The IP Pulse - 7/06/98 *Ascend Introduces SS7/IP Gateway Product
*Nortel Unveils IP Telephony Product Portfolio
*ArelNet Unveils Internet Fax to Email Module for Its i-Tone Gateway
*Texas Instruments Unveils DSPs
*DSP Software Develops Software Suite for Texas Instrument's DSPs
*Lucent to Use Compaq's ProLiant Server for its IP Telephony Gateways
*Microsoft to Integrate Open Port's IP Fax Technology
*Digi to Acquire ITK for $25 Million
*Fnet Acquires LDNet
*ICG Netcom to Use Cisco Equipment for Internet Telephony Service
*Global Transmedia to Use Innomedia Products For IP Telephony Service
*IDT to Offer Integrated Data/Voice Communications in 10 US Markets
*NTL to Offer Internet Telephony
*DNS Publishing Introduces New VoIP Market Site
*Network World Fusion Releases VoIP Gateway Buyers Guide
Ascend Introduces SS7/IP Gateway Product
===============
Ascend has announced the introduction of the Ascend Signaling Gateway
(ASG), a product that enables a company's WAN access switches to
communicate directly with the SS7 carrier-signaling network. The ASG will
allow NSPs to offer a range of services such as Internet call diversion,
voice/fax over data networks, VPNs, and high-speed 56K-modem technology.
The ASG enables service providers to relieve congestion on voice networks
by diverting data calls off of class 4/5 switches and onto Ascend's MAX TNT
WAN Access Switches. The gateway will use existing SS7 voice networks to
route voice, fax and data calls over IP, ATM and Frame Relay networks. It
is designed on the SS7 HP OpenCall platform, and the NEBs compliant,
high-density MAX TNT WAN Access Switch architecture. The product will
support from 10,000 to 200,000 communication ports. It features fault
tolerant dual HP 9000 processors, dual Signal interface units and dual
connections to the MAX TNT. In addition, the ASG will enable transaction
based billing over data networks by providing call setup and call duration
information in standard CDR format.
In a separate announcement, Ascend will open an office in Thailand this
fall. The company plans to strengthen its systems integration and reseller
channels in Thailand, and to help Thailand's telecoms and ISPs design VoIP
and VPN services. Datacraft and World Information Technology have already
agreed to be VARs for Ascend products.
Ascend Communications
ascend.com
Nortel Unveils IP Telephony Product Portfolio
==============
Nortel has announced the introduction of IPConnect, its portfolio of VoIP
gateway products. The IPConnect line of carrier grade IP telephony
gateways feature gatekeeper functionality and management/billing systems.
IPConnect will enable telephony services such as single-stage dialing,
voicemail, call forwarding, three-way calling, caller ID, and pre-paid
calling cards. The solution will provide unified messaging, virtual
multiple lines, multimedia conferencing, and Internet telephony
applications such as Nortel's Internet Call Waiting and Internet Voice
Button.
The IPConnect gateways will support from 24 to 100,000 ports of real time
voice and fax communications over IP networks. All of the gateways are
H.323 compliant, and support compression algorithms including G.723.1,
G.729A, G.711. The gateways also support standard telephony protocols
including SS7 ISUP, ISDN PRI, R2, DPNSS and QSIG. The gatekeeper
technology will provide network intelligence to a network of gateways
enabling dialed directory number to IP address mapping, directory
assistance and gateway resource allocation. Gatekeeper functionality can
either be integrated into an IP gateway or deployed as a standalone device
on a network.
i-Tone, IPConnect's 24 to 96 port gateway, is currently available. Nortel
expects to begin testing other IPConnect products this winter.
Nortel
nortel.com
ArelNet Unveils Internet Fax to Email Module for Its i-Tone Gateway
============
ArelNet has announced the introduction of a fax to email (FTEM) module for
its i-Tone IP telephony gateway product. The fax to email module enables
users to view faxes via existing e-mail applications such as Microsoft
Exchange or Eudora. An i-Tone service provider will assign users with a
personal fax number, and all faxes sent to this number will be forwarded to
the user's e-mail account. The fax images will be an attachment to the
e-mail message.
The i-Tone FTEM module is currently available.
ArelNet
arelnet.com
Texas Instruments Unveils DSPs
===================
Texas Instruments (TI) has announced the introduction of two DSPs, the
TMS320C549 and the TMS320C5410. The ultra small DSPs [12 X 12 X 1.4 mm]
provide active power dissipation of less than 115 mW at 100 MIPS, and up to
64K words of on-chip SRAM. The integration levels of the 'C549 and 'C5410
enable space-constrained DSP applications such as digital radios,
surgically implanted hearing aids, global positioning system (GPS)
terminals, DSP-based CTI applications such as V/FoIP, and portable
information appliances that combine voice, data and video.
Samples of the 'C549 are currently available, with commercial production
scheduled for Q3 '98. TI plans to make samples of the 'C5410 available in
October with commercial production expected by Q2 '99. Pricing for the
'C549 is expected to be $25, with the 'C5410 priced at $29.85.
Texas Instruments
ti.com
DSP Software Develops Software Suite for Texas Instrument's DSPs
============================
DSP Software Engineering has announced the availability of its DSP software
based telephony algorithms for Texas Instrument's 'C6201 fixed point VLIW
DSP. The DSP algorithms have been designed to be multi channel re-entrant
and compliant with BellCore specifications. The algorithms can be applied
to DTMF detector/generator channel banks, G.165 line-echo canceller channel
banks, and VoIP/FR servers. The software will provide support for over 100
simultaneous channels on a single 'C6201.
The software algorithms are currently available.
DSP Software Engineering
dspse.com
Texas Instruments
ti.com
Lucent to Use Compaq's ProLiant Server for its IP Telephony Gateways
===========================
Lucent has announced that it will run its Internet Telephony Server-E (ITS)
software on Compaq's ProLiant 1200 model server platform. The ITS software
operates under Windows NT. It is connected to a PBX via a T1/E1 tie or an
analog line interface, and to the IP network via a 10/100BaseT Ethernet
interface. The H.323 compliant gateway utilizes Analogic's TAP-802 cards
and elemedia's compression software to support up to 96 ports of voice
and/or fax communications over IP networks.
Lucent
lucent.com
Compaq
compaq.com
Microsoft to Integrate Open Port's IP Fax Technology
=====================
Open Port has announced that Microsoft has licensed its IP fax technology,
including its patented LCR methodology, for integration into future Windows
NT server based products. In addition, Open Port has received an equity
investment from Microsoft. Financial details of the transaction were not
disclosed. According to the terms of the deal, Microsoft's general
manager, Dan Rosen, will be appointed to Open Port's board of directors.
Also participating in the latest round of Open Port financing is Oak
Investment Partners of West Port, Conn. Details were not disclosed. Open
Port plans to use the financing from both companies to invest in product
development, future technology research and development, and the expansion
of its sales and marketing operations, particularly outside of the US.
Open Port
openport.com
Microsoft
microsoft.com
Digi to Acquire ITK for $25 Million
=============
Digi International has agreed to pay $25 million in cash and stock for ITK
International. Under terms of the acquisition, Digi will offer $12.5
million in cash and issue approximately 615,000 shares of Digi common
stock, worth approximately $12.5 million, for each share of ITK. The
acquisition has been approved by each company's board of directors, and
ITK's shareholders. The transaction is expected to be closed next month.
Digi plans to use ITK's VoIP products to provide Internet telephony
solutions.
Digi International
dgii.com
ITK
itk.de
Fnet Acquires LDNet
===========
FNet, a subsidiary of Franklin Telecom, has announced that it has acquired
LDNet, a VoIP service provider. Details of the transaction were not
disclosed. During the first half of this year, LDNet tested Franklin's
Tempest Data Voice gateways and billing and authorization technology in a
phone to phone and PC to phone IP telephony trial in eight mid-western
markets. LDNet's current VoIP installations include facilities in Chicago,
St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, New York City and
Washington/Baltimore. FNet plans to have the LDNet nodes upgraded and
functioning as part of the FNet Network by August.
The FNet global network utilizes traditional land lines, Internet telephony
and satellite technology to provide global communications. FNet plans to
have 250 US POPs installed within the next two years, and 250 international
POPs by 2001.
Franklin Telecom
ftel.com
LDNet
ldnet.com
ICG Netcom to Use Cisco Equipment for Internet Telephony Service
=================
ICG Netcom has announced that it will use Cisco equipment to expand its US
network and provide V/FoIP based telecommunication services. In a deal
valued at several million dollars, ICG will purchase more than 10,000
AS5300 universal access server ports, voice/fax feature cards, 7500 series
routers and BPX 8600 carrier class ATM switches.
ICG plans to launch the Internet telephony services in select markets this
August, with full scale operation of the services in 166 US markets
scheduled for the end of the year. Calls originating and terminating on
ICG's IP network are expected to be billed at 5.9 cents per minute.
ICG Netcom
icgcomm.com
Cisco
cisco.com
Global Transmedia to Use Innomedia Products For IP Telephony Service
==========================
Global Transmedia has announced that, in coordination with Innomedia, it
has completed the installation of the first phase of its Internet telephony
network. The network currently has Innomedia gateways installed and
operating in Canada, Florida, California and Singapore. Global Transmedia
will use the gateways to offer CheapTalk, its Internet telephony service.
Global Transmedia will provide users of the service with Innomedia's
InfoTalk or InfoGate VoIP gateway products as well as the Internet access
needed to use the service.
InfoTalk will enable single-line telephone subs to use the service.
Multi-line telephone subs will be supplied with the InfoGate product.
Users will be able to call or fax all locations using the VoIP products and
service, as well as place calls outside of the system, via a centralized
switch.
Global Transmedia is targeting multi-national corporations, import/export
firms and any large to mid-sized company with facilities in the US and
abroad with the service.
Cheap Talk
cheaptalk.net
Innomedia
innomedia.com
IDT to Offer Integrated Data/Voice Communications in 10 US Markets
========================
IDT has unveiled Project David, its solution enabling corporations to
transmit both voice and data over IDT's IP network. Project David will
offer 3.5 cents per minute US VoIP calling and a 60 percent discount on
most international calls. The solution will be available this month in
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Philadelphia, San Jose, and Washington, DC.
IDT
idt.net
NTL to Offer Internet Telephony
=================
NTL has announced that it has completed a VoIP trial in the UK. The
company's carrier services division expects to offer both national and
international Internet telephony services on a commercial basis this month.
All VoIP traffic will be routed through the company's gateway in London.
NTL will monitor QoS on a 24x7 basis; should the Internet become too
congested for a reasonable QoS, NTL will begin routing calls via the PSTN.
NTL owns and operates a network in the UK, offering national and
international carrier telecommunications services, and satellite and radio
communications services. Through its local telecoms division, it offers
residential telephony, residential CATV and Internet services in six UK
markets.
NTL
ntli.com
DNS Publishing Introduces New VoIP Market Site
====================
DNS Publishing has introduced a new web site known as "The IP Site",
featuring IP telephony news and market information. Specifically, the site
includes select daily news stories, an ITSP directory, stock prices for
industry related companies and vendor lists for a variety of product lines.
DNS will also be maintaining a VoIP mailing list.
DNS' entry into VoIP market research follows an extensive research effort
in the CLEC market. The company, operating on an electronic advertising
model, provides free access to all of its information.
The IP Site
theipsite.com
Network World Fusion Releases VoIP Gateway Buyers Guide
===============
Network World Fusion has just released a buyers guide, evaluating the
similarities and differences between 26 IP telephony gateways. The guide
showcases several charts comparing the gateways by price, specs and
capabilities. It also offers editorials regarding what a company should
consider before purchasing a gateway, such as the ease of installation and
maintenance of a gateway, its lifecycle, whether it will be used to
transmit data and voice simultaneously, and if the addition of a VoIP PBX
will add enough voice lines to be economical. For more information on the
guide, or to see the online version, visit the Network World Fusion web site.
Network World Fusion
nwfusion.com
c Copyright 1998 CATV CyberLab
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