Find real potential of voice over DSL - Technology Information

DSL service providers need to understand the choices available to their customers.

One of the most widely discussed delivery mechanisms used to merge telecommunications with broadband networks is voice over digital subscriber line (VoDSL). This delivery mechanism typically focuses on bringing dial tone bundled with data over the same pipe. Enterprises are able to buy integrated voice, data and Internet services from one provider and receive one bill. The benefits for the end-user include reduced cost of doing business, more and better applications, and the ability to share the same resources for voice and data.

Some DSL service providers, facing intense market and competitive pressures, are trying to differentiate their services with the additional offering of voice transport over their DSL infrastructure. These service providers offer multiple voice and data lines over the same DSL pipe, and they can price voice competitively, often undercutting carriers' rates by 30% or more.

Enterprises should recognize, however, that plain old telephone service over DSL pipes--packing voice streams into the pipe in order to reduce costs--is just that: the same old dial tone, just cheaper. While appealing to business customers, packetized VoDSL is only part of the story available today.

Cheaper transport with the same telephone services represents a small portion of the real potential packet-based voice services represent. As in any fast-growing market, powerful new models are emerging continually. There are technologies available today that combine voice with new services that can leverage DSL environments. These service providers have implemented softswitches with these new services in order to offer a more powerful solution to their business customers.

These service providers are using a new type of "applications-enabled" softswitch, and are rolling out services that enable their business customers to replace legacy PBXs and key systems, or Centrex services, with a hosted model of telephony management. Among the possibilities: small and midsize businesses can outsource their phone systems, saving anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 upfront by avoiding the cost of a PBX, while, at the same time, retaining control of the management of their telephony.

With the softswitch technology, business customers can manage their telephony services via an intuitive browser, a much easier task than programming a PBX, and quicker than waiting for the phone company to make moves, adds or changes to Centrex. The applications, however, go well beyond Centrex and PBX features, offering mobile phone-like features that are not available on a typical business phone, such as call logs for missed calls, inbound and outbound calls, and the ability to click to return calls or click to e-mail a response.

Other innovative applications offer capabilities like personalized call treatments, or the ability to tailor the handling of individual incoming calls, such as designating some as VIP calls, allowing the called party to be reached wherever he is, while sending others automatically to voice mail. End-users also can group incoming calls into categories, allowing some calls to reach them during weekends, travel and vacations. These applications take advantage of a business phone's LCD display for many of these functions, and use the browser to bring access to an even broader set of capabilities.

Business customers will find another advantage in VoDSL delivered using an applications-enabled softswitch. VoDSL usually requires customers to have an integrated access device (IAD) to connect their PBX to the network. The service provider typically supports and maintains the IAD; if something goes wrong, the customer must schedule an appointment and wait for service. It becomes another point of failure.

Delivering telephony applications over DSL with an applications-enabled softswitch is simpler. These applications will work with a customer's existing business phones using IP adapters or IP phones, but the PBX or key system is no longer necessary. Installation of broadband voice using an applications-enabled softswitch is easier to deploy for the service provider and its customers, and will deliver capabilities beyond legacy telephone systems.

As DSL services evolve, customers need to understand all their choices. Offering packet-based voice in DSL can mean more than just cheap dial tone. DSL service providers need to be aware of the latest in telephony technologies, because their business customers will be demanding these services from them soon. The future of VoDSL has changed to include network-hosted telephony applications with the use of application-enabled softswitches.

Thompson is with Sylantro Systems Corp., Campbell, CA.

www.sylantro.com Circle 258 for more information from Sylantro

COPYRIGHT 2001 Nelson Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group