SANTA CLARA,USA: 8x8 Inc., provider of Packet8 business, mobile and residential communication services, has announced the introduction of Packet8 Virtual Trunking, a broadband agnostic IP trunking solution that allows a business to benefit from the cost efficiencies of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) while retaining their existing phones and phone system hardware and optimizing the use of their existing connectivity to the Internet.

Packet8 Virtual Trunking provides companies that have already made a substantial or recent investment in phone system hardware with an opportunity to reduce recurring monthly service and toll charges by delivering digital quality dial tone service over their broadband connection rather than a separate voice circuit from an incumbent or local exchange carrier. The company's existing phone system equipment continues to provide the user feature set while the Packet8 Virtual Trunking services provide dial tone together with local, long distance and international call routing services to that equipment from the Packet8 digital VoIP network.

"Many businesses are motivated to migrate to VoIP phone service to take advantage of cost and performance efficiencies, but are reluctant to do so because they already own or are leasing an on-premise business phone system," said 8x8 vice president of marketing and sales Huw Rees.

"The Packet8 Virtual Trunking solution now enables these companies to realize significant savings on their monthly phone bills while using their existing equipment and data network. Unlike other trunking solutions that require a dedicated access line or data connection, virtual trunking, as with all Packet8 VoIP services, is broadband agnostic and will operate over any high speed network connection from any location worldwide. These virtual trunks will also provide a conduit for the provision of additional IP services over time, thereby expanding and enhancing the value of customers' investments in existing phone system equipment."

According to In-Stat senior research analyst David Lemelin, "We believe that two-thirds of all U.S. businesses will have some form of VoIP phone service by 2011, whether it's a hosted PBX service, an IP-PBX switch or a hybrid solution." A report published earlier this year by the high tech market research firm found that IP-enablement of legacy TDM PBXs and the adoption of new IP PBXs were the most common business-grade solutions adopted by companies polled in a recent In-Stat survey. "8x8 is well poised to take advantage of this market growth with services like Packet8 Virtual Office and now, Virtual Trunking, both of which offer businesses a reliable, affordable and easy-to- implement path to IP telephony. 8x8's proven ability to deliver enterprise- quality voice over the public Internet with the Packet8 Virtual Office hosted PBX service will be a welcome addition to the digital trunking marketplace."

In conjunction with the launch of Packet8 Virtual Trunking services, 8x8 has added domestic regional sales personnel who will be building a network of telecommunications resellers that sell into the SMB channel. Idaho-based interconnect Thompson Communications, a pilot customer who has been testing Virtual Trunking over a wireless Internet connection, had this to say about the service: "As a leading interconnect, our success is dependent on the quality of the services we recommend and deploy. Packet8's Virtual Trunking solution installed seamlessly over our existing wireless network and has exceeded our expectations for ease of deployment and voice quality. We look forward to recommending Packet8 Virtual Trunking to all of our customers."

Packet8 Virtual Trunking offers dial tone, toll-free number service, direct dialing, T1/PRI termination, analog (FXS) termination, Enhanced 9-1-1 (E911) support, Caller ID/CNAM, national directory listing and online billing and account management. Implementation of the service is achieved through installation of an Integrated Access Device (IAD) on the customer's premise by a professional Packet8 installation team. Packet8 Virtual Trunking services can be provisioned and operational for customers in as little as one week from order.