[asterisk-users] Press release: Virtual Communication Clouds :: New feature in Asterisk 1.8

Thu Apr 1 21:27:30 CDT 2010

I finally got it at "Calories Consumed".  Geesh.  Good one!  :)

j

On Thu, 1 Apr 2010, Olle E. Johansson wrote:

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> Puerto Escondido, Mexico, April 1st, 2010:
>
> Digium launches Asterisk VCC (TM) - a new virtual communication platform
> for enterprises, the public sector and the home.
> ===========================================================
>
> Asterisk 1.8 will contain a stunning new technology for all Asterisk users world-
> wide - virtual communication clouds or VCC (TM).  With this technology, call
> handling will never be the same. In one move, the Asterisk development team
> leaves the old world of PBX call switching behind and moves the enterprise
> telephony server to the cloud.
>
> By combining IPv6, the 3G cell network and cloud services with existing Asterisk
> technologies  like Dundi and IAX2, Digium moves into the era of cloud computing.
> The launch includes end-user applications powered by cloud services
> - moving Digium technology to the palm of your hand.
>
> - "Our new platform is built for the new organization in the workplace, the family
> and the community - a truly virtual multimedia communication network for the
> Internet age. By moving our focus away from the traditional PBX, we succeeded
> in changing the  Digium solution from a server centric view to a service centric view."
> says Sokkie Stevens, product manager for the new platform.
>
> The first step was to transform Digium into a virtual service provider. Digium
> is one of the first companies to get an IPv6 assignment on a global service
> provider level. After signing peering agreements with major carriers world-
> wide, the next step was to apply the successful Dundi protocol on top of
> IPv6.
>
> -"Dundi and IPv6 was a match made in heaven", says Mick Spenser,
> the CTO for Digium, "Dundi had a successful peering and discovery
> infrastructure that is now even stronger with IPv6 multicast and secured
> by using IPsec."
>
> VCC will be a binary module distributed with Asterisk 1.8. It will connect
> to the Digium VCCnet over native IPv6, IPv6 over IPv4 tunnels and directly
> over layer 2 technologies like Ethernet. All VCC clients will get a native
> IPv6 address assigned. Enterprises may purchase a full IPv6 network range
> in the VCCnet to get full access. VCCnet is a network service managed
> by Digium worldwide.
>
> VCCnet will enable automatic follow-me functionality. When you turn
> on your VCC-enabled smartphone, the VCCnet client will automatically report your
> location (from 3G cells or GPS) back to the Asterisk service. Your status
> will be automatically updated as you move between networks, from
> WiFi in the office to 3G on the road. One person can have multiple
> VCC clients - one supporting video, another old-fashioned audio
> and a third HD audio and video. The new IAX3 protocol used in VCCnet
> will automatically negiotiate media capabilities and select the right client
> for the right call, depending on privacy settings and personal preferences.
>
> For VoxSwitch customers, VCCnet will mean that every user can monitor
> the movement of coworkers in realtime. By using the new APIs, additional
> data like credit card transactions, fuel consumption in the car, mileage
> in the air and calories eaten can be reported with a 3D graphical display
> using HTML5.
>
> As an additional service in the VCCnet cloud, Digium will offer extended
> capacity for your telecommunications platform. When you need more capacity
> for video calls, 5+1 hd voice conferences and other coming services, including
> 3D multimedia conferencing, your existing PBX will be virtually extended by using
> resources available (and unused) in the cloud. For the system manager, it will
> look like all these services are produced locally, just like before.
>
> VCC includes clients for all popular platforms, including the soon to be released
> Apple iPAD. "Many people was asking us for the Digium Phone, but it felt very
> wrong to implement an old-fashioned device on top of a modern communication
> network" says Mike Spenser. "The client will be a natural part of the personal computing
> infrastructure that already exists out there. It will be the personal communication
> exchange, the Facebook of the multimedia realtime communications world."
>
> Digium will rename the recently launched Asterisk marketplace to
> VCCstore and  use that infrastructure for distribution of the VCCblocks
> - applets that enhance your virtual communication cloud. 3rd party developers
> may apply for development kits and distribution agreements. Digium is currently
> negotiating the rights to distribute audio books and radio shows for the new
> culture-on-hold service while not using the VCCclient for two- or multiparty communication.
>
> While testing, the most popular VCCblock was the TimeShiftBlock that includes
> the former voicemail service, now enhanced with virtual timeshifting for realtime
> calls between timezones. The TimeShiftBlock includes ten popular synthetic voices,
> including the Asterisk Diva Allison Smiths' attractive voice. In addition to Allison
> Digium added the voice of the southern gentleman Danny Wyndham and the
> Swenglish dialect of Asterisk developer and guru Olle E. Johansson, one that
> was recognized with a strange smile by all Asterisk developers testing VCC.
>
> VCCnet technology includes scalability and security components  licensed by
> Edvina AB in Sweden. Edvina's experience of large scale Unified Communication
> networks was necessary to build a world-wide network-centric platform for
> this new service.
>
> - "We find it exciting to contribute to this new service. Realizing the perfect
> match between the open IPv6 protocol and the proprietary Dundi technology
> was an eye-opener. No NAT issues and the possibility to build a worldwide
> network with service discovery, security and managed QoS will make this
> a success story. We're proud to contribute to this solution." says Olle E. Johansson,
> founder of Edvina. "The new IAX3 protocol is also really interesting, as it
> not only combines media and signalling over one port, but now also adds
> presence, instant messaging, file transfer, printing, database queries, directory
> services and network management  over the same port. It's a one-size-fits-all
> protocol that will handle all services a user want."
>
> The VCCnet network is already in operation, The VCCnet PBX interface will be part
> of Asterisk 1.8 to be launched later this year and part of the VoxSwitch update
> Q2 2010. The VCCstore opens June 1st. Development kits are available to
> Digium authorized VCC development partners today. The VCC technology
> is patented by Digium and will be operated as a private virtual network on top
> of the Internet and the ISDN network.
>
> For questions and further information, please contact the Digium marketing department at
> looflirpa at digium.com today. A press conference will be held April 1st, 15:00 GSM+1 in
> VCCconference room 142857 for media representatives. It will be available for one
> week on vcc://digium.com::conference:142857 for later viewing.
>
> VCC, VCCnet, VCCblock, VCCstore, Digium, IAX3, Dundi and Asterisk are
> trademarks registered by Digium Inc.
>
>
>
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