VocalData unveils next-gen IP softswitch

If the softswitch is dead, no one’s bothered to tell VocalData which this week is introducing a third-generation IP product it calls VOISS 3.0 (voice over IP softswitch) that encompasses more business-like features for service providers and offers a gateway between IP and analog.

“It’s very focused on revenue and profit-oriented capabilities and those things that they think they need to either go after customers to build their base or to have value-added applications,” said Kathy Meier, VocalData’s marketing vice president.

The product includes four new applications – call management, informal call center, front desk and meet-me conferencing – that join VocalData’s existing voice mail and desktop portal with IP conferencing to provide “a very rich suite of applications,” Meier said.

VOISS also includes security support for calls behind whatever firewall a user operates.

While dedicated to IP, Meier said, the company is not forgetting the large base of analog users or the need to interoperate between the two worlds. It is adding support for three industry integrated access devices (IADs) – Copper Mountain, vPacket and Integral Access – to its product suite as a way to transition users from circuits to packets and not lose any product investment.

“It allows them (service providers) to go after a basic business customer, like IP Centrex or business Centrex, with an analog phone,” she explained. “We also have an analog PC application so that you don’t have to remember all the star codes to invoke the things that you want. It really expands the domain of the service provider from being just focused on native IP to native IP plus BBX plus analog phones.”

Meier insists that there is a service provider segment willing to at least take a look at these products.

“The segment, though hammered, is still a viable segment, including DLECs,” she insisted. “We are seeing BLEC-type segments interested in this space. We still see some DLECs looking to expand their data services into voice. I think the demise of the segment is a little early to announce.”

For VocalData’s sake, it had better be.

“We have made our name on IP phones and hosted PBX,” Meier admitted. “We’re really focused on what it takes to be successful in the market and have packed up in our product line those things that we think are important to service providers getting an edge and being innovative in the market.”