March 1999
This month's Editors' Choices:
AltiWare IP
AltiGen Communications, Inc.
45635 Northport Loop East
Fremont, CA 94538
Web site: www.altigen.com
AltiGen offers this internal Voice over IP (VoIP) gateway, which may be fully
integrated with the AltiServ telecommunications platform. The AltiWare IP software,
combined with the company's Triton Digital Signal Processor (DSP), form a PBX and Internet
telephony gateway solution with integrated administration and other capabilities including
voice mail, auto attendant, basic ACD, an e-mail server, one-number access, Internet
integration, and caller ID.
In addition to acting as a VoIP gateway, AltiWare IP offers VoIP phone calls, tie line
trunks over IP for networking multiple AltiServ systems, phone-to-phone calls over IP,
PC-to-phone calls, and an affordable entry point at 2 IP port/session licensing. The
software also supports the NetMeeting phone client, and enables toll bypass calls through
AltiServ's telephony network. Other features include support of user selectable toll
quality, seamless dialing sequences, the H.323v2 protocol, and voice compression through a
variety of codecs. AltiWare IP also features jitter removal and echo cancellation for
optimum voice quality, and supports out-of-band DTMF digit transfer.
Administrative features include an intuitive GUI, remote accessibility through the
AltiAdmin Remote Administration, and real-time IP call statistics for monitoring the
performance and quality of service for active sessions on each IP trunk. IP trunks may be
easily upgraded from two to four on the first DSP board by entering an activation code.
Users must have an AltiWare OE (Open Edition) R2.1 and an AltiGen Quantum Telephony
Board to run the software. A Triton DSP Board with the appropriate IP port/session license
is also required, as well as an IBM/PC AT compatible system with an adequate number of
full-size ISA and PCI slots, a 200 MHz Pentium or faster processor, a 2 GB IDE/SCSI hard
drive, and Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 3 or higher, or Microsoft Small
Business Server. For more information, contact AltiGen at 510-252-9712, or visit the
company's Web site at www.altigen.com.
NBX 100 Communications System
NBX Corporation
100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA 01810
Web site: www.nbxcorp.com
NBX Corporation's flagship product offers the convenience and affordability of network
telephony without the high maintenance associated with many complex edge devices. The NBX
100 Communications System consists of a control unit device with an NBX Ethernet backplane
for PSTN connectivity, a network call processor card, and four-port WAN interface cards.
The unit can connect to as many as 148 NBX phones in a LAN or WAN, with support for up to
48 IP lines. Ports can be easily scaled through software.
Because the NBX 100 uses a shared 10Base-T Ethernet environment, only one cabling
structure is needed for both voice and data. It is also compatible with switched Ethernet
and 100Base-T networks, and NBX Ethernet hub modules may be added if a LAN needs to be
created. The NBX 100 will integrate with any network operating system, and supports
telephone software applications written for existing telephony APIs.
NBX multiline phones compress voice to digital packets via the G.711 codec for minimal
packet loss, and 50 ms latency. The phones are intelligent 802.3 devices for compatibility
with most types of switch and hub ports, and connect to a user's PC and a standard LAN
connection. Features include a built-in speakerphone with a hands-free answering service,
multiline display, caller ID, one-button access to integrated messaging, and conference,
transfer, redial, and hold buttons. Users can also take advantage of programmable keys for
customizing their desktops.
The control unit device offers many CTI applications through the network call
processor. Features include caller ID, display of customer database information, fast call
setup and answering, and a standard software implementation of TAPI. Other features
include point and click outbound dialing, auto attendant, call forwarding and
conferencing, and compatibility with CTI-enabled applications like Microsoft Outlook and
most PIMs. For additional information on the NBX 100 Communications System, contact NBX at
978-749-0000, or visit their Web site at www.nbxcorp.com.
Golden Gateway
Telogy Networks, Inc.
20250 Century Boulevard
Germantown, MD 20874
Web site: www.telogy.com
Telogy offers an embedded software solution for real-time fax and data transmission
over IP, frame relay, and ATM. The Golden Gateway is embedded in users' routers, switches,
PBXs, or access devices for integration with Digital Signal Processor (DSP) software and
microprocessor functions. The software can be installed on access/gateway devices for
mid-sized VoIP gateways, and on carrier class/infrastructure devices such as remote access
servers, central office switches, and LAN-based PBXs for large telecommunications
solutions. The Golden Gateway may also be used with client products like cable and xDSL
modems.
The software consists of four basic modules. The voice packet module is executed on a
DSP for preparing analog or PCM voice for packet transmission. It performs echo
cancellation, voice compression, tone detection and generation, voice activity detection,
resampling, jitter removal, and voice packetization. A telephony signaling module
interacts with telephony equipment, and translates signaling into changes used to set up
connections. The module supports Loop or Ground Start FXS, FXO, and E&M (wink, delay,
and immediate). The packet protocol module processes the signaling information and
converts it to the packet signaling protocol for setting up network connections. It adds
packet headers for voice and signaling before they are released into the network. The
network management module offers a voice management interface for configuration and
maintenance of the other modules within the Golden Gateway suite of products. Information
is defined as ASN.1 and complies with SNMP V1 syntax.
The Golden Gateway features voice processing through codecs, echo cancellation, and
silence suppression, and offers multichannel/multifunction capability. Other features
include tone detection and processing, real-time fax detection and processing, telephony
signaling, and telephony MIBs. DSP and microprocessor software is included. For more
information on the Golden Gateway, contact Telogy at 301-515-8580 or visit their Web site
at www.telogy.com. |