Sangoma Technologies’ (News - Alert) portfolio of products enables service providers, carriers, enterprises, SMBs and OEMs alike to interconnect all of these devices and leverage their existing infrastructure for maximum financial return, while still delivering the most advanced applications and services from the newest technology available. As the company says on its website, “Delivering IP Telephony functionality and efficiency that you and your customers demand is not just a goal, it’s a must.”

Jeff Dworkin serves as director of marketing for Sangoma, and will be speaking in two sessions at ITEXPO (News - Alert). A recognized pioneer in the Voice Processing and Internet Telephony industries, Dworkin co-founded Interface Alternative in 1992, which implemented some of the first commercial grade IVR systems to include speech recognition, speaker verification and text-to-speech systems, as well as having a successful record of leading product marketing teams. At the show, he’ll speak in “Microsoft (News - Alert) Lync: Why You Need to Develop a Migration Strategy Now” (2:45 p.m. Tuesday) and “SBCs – A Must for Your Enterprise IP Network” (1 p.m. Thursday).

TMC (News - Alert) was able to touch base with Dworkin before he left for Las Vegas, to get his take on the changing technology landscape:

TMC: How will Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) change the service provider landscape?

Jeff Dworkin: It seems like NFV has the potential to create a considerable amount of disruption in the service provider landscape, giving them a level of flexibility that they have not had previously. We see this same kind of flexibility becoming possible for our customers that are deploying our virtualized Session Border Controller (SBC). Combining the benefits of virtualization with the ability to programmatically control devices will allow service providers to deploy and manage complex networks more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

TMC: How will the growing movement toward software impact traditional hardware vendors?

JD: Hardware and software have always been integral and complementary parts of telecommunications and data communications solutions. Sangoma has a long history of providing software and hardware that not only bridges disparate technologies, but also promotes innovation in a marketplace that is always moving forward. This is no more evident than in Sangoma’s SBC solutions that deliver secure connectivity and high capacity transcoding in both hardware-based and VM-based models.

TMC: The emergence of WebRTC has generated a host of new communications vendors looking to change the communications world.  How will these new providers impact the communications market?

JD: WebRTC is a game-changer with respect to how we communicate on many different levels. While we are still in the early days of this new operational paradigm, it is incumbent on the leaders in this industry to embrace the integration of existing systems, networks, and applications with WebRTC. At Sangoma, we look at WebRTC as just one more element in the network architecture. Keeping disparate elements communicating is what Sangoma does. Sangoma is developing a WebRTC solution strategy that will foster innovation, as well as ensure that legacy systems and investments can continue to deliver value for many years to come.

TMC: How have you used video in your business communications?  If so, what is the potential for video as a mainstream business technology?

JD: As a company that does business globally, Sangoma uses a broad spectrum of communications channels, including video conferencing, as it conducts business. The company also uses video content as a crucial element of its marketing and training efforts. Live and archived education sessions are available to partners around the world, providing an efficient means to ensuring that the latest information is broadly available. In addition, Sangoma is unveiling a new video MCU solution at ITEXPO in the FreePBX booth (#112). While voice continues to dominate ad hoc communications in business, the continuing increase in bandwidth availability and video codec technology will certainly make video an even more powerful tool to have available in the business toolbox.

TMC: Can you define the impact of social media strategy on your business?

PD: Sangoma approaches social media as one available avenue for the distribution of information and news. As we become more dependent on our mobile devices, social media is one way to maintain a finger on the pulse of things that can have an impact on both life and business. Sangoma’s integrated marketing approach puts information and access at its customers’ fingertips using their chosen communication method.

TMC: What changes have you had to implement and what challenges have you experienced with respect to BYOD?

PD: As with nearly every enterprise business, BYOD has become a part of the culture. With a global workforce and many mobile employees, it is important to provide support for the most effective tools and services, all while maintaining the security of the corporation. With the recent implementation of Microsoft Lync at Sangoma, the integration of employee-provided mobile devices into the corporate network was an important piece of the puzzle that was easily resolved with the Sangoma SBC that is an integral part of the Lync Express appliance.

TMC: To what degree has cloud computing influenced your business model?

PD: Cloud-based applications such as Microsoft Office365 have certainly streamlined some of our operations. With the implementation of Lync and Office365, Sangoma has seen significant improvements in efficiency and productivity. The growth of cloud computing on a whole will bring with it the need to interconnect and secure more networks with more endpoints using gateways, SBCs, and other devices that deliver seamless and efficient performance. Sangoma has proven its expertise in delivering high-quality, well-engineered and reliable solutions for connecting disparate technologies, networks and clouds, and will continue to innovate and evolve as each business charts its technological course forward.

TMC: What are you looking forward to accomplishing at ITEXPO Las Vegas?  What topics are you anticipating discussing or hearing about?

PD: We have always appreciated the benefits that ITEXPO brings to participants, including a sophisticated audience, leading technology partners, and a variety of industry thought leaders. Sangoma will be contributing experts to the discussions of SBC, Microsoft Lync, Open Source (News - Alert) Innovation, and will be delivering a session highlighting innovative solutions originating in Latin America that are making waves on the world stage. We will also be offering a preview into a new video MCU solution, while also showcasing the Lync Express (named 2013 TMC Labs Innovation Award Winner by INTERNET TELEPHONY Magazine), and Sangoma SBC solutions that have been very well received in enterprise and service provider markets throughout the past year.