Whaleback Systems announced its third lighthouse-monikered version of its hosted VoIP service. The company’s Diamond Shoals release includes new functionality aimed at small to medium-sized businesses (SMB).

The VoIP options for an SMB are to get service directly from a provider, buy a PBX platform, or contract with a host. Whaleback disparages most VoIP providers for questionable call quality and service, and notes the second option is expensive.

Whaleback provides a hosted service in which it purchases a dedicated data line (cable modem, DSL, T1, or a combination of broadband links), and manages VoIP quality from its own NOC in New Hampshire. If communications are cut, the system fails over to a secondary line – a cell phone or some other alternative.

The company’s new pricing plan starts with a minimum monthly charge of $400. Pricing per seat can vary, and there’s some flexibility in the plans. For example, Whaleback pricing packages can factor in lower-priced common lines (a line in a conference room, for instance), fax lines, “courtesy” lines for customer use, etc.

Current customers will be automatically upgraded to the new level of service. The service is available through resellers and VARs in several markets, largely along the East Coast. The company said it is planning an expansion into Chicago and Dallas.

The Diamond Shoals release introduces the OrcaVision Voice Quality Management System, which provides visibility into the customer's call path as their voice traffic crosses multiple IP networks, allowing the service to be managed.

Diamond Shoals also builds on Whaleback's recently-announced Redundant Array of Inexpensive Links (RAIL) capabilities that allow multiple broadband links to be combined to form a single high-availability network connection.