Johannesburg, 15 Mar 2002
GSM operators now have a massively scalable, flexible and remarkably affordable option for delivering value-added data applications.
That`s thanks to the launch, by JSE-listed Prism Holdings of its Linux AirTrax high-speed SMS platform.
The new Linux AirTrax - which was unveiled by Prism at the recent 3GSM World Exhibition in Cannes, France, also incorporates technology which reduces network traffic by up to 40% during peak usage periods.
Steven Sidley, Prism`s Group marketing director, says Linux AirTrax is believed to be the first to take advantage of the open source operating system which runs powerfully and efficiently on almost any hardware capable of performing server-class operations.
"This means GSM operators no longer have to invest in expensive Unix servers to run their SMS data services. Most of the conventional SMS-Cs (short message service centres) utilised by GSM operators to deliver their SMS services, are bound to expensive and proprietary Unix systems like Sun and HP.
"With Linux AirTrax, operators can use any hardware they choose, from high-end servers to rack-stackable PCs. In addition, Linux AirTrax allows one AirTrax-loaded PC fitted with two SS7 cards to handle up to 80 messages per second. Add another PC, and throughput increases to up to 160 messages per second. And should the operator choose a rack-stackable PC option, the AirTrax solution would become infinitely scalable," he explains.
According to Sidley, AirTrax was designed specifically for the high-speed switching of advanced value-added data services, including mobile banking transactions and mobile payment applications.
In line with this, the AirTrax platform was built around the concept of peer-to-peer SMS routing and real-time SMS acknowledgement as opposed to the store-and-forward mode of the traditional SMS-C. AirTrax will only store a message if the recipient is unavailable; in all other cases, messages are delivered instantaneously.
Speedy message delivery is also enhanced by AirTrax`s in-built intelligent RAM cache that stores most recently used routing information.
"A conventional SMS-C requires a number of calls to intelligent nodes like the HLR, in order to read outing information. Prism uses an intelligent cache to store most recently used routing data, vastly reducing msu traffic to the various nodes, particularly during peak periods. Preliminary tests show a reduction in network traffic of up 40%," Sidley says.
According to the GSM Association, SMS delivery had risen to around three-quarters of a billion SMS messages a day by end-September 2001.
As a result, the Association has upgraded previously issued estimates for end 2001 from 200 to 250 billion total mobile messages globally and estimates that the daily rate will top one billion regularly when the impact of the fast-growing Internet-to-mobile messaging services is included.
"The speed, scalability, robustness and bandwidth preservation capabilities of Linux AirTrax provide operators with an affordable, stable and secure option to deal with the worldwide explosion in the text message phenomenon," Sidley concludes.
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