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Partitioning is a good thing. This is no less true for VoIP switching technology.

The act of partitioning a VoIP softswitch is dividing the capacity of the given switch into several discrete virtual switches. So instead of having one VoIP softswitch for connecting calls, partitioning allows the switch to be used as if it were several separate VoIP softswitches.

The reason that providers and resellers would want to partition their softswitch is so they can maximize capacity and let several clients use the same switch. At the same time, partitioning the switch delivers the security that clients need.

One particularly advanced softswitch that allows for partitioning is REVE System’s iTel Switch Plus. The iTel Switch Plus not only can be partitioned, it also offers reseller partitioning. This allows softswitch administrators to create a new customized billing interface for each reseller.

A partitioned softswitch is only as good as its underlying technology, and in this, the iTel Switch Plus also excels.

It offers advanced routing options such as priority based routing, lossless routing, time base routing, percentage base routing, quality base routing, and many other routing options such as error code base routing and translation base routing.

The iTel Switch Plus, which is a hosted softswitch that can be rolled out instantly, also is particularly good for reseller situations—which is where partitioning is particularly valuable. Generally softswitches allow two or maybe three levels of reseller creation, but the iTel Switch Plus allows for an unlimited number of reseller levels. Further, users can restrict any level if they want.

There also is a commission base reseller module for the softswitch that allows service providers to appoint commission based agents under them. These agents can create new PINs on behalf of the administrators and recharge them too.

These commission based resellers are allowed to add their rate plan - so they work only on a certain percentage or commission. This functionality allows sub-agents as well.

The advantage of a softswitch partition is that it separates a single softswitch into multiple virtual softswitches, both allowing individual administration and security. This is particularly advantageous for resellers, so resellers in the VoIP space should add this feature to the list of requirements they have when selecting their softswitch vendor.