VoIP on Data Networks
By Anuradha Ramamirtham
Mumbai, May 24, 2007

With an aim to install and configure a secure, integrated voice and data environment that includes routing, firewall, and VPN functionality, Digium and Vyatta have entered into a partnership.

Over the past few years, the voice and data markets are increasingly merging. Today, voice is an application that runs on data network. On these lines, Vyatta, a provider of open-source data communications, and Digium, involved in open source voice communications have entered into an alliance.

The partnership is aimed at helping SMBs and large enterprises. The goal is to make it easier and foolproof to set up a secure Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP) network using Asterisk and Vyatta solutions that include routing, firewall, and VPN functionality.

Speaking to CXOtoday.com, Dave Roberts, vice president (strategy and marketing) of Vyatta said, "Presently, various VoIP don't interact well with traditional security devices. For instance, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) doesn't go through firewalls and Network Address Translation (NAT) devices."

"Traditionally, firewalls try to detect what a VoIP session is trying to do. In most cases they are detected, but in the case of SIP it is hard," added Roberts. "Essentially, our collaboration would enable PBX to notify the firewall of the exact happenings."

When asked about the revenue-sharing model between the companies, Roberts said that this partnership is based on technology and marketing, and not on sales. Both companies plan on working together to make voice and data networks better.

Since this alliance is in its early stages and is considering all the user benefits it can address, Digium, when contacted, reserved its comments on the partnership.