CopperCom adds VoIP support

CopperCom has added voice-over-IP (VOIP) support to its Local Exchange Softswitch System (LeXSS) and will add VoIP to its media gateway as well as the softswitch, providing support for all primary IP voice applications in both the core and access networks.

“We came to this space differently,” said Stefan Knight, CopperCom’s product marketing director. “We spent a lot of time making sure the switch interoperates with the PSTN.”

CopperCom’s business plan has been built around offering both circuit and packet support in a softswitch environment, “while ensuring the fundamental interdependencies of PSTN interoperability, class 4/5 creation, voice over broadband access and network management,” the company said.

VolP represents the next layer in the architecture, helping carriers evolve their networks to eventual IP deployment.

“We’re feeling somewhat vindicated by what’s going on in the market,” said Knight, pointing to an increase in the number of switch companies adopting migratory strategies. “The market has finally caught up to our position.”

Knight said that IP will move slowly into the network as service providers continue to use the bought-and-paid-for features of their switches.

“IP is first going to become useful to a local exchange carrier to connect to an IP backbone,” he explained.

The migration, he said, will allow service providers to put in IP features where needed, yet maintain traditional phone services for customers who want them.

“My service can deliver features to regular old black phones as well as IP phones,” he said. “We’re adopting an IP interface as an alternate transport mechanism for local exchange carriers.”

The VoIP interface is expected to be available in the first quarter of next year.