NetCentric strengthens IP fax platform

NetCentric will announce this week a series of enhancements to its Internet protocol fax product line that will enable service providers to add several new services.

The new version of FaxStorm will support two emerging standards, T.37 and T.38. The first allows users with simple mail transfer protocol e-mail systems to send and receive faxes. The second lets service providers offer real-time faxing over IP-based networks. Additionally, the company said it is working with 3Com, Ascend Communications and Cisco Systems to integrate its equipment with network edge devices and will support peering and settlement services that let operators route faxes between different networks.

The result of the enhancements will be a vertically integrated solution that carriers can plug into their networks to offer advanced fax services, said John Fleming, vice president of marketing and business development for NetCentric. "Carriers are looking for turnkey solutions," he said. "As the internetworking infrastructure becomes more voice-enabled, vendors like us will be able to provide more of software based solution."

Among the first large-scale carrier deployments will be GTE, which is using NetCentric equipment for its Destination Fax service. Currently in trials, the service will be available in most major markets by the end of the year, said Greg Lensch, program manager of enhanced IP services for GTE.

Of all the enhancements, GTE is counting on the integration with edge devices to be among the most useful. "We want to offer more services on the same platform," Lensch said.

However, integrating FaxStorm with existing fax machines may pay bigger dividends.

"No matter what the wired world thinks, stand-alone fax machines aren't going away," said Maury Kauffman, managing partner of the Kauffman Group.

Support for SMTP * Allows users to send and receive faxes from e-mail and convert attached documents to fax format

* Real-time transmission Lets users send faxes from stand-alone fax machines over IP networks. Also provides backup to store-and-forward capability.

* Universal ports Allows large operators to deploy IP fax services with existing remote access equipment

* Peering and settlement Lets operators route faxes between networks