Core Constituents Of VoIP

If you are looking for a reliable Softswitch and VoIP Billing Management services provider to launch your telecom carrier business, there are many things you should be familiar with. Switching alone is a wide area with many and different components, each playing a crucial role.

It is clear that VoIP has redefined telecommunication. Businesses and homeowners are increasingly adopting it and enjoying the benefits it provide. There is considerable saving on call charges, on both local and international, and usually a better voice quality with VoIP. This technology has also made communication easy by integrating voice, video and data too.

Before trying to understand VoIP, and what makes it up, it is important to know that it is continually being developed. This could make it difficult for one who attempts to establish a definite or a universal explanation for it. VoIP is a complex technology and is constituted by multiple components that come together and do their parts to make VoIP communication happen. However, by knowing its core constituents and how they function, you can get good knowledge of the technology. There are four constituents that are most essential and commonly recognized.

Signaling Gateway Controller (SGC) or Media Gateway Controller

Also known as "Call Agent", SGC or MGC is one of the most important systems in VoIP. It plays the role of controlling calls. In VoIP, the SGC also connects the Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN realm to the Internet Protocol (IP) realm. SGC must be solid enough as it has to be always up and running to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Some of its functions include:

* Signaling System 7 (SS7) support.
* Voice call control protocols (H.323 or SIP) support.
* Media control protocols {MGCP or Megaco (H.248)}support.
* Call Detailed Records (CDRs) generation.
* Bandwidth management control.

Media Gateway

In simple words a media gateway is a device used to convert digital media streams from one telecommunication network to a different one. In VoIP, it translates the data that comes from PSTN to IP and vice versa, a process often known as packetization. Its functions include:

* Voice data transmission using Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP).
* MGCP or MEGACO support for call control (by SGC).
* T1/E1 trunks support.
* Diverse compression algorithms support.
* Digital Signal Processing (DSP) resources management.

Media Server

It could be an appliance or a software used to support additional features such as video or voicemail etc. It is also used for transmission of other data, for instance, announcements or special tones and so on. Functions include:

* Voicemail function.
* Voice dialing.
* Transmission from Voicemail to email.
* Interactive Voice Response (IVR) support.

Application Server

As the name suggests, an application server provides a platform where various applications can function. It is often referred to as the brain of the VoIP and controls the media server, offers call features and session specifications etc. General and customized services are also provided on application server. Its main functions include:

* Customized private dialing plans support.
* Offering of basic services such as call waiting, call transfer, voicemail etc.
* Offering of advance services such as call authorization.
* Call Detailed Records (CDRs) generation.
* Free phone services support.

Anyone interested in becoming a telecom carrier must understand each component of VoIP and ensure that they or their service provider has the best performance and reliable components before venturing into the VoIP world. Along with the functions mentioned above, VoIP billing and management is another crucial part of any VoIP business. Switching, billing and routing capabilities are what determine the success of any telecom carrier.

The writer is associated with Vswitch, a softswitch vendor providing superior NGN carrier-grade switching, billing and routing capabilities.