Alcatel (Plano, TX -- 972-519-3000, www.alcatel.com): The 5424 Softswitch provides Internet dialup traffic offload applications and VoIP H.323 applications for CLECs. The 1000 Softswitch focuses on Class 4 replacement, and the 1000 Softswitch Multimedia implements GSM/CDMA, UMTS, and SIP protocols, providing multimedia capabilities for advanced services on both fixed and mobile networks.
Cirpack (Suresnes, France -- + 33 (0) 1 41 44 37 60, www.cirpack.com) makes what it calls a Universal NGN System. It's a single hardware platform (a multi-bus, Linux system) that can be loaded with different software packages to make it, among other items like signaling gateways, either a Class 4 or Class 5 switch.
Cisco Systems (San Jose, CA -- 408-526-4000, www.cisco.com): Current softswitch efforts are focused on products acquired through Cisco's late-fall-2000 acquisition of IPCell, according to product manager Amy Mitchell. The Virtual Switch Controller (VSC) comes in North American and "everywhere else" flavors and, as you might expect, has a definite focus on call control, rather than directly providing enhanced applications.
Clarent (Redwood City, CA -- 650-306-7511, www.clarent.com): Coming from a strong background in media gateways, Clarent's softswitch offering is called Command Center. It's perhaps the only offering in the carrier space that can (optionally) be run on NT. Features include web-based management, strong call detail billing support, and storage of all-important routing tables and provisioning information in an ODBC-compliant database, so access from other applications is easily accommodated.
COMGATES (Herzliya, Israel -- 972-9-9500404, www.comgates.com): CSSW4000 can handle 2,000 to 2,4000 simultaneous calls, offers both Class 4 and 5 functionality, talking MGCP to their CMGW5000 media gateway and SIGTRAN to the CSGW7000 signaling gateway. The switch uses SIP to talk to app servers.
CommWorks (Mount Prospect, IL -- 847-262-5000, www.commworks.com): Formed last December as wholly owned subsidiary of 3Com, the company wasn't formed from scratch. 3Com had long had a strong presence in the service provider market. Indeed, CommWorks has a substantial product presence in 16 of the top 20 SPs globally. There are several products that tie together into CommWorks overall softswitch implementation, including the CommWorks 4007 SS7 Signaling Gateway, CommWorks 4010 Session Manager (responsible for session control in a distributed architecture as defined in the Megaco/H.248 standards), CommWorks 4200 gatekeeper (for H.323-based gateways and endpoints), CommWorks 4220 SIP proxy server, and the CommWorks 4205 Protocol Mediator.
Congruency (Rochelle Park, NJ -- 201-712-5590, www.congruency.com): CNS (Congruency Network System) 3200 Enhanced Hosted Communications Platform begins with a "media server" (unfortunate name -- this is not the same sort of media server that supplies voice resources) that acts as an intermediary between the softswitch and third-party media gateways. The UDP Media Server insulates other CNS 3200 servers from third-party gateways and other devices, which may exhibit non-standard behavior. The Advanced Softswitch provides extra functions, including registration and location. Separate application components add extras like voicemail and automated attendant.
Convergent Networks (Lowell, MA -- 978-323-3300, www.convergentnetworks.com): ServiceWorks is a broadband switching solution that delivers Class 5 and Centrex, and cable packet services. A three-part package, it includes the ICSX Softswitch, the ICSG Signaling Gateway, and the ICS2000 Broadband Switch. Additionally, the Cohesion ICView management system provides carriers with tools for network management, billing mediation, and a subscriber management portal. A separate offering called SwitchWorks handles tandem relief.
CopperCom (Boca Raton, FL -- 561-322-4000, www.coppercom.com): The Local Exchange Softswitch System (LeXSS), targeted as a Class 5 replacement, is built of three pieces: CopperController is the softswitch proper, providing call control, as well as line and trunk side features. The CSX 2100 is the media gateway and the CopperCommander is the management platform. All three appear to the service provider network as a single system. In June, the company announced VoIP support for LeXSS. CopperCom will add VoIP to its CSX 2100 media gateway as well as the CopperController softswitch, providing support for all primary VoIP applications in both the core and access networks. The VoIP interface is expected to be available in Q1 2002.
Gallery IP Telephony (Annandale, NJ -- 908-238-1600, www.g-ipt.com) makes the CAssiopeia Class 5-alternative softswitch products suite.
Hughes Software Systems (Haryana, India -- 91-124-6346666, www.hssworld.com) makes a softswitch framework designed for OEM use, as described in The Soft Inside the Softswitch.
ipGen Inc. (Richardson, TX -- 972- 437-3330, www.ipgen.com): Makes a pure-software offering called Genovation-MSP (multi-services platform), currently in field trials. The product offering includes ipGen's Applications Creation Toolkit (Genovation-ACT), a drag-and-drop, object-oriented development tool that interfaces with industry open APIs, including Parlay, JAIN, JTAPI, and S.100.
ipVerse (San Jose, CA -- 408-952-5400, www.ipverse.com): ControlSwitch focuses primarily on PRI offload and tandem replacement. Another "pure play" softswitch maker, the company recently announced an important milestone in attaining reliable interoperability with media gateways by showing interoperability with Sonus Networks' GSX9000 Open Services Switch.
Lucent (Murray Hill, NJ -- 888-458-2368, www.lucent.com): This past January saw the release of Version 3 of the Lucent Softswitch (LSS). The primary deployment focus at this point is Internet offload (there are two separate offerings here, depending on where the traffic is diverted) and tandem exhaust relief.
Mockingbird Networks (Cupertino, CA -- 408-342-5300, www.mockingbirdnetworks.com): Mockingbird introduced its Impresaria Enhanced Services Softswitch, which features a SIP server, this past June. It's part of Mockingbird's SIP-based "Voice Services Infrastructure" VoIP architecture.
