This past week TMC’s Shamila Janakiraman wrote that GL Communications (News - Alert) announced the release of its latest product MAPS SIP-I, an advanced protocol simulator/tester for SIP-ISUP simulation over IP.

The company is a supplier of test, monitoring and analysis equipment for TDM, wireless, IP and VoIP networks. GL’s test platforms differ from conventional test equipment by providing visualization, capture, storage, and other features like portability, remotability, and scripting.

GL Communications sources explained that this new product can simulate SIP signaling with encapsulated ITU/ANSI/ETSI (News - Alert) ISUP messages.

Karthik Ramalingam Project Manager at GL said. “VoIP networks predominantly use SIP to setup and tear down voice calls and increasingly for video and multimedia calls. PSTN networks predominantly use SS7 to do the same.”

“PSTN SS7 signaling is quite different from SIP signaling and in many cases PSTN SS7 signaling may be richer than SIP. There may be no one-to-one correspondence between SIP signaling messages and SS7 signaling messages. Also, it may not be possible to enhance SIP to accommodate the additional features of SS7, and vice-a-versa,” he added.

Also this past week TMC reported that Network Equipment Technologies, a provider of enterprise-class networking solutions for secure communications in unified communications (UC), SIP Trunking and enterprise mobility, announced that it provides global services in support of large enterprise deployments of Microsoft Lync.

Usng the new NET (News - Alert) global support offering, customers will have access to global support services via a single contact point.  

Network Equipment Technologies is offering the centralized global support hub on request 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through a Web-based platform. NET expert consultants around the world will process all customer support enquiries centrally.  

“We believe that NET's support model provides enterprises with unmatched flexibility, performance and return on investment in supporting diverse enterprise requirements, backed by our commitment to go the extra mile for every customer,” said Thaison Chu, vice president of Global Service.

“For over two decades, NET provided 24x7x365 service worldwide -- always available to customers that rely on us to protect their networks,” Chu added.

And this past week TMC reported that Covista Communications signed a strategic marketing agreement with NextStep Technology Solutions (News - Alert), the Exclusive Master Distributor for Samsung Business Communications Systems.

The Samsung product portfolio (OfficServ systems, Ubigate gateways, switches, routers, and SIP phones) will be bundled with Covista’s SIP trunking and CaaS service offering as per the agreement.

This alliance creates affordable, complete end to end VoIP services and solutions for small and medium businesses.

“The marketing alliance between Covista and NextStep will play a significant role in the company’s continuing efforts to expand the channel and to develop a stronger market presence,” said Kent Terpe, vice president of Channels & Alliances, Covista. “Our combined resources will provide VARs, the ability to offer a rich portfolio of customer premise, managed and CaaS based solutions with the highest level of support services on a nationwide basis.”

Both companies note that earlier only “Fortune 500” companies could afford converged communications systems. But now situation has changed and small to medium businesses can turn to Samsung with network services provided by Covista.

Want to learn more about Session Initiation Protocol (News - Alert)? 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.