January 28, 1999

Hypercom Raises Billing Accuracy In Internet Telephony, Integrates New Features Into Gateway

In its continuing effort to supply IP telephony carriers with a carrier-class packetized voice solution, Hypercom Network Systems has added call supervision capabilities to its IP.tel 6000 IP Telephony Gateway. With the new IP.tel Call Supervision software suite, Hypercom gateways reduce billing mistakes that have plagued IP telephony and aggravated users, such as the inability to recognize incomplete calls. Within each node on the network, IP.tel accurately detects when calls are answered and dropped, so that customers are only billed for calls that are completed and not calls to busy numbers or that go unanswered.

"Nothing produces customer churn faster than billing mistakes in the carrier's favor. Carrier-class billing is essential if IP telephony is to be perceived as a real alternative to traditional voice networks," says Scott Irons, President and CEO, International Telecommunications, Inc. "Having Call Supervision in the IP telephony gateway is a huge plus. It reduces the risk of customer dissatisfaction without our having to over-invest in switching functionality."

A major cause of the problem to date has been analog circuit equipment that does not detect voice or adequately manage call completion. Hypercom Network Systems President Paul Wallner says that, as a true carrier-class platform, IP.tel solves problems unique to IP telephony without requiring customers to invest in separate devices.

Hypercom's IP.tel Call Supervision Suite performs two essential call supervision functions: Answer Supervision detects when a call is actually answered. With many IP telephony networks today, a call is considered to be complete as soon as the remote VoIP gateway tries to access the remote PSTN connection. If the call makes it through to the other end, the gateway assumes that it is answered. Often, the line is still ringing or busy and billing continues as the phone rings unanswered. Answer Supervision is especially critical in international networks where, in most cases analog services are the only viable alternative.

With IP.tel Answer Supervision, the Hypercom gateway now listens and can distinguish when someone actually picks up a call by using positive voice detection or ring detection. The enhanced digital signal processor (DSP) technology used by the IP.tel gateway detects voice energy, indicating that the end-user has begun speaking. With Ring Detection enabled, the gateway listens at the appropriate frequency for ring tone and detects when it disappears. At that point, the call is connected and billing starts.

On the other side of the coin, billing problems can also arise when it is not clear that one or both parties have hung up. With cellular phones and some analog systems, clear signals may not be generated when someone hangs up. In IP telephony systems today, billing might continue until the Central Office disconnects the call, generally after a fixed period of time. This means that the end user is billed for time that was not used. In addition, the carrier's circuit is tied up needlessly while no call takes place.

IP.tel now detects when calls are dropped through dial tone, busy signal, reorder tone, a loop disconnect or voice inactivity.

"This is helping to recreate a comprehensive solution in the IP world," says Steve Baechle, Vice President, Business Development at Hypercom. "Financially, carriers need to evolve away from over-dependence on the central switch. Calls can take place today between remote gateways in different countries. To bring calls back to the central site for administrative purposes only runs up overhead costs and delays processing. Because the switches are isolated from the remote circuit, they can't supervise with 100% accuracy."

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