Cisco Systems today demonstrated continued momentum in service provider leadership by enhancing the open Service Exchange Framework (SEF) of its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture with a series of new and enhanced products offering comprehensive support for all IP applications, including those delivered over an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). This enables cable, wireline and mobile operators to offer services based on fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) and to deliver application and subscriber-aware services to achieve greater efficiencies, improve profitability and enhance control of their networks and businesses.

"This announcement differentiates the Cisco IP NGN solution by recognizing the unique service delivery requirements of a wide range of IP services," said Lee Doyle, IDC Group Vice President, Network Infrastructure. "The flexibility of this approach helps ensure service providers have the capabilities needed to address both IMS and non-IMS service applications with an integrated solution."

Cisco today extended its support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based applications aligned with IMS standards efforts with enhancements to elements of the Cisco SEF, the service convergence layer of its IP NGN architecture. This includes new products and product enhancements to enable new SIP-based applications such as dual-mode telephony, push-to-talk services, presence-based services and other FMC applications. Cisco also announced the industry's first integration of session border control into a carrier-grade router.

"Sprint deployed Cisco's Call Session Control Platform (CSCP) solution more than two years ago in our wireless network supporting IP-based communications like voice and multimedia services," said Oliver Valente, Senior Vice President, Product Development for Sprint Nextel. "As we also utilize Cisco's IP NGN capabilities in our wireline network for our global IP services, we will continue to take advantage of these platforms as Sprint leads the industry's transformation toward fixed-mobile convergence."

Additionally, Cisco has extended SEF support for non-IMS applications to enable real-time monitoring of VoIP call quality and integration with third-party anti-virus, security and intrusion detection appliances. The Cisco SEF enables support for virtually any IP service ranging from business Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to consumer-oriented applications like Video-on-Demand (VoD), interactive gaming and IPTV.

"The Cisco IP NGN architecture enables efficient delivery of services and better control to enhance the subscriber experience," said Mike Volpi, senior vice president, routing and service provider technology at Cisco. "The Service Exchange Framework is designed to help service providers address the sheer complexity and diversity of IMS and non-IMS applications across any access network while raising their average revenue per subscriber and lowering cost."

Today's announcements build on the Cisco IP NGN strategy of integrating service intelligence functions into the network layer to increase scalability and network efficiency.

Service Exchange Framework (SEF)

The Cisco Service Exchange Framework (SEF) provides a scalable environment to support a broader range of business and consumer services for IMS and non-IMS applications. Using elements of the SEF, providers can bundle voice, video and data services to increase revenue, and offer personalization through self-selection, detailed billing and usage models and extensive prepaid and postpaid options.

New products being announced today include the following:

Industry's First Integrated Session Border Control on Cisco XR 12000 Series Router

Session Border Control (SBC) provides per-session control and management of IP multimedia traffic based on widely-used protocols such as SIP and H.323 for signaling interoperability. This enables multi-service scale with easier operation and lower costs by eliminating additional appliances and overlay networks. It also builds on Layer 2/Layer 3 services with native IOS XR implementation and provides a flexible and open architecture, designed to enable interprovider peering and provider access deployments with support for unified or distributed signaling. This is designed to provide additional investment protection for the more than 30,000 Cisco 12000 Series routers in use today.

Industry's First MPLS-enabled MGX 8880 Media Gateway Solution for Wireless, Wireline and Cable

The Cisco MGX 8880 Media Gateway enables service providers to consolidate their infrastructures and deliver differentiated IP Communications services. With its superior density, scalability and performance, the Cisco MGX 8880 helps service providers deploy a comprehensive set of voice over IP (VoIP) applications that help lower operational expenses and generate new service revenues. The Cisco MGX is now PacketCable qualified and is optimized for IMS and non-IMS applications.

Key product enhancements being announced today include the following:

Cisco Call Session Control Platform (CSCP), Release 3.0

The Cisco CSCP provides carrier-grade IMS Call Session Control Function (CSCF) for multimedia services delivered over IP networks. CSCP release 3.0 includes support for the IMS ISC application interface, enabling innovative standards-based applications for voice over broadband, push-to-talk, presence-based services, video telephony and FMC. Release 3.0 also provides enhancements in scalability, provisioning, security and QoS policy enforcement.

Cisco Service Control Engine (SCE), Release 3.0

The Cisco Service Control Engine (SCE) utilizes deep-packet inspection and application classification, allowing service providers to offer application-and-subscriber-aware services. Cisco SCE Release 3.0 provides monitoring of VoIP call quality in real-time and reports on individual subscriber experience on a per-call basis. Additional enhancements include integration with third party anti-virus, security and intrusion detection appliances and performance enhancements allowing the system to scale to support 10 Gigabit per second or greater throughput, creating more efficient network deployments.

PGW2200, Release 9.7

The Cisco PGW2200 is a media gateway controller that is widely deployed in VoIP networks, enabling interworking between IP NGN and fixed and mobile legacy telephony networks. PGW 2200 Release 9.7 supports Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) for IMS and more than 90 SS7/C7 global signaling variants.

BTS 10200, Release 4.5

The BTS 10200 is a next-generation softswitch for voice-over-any-broadband access including T1/E1, Cable, ETTx, xDSL. BTS 10200 release 4.5 offers enhanced operational capabilities, new subscriber-focused features, platform support and IMS integration. The BTS 10200 interworks with IMS networks for advanced multimedia services and is deployable as a stand-alone Call Management Server or MGCF.

For more information about the products and solutions being announced today, please visit the Cisco web site at http://www.cisco.com/go/ipngn4.