Santa Clara, Calif. — VoIP service provider 8×8 announced new features for its Packet8 telephony service in addition to a new distribution agreement and a private label partnership.
The company added three new calling features to its residential VoIP services. The new features include phone-based management for call routing and voicemail configuration. This allows subscribers to manage their account over the phone via voice prompt. Using the phone-based management system, users can turn on or off their voicemails, set the number of rings before voicemail answers, and forward calls.
Another new feature is a toll free service plan, allowing users to acquire a toll-free number alongside their regular calling plan. The plan offers 100 minutes of inbound toll-free calls and 3.9 cents a minute thereafter for inbound calls for a monthly fee of $4.95 and one-time activation fee of $9.95.
Finally, the company will offer 411 directory assistance and reverse directory assistance to Packet8 subscribers for a $.75 per call.
All of the new calling features are available immediately to Packet8 subscribers.
The company also announced a distribution agreement with Trapeze Communications, a marketing and distribution company and division of TJF Associates.
According to 8×8, Trapeze founders and telecom veterans Tom Wynne, John Musci and Frank Scardino will focus on bringing the Packet8 broadband phone services to consumers around the world through direct sales organizations, network and multi level marketing firms, affiliates and affinity partners.
8×8 also reached a private label agreement with the network marketing company 5Linx. The deal lets Rochester, N.Y.-based 5Linx offer 8×8’s VoIP telephony and video phone service under its Globalinx brand.
