Said El Ketrani, Ilexia: "The interest of all the players in the ToIP is interoperability"

IP Convergence Expo - The interoperability between the hardware and software of ToIP is not assured. Explanations on this situation with Said El Ketrani, CEO Ilexia, who launched a label to try to harmonize the offer.

ZDNet.fr - What is the issue of interoperability in a draft ToIP?
Said El Ketrani - An example: you take an IP telephone, you become part of a local network or extended. However, integrated into a switch is already a form of compatibility, what I call vertical compatibility. Your phone must accommodate devices with different protocols, installed by manufacturers often different.

There is a second form of interoperability: Interoperability cross. The IP phones, for example, come from different manufacturers such as Thomson or Nokia. To work, they require managers of calls. They come from other manufacturers that have decided to work with a number of protocols and no further! For example, H323 for the major operators or SIP for alternative operators. In short, the client finds himself with another problem of interoperability and can have the feeling of being bound hand and foot.

The issue of interoperability therefore meets several times in the construction of a project ToIP. With two major consequences. One in terms of choice for SI: choose interoperability impact the entire chain IT and telecom. The other in terms of standards: the movement will be on a scale unmatched since the normalization of ISDN and requires a very precise eve of this movement of standardization.

Suppliers have any real interest in this interoperability?
They have no choice, they are no longer alone in the world! Competition comes from everywhere: other actors Network and the ToIP, but also open source, can be seen with the rise of Asterix. Therefore, increasingly, ensure interoperability. The buyers become aware that customers, which is why we are launching for a label suppliers for interoperability. We bet that all systems can communicate and that it is everyone's interest. We act in full independence. For example, our training has never wanted to be a substitute for those manufacturers. Our label interoperability will be an accelerator market.

And later clients, are they aware of this need interoperability?
For the user you have two ways to address this interoperability. First for callers. If you want, for example, establish communication between two IP positions, one Alcatel and Nortel each other in two different companies, you must spend three different protocols to communicate both IPBX of different brands. We must show them these issues.

Still, for more complex communications with value-added services. It is essential to determine if that version is compatible with the rest of the facility. ToIP These projects are very complex and structuring; watch as businesses and particularly CIOs are very developed in terms of ToIP.