Thanks to the power of modern technology in a VoIP softswitch, it is possible to perform telephony tasks entirely with software. That’s right; a VoIP softswitch eliminates the need for hardware.

A VoIP softswitch is a software platform that uses a computer system to connect phone calls. Traditional telephony used hardware switchboards to route calls; a VoIP softswitch uses only software.

Typically, a VoIP softswitch is used to manage connections between circuit and packet networks. A single VoIP softswitch can handle both switching logic and switching fabric management. The dynamics of a VoIP softswitch can be broken down into call agent and media gateway.

The VoIP softswitch call agent manages a variety of tasks including call routing, billing, signaling and call services. This component of a VoIP softswitch is the brains of the software. That’s because the call agent portion of a VoIP softswitch controls media gateways. Gateways are the other component in the VoIP softswitch dynamic.

The media gateway portion of a VoIP softswitch is the component that creates a path for voice and data streams. The VoIP softswitch’s media gateway can interface with traditional networks as well as IP networks. The VoIP softswitch’s call agent tells the gateway or gateways how to connect calls.

A VoIP softswitch generally usually is installed on a computer system at the central office of a service provider. But, a VoIP softswitch can also be used by enterprises or home users as well. In a business setting, a VoIP softswitch connects to the PBX and handles several hundred phone lines.

A VoIP softswitch does not just provide telephone connectivity; it also handles billing for both voice and data applications. Providers looking at this type of software should choose a VoIP softswitch that is based on SIP and other open standards for maximum flexibility and ROI.

For the provider, a VoIP softswitch opens the door on new revenue streams. The VoIP softswitch translates phone numbers into IP addresses. The VoIP softswitch then seeks out gateways or domains for connecting calls to the public phone network. The VoIP softswitch also performs real-time monitoring, billing (pre- and post-paid), routing management and report generation.

For service providers especially using a VoIP softswitch is a very appealing option. A VoIP softswitch introduces new services without needing to buy expensive hardware. To meet the needs of today’s customers, many service providers are finding that they need a VoIP softswitch.

It’s clear that the VoIP softswitch is a powerful new type of software that has the power to change how telephony services are designed, deployed and managed. In fact, you could say that the VoIP softswitch has already turned the telecom industry upside-down.

Mae Kowalkepreviously wrote for Cleveland Magazine in Ohio and The Burlington Free Press in Vermont. To see more of her articles, please visit Mae Kowalke’s columnist page

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