Server platform enables truly portable telecoms services

Cambridge, UK, 15 July 2008: OpenCloud Limited, the leading supplier of real-time application servers for next-generation telecommunications services, today announces the launch of Rhino 2.0 which is fully compliant with the new JAIN SLEE v1.1 standard. JAIN SLEE is the Java standard for a multi-protocol, run-time environment of telecommunications services, designed specifically to meet the stringent requirements of the industry. OpenCloud’s enhanced application server offers true portability of services across JAIN SLEE platforms. In doing so, it opens up the market for application developers to sell products which can be deployed on all JAIN SLEE compliant platforms in any telecommunications network.

The new JAIN SLEE standard was launched yesterday.  Fully complying with the new standard, Rhino 2.0 enables communications services providers (CSPs) to fully adopt an open approach to network service layer by moving away from proprietary models.  JAIN SLEE provides a “pluggable” Resource Adapter (RA) interface to provide connectivity between the application server and telecommunications networks.  JAIN SLEE 1.1 standardises the interface between the RA and the application server.  Applications, services and RAs designed for one vendor’s platform are now directly transferable to another vendor’s, without the need to recode.

The standard opens the market to third party application developers which can develop genuinely portable applications for multiple customers. CSPs are now able to compare and select their telecoms application server independently of the applications, secure in the knowledge that all JAIN SLEE applications are available to all compliant platforms. The standard moves the industry closer to an open market by utilising the resource adaptors to eradicate vendor lock-in.

Rhino 2.0 also boasts a 20 percent performance improvement over its predecessor Rhino 1.4.5, as well as improved Rhino Management Control. Its compliance with JAIN SLEE 1.1 means it also incorporates the major functional enhancements in the areas of library components, stateful alarms, event context, CMP types, profile features and tracing and management capabilities.

 “We’re continually looking to provide CSPs with service agility and competition in the network,” said David Ferry, CTO of OpenCloud and lead specification of the JAIN SLEE standard. “Rhino 2.0 demonstrates that a competitive, open, intelligent network can be achieved through using commercial off-the-shelf hardware and open standards.”

OpenCloud’s developer portal provides a forum to share information about Rhino and JAIN SLEE. For more information, please visit www.developer.opencloud.com.