Hitachi Cable has carried out testing to verify interoperability between its wireless IP phone, "WirelessIP5000" and the "SkyIP-PBX" SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server made by SkyWave Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Robert Kelley). Since the SkyIP-PBX now features a "presence" function (previously implemented in the WirelessIP5000), it is now possible to determine beforehand whether the intended call recipient is available to answer the phone.

Recent years have witnessed the rapid penetration of IP telephones, which enable voice calls by means of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Internet technology, accompanied by increasing price reductions and the growing sophistication of data communication networks.

Our wireless IP phone, ''WirelessIP5000'' set is not only compliant with SIP (for Session Initiation Protocol, a de facto standard VoIP communication protocol in Japan), but its open construction makes it connectable to SIP servers from multiple suppliers. These features have been very well-received, leading to a strong record of orders to date, including several thousand units for businesses.
In addition to the presence function, which allows the caller to verify in advance the status of the call recipient, WirelessIP5000 incorporates a variety of functions, including an auto-roaming feature *1 , a dynamic network binding (DNB) feature *2 , and a web authentication feature expected to be incorporated in public wireless LAN locations in the future.

If the software has been configured to check the status of the call recipient, the caller can determine whether the intended recipient is "present," "in a meeting," or "on a business trip" before making a call. Despite the WirelessIP5000's existing presence function, the feature was previously unusable, as no SIP servers supported this function.

SkyWave, which markets the "SkyIP-PBX" SIP server software, has recently added an optional presence function. This function now enables, for example, automatic forwarding of calls to a preset number while the called party is "out of the office."

Hitachi Cable and SkyWave carried out interoperability testing of the WirelessIP5000 and SkyIP-PBX to verify the compatibility among the presence function and other features. Moreover, we verified interoperability with a number of fixed IP phones: the SIP-1900, SIP-2100P, and the SIP-2400P made by Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (Tottori Sanyo), as well as with the "SIP:OFFICE" SIP software phone *3 made by Hitachi Information Technology Co., Ltd. (Hitachi IT). As a result, we have confirmed that it is now possible to provide a presence function via SkyIP-PBX with combinations of all of the IP phones listed above (from Hitachi Cable, Tottori Sanyo, and Hitachi IT). This development is certain to further improve the efficiency of wireless communications in general.

The WirelessIP5000 is available through our sales partners. Further to our success in establishing interoperability with SkyWave's SkyIP-PBX, we are now aiming to increase our market share for SIP-enabled wireless IP phones.

*1	As the WirelessIP5000 terminal is in motion, this feature determines radio-wave strength from access points and error status during communication, automatically switching connection to the optimal access point. This function can be used both during calls and when on standby.
*2	This feature allows for the automatic establishment of connections with various wireless LAN access points-from headquarters to branch offices and homes, for example, and from future outdoor wireless LAN locations-despite variations in the network environment.
*3	A SIP software phone is installed on a PC to allow the computer to be used as an IP phone.