Real-time communications software provider Sonus Networks (News - Alert) recently announced that it has completed its multi-phase virtualization strategy by releasing virtual editions of three of its products.

Those releases include the Sonus Insight Element Management System, Sonus DataStream Integrator, and Sonus NetScore which all share a common codebase at their cores and therefore can help businesses migrate to network functions virtualization with ease. The biggest part of the announcement here is that Sonus now offers a communications product line that is completely virtualized and can work within a number of different hardware stacks.

David Tipping (News - Alert), the vice president and general manager of the Products division at Sonus, commented that the virtual product line will allow for easier migration to the cloud and more flexible communications networks overall.

“Companies are looking for ways to take advantage of virtualization technology so they can migrate their networks to the cloud at their own pace,” Tipping began.

“The completion of our multiphase virtualization strategy offers Sonus customers with an easy migration path of applications from today’s

appliance based network to the cloud,” he continued.

The three products mentioned above with join other Sonus products such as the Centralized Policy and Routing Engine Software edition, Diameter Signaling Controller Software edition, Session Border Controller Software edition, Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) Services Solution, and the Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) IQ. All these products round out the Sonus virtualized portfolio.

The Insight Element Management System will allow companies to manage their portfolios and perform network management functions in tandem with the DataStream Integrator. Those functions include fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security tests and readings of networks. Furthermore, the NetScore analytics platform gives businesses the power to see how their operations are progressing and the data necessary to making changes for improved user experiences and lower operational costs.

All the products Sonus has made virtual are meant to have the same power and capabilities of their hardware-driven counterparts. With software-defined networking as the way forward in today's global market, however, the switch to virtualization will keep Sonus' products relevant and will keep businesses on the cutting edge of networking innovation and capability.