Re: Better than POTS telecommunications conference service.

[Ben Teitelbaum <>]

A few corrections and clarifications...

The SIP conferencing server that Walt refers to is sipconf
(http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~hgs/papers/iptel2001/19.pdf).

> ...
>     We have an opportunity to have a vendor add the GIPs codec to an
>     existing SIP phone if we can show the need.  

Actually, PingTel has licensed and intends to implement GIPS iPCM-wb
regardless of what we do.  Snom has likewise licensed its wideband
codec from GIPS.  The key issue is whether GIPS is willing to license
the codec to Columbia at reasonable terms for inclusion in sipconf.
Henning is in discussion with key people at GIPS about this.  If these
discussions are not fruitful, the key issue is whether we can persuade
PingTel and other handset vendors to implement an openly available
wideband codec like G.722.

> We are proposing to
>     install one conf bridge at Colombia and possibly one conf bridge
>     at TAMU to be used for Internet2 Work Group audio conferences.
> 

Not exactly.  What we are proposing is that UCAID install and operate
one sipconf bridge for WG calls and internal UCAID use.  If this works
out, we are hoping that campuses might spin up their own nodes for
bridged calls initiated by their faculty, students, staff.

>    If Columbia and TAMU were to fund the conf bridges how many
>    institutions would be willing to purchase one or more of these
>    SIP phones. We would not charge for UCAID use of the conf bridge
>    service. The phones cost about $550 each.
> 
>    Please email your intent so that we can get back to the vendor.
>    This is not a commitment by either your University or
>    UCAID/Columbia/TAMU at this time.  We are only trying to get and
>    idea of interest.

Right.  The purpose of this exercise is to gauge the potential market
within Internet2 for SIP handsets capable of supporting a wideband
codec.  A good metric might be the number of individuals on your
campus who are heavy conference bridge users (where "heavy" might mean
more than 1 hr/week).  If we can credibly claim that there is a
potentially large market for such phones in Internet2, it will help
certain handset vendors justify Internet2 membership and investment in
"seeding" the marketplace.

Thanks,

-- ben

---------------------------------------------------------------wg-voip-+
For list utilities, archives, subscribe, unsubscribe, etc. please visit the
ListProc web interface at 

    http://archives.internet2.edu/

---------------------------------------------------------------wg-voip--