The list of session border controller (SBC) suppliers grew by one last week when AudioCodes announced the introduction of its Mediant 1000 Multi-Service Business Gateway (MSBG). The device combines a Media Gateway, enterprise class Session Border Controller, Data Router & Firewall, LAN Switch, WAN access, Stand Alone Survivability (SAS) and an on-board general purpose server. It is designed to complement service provider offers for IP-Centrex and SIP Trunking services, as well as distributed enterprises.

Joe McGarvey, Principal Analyst, Carrier IP Telephony Infrastructure, for Current Analysis noted that “the market demand for integrated secured voice and data platforms...is growing rapidly. The integration of multiple networking functions in the same hardware platform simplifies the definition of the service provider demarcation point, and helps enterprises manage their network infrastructure using fewer vendors.”

McGarvey continued to say, “Another strong feature of the AudioCodes MSBG is enabling secured SIP trunking using IP to IP session mediation, an integrated SBC and media transcoding, following the market trend of moving to SIP trunking and gradually replacing existing costly PSTN connections.”

The Mediant 1000 MSBG can be used with a wide range of both IP-PBXs and TDM PBXs today, and because the device uses the same software as the rest of AudioCodes’ broader Mediant gateway products, existing AudioCodes customers can immediately use the Mediant 1000 MSBG features, which include VoIP peering and mediation. Pricing was not disclosed, and additional features are planned for later this year.

Our observation: The market opportunity for supplying SBCs owned and operated directly by the enterprises is still in its early days, but service providers (including the cable companies) should deploy either an SBC device or SBC-functionality to assure proper security and performance for IP-Centrex and VoIP trunks. However, existing AudioCodes enterprise customers are certainly well-served by the new product. And carriers now have one more SBC option to integrate with their managed VoIP services.

Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. Larry Hettick is a principal analyst at Current Analysis.