Taking the next step in its enterprise WAN strategy to build converged voice and data networks, 3Com Corporation today announced a new networking solution for Frame Relay and IP-based wide area networks. The new PathBuilder S200 voice access switch family enables users to add voice to their existing, router-based wide area data networks.
The PathBuilder S200 switch, which 3Com will ship in November, is a product of a new relationship with Motorola`s Internet and Networking Group (ING), the award-winning leader of packet voice technology.
Incorporating voice, as well as fax and modem traffic, into these networks enables more efficient use of expensive wide area bandwidth and offers a powerful alternative to traditional, separate voice solutions, explains 3Com SA`s pre sales manager, Paul Ruinaard.
"Using the PathBuilder S200 switch, customers can flexibly incorporate voice into their data networks using Voice over Frame Relay (VoFR) and/or Voice over IP (VoIP) based on application requirements and business objectives," he says. The VoIP/VoFR option becomes highly important to enable large-scale deployments and network growth."
For example, VoIP over the Internet can be used to integrate a newly acquired company`s remote office into an already existing Frame Relay infrastructure. In contrast to most competing solutions, the switch delivers a highly scalable solution for large-scale deployments.
"Over the past year, 3Com has received a highly positive response to its existing data/voice convergence solutions based on the market-leading PathBuilder S300 and S600 WAN access switches providing converged WAN solutions at T1/E1 speeds and above over ATM," says Clint Ramsay, 3Com`s vice president of large enterprise marketing. "The new PathBuilder S200 voice access switch family expands such convergence options into the sub-T1/E1 space over Frame Relay and IP so common in today`s corporate branch office networks."
Maximising Network Investments into the Future
3Com`s Ruinaard says that as large organisations move from testing convergence solutions to deploying large scale converged networks, concern for the administrative costs of such an approach is driving the demand to add voice to existing networks.
"Customers with installed data router implementations, such as the NETBuilder router family, have concerns over the administrative and financial implications of replacing their router-based networks," he says. "Instead of replacement, adding the PathBuilder S200 switch provides voice connectivity while leaving the existing routed infrastructure, equipment and its configuration unchanged."
Ensuring Customer Support
Ruinaard points out that in addition to having the right networking gear, large organisations also need the right implementation services to support their business objectives. The new PathBuilder S200 voice access switch family is backed by a full range of 3Com`s customer service offerings that meet the response requirements of mission-critical enterprise networks.
"These 3Com services are designed to offer customers maximum support in implementing, maintaining and enhancing performance throughout the life of their data and voice networks," he adds.
A Solution for A Broad Range of Customers
Customers with a variety of characteristics would benefit from a converged network with the PathBuilder S200 family of switches.
- Customers who have separate carrier-provided voice tie-lines between sites want a way to improve data performance by consolidating the voice and data applications and dynamically sharing bandwidth
- Customers who have existing Frame Relay or IP-based WANs for data transport want to realize cost savings by eliminating parallel networks. They want a way to eliminate long distance or (800) phone and/or fax calls between sites
- Customers who maintain their own private TDM-based voice/data networks want a way to take advantage of the high quality, low bit rate voice technology delivered through the PathBuilder S200 switch`s sophisticated voice handling technology. The product delivers near toll quality voice even down to 5.3 Kbps (ie. up to 10 simultaneous voice calls on a single 64 kbps circuit.)
- Customers who have small remote offices but cannot justify a PBX or Key System want a way to deliver the same level of phone/fax services as they provide in their headquarters to those remote users
- Customers who maintain a PBX infrastructure want a way to scale back capital expenditures on their PBXs by switching voice traffic within the network
3Com delivers a range of VoIP solutions tailored to the specific requirements of multiple markets, including enterprises and carriers, as well as differing applications such as corporate WANs and remote networking. In a separate press release, 3Com announced today the industry`s first carrier-class VoIP system supporting phone-to-phone IP-based telephony over packet switches networks.
Collaboration with Motorola`s Internet and Networking Group on Solution Components
According to Ruinaard, 3Com has formed a relationship with Motorola`s Internet and Networking Group to harness Motorola`s market-leading expertise in voice technology for 3Com enterprise customers. "Not only does Motorola have market share leadership in Voice over Frame Relay after several successful years in the packet voice and data marketplace, their products have also been recognised with some of the most prestigious awards in the industry," he says. "As a result, customers benefit greatly from 3Com`s data networking experience and Motorola`s voice capabilities."
"Motorola ING has earned its recognition as the industry leader in packetized voice applications with our leading edge innovations," says Rudi Willems, director of strategic planning, Motorola`s ING. "Our packet prioritisation and quality of service technologies enable high quality voice over packet implementations. We are proud to have been chosen by 3Com to help enable its customers to deploy Frame Relay and IP-based converged network solutions. Being chosen by 3Com to enable the deployment of converged network solutions reinforces that Motorola is the choice for a company with a strong vision for converged networking."
The PathBuilder S200 voice access switch family consists of a range of switches from branch office products to central site products, which provide a variety of voice-related interfaces (such as FXO/FXS, E&M), both analog and digital.
Editors Note
About Motorola: Motorola`s Internet and Networking Group (ING) delivers Smart Access Technology to connect people and organisations in a world of converging communications. ING provides a full complement of wireline and wireless access solutions, including corporate networking, broadband communications, wireless content services and platform software. Please visit www.mot.com/ing for more information. Motorola is a global leader in advanced electronic systems and services. It liberates the power of technology by creating software-enhanced products that provide integrated customer solutions and Internet access via wireless and satellite communications, as well as computing, networking, and automotive electronics. Motorola also provides essential digital building blocks in the form of embedded semiconductors, controls and systems. Sales in 1997 were $29.8 billion.
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organisations worldwide to stay more connected by communicating and sharing information and resources anytime, anywhere. As one of the world`s preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 200 million customers worldwide. The company provides large enterprise, small and medium enterprise, carriers and network service providers, and consumers comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. For further information, visit 3Com`s World Wide Web site at http://www.3Com.com or the press site at http://www.3Com.com/pressbox.
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