Programmability for SIP-based Services
Standard interfaces and interoperability are cornerstones   
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Role of the Web Service Environment

Support for standard interfaces, such as JAIN SIP Servlets, Parlay , VXML, and  SOAP,  will allow SIP-based Next Generation Networks to move to the next level of programmability, which is the abstraction of service logic to Web Services or J2EE Application Servers.  Utilization of Web/J2EE servers for service development and service execution will allow service providers to take advantage of the industry wide acceptance, ease of development, speed of development and ready access to a knowledgeable work force (3 million+ Java developers) that Web/J2EE service environments enable.  

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Figure 1: Web Service Environment

In Summary

While some programmability solutions for SIP-based services are effectively proprietary and closed, leaving the service provider locked into a single-vendor solution, this vision of programmability delivers the appropriate array of tools and capabilities necessary to empower service providers to quickly develop and deploy SIP-based multimedia services tailored to the specific needs of their market.  The web services model for SIP programmability provides:  standards-based interfaces that allow service providers to leverage existing developer skill sets, application development tools, and third-party service execution environments; a partner program that makes it possible to utilize third-party off the shelf products and applications in the deployment of new services with the assurance that they will interwork; a trained work force available for contract service development; and, the ability to move to the next level of programmability, which is the abstraction of service logic to Web/J2EE Application Servers.

By leveraging the web services environment as the model for programmability within SIP-based next generation networks, service providers can realize the acceleration of time-to-market for new features, expansion of service offerings, integration with third-party products and services, and minimization of risk in the deployment of multi-vendor solutions.  This new paradigm will drive growth in services revenue, drive customer loyalty through service differentiation, and reduce operation and capital expenditures for creating and maintaining new services.  

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Michael Doerk is Senior Manager, Wireline Marketing at Nortel Networks.  As a Senior Manager on the Carrier Voice over IP Solutions Marketing team, he is responsible for marketing Nortel Network's integrated set of voice, multimedia, collaboration, and presence-based service solutions to the Voice over IP Carrier market segment. Since joining Nortel Networks in May 1997, Mr. Doerk has also held marketing positions in Nortel Networks Programmable Switching, AIN, and Optical Ethernet organizations.

Robert Beaumont has sixteen years experience in the wireline/wireless telecom and IT industries as a solutions provider with Nortel Networks in Richardson, Texas and as a service provider with Aliant Inc in Saint John, NB, Canada.    Robert has extensive background in all aspects of product lifecycle management including international business development through product development and support.  Most resenlty Robert has held leadership positions in the product management of SIP portfolios, wireless IN portfolios and wireless prepaid portfolios.  Robert is a registered professional engineer with a BScEE from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

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