For organizations implementing OCS unified communications, SmartNode preserves investment in existing PBX phone systems, adding a rich set of IP-telephony features.

Patton, the leader in business and carrier-class network access, connectivity, VoIP and mobile video-surveillance equipment—announces mutual certification for Microsoft Office Communication Server (OCS) and SmartNode VoIP gateways.

Microsoft certified SmartNode media gateways (R5.6 and newer) in its Unified Communications Open Interoperability Program for Office Communications Server while Patton lists Microsoft as a Certified IP-PBX Partner.

Having announced IBM Lotus Sametime certification in March, Patton anticipates completing Microsoft Lync certification in Q3.

The Microsoft-Patton certification enables enterprises and integrators to select, specify and implement SmartNode-enhanced OCS solutions with utmost confidence. Patton’s SmartNode-OCS configuration guide facilitates trouble-free system turn-up.

Most Microsoft-certified VoIP gateways are less scalable for interface types, port counts, and number of concurrent calls, yet Swiss engineered, US-manufactured SmartNode™ VoIP equipment typically costs less than any reliable alternative.

“How do you fix a price on peace of mind?” said Burton A. Patton, Executive Vice President. ”Award-wining SmartNode VoIP equipment is industry-renowned for high quality and set-it-forget-it stability. Once you configure one you won’t touch it again. SmartNode™ just keeps on working.”

Featured in an interview entitled “Patton Rocks the VoIP World with SmartNode,” Mr. Patton appears on the cover of April’s InfoTECH Spotlight magazine.

According to Wainhouse Research (Implementing Microsoft’s OCS 2007 in Real-World Telephony Environments), few organizations rip and replace their existing voice networks when implementing unified communications. Most companies prefer less radical—and less costly—gradual migration to IP telephony.

Enabling the smooth transition, SmartNode™ offers a Unified Communications Agent (UCA) that integrates existing PBX phone systems and/or PSTN connections with such unified communications systems as Microsoft OCS and IBM Lotus Sametime.

Providing any-to-any multi-path switching, Patton’s UCA supports simultaneous SIP, H.323, ISDN, and POTS calling—plus T.38 and SuperG3 FAX—with routing and conversion for TDM/PSTN and IP/Ethernet traffic. The UCA includes SIP Registrar for presence/reachability; dial-backup and IP-link redundancy for VoIP-and-data survivability, and VoIP-over-VPN for secure IPsec-encrypted voice and data with Internet Key Exchange (IKE).

SmartNode further enriches unified communications solutions with intelligent least-cost call-routing, QoS, traffic management, voice prioritization, and protection for critical data with call limiter and PSTN overflow.

Patton recently expanded the SmartNode T1/E1/PRI Series, adding the SN4940 VoIP Gateway and SN4950 VoIP Gateway-Router to the SN4960 Enterprise Session Border Router.

About SmartNode VoIP Solutions

Award-winning SmartNode™ equipment delivers state-of-the art VoIP technology that integrates seamlessly with existing analog POTS and digital ISDN infrastructures. Proven interoperability with all major brands of softswitches and IP-PBXs makes it easy for carriers and enterprises to deploy future-proof VoIP systems quickly and profitably today. Tens of thousands of SmartNode products are up and running in enterprise networks and carrier deployments worldwide, including one of Europe’s earliest first-line VoIP services.

The SmartNode Unified Communication Agent (UCA) provides any-to-any multi-path switching (simultaneous SIP, H.323, ISDN, and POTS calls—plus T.38 and SuperG3 FAX—with routing and conversion for TDM/PSTN and IP/Ethernet traffic. The UCA includes SIP Registrar for presence/reachability, dial-backup and IP-link redundancy for VoIP-and-data survivability, and VoIP-over-VPN for secure IPsec-encrypted voice and data with AES/DES strong encryption and automated keying via Internet Key Exchange (IKE).

SmartNode preserves all the ISDN telephony features that ISDN users depend on and network operators require (AOC, CLIP, CLIR, UD64, overlap dialing, and fax, as well as MSN and DID). Built on the industry’s most interoperable VoIP platform, the SmartNode S-DTA supports ISDN, SIP, H.323, and MGCP/IUA signaling. Patton’s SmartWare features touchless auto-provisioning, high reliability, and proven interoperability with all the major-brand softswitches and IP-PBXs.

Scaling from 2 to 120 voice calls, SmartNode VoIP gateways, routers, IADs and Session Border Controllers (SBCs) offer every industry-standard interface, including T1/E1, PRI/BRI, FXS/FXO, V.35/X.21, Ethernet, G.SHDSL, ADSL2+, and more, while Patton’s advanced DownStreamQoS technology delivers clear, toll-quality voice on every call.