Pannaway Technologies announced today that Empire Telephone, an 8400-line independent based in Prattsburgh, NY, is deploying SIP-based voice-over-IP service using a combination of Nortel and Pannaway products.

The two vendors announced earlier this year that they had completed interoperability testing between Nortel’s DMS-10 switch and Pannaway’s Service Convergence Network (SCNTM) access system. The combined product quickly is gaining traction among independents, where Nortel holds a dominant market share in switching. Among the most significant advancements is the ability to provide SIP-based VoIP with advanced primary Line E 911.

The deployment with Empire was predicated on the telco’s desire to provide triple play services, said Joe Gottwald, central office engineer and ISP manager at Empire.

We’re going to be doing voice over IP, Internet service and IP video,” he said. “We first started with the testing to make sure [the combined products] act as a regular telephone line. We basically skipped GR-303 and are putting in new remote cabinets. Those are going to be SIP remotes.”

The carrier plans to leverage SIP by offering a number of services including selective call blocking and distinctive ringing. In the past Empire has given away voice mail for free. With SIP, the company plans to offer enhancements such as web-based voice mail management.