One of the more notable developments in the residential voice services market is the emergence of VoIP-based voice services from multiple system operators such as Comcast, Cox, and Time Warner Cable. Also significant is the growing number of pure-play VoIP service providers such as Vonage, SunRocket, and Skype.

These services require the deployment of access media gateways that support a specific set of requirements for Class 5 or Class 5 replacement access networks. The use of a standards-based media gateway module allows media gateway manufacturers to utilize a functionally complete and thoroughly tested media gateway subsystem in the development of their media gateway products. In this article, Tim describes the functionality of a standards-based media gateway module.