3Com
®SIP Solutions1.0
Application
Q.What is 3Com
®SIP Solutions?A.
3Com SIP Solutions is a feature-rich, end-to-end Internet commu-nications system based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The system’s robust, highly scalable architecture provides next-generation telephony services that converge voice and data on a single network.By placing intelligent devices like the 3Com SIP Phone at the edge of the network and adding the power of PDA technology to the system, 3Com has created an incredibly smart, flexible telecommunications solution for IP networks. One that empowers service providers as well as subscribers to easily manage their telephony devices and services. A solution that bridges the worlds of telephony and data service.
Q.Why would I want an IP
telephony system?A.Cost-effective, end-to-end phone
solution.This paradigm shift from traditional telephony to the smart 3Com SIP Phone offers service providers easy entry into the tele-phony marketplace. What’s more, 3Com SIP Solutions is a cost-effec-tive way for service providers to dif-ferentiate their offerings in an increasingly competitive market.Easy deployment. Roll out your telephony service faster and more
efficiently than competing ILECs and CLECs, at a lower cost. Add new subscribers easily without deploying service crews.
Outstanding scalability. Because the 3Com SIP Signaling Server drops out of the processing loop after it initiates, manages, or terminates a connection, one server can serve tens of thousands of subscribers. You can also grow the system to support more users seamlessly—and not affect your customers’ service.
Open standard. Enjoy the platform of the future: highly scalable, cost-effective, intelligent telephony that’s easy to deploy and interoperates with any SIP-enabled device. Because 3Com leads the “SIP Movement” in pushing vendor interoperability, you can be assured of an easy plug-and-play experience. What’s more, you can easily integrate 3Com SIP Solutions into your existing H.323- or MGCP-based systems.
Q.
Why would my customers want 3Com SIP Solutions?A.
Value-added features.Besides minimizing long-distance phone charges, this system offers capabil-ities beyond what current circuit-switched services can provide, including unified messaging, account provisioning, mobility applications, and call-center applications.Easy implementation.
Consolidation of voice and data networks, plug-and-play setup and configuration, simplified system management, and effortless expand-ability and upgradeexpand-ability—all add up to painless deployment and minimal recurring maintenance.
Cost savings.Estimates show that the average subscriber can save thousands of dollars simply by using IP-based telephony instead of PSTN service. Add to that the costs savings associated with simplified administration and the increased productivity offered by new applications.
Improved productivity. End users can use their portable handheld devices, also known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the PDA Phone Control Application to control 3Com SIP Phones. This added power and flexibility allows end users to more quickly and easily connect with each other.
Subscriber control.Subscribers can edit and personalize service features themselves through an intuitive interface on your customer support Web site (available with v1.1).
Semipermanent Mobility.To stay in touch, subscribers can take their phone’s functionality and identity with them in their hand-held devices. A handhand-held device can serve as a personal token, store individual subscriber prefer-ences, and control phone features.
Q.Why buy from 3Com?
A.
For service providers who decide to implement our system, 3Com offers a suite of support services:Integration.3Com maintains a number of OEM relationships to procure, deliver, install, and con-figure all third-party elements of 3Com SIP Solutions. We offer the convenience of one-stop shopping for not only the phones and 3Com SIP Service Platform, but for the
entire end-to-end system.
Consulting.Because 3Com under-stands that each service provider’s network and needs are different, we offer a range of consulting ser-vices. Our specialists can evaluate your system and current software solutions (for billing, customer care, etc.), make recommendations and implement them as needed, and devise custom applications that allow you to fully integrate 3Com SIP Solutions into your business.
Development Support.As an application developer or service provider with a software develop-ment staff, 3Com can provide R&D-level technical support to help develop applications that leverage our robust 3Com SIP Signaling Server and 3Com SIP SDK (Software Developer Kit/API).
Customer Service Support.
In addition to the special services listed above, 3Com offers its standard support plan that includes 24x7 phone support, field support, Web support, and One-Year Limited warranty. 3Com also offers software upgrade programs to keep you current on all our products.
Protocols
Q.
Why SIP?A.
Since the underlying elements of SIP are so much like HTTP, creat-ing network-based services such as time-dependent call forwarding is quick and straightforward. Developers can design and imple-ment new SIP-based voice ser-vices just as quickly and easily as they develop Web pages. SIP, a text-based protocol, also makes troubleshooting and debugging much easier than problem solving in an H.323 environment.Q.
What does SIP enable me to do?A.
SIP enables you to deploy standardforwarding, caller ID, etc.) over an
IP network. In addition, the sim-plicity and openness of SIP allow you to quickly, easily develop a broad array of new, Internet-based services that enrich stan-dard telephony with information access and personalization features. Session Initiation Protocol is just as its name suggests—a great way to set up sessions, such as tele-phone conversations. This is what makes SIP so well-suited to enabling IP telephony as well as other session-oriented services. By not requiring major hardware upgrades to application servers, but rather enabling new software-based services using SIP, service providers can reduce the time associated with deploying new features from months to days. For subscribers, this means ever-improving telecommunications service, plus lower initial and recurring telephone service costs.
Q.Why choose SIP-enabled
telephony over PSTN?A.
Today’s circuit-switched phonenetwork is based on outmoded technology, designed on assump-tions that are no longer valid, such as bandwidth scarcity and central-office switch limitations. Because of the PSTN SS7 network’s complexity and the fact that POTS telephones are dumb devices, implementing simple features and services, such as call forwarding, can be a challenging task, typical-ly requiring significant central-office switch upgrades.
In a SIP-based telephony architec-ture, you can provide new services and functionality simply by downloading them to any SIP phone. This means no huge capital outlay across the entire network. It also means that services that aren’t even possible in today’s
traditional telco world become commonplace in a SIP one. An IP backbone provides the perfect conduit for SIP-enabled telephony, as it’s designed to do one thing really well: forward lots of packets—whether they’re packets of audio, video, or data— at a low cost. Because each packet is marked with an IP address destination, the IP network doesn’t need to know anything about the call or Web transaction. Start time, stop time, and a predefined path aren’t required. Each node in the network simply examines the destination address and sends it to the next hop, until it reaches its final destination.
This IP transport model is intrin-sically better suited for the next global telecommunications network. Because of advanced buffering techniques and the fact that 3Com SIP Solutions transports voice packets via the UDP stack, SIP voice packets are guaranteed to reach callers in a timely manner. This means circuit-switched voice quality for SIP subscribers.
Q.
How do H.323, SIP, Megaco, and MGCP fit together?A.
H.323 is the protocol that pioneered the VoIP movement. Relying on traditional telco knowledge and methodologies, its designers aspired to intercon-nect quite a variety oftelecommunication systems of the time. Unfortunately, the H.323 protocol became too complex— failing to offer smooth interoper-ability. This complexity has led to serious interoperability problems between cross-vendor implemen-tations. However, the biggest drawback to H.323 is that it retains call control in the core of the network, forcing a centralized instead of a decentralized model. And this is the fundamental dif-ference between H.323 and SIP.
SIP is a much smaller, less compli-cated, and more scalable standard that has demonstrated interoper-ability from the start. Based on the pure-IP architecture of exist-ing popular protocols such as HTTP and FTP, SIP moves control from the core of the network out to the edges. The pure-IP architec-ture of this text-based protocol simplifies interoperability and speeds the development of applications that are ultimately easier to install and configure. In addition, implementing security and management features, command proxies, and extending the SIP protocol itself are all achieved without the trial-and-error approach often employed with H.323.
Clearly, 3Com recommends SIP for the optimal IP telephony signaling protocol. Nevertheless, through softswitch and gateway technolo-gy, many VoIP protocols (H.323, MGCP, SIP) may coexist. If you are a provider with an incumbent H.323 or MGCP system, SIP can integrate easily into your existing architecture. Most importantly, 3Com can work with you to design and implement a SIP migration plan for your network. Like H.323, both MGCP and Megaco retain call control in the core of the network. MGCP is fur-ther along than Megaco, which is currently undergoing further revi-sion. But that point of difference between centralized and decen-tralized networking, and slow feature development will be the limiting factors for MGCP and Megaco. This concept is useful in certain implementations, such as network element control or dumb endpoint control, but has no real place in today’s end-to-end telecommunications.
As previously mentioned, 3Com SIP Solutions can work with exist-ing or planned MGCP and Megaco
systems. Best of all, 3Com can provide services to advise and implement the optimal architec-ture for your multi-protocol IP telephony system.
Q.
How does 3Com SIP Solutions compare to a PBX system?A.
3Com SIP Solutions is considered“Centrex” because it is a managed service. This frees end users from the burden of maintaining and servicing onsite system hardware. Since 3Com SIP Solutions follows a Centrex model, many of the advantages Centrex has over PBX systems hold true. For example, installing an in-house PBX system at your customer’s location requires a large initial capital investment on their part—$300 to $2,000 per end user on average— and their extended commitment to amortize those costs. Never mind the cost and worry of ongo-ing maintenance. What about downtime? And then there’s always the fear of obsolescence. Will the system your business customer buys today be expand-able tomorrow—if their particular market surges and they double in size overnight?
3Com SIP Solutions, using an IP Centrex model, in contrast, is a very cost-effective and flexible solution. As the bulk of hardware and software resides at the service provider’s location, start-up costs are lower for your customers. There’s also no “big box” taking up space at your customer’s location and needing periodic servicing—only an ultra-reliable server at your site. And because the 3Com SIP Signaling Server drops out of the processing loop after it initiates, manages, or ter-minates a connection, one 3Com SIP Signaling Server can handle tens of thousands of simultaneous calls. Compare this against pur-chasing another expensive tele-com switch every time you add a
few more customers. Plus, since SIP is an open standard and doesn’t dictate any specific hardware, there’s no worry of obsolescence.
Q.Are IP network service providers
and developers going to be trapped by the SIP protocol?A.
No. Softswitch architectures,which translate the signaling and media between various IP and PSTN protocols, ensure connectivity between all solutions through a minimal set of common features. The real issue is going to be new productivity applications and the various protocols used to develop them. We believe service providers and developers will use the SIP protocol to develop applications that provide a higher level of service and customer satisfaction than SS7 intelligent networks can.
Q.
Will all these disparate protocols hinder migration to an all-IP network?A.
Not at all. Applications—not pro-tocols—will drive the adoption of IP communications. While archi-tectures using softswitches allow for legacy systems to still be uti-lized, competition from endpoints and servers that give subscribers new value will drive adoption of the SIP protocol.Technology and Features
Q.
What makes up 3Com SIP Solutions?A.
Client devices include:•
3Com SIP Phone.Includes installed, remotely upgradeable software.•
3Com SIP PDA Phone Control Application.Provides phone control via an infrared (IR) inter-facing between handheld devices and phones.The 3Com SIP Service Platform consists of:
•
3Com SIP Signaling Server, which handles standard SIP signaling operations such as:•
Proxy server•
Redirect•
Forking•
Auto-configuration for the 3Com SIP Phone (available with v1.1)•
Registrar/location functionality•
Robust, well-defined APIs with accompanying SDK•
3Com SIP Support System,which consists of:
•
Subscriber database.Contains subscriber data for authentica-tion and authorizaauthentica-tion of user preferences, registration, and location.•
Web-based provisioning and customer care module.Provides an easy-to-use inter-face for service providers, and allows subscribers to provision their own telephony services (available with v1.1).
•
Configuration and upgrade server.Supports auto-configuration for phone installations or phone code updates (available with v1.1).•
SNMP-enabled network management system. Supports MIB browsing of SNMP agents and basic system health for all hardware components and telephony application.Q.
What is a 3Com SIP Phone?A.
A 3Com SIP Phone is a devicethat is intelligent enough to make decisions. Unlike the PSTN model, where the phone endpoints are dumb and all the control is in the network, the decentralized SIP model allows smart client devices, such as intelligent SIP-enabled telephones, to deliver the primary benefits of IP telephony to
subscribers. Placing call control at the edge of the network allows software companies to add features to the 3Com SIP Phone or any other multimedia device much faster than traditional phone companies rolling out comparative services. Examples of features that developers could provide include high-fidelity audio,
sophisticated call filtering, unified messaging, computer-telephony integration, or video.
Q.What can you tell me about the
3Com SIP Phone?A.
The 3Com SIP Phone is a smart IP endpoint that looks and functions like a standard business telephone. In addition to features subscribers would expect with traditional telephony, it provides premium CLASS features like call hold, calltransfer, caller ID, speakerphone,
and conferencing.
The 3Com SIP Phone includes an IR adapter for subscribers to inter-face with the 3Com SIP PDA Phone Control Application. This arrange-ment allows for advanced
communications features like semi-permanent mobility, which allows subscribers to easily move from one phone to another. The easy login sequence and personal token feature of the 3Com SIP PDA Phone Control Application make subscriber mobility a snap.
Q.Why integrate handheld devices
into the system?A.
Handheld devices using the Palm OS (version 3.0 or higher) have enough computing power to act as an interface for an intelligent telephone. They offer subscribers a personal token (business card & system identity), personal infor-mation (address book), and a graphical user interface—making the communications experience much more intuitive and valuable. For example, subscribers can makeuse of personal information in the handheld device’s address book to help filter and forward calls. While the 3Com SIP PDA Phone Control Application is not required to use 3Com SIP Phones, we believe its usefulness will make it a very attractive feature to subscribers.
Q.
How easily can an end user turn any SIP phone into their SIP phone?A.
Subscribers can take their phone’sfunctionality and identity with them in their handheld devices, and stay seamlessly in touch. They simply beam their personal token and phone number from their PDA to any 3Com SIP phone, anywhere. Once registered, anyone who calls the user’s fixed phone number is automatically routed to the new phone. This mobile registration can be terminated manually just as simply, or allowed to time out. For those not using the 3Com SIP PDA Phone Control Application, an identity may be keyed into the phone using a simple login sequence that’s similar to logging in to a PC.
Q.
How do you access the network using a SIP phone?A.
An always-on, broadband connec-tion (cable, DSL, ISDN, T1, etc.) to a LAN is all that is required. Subscribers simply connect the 3Com SIP phone to their broad-band LAN connections, and they’re automatically registered with a service provider. 3Com’s auto-configuration service, which is made available to service providers, facilitates this plug-and-play subscriber experience (available with v1.1).The challenge for service providers and developers will be to keep pace with the fast-growing broad-band segment, which targets a set of early adopter customers who are particularly interested in new technology. As broadband moves
to less savvy customers, the value proposition of radical simplicity in acquisition, configuration, and control will differentiate products and services.
Q.Does the SIP phone work
with PSTN?A.
Yes. If your customers want the advanced features SIP enables, they’ll need a 3Com SIP phone. Otherwise, 3Com SIP phones interoperate with traditional tele-phones through network gateways and softswitches, which translate the signaling and media between various IP and PSTN protocols.Performance
Q.What’s the purpose of the SIP
Bake-Offs?A.
To date, there have been five SIP bake-offs. These industry testing forums test the interoperability of SIP-based hardware devices and software from different vendors. The results have been remarkable, as different vendor implementa-tions have achieved interoperabili-ty. Because of this success, SIP has already gained significant support among telecommunication equip-ment vendors, carriers, CLECs, cable operators, and Web-based voice chat providers—and cut-ting-edge solutions for SIP communications are currently in progress.Q.
What are the SIP trials about?A.
In late January 2000, 3Com and Level 3 announced an agreement, in which the two companies would test interoperability between the 3Com SIP Phone,e-Networking equipment, and Level 3’s IP access and transport network. In addition, MCI and I-Link are also testing the 3Com SIP Solutions product line. The successful completion of these trials will accelerate the widespread deployment of SIP telephony services for businesses and consumers.
Availability
Q.
When will 3Com SIP Solutions be available?A.
3Com SIP Solutions is now avail-able. Some advanced features described in this document will be available in late 2000.Q.
How much will the system cost?A.
Pricing information is available from your 3Com sales representa-tive. Depending on system size, subscriber costs can be as low as a few dollars per month per user.Q.
Where can I purchase a SIP system?A.
3Com’s relationship with service providers is critical. In going to market, radical simplicity of use is a key value proposition 3Com wishes to share with its service provider partners.In the near future, subscribers will be able to select their service provider by simply plugging in their phone. These smart phones will create more choices for the user, and save them from being locked into a specific provider due to their geographic location. 3Com is creating a new level of service, for the benefit of all—consumers and service providers.
To learn more about 3Com solutions, visit www.3com.com/. 3Com Corporation is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol COMS.
Copyright © 2000 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. The 3Com logo is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
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