Intel has released a Linux port of its VoIP-oriented media processing software, intended to enable network equipment manufacturers (NEPs) to build media processing appliances for small- and medium-sized businesses using commodity x86 server platforms without media coprocessors or telephony boards.

Increasing hardware capabilities have enabled several vendors to introduce software-only media processing stacks recently, including VoIP specialist HelloSoft and IAD specialist eSoft. Additionally, processor company Renesas recently launched a DSP-free multimedia SoC.

According to Intel, NetStructure Host Media Processing (HMP) 1.2 for Linux eliminates the need for specialized telephony boards with digital signal processors, providing the media processing power to develop applications such as interactive voice response, voice mail, unified messaging, and conferencing using commodity x86 hardware.

The NetStructure HMP software can support up to 240 channels when run on off-the-self Intel Architecture-based servers, according to Intel. It is compatible with leading Internet telephony standards including SIP, H.323, and H.450.2.

The NetStructure HMP software was first released in September, 2002, for Windows on Pentium III, Pentium 4, and Xeon processors. The Linux version is expected in late October, priced at $18-150 per network port.

Intel also announced today that Fujitsu and UTStarcom are among the top NEPs currently selling devices based on Intel's “standards-based modular communications platforms.”

 
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