February 1999

This month's Editors' Choices:

• 8x8, Inc.'s Audacity ITP
• Arbinet Communications' Arbinet Global Clearing Network (AGCN)
• NetPhone, Inc.'s NetPhone Intranet Private Branch Exchange (IPBX)

Audacity ITP
8x8, Inc.
2445 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Web site: www.8x8.com

Expanding on their line of multimedia communication systems, 8x8 has announced the Audacity Internet Telephony Processor (ITP), capable of handling up to eight IP phone calls on a single chip. The Audacity uses Internet telephony support for H.323 and the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), along with audio compression, to support multiple IP calls on one integrated circuit. The chip is designed for use in phone terminals as well as gateways operating over LANs, xDSL networks, and residential cable modem networks.

The Audacity uses dynamic bandwidth management technology to handle network congestion, in order to maintain a high quality of service. An embedded graphics engine allows screen phone OEMs to include graphic user interfaces (GUI) and HTML browsers in their products. And protocol support provides opportunities to service providers and cable operators for unified messaging, online directory services, and enhanced caller ID. The chip is part of the BCM93300-IP Broadband Multimedia Services reference design from Broadcom Corporation. It is the first cable industry reference design to integrate Internet telephony functions with a cable modem on a single system.

The Audacity's dual-programmable architecture combines a RISC microprocessor - which generally executes network communication protocols, call management functions, and user interface applications - with a single instruction, multiple data digital signal processing (DSP) engine. The DSP generally performs complex mathematical computations for processing audio data, DTMF tone generation and detection, and full-duplex echo cancellation. And dual-architecture eliminates the need for an external microcontroller, which is usually required for conventional DSP solutions.

The Audacity is available with a graphics engine for screen phones for $40, and without graphics for audio-only phones and gateways for $35, both in 10,000-unit volumes. The two versions are available in a 208-pin plastic quad flat package or a 225-pad ball grid array. For more information, contact 8x8 at 888-VIEW-8X8, or visit the company's Web site at www.8x8.com.

Arbinet Global Clearing Network (AGCN)
Arbinet Communications
226 East 54th St.
New York, NY 10022
Web site: www.arbinet.com

Arbinet's AGCN gives carriers a platform for conducting real-time routing and traffic negotiations for managing excess bandwidth. As a "real-time trading floor," the AGCN can post bids and offers for routes, and will execute call placement and least cost routing. The platform will also authorize, authenticate, and perform quality control for calls, while managing billing and settlement. The trading floor is connected to Arbinet's Web site, and members of the network are carriers, cross-connected to the AGCN switch.

The AGCN is a universal switch, able to translate between almost all data and telephony standards as well as switch calls to SS7, ISDN, and C7 protocols. It will run through a central Intelligent Network telephone switch, connected to hundreds of providers. The AGCN will direct traffic on a call-by-call basis over the network, based on parameters set by the traders connected to the switch. These factors can include price, time of day, port and minute capacity, PDD, ASR, credit available, spot or contract, and latency, in the case of IP.

The network is expected to lower termination costs and increase carriers' network utilization. Pricing is expected to be extremely competitive, since all bids and offers will be readily displayed to all participants. Carriers will also be able to originate minutes to optimize their margins on each call, and sellers will be able to manage capacity in real time.

Other benefits of the AGCN include minimal paperwork, since a single contract with the exchange manages the connection to hundreds of providers. Network complexity is reduced because of direct routing to a single interconnection, and human labor requirements are also reduced, providing additional cost savings. The network also provides routing among IP and PSTN networks, increasing options and grades of service available for each destination.

For additional information on the AGCN, contact Arbinet at 212-230-1200, or visit their Web site at www.arbinet.com.

NetPhone Intranet Private Branch Exchange (IPBX)
NetPhone, Inc.
313 Boston Post Rd. West
Marlborough, MA 01751
Web site: www.netphone.com

NetPhone's IPBX is a Windows NT-based solution to route voice and data traffic over an IP network using existing telephone systems, including PBXs. The IPBX works with the NetPhone Connect gateway to provide telephony programs on the IP network like PC-based telephone control, caller identification, visual voice mail, and faxing applications.

The gateway uses T1/E1 digital trunks, or four-wire analog E&M interfaces to integrate with a PBX. The PBX routes calls from within the office to the gateway, which then converts the voice signals into a stream of packets to be carried over the intranet. A user dials the extension of an employee within the company to reach that person over the IP network, regardless of location within the network.

The system features a digital signal processor-based architecture to ensure calls are processed without interrupting the network. The gateway can support up to 24 simultaneous calls, and the system is scalable for adding more gateways and IPBXs as needed. The product meets H.323 standards, and supports TAPI/TSAPI and VoIP IA 1.0 protocols as well as Group 3 fax relay standards. It also has provisions for routing calls over the PSTN should the network fail. The gateway features standards-based dual-tone multifrequency touchtone detection and generation, G.165-based echo cancellation for high voice quality, and SNMP-based remote management capabilities.

The IPBX also comes in handy for remote offices that do not have PBXs in place, by providing a voice and data connection to a corporate data center, where the gateway routes traffic from branch offices to other offices. It features automatic call distribution, call control, security, accounting, and least-cost routing. For more information, contact NetPhone at 508-787-1000, or visit their Web site at www.netphone.com.