Ascend debuts voice, fax support
The company is the latest networking equipment provider to offer ambitious plans for adding voice and fax capabilities to data-driven networks.
The company formally launched a strategy to incorporate voice and fax service in IP (Internet Protocol)-based layouts based on its remote access and wide area switching equipment, as first reported by CNET's NEWS.COM last month.
Ascend has a large installed base of hardware in a variety of service providers, considered one of the fastest growing, if unpredictable, markets within the networking industry. The company hopes to use that strength to sell hardware and software that supports voice-over-IP (VOIP) and fax-over-IP.
Others, including stalwarts like Cisco Systems and Bay Networks, have also articulated intentions of tackling the emerging VOIP market.
The company said the initial phase of the strategy, marked by the rollout of initial products, will be followed by two more elements that encompass ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)-based voice and fax schemes and interoperability of IP-based services across IP, ATM, and Frame Relay-based layouts, as well as integration with SS7 systems which are used by telecommunications carriers.
As part of the rollout, Ascend announced a number of enhancements, including: