AudioCodes Enterprise Session Border Controllers for Skype Connect and Microsoft Lync Server 2010

AudioCodes Enterprise Session Border Controllers (E-SBCs) assure seamless yet secured SIP connectivity between existing Skype Connect and Microsoft Lync solutions.

Business customers from around the world are migrating to the Skype Connect service as a low-cost alternative to legacy telecom services in ever greater numbers. At the same time, Microsoft Lync Server 2010 is becoming an increasingly popular choice for Enterprise Voice Services. These two trends are creating an urgent need to be able to seamlessly connect the enterprise’s Microsoft infrastructure to that of the Skype Connect service.

AudioCodes E-SBCs represent a unique opportunity for those business customers as they are officially certified on the one hand with Microsoft - for connecting Lync Server 2010 with SIP Trunking to Internet telephony service providers (ITSPs) and on the other with the Skype Connect service for connecting both Legacy TDM and IP-based Private Branch Exchanges (PBX’s) with Skype’s SIP Trunking service.

The connection between the Microsoft environment and Skype Connect is enabled by AudioCodes' E-SBC, a fully-featured Enterprise Session Border Controller including access control, encryption and authentication, topology hiding, VoIP firewall and deep packet inspection. AudioCodes' integral Session Border Controller capabilities are supported by both the "Enhanced" Gateway configuration models (Mediant 1000 and Mediant 3000) and the "Survivable Branch Appliance” Gateway models (Mediant 1000). Microsoft customers can therefore receive true value for their investment.

Through the combination of Skype Connect SIP Trunking connectivity and Microsoft Lync, business customers can:
 

• Receive calls to Microsoft Lync directly from Skype clients
• Make calls by taking advantage of Skype’s low cost global calling rates to landline and mobile phones directly from Microsoft Lync clients
• Establish Skype Online Numbers in over 25 different countries, allowing local access via landlines and mobiles
• Create Skype buttons on their website so that Skype users can call businesses for free
• Set up outbound Caller ID so that customers know who is calling
   

  How it works

  AudioCodes E-SBCs are used to provide the interface between Skype Connect and Microsoft Lync Server. The E-SBC terminates the Skype Connect sessions from the WAN, applying security rules with access control lists (ACL) and packet filtering, using the Back-to-Back User Agent features to resolve SIP incompatibilities and finally passing calls to/from the business and Skype network.

In addition, AudioCodes E-SBCs also support PSTN interfaces providing support for hybrid VoIP and traditional PSTN environments. This configuration reduces equipment costs and therefore provides greater flexibility – allowing the same device to terminate both the TDM interfaces from the PSTN and the SIP interface from Skype Connect.