With unanimous board approval, the SIP Forum has announced the ratification of Version 1.1 of the SIPconnect Technical Recommendation. Developed by the Forum’s SIPconnect Task Group, the new version of the recommendation is a follow-on to Version 1.0 ratified in 2008 and provides a more definitive and standardized set of guidelines for seamless, end-to-end interoperability between SIP-enabled IP-PBXs and service provider networks.

“There should be no question that enterprises and service providers are well along the path to all IP-based real-time communications, especially for voice,” said Richard Shockey (News - Alert), SIP Forum Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the SIPconnect Task Group, in a release. “The industry at large will not be able to fulfill the promise of Unified Communications (News - Alert) unless the global conversion from TDM/Class 5 to SIP-based services shifts into high gear. High Definition Voice and point-to-point Video Calling, among other advanced services, are technically feasible today.”

“SIP Trunking is the fastest-growing offering in the North American telecom market. Even the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has observed that interconnected VoIP is growing at 20 percent per year.”

Aimed at providing a current, international framework for direct IP peering between SIP-enabled enterprises and service provider networks, the SIPconnect Technical Recommendation represents the consensus of a broad cross section of the global telecom community. One of the most important initiatives of the Forum, it seeks to ensure the interoperability of network elements across the IP environment while also providing a level playing field for vendors and service providers as they develop new equipment and IP applications for deployment.

“The SIP Forum’s SIPconnect initiative is a substantial advance in providing a consistent and implementable framework for both enterprises and service providers to deploy advanced SIP-based communications. SIPconnect offers enterprises and whole industries such as manufacturing, finance and healthcare real value by promoting – and enabling – interoperability,” added Shockey.

The SIPconnect 1.1 Technical Recommendation features an array of enhancements, including:

* Standards-based support for both Static (DNS-based) and Registration (SIP REGISTER-based) modes of operation incorporating the newly approved RFC 6140.

* Description of SIP endpoint functionality required for interworking, with detailed discussion of various error conditions and appropriate responses to those errors.

* Description of media endpoint functionality required for interworking.

* Focus on Phone number (i.e., E-164) based SIP Address of Record.

* Additional voice services using SIP techniques.

* A detailed description of transaction layer security (TLS) usage.

* A roadmap on what implementers can expect in subsequent SIPconnect revisions (IPv6, emergency services, etc.).

“I expect future iterations of SIPconnect will include guidelines relating to the interoperability of IP fax and video applications – all of the great capabilities that fall under the “Unified Communications” umbrella,” Marc Robins, president and managing director of the SIP Forum, told TMCnet. “But there is also work to be done relating to a number of other vital areas, including specifications around emergency services, the transition to an-IPv6-based infrastructure, and support for hosted services.”

“An additional area that the SIP Forum is investigating for future work is service provider to service provider interoperability. While the current SIPconnect specification deals with SIP trunking between an IP-PBX and a service provider network, there is also a strong need for a specification that focuses on standardizing the peering relationships between providers.”

The SIP Forum is an IP communications industry association that engages in numerous activities that promote and advance SIP-based technology, such as the development of industry recommendations, the SIPit interoperability and testing events, special interoperability workshops, educational seminars, and general promotion of SIP in the industry.

SIPconnect 1.1 contributing companies include: Acme Packet, AT&T (News - Alert), Avaya, Bandwidth.com, Boeing, Broadsoft, CableLabs, Cablevision, Cbeyond, Cisco, Columbia University, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, Digium, Encore Software, GENBAND, Global Crossing, Huawei, Ingate Systems (News - Alert), MetaSwitch, Microsoft, NeuStar, Nokia, Nortel, PAETEC, Panasonic, Pbxnsip, Polycom, Radvision, Samsung, Siemens Enterprise Communications, Sonus Networks, Tekelec, Tele2 Nederland, Voxeo (News - Alert), and  XO Communications.

Want to learn more about Session Initiation Protocol? Be sure to attend the SIP Tutorial Conference collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. The SIP Tutorial, co-sponsored by TMC Partner Crossfire Media, is a full day training program that will focus on SIP technology from SIP messaging, though Server types, Security, Firewall and NAT operation, SIP Trunking, Troubleshooting and SIP in Unified Communications. To register, click here.