Sonus Session Border Controllers Unlock Full Potential of Unified Communications for Enterprises, Service Providers

 

New Release of the Sonus SBC 5000 Series Delivers Expanded Multimedia Capabilities with Feature-Rich Interworking across Voice, Video and Collaboration

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Sonus is delivering industry-leading multimedia interworking capabilities on the Sonus SBC 5000 series of Session Border Controllers (SBCs), enabling full multimedia SBC support for voice, video and collaboration. Sonus is the only vendor in the market with the ability to provide video interworking without compromising SBC performance or scale.
  • Sonus is strengthening the Sonus SBC 5000 series with more than 100 new software enhancements in Release 4.0, extending multimedia features for Unified Communications (UC) needs as well as expanding IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), security and management capabilities.
  • The new Sonus ePSX (embedded PSX) policy engine integrates capabilities from the proven, centralized PSX policy manager into the SBC 5000 series hardware platforms, allowing businesses to manage multimedia sessions and centralize dial plans based on business rules and priorities.

 
WESTFORD, Mass. – Sonus Networks, Inc., a global leader in SIP communications, today announced new multimedia enhancements to the Sonus 5000 series of Session Border Controllers (SBCs), designed to eliminate communication barriers so that enterprises and service providers can unlock the full potential of Unified Communications (UC).
 
With the latest release of the SBC 5000 series, Sonus introduces industry-leading video interworking as well as embedded policy functionality, delivering true multimedia SBC support for voice, video and collaboration with advanced security and session management capabilities.
 
According to the Nemertes Research “Pervasive Video Collaboration Benchmark Report,” desktop video conferencing deployments are increasing rapidly. Twenty-three percent of companies have deployed desktop video to more than half of their employees, up from 9 percent who had deployed that extensively in 2012. In addition, more than half of respondents are using or are planning to deploy capabilities for business-to-business video conferencing. 
 
In today’s always-connected workplace, companies often maintain a separate video silo to accommodate video: room-based systems, desktop and personal video devices. This can make collaboration unnecessarily complex, and many companies are neither able to leverage their investments nor recognize the benefits of video due to lack of interoperability among endpoints.  For example, video sessions between room systems and personal devices cannot be supported because devices and software clients from different vendors are incompatible. Sonus SBCs help break down silos and integrate a company’s video endpoints by interworking different protocols and devices to enable one seamless end-to-end video experience. Sonus is the only vendor in the market with the ability to provide video interworking among endpoints from various vendors without compromising SBC performance or scale. By enabling interoperability between video endpoints, Sonus SBCs help companies maximize current video investments while providing the freedom for businesses to use the devices of their choice without being locked into one vendor or endpoint device.
 
The new Sonus ePSX (embedded PSX) policy engine – with capabilities from the proven, centralized PSX policy manager embedded on the SBC 5000 series hardware platforms – allows businesses to manage multimedia sessions and centralize dial plans based on business rules and priorities. Utilizing policy, Sonus SBCs ensure that the real-time path between devices is robust and sustainable to enable a successful multimedia experience.
 
With the rapid adoption of bring your own device (BYOD), network security remains a primary concern for information technology (IT) decision makers. BYOD video presents even greater challenges to network compliance as video delivered outside of the firewall without encryption is a prime target for theft. The Sonus SBC 5000 series verifies authentications and encrypts video communication, protecting sensitive information against security breaches that can be detrimental to corporations.
 

Additional Features and Enhancements

In addition to video interworking and embedded policy support, the new Release 4.0 introduces more than 100 updates to its SBC 5000 series, including:

  • Microsoft® Lync® 2013 qualification for the SBC 5210 and SBC 5110 Session Border Controllers. As a Microsoft Gold Communications partner, Sonus’ SBC portfolio provides the industry’s broadest end-to-end Microsoft Lync qualified SBC solution, delivering Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-enabled applications from the enterprise headquarters to the branch office.
  • Increased IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) support as a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) to enable the SBC 5000 series to act as an access device bridging endpoints into the IMS core
  • SIPREC call recording for standards-based, centralized recording in enterprises and contact centers
  • Serviceability and supportability enhancements to improve customer experience and reduce operational costs

 

Quotes:

“The pervasiveness of video, which is manifested in different forms, can create unneeded complexity for companies. An SBC’s ability to interwork disparate vendors and multiple protocols across different modalities is foundational to the success of video implementation,” said David Tipping, vice president and general manager, SBC Business, Sonus. “Sonus multimedia SBCs with embedded policy features fuel a rich Unified Communications experience for customers, within or beyond the enterprise and regardless of device type. Our customers can be confident that their voice, video and collaboration are fully featured and Sonus secure.”
 
“Video-aware session border controllers can enable companies to manage policies and integration of disparate platforms,” said Irwin Lazar, vice president and service director, Nemertes Research.
 

Other Facts:

  • The Sonus SBC 5000 series of Session Border Controllers is headlined by the Sonus SBC 5110 Session Border Controller for deployments requiring up to 10,000 concurrent sessions as well as the SBC 5210 Session Border Controller which scales up to 64,000 concurrent sessions.
  • For two consecutive years, Sonus has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant of the "Magic Quadrant for Session Border Controllers" and was the largest gainer in the report published on October 21, 2013 by Gartner, Inc.
  • Sonus is the fastest growing brand of SBCs. (Source: Infonetics Research, 2011 – 2012)
  • Sonus was named to the 2013 InformationWeek 500 List of Top Technology Innovators in the U.S. for a second consecutive year. Sonus received the award in recognition of its 2013 companywide UC deployment, featuring Microsoft Lync Enterprise Voice and Sonus SBCs.

 

Additional Resources:

  • Click here to download electronic copies of Sonus’ educational guides, published in partnership with John Wiley and Sons, Inc.; publisher of the world’s best-selling For Dummies® reference series: Lync Enterprise Voice for Dummies, SIP Trunking for Dummies and Session Border Controllers for Dummies.
  • Download a copy of the CIO Magazine Playbook, “Three Steps to Maximizing ROI for Microsoft Lync Enterprise Voice.”

 

Tags/Keywords:

Sonus, SONS, Microsoft, Microsoft Lync, Unified Communications, UC, video, SIP, video, collaboration, BYOD, cost savings, employee productivity, smartphones, tablets, trends, Session Border Controller, SBC
 

About Sonus Networks:

Sonus helps the world's leading communications service providers and enterprises embrace the next generation of SIP-based solutions including VoIP, video and Unified Communications through secure, reliable and scalable IP networks. With customers around the globe and 15 years of experience transforming networks to IP, Sonus has enabled service providers and enterprises to capture and retain users and generate significant ROI. Sonus products include session border controllers, policy/routing servers, subscriber feature servers and media and signaling gateways. Sonus products are supported by a global services team with experience in design, deployment and maintenance of some of the world's largest and most complex IP networks. For more information, visit www.sonus.net or call 1-855-GO-SONUS.
 

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

The information in this release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Although Sonus believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this report are forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Sonus' business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of Sonus' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any forward-looking statements represent Sonus' views only as of the date on which such statement is made, and should not be relied upon as representing Sonus' views as of any subsequent date. While Sonus may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point, Sonus specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law.
 
Microsoft and Lync are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
 
Sonus Networks
Wendy Tullo, +1-972-301-4978
wtullo@sonusnet.com
 
Lois Paul & Partners
Anastasia Efstratios, +1-617-986-5873
anastasia_efstratios@lpp.com
 

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EML Wildfire
Louise Andrews
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