Aculab, a provider of enabling technology for the global communications market, has announced the release of two new variants of its ApplianX Gateway (News - Alert) for Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007.

This release is an example of the company’s efforts to better meet the needs of a range of enterprises and service providers. By identifying the challenges that these customers face, Aculab (News - Alert) was able to make adjustments to its proven ApplianX Gateway solution to extend its reach into additional markets.

 

Customers seeking to deploy an OCS 2007 solution can select a hybrid gateway that will support from one E1/T1 trunks up to eight E1/T1 trunks in a standard 1U server. The ApplianX is the only application that can offer such a broad range of hybrid gateways.

 

The ApplianX Gateway for OCS 2007 is classed as ‘hybrid’ gateway as it has been designed to run the Mediation Server function of OCS 2007. This function comes pre-installed within the ApplianX Gateway. 

 

A certified hybrid, the ApplianX Gateway has completed an extremely rigorous testing process to ensure optimum performance is gained from the combined gateway and Mediation Server. 

The ApplianX Gateway works in partnership with Microsoft (News - Alert) and is tailored to work specifically with OCS 2007 to ensure ease of use. It is designed to perform SIP-to-TDM conversion as well as to incorporate the Mediation Server in a single ApplianX Gateway device. These capabilities enable the solution to significantly lower the total cost of ownership as fewer components are required, as well as fewer points of failure.

 

Security headaches are also reduced as media isn’t passed externally over the network from the gateway to the Mediation Server. Performance under load has been fully tested to ensure that customers can handle as many as 240 simultaneous calls with a single ApplianX unit. Voice quality is also assured as audio is not being forced through the network. 

The launch of these two new variants comes on the heels of the announcement that Aculab has achieved Gold Partner Certification in the Microsoft Partner program.

Attainment of the OEM hardware solution competency was a key contributory factor and demonstrates the company’s commitment in developing a plug & play device tailored for use with OCS 2007.

 

“We have dedicated a great deal of engineering resource to Microsoft Unified Communications, with a view to creating a simple to use but very powerful gateway.  We are pleased that a greater number of customers can benefit from using a hybrid gateway whether it is in a 30 or 240 channel deployment.” said Faye McClenahan, Head of Strategic Marketing for Aculab, in a Friday statement.

 

“The ApplianX Gateway for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 is a ‘single purpose device’ specifically designed and targeted at the Office Communications Server platform and as a hybrid gateway can significantly reduce the cost of deploying the system.”

The ApplianX Gateway supports a broad set of global telephony protocols including PRI/ISDN types; T1 robbed-bit; E1 CAS; R1; R2; AT&T and NI2. Comprehensive support for many PBX (News - Alert) inter-working protocols including DPNSS and Q.SIG helps to protect legacy PBX investment and ensures full advantage can be gained from OCS 2007.

 

ApplianX Gateway is available with one, two, four or eight E1/T1 trunks. Replication of critical components ensures high availability such as dual redundant Ethernet connections and power supplies, which come as standard.

Aculab has proven the effectiveness of the ApplianX Gateway in a variety of implementations. It is the success of the solution that has spurred the identification of the need to make adjustments that allow for further expansions into markets where the original design was just missing the mark. Considering the success of the solution, these variations will only drive further adoption.

 

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