The release, called IP DirectConnect over Ethernet, extends Gamma’s SIP Trunking service to enable Channel Partners to sell a fully converged solution to customers requiring ISDN levels of service and high bandwidth internet access.
SIP Trunking allows businesses to gain cost-effective and reliable connectivity to Gamma’s next generation pure IP network. The benefits of SIP Trunking make it a flexible and powerful alternative to ISDN and include geographic number flexibility as well as free internal and inter-site calls, lower external call costs and reduced line rental.
Gamma delivers IP DirectConnect over Ethernet as an end to end service, providing an availability guarantee, voice channel guarantees, and a guaranteed time to fix. This enables resellers to sell the voice solution with confidence, with the service positioned for quality and SIP Trunking being faster and cheaper than ISDN to provision. The service will be delivered over a range of Ethernet speeds enabling customers with varying voice and internet capacity requirements to be supported.
The initial launch of the service will be available at the end of April, and will provide converged voice and data access, in the following cities: London, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Croydon, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Hemel Hempstead and Milton Keynes. Support in other geographic areas will become available over the next 18 months.
“Enterprises are realising that SIP Trunking can play a big part in reducing costs and in the delivery of integrated business solutions for increased productivity,” said Alan Mackie, senior product manager at Gamma Telecom. “When delivered over Ethernet, organisations can take advantage of the high bandwidth and use it to support all ICT business requirements including voice and data.”
“There is a big opportunity for SIP Trunking services being delivered via Ethernet,” comments Campbell Williams, [please insert job title] of Charterhouse Voice and Data. “Businesses that are currently utilising single or multiple ISDN 30 connections at one or multiple sites can utilise this IP-based service to rationalise the number of concurrent calls to the PSTN. SIP Trunking also provides the ability to build a highly available business continuity solution for voice services, and support the delivery of geographic numbers to any user or site within the customer’s organisation.”
IP DirectConnect is aimed at a range of channel partners including IP PBX resellers, SIs, data providers and other VARs. The service allows such partners to be able to offer voice as part of their product portfolio whilst adding recurring monthly revenue streams to their businesses, with other high margin cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, including billing, handsets, support and installation.