Siemens Gigaset (SHC) will complement their broadband solutions this year with a new gateway concept. The aim of the gateway is to offer service providers a choice of just about any desired interface and functionality based on a modularly extendable platform – code name Gigaset “Porta 2.0” - in order to achieve maximum flexibility and future sustainability.

The gateway is outfitted with Jungo's OpenRG™ software platform, enabling providers to offer consumers new services and home entertainment applications, such as internet protocol television (IPTV) and video on demand (VOD). Installation, configuration, software updates as well as gateway maintenance are all possible via remote management saving service costs and enhancing consumer satisfaction.

A core element in SHC’s new gateway concept, Gigaset Porta 2.0, is an integrated triple-play router for telephony, broadband access and multimedia services. The gateway offers various technologies for the home network, including WLAN (802.11n) with a data exchange rate of 300 megabit per second, POF (Polymer Optical Fibre) as well as four Ethernet ports. Further devices such as printers and hard drives can be connected via an USB-2.0-Hub to the home network.

If desired, the Porta 2.0 gateway can also serve as a telephone system through the integration of CAT-iq (the successor to DECT, read more about CAT-ip: Siemens Gigaset & Orange team up) and the inclusion of two analogue ports for the connection of fixed phones, fax machines and answering machines.

The built-in High Definition Sound Performance (HDSP) technology uses the extra frequency range (50-7000 Hz) made possible by broadband telephony to deliver a quite nice sound experience. HDSP is able to transmit additional tone details whilst minimizing distracting noises, which may occur during conventional telephone conversations.

Up to six DECT-handsets can be registered on the gateway. Shifting between fixed line and Internet telephony is easy, using the telephone keypad. Two fixed-line calls and four VoIP calls can be made simultaneously.

The Jungo OpenRG™ platform allows providers to offer consumers additional applications and services quickly. Services and applications such as high-end VoIP, video services, data security and remote management functions can all be added at will. The open platform provides the best possible flexibility for the future, since they need not decide right away, what will be offered. Instead, services and applications can be added to the gateways as needed. Updates to customer software on the gateway can be made remotely.

The new Gigaset Porta 2.0 gateway generation will be available in fall 2008.