Transcend Distributed USSD Gateway Overview
Transcend’s Distributed USSD Gateway is a bidirectional signaling platform that routes messages between the network and its service applications. The platform delivers interactive content like balance updates, marketing messages, low balance alerts, and more straight to most subscriber’s devices without them downloading specialized apps or going online.
As with all the Transcend Distributed Communication products, this platform has significantly better scalability than Restcomm, its predecessor as it is based on a distributed architecture using Kafka with MongoDB as its DMBS. It features an elegant graphical user interface enabling centralized management for faster implementations and has better documentation. Additionally, the perpetual pricing is TPS-based and much more cost-effective. When you need to scale to handle more transactions, you simply add another instance for a specific number of transactions or unlimited transactions. To overcome your application’s bottlenecks, you can use multiple unlimited versions of the platform.
The advantage of USSD for message delivery and notification is that it is session-based and very efficient. Session-based communications are more reliable than services like email and SMS. This makes it useful for fast and simple real-time applications like balance checking, voice chat and advertising. Because USSD supports process supplementary service (PSSR) and unstructured supplementary service notify (USSN) requests and messages, real-time services like balance checking and voice chat work even when roaming.
In addition, since USSD is so efficient, there is a huge advantage to using it when subscribers are roaming. All USSD messages are directed to the subscriber’s home network, but they can also be directed to a visiting network enabling a virtual home environment (VHE), which reduces operator costs and greatly improves user experience as all services work the same wherever they are.
And, while modern 4G/LTE networks support voice chat applications using SIP, USSD-based voice chat applications can work seamlessly and well across older GPRS, 2G and 3G networks, providing the widest possible compatibility footprint for services important to the subscriber.
How does USSD gateway integration work in telecommunications?
Transcend USSD Gateway is built on a fully Open-Source server written in Java and strictly adheres to the standards and specifications defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). With full support for virtual machine (VM) and network functions virtualization (NFV) architectures, the Transcend USSD gateway is very easy to install and deploy in different environments, allowing you start providing interactive messaging and content delivery services with a minimum of support and training.
Transcend USSD gateway utilizes a modern extensible middleware platform providing easy integration with any third-party communication protocol or system using industry-standard telecom interfaces including SS7 MAP, TCAP, INAP, or ISUP. It also supports Internet-based communication interfaces and protocols including SIP and HTTP.
Transcend USSD Gateway provides a scriptable Command Line Interface (CLI) tool allowing you to completely configure the Gateway at run-time and manage it using simple commands. In addition, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) tool is provided to allow you to configure, monitor and manage the Gateway through a convenient user-friendly interface.
Transcend USSD FAQ
What is USSD Center?
The USSD Center has full SS7 interfaces and flexible IP interfaces that allow interaction with supplementary service management applications.
Information and Communications Technology operators can use the USSD gateway to manage USSD transactions between the mobile and internet industries.
This allows USSD center operators to offer value-added services based on USSD interactions with mobile end users and reduce transaction costs.
What is session management capabilities for USSD Gateway?
USSD gateway maintains a single interactive session once the connection is established.
Does Transcend USSD Gateway have scalable architecture?
Integrated load balancing and clustering support for automated failover delivers an excellent user experience for mobile subscribers. Unlike other more limited solutions, USSD gateway services are load-balanced, providing unparalleled redundancy, especially as the platform scales.
About Transcend USSD Gateway
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), sometimes referred to as “quick codes” or “feature codes”, is a communications protocol used by GSM cellular telephones to communicate with the mobile network operator’s computers. USSD can be used for WAP browsing, prepaid callback service, mobile-money services, location-based content services, menu-based information services, and as part of configuring the phone on the network.
USSD messages are up to 182 alphanumeric characters long. Unlike short message service (SMS) messages, USSD messages create a real-time connection during a USSD session. The connection remains open, allowing a two-way exchange of a sequence of data. This makes USSD more responsive than services that use SMS.
The advantage of USSD for message delivery and notification is that it is session-based and very efficient. Session-based communications are more reliable than services like email and SMS. This makes it useful for fast and simple real-time applications like balance checking, voice chat and advertising. Because USSD supports process supplementary service (PSSR) and unstructured supplementary service notify (USSN) requests and messages, real-time services like balance checking and voice chat work even when roaming.
In addition, since USSD is so efficient, there is a huge advantage to using it when subscribers are roaming. All USSD messages are directed to the subscriber’s home network but they can also be directed to a visiting network enabling a virtual home environment (VHE), which reduces operator costs and greatly improves user experience as all services work the same wherever they are.
And, while modern 4G/LTE networks support voice chat applications using SIP, USSD-based voice chat applications can work seamlessly and well across older GPRS, 2G and 3G networks, providing the widest possible compatibility footprint for services important to the subscriber.
A USSD gateway routes USSD messages from the signaling network to a service application and back. A ‘USSD gateway’ service is also called a ‘USSD center’.
USSD gateway is based upon the ability of the delivery agent or the source to send and receive USSD messages. A USSD is a session-based protocol. USSD messages travel over GSM signaling channels, and are used to query information and trigger services. Unlike similar services (SMS and MMS), which are store and forward based, USSD establishes a real time session between mobile handset and application handling the service.
The difference between USSD gateways and other messaging gateways is that USSD gateways maintain a single interactive session once the connection is established. SMS and MMS store and forward messages independently of the user session, similar to the way email is sent over the internet.
Key Features
Multi-tenant
Transcend USSD gateway enables operators to provide native real-time services and interactive content delivery applications to mobile subscribers with both network push and menu-based interaction across multiple branded services. As the provided content and services operate natively in the mobile operating system, the subscribers do not need to download an app and create yet another account on a separate service to receive rich content or notifications.
Carrier-grade scalability and reliability
Integrated load balancing and clustering support for automated failover delivers an excellent user experience for mobile subscribers. Unlike other more limited solutions, all Transcend USSD services are load-balanced, providing unparalleled redundancy, especially as the platform scales.
Multilingual support for both UCS2 and GSM 7-bit format
Enables world-wide support for rich content and notifications in Latin (e.g, English, Spanish, French) and non-Latin (e.g., Cyrillic, Hebrew, Arabic) languages.
Mobile network connection
Transcend USSD Gateway can be connected to any Mobile Network Operator (MNO) or Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) core network over SS7 MAP.
HTTP integration
Transcend USSD Gateway is easy to integrate over HTTP for any proper solution.
SS7 hardware full support
Transcend USSD Gateway fully supports Intel and Dialogic cards.
SIGTRAN (M3UA), HTTP and SIP interface support
Industry-standard network integration into IMS and LTE networks is provided.
On premise and cloud deployment
Transcend USSD Gateway provides outstanding flexibility for service provider and enterprise applications. Fully self-contained and highly optimized, the USSD gateway supports both network functions virtualization (NFV) and clustered virtual machine (VM) deployments.
Flexible Operations and Monitoring
Transcend USSD Gateway support flexible operations and monitoring using industry standard protocols including Java JMX and scriptable command line interfaces with full CDR, logging and auditing reporting capabilities.
Open Source
The code is well documented and tested, allowing your staff to learn, optimize and customize the Transcend USSD gateway to your evolving requirements – free from vendor lock-in. Our license subscription model provides indemnification and full support, along with your ability to provide input to our product development roadmap.