Ottawa-based telephone systems maker TalkSwitch is living up to a vow from a year ago to ramp up operations with the launch of four new hardware and software lines this week, aimed at providing solutions for small as well as multi-location businesses.

On Tuesday, TalkSwitch expanded its line of hybrid IP PBXs and IP telephone handsets, adding capabilities to its 200, 400 and 800 series of phone systems.

"These systems nicely round out our offerings," said president and CEO Jan Scheeren. "The (products) give our customers who need a higher number of incoming phone lines a great way to get the lines and extensions they need at our most affordable price ever."

The Carling Avenue firm also unveiled three new models of IP telephone handsets, offering advanced features like line appearance, a solution for workers that split time between office locations.

"They work just like extensions in the office," the company said. "Off-site workers can even join ring groups and have complete access to queues. They are also ideal for workers in the office that want to be able to view and engage callers in the queue and park lists at the touch of a button."

TalkSwitch launched this week new software to complement the hardware releases, including Attendant Console version 1.1, which offers automatic discovery of TalkSwitch systems on the network, a complete view of the call queue and the status of lines and extensions operating within a system.

It also made available free its software version 5.0, which will allow IP extensions to exist inside or outside the office, ensuring that remote and teleworking employees can be completely integrated into the office phone system, the firm said, including advanced capabilities like line appearances, inclusion in office ring groups and the ability to park and unpark calls.

"This release doubles, triples and in some cases, quadruples the capacity of all our systems. For free," Mr. Scheeren emphasized.

"We expect adoption of this software to be very strong," he added. "Customers and channel partners alike will benefit greatly from the enhanced features, flexibility and scalability offered."

The private firm, in business since 1990, is currently at about 60 employees, up from the 40 or so it had following some layoffs about a year ago, said public relations manager Chris Brennan.

He said the new offerings provide more choices to TalkSwitch's resellers.

"Basically, it gives our reseller channels a number of new options and more flexibility when designing their own systems," he said.

TalkSwitch said it will exhibit its new products at the Fall Voice on the Net show in Boston from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.