Netlink Phones talk to Nortel

Voice over IP (VoIP) phone maker SpectraLink now has a license from Nortel Networks to build the UniStem IP telephony voice protocol into its line of NetLink IP Wireless Telephones. Integration of UniStem means that the NetLink phones will now work with phone systems based on Nortel voice servers such as Meridian 1, Nortel Networks Business Communications Manager, and Succession Communication Server for Enterprise 1000.

NetLink Wireless Phones use the 802.11b protocol to communicate. Voice data is broken into packets transmitted or received by the wireless network and routed to or from a NetLink Telephony Gateway (if the facility uses a general PBX). The NetLink line also includes a SpectraLink Voice Priority (SVP) server that ensures voice packets get priority over data packets on a WLAN, so that voice quality does not degenerate during times of heavy traffic.

Other protocols that the NetLink phones already support include Cisco’s Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP or Skinny) and H.323, a standard for audiovisual conferencing.