PIKA Technologies VoIP and HMP Initiatives

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PIKA Technologies VoIP and HMP Initiatives

PIKA Technologies adds to its VoIP portfolio with integrated SIP and unveils initiatives in host media processing (HMP) technology. I remember playing with PIKA voice and fax boards in the labs years ago as well as Rhetorex/Lucent/Octel boards, Dialogic boards (now Intel), and of course Natural MicroSystems boards. Well, PIKA is keeping with the times by offering VoIP boards and more importantly a powerful SDK for developing VoIP applications. In fact, to make development easier, on their website you can download sample applications, including a SIP Gateway application. The latest sample app is for developers interested in using SIP (session initiation protocol) with the RTP (real-time transfer protocol) streaming capabilities of PIKA MonteCarlo SDK 6.2. The app is designed to show you how to build a TDM/IP gateway using an implementation of the open source oSIP stack for call control.

According to PIKA, they chose SIP - oSIP specifically - for two primary reasons. "First, SIP has widespread industry acceptance as a VoIP call control mechanism (especially for devices such as gateways, etc.) and, second, oSIP is free to develop on and distribute (under LGPL). This makes it ideally suited for this particular sample application." It is worth noting that when using the PIKA RTP streaming capabilities, it is not a requirement to use SIP. Any standard or proprietary call control mechanism can be used since this functionality will reside within the application. Therefore, you can choose whatever type of call control you require.

Here's the news that PIKA announced today involving their new VoIP and HMP (host media processing) inititatives:

Ottawa, Canada - April 5, 2005 - For two decades, PIKA Technologies has delivered the functionality commercial application developers require to remain competitive in their evolving IVR, call center, custom IP/PC PBX, fax and logging solutions markets. The company announced today that an integrated SIP stack for VoIP signaling would be available to developers this June. The company also unveiled its host media processing (HMP) technology, which is slated for initial release later this year.

Session initiation protocol (SIP) stack
By way of PIKA MonteCarlo SDK, application developers gain access to reliable media processing building blocks for the converged TDM/IP environment. This June, a low-level SIP stack will be integrated into the SDK and will have a programming interface common to existing SDK functions. The flexible SIP stack will enable VoIP signaling in conjunction with real-time transport protocol streaming (RTP). It is a mechanism that enables IP-based solutions to make and receive voice calls.

The PIKA SIP stack will allow developers to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the converged network space; for example:

* In IP PBX environments, SIP-enabled VoIP allows developers to offer desktop functionality that was previously only available to customers willing to invest in expensive solutions that required proprietary digital telephone sets. Developers can now deliver this same rich functionality to the local and remote desktop in a model that will be affordable to small- and mid-sized businesses. This functionality will be particularly applicable to systems designed for use in call center environments.

* In IP PBX environments, developers can use media processing building blocks from PIKA Technologies to IP-enable call processing, automated attendant, voice mail, fax, and unified messaging. PIKA building blocks are also applicable for special purpose VoIP gateway applications. An IP-ready environment allows developers to take advantage of new revenue streams, and enables them to provide solutions to their customers that create operational and cost efficiencies.

* In IVR and voice portal environments, developers can link distributed branch offices via an IP based local or wide area network. Developers can offer their enterprise customers flexibility and cost efficiency.

PIKA Technologies will also include enhanced fax services in the next release of the MonteCarlo SDK. The enhancements will include high-density fax for pure fax as well as combination voice/fax environments in a single computer chassis. Savings can be realized on T1/E1 lines, in chassis space, and in support infrastructure and management. Developers can cost-effectively deploy and maintain large-volume fax and voice/fax environments reliably.

"We enjoy a steady, technical rapport with a global network of application developers. It is through in-depth technical discussions with knowledgeable developers that we learn how best to support them," explained Doug Petty, VP Technology and Operations, PIKA Technologies. "As a result, we are delivering an integrated SIP stack and enhanced fax for high density environments."

PIKA MonteCarlo SDK, Release 6.3, will be available for general distribution in June 2005. MonteCarlo 6.3 will enable SIP and enhanced fax services on PIKA digital T1/E1 boards and PIKA analog boards. To remove the typical complexity of moving from one release to the next, most MonteCarlo 6.1- and 6.2-based applications will run on 6.3 with a simple recompile only. Developers interested in beta trialing MonteCarlo 6.3, are invited to contact the sales manager for their region or visit www.pikatechnologies.com

Host media processing
Today, PIKA Technologies also unveiled its initiatives in HMP. In the early life of the company, as part of the product strategy, the design team made the architectural decision to power the call control stacks on the computer's host processor. They are now leveraging that knowledge and expertise as their designers enable current DSP-based media processing algorithms to run on the host as well. This is the next step in the company's product roadmap for converged TDM/IP and pure IP environments.

In a pure IP environment, PIKA Technologies' patent-pending technology, called AllOnHost(tm) media processing, will run on the host processor thereby eliminating the requirement for voice boards. The company is targeting to have AllOnHost technology in developers' hands later this year. PIKA Technologies' initiatives will give developers flexibility of choice for AllOnBoard(tm) (DSP-based) media processing, AllOnHost media processing, or a blend of both depending on application requirements.

See PIKA Technologies' reliable media processing building blocks at SUPERCOMM in Chicago, June 7 to 9, 2005. Talk with their technical masterminds about SIP, VoIP, fax and AllOnHost when you visit them at Booth # 72080.



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