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Telecommunications equipment industry

Clarent and Siemens Atea Announce VPN-IP Solution for Enhanced PBX Networks

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Redwood City, California-based Clarent Corporation, a worldwide leader in carrier-grade IP telephony solutions, has partnered with Siemens Atea to develop a Virtual Private Network over IP (VPN-IP) solution. This innovative technology aims to allow fully featured and transparent PBX networks over IP telephony-based networks, overcoming the limitations of traditional ITSPs (Internet Telephony Service Providers). By introducing this solution, Clarent and Siemens Atea hope to enable ITSPs and data telcos to converge corporate telephony and data networks into a single Virtual Private Network based on IP, without sacrificing enhanced PBX features.

Key Takeaways:

  • The VPN-IP solution is designed to enable fully featured and transparent PBX networks over IP telephony-based networks, addressing the limitations of traditional ITSPs.
  • Clarent and Siemens Atea have developed this solution to allow a single communications network based on IP to transmit both inter-PBX signaling information and voice conversations over the same network.
  • The solution is aimed at enabling ITSPs and data telcos to allow enterprises to take full advantage of low-cost long-distance and international calling without compromising corporate network efficiency and user-friendliness.
  • Trailing benefits include network management and maintenance cost savings for enterprises, as well as the flexibility to replace private line point-to-point signaling connections with an IP-based point-to-multipoint solution.
  • One of the beta trials for the VPN-IP solution is being conducted with Mitel, Inc., a manufacturer and major provider of PBXs and PBX networks.
  • Commercial availability of the VPN-IP solution is targeted for the 4th quarter of 1999.
  • Matthew Chiang, director of Enterprise Products at Clarent Corporation, stated, "We are delighted to work with Siemens Atea in this solution. VPN-IP is designed to increase functionality and reduce costs for the corporate user and therefore speed up the implementation of IP telephony in the enterprise."
  • Bill Tommaney, chief engineer of Mitel's Systems Engineering group, said, "The rapid deployment of network IP telephony in our markets is contingent upon our ability to provide fully featured, highly transparent PBX networks in both national and international applications."

Statistics:

  • Clarent-enabled networks worldwide carry more minutes than those of any other equipment supplier. (Source: Cape Saffron report)
  • The total yearly turnover of Siemens Atea is 10.6 billion BEF, with 50% generated by export.
  • Siemens Atea employs approximately 1,500 people, of which 1/3 are active in research and development.
  • Clarent has offices in major cities in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Sources:

  • (1) Cape Saffron "Global IP Voice/Fax Market 1999."
  • http://www.capesaffron.com
  • http://www.clarent.com
  • http://www.siemens.com/ic/networks/
  • http://www.atea.be

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