Voice over Broadband (VoB) Telephony

Broadband proliferation is continuing at a rapid rate globally, enabling a new method for delivering residential and SOHO users with telephony services.The global market for broadband access is continuously growing. Independent market researchers claim that by 2007 there will be approximately 250 million broadband lines worldwide. Broadband access, which is offered over DSL or cable infrastructure, is enabling a large number of Voice over Broadband (VoB) services, some of which are offered by providers who are new to the field of telecom. Internet Services Providers (ISP) are becoming Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSP) by bundling voice services with their data services, and are targeting residential and Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) customers. Independent market reports project that from 20 million VoB lines in 2005, we will see over 90 million VoB lines in 2008.A typical VoB network includes the following elements:• Telephone Adapters for connecting residential and SOHO users • Softswitch and Application Server for call control, signaling, and network services• Media Server for playing tones and announcements as well for enhanced services such as conferencing• Trunking gateways for interconnecting to the Public Telephone Switched Network (PSTN)• Session Border Controllers (SBC) for interconnecting to other VoIP networksAudioCodes’ wide range of Media Gateways and Media Servers is best suited for deploying a powerful, reliable and scalable VoB network. With a comprehensive product line, over a decade of experience, and a massive installation base, AudioCodes is the ideal vendor for the gateway and media server needs of any service provider deploying a VoB network. At the heart of the VoB network is the AudioCodes’ MediaPackTM MP-20x Telephone Adapters.MP-20x Telephone AdaptersA member of the MediaPackTM series of analog VoIP gateways, the MP-20x series of Telephone Adapters is a cost-effective, cutting edge product, which allows connecting ordinary analog telephones or fax machines to the core of a VoB network. The MP-20x series typically connects to an existing Broadband Internet device (cable or DSL modem), and establishes a communications path with the Service Provider network via its IP Uplink connection. The following figure outlines 2 typical configurations at the residence and SOHO premises.The MP-20x series provides up to 2 VoIP ports for connecting up to 2 POTS lines or fax machines. Supporting a rich set of subscriber calling features such as caller ID, Call Forward, and Call Waiting, the MP-20x series maintains a uniform user experience when migrating to VoIP services. In addition, the MP-20x Series serves as a router, supporting connectivity of a PC or LAN hub/switch, and including NAT (Network Address Translation), DHCP, and PPPoE functions required for simultaneous telephone and Internet usage.Utilizing AudioCodes’ VoIPerfectTM core architecture, and benefiting from its experience in providing IP telephony solutions, the MP-20x series combines superior voice quality and state of the art features for end users, such as T.38 Fax Relay and G.168-2004 compliant Echo Cancellation. Low Bit-Rate (LBR) vocoders (voice coders) can be used simultaneously on both telephony ports to save valuable bandwidth. The “Voice over Data” prioritization algorithm prevents degradation in voice quality even during large data transfers. Advantages of deploying a Telephone Adapter The MP-20x allows the Residential user to experience the same phone service as previously. The user can keep his POTS phone which eliminates the need to learn new information about the interface and usability of an IP-phone, allowing continuous use of the phone service by applying the standard dial pad and flash hook. Residential users who have a cordless phone can continue using them transparently around the house. An additional advantage is that a fax machine with a separate number allocation can be connected. Due to the support of an internal router and firewall, the MP-20x can be deployed in a configuration which connects the residential users’ home PC on the downstream side of the Telephone Adapter further simplifying installation and configuration. This reduces “support calls” to the service provider and enables the residential user to have a smoother migration to VoIP. Leveraging on the MP-20x routing capabilities, Voice Quality is assured thanks to prioritization of voice packets over data bursts, further enhancing the “VoIP Experience”. A future version of the MP-20x will support a combination of 1 FXS and 1 FXO interfaces. This allows for fallback to PSTN in cases of degraded network quality, permits incoming calls from the PSTN to the same phone and enables the routing of 911 calls via the PSTN to regular PSAP.Softswitch / Application ServerThe MP-20x Series is designed for full interoperability with leading Softswitches and SIP Application Servers for deployment in various network environments. Over the years, AudioCodes has invested significant effort in complying with leading and evolving VoIP standards. Support of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which is commonly found in Voice over Broadband (VoB) networks, assures seamless integration and rapid deployment. Media ServerMedia Servers provide enhanced voice services such as network tone and announcements, conferencing and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) capabilities, and messaging. Interoperable with leading Softswitches and Applications Servers, the IPmediaTM Media Servers are controlled to provide a fluent network operation. Trunking GatewaysMedia Gateways provide a scalable means for interconnection with the PSTN consisting of a broad range of interface signaling (CAS, ISDN, IUA, SS7, M2UA, M3UA). Controlled usage of MGCP, Megaco/H.248 and SIP which are interoperable with leading Softswitches, the MediantTM Media Gateways enable VoB operators to provide their customers calling capabilities to and from other PSTN networks.Session Border Controllers (SBC)Session Border Controllers (SBC) enable VoB networks to peer with other VoIP networks including clearing houses which facilitate cheaper interconnection and reduce long distance calling charges. For a comprehensive and updated list, please visit our web site at http://www.audiocodes.com/Content.aspx?voip=2018. © 2006 AudioCodes Ltd. All rights reserved. AC, Ardito, AudioCodes, AudioCoded, AudioCodes logo, IPmedia, Mediant, MediaPack, MP-MLQ, NetCoder, Stretto, TrunkPack, VoicePacketizer and VolPerfect are trademarks or registered trademarks of AudioCodes Ltd. All other products or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The information and specifications in this document and the product(s) are subject to change without notice.Ref. #LTRM-09004 V.1 02/06

Avoiding Data Recovery

If you have a lot of work stored on your hard drive then, it is essential to make sure that it is safe and that you minimize the risk of losing it. Anyone who has written a long email and then tried it send it, only to find that the email has not been sent or stored and then had to rewrite it, will know the frustration this can cause. Imagine if your whole hard derived crashed, taking everything with it.

Of course you can very often retrieve the files by using either a data recovery service, or data recovery software, but both of these options can be both time consuming and expensive. It is much better to take the right precautions before the problem arises, than having to find an effective form of data recovery, to try and get back all your hard work when the worst happens.

There are several ways to back up your work regularly and effectively and this should help you to avoid the need for any data recovery, in the event of a crash or virus. One of the best ways to avoid data recovery options is a to do automated backups. This means that the contents of the hard drive are automatically backed up at set intervals, so if your data is lost, then most if not all of it will be saved.

One of the key problems in doing manual back ups is in not only remembering to do them, but also actually getting around to doing them if you are busy. It always seems more important to finish the work that you are doing, than to backup up the work that you have done already. This is why automated backing up is one of the best data recovery avoidance strategies that you can have.

It is also useful to have another back up in a remotely hosted location, so that if there is a fire or some other catastrophic event, then you have your data recovery strategy in place. Even if your entire computer is gone then you can still get your data recovery from the remote hosting and your work can be downloaded onto your new machine.

Although it may seem to be unimportant at the moment, a good data recovery back up is one of the most important aspects of your business, as it could mean the difference between saving all of your work and losing it.