Oracle today unveiled a new service delivery platform aimed at increasing its penetration into the telecom service provider market.

The new Oracle SDP leverages standards such as session initiation protocol (SIP), IP multimedia subsystems (IMS) and Parlay to create middleware that links legacy networks and operations and support systems with the developing converged IP networks and enables service providers to more rapidly develop and deploy new IP-based services.

The new system draws on technology developed by companies Oracle has recently acquired, including Hotsip, which developed both SIP and IMS platforms, and Net4Call. In addition, Oracle is developing out-of-the-box applications to run on the new infrastructure and leveraging its acquisition of billing and management software-maker Portal Systems as well to extend its reach into telecom.

Oracle is the latest IT giant to set its sights on the telecom marketplace. IBM, Hewlett-Packard and BEA Systems are also engaged in courting the service provider market as major players move to IMS and other standards-based network architectures that draw more heavily on off-the-shelf IT technology and systems integration capabilities.

Ninety percent of telcos today use Oracle applications or software and nine of the top 10 telcos use Oracle's Fusion Middleware, said Oracle President Charles Phillips, and the development of standard interfaces as the telecom industry moves into integration on IP networks will enable Oracle to move into the SDP market as well. The rapid pace of change within telecom, and the need for new service revenues creates an opportunity for Oracle, he said.

"They need a faster provisioning time frame and more modern network and now we are at the forefront at that," Phillips said. "They are at an inflection point and at a time like that, who do you want to bet on, a small specialized vendor or Oracle? We are showing up at the right time. They are already interested in what we have to say. We've already had lots of conversations. They can certainly see we are serious--we are emphasizing our commitment to the industry. Stay tuned for all of our plans in telco going forward."

The Oracle SDP is an extension of the Fusion Middleware and Oracle's service-oriented architecture, and is available today and already commercially deployed in service provider networks, said Thomas Kurian, senior vice president, Oracle Server Technologies. It ties together the PSTN, IP networks and wireless networks using SIP and ParlayX for Web-based services, and uses voice over IP and XMPP-based presence capabilities.

The SDP includes an SOA gateway that provides the interface, security and policy management required for telecom providers to link to content creators to enable rapid service creation using video or other types of content. Oracle is providing a roadmap that includes additional out of-the-box services and applications that it will provide, such as virtual PBX services and content delivery.

"None of our competitors offer even close to this level of breadth and functionality," Kurian said. "This is a much more comprehensive SDP because of optimization we have done."

Kurian initially said the SDP provided IMS, but later clarified that statement to say that it is possible to build an IMS application on top of the SDP and that Oracle is partnering with other companies to bring that capability in. "This is an infrastructure that will enable you to build IMS services," he said.