NextPoint, which was formed through the recent merger of NexTone Communications and Reef Point Systems, announced the availability of its enhanced IP Multimedia Exchange (IMX) featuring support for the deployment of IP services based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture and GSMA-IPX requirements .
NextPoint’s IMX leverages the functionality of the NextPoint IntelliConnect System to enable service providers to quickly support IP services that span both IMS and Next Generation IP networks. Such services could include enriched multimedia applications like video-sharing, gaming, instant messaging, push-over-cellular (PoC), conferencing and presence.
The NextPoint IMX’s key features include stateful SIP dialog processing, call admission control, number/domain translation, ENUM, SIP routing, topology hiding, IPV4/IPV6 interworking, TCP, TLS, IPSec, Tel:URI, customizable call detail records (CDRs), Denial of Service (DoS) prevention, media proxy, media QoS, VLANs and DiffServ. When used in conjunction with the NextPoint RSM and session-level visibility, QoS can be enabled on a real-time basis.
The NextPoint IMX also provides secure connectivity to IMS networks using intelligent identity mechanisms, including access control lists, SIP/TLS certificates, and DNS checks that authenticate subscribers and protect against SIP security.
NextPoint said that as service providers begin to deploy IMS-based services, their requirements for interoperability and interworking with other mobile and fixed-line operators at the services layer become increasingly more complex. Mobile operators in particular are faced with this challenge as subscribers roam and a diversity of handsets proliferates. Wireline carriers and mobile operators are defining more advanced requirements for billing and settlement, application- and network-based service level agreements (SLAs), quality of service (QoS) management, call admission control, session-based least cost and time-of-day routing, call hunting and security. Multiple network deployment scenarios need to be implemented including IPX hubbing, bilateral peering and multilateral peering using ENUM for number resolution. Session border controller capabilities must be enhanced to meet these needs, and a broader technology set is required. NextPoint’s IMX addresses these needs.
