Can Talking SIP be deployed in either a centralized or decentralized configuration?
Yes, Talking SIP's architecture is designed specifically to give the service provider the flexibility to service any point-of-presence either at the local node level or from a central location, without any additional licensing cost.
How scalable is Talking SIP?
Talking SIP scales from a starting density of 30 sessions/concurrent callers to thousands of concurrent callers. As many as 2,000 sessions/concurrent callers are supported in a single server node, blade, or virtual server instance. Additional nodes can be easily added to a network, while utilizing a centralized database, in order to scale out the network. Network size and scale is a function of the server hardware in which it is running on.
How redundant is Talking SIP?
Each component in the Talking SIP architecture can be easily made redundant. There are many available options ranging from the License Manager level, communications node, to the database level for replication/failover, all the way to clustering for mission critical implementations -- all options are cost effective and readily available.
Does Talking SIP support postpaid/wholesale billing models?
Yes, Talking SIP comes standard with support for postpaid/wholesale billing including support for real-time credit limit enforcement and account invoicing. Callers can be authenticated by the SIP URI From/To information, an IP address from a peering partner's gateway, carrier code, SIP registration credentials, MSISDN, P-Asserted-Identity, Remote-Party-ID, DNIS or ANI.
My Company is interested in deploying Vonage type services, is Talking SIP suitable for this application?
Yes, Talking SIP is commercially deployed in various countries providing primary and secondary line services for residential and business users accessing the network via softphones, IADs and IP phones. This is a popular application for the use of our product in order to provide tandem switching, media streaming of voice prompts and real-time billing for both flat-rate/packaged and per minute subscriber offerings.
Can I administer Talking SIP remotely and monitor system activity?
Talking SIP comes complete with our Telephony Management Console that allows varying levels of access in order to perform system and account administration, across a global network from a single login session.
How do I integrate other Class 5 services such as voicemail and conferencing?
Talking SIP provides Class 5 services and optional voicemail and optional three-way conferencing capabilities, and it is also interoperable with varying SIP-based solutions (premise-based and hosted) allowing the service provider to select best of breed solutions for integration into the overall network, helping to build margins and drive revenue.
Can Talking SIP be securely provisioned in order to provide specific levels of access based on job category or the commercial role in the network?
Yes, Talking SIP's Telephony Management Console can be provisioned in order to provide a very granular level of access to users who are enrolled in various user groups. These user groups contain the selected access rights made available from the Telephony Management Console menu. Those areas of the system where access is not being provided are entirely removed from the menu thus eliminating potential questions from users. Talking SIP has been designed from the ground up to be successfully deployed in hosted and/or self-managed models.
What types of devices does Talking SIP interoperate with?
Talking SIP interoperates with any RFC 3261 compliant softphone, IAD, gateway, softswitch, IP phone, session border controller (SBC) and/or proxy server. We continually test with best of breed industry partners and welcome the opportunity to engage with other market leaders as our customers' needs require.
What does Talking SIP require for successful interoperability?
Talking SIP is compliant with SIP RFC 3261 and relies on support for the RFC 2833 and/or SIP INFO methods for DTMF recognition, which is used when the caller will be prompted for DTMF digits for an account number and/or a destination number. Please note that with RFC2833 Talking SIP uses Named Telephone Events with a Payload type of 127, and with SIP INFO uses the Cisco implementation. The other requirement is for support for the SIP REINVITE for two stage dialing applications, to allow the redirection of the media streams directly between the endpoints while Talking SIP continues to maintain full control of the signaling to enable real-time call cut off.
What type of documentation and other installation tools are shipped along with the Talking SIP software?
Talking SIP ships standard with electronic, professionally written documentation along with a context sensitive on-line help system that is readily available through the management interface by simply hitting the F1 key. There is also a 9 Step Quick Installation Guide and computer based training (CBT) videos that walk you through in lock step the installation and configuration of both the Microsoft SQL server software and Talking SIP.
What types of Internationalization does Talking SIP provide?
Talking SIP provides support for voice prompting in unlimited languages with the ability to custom tailor the language selection based on DTMF key press, account, IP address or DNIS. Talking SIP also supports multiple currencies as well as the ability to set the time and date format on a regional basis.
What applications are included in the standard version of Talking SIP?
Talking SIP ships standard with the prepaid/postpaid/credit limited calling card, tandem switching, termination and redirection, prompt recorder, service charge and voucher recharge modules.
What operating system and database does Talking SIP use?
Talking SIP is based on the affordable, robust and reliable Microsoft Windows 2008/2012 or higher Server OS and Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 or higher database. Talking SIP is a Certified for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft SQL Server 2012 product and has undergone independent third party testing in order to achieve this recognition.
How comprehensive are the reports in Talking SIP? Can I modify existing reports or add new ones?
Talking SIP ships standard with over 136 comprehensive reports. We continually add new reports and can work on a professional services basis to develop additional reports on a customization basis, as required by the customer.
There is also an optional report designer that is integrated into the Telephony Management Console to allow existing reports to be modified or wholly new ones created.
As new reports are added to the system do I need to deploy new executables to the clients?
No, Talking SIP has been designed to handle report updates automatically eliminating the need to distribute software updates to users as new reports are added to the system. All reports are stored in the SQL database, so when a report is modified or added the changes are automatically and immediately available to all logged in users.
Does Talking SIP provide credit card recharge?
Yes, we offer an e-commerce option that integrates with Talking SIP to provide IVR and DTMF based account recharge services, top-up and service charging. Our e-commerce module also integrates with our End User Web Interface to provide automated subscriber signup and account recharge via the web.
I want to be able to allow end customers the ability to sign up via the web and self-manage their own accounts. Is this possible in Talking SIP?
Yes, available as an option is our End-user Web Interface and Payment Gateway Server that allow for the automatic subscription of services via a credit card as well as end user self-management for such tasks as self-service subscription, account recharge, reviewing detailed call history reports, debit/credits posting history, speed dial management, ANI assignment, call statistics and the viewing of account balances as well as viewing/editing account information.
How easy is it to upgrade Talking SIP when our network capacity grows and are there reports or other methods of determining current usage?
Upgrades can be performed in a just in time fashion electronically through the included License Manager software. Determining when an upgrade is appropriate can be measured via the call statistics screen and/or the license usage report to ensure conformance with service level agreements.
How long does it take to install and begin operating Talking SIP?
The complete installation and initial configuration of Talking SIP can be achieved in a matter of hours by a network technician familiar with the Windows OS and Microsoft SQL server software.
Can I import and export my rate decks in Talking SIP as they are in Microsoft Excel™ format?
Yes, Talking SIP supports the import and export of rate decks in a .csv format allowing for easy interoperation with Microsoft Excel. Once your rate deck is built or modified simply import it into Talking SIP and your changes will immediately take effect.
Does Talking SIP provide fraud filtering (e.g. automatic blocking by ANI and Risk Management)?
Yes, Talking SIP provides multiple methods of fraud filtering consisting of white/black lists that can automatically block a caller by their ANI, account or by a range of IP addresses. Blocking can be performed on a temporary or permanent basis. Other fraud prevention features include up to 40 digit randomized account number generation, second level PIN prompting, single simultaneous use account enforcement (can be toggled on/off at system administrator discretion) as well as informative risk management reports to help run a secure network.
How is Talking SIP licensed?
Talking SIP employs a centralized License Manager that promotes efficient use of resources across a globally deployed network. High availability and efficient resource utilization are key considerations to the success of any mission critical and/or distributed network. By centralizing the licensing of Talking SIP, communication service providers avoid situations where there is blocking occurring at one network point while idle capacity sits at another. Session licenses can be allocated on a first come first serve basis or pre-allocated on a SIP endpoint-by-endpoint basis. As opposed to enforcing licensing within Talking SIP at the network's edge this licensing architecture encourages service providers to distribute the processing load across multiple servers for redundancy and performance considerations since there are no financial licensing disincentives to scaling out one's network.
