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I recently tested the VocalScape VoIP Turn-Key system and am considering becoming a reseller.

Here is the software description, I would appreciate your feedback.

VocalScape System Description

The VocalScape VoIP Turn-Key System allows clients to implement and integrate all of the necessary softwares and equipment to launch a competitive VoIP service model. The architecture is easily integrated with any ATA and Gateway system based on the flexible architecture, technical support, and versatility of the media server.

Brief Outline Of Software Architecture

- VocalScape Billing/Database Server
- VocalScape Application Server
- VocalScape Advanced Features Module Installed on Application Server
- VocalScape Client Provisioning Modules
- VocalScape Automated Device Provisioning Module
(Possibly including a TFTP server depending on the device)
- Optional: VoiceMail Server, Conference Server, Follow-me Server
- PC-to-Phone Softphone (Including USB Phone usability)

For the prospective OEM Client

- Streamline client network set-up and provisioning of both clients and your hardware with a turn-key system
- Benefit from supplying your clients an end-to-end solution to control your clients total VoIP business experience thus protecting your devices from being replaced by larger competitors like Cisco or Lucent who do supply total solutions
- Differentiate the value of your product from a competitors by supplying a total solution, thus increasing the value and ease of doing business with you.
- System lock for your device only

For the ISP and prospective Service Provider

- Quick to market provisioning and pre-configuration of hardware
- Easy customization to individual business model
- Flexible software bundling with existing or prepackaged hardware
- Minimal telephony knowledge required

For the End-User

- Plug and play devices
- Online account information and payment
- Advanced features administered online


Product Overview
o APPLICATION SERVER
The Application Server can route your VoIP calls to terminate anywhere - ideal for selling minutes to foreign telecommunications firms wishing to terminate with your POP in addition to sending your in-Country traffic to your selected carrier. The Application Server also controls access to the network and caller authentication. The system is able to handle IAX, H323 and SIP calls from third parties.
o WEB SERVER
Facilitates the hosting of the Database Functions for billing and administration, and hosted images for setting up branded solutions and resellers. The web server enables the application service provider model for creating a prepaid reseller network.
o DATABASE SERVER
The database server is separate from the web server for security purposes, keeping the IP Address and Web Address separate. The database server controls the billing and recorded information from the Application Server.
Billing Database Server
VocalScape provides a streamlined billing database in a post gres environment with all of the leading features to capture information from the Application Server and allow customers to interact. IVR functions are included and customizable to several languages.
Benefits: A Triple (AAA) Solution- Authorization, Authentication, Accounting

1. Authorization via direct online pin/password access
2. Authentication of VoIP equipment and traffic
3. Accounting tools to via CDRs and related information

Interfaces

With your purchase of the Enhanced VoIP Solution you will receive

• Web-based registration for clients and resellers
• The ability to offer clients a unique secure login
• The ability to manage accounts
• The ability to offer multiple rates, packages, and subscriptions
• Training on the customer interface and administration
• Custom IVR Functions for dial-in, support, recharging, and use of the system in general
• User Account Info
• Calling Plan Info
• CDRs
• Transaction Log & Recharge Center
• Search Accounts
• Suspend Accounts
• Recharge Accounts
• List Accounts based on parameters specified, such as dates
• Individual Account Details Screen
• Change Data
• PIN Activation for Calling Cards and ATA accounts
• Reporting Tools
• Country Code Listing and Rates A-Z
• Customer Support Center



Interface Logins

User Administration- User access to billing, CDR records, and all related profiling of the client
Data Administration- Administration of accounts and devices
Sales Administration- For administration of accounts by sales staff, this can be used for resellers.

Demonstration login available.

Technical Data Features

• Wholesale Termination Billing with user Web access for prepaid/postpaid
• SIP/H323
• Rates are definable for different group of buyers/users
• Online balance and CDR queries.
• Application Server functions in a GW&GK/SIP Server mode simultaneously.
• Scalability Available via server cluster (daisy chain and load balancing)
• Written in PHP, running on Postgres, this is a scalable solution with excellent potential for customization

The server is compliant with industry standards. It can communicate with
• DSL, Cable, ISDN, Dialup
• PPPoE and VPNs
• VoIP
• Internet Kiosk and Café
• Wi-Fi hotspots
Global Infrastructure Diagram

VoIP Application Server Description


Customization includes:
1. Landing page themes: logo, home link, signup link, background color, all image buttons
2. Eyefon themes:
3. Currency:
4. Service types: Web2Phone or Click2Talk or both
5. Prepaid Plans, Subscriber Plans and Post Paid
6. Calling rates
7. Brands
8. Language

Administration functions for salesadmin:
9. Create accounts
10. Search accounts
11. Eyefon themes
12. Landing page themes
13. Change Password
14. Rebate center
15. Reports
16. Record Transaction
17. Make Payment

Administration functions for reseller:
1. Create accounts
2. Search accounts
3. Eyefon themes
4. Landing page themes
5. Change Password
6. Rebate center
7. Reports
8. Record Transaction
9. Make Payment
10. Account Information
11. Customers Calling History
12. Customers Account balance
13. Generate Batch of Calling Cards
14. Table Administration: Brands, Prepaid Plan, Province/States
15. Billing History


Automated Device Provisioning and Client Provisioning
VocalScape custom builds servers and modules to integrate with the VoIP Turn-key system to enable Analogue Telephone Adapter provisioning. In this fashion, ATA’s can be flashed with content, downloaded from ftp servers, and remotely reinstalled with updates. The custom provisioning includes, setting and resetting IPs, pointing of the DID telephone number and necessary automatic updates.
Server Specification:
The VocalScape VoiceMail server software is virtually unlimited based on the stacking of servers into a VoiceMail cluster of servers and set voice mail box sizes. Voicemail is available online and is sent by email to the subscriber.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to describe your servers?

1. Application Server

Soft Switch Functionality- Supports SIP, MGCP, H323 and most of the common CODECs in use today

SIP Proxy Server - SIP proxies are elements that route SIP requests to user agent servers and SIP responses to user agent clients. A request may traverse several proxies on its way to a UAS. Each will make routing decisions, modifying the request before forwarding it to the next element. Responses will route through the same set of proxies traversed by the request in the reverse order. Our Application Server is 'controlling' or relaying a call from a SIP phone to another SIP phone, it simply acts as an endpoint UA to the originating call leg and then creates a new call to the receiving phone. Therefore, it stays "in the middle of the call," maintaining state and controlling, and optionally bridging, each remote endpoint. The audio channels (RTP) may go directly from phone to phone or may go through the Application Servers Media Bridge.

SIP Registrar - Our Application Server is a SIP Registrar. A SIP registrar is a server that accepts REGISTER requests and places the information it receives in those requests into the location service for the domain it handles.

SIP offers a discovery capability. If a user wants to initiate a session with another user, SIP must discover the current host(s) at which the destination user is reachable. This discovery process is frequently accomplished by SIP network elements such as proxy servers and redirect servers which are responsible for receiving a request, determining where to send it based on knowledge of the location of the user, and then sending it there. To do this, SIP network elements consult an abstract service known as a location service, which provides address bindings for a particular domain.

What is the Least Call Routing (LCR) Capability - How much and to what extent, licensed or developed internally?

Developed internally the routing specifics are implemented in the Management Billing Database with the Logic running on the Application Servers. Since the database is relational, there is virtually no limit to the number of carriers, termination destinations and number of rates.

2. Database Server
A. Based on Postgres
B. Internally Developed Radius-like application
C. Handles
1. Authorization,
2. Caller Authentication
3. Call Accounting Data (CDRs)
D. Supports pre-paid, subscriber, and post-paid business models

3. Voicemail / Web Server
A. Automates Procurement / Provisioning of subscribers
B. Ecommerce Solution - whose?
C. What about anti-fraud measures?
D. Online Customer access to calling history, details & payment activity

4 Feature Servers

Call Conferencing - what capabilities?

Server based call conferencing provides the subscriber with a conference room that is accessed through a special PIN and the subscriber must schedule the conference with the parties involved by supplying the time and access codes to the members of the scheduled conference. This is the same as "bridge conference" services provided by Telcos.

5. Other Features:
A. What accounting packages do you support at present

We export CDR data through SQL to any accounting package

B. Which Load Balancing solutions do you support?

We do not profess to support load balancers and rely upon a customer’s expertise and choice. Load balancing will be a function of the customer’s network architecture. We have used a couple of Linux based software load balancers successfully. All of the large hardware manufactures i.e. Cisco has load balancing solutions as well. We have not implemented any hardware solutions at this time.

C. List of Trunking Gateways your software has been tested on.
Just Cisco and Quintum?

We are indifferent to which gateways are used. We have internal expertise to provide configuration services at a cost to the customer for Quintum or Cisco.