AudioCodes MSBG PLUS - Market Requirements

IP-PBX, voice applications and Value Added Services (VAS) application providers targeting Unified Communications are facing a variety of challenges when developing and deploying services in the enterprise space. Selecting the platform on which the application will be running is instrumental for a successful deployment of any application. Multi-Service Business Gateways (MSBG) form an ideal platform for hosting IP-PBX and VAS applications in a multi-functional enterprise oriented device.

Difficult Integration in a multi–element environment - The IP-PBX is not the only network element in a typical enterprise network. Installing an IP-PBX, could pose several integration efforts with a variety of elements: Media Gateways, Session Border Controllers, Firewalls and Data Security devices, Routers, Switches etc. Completing integration with a variety of elements, facing the challenge of selecting different protocol flavors and network configurations is quite a “headache” for any system or network integrator.

Targeting SMEs – How to “keep it simple” - The  SME market is one of the main drivers of enhanced IP voice application adoption. SMEs usually lack internal IT human resources and rely mainly on solution providers and system integrators to supply their communication needs. Ease of installation, minimal cabling, simplified management and remote troubleshooting are important factors for launching a successful and sustainable service in this environment. A multi-vendor “stacked box” solution is not likely to be the best choice in this case. Such a solution results in time-consuming “finger-pointing” among the different vendors causing customer dissatisfaction. In addition, it requires a lengthy learning curve by the solution provider staff for mastering a variety of management tools needed for ongoing operations.

Securing your telephony application - A direct trade-off of the IP network flexibility and “flatness” is the vulnerability to security hazards such as phishing, spamming and Denial of Service (DoS), threatening VoIP applications as well as Data traffic. Enterprises today take advantage of Session Border Controllers (SBC) to monitor all VoIP traffic and actively block any malicious communication from entering the organization network. An Enterprise-class SBC can be used to hide the enterprise IP network topology from any potential intruder thus providing a higher level of immunity against security hazards. In addition, encryption mechanisms (such as SRTP, IPSec and SIP over TLS) are commonly used today. Taking care of this suite of capabilities is a necessity but also a burden for any application or IP-PBX developer.

Fitting into All-IP networks - Both service providers and enterprises are quickly embracing All-IP networks in which Voice over IP and Unified Communications are just a few of many applications mounted on this infrastructure. Introducing the IP-PBX and SIP based application servers, and cost effective SIP trunks or IP Centrex Voice services seems ideal – we all speak the same “language” of SIP, don’t we? Well, not really… SIP can be open to variations, flavors and interpretations. Moreover, these “degrees of freedom” are often abused to create proprietary types of this standard protocol aimed at clutching the entire customer network in a single vendor’s hands. Reality proves that SIP conversion or translation is often required between the enterprise owned IP-PBX and a service provider SIP trunk. In other cases the IP-PBX needs to communicate with an application server and both are not fully interoperable.

Enabling branch office network survivability- In many service oriented enterprises and businesses that currently conduct mission critical operations, the need to ensure continuous operation of office communication is fundamental. In other words, can a branch office maintain normal telephony operations in case the connection to the central IP-PBX is down? Most of the common solutions tackling a central (Headquarters) server outage involve a costly duplication of part of the application server in each remote branch office. This common approach can incur extremely large investments and integration efforts. Is there a “thinner and meaner” solution for this challenge?

The processing power barrier – A common trend among IP-PBX and VAS developers is to leverage on cost-effective PC-based platforms, using open-source solutions for their applications. Using such a strategy can produce low-cost platforms primarily addressing low to medium scale deployments. In many cases these PC-based platforms are limited and are quickly “choked” when trying to deploy CPU-consuming media processing tasks. Advanced capabilities such as conferencing, transcoding (or even the combination of the two), streaming, recording and enhanced detectors are out of reach for such platforms.

Targeting optimal Voice Quality - Currently, it seems that it is a difficult task to satisfy customers. There are continuously rapid developments in voice technology, especially in regards to superior voice quality. Watch this space for further developments such as the introduction of High Definition voice coders. With the updating of voice technology, it is important to question whether your platform is ready to support any newly introduced coders.

Simplifying the fulfillment process  - Many IP-PBX vendors would require their delivered platforms to be branded and labeled as their own products even though they are based on other vendors' platforms. From an end customer’s point of the view, this ability presents a stronger position in regards to both commercial and technology aspects. Private labeling prevents customer confusions in identifying the front-taking vendor and therefore improves the entire fulfillment model. In fact, not all platform providers are capable of enabling this and experienced enough for this type of sales model.

AudioCodes MSBG PLUS - The Solution

AudioCodes Mediant 1000 MSBG is an integrated device incorporating voice, data, security, survivability and value added applications and has the following functionalities:

• A modular VoIP Media Gateway supporting a mix of E1/T1/J1, BRI and analog FXS/FXO lines
• A Session Border Controller securing voice traffic and performing SIP normalization fo SIP Trunking services
• A statefull Firewall device securing data traffic and performing Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)
• A Data Router and LAN switch
• A WAN access device with multiple WAN options
• A Stand Alone Survivability agent acting as a local “emergency” proxy server which takes over on WAN connection outage or central IP-PBX failure. In addition, PSTN Fall back is available for emergency calls and continuous operation
• An OSN (Open Solution Network) server – an Intel-based CPU and hard disk drive module is open for hosting any 3rd party application e.g. IP-PBX
• A DSP farm module available for enhanced voice processing (e.g. Conferencing, Transcoding) and controlled by standard protocols of SIP and MSCML

AudioCodes MSBG PLUS - Solution Benefits

• Simplicity - Integration is “built-in” when all elements are delivered as a unified device. Simplicity of deployment, management and maintenance is clearly achieved when using the same management tool and actually having a single vendor for multiple network elements
• Security - Enhanced voice security features as well as SIP mediation and translation are provided by the embedded Session Border Controller
• Ready for All-IP networks – SIP mediation is performed leveraging on AudioCodes rich interoperability record and built-in transcoding capabilities
• Branch office Survivability - Enabled by the SAS (Stand Alone Survivability) agent embedded in the MSBG PLUS. In addition a dual power supply brings an extra level of box survivability
• Voice processing power - In addition to the OSN server, ready to host IP-PBX applications, the MSBG provides a built-in IPmedia processing module enabling enhanced voice processing tasks such as conferencing and transcoding, extending the IP-PBX breadth of functionalities and performance
• Simplifying fulfillment process – AudioCodes is a leading supplier to global telecom vendors. Solid experience in supporting these vendors allows AudioCodes to provide with important services such as full private labeling of gateway hardware and software (management interface). In addition, AudioCodes can load the vendor’s software and configuration files onto the gateway during the manufacturing process, delivering the MSBG PLUS fully configured and ready to be delivered to the end customer, thereby maximizing the profit for the OEM vendor