3Com is expected to unveil two applications that run on its MSR series of multiservice routers. One of the applications will give Asterisk VoIP functionality, while the other will offer WAN acceleration and optimization.

Excerpt from Network World:

The applications are built to 3Com’s Open Services Networking (OSN) blueprint, which was launched a year ago to offer open platforms for integrating “best-of-breed” and open-source applications developed by 3Com and third parties into the network infrastructure.

The 3Com Asterisk IP Communications Platform includes telephony features, such as voice mail, auto attendant, voice menus, and conferencing. It supports up to 25 simultaneous SIP sessions with no user licenses needed. It works with 3Com’s telephone handsets and Polycom’s SIP-based IP phones.

The WAN optimization and acceleration application from 3Com’s partner Expand Networks, is touted to improve the performance of an MSR by 400% or more.

The 3Com Asterisk application starts at $995. The price for Expand Networks’ WAN optimization application, which is sold by 3Com on an OEM basis, starts at $315 per module.