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BroadSoft Announces IMS-ready Media Resource Function ServerTMCnet Contributing Editor VoIP application software provider BroadSoft Inc. introduced on Tuesday a new Media Resource Function Server (MRF) for IMS environments. The new MRF builds on core features by enhancing them with IMS capability, permitting interoperability with other application servers and allowing service providers to quickly deploy a range of audio and video functions over an IP network to enhance existing voice applications.
The media server is fully IMS-compliant and it links the control and transport layers of the network, processing requests for media services from the application server. The MRF can work with any application server and it enables multiple media capabilities in the enterprise including audio and video IVR functions (i.e. record and playback), audio conferencing with ad-hoc and group calling, fax reception and forwarding and streaming (audio and video broadcast). The system requires no deployment location pre-requisites. The enhanced MRF can be installed anywhere in the network to make full use of traffic characteristics. More cost-effective to service providers than hardware-based systems, the software-based standalone MRF server preserves scalability, performance and reliability while offering service providers increased freedom to configure network infrastructure across business units and according to individual company needs.
"Now decoupled from the platform, the MRF offers the flexibility to derive maximum benefit from an IMS network by its ability to be deployed centrally. Where it excels however, is in processing capabilities that an isolated application server would never hope to achieve," said Scott Hoffpauir, chief technology officer for BroadSoft.
BroadSoft made news last week when it announced that Telefónica de España deployed VoIP services based on the BroadWorks VoIP application platform. According to the companies, the service, deployed over the Ericsson (News - Alert) system, is one of the first IMS deployments delivering VoIP services to the residential and SME markets in that European country.
Telefónica is using BroadWorks applications based on an IMS-ready platform to deliver primary line services to residential consumers and SMEs over any broadband connection. By using the BroadWorks platform, Telefónica's customers will be able to manage their own service preferences via the Web. Applications such as simultaneous ring, where any call to the home number will automatically ring any other number specified by the user, can be managed directly by the customer, allowing end-users to make their own service changes such as setting up voicemail preferences and call forwarding.
BroadSoft Inc.
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne Torres' columnist page.
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