Patton Enhances SmartNode VoIP IAD Portfolio with EFM WAN Interface

Patton Electronics is now taking orders for three new SmartNode VoIP Integrated Access Devices (IADs) that offer a built-in Ethernet-in-the-First-Mile (EFM) interface for reliable, low-cost WAN access. The new products are expected to start shipping next month.

Patton's EFM VoIP IADs benefit carrier-providers and small-to-medium enterprises by enabling fast, low-cost provisioning of reliable IP communication services delivered over the ubiquitous copper-wire network-access infrastructure already in the ground.

Patton's new SmartNode EFM VoIP IADs round out Patton's portfolio of EFM solutions, including EFM-router, EFM-bridge and EFM-concentrator products.

Patton's complete set of interoperable EFM devices offers customers a single-vendor, one-stop shop for implementing carrier, campus and industrial networks over existing copper cable.

By eliminating the need for an outboard EFM modem, the integrated interface lowers equipment costs, simplifies network architecture and expedites service deployment when deploying IP-based voice, video and data services using SmartNode VoIP IADs.

"EFM technology makes old-fashioned copper wire more attractive than ever for delivering high-speed network services," said Ramon Felder, President and CEO of Patton's Western Europe Operations.

"Carriers around the world are abandoning ATM because EFM offers simpler network architecture with lower protocol overhead. That means faster service for customers and lower operating costs for providers. Patton has responded to this trend by offering EFM interfaces in all our relevant product portfolios."

Patton's implementation of EFM technology bonds up to 4 twisted pairs (8 wires) into a single high-speed communications channel that delivers transmission speeds up to 22.8 Mbps.

Because of the lower overhead inherent in the EFM protocol, users typically realize 10 to 20 percent more usable bandwidth over ATM when implemented on the copper access network.

Patton's integrated EFM-over-copper interface is available on three SmartNode models:

- SmartNode 4670 BRI/FXS/FXO VoIP IAD supports 8 to 16 calls
- SmartNode 4990 PRI/T1/E1 VoIP IAD supports 15 to 120 calls
- SmartNode 5490 Enterprise Session Border IAD supports up to 196 SIP-to-SIP calls
SmartNode VoIP devices, like all Patton products, come with Patton's free gold-standard customer support.

Learn more about the New SmartNode EFM IAD's: Watch Patton's on-demand webinar.

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 iPBXs 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 with routing and conversion between TDM/PSTN and IP/Ethernet networks-plus T.38 and SuperG3 FAX) combined with dial-backup and IP-link redundancy for VoIP and data survivability. The UCA also provides VoIP-over-VPN security with encrypted voice via IPsec with AES/DES strong encryption and automated keying via Internet Key Exchange (IKE), plus SIP Registrar for presence/reach-ability.

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 touch-less auto-provisioning, high reliability, and proven interoperability with all the major-brand softswitches and IP-PBXs.

Scaling from 2 to 2048 voice calls, SmartNode™ VoIP gateways, routers, IADs, Session Border Controllers (SBCs) and SmartMedia TDM+VoIP gateways offer every industry-standard interface, including T1/E1, PRI/BRI STM-1/OC3, DS3, , 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. For more information about SmartNode™ equipment, go to www.patton.com/voip.