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Widespread broadband deployment has resulted in the evolution of user requirements and a more competitive market. While this is beneficial for consumers, it means that Internet Service Providers must offer a more diverse range of services to generate new revenue streams and strengthen their competitive advantage. Many providers are looking to Service Oriented Architectures, enabling services such as Voice over IP along with other multimedia communications to be easily integrated and managed within their core networks. However these platforms can be cost prohibitive and are typically only employed by larger telecommunications incumbents. This book describes a service oriented communication platform including a lightweight VoIP infrastructure and configurable telephony services. A measurement scheme is also described to provide VoIP QoS estimations across best effort IP networks. This book should be especially useful for any I.T professional interested in deploying fast and inexpensive VoIP services or anyone interested in implementing such services using only open source components.

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Aisling O´ Driscoll graduated with a BSc. in Software Development & Computer Networking and a Research Masters in Electronic Engineering from the Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland, in 2004 and 2006 respectively. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Electronic Engineering. She is a member of the IEEE Communications Society.

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