Wireline operators wishing to provide fixed mobile convergence (FMC) services immediately, inexpensively and on any network got their wish when CounterPath (News - Alert) Corporation announced its CounterPath Network Convergence Gateway (NCG) Exchange, a new hosted service.
CounterPath Corporation is an award-winning provider of desktop and mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software solutions. Operators can implement these services, which include Voice Call Continuity (VCC), Instant Messaging, presence and SMS, in a matter of weeks and without the need to invest in any infrastructure.
The NCG Exchange will prove useful for telcos, cable operators, hosted VoIP providers, Internet telephony service providers, CLECs and other wireline operators who want a rapid, cost-effective way to expand into the mobile market, including targeting enterprises that have a large and growing number of mobile workers, according to company officials. NCG Exchange helps wireline operators immediately provide their enterprise, SMB and SOHO customers with mobile VoIP and messaging services that are delivered over-the-top (OTT) of mobile networks, regardless of which carrier the customer uses.
“NCG Exchange gives wireline operators a fast, cost-effective way to remain relevant in a communications environment that is moving beyond voice and fixed-location communications," said Todd Carothers, senior vice president of marketing and products for CounterPath, in a statement. “Sprint's recent integration of Google (News - Alert) Voice, including offering unlimited calls to mobile users and a single voicemail box, highlights a new trend in mobile VoIP.”
“CounterPath's NCG Exchange provides mobile, cable telephony and wireline operators with powerful new options for capitalizing on that trend while going beyond rudimentary find-me/follow-me services, such as Google Voice, to provide a suite of enterprise-grade single-number services,” he added. “NCG Exchange puts operators in complete control of services creation so they can maximize revenue opportunities, protect their margins and fend off Skype, Rebtel (News - Alert) and other companies that are encroaching on their markets."
Some highlights of the new offering include: new revenue sources as wireline operators now can offer SMS-to-VoIP and VoIP-to-SMS messaging services to their customers; expedited service launch since NCG Exchange is fast and easy for operators to implement; and CapEx-free implementation as NCG Exchange requires no additional network infrastructure and no new customer devices because its OTT design leverages existing investments.
NCG Exchange, which is hosted and provisioned by CounterPath, works with any mobile handset - including smartphones and feature phones.
In related industry news, leading provider of voice management and network monitoring solutions Tone Software (News - Alert) Corporation announced the immediate availability of its ReliaTel Management Solution 3.1 release featuring full support for virtualized environments. ReliaTel now supports virtualized deployment of the ReliaTel application to monitor and analyze VoIP quality, manage network performance, and ensure communications service levels throughout converged environments – regardless of their technology mix, according to company officials.
Carrie Schmelkin is a Web Editor for TMCnet. Previously, she worked as Assistant Editor at the New Canaan Advertiser, a 102-year-old weekly newspaper, covering news and enhancing the publication's social media initiatives. Carrie holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in English from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by Rich Steeves