Connect Across Unified Communications Networks

The Cisco Unified Border Element (formerly Cisco Multiservice IP-to-IP Gateway Software) facilitates simple and cost-effective connectivity between independent unified communications, voice over IP (VoIP), and video networks. Cisco Unified Border Element is an integrated Cisco IOS Software application that's designed to meet the unified communications interconnection needs, including session border controller functions, of enterprises and service providers alike.

Cisco Unified Border Element

Video Data Sheet

Learn about the features and specifications of the Cisco Unified Border Element (5:25 min.)

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End-to-end IP interconnections between unified communications networks provide such valuable benefits as:

• Preservation of media content quality
• Support of emerging unified communications services that are not possible over time-division multiplexing (TDM) technology
• Lower latency
• Lower costs

Cisco Unified Border Element Release 1.3 is available starting with Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(22)YB. This version of Cisco Unified Border Element features a number of new enhancements including:

• Automatic call rerouting capabilities in the event of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunk failure at the service provider's site
• Greater control for an enterprise's caller ID and caller name display preferences, to help ensure privacy
• Secure Internet calling between enterprise organizations
• Simplified configuration to facilitate "plug and play" functionality for SIP trunks
• Easier for developers to create SIP applications that can be securely interconnected to the existing unified communications infrastructure

There are also a number of unique features available in all releases of Cisco Unified Border Element, including:

• Intelligent network demarcation that supports a wide array of physical interfaces
• Operation, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) function at the edge of enterprise networks
• Interoperability with Cisco Unified Communications Manager
• Signaling interworking between H.323 and SIP
• Media interworking dual-tone multifrequency [DTMF], fax, modem, and codec transcoding)
• Quality of service (QoS) and bandwidth management (QoS marking using type of service [ToS], differentiated services code point [DSCP] and bandwidth enforcement using Resource Reservation Protocol [RSVP] and codec filtering)
• Allows for the adoption of unified communications trunks through concurrent support of public switched telephone network (PSTN) gateways on the same platform
• Unified Communications Security policy enforcement

Cisco Unified Border Element is an integrated Cisco IOS Software application that runs on:

• Cisco 2800 Series Integrated Services Routers
• Cisco 3800 Series Integrated Services Routers
• Cisco 7200VXR Routers
• Cisco 7301 Routers
• Cisco AS5350XM Universal Gateway
• Cisco AS5400XM Universal Gateway