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IMS Growth: The Handset Connection
When fully realized, IMS will allow users to access familiar communication services on either mobile or fixed network devices. But why aren’t handset manufacturers more rapidly adopting IMS? Here is a look at what is required to make it happen. |
Hartmut Schittko |
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Fixed Mobile Convergence: Where Does Perception End and Reality Begin?
The buzz over fixed/mobile convergence (FMC) is still out there. But the reality of the situation is that when FMC finally does emerge from being an “budding” technology to become a viable economic force in the marketplace, it may not resemble what the industry perceived it to be. |
Ravi Kodavarti |
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Simplified Application Call/Session Control for Evolving Networks
he Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is an important new system in the IMS environment and can be thought of as the modern day Home Location Register (HLR). However, the HSS as a monolithic database represents a potential single point of failure and a highly attractive target for both internal and external attacks. Here are some thoughts of safeguarding such systems. |
Mike Jones |
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IPRD and the VoIP Migration at the Core of Telephony Networks
A revolution is taking place on the Internet, with new sites redefining how we interact online. But the new wave of Internet applications has its unintended victims. One of them turns out to be the Domain Name System (DNS). MySpace and YouTube substantially increase the DNS query load for carriers -- slowing things down for everyone. |
Tom Tovar |
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The Future IC/UC Net Will Be Federated
Unified Communications will only become valuable when we can use them to reach anyone, anywhere, anytime. To paraphrase Metcalfe’s Law: the usefulness, or utility, of interactive communication equals the square of the number of users. Our only options for delivering this network nirvana are the Internet or the Federnet - a federation of managed IP networks. Here are seven fundamental IP network precepts driving the emergence of the Federnet for IC/UC. |
Seamus Hourihan |
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The Pervasive Network Access Voyage
Large organizations must strike a balance between network access and security for internal and external user. With ever-changing business needs and a persistent increase in the number of network users, CIOs should turn their attention to a new, more holistic architecture called Pervasive Network Access. The aim is to enforce access and business policies across any mix of user roles, endpoint devices and network technologies. |
Karthik Krishnan and Jon Oltsik |
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Provisioning Standards Help Internet Voice Providers Compete With Telecom Providers
The first wave of Internet-based Voice Service Providers built their services with proprietary provisioning systems. In recent years, several standards for provisioning IP-based voice and other IP services have emerged. For instance, PacketCable3 defines provisioning standards for voice-enabled cable modems. For CPE devices that connect to DSL networks, there is the TR-069 standard. Here is a look. |
Sanjay Bhal |
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Defending the IMS Core
To establish and expand the border of next-generation networks, carriers must deploy IMS/TISPAN border security solutions that align with standards and provide the traditional protection handled by SBCs. Equally, the IMS/TISPAN border security solution must fit in the context of an overall NGN security architecture which includes both border and IMS core elements. In other words, carriers must look “beyond the border” so all elements are secure. |
Bob Bradley |
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Enabling Applications in an IMS World
The transition to an IMS network in today’s cost constrained environment is challenging, so most implementations are currently being phased in over long periods of time. Replacing non-IMS applications to comply with an IP structure remains a long term goal; however, if there’s no additional revenue to be generated, replacement becomes a financial decision. Unfortunately, IMS does not adequately allow legacy applications access to IMS elements directly; the net effect being that major IMS expansions are delayed pending positive business cases. |
Jose Deras |
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CALEA Compliance: Lawful Intercept for Higher Education
The FCC’s 2nd Report and Order has clearly identified that May 14, 2007 is the deadline for CALEA compliance for both "interconnected VoIP providers" and "broadband access providers". For Higher Ed, the definition about who needs to comply is a little more ambiguous. Certainly those providers reselling access/services need to be compliant but those that can define their networks as "private" may be able to pursue a course that only requires specific points in the network that access the internet to be compliant. |
Scott Coleman |
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Social Networking and Web 2.0: Create DNS Performance Issues for Carriers
A revolution is taking place on the Internet, with new sites redefining how we interact online. But the new wave of Internet applications has its unintended victims. One of them turns out to be the Domain Name System (DNS). MySpace and YouTube substantially increase the DNS query load for carriers -- slowing things down for everyone. |
Tom Tovar |
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HD Voice is Coming
Carriers are looking to upgrade their technology arsenals with new wideband codecs to provide better-than-PSTN voice quality, thus upping the ante for defining total voice quality for subscribers. With wideband codecs and HD voice services, users experience enhanced fidelity when compared to standard POTS phone services. The calls sound more realistic and are more pleasing to the listener. But with this new approach, higher voice quality may require additional bandwidth and may add complexity in a customer’s phone. These and other obstacles can be gating factors for deploying wideband codec support network-wide. Fortunately, new solutions for addressing these challenges are coming onto the market. |
Matt McGinnis |
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ENUM's Role in Converged Networks
As SIP-based services become more common, the desire and need to avoid the PSTN network becomes even greater. The challenge facing operators is how to route calls and new SIP-based services, many of which may use only a subscriber telephone number as the destination address, in an IP environment. The answer is Electronic Numbering, or ENUM. |
Vince Lesch |
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IP Service Providers Ignore Customer Experience Metrics at Their Own Risk
Lagging end-user Quality of Experience (QoE) could be the downfall of IP service providers if they continue heightened attention on service price cuts and neglect advancements in test and measurement technology. To ensure end-user satisfaction, IP service providers will find that objective testing methods best suit their testing needs, since older methods, including subjective measurements, consume time and resources without producing the needed results. |
Benjamin Ellis |
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Virtual Network Operators Address Micro-Multinationals
Executing a global networking solution requires in-depth knowledge of access options in a broad range of locations, the ability to troubleshoot and service these locations, and the flexibility to connect offices in Asia-Pac, South America, Europe, and the U.S. Evaluating the network, from country coverage to access options, security integration, and pricing could make for a very lengthy selection and implementation process. To help facilitate and expedite this process, a form of Virtual Network Operator (VNO) has entered the scene. |
Gunnar Peters |
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IMS -- The Path to Personalized Mobile Services
Proponents of IMS have a revolutionary vision for the future. IMS, along with its packed-based signaling cousin Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), enables person-to-person and person-to-content communications in a variety of modes -- including voice, text, pictures and video, or any combination of these -- in highly personalized and value-added ways. Here's the pitch. |
Manish Kumar |
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Skype Detection: Traffic Classification In the Dark
Skype is having a dramatic impact on carriers’ revenue streams. But perhaps more importantly, the very nature of Skype traffic is raising security concerns, especially for large enterprise networks. Skype uses a unique peer-to-peer technology, making it challenging for network operators to identify, classify and manage associated traffic. This column provides an overview of VoIP with a focus on Skype, details Skype’s impact on telecom service providers and explains how Skype traffic can be classified and managed. |
Antonio Nucci |
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8 Myths about ENUM
ENUM has a critical role to play in telephony services convergence. Although many carriers are adopting ENUM there are myths swirling around the confuse newcomers. Here's a list. |
Chris Risley |
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Plug Your Revenue Leaks – Then Launch VoIP
Is the timing of your VoIP service launch going to fall at a bad point in your organization’s standard billing cycles, potentially squandering days of revenue? Will billing coincide precisely with VoIP service turn-up? Will both non-recurring and monthly, recurring charges be properly accounted for from the onset of service activation, ensuring that your company avoids the operational costs of uncovering and correcting discrepancies? Will your customers’ transition to VoIP prove to be seamless, discouraging them from considering jumps to other providers? VoIP providers must find ways to address these questions prior to launch. |
Joe Tedesco |
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Deploying VoIP in Branch Offices: A Checklist of Key Security Concerns
VoIP is a disruptive event that has many ripple effects in branch-office networks. If call processing is added to the network, will the firewall let the voice connection through or not? Is sufficient QoS designed into the network to support voice adequately? Will the branch network support a highly available VoIP service? What are the security concerns? |
Eric Andrews |
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