VoIP company.

Nissim Zur founded ZMM Technologies in 1995 to develop single-chip solutions for converging telephony, Internet and PCs through USB connectivity. The company’s mission is “to establish its solutions as the technology of choice for next-generation telephony devices and applications that combine the capabilities of the PC, Internet and telephone.” ZMM has received funding from individuals and institutional investors including Godfery Marketing and the ZUR family. ZMM is currently valued at $50 million and is seeking an additional $7 million. The company has 10 employees.

ZMM’s single-chip solution equips telephony devices with computer-intelligent, Web-powered communication providing high-quality VoIP. The company’s technology is based on the patent-pending ZMM Multipoint Chip Architecture (ZMCA). The chip integrates CODECs, DSP, and a USB interface. The architecture incorporates 2 processors: a general-purpose processor to facilitate USB protocol and housekeeping tasks and DSP to handle the telecom protocols and audio processing.

The USB audio DSP series is a family of chips, based on a common platform, that feature different configurations of non-blocking communications paths. They contain embedded firmware designed for a range of applications. The chips are suited to telephones, monitors, headsets and other applications that require remote DSP audio processing over USB. The chip achieves “toll-quality” VoIP communications through patent-pending DSP-controlled, adaptive echo-cancellation and low IP latency algorithms.

ZMM has developed 5 chip-embedded products for specific market applications, but can customize its chips to suit other potential applications. The reference designs feature convergence of Internet, telephony and PC; high-quality VoIP; ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. All chip-embedded products support voicemail, call recording, voice command dialing, screen dialing, and telephony integration with existing software including MS Outlook, NetMeeting and Messenger. The 5 solutions are PCNetPhone, ChatSet, ChatPhone, PC Phone Converger, and VoIP-Enabled STB.

PCNet Phone is a chip-embedded corded or cordless telephone that converges PSTN Telephony, VoIP and the PC to transform the PC into a Smart PSTN and VoIP Telephony System. Features include call recording on a PC, simultaneous “Talk & Surf,” voice-controlled PC, and more. It supports “Plug-and-Play” connectivity with Windows 98/2000/ME and does not require any additional software or a sound card. The company’s DSP and ZMCA technology enable simultaneous Web browsing and superior quality VoIP, LAN, or regular PSTN calling. PCNet Phone connects to a standard telephone wall jack and plugs into a PC’s USB port. ZMM also offers the PCNet Phone Switchable chip, which can function as either a regular PSTN phone or a VoIP phone, but not both simultaneously.

ChatSet is an Internet headset enabling PC users to place and receive VoIP calls. ChatPhone is a telephone receiver enabling PC users to place and receive VoIP calls. PC Phone Converger is a modular device that transforms any traditional corded or cordless telephone into a communication system enabling convergence of PSTN telephony, VoIP and the PC. VoIP-Enabled Set-Top-Box is a household communications center enabling an i-TV, PSTN telephony and VoIP convergence device.

ZMM’s chips are fabricated at a Taiwanese foundery and Philips. Since introducing its technology in 1999, the company has sold its solutions to leading companies worldwide. Customers include Siemans, Hitachi, and Fumes among others. Competitors include TigerJet among others. According to ZMM, its competitive advantages are USB DSP processing, unique algorithms and competitive pricing.

Nissim Zur, CEO & CTO (previously R&D Manager at Elisra)

Yitzhak Avissar, VP of Business Development & Marketing (previously managed the business development and marketing divisions at Medic Media Israel and Eurocom Systems SA. He also served as a Team Commander in the Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron of the I.D.F.’s Telecom Division.)

Yehuda Rothstein, VP of European Sales (previously National Sales and Marketing Manager for Penn Electric Supply Group and CAPP)