April 2000

In December 1999, Tekelec announced that the TALI (transport adapter layer interface) protocols source code implementation for open-system platforms would be available as a free download from its Web site as part of Tekelecs ongoing effort to promote an open network convergence solution featuring open interfaces. TALI facilitates migration from traditional circuit-switched and wireless networks to next-generation packet networks, including IP telephony networks, by enabling signaling between voice and packet networks. It is the middleware protocol that allows operators to support call setup and teardown, access full-featured service platforms, and perform diagnostics and monitoring in SS7 or IP networks.

The protocol defines an interface between a Signaling Gateway (SG) and any IP-enabled Signaling End Points (IP-SEP) such as Service Control Points (SCP) or Media Gateway Controllers (MGCs). Since the gateway is the central point of signaling information for the IP telephony network, it not only provides transportation of signaling from one network to another, but can also provide additional functions such as protocol translation, security screening, routing information, and seamless access to Intelligent Network (IN) services on both networks. Specifically, TALI defines a method to communicate TCAP, SCCP, ISUP, and MTP messaging over a TCP/IP network. In addition, TALI provides SCCP Management (SCMG), MTP Primitives, dynamic registration of circuits, and routing of call control messages based on circuit location.

TALI is currently running live in the networks of US West Wireless and Level 3. For more information, visit the companys Web site at www.tekelec.com.

The International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium, Inc. (IMTC) recently announced the approval of two IMTC iNOW! Activity Group profiles the IMTC iNOW! Interdomain Profile and the IMTC iNOW! Terminal Profile for voice and fax-over-IP services.

These profiles provide a standards-based framework for implementation of interoperable IP telephony equipment and services. By implementing their VoIP platforms and networks in accordance with these profiles, vendors and service providers will immediately gain commercially viable interoperability with other IMTC iNOW!-compliant platforms and networks.

The IMTC iNOW! Interdomain Profile is based on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)s H.225 Annex G, H.323, and T.38 standards, and addresses gateway-to-gateway and gatekeeper-to-gatekeeper interoperability for both phone and fax services.

The IMTC iNOW! Terminal Profile is built on the success of the IMTC iNOW! Interdomain Profile to provide vendors with the blueprint for achieving real world, revenue-generating interoperability between IP terminals and phones. The profile specifies a discrete set of core functionality based on IP telephony standards such as the ITUs H.323 standard. Based on the ITUs H.323 Annex F, H.323 Annex J, H.323 version 3, and H.225.0, the iNOW! Terminal Profile addresses terminal-to-gatekeeper and terminal-to-gateway interoperability for both phone-to-terminal and terminal-to-phone services. For more information, visit the IMTC Web site at www.imtc.org.

Each month in this space, Internet Telephony magazine will explore news from the world of standards and interoperability. This months overview takes a quick look at some of the news regarding iNOW! and TALI. If you have any standards-based news youd like to submit, or if youd like to see expanded coverage of a specific standard in this feature, please send e-mail to ggalitzine@tmcnet.com.