Award: VoIP PBX
Winner: Cisco Systems Inc.: AVVID IP telephony system
Cisco once again has shown its leadership in voice- and video-over-IP technology with its AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) IP telephony system. Instead of a single hardware platform, AVVID is a collection of pieces that create a total solution for converged media needs. Starting with voice, Cisco offers IP telephones that plug into existing IP networks and communicate with each other or with a voice gateway from Cisco's Catalyst line. For PBX functionality, Cisco offers its CallManager software.
Cisco continues by offering video decode/encode solutions in its IP/TV and IP/VC products, which place video streams for distance learning or videoconferencing directly at employees' desks. Although widespread adoption of packetized voice and video is still a few years away, Cisco is gearing up now with its AVVID system.
Award: ATM Access Concentrator
Winner: Memotec Communications: CX950 Access Switch
The Memotec CX950 is the best example of an IAD (integrated access device) that we've seen in awhile. The engineers at Memotec set out to build an expandable unit with everything an enterprise customer could want. They succeeded, creating a device that combines multiple slots encompassing services such as ISDN, frame relay, ATM, Ethernet and V.34 modems. In our testing, the CX950 handled everything we threw at it, including voice and IP traffic.
But Memotec hasn't rested on its laurels since the introduction of the 900 series. The company continues to innovate. Building on the CX950 , Memotec has introduced the CX-960, which adds GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) capabilities to the mix. And for those needing even more expandability, Memotec has created a high-port-density unit -- the CX-2000 -- that combines as many as four CX-9xx motherboards into one controllable chassis.
Award: WAN Pricing Tool
Winner: CCMI (Center for Communication Management Information): Salestar WinPricer
Most enterprise customers purchase network connections by calling up their provider of choice, never considering what other options might be available or from whom. Others may spend days on the telephone trying to get competitive quotes for connectivity. CCMI has found a better way with its Salestar WinPricer software. Salestar WinPricer acts as a personal tariff finder; by designing a network within the software, users can check approximate pricing for several carriers at one time -- without having to lift the handset.
Using specialized information from each state, Salestar WinPricer gets detailed pricing data, down to the local exchange, for a wide range of carriers and CLECs (competitive local exchange carriers). This pricing data is updated on a regular basis.
Award: Streaming Media Server
Winner: RealNetworks: RealServer Plus 7.0 with RealProducer Plus 8, RealPresenter Plus 8, RealPlayer Plus 8
RealNetworks, with its RealServer software, was the first company to provide streaming video and audio content to the Internet masses. Over the years, RealNetworks has continued to be the company to beat, providing the best streaming media servers and client software. This trend continues with its RealProducer Plus, which is tops for encoding video and audio and preparing the data for streaming. The company's customer base also has grown; it now offers a complete network of available streaming audio and video content.
To provide quality to the end user, RealNetworks offers free of charge a good decoder for popular platforms. For those who want a little better quality, the company has a 'Plus' version of its decoder that incorporates additional equalization and video controls. RealServer works on Microsoft Corp. Windows NT and 2000 as well as on a popular variety of Unix servers.
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