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September 16, 2008
FaxBack Launches Certification Program at ITEXPO, Promotes Reliable VoIP FaxBy Mae Kowalke, TMCnet Senior Editor Companies that develop solutions based on new technologies face not only the challenge of making a name for themselves but also of convincing customers that the technology itself is worth trying out.
As technologies develop, standards begin to emerge. And, with standards come a new way for solution developers to differentiate themselves: certification. A company might seek and achieve certification from another company or organization that’s recognized as an authority. Or, the company might decide to launch its own certification program.
The latter approach is now being taken by FaxBack, which on Tuesday at INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO in Los Angeles launched its FaxBack (News - Alert) Carrier Certification Program, geared (as the name suggests) to communications service providers. More specifically, the program takes aim at VoIP fax solutions, the goal being to accelerate development of more reliable IP-based fax products and services.
FaxBack is applying a team of engineers to the problem of VoIP fax reliability. Each carrier who applies for certification will be put through a rigorous series of test plans that include every fax protocol, every possible network route, and a wide range of load tolerances.
The company said its certification program uncovers “every conceivable hole in a VoIP fax solution,” and also suggests ways that carriers can resolve issues.
Mike Oliszewski, co-founder and chief technology officer for FaxBack, said that during initial certification trials 99 percent of participating carriers failed some portion of the testing.
“We're dedicated to working with every one of them to provide alternatives that enhance the interoperability and reliability of their VoIP-fax solutions,” Oliszewski added.
In other words, FaxBack isn’t simply kicking carriers who don’t make the initial cut out the door; it is offering support and guidance to help carriers improve their VoIP fax solutions. This makes sense since the broad purpose of the certification program is to promote reliability in the VoIP fax market. Ultimately that result is good for carriers, good for customers, and good for FaxBack.
“For small and mid-tier carriers, who lease their networks and route IP-traffic through different downstream providers, FaxBack provides extensive network testing to certify every network route — which in many cases, exceeds the level of testing that these carriers would do on their own," Oliszewski said.
He added that, for larger carriers, FaxBack offers a DS3-based high-density test bed capable of handling hundreds of fax ports simultaneously. This means that, no matter how big or small the carrier is, FaxBack can help in the development of reliable VoIP fax services.
FaxBack’s flagship NET SatisFAXtion VoIP fax server product family enables companies to easily add fax capabilities in IP environments. Its customers have a variety of reasons for using FaxBack servers, ranging from a desire to completely eliminate fax machine, to improving workflows, to integrating fax with core business apps like e-mail.
FaxBack VoIP Fax Solutions is a Gold sponsor of ITEXPO — the biggest and most comprehensive IP communications event of the year.ITEXPO (News - Alert) takes place this week (Sept. 16-18) in Los Angeles, California. Visit FaxBack at booth #533 in the exhibit hall.
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Mae Kowalke is senior editor for TMCnet, covering VoIP, CRM, call center and wireless technologies. To read more of Mae's articles, please visit her columnist page. She also blogs for TMCnet here. Edited by Mae Kowalke |