This wasn't easy, with a few tough decisions. So while  Cedar Point, XConnect, and NTT DoCoMo must be applauded as the winners, honorable mentions go to MetaSwitch, FeedHenry, IntelePeer, Ensim, and Acme/Mavenir.

See the messages below for more on the winners, as well as our Winners Report

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=183202

Cedar Point Communications Inc.'s SafariFusion

You can read about SafariFusion here:

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=183207

They key points are that this is all about standards-based, software capabilities that are not tied to a hardware platform, enable applications to be developed by service providers and external third parties, and targets IMS and PacketCable 2,0 environments using the same tools. That ticks a lot of boxes for what's going to be needed in the near future.

NTT DoCoMo Inc.'s IMS Apps development

Awarded to DoCoMo as the operator member of a development group that has taken IMS applications development to a new level, just at a time when there are doubts in the industry as to whether IMS is useful only for some of its individual elements. The other members of the group working with DoCoMo were Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Fujitsu, NEC, and Nokia Siemens Networks.

Check out more at

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=181391

XConnect Global Networks Ltd.'s Carrier ENUM Registry

XConnect's Carrier ENUM registry and multimedia interconnect capabilities are typical of those that will help unblock the service and application bottlenecks that might otherwise occur as carriers run legacy and next generation networks in tandem.

Dialogic is putting itself up for consideration:

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For more than 25 years, Dialogic has been focused on making innovation thrive and has a wealth of experience with over 60 million ports shipped to date. With a number of notable milestones including shipping the first PSTN-IP Gateway, the first Host Media Processing (HMP) solution and the first 3G video messaging deployment, Dialogic products have been proven to stand the test of time and Dialogic has illustrated it will continue to grow with the market and provide the solutions that will power the next generation of communications technology.

In 2009, Dialogic Corporation made significant advancements with technologies including mobile video, open-source, unified communications, and multimedia value-added services. A few notable highlights include Dialogic’s work on the development of advanced “intelligent video” software that includes features related to image analysis, quality measurement and security applications. The company also recently introduced Project DiaStar, a Dialogic-sponsored open source project that allows open source developers to access portions of the Dialogic product portfolio to bring advanced communications technology to open source markets.

Among the ground-breaking applications that Dialogic has championed are Voice over IP, the integration of Video with Voice, Color Ring Back Tones, Unified Messaging and Unified Communications, and IP Contact Centers. In 2010, customers can expect to see continued expansion and innovation from Dialogic. Service providers, enterprises, developers and those looking to deliver next-generation mobile broadband services, mobile video applications, open source solutions, HD Voice and web services will continue to benefit from Dialogic’s technology. 

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Project DiaStar sounds interesting -- is this a trendsetting move?

Dialogic is putting itself up for consideration:

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For more than 25 years, Dialogic has been focused on making innovation thrive and has a wealth of experience with over 60 million ports shipped to date. With a number of notable milestones including shipping the first PSTN-IP Gateway, the first Host Media Processing (HMP) solution and the first 3G video messaging deployment, Dialogic products have been proven to stand the test of time and Dialogic has illustrated it will continue to grow with the market and provide the solutions that will power the next generation of communications technology.

In 2009, Dialogic Corporation made significant advancements with technologies including mobile video, open-source, unified communications, and multimedia value-added services. A few notable highlights include Dialogic’s work on the development of advanced “intelligent video” software that includes features related to image analysis, quality measurement and security applications. The company also recently introduced Project DiaStar, a Dialogic-sponsored open source project that allows open source developers to access portions of the Dialogic product portfolio to bring advanced communications technology to open source markets.

Among the ground-breaking applications that Dialogic has championed are Voice over IP, the integration of Video with Voice, Color Ring Back Tones, Unified Messaging and Unified Communications, and IP Contact Centers. In 2010, customers can expect to see continued expansion and innovation from Dialogic. Service providers, enterprises, developers and those looking to deliver next-generation mobile broadband services, mobile video applications, open source solutions, HD Voice and web services will continue to benefit from Dialogic’s technology. 

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Project DiaStar sounds interesting -- is this a trendsetting move?

Underpinning converged services through a portal interface is becoming the 'in thing' and the interestingly-named FeedHenry is in the thick of this movement:

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FeedHenry addresses the problem that consumers face in having their favourite applications, widgets and services scattered across a confusing mix of different locations. FeedHenry works with companies delivering a Web 2.0 Personal Service Portal (PSP) delivering hundreds of complex Web 2.0 applications in one location that makes it easy for users to discover, personalize and find best-of-breed applications from the web.

From this central location, users can then access their favourite services in the way they want - they can personalize them and share them across Web, mobile, PC, desktop, TV and social networking sites such as Facebook or iGoogle pages. The best aspect is that users are not restricted to one portal; they can take the best from the PSP and bring it to the right location for them.

The benefit that FeedHenry offers that nobody else does is that we provide one place to discover all widgets and applications. Added to this, we give consumers a way to share these services across multiple locations, and a unique way of accessing these services cross-platform whether it's mobile, desktop or TV. The value is that users create a personal space accessed through whichever device or medium they want.

FeedHenry's PSP can also pick up on the context of a consumer's environment and offer widget suggestions with Amazon-style recommendations. One of the ways, we like to look at widgets and applications is akin to a personal assistant - a really focused personal assistant that takes all that is good from ambient intelligence by anticipating consumers needs and delivering relevant widgets instantly.

Following a successful beta, FeedHenry is currently rolling out "myeircom" the first ever telco PSP. FeedHenry will also launch a PSP for other European carriers in the coming months.

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It's different, relevant.... but is it leading where others will follow?

Metaswitch has thrown its ring into the hat with its CommPortal:

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CommPortal, a key element of the Metaswitch product line, is a customizable Web portal that enables subscribers to tailor and configure their own phone services.  As an integrated, cross-platform subscriber interface, CommPortal reflects a service provider’s brand and enables access to key MetaSphere-powered, IP-based telephony and messaging applications from anywhere and from any type of device including phones, TVs, PCs and a growing range of mobile devices including iPhone, Blackberry, and Google Android.

CommPortal:

•        Reduces costs by eliminating customer assistance calls since subscribers can activate services themselves through CommPortal rather than having to talk to a human operator;

•        Increases revenues by offering subscribers a simple means to activate subscription-based features, such as Caller ID or Call Waiting;

•        Allows for rapid deployment, configuration and re-branding of web-based services;

•       Empowers service providers to offer “sticky,” personalized services which subscribers can evolve to suit their own needs and practices.

•       Merges wireline communications with mobile broadband-enabled devices – for example, CommPortal Mobile’s PhoneRemote application enables subscribers to use their mobile phone as a “remote control”, dialing contacts from their mobile address book but placing the call on the wireline phone.

CommPortal is further enhanced by CommPortal Assistant, an ultra-lightweight client desktop application that enables a range of always on, interactive telephony capabilities including voicemail notification, click-to-dial, Outlook contact synchronization and incoming call handling. In addition, the CommPortal Phone Configurator provides granular control to subscribers and administrators over the configuration of SIP desk phones.

CommPortal's ease of integration across platforms is based on its use of Web 2.0 principles, such as client-side Javascript and RESTful APIs. Metaswitch Networks also provides open, secure access for developers, which allows them to selectively integrate, enhance or modify CommPortal for maximum flexibility so that service providers can push branded services into new domains—whether they have a mature nationwide brand or are looking to advance their service offerings.

CommPortal's strict adherence to Web 2.0 standards and best design practices enables service providers to offer an exceptionally intuitive and tightly integrated user interface to a wide range of services and features, including Message List, Find Me Follow Me, Dashboard, Contact List, Click-to-Dial, Call Forwarding, CNAM Support, Call Lists, Call List Export, Selective Call Screening, Voicemail Player, Voicemail Composer, Contact Management, Preferences, and Phone Configurator.

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OK, a bit wordy, but impressive. Anyone seen this in action?

Here's an entry from a relatively new outfit called Sipera.

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Sipera offers real-time Unified Communications (UC) security to enable organizations to simplify and confidently deploy VoIP and unified communications over any network to any device while service providers can protect and quickly offer new IP-based communication services.

Backed by the extensive vulnerability research of the Sipera VIPER Lab, the Sipera UC-Sec products provide comprehensive threat protection, policy enforcement, access control, and privacy in a single, real-time appliance.

Launched in 2009, the Sipera UC-Sec 100 appliance enables SMBs to comprehensively secure VoIP, IM, video and other UC applications.

Based on Sipera’s enterprise-scale UC-Sec product line, the UC-Sec 100 delivers enterprise scale security at an SMB price, accommodating up to 100 users and 50 simultaneous communications sessions per appliance.

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The entry went on at length about the company's achievements this year, but it struck me that this has only limited applicability to the service provider world - this is not something that carriers will deploy in their own networks - but at the same time I didn't want to ingnore it, so I have added in case this pitch has any supporters that want to champion it.

Chip vendor Octasic jumps into the fray:

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Octasic Inc., a leading innovator of media gateway solutions, is now in its fifth consecutive year of profitability.  During 2009, the company branched out into the wireless and video markets, and greatly expanded its international presence.

During 2009, Octasic:   

·         Launched a program to build industry-leading products for current and emerging wireless infrastructure technologies;

·         Announced the availability of comprehensive evaluation and development platforms to provide the most versatile DSP evaluation and development environments for voice and video over IP applications available today.

In 2010, Octasic will address the next wave of the mobile video applications evolution, including best- in-class video DSP solutions to deliver the QoE consumers demand, while providing the cost savings and flexibility manufacturers need in an ever-changing mobile landscape, most notably in innovative video technology for the mobile video and Interactive Voice & Video Response (IVVR) markets.

Entering 2010, Octasic will also announce breakthrough DSP technology that will double the power:performance ratio of current media gateway designs, leading the industry in a move to make the industry more cost effective and environment friendly.