The Next Step in Enterprise VoIP

The February SIP Trunk Seminars were a great success. Thank you to everyone who attended. I am proud to say we had more people in attendance at the last Seminars than ever before.

If you missed any of our very informative sessions, please click to Ingate.com where you can download all of the presentations for free. Here is that link:

http://www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_seminar_spring09_mediacoverage.php

Thanks to all of our wonderful presenters. Every season our speakers present the very best content, offering new ideas and truly educating the audience on SIP, SIP trunking and all of the topics in between. And a special thanks to Mark Blomquist, who travelled all the way from Tucson, Arizona to tell the VoIP and SIP trunking success story at Kool Smiles. Thanks, Mark!

What's next? The buzz from ITEXPO is clearly driving conversations in two directions:

Carriers and SIP trunking - Carriers are seeing great business opportunities in SIP trunking and are eager for more information. In today's economy, that's only going to get more significant.

Unified Communications - SIP trunking is an easy stepping stone toward Unified Communications. SIP trunking is a service. However, to be able to use SIP trunking, one must first SIP-enable the network. Once SIP capabilities are in place, and SIP communications are possible, then the equipment is all there to start using other SIP communications, like presence or IM. Or video.

On a last note, I wanted to alert you to a new feature we are offering at Ingate. The Ingate Knowledge Base is a series of weekly, short emails that discuss the basics of SIP, including SIP trunking, security, NAT traversal etc. To be included on the mailing list please email sofia@ingate.com. Or feel free to browse the existing library here: http://www.ingate.com/Knowledgebase.php

If you have any topics you'd like to see addressed, please email Sofia or reach out to me directly at anders@ingate.com.

- Anders

Are you headed to warm Miami Beach next week, for the ITEXPO? Join Ingate and the leading voices in SIP trunking for the "SIP Trunking: Everything You Need to Know" seminars - free for all ITEXPO attendees.

This season we have some exciting new sessions:

Session for Carriers with J. Arnold & Associates. The SIP Forum and Other Leaders
A new session, "Just for Carriers: SIP Trunk Intensive Workshop," will feature an in-depth analysis on SIP trunks to address the unique needs of this audience.

The ROI of SIP Trunking
Case studies detailing real-world deployments will illustrate how SIP trunks deliver a significant return-on-investment.

Technology Survival Roadmap
J. Arnold & Associates will present a Technology Survival Roadmap session discussing opportunities for today's economy.

Security Seminars, Live Demos, "How-To" Sessions on Deployments
Security sessions with VOIPSA will discuss VoIP and SIP trunk security. Step-by-step, interactive whiteboarding seminars with Avaya and BandTel will illustrate the what, why and how of SIP trunking architecture as well as the ITSP perspective. A SIP Trunking Boot Camp for "Basic Training" on SIP trunk installations, led by Ingate, is free for all attendees this season.

Live demonstrations, during which participants will set up a SIP trunk in 20 minutes or less on-site, will also be featured.

Attendees can earn a SIP Trunking Professional Certificate by participating in the Professional Development Program on the first day of the Show.

SIP Forum SIPconnect Workshop
A SIP Forum Best Practices Workshop: Building Interoperable SIP Trunking Solutions with SIPconnect, will also be featured.

Confirmed Speakers include Airespring, Avaya, BandTel, Bandwidth.com, BBTelsys, Cbeyond, Digium, Iwatsu, Kool Smiles and ShoreTel. Thought leaders from J. Arnold & Associates, The SIP Forum and VoIP Security Alliance (VOIPSA) will also participate.

The complete schedule can be found here.

Free VIP passes can be obtained here.

All sessions will be held in Room B114/115 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, February 2-4.

See you there!

# # #

Demand for SIP trunks is on the rise - yes, even in this bad economy. Why? Because SIP trunks make good financial sense now, providing economic relief to a company immediately, and later down the road.

Based on our numerous customer deployments, we see SIP trunk installations paying for themselves -meaning, the entire installation of a new IP-PBX, phones, network upgrades and the Ingate solution - in less than a year. One recent installation resulted in a 40% reduction in telephony costs. Empirical evidence from other installations confirms these results.

How can this be so?

SIP trunks reduce costs by:
• Eliminating the need to purchase expensive BRIs (Basic Rate Interfaces) or PRIs (Primary Rate Interfaces) allowing the user to buy just the capacity they need.

• Making it possible to cost-efficiently use SIP trunks from multiple service providers. By routing calls to the cheapest service provider based on country codes, for example, significant savings can be achieved.

Once SIP trunking is deployed and the network upgraded to support it, a business has everything it needs in place to start using other SIP applications - paving the way to Unified Communications.

Learn more at the Ingate SIP Trunk Seminars, to be held at the ITEXPO in February in Miami.

A sneak peek:

• CASE STUDY - The ROI of SIP Trunking
• SIP Trunking and Security
• Beyond POTS Replacement
• Just for Carriers: Intensive Workshop
• Enterprise Infrastructure and Service Provider Perspective sessions

Season's greetings,

Anders

These are interesting times for every player in the IP communications space. SIP trunking has really been taking off, making enterprise VoIP easier to adopt - and more cost-effective - than ever before. Carriers and IP-PBXs are seeing this growth opportunity, and enterprises are today eager for information on the what, why and how of SIP trunking.

It is an exciting time for me as well. I recently joined Ingate as CEO, and let me tell you there is much happening not only on the SIP trunking front, but in the SIP-based IP communications industry as well. I had the opportunity to meet a great many new colleagues recently at the ITEXPO in Los Angeles. Partners, customers, VARs, end-users are all eager for solutions that address security, that make deployments easier, and that future-proof their networks. More and more carriers are moving into the SIP trunking segment, and they need information - as well as solutions - to help them build their businesses and to reach as many IP-PBX brands as possible.

I am thrilled to be a part of this industry, and to join Ingate. The company is leading the charge in developing solutions that enable trusted SIP communications, SIP trunking, remote SIP connectivity etc. I wanted to take this opportunity in the Ingate blog to introduce myself and provide my perspective, that of a newcomer excited about this burgeoning industry.

My background is from the carrier side of the business. I recently served as chief executive officer and member of the board for Zitius Service Delivery AB, a leading broadband communications operator in Sweden that I co-founded in 2003. I also held a pivotal leadership role at Alcatel Nordics (now Alcatel-Lucent), where I led the Broadband Communications Division as general manager, based in Denmark. I steered Alcatel Nordics through post-merger integration activities after the company acquired Newbridge Networks A/S, a leading Canadian broadband and telecommunications equipment manufacturer. More about my career can be found in he "About Me" section above.

We will be continuing this blog with new, frequent updates. Of course we are always interested in your perspectives - if there is a topic you want addressed (or would just like to chat), please drop me a note anytime.

- Anders (anders.eriksson@ingate.com)

Are you considering SIP trunking as part of your communications strategy? Need to know more? Next week in Los Angeles, Ingate will once again host free informative seminars on SIP trunking at ITEXPO. SIP trunks are a cost-efficient solution in which enterprises reap the benefits almost immediately.

Learn all you need to know about deploying SIP trunks in an enterprise environment with Ingate, Avaya, TMC and other leaders in the IP communications industry.

New this season:

• Step-by-step, interactive whiteboarding sessions with Avaya to illustrate the what, why and how of SIP trunking architecture

• Two case study seminars - one featuring a SIP trunk installation for American Idol's production company, the other on bundled SIP trunk solutions - to delve deeper into the issues

• SIP Trunking Boot Camp for "Basic Training" on SIP trunk installations, led by Avaya and Ingate

Confirmed Speakers include Avaya, BandTel, Bandwidth.com, BroadSoft, Broadvox, Cbeyond, Digium/Asterisk, Iwatsu, Mitel, ShoreTel and Voxitas. Thought leaders from the SIP Forum, VoIP Security Alliance (VOIPSA) and NeuStar/ENUM IETF will also participate.

We'll also demonstrate how easy it is to set up a SIP trunk by deploying one live, on-site, in 20 minutes or less.

More information and a detailed schedule can be found here:
http://www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_seminar.php

Pre-register at http://www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_Registration.php

Free VIP passes can be obtained here: https://www.tmcnet.com/scripts/itexpo/ca08/itfall08reg.aspx?theplan=D&

- Olle

We've just launched a new resource for information on SIP trunks - the new Ingate SIP Trunking Community on TMCnet.

The SIP Trunking Community provides up-to-the-minute news and information - on topics that include enterprise VoIP and security - for service providers, enterprises and VARs. Here we have gathered other valuable resources such as data sheets, case studies, feature articles, white papers and Webinars.

The SIP Trunking community can be found here: http://sip-trunking.tmcnet.com/. Take a look and let me know what you think.

And while we're on the topic of SIP trunking, I have to tell you that we have an amazing group of presenters lined up for the "SIP Trunking: everything You Need to Know" seminars at the ITEXPO in Los Angeles, in September. Avaya will be leading several interactive sessions; we even have a case study on "American Idol" that should be very informative.

Confirmed Speakers include Avaya, BandTel, Bandwidth.com, BroadSoft, Broadvox, Cbeyond, Digium/Asterisk, Iwatsu, Mitel, ShoreTel and Voxitas. Thought leaders from the SIP Forum, VoIP Security Alliance (VOIPSA) and NeuStar/ENUM IETF will also participate.

For more information visit www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_seminar.php

Free VIP passes can be obtained here: https://www.tmcnet.com/scripts/itexpo/ca08/itfall08reg.aspx?theplan=D&

More to come this topic shortly.

- Olle

We've just launched a new resource for information on SIP trunks - the new Ingate SIP Trunking Community on TMCnet.

The SIP Trunking Community provides up-to-the-minute news and information - on topics that include enterprise VoIP and security - for service providers, enterprises and VARs. Here we have gathered other valuable resources such as data sheets, case studies, feature articles, white papers and Webinars.

The SIP Trunking community can be found here: http://sip-trunking.tmcnet.com/. Take a look and let me know what you think.

And while we're on the topic of SIP trunking, I have to tell you that we have an amazing group of presenters lined up for the "SIP Trunking: everything You Need to Know" seminars at the ITEXPO in Los Angeles, in September. Avaya will be leading several interactive sessions; we even have a case study on "American Idol" that should be very informative.

Confirmed Speakers include Avaya, BandTel, Bandwidth.com, BroadSoft, Broadvox, Cbeyond, Digium/Asterisk, Iwatsu, Mitel, ShoreTel and Voxitas. Thought leaders from the SIP Forum, VoIP Security Alliance (VOIPSA) and NeuStar/ENUM IETF will also participate.

For more information visit www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_seminar.php

Free VIP passes can be obtained here: https://www.tmcnet.com/scripts/itexpo/ca08/itfall08reg.aspx?theplan=D&

More to come this topic shortly.

- Olle

Unified Communications (UC) is an important concept that can take your enterprise to the next level with regard to efficiency, of achieving the very most in cost savings from your communications expenses. And, contrary to popular rumors and scare stories floating around, UC can be very secure if you protect your network and the communication with the appropriate technologies and equipment.

UC is the integration of many forms of communication, including fixed and mobile voice, and Internet based applications such as email, IM, VoIP, presence...you get the idea. While this sounds complicated, the goal of UC is to simplify communications so that everyone can be reached anywhere, anytime, via the mode of communication that's most helpful for them (for instance if I'm in a meeting, I'll get your email on my cell phone, and you'll see I'm unavailable for a phone call on the presence application running from your desktop).

Unfortunately there are those among us leveraging the "hype" surrounding UC to scare end users into believing that something that seems so complicated must inherently be insecure. This is not so.

The first step toward deploying any UC architecture is to plug your phone into the Internet. VoIP is the stepping stone to UC, and even smaller businesses can implement VoIP using very easy-to-install SIP trunking equipment. This is also a cost-effective way to adopt VoIP and, ultimately, UC applications.

With the right SIP trunk trio in place -- ITSP, IP-PBX and SIP-enabling edge device - you can be up and running with a SIP trunk in a matter of minutes (we did it in 15 at the ITEXPO in Miami this past January). Most ITSPs are offering SIP trunk services now; if you need help, contact your local VAR (one focused on convergence solutions).

As for VoIP, security for Unified Communications can be achieved with the right equipment protecting your network. Maximize the security benefits of SIP with the right edge device - far too often, in SIP trunking solutions we see enterprises connecting their PBX directly to the Internet which jeopardizes their network security.

The edge device should not only ensure security, but also handle interoperability issues among all of the various equipment, service providers etc. Incompatibilities can become security risks quickly. Addressing them proactively drastically reduces your exposure.

I hope you had a chance to join us at the fourth installment of the SIP Trunking Seminars at the ITEXPO. 

Many of the sessions were filled to capacity.  Clearly, there is still a strong demand for information about SIP trunking.  When we started offering these educational seminars, it was because people didn’t know enough about the technology.  The focus was on the “what” and “why” of SIP trunking.

Today word has certainly spread, and attendees were eager for information about SIP trunking on a more detailed, deeper level.  But enterprises are still challenged with implementation and interoperability issues.  Our seminars demonstrating how to set up a SIP trunk connection live – on-site in the Miami Beach Convention Center – were clearly some of the most popular sessions.  Two IP-PBX vendors set up their systems with an Ingate, connected to an ITSP over the Internet and made a call to a cell phone in the audience.

Another key topic for attendees was security.  That was no surprise, as security is a particularly important issue for the enterprise community.  

On a side note: a sincere thank you to the esteemed speakers who participated in the Miami seminars.  Your expertise and enthusiasm make these sessions invaluable.  Thanks go to BroadSoft, Avaya, BandTel, Bandwidth.com, Bluesocket, Broadvox, Cbeyond, Objectworld and ShoreTel.  Thanks also to the thought leaders from the SIP Forum, VoIP Security Alliance (VOIPSA) and NeuStar/ENUM IETF.

And of course, many thanks to TMC for once again arranging a wonderful, successful event.

If you attended last week’s seminars, we’d love to hear from you – your suggestions and comments are all welcome.

- Olle

This month in Miami, we at Ingate will once again host informative seminars on SIP trunking at ITEXPO.  SIP trunks are a critical next step in the road to global connectivity. They are also a cost-efficient option in which enterprises reap the benefits almost immediately. 

But are they a part of your communications strategy? 

Learn all you need to know about deploying SIP trunks in an enterprise environment with Ingate, BroadSoft, TMC and a whole list of key players in the IP communications industry.  Free for all ITEXPO attendees, these seminars are always extremely popular – most discussions are standing room only. 

This season promises to be better than ever.  Participants include:

•    Avaya
•    BandTel
•    Bandwidth.com
•    Bluesocket
•    Broadvox
•    BroadSoft
•    Cbeyond
•    NeuStar/ENUM IETF
•    Objectworld
•    ShoreTel
•    SIP Forum
•    VoIP Security Alliance (VOIPSA)

New tracks on “Shattering the Myths of SIP Communications” will delve into VoIP security and simplifying enterprise deployments.  In addition, a SIPconnect Compliance Workshop, presented by the SIP Forum, will provide an overview of SIPconnect and its value proposition, a step-by-step SIPconnect compliance tutorial and lessons learned from actual SIPconnect deployments. 
 
We’ll also demonstrate how easy it is to set up a SIP trunk by deploying one live, on-site, in 20 minutes or less.

I look forward to seeing you in Miami January 23-25.  For more information and a detailed schedule, visit www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_seminar.php

Pre-register at http://www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_Registration.php

- Olle

The New Year is almost upon us and I can’t help but wonder – what’s next for IP communications?  What’s in store for all of us in 2008?

My predictions, based on extensive conversations with customers, partners and media-folk:

An Increased Focus on Security:  Of course enterprise network security has always been a priority.  While up until now we have seen much back-and-forth about VoIP and security in general, in 2008 I imagine the security discussion will get even louder as adoption of SIP-based communications continues to rise.  As security vendors we must remain vigilant in meeting interoperability standards to enable VoIP to actually become as widely used as other Internet-based applications as email or Web surfing and in developing innovative, best-in-breed solutions.  We must also work together to educate the industry about which threats are genuine and which are just marketing spin to sell ineffective products.

SIP Trunking:  One of the reasons for the continued increase in VoIP deployments is SIP trunking.  It’s a fast and easy-to-deploy solution that has opened the door for smaller enterprises – as well as the mid-to-large-sized – to adopt SIP-based VoIP.  It’s also a low-cost option in which enterprises reap the benefits almost immediately. 

We at Ingate have been helping to spread the word about SIP trunking through the ITEXPO seminars (http://www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_seminar.php), and let me tell you, attendance goes up significantly every time.  Why?  Because there’s still a great need for information on SIP trunks and for solutions roadmaps.

There’s also a need for dispelling myths.  Can VoIP really be secure?  Truth be told, SIP-based communications like VoIP can be more secure than those over the PSTN.   Are SIP Trunks difficult to deploy in an enterprise setting?  Nope.  And we’ll prove it at our upcoming SIP trunking seminars at the ITEXPO in January, where we’ll deploy a SIP trunk right there, on-site, in 20 minutes or less.  Twice.

VoIP 2.0:  OK it’s not really VoIP 2.0, but in 2008 I predict that we’ll see an interest in other SIP-based applications – not just VoIP – grab some headlines.  We’ll also see a surge in the use of these realtime applications beyond the LAN, a significant jump in connecting remote workers and even customers with SIP.

From all of us at Ingate Systems, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year!

-- Olle

As many as 9 out of 10 employees now work at locations other than company headquarters, according to recent research from Nemertes Research LLC.  Businesses need to consider the best ways to support this mobile workforce to help them “get things done.” 

Internet-based remote connectivity solutions are a natural place to start, as most professionals find themselves connected to the Internet around the clock (working from their homes or any other place in the world).

What if remote workers could utilize the capabilities of their corporate IP-PBX from home, or while at a satellite office or on the road?   VoIP, of course, is likely the first thought.   But what about IM?  Video?  Conferencing? Whiteboarding applications?  These, too, would be a tremendous asset to the remote worker.  And it’s all possible, right now.

There are several issues IT managers must address when enabling remote workers:

Solving the NAT traversal issue at the remote sites:  There are many solutions available.  The IETF has recommended ICE (Interactive Connectivity Establishment) to resolve NAT traversal issues.  However, other methods of traversing common NATs are available on SIP-aware firewalls that employ far-end NAT traversal techniques to maintain a connection with a remote site.  This at the same time as they solve near-end NAT traversal at the headquarters/corporate site.

Security: Utilizing equipment that secures the SIP traffic is essential.  Choose solutions that support Secure Real Time Protocol (SRTP) and Transport Layer Security (TLS).  Used with voice data, SRTP and TLS provide one of the most secure environments for Internet telephony and VoIP applications available. 

In addition, equipment must also secure the network/users from attacks and intrusion.  SIP-aware firewalls are a great solution here as they can serve as enterprise-class firewalls for traditional data, while at the same time providing SIP capabilities (and securing them as well, too).

While there are certainly additional issues, these two are the most urgent to address.  Once a remote worker is up and running, they can enjoy a wide variety of SIP-based applications – in collaboration with their corporate office – to improve productivity and develop a rich working environment.

One of the most exciting aspects about remote workers is deploying the same technology with customers.  Imagine providing your best customers access to call your tech team for free, from anywhere in the world.  In this context, IM is an invaluable business tool (as are presence applications).  The opportunities are limitless when we broaden the way we think about IP communications.

 
- Olle

I hope you had a chance to join us at the third installment of the SIP Trunking Seminars at the ITEXPO.  While there, we had the opportunity to demonstrate with colleagues from ShoreTel and Bandwidth.com how fast and easy it can be to set up a SIP trunk.  Our goal was to be up and running within a half hour.  We did it in 15 minutes.

This demonstration illustrates one of the most important keys to success for enterprise VoIP, and IP technologies in general: solutions have to be relatively easy, and fast, to implement.  The speed and ease of deployment of SIP trunks help bring this technology from the abstract world of theory – “it would be great to do this” – to rapid, real-world deployments. 

This is the path to success we must follow as we sprint toward unified communications and all the possibilities that entails.  I believe, as many of my colleagues do, that interoperability will pave the way to making rapid deployments possible.  Our good friend Greg Rothman from Cbeyond joined us at the Seminars, and discussed how the SIPConnect standard is helping to make this possible, at least from the SIP trunking point of view.
 
I wanted to thank all of our participants for helping to make the Seminars such a big success in Los Angeles.  If you attended, we’d love to hear from you – your suggestions and comments are all welcome.

Next week I’ll talk about enabling remote workers to access the enterprise IP-PBX.

- Olle

Once again, the Ingate SIP Trunking seminars are a huge success.  So far, we’ve seen more people than ever before attend these popular, informative seminars – and in case you’re not in Los Angeles right now at the show, wanted to give you a snapshot of yesterday’s rousing success.

The seats were full at every session, where nearly 65 participants attended each seminar.  Our moderator Rich Shockey of NeuStar and ENUM IETF Working Group did a wonderful job keeping speakers on point, and commented that the audiences were truly engaged in the discussions. 

It is clear to me, and to all of us participating in the seminars, that SIP trunking has gained quite a bit of traction in the enterprise space.  More of our attendees already know about SIP trunking; at this stage, many are now looking for deployment solutions. 

This is why we feel it is critical to provide these informative sessions on SIP trunking.  Whenever there is a new, important technology, it is absolutely imperative to communicate the benefits – not just the “why” but the “how to” -- to the entire enterprise community. 

Today, Tuesday September 11, we’ll hear from our distinguished colleagues Acme Packet, ShoreTel, VOIPSA, Level 3, Objectworld, TMC and of course Ingate for more best-in-class education on SIP trunking.  Some of the panels may be a bit thought provoking, so be there early in room 501 A/B to get a good seat!

Here’s the schedule for today:

9:30am   
Enterprise Security and VoIP

12:30pm
Beyond SIP Trunking

3:00pm
Network Architecture and Design for VoIP

 
- Olle

A year ago at the IT Expo in San Diego, Ingate arranged the first round of SIP Trunking seminars. Next week  will be our third.  I believe that SIP trunks are a critical next step in the road to global connectivity.  Are they a part of your communications strategy?  If so, find all you need to know about SIP trunks next week, at our SIP Trunking Seminars at the ITEXPO in Los Angeles. 

We are looking forward to a big turnout this season.  The last round of seminars was a tremendous success, with standing room only for most of the discussions.  This season promises to be bigger than ever, with some of the world’s leading companies – and the industry’s foremost experts – participating:

•    360 Networks
•    Acme Packet
•    Bandwidth.com
•    Cbeyond
•    Central Touch
•    Digium/Asterisk
•    Level 3
•    NeuStar/ENUM IETF
•    Objectworld
•    Pingtel
•    TMC
•    ShoreTel
•    Sphere Communications
•    VoIP Security Alliance (VOIPSA)

New tracks will address some of the most pressing issues for today’s business, including a seminar on “Enterprise Security and VoIP” with VOIPSA.  A discussion on “Beyond SIP Trunking” will address what’s next in the world of realtime IP communications. 

I look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles Sept. 10-11 for these free seminars. For more information and a detailed schedule, visit www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_seminar.php

Pre-register at http://www.ingate.com/SIP_Trunking_Registration.php