What Are Multimedia Border Elements?

SIP mediation

Media translation and transcoding

Conversion of signaling protocols other than SIP

Critical security functions

Using an MMBE on the Network Edge

For several years, carriers have been migrating from circuit-switched networks to more flexible network topologies based on IP. To increase flexibility and reduce costs, carriers initially kept existing circuit switches in place and used media gateways to convert to IP. However, carriers are now taking the next step and building services with all IP-based elements, typically using the SIP protocol. These emerging SIP-based networks offer enormous potential for generating new services and increasing revenue per subscriber, but the introduction of IP throughout the network also creates challenges.

Although carriers often use Session Border Controllers for signal translation and security, most do not include the hardware-based signal processing needed for media transcoding. For all-IP environments, new elements are required that can mediate signaling, transcode among different media formats, and handle basic security issues. Dialogic has developed the concept of the Multimedia Border Element (MMBE) to meet these needs, and its carrier-proven products, such as Dialogic® Integrated Media Gateways, are exceptionally well-suited to serve as MMBEs.

Mobile Value Added Services (VAS) is a well established and rapidly growing set of mobile applications beyond basic voice and messaging services. Many of these interactive services are targeted towards consumers, and include entertainment, gaming, multimedia content delivery, location-based services, and enhanced messaging capabilities. Business-focused VAS can include advanced messaging, conferencing capabilities, and customers' self-service applications. Mobile VAS applications have been a source of incremental revenue and customer satisfaction for network operators and hosted service providers worldwide.

Dialogic has a long history of enabling innovative VAS applications. For example, Dialogic helped pioneer one of the most successful mobile VAS applications, Ring-Back Tones. Since 2001, RBT applications have grown into a multi-billion dollar market worldwide.

Focus areas for continued development and deployment now include applications such as Mobile CRBT, Mobile Entertainment, Mobile Messaging, and Mobile Voice Enhancements. To learn more, follow the links below.

Dialogic is also providing video-enabled engines that support direct IP streaming as well as connectivity to existing and new mobile devices to bring video to already successful high-revenue applications, enabling the move from CRBT to VRT, Voice Mail to Video Mail, IVR to IVVR, SMS to Video SMS, Conferencing to Video Conferencing, Voice Portal to Video Portal, and LBS to Video-Enabled LBS. Find out why Video is the New Voice™.

Mobile Entertainment

Mobile Entertainment includes important new applications, such as Video Portals, Video Chat, Gaming and Social Networking. Well established solutions such as Ring-Back Tones and Background Music are driving revenue today.

Mobile Messaging

Mobile Messaging includes proven revenue generators, such as SMS and MMS, traditional Voice Mail, as well as emerging applications, such as Voice SMS and Video Messaging. 

Mobile Voice Enhancements

Mobile Voice includes many applications that enhance the basic mobile voice experience.  Mobile roaming, prepaid applications, missed-call alerts, and a long list of applications enabled with advanced signaling capabilities help reduce customer churn and capture mobile revenue.