Beyond IP interconnection

Inet plans to enter the Internet protocol telephony market with GeoGate, a new device it will soon unveil. Building on Inet's GeoProbe monitoring platform, GeoGate acts as a media gateway controller and signaling gateway, enabling IP telephony providers to connect to incumbent carrier SS7 networks.

Compared with existing offerings, GeoGate provides an extra level of security, said Kevin Keough, Inet vice president of marketing and new business development. Traditionally, gateway manufacturers have simply verified that message addresses were known addresses. "You need to check the contents now," said Keough, adding that GeoGate provides the same security features for carriers connecting one SS7 network to another or connecting two IP networks.

"Everyone else is trying to figure out how to transfer IP traffic to SS7 and that's it," said David Berndt, associate director for The Yankee Group. "Carriers need to protect their SS7 networks from hackers."

The ability to check message content also will let incumbents bill IP telephony providers for SS7 features such as calling name delivery-a unique capability, said Berndt.

Inet also will announce the IT7 family of operations support systems that works with either GeoProbe or GeoGate. Unlike conventional OSSs that gather data from telco switches, IT7 gathers data in real time from the SS7 network, said Keogh.

IT7 includes GeoCare, an on-line analytical processing system that provides service monitoring information; GeoFraud, a fraud detection system; and GeoBill, an interconnection billing system that supports reciprocal compensation.