Overview
The CounterPath Messaging Convergence Gateway (MCG) is a solution for service providers that powers SMS capability for VoIP subscribers. It enables two-way SMS text communication between subscribers using the Bria softphone on their PC, and mobile devices.
The MCG is targeted for systems providing fixed consumer VoIP service to subscribers that are assigned telephone numbers (in contrast to services like instant messaging that are based on non-numeric user IDs that are inherently incompatible with SMS, which uses E.164 addressing).
It provides functional equivalence to SMS-C and HLR in the mobile network. This greatly reduces the capital expenditure and complexity typically involved in rolling out SMS services to VoIP users.
Benefits for VoIP Operators
- Additional revenue source
- A-la-Carte softphone feature add-ons
- Promote greater softphone adoption
- Simple implementation
- Overlay to existing VoIP infrastructure
- No HLR/ SMS-C required
- Leverage the gateway to increase softphone marketshare penetration
- Various deployment options including on-site and SaaS
Benefits for Consumers
- Single communication PC application
- Make voice calls to any device
- Send SMS text messages to mobile devices
- Send Instant Messages to PC-based IM applications
- Receive and send SMS test messages from mobile users
- No change required on the mobile device
- No change required on mobile users
Features
The Messaging Convergence Gateway (MCG) enables SMS capability for VoIP subscribers. The solution is comprised of an SMS messaging gateway server and Bria softphone clients. Communicating with Bria on their PCs, end-users can send and receive SMS text messages to and from mobile devices - without any network impact to the service provider's current VoIP service or 3rd party call server dependency.
Service Provider Features
- SMS Interface to VoIP client (CounterPath's Bria softphone)
- Interface to mobile messaging network via SMPP
- Call Detail Records
- SNMP alarms and performance traps
- Carrier class server software
- Highly Available
- Redundant
- Scalable
User Features
- Bi-directional SMS (inbound and outbound)
- SMS Store and Forward for off-line VoIP users
Specifications
SIP
- Session Initiation Protocol (IETF RFC 3261)
- Reliability of Provisional Responses in SIP (RFC 3262)
- Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE) to SMS (RFC 3428)
- SIP-Aware Load Balancing using Open Shortest Path First (RFC 2328)
OSS/ BSS
- CDR Generation via FTP or RADIUS
- RADIUS Accounting/CDR Generation (RFC 2866)
- RADIUS Authentication Client (RFC 2865)
- OS Resource Monitoring / High Availability
- SNMP v 2C Alarm Monitoring, Statistical Gathering
- MIB II (RFC 1213)
- Subscriber Trace
Operating System
- Redhat Enterprise Linux Standard Edition ES 4.0 Update 5
Pricing
The Messaging Convergence Gateway (MCG) solution is designed for large scale deployments by service providers and OEM customers. As such, a minimum volume license commitment is required.
To inquire about the MCG solution, please complete and submit the Sales Request Form and a CounterPath sales representative will contact you with more information.
Resources
Coming soon.