What does SIP mean for Aculab?
Aculab (news - alert) has always had a strong focus and expertise on communications protocols. Indeed, that has been a key part of its strength over the years. Now, when nextgeneration networks are a reality (perhaps we should call them ‘current generation’) and communications means far more than simple voice calls, we have a definite focus on SIP. Aculab offers SIP, under its standard cost free licence model, for use with the award winning Prosody X media processing resource card. GroomerII makes full use of SIP in its guise as a media gateway and SIP developments are ongoing, particularly in the areas of security and interoperability.
Please describe some of your more recent development efforts, with regard to SIP.
SIP is a fundamental component of Aculab’s enabling technology solutions portfolio for developers and systems integrators. SIP Bridge developed the concept of separating media processing from session handling to present developers with many advantages. Having revolutionized telephony board design with Prosody X, we also got rid of the 1:1 allocation of media resources for each call (session) inherent in previous architectures. Now, there can be far more efficient allocation of those resources, which gives customers a great deal, in terms of cost effectiveness. Third-party call control (IETF RFC 3725) is also possible, with Aculab’s integrated SIP stack being used effectively as a back-to-back user agent. The Aculab SIP Bridge becomes a powerful and cost-effective way to build complex IP contact center and IP PBX type products with rich media and call control features that were simply not possible with TDM trunks and protocols.
Capabilities introduced include: offer-answer model (IETF RFC 3264); fine control of SDP content; MRCPv2; API presentation of raw SDP; mid-call signalling (e.g., INFO, NOTIFY); blind transfer; custom headers and message bodies (e.g., ISUP, MIME) in setup and mid-call request; symmetric SIP; and synchronous RTP. Furthermore, current projects are underway to include SIP security, NAT traversal and resilience features.
What are some of the challenges facing the SIP community and, conversely what are some of the brighter opportunities (security, interoperability, call/voice quality...)?
I would suggest there isn’t much of an argument against SIP becoming the de facto protocol for setting up and controlling voice and multimedia services across nextgeneration IP links. However, in that scenario, I’d guess the main challenge is living up to the promise of SIP — attaining the Promised Land of SIP, if you like. That is the concept of SIP as a single protocol for all communications between any and all classes and types of device. In other words, SIP becomes a single ubiquitous protocol for the entire network.
Part of the challenge is that the PSTN is still in existence. Despite the exponential rise in downloads of Skype and other clients, increases in users of services from the likes of Vonage, and new networks, such as Global Crossing and Level 3, the balance of teledensity is still tipped in favor of the PSTN. The number of users of next-generation communications will continue to proliferate, but even those of us making use of new ways to communicate still need to communicate via the PSTN. So, gateways and interoperability are a key part of the solution.
If SIP is going to replace the plethora of national protocols that exist, it’s going to need all of the functionality of its predecessors. Everyone will expect SIP to do the job, the role, the task, that the legacy protocol did for them. This is part of the necessary evolution of SIP. However, even today, there are lots of PBX-type features that are available in a SIP environment.
Opportunely, SIP extends far beyond telephony, as voice is simply one of many applications. SIP enables a rich portfolio of communications services, such as presence, which provides for vastly increased efficiency, enhanced productivity, and time savings. It’s been said before, but presence may well be the dial tone of the 21st Century.
Security is important, as are interoperability and the ability to work through firewalls and NAT scenarios. There are a number of extensions, such as STUN, TURN, and my personal favorite, ICE, which is really cool!
In your opinion, what does the future hold for the SIP standard?
Undoubtedly, the flexibility and extensibility of SIP is one of its main assets and there is so much that is possible with SIP. It is an enabler for new ways of communicating and we’ve only just scratched the surface. There are some competitors for SIP, of course, notably, H.323, which is still hanging in there, although I think advocates like Avaya and Cisco may be seeing the light, and the likes of Skype and IAX2. The difficulty with Skype is that it is proprietary and it does not look like it will be adopted for mass use at the telco level. Looking forward, there is a lot of force behind SIP and, in the UK, BT has announced that its 21st Century Network will run on SIP — using gateways to connect to legacy systems at the edge of the network, where needed. With an institution of this scale laying a SIP card on the table, we must surely accept that SIP looks like it is here for the long haul.
The Third Annual VoIP Developer Conference: The Race Is On
By Erik Linask
VoIP (define - news - alert) is changing the way the world communicates and the world is taking note. If 2004 was the year that VoIP gained recognition as a viable alternative to circuit-switched telephony; and if 2005 was the year when deployments — by both consumers and businesses — experienced marked growth; then 2006 is the year when new applications will drive fence-sitting enterprises to choose VoIP over traditional telecom.
If you have any intention of seizing what is, undoubtedly, the most promising telecom opportunity of the past several decades, then the VoIP Developer Conference in Santa Clara, August 8-10, should be on your calendar
The growth and progression of VoIP and IP communications markets over the past 24 months is creating a remarkable opportunity for companies and individuals designing and building applications for broadband telephony networks, both wireline and wireless. As deployments increase, service providers are in a race to offer the most attractive services. In order to do so, they must cultivate relationships with developers who can help them add the most compelling services to their networks.
The Third Annual VoIP Developer Conference is the only chance this year to learn, in a focused environment, how to become on of the first to quickly develop an entire spectrum of new VoIP applications and products that are in high demand: video over IP, SIP, cable telephony, wireless/WiFi telephony, software development, and hardware/device development, and more.
At the Conference, you will have the chance to learn how best to leverage the development tools available today. You will become educated about today’s hottest topics, including VoIP software development, VoIP hardware development, VoIP security, wireless VoIP development, IMS development, SIP development, chip-level VoIP development, host media processing, and much more. And, you will have the opportunity to see live, hands-on demonstrations of products from industry leaders.
Education
As always, VoIP Developer Conference boasts a full schedule of informative conference sessions. New to this year’s Conference curriculum are tracks focusing on Security and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) Development. The agenda also includes four of the most popular educational tracks from past events — Hardware, Software, SIP Development, and a special track on Wireless applications — each featuring new and expanded content.
As with all TMC events, presenters in sessions are strictly forbidden from delivering company pitches or ‘industry perspectives.’ This ensures you get an unbiased education about emerging trends and markets, like IMS, SIP, open source, new consumer electronics applications and devices, and other technologies creating huge development opportunities. What you will not get is a vendor-focused sales pitch. Instead, you will get the maximum amount of information to help your company forge ahead.
“The strength of this event is, and always will be, the in-depth, cutting edge educational content,” said Rich Tehrani, TMC President and chairman of VoIP Developer Conference. “Our team of editors spent months assembling the most relevant curriculum that will be taught by the highest caliber faculty. I honestly believe VoIP Developer’s educational content is the best available and is the strength of this one of a kind event.”
Indeed, each session topic and presenter is hand selected by TMC, from literally hundreds of submissions. Only the most relevant sessions presented by speakers that are certain to deliver critical information in an intelligible manner make it on to the program.
Keynotes
Attendees also will be treated to keynote addresses delivered by industry veterans from companies that are firmly entrenched in the VoIP industry. These speakers each have extensive experience in the industry and are uniquely qualified to impart their thoughts to VoIP Developer Conference attendees on why this opportunity is far greater than any in the telecom industry’s century-long history.
This year’s featured keynoters include:
- Ben Rabinowitz — Vice President of Marketing and Sales, AudioCodes
- Fred Zimmerman — Executive Director, Customer Premises Solutions Packet Voice and Video Business Unit, Texas Instruments
- Lawrence Byrd — Director of IP Telephony and Mobility Solutions, Avaya
- David Mandelstam — President/CEO, Sangoma Technologies
- Michael Stanford — Director of VoIP Strategy, Digital Enterprise Group, Intel
- Kevin P. Fleming — Senior Software Engineer, Digium
Vendors
In addition to the terrific educational sessions, the program for VoIP Developer Conference includes opportunities to see, test, compare, and select today’s most exciting IP Communications building blocks. You’ll be able to see these components in action, and get answers to your questions about them.
Day Two of the Conference includes a series of concurrent Product Showcase sessions, where individual vendors will have 20 minutes to explain how their building blocks will help bring your next application/product to market more quickly. This is the one chance outside the exhibit hall vendors have to convey the specific benefits of their own development tools.
Speaking of the exhibit hall, what would the VoIP Developer Conference be without them? Between sessions, you can meet with industry leading vendors and your potential partner, each of whom is ready to help you build successful VoIP applications.
Throughout the event, you can visit the exhibit area, where vendors will have their tools on display and are prepared to describe the merits of their products and solutions and answer any questions you may have. There will be ample time to visit each vendor, ask questions, view demos, and gather the information you need to intelligently choose the correct tools.
Networking
Also, since this is the only conference in 2006 focused solely on VoIP development, it is, likewise, your only opportunity to meet and talk with other developers to share ideas, exchange business cards, and discuss the virtues of one vendor’s development tools over another’s. This is you unmatched opportunity to form valuable partnerships with OEMs, service providers, and your peers in the VoIP development community.
The Place to Be
VoIP is clearly the world’s most important communications technology right now. VoIP applications are revolutionizing the way businesses, consumers, and government agencies communicate on a daily basis — and the best part is, this is only at the beginning. With SIP and open source, communications solutions never been so open, so flexible, and so customizable. The opportunities IP telephony brings — for the end user, the service provider, and the developer — continue to multiply as VoIP applications pervade service provider networks, offices, mobile devices, and homes at an astounding rate.
“The VoIP industry continues to explode as enterprise and residential users recognize the benefits of IP telephony as more than just cost savings over traditional phones, “said Fred Zimmerman, senior director, Customer Premises Solutions, in Texas Instruments’ Communications Infrastructure and Voice Business. “TMC’s VoIP Developer Conference provides a unique opportunity to bring together many of the companies and developers behind the VoIP industry to meet with and consult each other about the requirements of this explosive growth, as well as foster new applications.”
The bottom line is that VoIP Developer Conference is the only event focusing on the needs of both companies and individuals creating new applications for broadband telephony networks. With three days of educational sessions, keynote speakers, networking receptions, and an exhibit hall full of exhibiting companies, it is your best opportunity to meet with colleagues from across the industry to learn about and discuss the present and the future of the VoIP industry.
This is the perfect venue to compare developer programs. Serious developers must come to this show to see what sorts of developer programs exhibitors are pushing and what incentives there are to develop on various platforms. This event is the perfect place to evaluate the tremendous opportunities available today.
It is also where the race to develop the next great consumer application can be won. WiFi telephony and dual mode phones are becoming ubiquitous. Here you will be able to gather the tools to be the first to develop mobile applications that enterprise customers and consumers alike will spend good money for.
If you intend on competing in that race, don’t miss the biggest and most important VoIP Developer event of the year. Getting to the VoIP Developer Conference is easy: The Hyatt Regency Santa Clara is convenient and easily accessible, just a few miles from San Jose International Airport, in the heart of Silicon Valley.
For more information or to register for the third annual VoIP Developer Conference, please visit http://www.voipdeveloper.com. If your company is interested in exhibiting at the show, please contact Dave Rodriguez: [email protected] or 203.852.6800 x146.
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