Dramatically lower calling costs, simplified billing and a wide array of user-friendly features are the key to the popularity of residential VoIP or Internet telephony services.

This in turn makes them attractive for ITSPs, ISPs, and other VoIP carriers and phone service providers seeking to extend their present operations and increase revenues.

With PortaSwitch, VoIP service providers are able not only to copy the residential services of VoIP operators similar to Vonage (e.g., call waiting, voicemail, caller ID, etc.) but also go beyond the basic phone service functions, for example: teleconference bridging and routing, emerging voice and signaling security features, and other ancillary functions.

PortaSwitch is built around PortaBilling, a converged billing software platform that enables VoIP service providers to instantly extend their telephony service offers to complete triple play package:

• Voice,
• Internet access, and
• IPTV.

For more technical and/or pricing information about our solutions for residential VoIP please contact our sales.

Who is it for?

• ITSPs entering new residential and retail markets (where the telecommunications market has been deregulated)
• Companies launching Vonage-like services
• Carriers looking for enhanced profit from increased wholesale traffic
• Service providers who wish to extend their existing VoIP services
• Companies competing with local telecoms by offering enhanced 3rd generation services (follow-me, mobility, etc.)

How does it work?

• The provider assigns the end user a local or international telephone number (DID) so the user can place and receive calls
• The caller dials the desired local or long-distance number directly. The call is then sent over the customer’s high-speed Internet connection.
• Once the call is completed, it is charged to the caller’s account balance.
• Users may log in to the account self-provisioning interface at any time to access service usage data and call history (xDRs/CDRs), payment information (credit card info), language options, and many other features.

Solution components

The core elements of VoIP-based residential services include:

• A VoIP Gateway that supports RADIUS/AAA (CISCO, Quintum, etc.); this plays the role of an interface for the originated call from the PSTN (caller’s phone) to the IP network (Internet), and includes an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) server that provides voice prompts describing the account balance and minutes available for the call
• PortaBilling Software, a real-time billing and customer care platform that keeps track of calls and corresponding charges; redundant system architecture (dual database) is already incorporated in the basic version
• PortaSIP software, a call control software package based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), providing a full array of call routing capabilities as well as a solution to the NAT traversal problem
• PortaUM (Unified Messaging System) handles voice, fax, and regular e-mail messages as objects in a single mailbox, which users can access via a web interface or by telephone
• Compatible end-user hardware - analogue telephone adapters

Key Features

• Standard features such as call waiting, call forwarding, call transfer, caller ID and three-way calling, as well as optional features like voicemail and web-based email (their popularity with users means excellent revenue-generating potential)
• Users may retain their current analogue telephone numbers
• Utility for remote bulk configuration of end users’ SIP user agents (Cisco ATA, Sipura, Grandstream)
• Customizable, wizard-driven call rating, including peak and off-peak periods
• Unlimited number of accounts hosted by the system
• Easy management of accounts and batches
• In-depth analysis per VoIP carrier based on traffic and generated revenues
• Comprehensive and customizable reporting functions allowing service providers to track all types of call information (by destination, time, ASR, etc.)
• E-commerce module credit card payment, web subscription; fully compliant with the Visa security standard