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New Intel software enables wider adaption of converged telephony applications

Announcement posted by Intel 01 Oct 2003

Intel today announced Intel NetMerge(tm) Call Manager and Intel NetStructure(tm) Host Media Processing 1.1, two standards-based software building blocks that run on Intel processor-based servers to enable flexible, lower-cost speech and advanced voice solutions for enterprise customers.
Modular enterprise networks capable of handling voice and data can provide companies with a significant competitive advantage, but deploying converged communications technology for advanced telephony applications has typically been a complex and expensive proposition. This new Intel software, however, will help lower the cost and complexity of voice-enabling enterprise applications and speed the adoption of a unified modular network.
Intel NetMerge Call Manager offers application developers a fast and easy way to integrate the Microsoft Speech Server* with an enterprise's existing telephony network. The software uses advanced capabilities within Intel's telephony hardware to construct complex telephone services from the simpler programming elements that are presented to the application developer. As a result, applications can be built without focusing design resources on the complexities of the underlying telephone network.
Intel NetMerge Call Manager and other Intel connectivity products such as Intel Dialogic telephony boards are key elements of the speech server reference architecture that has been jointly developed by Microsoft and Intel. Developers using this reference architecture can reduce costs and simplify deployment by sharing common development tools, methods, application infrastructure and support resources when developing both Web and voice applications.
"There is little disagreement about the benefits of speech as a user interface. However, the traditionally high deployment barriers - cost, complexity, and a limited ecosystem - have prevented widespread adoption," said X.D. Huang, general manager for the Speech Technologies group at Microsoft. "Microsoft has the stated goal of 'making speech mainstream.' Intel shares this vision and we are pleased to be working with them to help make speech technology more accessible."
Intel also introduced Intel NetStructure Host Media Processing 1.1 software that will further reduce the cost and complexity of voice-enabling enterprise applications by eliminating the need for specialised telephony boards with digital signal processors. With this software developers can build flexible, cost-effective IP media servers for interactive voice response services, voice mail, conferencing, fax servers and other telephony applications. The software is compliant with the leading Internet telephony standards, including SIP, H.323 and H.450.2.
Because Intel NetStructure Host Media Processing is a software-only media-processing product for standard high-volume servers, costs are lower for procurement, development, deployment and maintenance of this total solution. The Intel NetStructure Host Media Processing solution is faster and easier to develop and deploy, and is currently scalable to 120 ports per server.
"With Intel NetStructure Host Media Processing and Intel architecture processors, we gain tremendous advantage in the area of cost, scalability and flexibility," said Mike Durance, vice president and general manager of Toshiba's Telecommunication Systems Division.
These platforms also give us the confidence that we can solve our customers' needs today, while addressing their evolving needs in the future."
Pricing and Availability
Intel NetMerge Call Manager software is currently beta testing with select customers. It will be generally available in the first quarter of next year when the Microsoft Speech Server becomes available. Pricing for Intel NetMerge Call Manager will be set at that time. Intel NetStructure Host Media Processing 1.1 software is currently available from Intel Authorised Distributors at approximately US$20-US$112 per port based on the functionality needed.
About Intel
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at http://www.intel.com/pressroom. - ENDS -
* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Intel, Intel NetMerge and Intel NetStructure are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.