While browsing the web I came across this press release where XCast Labs has announced that it has extended its IP videomail services to BlackBerrys.

Some highlights from the press release:

• XCast Labs (www.xcastlabs.com), a leading global provider of SaaS digital voice and video solutions, today announced that it has extended its state-of-the art IP videomail services to BlackBerry devices. Consumers and enterprise users who own a BlackBerry Curve, Pearl or Storm, are now able to receive video messages from friends, family or colleagues who have a videophone or Softphone application. In addition, XCast delivers traditional voicemail to BlackBerry devices either as an MP3 attachment to email or via RSS feed.
• To facilitate videomail, the XCast server analyzes the Blackberry firmware and type of device then automatically provides a link to videomail that corresponds to the particular device model and firmware from which the request was generated.
• “The adoption and standardization of corporate liable mobile phones in the enterprise has been driven by the use of smartphones, wireless e-mail and the integration of these phones into IP telephony systems, while improved in-building coverage and lower mobile service costs have also played a part.” said Phil Redman, research vice president at Gartner.

Sounds like a great idea for those that would have use for such a service. What do you think? As a consumer, would “videomail” be something you would use on a regular basis?

Full press release after the jump.

Press Release

XCast Labs (www.xcastlabs.com), a leading global provider of SaaS digital voice and video solutions, today announced that it has extended its state-of-the art IP videomail services to BlackBerry devices. Consumers and enterprise users who own a BlackBerry Curve, Pearl or Storm, are now able to receive video messages from friends, family or colleagues who have a videophone or Softphone application. In addition, XCast delivers traditional voicemail to BlackBerry devices either as an MP3 attachment to email or via RSS feed.

To facilitate videomail, the XCast server analyzes the Blackberry firmware and type of device then automatically provides a link to videomail that corresponds to the particular device model and firmware from which the request was generated. The Company’s proprietary Digital Voice and Video (DV&V) platform is a fully hosted, IP-based integrated solution that delivers Class 5 switching with MIR (Most Intelligent Routing), Video Telephony, IP-PBX, SIP Trunking and other advanced IP applications including video conferencing.

XCast Labs’ CEO, Cliff Rees, noted that, “Integrating our video functionality with Blackberry devices is a critical milestone for XCast as we continue to expand our worldwide footprint and react to the changing communications landscape.” “Since the advent of mobile computing, the BlackBerry has been recognized as the PDA of choice for corporate end-users. With continued consumer adoption and migration to these and other smartphones, our users will have access to the highest quality video messaging.”

Rees notes that enterprises in North America will be supporting more mobile phones than desktop phones by 2011, according to Gartner, Inc. The firm’s analysts said that although most users will still also have a desktop phone, mobile phones would become more prevalent and replace desktop voice hardware to become the primary device.

“The adoption and standardization of corporate liable mobile phones in the enterprise has been driven by the use of smartphones, wireless e-mail and the integration of these phones into IP telephony systems, while improved in-building coverage and lower mobile service costs have also played a part.” said Phil Redman, research vice president at Gartner.

ABOUT XCAST LABS

XCast Labs is an advanced SaaS (Software as a Service) provider that has developed a comprehensive suite of software and hardware solutions that enable Cable MSOs / PCOs, CLECs, RLECs, ISPs, MDUs, Resellers and marketing companies to offer integrated IP-based services to their end-users. The company’s proprietary Digital Voice and Video (DV&V) platform is a fully hosted, IP-based integrated solution that delivers Class 5 switching with MIR (Most Intelligent Routing), Video Telephony, IP-PBX, SIP Trunking and other advanced IP applications including video conferencing.