Programmable switches are becoming increasingly important weapons used by Internet telephony providers to bridge the gap between IP and circuit-switched protocols.

Programmable switches operate seamlessly within traditional network infrastructure and provide a path for transmission between two communication devices and the routing of information between them.

Programmable switches serve as flexible solutions for network operators. They are the Multi-Protocol-Application for intelligent networks and are applicable as gateway and for conversion of protocols. With these switches, customization can be done on an application-by-application basis, thereby giving service providers the ability to differentiate their service from the competition quickly and cost effectively.

Through openness and configurability, programmable switches have the versatility to provide a platform for multi-service applications. They offer a superior return on investment owing to their excellent price performance and enable more capacity. Thus, a service provider can support larger subscriber population-and consequently, receive greater revenue per configuration. These soft switches are flexible and adaptable and thus deliver a greater versatility of function per system.