As a next-generation developer, Vail embraces open-standard interfaces like SIP, VXML, CCXML, and MRCP. The richness and flexibility of these interfaces provide access to a large number of internal and external services, including call origination, termination, and control; media mixing, conference prompting and recording; and even access to ASR and TTS engines from Nuance and Microsoft. Even better, these interfaces allow our developers to both increase application portability and decrease time-to-market.
For developers who prefer to write lower-level APIs, Vail supports a rich set of C++ APIs. Many organizations have used this option profitably, migrating away from TDM-based PCI hardware cards or limited service-creation environments to Vail's software-only SIP platform.
Vail's open-standard approach and pluggable codec architecture has real, solid benefits for the customer. Possibly most importantly, it allows us to keep operations in-house: instead of depending on a proprietary application developer or waiting for a hardware-specific vendor to deliver an upgrade, Vail's professional services team can use the easily modified platform structure to create and deploy cutting-edge enhanced telephony services.
Furthermore, Vail understands that, as VoIP end points become more pervasive, the market demand for alternative codecs will increase; their ability to improve voice quality, over the legacy PTSN, makes them a critical tool in today's business world. Right now, the Vail SIP platform supports G.711 and iLBC, with the ability to interface with other codecs (such as iSAC) via our plug-in architecture.
Other traditional TDM- or VoIP-based platforms use a combination of software and proprietary hardware, but our 100% software-based IP telephony platform utilizes simple off-the-shelf Intel servers running Solaris, Linux, or Microsoft Server 2003. No digital signal processors are needed. Our simple and straightforward approach enables Vail to reliably and cost-effectively deliver N+1 and N+N redundancy for maximum fail-over, and at an industry-leading scale.
Vail's unique platform structure gives plenty of room for expansion. When starting out, multiple applications can be run on a single server; but if growth occurs, a single application can be run across multiple servers, distributed across several different data centers. If mechanical failure occurs, one of our redundant servers will instantly pick up the load, with no time or calls lost.
