Sonus Simplifies Deployment, Management, Configuration of Real-Time Communications for Service Providers, Enterprises

New Sonus Session Border Controller Software Releases Expand Interworking, Management and Multimedia Capabilities across Voice, Video and Collaboration Platforms

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Sonus expands video support with interoperability between H.323 and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocols on the Sonus SBC 5000 Series, SBC 7000 and SBC SWe (Software edition) Session Border Controllers (SBC).
  • Video pass-through on the Sonus SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 Session Border Controllers enables enterprises to initiate and receive SIP-based video calls so communication beyond traditional network boundaries is seamless and more collaborative.
  • Sonus’ end-to-end SBC portfolio can be fully managed and configured using the Representational State Transfer (REST) application programming interface (API) for simple and fast orchestration of communications.
  • Sonus’ Global Services portfolio now features Real-Time Communications Monitoring as a Service, helping customers proactively address and avoid potential network issues.

 

WESTFORD, Mass. – Sonus Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONS), a global leader in enabling and securing real-time communications, today announced new enhancements to its Session Border Controller (SBC) portfolio, designed to simplify network design, reduce costs and help service providers and enterprises more effectively deploy advanced Unified Communications (UC) features.  From the corporate headquarters to branch offices, these new software releases offer expanded video and management support, as well as new network monitoring capabilities available from Sonus Global Services (SGS).

Securing Real-time Video Communications
Due to hybrid UC environments, most enterprises face interworking challenges as video endpoints range in capability from room-based video conferencing systems to smartphones. Moreover, video conferencing vendors use a range of standards that are often not interoperable, creating unneeded complexity for users.  For example, some endpoint vendors only support H.323 protocol, while newer endpoints will support both Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and H.323 and desktop endpoints often only support SIP.

An SBC’s ability to interwork and secure multiple protocols across different modalities and vendor platforms is foundational to the success of a cohesive video implementation.  Sonus SBCs enable SIP-to-SIP interoperability in video environments and now, as part of software Release 4.2, Sonus fully supports interoperability between H.323 and SIP protocols on the Sonus SBC 5000 Series, SBC 7000 and SBC SWe Session Border Controllers.  With Sonus, organizations can now fully leverage existing investments in hardware and software by making video solutions from different vendors wholly interoperable.  By negating the need for a forklift upgrade of a company’s video assets, the investment protection provided by Sonus can be substantial.

At the edge of the network, the Sonus SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 Session Border Controllers enforce security policies, allowing only authorized video and voice traffic to pass through the border.  Software Release 4.0 for the Sonus SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 introduces secure pass-through for video calls using the same SIP implementation on both ends of the session.  As a result, enterprises can now use the SBC 1000 or SBC 2000 to initiate and receive SIP-based video calls so that communication beyond traditional network boundaries is seamless and more collaborative.

Enabling Real-Time Communications
The comprehensive breadth of the Sonus SBC portfolio enables enterprises and service providers to deliver rich media transcoding and centralized policy/routing management quickly and consistently across multiple locations on-premises or as a managed service.

Sonus’ complete SBC portfolio can be managed and configured using the Representational State Transfer (REST) application programming interface (API), a Web management interface that uses Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) protocol to simplify connections between machines.  Sonus previously announced REST support on the SBC 1000 and SBC 2000 in 2013; now, software Release 4.2 introduces REST support on the SBC 5000 Series, SBC 7000 and SBC SWe.  By choosing Sonus, developers can use REST APIs to bridge Web applications and telecommunications devices for easy orchestration of communications sessions.  In addition, Sonus customers can also use the API to auto-provision SIP trunks or users in an automated way.

Monitoring Real-Time Communications
To ensure that customers can communicate simply and seamlessly, across any device and platform, Sonus introduces Real-Time Communications Monitoring as a Service. As part of the Sonus Global Services portfolio, this new Cloud-based capability provides a single point of proactive fault surveillance for customers’ managed SBCs.  By taking a “follow the sun,” 24/7/365 model, Real-Time Communications Monitoring as a Service is designed to reduce and eliminate costly network outages by proactively observing the traffic for potential issues that could impact customer service.  This new service not only removes ambiguity if a network alarm is triggered, but also speeds incident resolution by proactively working issues as soon as the alarm is identified, rather than waiting for a customer-initiated trouble ticket.

Quotes:
“We are constantly driving innovation to make the communications experience of our customers rich and collaborative — helping enterprises and service providers reduce hardware expenses, simplify implementations and use fewer resources without sacrificing exceptional capability, scale or security,” said David Tipping, vice president and general manager, Products, Sonus.  “Whether voice, video or other forms of collaboration, the speed and simplicity of the Sonus portfolio gives customers confidence that their real-time communications are seamless, secure and reliable — on any device, at any time.”

“Unified Communications continues to proliferate the workplace as companies strive to lower communications costs while increasing collaboration and productivity,” said Jim Burton, co-founder, UC Strategies.  “Enterprises are faced with the challenge of providing interoperability for multivendor UC environments, exacerbated by the growing adoption of disparate video platforms.  SBCs are critical in delivering interoperability between disparate vendors and multiple protocols across different modalities.  Sonus’ broad portfolio of SBCs is allowing enterprises to enable, secure and successfully scale their UC deployments.”

Other Facts:

  • Sonus’ SBCs have received wide industry recognition, including the Gold Award in the Product Line of the Year category of the Best in Biz Awards 2014 EMEA, the 2014 Unified Communications Product of the Year and 2014 Excellence in SDN award. 
  • Sonus was positioned in the Leaders Quadrant of the “Magic Quadrant for Session Border Controllers,” published October 21, 2013 by Gartner, Inc.
  • Sonus SBC solutions are Miercom Performance Verified and are deployed in many of the world’s mission-critical networks spanning finance, oil and gas, manufacturing, transportation, education, retail, healthcare and pharmaceutical markets.

Additional Resources:

  • Click here to download electronic copies of Sonus’ industry-leading reference guides: SIP Trunking for Dummies, Session Border Controllers for Dummies, WebRTC for Dummies and VoLTE for Dummies.
  • View complete information about the Sonus SBC portfolio at www.sonus.net.

 

Tags/Keywords:
Sonus Networks, SONS, real-time communications, Session Border Controllers, SBC, Unified Communications, UC

About Sonus Networks:
Sonus enables and secures real-time communications so the world's leading service providers and enterprises can embrace the next generation of SIP and 4G/LTE solutions including VoIP, video, instant messaging and online collaboration.  With customers in nearly 100 countries and nearly two decades of experience, Sonus offers a complete portfolio of hardware-based and virtualized Session Border Controllers (SBCs), Diameter Signaling Controllers (DSCs), policy/routing servers and media and signaling gateways.  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.

For Sonus Networks:
Sonus Networks
Wendy Tullo, +1-978-614-8167
wtullo@sonusnet.com

Lois Paul & Partners
Siobhan Nguyen, +1-617-986-5784
Siobhan_Nguyen@lpp.com

EML Wildfire
Louise Andrews
sonus@emlwildfire.com

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