8×8 Inc, the Santa Clara, California-based video conferencing system, semiconductor and software supplier, is shipping samples of a multi-line audio processor aimed at capitalizing on the growing market interest in broadband IP telephony. The Audacity Internet Telephony Processor (Audacity ITP) is manufactured in a 0.35 micron, CMOS process and combines IP telephony protocol support with audio compression/decompression (codec) capability for up to eight simultaneous IP phone calls. The chip supports the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) and H.323 standards. The company plans to OEM the chip, called the Audacity Internet Telephony Processors (Audacity ITP), with all the usual suspects including General Instruments, Alcatel, Nokia and Phillips. Tim Williams, European managing director, said 8×8 expects to be making announcements throughout 1999, with the first one expected in the next 4 to 6 weeks. The company also announced the availability for systems trials of a four-line internet telephone adapter called the 8×8 Packet Gateway, which incorporates the new Audacity chip. 8×8 said the adapter is designed for the emerging PacketCable Interface Specification for IP telephony. The box is designed to be installed at the point where the existing carrier loop enters the home and converts a customer’s existing telephones and house wiring into a PacketCable compatible network. The PacketCable Interface Specification is being developed by cable industry consortium, CableLabs, and allows the delivery of packet voice and video services using IP telephony over two-way cable networks. Both products will be demonstrated at CeBIT 99 in Hanover, Germany this Spring.
