To solve a problem with standalone GSM gateway related to the solution manageability we recommend to use SIM server-based scenario.
The main idea is to separate GSM gateways with GSM modules and SIM cards: all SIM cards are in one place while GSM gateways are distributed and can be located even in different cities. The solution contains several components descibed below.
SIM array (also called SIM bank) is a device that holds hundreds of SIM cards that can be accessible remotely. So there will be a virtual SIM card placed on your GSM gateway at anytime you want. With SIM array you can use all your SIM cards in one location (usually your core network) and manage easily.
In our hosted SIM server solution SIM cards of your GSM operator you provide us with will be placed to the SIM array so you will manage them remotely.
SIM server-based GSM gateways have GSM modules but contain no physical SIM card inside, instead they communicate with SIM array and use remote SIM cards according to appropriate allocation rules configured on the SIM server.
If you would like to use our hosted SIM server solution, the GSM gateways will be placed on your side in locations you select by yourself.
SIM server is the name of an external server used for managing GSM Gateways and SIM arrays performing SIM usage/balance control, CDR statistics and some extra services:
- SIM Management – Easy to manage and control all your SIM cards in one place.
- Cost Plans – Make accurate Cost Plans. Use SMS, USSD or CALL for credit check and tariff plans.
- SIM Groups – Create groups for your SIM Cards to manage them easily without any mistake.
- Operating Rules – Create different operating rules for your system. Decide when, which and how SIM cards will operate.
- Time Schedules – Decide the intervals of running for your SIM Cards
In case of hosted GSM scenario the SIM server is locate in our network but you have an access to manage your SIM cards.
VoIP Soft-switch and Billing
This is an optional component for the solution, but it also helps to manage big networks.
Soft-switch and billing (that are combined in the same box sometimes) are a core component of a VoIP business. The bundle performs the following functions:
- Authentication – you should pass incoming calls from your customers only (user name&password or remote IP address can be used to identify a specific customer).
- LCR (Least-Cost Routing) – used to select the best route for a specific call destination based on termination cost.
- Balance control – if you do a prepaid business (or postpaid business with a credit limit) you must be sure that your customers are not out of their balance, ongoing calls drop and an account block may be used to prevent money loss.
- CDR (Call Detail Record) database - each call attempt should generate a separate record in your billing database. It usually contains calling and called parties numbers, call start/stop timestamp, call duration, call status/error code (if the call was failed) and a set of other technical and billing parameters specific to the equipment manufacturer. The data may be used to generate some calls quality statistics, daily minutes reports or provide your customers with a list of their calls for a certain period.
- Billing and invoicing – some complex tariff plans may be used to charge your customers for their calls (e.g. a connection fee + some amount of free seconds + per minute rate). At the end of a billing period you may wish to generate invoice documents and send them to your customers automatically.
- CODECs transcoding – sometimes your customers and your VoIP vendors use incompatible list of VoIP CODECs (e.g. G.711 only and G.723, G.729) – in the case you have to perform CODECs transcoding on your side for such calls.
Now we can talk about how VoIP providers earn money with all these devices or you may also find a description of our hosted solution based on SIM server.