Group 3 Technology

Group 3 Technology Limited is a UK based Internet Software development organisation which specializes in communications products for SME and residential customers. Group 3 Technology's primary products are Voice-over-IP (VoIP) applications supplied with real UK Telephone Numbers offering free calls between users.

Group 3 Technology's main offices are in Aldridge in the United Kingdom.

History

Group 3 Technology is owned by Gerry Leighton and was establsihed in December 2000 as the research and development division of his previous business. In 2002 Group 3 Technology was created as a separate entity developing ICT products for Business Telephone System (PBX) sector in the UK for Toshiba and the German telecoms manufacturer DeTeWe.

The company's first Voice-over-IP application which was based on the H323 protocol, called NETeasyPhone was launched in December 2003 competing directly with Skype in the residential market. NETeasyPhone was subsequently upgraded and replaced by ePhone and NETePhone in 2006.

Gerry Leighton and Lee Squire presented the company' achievements and innovations to the West Midlands IT Conference at the National Motorcycle Museum in November 2006.

The company employs 15 staff, with the Head Office in the UK and Development Team based in South East Asia.

Technology

Patents

Group 3 Technology has three patents and several registered trademarks. The company has developed a method of Internet Protocol Signalling for direct end-2-end communication between network points on the Internet. This technology is protected under patent and underpins all of Group 3 Technology's applications.

e2e Technology

e2e Technology is a lightweight, IP signalling protocol that quickly and reliably opens a direct communication path between two (or more) Users of IP services over the internet, for the purpose of carrying a wide variety of IP content traffic (e.g. Video, voice, messaging, presence, music etc.). Most importantly, this direct communication path can be opened regardless of whether or not, either or both, Users are connected to the internet from behind a Network/Router (or WiFi router).

Initially designed to traverse Network Address Translation (NAT) routers and firewalls the e2e Technology is an alternative to STuN, Proxy Servers and Session Border Controllers. It operates on standard Windows-based Servers and can be installed in a 1u rackmount.

IAX2

Since 2005 the company has been developing hardware and firmware for IP Phones designed to work with the Asterisk opensource PBX using the IAX2 protocol. IAX2 is the Inter-Asterisk eXchange protocol from Digium.

Products

VoIP Software

• NETePhone - is the Group 3 Technology's main Software Application for the residential market. The file is only 2.6MB and can be downloaded and installed on a Windows PC. There is no MAC version planned. Users create a real UK Telephone Number to use with Software and can get free IP calls.

VoIP Hardware

• ePhone - is the companys popular IP Telephone which operates on the same system as NETePhone and VePhone. Customers choose their preferred UK area code when they order and the IP Phone is shipped pre-configured.

Browser-based VoIP products

• VePhone - scheduled for release early in 2007, VePhone is a VoIP application in a web-browser designed for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and above. VePhone allows users to make and receive VoIP calls without downloading software to their PC.

Network Infrastructure

• e2e Network - The backbone and back-office systems including the routing, call setup, account management and web systems have been designed from new. The network has been operational since January 2006.

External links

• www.group3technology.net Main company website
• www.netephone.uk.net Product Information and downloads for NETePhone
• www.ephone.uk.net Information and Support for ePhone Internet Phone
• www.vephone.uk.net Additional information AbOUT VePhone