Instant messaging services

It is popular among users to install messengers (i.e.,
web applications like ICQ, WhatsApp, etc.) on either their mobile phones
or computers and exchange messages via the Internet within the same network.

For instance, if a user has registered with WhatsApp,
they can send free on-net messages (i.e., instant messages) to other WhatsApp
users. This service is known as Instant messaging.

With PortaSwitch, you can enable your VoIP customers
to use Instant messaging service by registering their SIP accounts with
various messengers (that support the SIP protocol).

Moreover, you can develop a custom application to
bundle voice calls and messaging services and then distribute the application
among users of different networks (VoIP and mobile), and thereby expand
your customer list.

This chapter demonstrates how to configure an Instant
messaging service so that in addition to voice calling, your VoIP customers
can send instant messages.

Use this checklist to check off the operations you have completed while performing the system setup according to the instructions in this chapter. Please be sure to perform all of the operations in the order designated (all of the boxes should be checked), otherwise, the service will not work.

If you have just installed the PortaBilling software
or dedicated a new billing environment to configure the services described
in this handbook, make sure to first perform the initial configuration
of PortaBilling. To do this, use the Initial
Configuration of PortaSwitch handbook.

1. Clone
   the existing configuration.
2. Select
   BillingEngine on the Configuration Tree. Enable the Messaging
   Service in the ServiceTypes group.

   

3. Click
   the Save button and then the Verify
   button.
4. Verify
   the new configuration and click the Check/Apply button.

The special MSGN destination covers messages sent
to an IP phone connected to PortaSwitch (regardless of the actual phone
number). Adding a rate for this destination allows you a set a unified
price for all on-net messages. Please consult the Special destinations
chapter of the PortaSIP
Administrator Guide.

1. On
   the navigation menu, select Service catalog, Rate Codes
   and then Destinations.
2. On
   the Create a destination panel, fill in the destination details:
   • Format
     – select Custom.
   • Prefix
     – type in MSGN.
   • Description
     – write a short description for the destination.

     

3. Click
   Save.

A service policy is a set of parameters that defines
how the subsystems of PortaSwitch must operate to provide the Messaging
service.

At this point it is necessary to create a service
policy that is used for internal communications between PortaSIP and
the billing engine regarding routing and transport protocol that is used
for message delivery.

1. On
   the navigation menu on the left, select Service catalog and click
   Service policies.
2. On
   the Create service policy panel, fill in the service policy details:

   

   • Name
     – specify the name of the service policy (for example, Instant messaging).
   • Service
     type – select Messaging service from the list.
   • Recipient
     domain pattern – this is the pattern according to which the service
     policy is selected. Specify % in this field. This means that the service
     policy is applied to all outgoing messages sent by your end users.
3. Click
   Save.

   

4. On
   the Service policy panel that opens, specify 5 in the Match
   priority field. Please refer to the PortaBilling
   Help for detailed description of this field.
5. Go
   to the Attributes panel, select Processing messages over SIP/SMPP
   and enable the following attributes:
   • Transport
     protocol – select a checkbox and choose SIP from the list.
   • Outgoing
     AAA – select a checkbox and use a slider to enable outgoing message
     authorization and billing.
   • Local
     lookup – select a checkbox and use a slider to enable the lookup for
     destinations within the network.
   • Userpart
     E164 translation – select a checkbox and use a slider to enable dialing
     rules for a phone number translation.
6. Click
   Save.

To correctly bill for on-net instant messages (i.e.,
those delivered to accounts within your network), you will need to create
a special tariff for the internal (virtual) vendor:

1. On
   the navigation menu on the left, select Service catalog and click
   Tariffs.
2. On
   the Create tariff panel, fill in the tariff details:

   

   • Name
     – type a short name for the tariff object; this is the name you will see
     in the select menus (for example, Instant messaging).
   • Currency
     – choose the currency in which the vendor charges you.
     The currency for the tariff may be chosen
     only once, and cannot be changed later.
   • Service
     – choose Messaging service here.
   • Applied
     to – choose Vendor in the Applied to list.
   • Routing
     – leave the Routing option disabled for this tariff.
3. Click Save.

1. On
   the vendor tariff’s panel (Instant messaging), click Rates.
2. On
   the Add rate panel, fill in the rate details:
   • Rate
     сode – type in ‘|’ (pipe) in the field. This will create a special
     rate that matches any number the message is sent to.
   • Rating
     mode – select Flat rate here.
   • Unit
     price – set zero as the price since there are no actual costs for
     on-net instant messages.
   • Leave
     the other fields in the form as they are.

     

3. Click
   Save.

In this step, you will add a new connection to the
internal vendor.

1. On
   the navigation menu, select Infrastructure, then select Vendors.
2. On
   the Search vendor panel, type the vendor name and click Apply
   filters.
3. On
   the Results panel click the vendor name.

   

4. On
   the Vendor panel, click Connections.
5. On
   the Create connection panel, fill in the connection details:
   • Description – type a descriptive name for this connection. It will be displayed in
     the list of connections (e.g., Instant messaging).
   • Service
     type – select Messaging service.
   • Type
     of connections – select SIP/SIMPLE.
   • Tariff
     – select the tariff that you have created before (e.g., Instant messaging.)
   • Internal
     – use the slider to set this connection as internal.
   • Use
     for – leave the Route to internally registered SIP accounts (SIP-UA)
     option.
6. Click
   Save.

   

1. On
   the navigation menu on the left, select Service catalog and click
   Tariffs.
2. On
   the Create tariff panel, fill in the tariff details:

   

   • Name
     – type a short name for the tariff object; this is the name you will see
     in the select menus (for example, On-net messaging.)
   • Currency
     – choose the currency in which you charge your customers.
     The currency for the tariff may be chosen
     only once, and cannot be changed later.
   • Service
     – select Messaging service here.
   • Applied
     to – select Customer.
   • Managed
     by – leave Administrator only.
3. Click
   Save.

1. On
   the customer tariff’s panel (e.g., On-net messaging), click Rates.
2. On
   the Add rate panel, fill in the rate details:
   • Rate
     сode – select MSGN.
     A destination prefix may be entered
     directly or you can start typing the destination and then select it from
     the list.
   • Rating
     mode – select Flat rate here.
   • Unit
     price – specify the price per message or put a zero if you provide
     instant messaging services free of charge.
   • Leave
     the other fields in the form as they are.

     

3. Click
   Save.

Since the IP devices and applications connect to PortaSIP
via SIP protocol for both messaging and voice calls services, the product
for messaging product must include voice calls and messaging services.

1. On
   the navigation menu on the left, select Service catalog and click
   Products.
2. Select
   the product that you wish to modify.
3. On
   the Product panel, click Services and then Add a service.
4. Select
   the Messaging service and click Add.

   

5. On
   the Product panel, click Charges, Usage charges and
   then click Add:
   • Select
     Messaging service from the Service list.
   • Select
     the PortaSIP node in the Node field.
   • In
     the Tariff field, select the tariff that applies to your customers
     for sending instant messages (e.g., On-net messages).

     

6. Click
   Save.

Now your SIP subscribers who have this product can
use instant messaging service in addition to VoIP services.

Note that if you have more than one virtual environment
where you will provide instant messaging service, you will need to perform
the above steps for each virtual environment.

Configure the messenger client. As an example, we
use Linphone.

Download Linphone and perform its configuration.

1. On
   the main page, select Use SIP account:

   

2. Fill
   in the Assistant form.
3. The
   most important fields are:
   • Username –
     specify your account ID here.
   • Password
     – specify the service password in this field.
   • Domain
     – specify the VIP of your PortaSIP cluster.
   • Display
     name – specify your name. This is a display name that will be shown
     to the party you call or send messages to.
   • Transport
     – select UDP.

     

4. Click Login.
5. Select
   Chat and Add Conversation.

   

6. Enter
   the number and send a message.

   

Note that with PortaSwitch you can use the following
Windows clients for instant messaging service:

• Linphone
  (https://www.linphone.org/releases/windows/app/Linphone-4.2.2-win32.exe)
• Jitsi
  (https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi/releases/download/Jitsi-2.10/jitsi-2.10.5550-x64.exe)
• Ekiga
  (https://download.gnome.org/binaries/win32/ekiga/4.0/ekiga-setup-4.0.1+.exe)