<strong>Thinking</strong> <strong>About</strong> - <strong>Enabling</strong> <strong>Convergence</strong>: A Four Framework ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3MPLS enables service providers to offer simpler, higher caliber servicesthat are easier to manage. Now it is organization needs, not thelimitations of networks, which set the IT agenda. Network-based,end-to-end Class of Service traffic management ensures high qualityfor such applications as VoIP and IP television. Using MPLS networksas the base for Virtual Private Networks ensures communicationprivacy and security.Enterprises will increasingly turn to MPLS as carriersmerge and provide larger, more stable IP/MPLSnetworks as foundations for valuable services suchas network-based VoIP. 3Robert Whitely, Forrester Research, Inc.According to Robert Whitely of Forrester Research, “Enterprises willincreasingly turn to MPLS as carriers merge and provide larger, morestable IP/MPLS networks as foundations for valuable services such asnetwork-based VoIP. ”Future MPLS networks will use “traffic shaping” technologies todynamically adjust capacity and prioritize specific applications, asdemands on the network change. Network-based applicationintelligence will make the network itself “aware” of the kinds ofapplications moving across the network. The network will thenautomatically adjust its behavior to optimize application performance.Planning for your MPLS network begins with a detailed analysis ofwhich applications will use the network, how much bandwidth theywill require and the usage patterns and organization locations thenetwork must accommodate.Consider too your need for redundancy and organization continuityand the kinds of edge devices and access technologies you will use.Multinational organizations must also consider the higher cost ofinternational bandwidth and how to manage the sometimesinconsistent standards and protocols in use by local service providers.Optimize Your Application InfrastructureOrganization applications such as data storage and retrieval,organization resource planning (ERP), Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP), messaging, Internet protocol television (IPTV), supply chainmanagement (SCM), bridging-based collaboration services such asvideo and audio conferencing, and others run and depend on a highperformance infrastructure.Increasingly, organizations are replacing legacy infrastructures,characterized by separate network elements, systems and applications,with a converged, unified and dynamic application infrastructure.The converged infrastructure supports on-demand and automatedorganization applications with full interoperability, stability andcentrally managed SLAs, including dynamic cross-applicationnetwork policies.A dynamic network unites these diverse systems, increasing applicationreliability and performance, and simplifying the job of makingapplications work together. And new capabilities are emerging.Networks will soon deliver such features as application-sensitiveperformance levels, location-awareness for mobile applications, andpersonalized applications customized for the needs of each end-user.Intelligence built into the network will respond automatically tochanging conditions. For example, when a high-bandwidth, highqualityapplication like IPTV comes online, the network willautomatically allocate the needed bandwidth and apply Class ofService controls to ensure quality. When broadcast time is over,the network will return to organization as usual.To get started in optimizing the applications infrastructure in yourorganization, think through these questions:• What applications are essential to your operations today, and whatnew applications will you be using in the future?• Who uses these applications and how do they access them?How can you deliver consistent levels of performance to users inall your locations?• To what extent must your various applications interact andexchange information with each other?• Do you have the resources to accomplish the job? And even if youhave the resources in house, is this how you want to use them? Inessence, this is a build versus buy decision. Service providers offerhosting and outsourcing options that range from simple floor spacein a secure data center, to full management of your applicationsinfrastructure, to management of the applications themselves.Take Advantage of Services Over Internet ProtocolInstead of using separate voice, video, conferencing and messagingservices, organizations can gain efficiencies and new capabilities byintegrating these services into a seamless communications environment.Internet protocol (IP) is the unifying technology that makes possible anextraordinary level of convergence and interoperability amongcommunications systems, applications and devices.VoIP, the best known IP-based service today, is revolutionizing thetelecommunications market and challenging traditional circuitswitchedservices that travel over the public network. But other IPservices are emerging. For example, instead of purchasing andmaintaining a PBX on site, organizations can buy IP-based telephonyservices, which are sophisticated call processing capabilities sold asan end-to-end managed service. IP television, conferencing andmessaging services are similarly coming to market.Future services over IP will include click-to-call capability in anynetwork device. Presence-awareness will help callers know whetherthe person they’re trying to reach is available, and over which device.Thus callers can avoid communication “side tracks” like voice mail,and increase their percentage of “direct hits” that reach the personthey are calling.
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