NexTone Communications, developer of session management solutions for VoIP and other real-time IP services, said on Monday at GLOBALCOMM it has launched the NexTone Compatible partner program and commissioned a supporting interoperability facility in Gaithersburg, Md.
NexTone said it wants to help service providers accelerate deployment of VoIP and IMS services by ensuring seamless interoperability between the NexTone IntelliConnect System and other service platforms.
The NexTone Compatible partner program provides levels of certification ranging from product interoperability to turnkey solutions. The NexTone Lab houses partner equipment for certifications and is connected to other interoperability labs around the world. The NexTone Lab already has supported more than 100 interoperability events with equipment from vendors such as Broadsoft, Cantata, Cisco, Nortel and Sylantro, NexTone said.
NexTone offers three certification levels: NetworkReady, ServiceReady and RevenueReady. NetworkReady certification is provided to a partner device that meets the basic interoperability requirements with NexTone's IntelliConnect System. The certification can be updated with new releases of IntelliConnect and partner products on an as-needed basis.
ServiceReady certification is provided to partner products that meet an expanded level of interoperability with a specific service or application. This certification validates end-to-end interoperability between NexTone's IntelliConnect System and partner products for a specific service or application. RevenueReady certification is provided for turnkey solutions that incorporate NexTone's IntelliConnect System. This certification is provided for solutions sold, supported, and managed by NexTone or a partner with a close working relationship between the companies.
A vendor may initiate the testing and certification process, or NexTone can proactively do interoperability testing of products used by its carrier customers. Some vendors make interoperability testing a requirement for their products. Carriers also can work with NexTone to make sure the products they are evaluating are interoperable.
NexTone's IntelliConnect System provides IP networks with a facility for managing all aspects of network interconnects for real-time services, including subscriber policies, service connectivity, and traffic management. NexTone on Monday also announced a new capability of IntelliConnect System. The capability automates policy-driven session management across IP and IMS networks. Called Dynamic Policy Management, the new functionality allows operators to automatically control interconnects used by real-time sessions, and to optimize service quality, availability, and network capacity.
NexTone Communications www.nextone.com
