old voice mail boxes. 4. DISA is a phone system feature designed to allow companies to use their phone systems to place out going calls remotely. DISA or Direct Inward System Access allows just that. Access to your phone systems telephone lines through the phone system. It was developed long before Cell Phones as a way to reduce old expensive telephone calling cards. Really a favorite among hackers. 5. Auto Attendant used for routing calls can also transfer calls to off site locations make sure if you aren’t doing this that this feature is turned off. If you are using it this feature change your passwords frequently. 6. Call forwarding to outside numbers is another feature while wonderful for working remotely leaves open a window of opportunity. Make sure who ever needs this feature really needs it and make sure this feature is turned off for everyone else. 7. Operator transfers are another way hackers can use your phone lines to make calls. A caller posing as a telephone company repairman will call and say he is testing the phone lines and if the operator would please transfer them to 910333 or 910XXX— these are access numbers to Sprint or any other phone company to make calls direct through your lines through the phone companies network. The phone company will then bill back the call to you at the most expensive calling rate. For more on this check out Sprint’s Corporate security guide. 8. Old Direct Dial Numbers that are no longer being used should be removed for your phone systems numbering scheme until needed again. Hackers are looking for anyway in to your systems. 9. Conference Call Systems and Conference Bridges should be password protected. Hackers can get in to conference bridges to listen to sensitive corporate information. Use in house bridge as opposed to an out side conference call service for maximum protection. An in house conference bridge can be placed behind your company’s firewall and passwords can be changed for every conference. 10. Call Accounting Software such as Tapit Call Accounting can help reduce un authorized phone calls. The Tapit Fraud alert module alarms you when set calling parameters are being breached by sounding an alarm and a text message. For more information on how you can protect your phone system call Telcom & Data at 800-335-0229 or visit www.telcom-data.com

XOP Networks, Inc., a manufacturer of advanced conference bridges, now offers IP based Hoot and Holler conferencing capability.

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) May 06, 2015

XOP Networks, Inc., a manufacturer of advanced conference bridges now offers IP based Hoot and Holler conference bridges. These bridges have proven interoperability with a number of Push to Talk (PTT) four wire FXS to SIP gateways, Turrets, Squawk boxes and a variety of SIP based Hoot and Holler end devices.

Hoot and holler networks provide “always on” multiuser conferences without requiring users to dial into a conference. Such conferences are routinely used by brokerages, news agencies, publishers, weather bureaus, Satellite Launch operators, transportation providers, power plant operators and nationwide salvage yard organizations.

Hoot and holler networks are traditionally deployed using point-to-point leased lines that terminate into a TDM based hoot and holler conference bridge that is hosted either by the customer or by the PSTN carrier.

Large corporations have been implementing their own private data networks. These networks typically touch all physical locations that are involved in hoot-n-holler conferencing as well. Hence, a more cost effective approach for implementing the hoot network is to convert the traditional 4 wire devices (PTT Radios, Phones, Squawk boxes etc.) into SIP end points with the help of media gateways and then connect the resulting voice paths to an IP based Hoot-n-Holler conference bridge over the data network.

Our IP based Hoot-n-Holler conference bridge is a robust Linux based platform that is designed to fulfill the ‘always on’ audio conferencing needs of large mission critical networks

The benefits of using the IP based Hoot and Holler network approach are:

• Eliminate the need for expensive leased lines
• Improve hoot and holler network manageability
• PSTN connectivity to H-n-H network
• Reduce the time to troubleshoot a problem from hours to minutes
• Pave way for adding native SIP based Hoot-n-Holler end devices going forward

One of the largest airlines in the world recently deployed XOP Networks’ IP based Hoot-n-Holler conference bridges. Two conference bridges are deployed in Hot/Standby high availability configuration at two separate geographical locations thereby ensuring 99.999% availability.

“Our IP based Hoot-n-Holler conference bridge is a robust Linux based platform that is designed to fulfill the ‘always on’ audio conferencing needs of large mission critical networks. It supports both legacy TDM and VoIP/SIP interfaces thus allowing our customers to migrate their hoot-n-holler networks towards packet based networking at their own pace,” said Sudhir Gupta, CEO of XOP Networks.

“Our recent success in deploying IP based Hoot and Holler network at the large airline customer proves the validity of the business case. Our customer now has a modern, robust SIP based conference bridge that paid for itself in less than 4 months,” added Doug Jacobs, VP of Sales, XOP Networks.

About XOP Networks

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, XOP Networks was founded in January 2003 and is backed by a seasoned management team. Deployed at multiple Cellular Operators, Fortune 100 companies, CLEC/IOC customers, Government organizations, DOD networks (Air Force, Army and Navy) XOP Networks' products allow customers to boost employee productivity, increase business efficiency and enhance emergency communications. Having both TDM and VoIP interfaces, XOP products allow customers to seamlessly transition their value added services from legacy circuit switched networks to VoIP based packet switched networks.

For more information about XOP Networks, visit our website at http://www.telcom-data.com/

About Telcom & Data Inc.
Since 1996 Telcom & Data has been providing thousands of telecommunications solutions to organizations around the world to measurably improve communications. The company is a leader in business phone systems, intercom systems, and mass notification products. Telcom & Data maintains a network of over 1600 technicians with locations in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Miami.

The Safepath Emergency Evacuation System is a mass notification communication system customized to meet your specifications and budgetary needs.

It is the season of change and transition now that finally the weather is getting warmer after a long winter. The snow is melted and it is being exchanged with sunshine on a good day or rain on maybe not such a good day.

SafePath Emergency Evacuation System

In any event, it is obvious to most that the calendar is at mid-season. This can be great news; however, with transition there are always challenges.

Tornadoes are one of the most deadly weather systems that mankind has to endure. They are still very unpredictable and unstable forms of weather. Through technology and science meteorologists have made great advances in determining where a tornado may hit next, but it still remains difficult to calculate how much time a community has to take cover once one touches down.

Employers of large industrial and manufacturing facilities have a lot of space and need to make sure that employees are notified in time to take cover during an emergency weather episode like this.

This is especially difficult as some of these companies have large amounts of employees spread out amongst equipment and offices. They cannot depend upon just a word of mouth approach as every employee may not be accounted for in such an event and they cannot be sure everyone has been informed in time.

Telcom & Data introduces The SafePath Emergency Evacuation System by Cooper Wheelock. This system provides detailed instructions to safely guide people to building exits during emergency times.The emergency evacuation system can also be used for general paging needs and background music.

During a tornado, employers need a tool to use to announce to their employees to take time to take cover and evacuate.

The Safepath Emergency Evacuation System is now available at Telcom & Data. For more information about The Safepath Emergency Evacuation System, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Sound the alarm! Telcom & Data System Sensor Speakers warn of danger with loud sounding producing horns intended for full building notifications to evacuate.

The British are coming! The British are coming! Well not exactly. Paul Revere rode through the night years ago to warn of danger and to signal to the minutemen to get ready. History has shown that a capable warning system that can be seen or heard is essential sometimes to survival.

Depending on location an occasional tornado siren warning or two is not uncommon, and everyone recognizes the loud ringing and flashing lights at a railroad crossing as a train approaches. Everyone absolutely loved the typical fire drill in school with the unexpected loud buzzing sound and the teacher yelling “everybody line up”!

System Sensor Speaker Strobes

Of course, everyone knew it was probably just a drill or at least thought so. The focus was on just getting out of class into some fresh air and giggling with friends. However, in reflection, those drills were extremely important to school safety in case the real thing were happening.

In just a matter of minutes, a notification to evacuate could have been the difference between life or death in this scenario, so early warning was crucial.

Telcom Data understands the need for early warning systems and a competitive price that makes sense. With five great products to choose from, 1. System Sensor Horn | HW, 2.System Sensor Mini-Horn | MHR, 3. System Sensor Speaker Strobe, White | SPSW, 4. System Sensor Speaker Strobe Red No Lettering, 5. System SensorSpeaker Strobe, White, No Lettering | SPSW-P , your school, office building, warehouse or any large facility with large numbers of people, will be equipped to alert anyone of danger and to quickly get to safety.

These horns increase application flexibility for indoor or outdoor applications as they also notify the property ground. All of these devices can easily be adapted to suit a wide range of application requirements by using field-selectable sound patterns and volume settings.

The British may not be coming today, but Paul Revere would be proud.

System Sensors are now available at Telcom & Data. For more information about System Sensors, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Data Center Cooling Solutions by Great Lakes, the Great Lakes ES Series enclosure allows for Multi-Generational Product Planning within data center space to support all current, planned and future needs.

Data Center Cooling Solutions

It’s a fact that large companies that process data and information have a great need for large data centers. An organization with a facility that centralizes IT operations and equipment needs to store, manage and distribute data. The most critical of systems are vital to the company’s daily operations.

Companies cannot afford technical difficulties due to network problems as customers are constantly demanding top notch service and safety of personal information.

The biggest factor to success is trust. Companies must be able to trust that data centers are safe and reliable and customers must be able to trust the business that has stored their data to do everything possible to keep it secure.

Any breakdown in any of the previous examples can lead to disaster. Lost information or compromised data due to hackers or technological incompetence can destroy a company’s reputation that they may never be able to recover from.

Even though these are complicated networks that consist of computers, wires, buttons, electrical currents and millions upon millions of bits of information flowing through sophisticated systems, some pretty basic things are all that are needed at the end of the day to keep them running smoothly.

Telcom & Data introduces Data Center Cooling Solutions by Great Lakes. From cable troughs and ladder rack brackets, exhaust chimneys, air managers, fan assisted doors, to a closed-looped water cooled enclosure kit, Great Lakes’ portfolio of enclosures and accessories are designed to support ever changing or evolving requirements a business may face during the life of any data center. Telcom & Data's diverse portfolio has been designed and engineered to help provide a solution to any future networking or data challenge.

Organizations want a data center that’s flexible and reliable and keeping it cool is how it’s done.

Data Center Cooling Solutions by Great Lakes is now available at Telcom & Data. For more information about Data Cooling Solutions by Great Lakes, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Bogen VoIP Paging System Gateways, Single or multi-zone paging at any or all locations when used with Bogen’s Multi-Zone telephone paging interface.

VoIP Paging System Gateway

Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) March 24, 2015

Global communications is the name of the game these days. Businesses and organizations can be spread out all over the world with a click of the button. There are no longer walls or barriers to keep a business from global growth.

Personal travel for executives is easier than ever with private planes becoming more and more accessible and popular. International phone service from one country to the next is more common than ever before and more centralized.

Also the notion or idea of a product being produced in only one country is almost completely gone.

One example of how times have changed; a vehicle made in the USA can easily be remade in Japan and vice versa. Parts are shipped overseas at the speed of sound and information is given and received instantly.

That is why companies have taken advantage of the Internet and the speed in which information can be sent to multiple locations around the world. Not only is this an advantage if organized correctly, it is almost now a necessity to remain competitive.

Telcom & Data is presenting Bogen VoIP Paging System Gateways; an IP paging system that allows paging communications to be sent over the Internet or Intranet. Multi- location organizations that require remote paging can now have a designed paging system that allows them to page any location remotely. Overhead voice paging to multiple locations within a facility, nearby or to branch office buildings is also available.
Bogen VoIP Paging System Gateways helps in business and in the game of global communications.

Bogen VoIP Paging System Gateways is now available at Telcom & Data. For more information about, VoIP Paging System Gateways visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Scitec Hotel Telephones are a great low cost convenience phone for hotel guests offering improved styling and more features at a great low price.

Scitec Hotel Phones

When people go out of town they try with tremendous effort to be comfy and have a relaxing experience. To most, the hotel room is sometimes just as important as the trip itself.

Are the beds going to be comfortable? Is the view scenic and will the service be top notch? These are all questions they ask before booking a room.

The hotel business is very competitive as there are now so many choices for travelers, from lower level very affordable discounted franchises, to the elegant top of line establishments.

The difference in perception of a good or bad experience can come down to the smallest details. The hotel that has a well thought out plan on how to please their patrons will keep a great reputation or even possibly upgrade their status to a higher rating with 5 stars being the pinnacle.

Guest at a hotel often communicate with the front desk about directions, prices of food and added items they need for their room. Locating friends or family in another part of the hotel and ordering food from the restaurant in the nearby lobby is common as well.

The hotel that can make this experience fast, convenient and easy to use, will benefit from higher profits and returning customers.

Telcom & Data introduces Scitec Hotel Telephones. These phones are established high performance, high quality, and valued in the marketplace. Available in single and 2-line speakerphone and feature phone models with 0, 3, 5, or 10 speed dial keys. The Aegis Series telephones are preferred by major hotel chains, hotel management companies, and owners and works on all PBXs.

Making customers comfy away from home can be achieved with a 5 star communication system like Scitec Hotel Telephones.

Scitec Hotel Telephones are now available at Telcom & Data. For more information about Scitec Hotel Telephones, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Great Lakes Custom Products: Technical sales and engineering teams that create ideal custom products for businesses within six weeks.

Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) March 18,2015

It’s a task to estimate the amount of equipment needed for a high tech corporate office. That type of environment is constantly changing based on the needs of the customer, cost and of course availability of funds.

Once the equipment arrives, where to store items and how to configure them is a whole other story.

The environment in which people work can be just as important as the type of work they do. Any executive would want the equipment to be easily accessible but at the same time give the office a certain type of style, flair or décor.

High tech equipment is especially challenging as tech staff has to deal with cords, plugs, screens, connections and power sources. If not done carefully and strategically planned out, it can look and feel unorganized which could lead to a stressful situation if there is ever a technical problem.

No business or business owner wants a scene from Apollo 13 while trying to concentrate on efficiency and gaining profits and revenue.

Telcom & Data would like to introduce Great Lakes Custom Products; a fully customizable team of engineers and manufacturing professionals who are ready to transform business visions into realities. They create the perfect product whether a custom color to match business décor or a corporate logo, a design alteration from their standard products, or an entirely custom product.

Great Lakes Custom Products helps businesses create equipment solutions tailored made to fit.

Great Lakes Custom Products is now available at Telcom & Data. For more information about Great Lakes Custom Products, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

ABOUT Telcom & Data:
Since 1996 Telcom & Data has been providing thousands of telecommunication solutions to organizations around the world to measurably improve communications. The company is a leader in call recording and call accounting solutions. Telcom & Data maintains a network of over 1500 technicians with locations in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Miami.

We receive hundreds of calls from customers that use Merlin phone systems but don’t know which Merlin phone system they use. Usually we get something like “ I have a Merlin BIS phone and I need help”. The Merlin system was originally manufactured in the early 80s. There were several systems that have since been manufactured. The systems include the Merlin 206, Merlin 410, 820, Merlin 10/30, 30/70 , Merlin Plus 820D, Merlin II, Merlin Legend and Merlin Magix. There were also several types of Merlin Phone models that are used by the various systems.

First thing when trying to identify which Merlin phone system you have is to locate the control unit which is usually located in the phone closet. The Merlin cabinets can be several colors including grey, black, off white, or beige and mounting either horizontally or vertically. The earlier Merlin phone system including the Merlin 206, 410 and 820 are incased in a grey color plastic cabinet and can include a black cover. If you can locate a Merlin control unit it will have many phone cords plugged into the unit. The unit will be designated as to the model on the right middle part of the unit. If there is a cover it can easily be removed by pulling from the top down. Once the cover is removed the system identification will be revealed.

For more information on Merlin Phone systems or Support for your Merlin phone system please call 800-335-0229