The developer of software for the world's largest telco comes to NMS for its IP media server
It's a big job keeping the world's largest telecommunications company — Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) — supplied with advanced software applications in an increasingly competitive market. That's the role of NTT COMWARE, the subsidiary of NTT that is responsible for developing software for NTT's public networks, as well as operating and maintaining them.
In 2000, its parent company asked NTT COMWARE to create an Internet Protocol (IP)-based integrated voice response (IVR) and conference server application targeted at Japanese telecommunications providers deploying IP networks. The need was critical because these network deployments were dependent on applications that enable the delivery of revenue-generating services — and NTT had a small window of opportunity in which to meet its customers' time-to-market goals.
With so much at stake — and so little time to spare — NTT COMWARE developers knew they needed to base their new solution on an advanced, yet proven platform. They chose an award-winning platform (named Product of the Year in the Development Platforms category by Internet Telephony magazine) that offered both a tightly-integrated infrastructure and the proven ability to support "in-the-network" deployments. The product? The CG 6000C high-performance media streaming hardware platform from NMS Communications (NMS).
Adding Layers of Value
NTT recognized that the CG 6000C would enhance the quality of their IP media server solution, particularly after NMS developed an API layer to interface between NTT COMWARE's IVR/conferencing application and NMS' Natural Access API. Designed specifically for the media server environment and to satisfy specific requirements of NTT, the API layer is capable of supporting IVR and conferencing applications using either G.711 vocoders (about 96 ports per board) or G.729 vocoders (about 64 ports per board).
Expertise: The Essential Ingredient to Success
The NTT/NMS relationship was cemented when NTT COMWARE chose the NMS Services & Solutions Group to be its development partner. The NMS team provided value-added development engineering and focused expertise to support the NTT COMWARE development team, creating a customized middleware application for NMS' Fusion API that enabled NTT to accelerate the development of the media server.
NMS consulting engineers from Asia, the West Coast, and NMS headquarters in Massachusetts came together for the project — often working late into the night and through the weekend to ensure success. Despite an extremely aggressive timetable, NMS delivered the finished product ahead of schedule and within a tight budget. When NTT engineers from Japan came to Massachusetts to perform the acceptance testing, the middleware application developed by NMS passed with flying colors.
Result: An Opportunity Seized and a Partnership Developed
By delivering not only the most advanced and proven hardware platform, but also the specialized development expertise of its Services & Solutions Group, NMS was able to meet NTT's unique requirements and rigorous schedule. NMS' contributions have enabled NTT to pursue an important new business opportunity with its IP-based IVR and conference server application. As a result of the success of this project, NTT has committed to partnering with NMS on future work, primarily in the area of voice portals.
For more information on NTT COMWARE, visit www.nttcom.co.jp.