The launch of CallManager 4.0, Cisco`s video and voice over IP solution, in London this week, came with a barrage of statements in favour of the converged, IP-based network. The company admits there are risks and drawbacks, but claims it has these covered.
A converged network runs multiple services, from traditional data to voice and video. Cisco`s AVVID architecture, representing its seven-year-old voice, video and integrated data vision, is now coming into its own, the company says, claiming that even emerging economies are taking to IP telephony and additional IP services.
"African and Eastern European regions show us that there is no 'religious issue` with IP, when they`ve not invested in its predecessors to begin with," said Mark de Simeone, Cisco VP, market development, channels and alliances. "They can leapfrog digital and go straight to IP."
But with no third-generation mobile network roll-outs in Africa, regulatory issues and sticky matters of bandwidth, De Simeone admits there is a ceiling to adoption in emerging economies. "But there are emerging economies and emerging economies," he said. Poland is one of Europe`s largest IP telephony roll-outs.
One network, one point of failure
Asked whether it is a good idea to subject traditional broadcasting networks, telephone networks and other non-computing functions and services to the viruses, bandwidth issues and single point of failure of one IP network, De Simeone said all non-computing industries that have been "invaded" by IP, such as storage, music, video broadcasting and the like, must move with the times.
"Look at Steve Jobs," he told ITWeb. "He made it work for Apple. All the others will have to move too."
If that does not provide an answer to the fundamental issues with one network, his next answer does, to a certain degree. Well aware of the vulnerabilities of the IP world, Cisco punts what it calls the "intelligent information network". Based on Internet principles, this network is "self-defending", delivers multiple services, and does so with quality assurance in mind.
"Cisco spends a lot of R&D dollars - $3 billion last year - on making sure the network protects itself better, can give multiple services, is future-proof and can deliver quality of service." He added that "intelligent networks", where software intelligence resides on routers and switches, open up whole new avenues for application developers.
If too many new applications on one network scare businesses, which already have to cope with Kazaa, spam, viruses and other bandwidth and stability issues, De Simeone said quality of service is an issue taken seriously by service providers. "Just have the correct service level agreement," he advised companies. "But bandwidth should be like oxygen," he told the mainly European audience.
Up to 39% of European companies have IP networks in place, he added. By year-end, it will be two-thirds. "It`s clear why: you have one skill set, one set of hardware. Our launch today is a small step towards a tectonic shift."
Adding that intelligent networks have the awareness necessary for stringent security, bandwidth-optimised traffic patterns and robustness, he said the shift towards IP is nevertheless inevitable.
"For broadcasting and so forth to be cheap, it must be universal. For it to be universal, it must be open. To be open means having to be secure. It`s a double-edged sword."
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