How Software Technology Has Advantages Over Hardware?

Reliability is the foremost quality of a Soft switch. The sophisticated architecture ensures that any chance of system failure is just next to negligible. Read on to get a handle on Soft switch, the technology behind Voice Over Internet Protocol or VoIP.
Soft switch is a software that is used to manage IP traffic that contains a blend of audio and video. The technology bridges the traditional PSTN and VoIP by linking PSTN to IP networks. While the conventional switching center technology is hardware-based, it is software-based switching platform.
Soft switch is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), that ensures error free communication to enable ITSP's to offer PC to Phone, PC to PC, IP Phone to Phone and IP Device to Phone services. VoIP billing software is seamlessly attached with this switch, deploying modular and sophisticated software architecture. The technology is flexible enough to suit new or existing service providers.
Usually, a Soft switch software supports features such as Customization of IVR, Caller ID & Card Number, SIP/IAX2 Friend authentication, Recording of all calls, Free VOIP calls between application users, Simultaneous or single access on same card, Support call at Zero-Cost & Negative cost, Auto creation card option for new Caller ID, Top-up account via IVR menu, Advanced Card and Customer management, Define post-pay/prepay, Reporting statistics and LCR(Least cost routing) & LCD (Least Cost Dialing) management.
Additional features include support for Online shop, Multi-language support, Play balance with multi- currency support, Auto refill existing card with auto refill option, Signup modules, Email activation to verify customer email address, Customize mail templates, ACL (Access control) support for admin users, Export data into XML or CSV, Ticketing System, etc.
A carrier-grade software solution provides call control, translations, routing and element provisioning for network elements ranging from gateways and gatekeepers to H.323 and SIP endpoints. The solution is scalable to control a network of millions of ports. A Soft switch can function standalone or function with other Soft switches for delivering expanded capacity.
Job of this switch is to control connections between the circuit and packet networks. To attain the objective, a single device containing both the switching logic and the switching fabric can be deployed. Modern technology segregates the device into a Call Agent and a Media Gateway. While the Call Agent enables functions such as billing, call routing, signaling, call services and so on, the Media Gateway links different types of digital media streams together to create an end-to-end path for the voice media as well as data. A Call Agent may control different Media Gateways in geographically dispersed areas over a TCP/IP connect system.
Soft switch technology has distinct advantages over the hardware. It has higher scalability, handling just the control part of the server while saving the rest of the switch for other purposes. They are platform independent, capable of serving well in any computer server environment. Easy in installation, they can be extended by beefing up the controlling connection over the IP Management of Soft switch, with easy and a professional with adequate training can handle it.