August 13, 2011

TMCnet SIP Trunking Week in Review

This edition of SIP Trunking week in review brings all kinds of news. From Integra Telecom earning Panasonic's session initiation protocol (SIP) trunking interoperability certification to Motorola Solutions announcing release of ASTRO 25 systems with P25 TDMA trunking to the market, the SIP trunking world is abuzz with a variety of development activities.

For instance, TMCnet contributor Anuradha Shukla reported that Integra Telecom has earned Panasonic’s SIP trunking interoperability certification with the KX-NCP500/1000 and KX-TDE 100/200/600 business phone systems. The contributor quoted Brian Gregory, director of voice and data services for Integra Telecom, as saying, “This certification positions Integra to work even more closely with Panasonic dealers and organizations relying on these business phone systems, building our portfolio of SIP Trunking services and delivering enhanced features and productivity to our business customers.”

While Nathesh, a TMCnet contributor, highlighted Mitel (News - Alert) naming Integra Telecom as its 2011 U.S. Channel Small and Midsized-Business (SMB) Partner of the Year. Nathesh wrote that there are about 500 Mitel authorized Partners in the U.S. eligible to receive the award. In addition, Mitel has also recognized Integra with its 2011 Diamond Partner level classification for the eighth consecutive year, as per the report.

Another interesting announcement came from Motorola Solutions. The company released ASTRO 25 systems with P25 TDMA trunking to the market. Part of the company’s generation public safety portfolio,  ASTRO 25 with P25 TDMA trunking promises to transform public safety operations and strengthen the mission-critical communications core, wrote contributor Jyothi Shanbhag. According to the report, this latest solution claims to double the voice capacity of frequency division multiple access (FDMA) technology for more efficient use of spectrum, providing users improved system access and offers seamless interoperability between P25 FDMA and P25 TDMA users, dynamically allocating a call based on available resources without any user intervention or awareness.

Likewise, Neutral Tandem (News - Alert), a provider of global interconnection services, deployed voice softswitch from Sonus Networks in one of the world's largest interconnection hubs, the Telehouse Docklands North location in London, wrote contributor Rajani Baburajan.

In a statement, as repoted, Neutral Tandem’s CEO Edward Evans, said, "Deploying a voice softswitch in Telehouse's facility in London reinforces our ongoing commitment to expand our International Voice Services, and provides scalable, high quality, direct termination for our carrier customers."

For the upcoming ITEXPO West 2011 in Austin, September 13-15, TMCnet’s community development editor John Lahtinen highlighted Ingate Systems participation at the show. The company has announced speakers and SIP trunking seminars, including a full day devoted to Unified Communications (News - Alert), at the ITEXPO.

Contributing editor Gary Kim’s column titled “Is SIP Trunking 'Strategic'?” brought some thoughts from Marty Parker (News - Alert), principal at UniComm Consulting. Parker sees unified communications as a more-strategic matter, and SIP trunking as a more tactical matter, wrote Kim. “SIP trunking is largely another phase of least cost routing, where enterprises invest in premise equipment and software in order to cut their recurring carrier billings,” says Parker. Furthermore, he adds, “One might imply that if an enterprise has enough money only to adopt unified communications or SIP trunking, UC should come first.” 

To be fair, the columnist also expressed views of others who did not agree with Parker. “I'd argue that this doesn’t make them (SIP trunks) unimportant, and it doesn’t mean they don't have a strategic role to play going forward,” says Eric Krapf, No Jitter editor.

It might be reasonable to argue that Marty Parker (News - Alert), principal at UniComm Consulting, sees unified communications as a more-strategic matter, and SIP trunking as a more tactical matter. SIP trunking is largely “another phase of least cost routing, where enterprises invest in premise equipment and software in order to cut their recurring carrier billings,” he says.

Lastly, VoicePulse, which has been delivering SIP Trunking and high-quality phone service to residential and business customers, launched a refurbished web site for easier and simpler navigation on the site, reported contributor Mini Swamy.

Want to learn more about Session Initiation Protocol? Be sure to attend the SIP Tutorial Conference collocated with TMC’s (News - Alert) 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.