Barracuda Networks, a provider of content security appliances that protect organizations from email, web and IM threats, has launched CudaTel Communication Server – a new VoIP PBX offering. The new offering is said to be the first product under the company’s CudaTel brand of VoIP PBX offerings.

Based on and in collaboration with the open source FreeSWITCH project, the new offering includes a feature set that incorporates conferencing, follow-me, automated attendant services, and more, controlled by a web interface, the company said.

Initiated in January 2006, FreeSWITCH is a free, open source software communications platform designed for the creation of voice and chat-driven products and is released under the MPL free software license.

The CudaTel Communication Server technology is reportedly based on the FreeSWITCH code repository and is compatible with any session initiation protocol (SIP) device and provider, and can be pre-configured for use with both analogue and digital telephone networks.

VoIP encryption protects calls from hackers and digital eavesdroppers. On-board voicemail storage can archive years of audio, and solid-state boot disks ensure that the customer phone system is operational. Each model also has features such as call queuing and custom automated attendant creation, the company said.

The company said that the configuration is with a web-based interface. Customers can also set up automated attendants, conferences, calling groups, queues, and telephone company integration. The web-based user interface allows administrators to deploy phones automatically with native hardware provisioning.

Sean Heiney, director of new product initiatives at Barracuda Networks, said: “The CudaTel system eliminates the costs and complexity of deployment found in many competing VoIP offerings today. With the CudaTel Communication Server we have removed all the traditional VOIP PBX barriers with a solution offering unparalleled usability at a price point that works for everyone.