Secaucus, N.J. — Panasonic will use deltathree’s new “joip” VoIP service for a line of VoIP phones.
According to Shimmy Zimels, CEO, deltathree, Panasonic paid the VoIP company $2 million to launch an exclusive service for use with the company’s phones.
Announced at International CES, Panasonic’s Globarange models will include both 5.8GHz and DECT-based two-line cordless phones that offer landline and VoIP calling. The phone can plug directly into a broadband modem.
The phones are expected to ship this summer and both the phones and the service will be launched globally. The joip Web site is live and soliciting beta testers. Currently, Panasonic is showing one phone on its Web site, the BB-GG1540. The model features call waiting, caller ID, handset speakerphone and a tri-color incoming call status light.
The concept behind joip is to leverage Panasonic’s cordless phone brand strength to create a global community of users who can call each other for free, Zimels said.
For advanced features such as ringtones, text messaging, a community directory, call forwarding to multiple numbers, do not disturb options and voice message notification via e-mail, consumers will have to subscribe to one of four monthly plans. The base plan starts at $6.99 a month for $.02/minute U.S.-to-U.S. calls. Deltathree will offer three other plans with varying features and 400, 800 and 2,000 minutes for $15.99, $15.99 and $24.99, respectively.
The service will also be available directly through the PC as a softphone.
