Here's a news release that I think is a big one. It's a little talked about secret, but the evolution of speeh processing and voice recognition is a very hot market segment. I think this is going to be the hottest sub-segment of unified communications over the next 2-3 years. Personally, I think it's going to be hotter than video.

And, it's always noteworthy to recognize the number of patents that 8X8 has been awarded in the US. That's a significant contribution to technology.

8x8, Inc. Awarded Speech Processing Patent
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ:
EGHT), provider of Packet8 (http://www.packet8.net/) broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and videophone communication services for business and residential customers, today announced that it has been issued U.S. Patent No. 7,272,553 for speech processing. The patent issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on September 18, 2007.

The invention covered by the patent relates generally to speech signal processing and, more specifically, to multi-pulse speech analysis and synthesis systems. According to certain embodiments, the invention provides a speech processing method and arrangement including a process applicable for use in connection with various standard speech encoding recommendations.

Certain embodiments of the invention are also applicable to multipulse, maximum likelihood quantization coding systems and processes.

Since its establishment in 1987, 8x8 has been awarded sixty-nine (69) United States patents covering a variety of voice and video communications and storage technologies.

About 8x8, Inc.
VoIP service provider 8x8, Inc. offers internet-based telephony solutions (http://www.packet8.net/) for individual residential and business users as well as small to medium sized business organizations. In addition to regular Packet8 VoIP service plans priced as low as $24.99 per month for unlimited anytime calling to the U.S., Canada and eight additional countries, 8x8 offers the Packet8 Tango Video Terminal Adapter and DV 326 VideoPhone along with accompanying monthly service plans also priced at $24.99 per month. Packet8 Virtual Office, 8x8's VoIP phone system for small to medium sized businesses, is a hosted PBX solution comprised of powerful business class features. Companies subscribing to Virtual Office pay just $49.99 per month per extension for enterprise class PBX functionality along with unlimited local and long distance calling in the U.S. and Canada. The Packet8 Complete Contact Center™ is a hosted multimedia call center distribution and management platform that works with any broadband Internet service and provides enterprise class contact center functionality combined with Virtual Office hosted iPBX calling features and business calling plans. Packet8 Softalk Office™, 8x8's PC-based soft phone client, offers high quality voice and video in-network calling as well as outbound calling to the PSTN.
For additional company information, visit 8x8's web site at http://www.8x8.com/.