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Videotron, a Quebec communications services operator, is using Nortel’s (News - Alert) technology to deliver a new video calling service over its cable network.

With Videotron’s advanced new Soft Phone and Personal Call Manager services customers can make and receive multiple calls via their computers, as well as control and redirect incoming calls. The Soft Phone enables videotelephony via a high-quality video link that presents streaming imagery smoothly, without the jerky quality normally associated with Internet video. Meanwhile, Personal Call Manager gives customers advanced call routing functions like simultaneous ring to up to three devices, call screening based on Caller ID and programmable Do Not Disturb periods. In addition, Personal Call Manager lets customers combine their cell phone, home number, and work phone into a one-number service, thus allowing them to choose when and where calls are received. Also, customers can simultaneously direct calls to the device of their choice, be it a Soft Phone, mobile phone, business phone, home phone or voicemail. Impressively, the service can also be accessed from any device connected to the Internet, thus giving homeowners control over their communications the same way top executives at major corporations have control their communications.

These new services are being powered by Nortel’s Communications Server 2000, a carrier-class IP Multimedia softswitch which enables fixed mobile convergence, advanced Web services and unified communications. This IMS-ready, carrier grade softswitch runs on Nortel’s XA-Core Platform and thus supports a wide range of signaling, transport and control protocols, including both MGCP and SIP for line gateways. Capabale of scaling to 2 million Busy Hour Call Attempts (BHCA), it serves as the centerpiece of an open, standards-based, scalable packet trunking solution (ATM or IP) or packet access solution enabled by Nortel’s Carrier VoIP portfolio.

In this case the softswitch was customized to Videotron's requirements – i.e. it was modified to support videotelephony. This is being offered in addition to standard IP telephony, Internet access, television and wireless services to Videotron’s residential and business customers.

"The ability to set up high-quality and reliable videocalling is a powerful new way to communicate that allows people be understood more effectively," said Videotron's senior vice president of engineering, Daniel Proulx, in a press release. "In addition, being able to centralize communications with the Personal Call Manager is like having your own personal assistant to route your calls to you regardless of which device you are using. This solution allows us to deliver great value to our customers, providing communications of the future to subscribers today."

"As one of the first companies to offer videocalling with assured quality and the unparalleled ability to control how one communicates, Videotron is establishing itself as a pioneer in the communications field. Nortel's solution provides competitive differentiation for Videotron with an array of options for their customers that simplify the complexities of today's communications," added Tom Buttermore, general manager, Cable Solutions, Nortel. "Nortel's cable solutions are designed to be deployed easily, allowing our customers to start offering revenue- generating services quickly. And we back these solutions with a full complement of application and support services from our Global Services portfolio."

Videotron is able to ensure the quality of video and VoIP through the use of the PacketCable MultiMedia (PCMM) QoS protocol, a new standard which was designed specifically to enable cable companies to offer a higher quality multimedia service over their networks. While ordinary traffic traverses the Internet in a “best-effort” fashion, Nortel and Camiant (News - Alert), an industry leading policy-control solution provider, have teamed up to ensure that Videotron's videocalling traffic is guaranteed the bandwidth needed to provide a high quality customer experience.

Nortel also provided engineering, installation, project management and application services through its Global Services portfolio. It is also providing on- going network maintenance services.

For more information, visit www.nortel.com and www.videotron.com.

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Patrick Barnard is Associate Editor for Customer Interaction Solutions magazine and Assignment Editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.