Tomorrow at the ITExpo in Miami, Quintum will be making three announcements about their Microsoft Unified Communications initiative. I've been trying to pay closer attention to what's going on in the OCS space lately myself. I still feel like Microsoft is providing lip service and OCS isn't delivering anything near the potential it should be.

Here's the early scoop on Quintus' announcements -

The first announcement is on their Unified Communications Proxy (UCP). The new UCP, on all Tenor "S" models, allows multiple VoIP and TDM networks to be easily integrated together. The UCP provides 'any to any' MultiPath switching between VoIP and TDM networks, including SIP to SIP, TDM to TDM and SIP to TDM. It also allows businesses to deploy multiple gateways to support PSTN connectivity, legacy TDM PBXs, existing SIP-based IP PBXs and analog devices such as fax machines, all behind a single Microsoft mediation server. Finally it provides a "fax around" feature when operating in a Microsoft Office Communications Manager 2007 network by interpreting and directly routing calls between fax machines and the PSTN.

Here's the actual press release

Quintum® Announces New Unified Communications Proxy Offering ‘Any to Any’ Connectivity For Tenor VoIP Switches and Gateways

UCP Extends Tenor Capabilities to Simplify Unified Communications Deployments in Any Network

EATONTOWN, NJ (January 23rd, 2008)
Quintum Technologies, a leading innovator in VoIP technologies, and a subsidiary of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. [NYSE: NWK], announced today the release of the new Unified Communications Proxy (UCP) for Tenor VoIP MultiPath Switches and Gateways. The UCP, originally developed to support VoIP in Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007, allows multiple VoIP and TDM networks to be easily integrated together. The UCP expands Tenor’s unique MultiPath switching capability to include enhanced call routing and SIP to SIP switching, and is now available in the entire Tenor “S” line of VoIP MultiPath Switches and Gateways.

The addition of the new UCP capability in the Tenor provides “any to any” MultiPath switching between VoIP and TDM networks, including SIP to SIP calls, TDM to TDM calls and SIP to TDM calls. This capability simplifies the deployment of new VoIP systems such as Unified Communications, assuring easy integration with any existing voice network element (TDM or SIP) and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This flexibility also benefits VoIP service providers by providing a flexible customer premises gateway that can interface to all existing business voice network elements including SIP, TDM or both.

The UCP also offers benefit when deploying Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 in that it can support multiple gateways and SIP endpoints with a single Microsoft mediation server. This allows businesses to deploy multiple gateways to support PSTN connectivity, legacy TDM PBXs, existing SIP based IP-PBXs, existing SIP phones, and analog devices such as fax machines, all with one mediation server. This advanced switching offers capabilities such as a “‘fax around” feature when operating in a Microsoft Office Communications Manager 2007 network, by interpreting and directly routing calls between the fax machines and the PSTN. It also allows the business to extend the gateway function to branch offices to provide local PSTN connectivity and the integration of the local existing network elements.

“The Unified Communication Proxy allows the Tenor to further simplify the deployment of Unified Communications into an existing business voice network,” said Chuck Rutledge, Vice President of Marketing for Quintum. “The addition of the UC Proxy provides ‘any to any’ switching allowing businesses to better leverage the investment they have made in their existing network and minimize disruption to their operation.”

The UCP is available on any Tenor “S” product. The Tenor "S" is Quintum's robust SIP-based line of VoIP switches and gateways. The Tenor "S" with the UCP provides full "any to any" connectivity in SIP-based networks. It also offers "survivability" making it the only gateway device needed in the branch office to support all legacy equipment, local PSTN connectivity and survivability of the local IP telephony network. Tenor "S" contains a local SIP proxy that provides survivability for local SIP endpoints and intelligent call routing to keep any SIP-based VoIP network up and running if connectivity with the main proxy server is lost.

“Quintum has again reinforced their position as a leader in innovation with regards to VoIP gateways,” said Elka Popova, Global Program Director, Enterprise Communications for Frost & Sullivan. “The UC proxy adds significant value as companies are not simply interfacing to the PSTN, but also need to interface with existing VoIP equipment and VoIP based service providers. It is now a mix of legacy and VoIP equipment that will need to be integrated into Unified Communication networks.”

About Quintum
Quintum Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc., is headquartered in Eatontown, NJ. Quintum delivers VoIP solutions that bring the reliability and voice clarity of public telephone networks to Internet telephony. Quintum's intelligent VoIP access solutions integrate easily into existing PBX and IP infrastructures, making them the ideal choice for service providers and enterprises alike.

Quintum was awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2007 Global Product Differentiation Innovation Award in recognition of its ability to grow and strengthen its position in the enterprise media gateway market through intensive in-house product development. Quintum is also a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a Nortel Developer Partner and an Avaya DeveloperConnection Partner.

Quintum sells its switches worldwide through its direct sales force and a network of resellers and distributors. For more information, call 1-877-SPEAK IP (1-877-773-2547), 1-732-460-9000 outside the US, or visit http://www.quintum.com.

About Network Equipment Technologies, Inc.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. (NET) has provided voice and data communications equipment for multi-service networks requiring high degrees of versatility, interoperability, security and performance. NET’s broad family of products are purpose-built for mixed-service, multi-protocol networks; bandwidth-sensitive site communications; high performance, security-sensitive transmissions; and converged communications. The Company’s NX (network exchange) and VX (voice exchange) products enable interoperability and integration with existing networks for seamless migration to secure IP-based voice and data communications. In addition, Quintum, a subsidiary of NET, delivers VoIP access solutions that bring the reliability and voice clarity of public telephone networks to Internet telephony. For more information, visit http://www.net.com.

The next announcement is about their new Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60. The Tenor Hybrid Gateway integrates Quintum Tenor's switching intelligence, and is Microsoft mediation server-ready to simplify deployments of Microsoft unified communications (UC). This new Hybrid Tenor is a single box solution specifically designed to allow customers to easily integrate Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 with legacy and IP-based PBXs, analog endpoints, fax machines and modem-based devices, while providing connectivity to the PSTN. The Tenor Hybrid contains Quintum's new Unified Communications Proxy. The complete release is here:

Quintum® Releases New Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60 for Microsoft Unified Communications.

Integrated Mediation Server Provides a Single Box Gateway Solution for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007

EATONTOWN, NJ (January 23rd, 2008)
Quintum Technologies, a leading innovator in VoIP technologies and subsidiary of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. [NYSE: NWK], announced today the release of the new Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60. The Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60 integrates Quintum’s Tenor switching intelligence, and is Microsoft Mediation Server-ready to simplify deployments of Microsoft unified communications (UC). This new hybrid product is a single box solution, specifically designed to allow customers to easily integrate Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 with legacy and IP-based PBXs, analog endpoints, fax, and modem-based devices, while providing connectivity to the public switched telephone network (PSTN)

The Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60 contains Quintum’s new Unified Communications Proxy (UCP). The UCP enables Tenor to provide intelligent, MultiPath connectivity between VoIP, Legacy telephony (TDM) equipment and unified communications with any-to-any call routing, including SIP – SIP, TDM – TDM and SIP – TDM connections.

The UCP also offers the ability to deploy multiple gateways behind the Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60 to simplify the deployment of multiple gateways distributed within the headquarters network, as well as those deployed in branch offices. It also provides TDM to TDM switching to support fax and modem equipment on the same PSTN connections as are being used by Office Communications Server 2007. The UCP supports the coordination of all SIP and TDM communications in a Microsoft UC deployment from a single device connected directly to Office Communications Server 2007.

“The Tenor Hybrid Gateway was designed specifically to address the needs of enterprises looking to deploy Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and VoIP while leveraging the investment that has been made in the existing TDM and/or VoIP networks,” said Chuck Rutledge, Vice President of Marketing for Quintum. “This single box solution not only eases integration across IP and legacy networks, it eliminates the need for a separate mediation server and reduces TCO, as well.”

The Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60 is integrated on an Intel SR-1500 1U server with Intel Quad-Core Xeon processors. It supports up to 60 simultaneous VoIP calls, with up to two T1/E1/PRI spans. The Tenor Hybrid Gateway 60 is currently available, and has a starting list price of $9,750.

“Quintum has once again shown its versatility in addressing market needs, especially now with Microsoft's focus on unified communications,” said Norm Bogen, Research Director for In-Stat. “Tenor Hybrid, which is mediation server ready, and which has the new Unified Communications Proxy, functions as a single device to integrate MS OCS with legacy and newer VoIP communications networks. It will simplify VoIP deployments and make them substantially more cost effective.”

Quintum also has a microsite dedicated to information on the Microsoft launch of Office Communications Server 2007 and its Tenor products that were designed to support those applications.

About Quintum
Quintum Technologies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Network Equipment Technologies, Inc., is headquartered in Eatontown, NJ. Quintum delivers VoIP solutions that bring the reliability and voice clarity of public telephone networks to Internet telephony. Quintum's intelligent VoIP access solutions integrate easily into existing PBX and IP infrastructures, making them the ideal choice for service providers and enterprises alike.

Quintum was awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2007 Global Product Differentiation Innovation Award in recognition of its ability to grow and strengthen its position in the enterprise media gateway market through intensive in-house product development. Quintum is also a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a Nortel Developer Partner and an Avaya DeveloperConnection Partner.

Quintum sells its switches worldwide through its direct sales force and a network of resellers and distributors. For more information, call 1-877-SPEAK IP (1-877-773-2547), 1-732-460-9000 outside the US, or visit http://www.quintum.com.

About Network Equipment Technologies, Inc.
For nearly a quarter of a century, Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. (NET) has provided voice and data communications equipment for multi-service networks requiring high degrees of versatility, interoperability, security and performance. NET’s broad family of products are purpose-built for mixed-service, multi-protocol networks; bandwidth-sensitive site communications; high performance, security-sensitive transmissions; and converged communications. The Company’s NX (network exchange) and VX (voice exchange) products enable interoperability and integration with existing networks for seamless migration to secure IP-based voice and data communications. In addition, Quintum, a subsidiary of NET, delivers VoIP access solutions that bring the reliability and voice clarity of public telephone networks to Internet telephony. For more information, visit http://www.net.com.

The last release is about Quintum's redesigned Microsoft Microsite. The microsite features Dr. Quintum (Dr. Q) as an interactive and knowledgeable source of all information related to the deployment of Tenors with Microsoft's UC initiative. There's an animated demo of their Unified Communications Proxy at http://www.quintum.com/microsoft.

Technorati Tags: Quintum, Microsoft, Office Communications Server, OCS, unified coimmunications