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Alcatel-Lucent is committed to the creation of converged services and support for next generation SIP-enabled services to multiple end-point access across wireless and wireline networks. Alcatel-Lucent's SIP vision is an enhanced end-user experience that can be provided by building on current network infrastructures. Rapidly emerging as a critical enabler for deploying converged and next-generation real-time voice, data and video communication services, SIP is a powerful tool for providing circuit and packet convergence and Mobile Internet and IN Internet services. Alcatel-Lucent has adopted SIP as an integral part of its product planning and has developed a common, synergistic approach to incorporating SIP across a broad portfolio. Alcatel-Lucent's strategy is to use standard SIP interfaces to support intelligence in the endpoints, gateways, call control platforms, application servers and the network management systems so integrated personalized, real time communications services can be delivered. In addition to SIP, Alcatel-Lucent's solutions support a variety of open, standard interfaces enabling greater interoperability and service ubiquity across wireless and wireline networks serving traditional and new endpoints.
For more information on Alcatel-Lucent's SIP based VoIP Solutions, click here >>>
SIP is a key communications protocol that enables IP-based services and makes the delivery of existing services more efficient. Two important aspects to SIP that make it an exciting next-generation service enabler:
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SIP is a text-based media-independent protocol based on the web paradigm and protocols (HTTP, SMTP). As such, it more easily allows for services consisting of various media and allows for easier integration of telephony, data and video capabilities.
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SIP provides many powerful methods to efficiently deliver services. The use of these inherent SIP capabilities combined with the flexibility that Internet Protocol provides, create an excellent environment to deliver converged services.
SIP is an open, flexible protocol for which many uses and extensions have been proposed. We have identified at least four key ways SIP can be used in networks and are working to define profiles for each of these uses of SIP:
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SIP interface to, or between, application servers
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SIP interface between control elements
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SIP signaling to endpoints
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SIP end-to-end networks
Alcatel-Lucent's SIP-enabled products are designed to allow our customers to generate revenue from new and innovative services while reducing operational expenses for existing services.
WHITEPAPERS:
Session Initiation Protocol – SIP - Launching the IP Communications Revolution
IMS inside the Enterprise
Alcatel-Lucent's SIP-enabled product portfolio allows service providers to leverage their existing network investments, control operating costs and offer attractive new personalized SIP-based communication services to their business and residential customers. These products cover the application, service control and transport layers of the network. Alcatel-Lucent supports open, standard interface with the products designed to be compatible with legacy systems, and to operate in a multivendor environment.
One example of Alcatel-Lucent's SIP-enabled solutions is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), such as Web Portals, IP Centrex, and Advanced VoIP applications. These solutions provide the flexibility, control and productivity management enterprises want. Alcatel-Lucent also offers solutions designed to reduce network complexity and lower operational costs, such as IP Trunking. As part of our strategy, we will, where necessary, augment our SIP-enabled solutions through strategic partnerships to bring additional capabilities and services to market.
Alcatel-Lucent's SIP-Enabled Portfolio
The Alcatel-Lucent Network Controller (NC), is the media gateway control function element within Alcatel-Lucent's IMS portfolio. The Alcatel-Lucent NC enables service providers to migrate towards Next Generation Multimedia Services at their own pace. The NC plays two critical roles in next generation network architectures. First, the Alcatel-Lucent NC provides the classic Media Gateway Control (MGC) function for VoIP networks providing the centralized call control function for multiple Alcatel-Lucent Network Gateways. As a MGC, the NC delivers access and toll tandem services, a full range of end office services using the Alcatel-Lucent Feature Server, along with the scalability to build the largest networks. Second, the Alcatel-Lucent NC can act as the MGCF network element necessary for IMS networks. In this role the NC executes as a seamless bridge between these new converged multi-service networks and legacy circuit switched networks. The NC provides the call processing necessary to translate between SIP-based wireline or wireless calls in the IMS network and ISUP calls in the PSTN.
The Alcatel-Lucent Network Gateway is the media gateway component in Alcatel-Lucent's IMS portfolio. As the cornerstone of the converged network, it seamlessly and economically merges the traditional PSTN with today’s proliferating IP networks. Because it is bearer protocol agnostic, the Network Gateway supports a wide variety of wireline and wireless applications. Converged applications may be combined in the same gateway enabling TDM, ATM and IP access along with traditional TDM trunking to the PSTN/GSTN. The Network Gateway also provides wireless access to the Radio Access Network for both a GSM (A interface) and UMTS (Iu-CS interface) wireless system. More information >>>
Alcatel-Lucent Communication Manager - A personalized end user communications management tool that works in conjunction with telephony and multimedia systems to deliver an extensive set of IP-enhanced productivity and convenience capabilities via an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). Alcatel-Lucent Communication Manager enables unified communications value for enterprise and consumer end users while providing new differentiating services aggregation and blending options to service providers. More information >>>
Alcatel-Lucent MiLifeŽ Application Server (MAS) - The MiLifeŽ Application Server (MAS) is a leading technology Application Server for hosting services at the highest reliability and efficiency providing a complete end-to-end solution for both current and next generation services. The MAS is a powerful, intelligent application server that delivers an extensive range of services with high levels of throughput and reliability in the wireline, wireless, and data markets for SIP-based services. It is an ideal solution to support both packet-based networks as well as circuit-switched networks for a fully converged solution.
The MAS solution has been deployed globally to support SIP services such as IP-Centrex, Presence and Location-based services, as well as other services such as Short Message Services, Rating and Charging, Virtual Private Networks and Anti-Spam. The solution can also be configured as a data server to support next-generation management of subscriber data as well as other database services.
The MAS solution is a scalable, programmable and media independent application server for building, deploying and managing next generation communication services. Through a very robust set of open-interfaces, the MAS solution can be deployed in multi-vendor, multi-media (wireline, wireless and data), and multi-protocol environments. MAS-based applications may be programmed by Alcatel-Lucent, the service provider, or by third party independent software vendors (ISVs) utilizing the MiLifeŽ Developer's Program. Alcatel-Lucent’s Application Developers Program encourages service provider IT departments or 3rd party applications developers to create using common programming languages such as C/C++ and Java. These applications can be hosted on the same MAS service delivery environment using industry defined capabilities that includes OSA/Parlay, JAIN, Soap, XML, Java/C++ SLEE, SIP, LDAP and SS7.
The Alcatel-Lucent Session Manager, a specialized SIP server element within Alcatel-Lucent’s IMS Portfolio, enables carriers to provide new blended lifestyle services via any wireline or wireless endpoint. The product supports multiple 3GPP/3GPP2 IMS functional elements including the CSCFs, an enhanced SCIM, the PDF and the BGCF. Alcatel-Lucent’s multifunctional Session Manager keeps an IMS network, flexible, cost effective and easy to maintain. More information >>>
The Alcatel-Lucent Enhanced Media Resource Server (eMRS) is a highly reliable, carrier grade, proven multi-media resource server solution for IP networks to support SIP call control of RTP (Real Time Packet) sessions. The eMRS is a highly programmable network element that can provide enhanced media-control services in packet switched networks such as:
The solution can support circuit switched networks in addition to SIP based packet switched networks for both wire line and wireless networks.
The eMRS is a versatile solution that can be combined with service applications to benefit service provider network carriers with increased revenues and market share through additional advanced voice and media network services.