ComLinQ
The Client

ComLinQ
is a Texas-based company that provides
prepaid phone card services. For eight
years, ComLinQ's in-house resources built,
modified, and maintained a software system (Syslinq)
that supported Natural MicroSystems' ISDN
telephony hardware.
ComLinQ's Syslinq application was written
entirely in C and was designed for use on
Microsoft® Windows®-based systems. Its main
source code file included most of the code
necessary to run a few variations of
phone-card applications. The primary
application was a phone-card system that
allowed callers to identify themselves
through a PIN number and to choose an
outbound number to dial. Other applications
included "Forwarding" and "Quicklinq".
ComLinQ's Challenge
Like many other telephony companies that
faced increased competition and a need for
efficient services, ComLinQ decided to
upgrade from an ISDN-based solution to a
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
platform. This was a critical business
imperative that would allow ComLinQ to
migrate from outdated POTS technology in
order to survive the fierce competition for
low-cost long distance communications
service.
ComLinQ defined an upgrade that supported
the Aculab Prosody X IP media processing
boards - products that provide essential
functionality and that can be used to build
a wide range of next generation telco and
enterprise applications, and service
delivery platforms.
Internal or External Solution?
ComLinQ's plan was to have internal
developers re-write their application to
make use of the new Aculab cards. However,
ComLinQ faced a major challenge when its
lead developer left the company because of
personal reasons. ComLinQ was faced with a
large hardware investment and no way to
implement their solution.
To help them revise their telephony
solution, ComLinQ realized that it had to
engage a third-party development team to
modify their existing application - and
turned to Aculab for references. Aculab
suggested Veeda Software, LLC and an
Australian developer as possible candidates.
Project Scope and Proposed Solutions
ComLinQ's full business solution included
functions of business logic in programs
outside of Syslinq. These subsystems (called
from or embedded in Syslinq such that any
packaged software option would have to be
extensively modified) had their own sets of
existing rules which had to be maintained.
Veeda Software identified these major
systemic challenges as key problems and
proposed a value-based custom solution that
would address current business logic,
particularly regarding how tightly the
telephony hardware "calls" were coupled with
the billing system. The other developer
proposed a lower cost alternative that would
have them identify, adapt, and implement an
off-the-shelf software package to solve the
problem. However, their solution would
inevitably require a redesign of the entire
billing and other business logic systems.
Nonetheless, ComLinQ chose to move ahead
with the second developer's low-cost
proposal that they felt could be implemented
rapidly.
Programming Problems and Jeopardized Business
Six months after ComLinQ project start, the
developer still had not delivered any usable
code. ComLinQ then realized that it was not
possible to use an existing prepaid card
application to replace Syslinq; that the
developer's solution was not practical; and
that the developer was incapable of
delivering the solution it proposed.
Windows of business opportunities were
closing fast. ComLinQ knew it needed an
immediate and comprehensive resolution to
their problem. Hendrick Melo, Veeda
Software's Founder and President, had
remained in touch with ComLinQ principals
after he presented his company's proposal -
despite having not been chosen as the
original solution developer. When ComLinQ's
president, Travis Hamer, realized the
original vendor could not deliver a modified
off-the-shelf solution, he acknowledged
Melo's persistence and the efficacy of his
solution and then engaged Veeda as a
stateside software development partner to
replace the original vendor.
Veeda Resolves the Problems
Instead of packaged software, Veeda Software
offered a custom application built on a
portfolio of tools and techniques that
facilitate customized telephony software
solutions. Veeda offered a vast library of
existing source code, documentation, and
business knowledge to create a solution that
fit ComLinQ's very specific needs. Veeda
proposed a replacement application to
Syslinq, one that would operate with the
Aculab Prosody X family of cards. To allow
rapid development and implementation, the
new application would not immediately
support all existing Syslinq functions.
However, its modular design guaranteed
maintainability and ease of functional
expandability in the future.
Veeda considered ComLinQ's critical
application needs and designed suitable
components to address them. Unlike Syslinq,
Veeda's solution separated the business
logic portion from the hardware access
portion to enable simpler maintenance of the
business logic source code. More
specifically, the separation of the business
logic into the Microsoft .NET framework
facilitates maintenance of the application
as it provides a simpler means for
programmers to modify call rules and other
business logic. It allows programmers to use
any .NET languages (Visual Basic, C#, J#,
etc.) to maintain and/or expand the code.
The new application employs extensive use of
object-oriented programming practices to
provide easier expandability for subsequent
updates.
To optimize the solution for the Aculab
Prosody X platform, the core of the solution
comprises a Windows Dynamically Linked
Library (DLL) to drive the card to perform
the basic telephony functions required by
this application. Further characteristics
include C++ programming that allows the user
to address the Aculab API directly and to
increase efficiency in the low-level code,
and .NET-ready code that allows users of
.NET-based languages to easily create and/or
modify telephony applications.
Positive Results
By leveraging existing code, tools, and
techniques, Veeda Software maintained its
initial proposal budget, eliminated rush
charges, and was able to compress man-years
of work into a few calendar months to
provide a much-needed technology solution
for ComLinQ's business challenge. Veeda
ensured successful implementation of
ComLinQ's core calling system operational
functionality including basic Syslinq
functions (pre- and post-paid calling
cards), 800-forwarding, and international
local access.
A Continuing Relationship
Based on Veeda Software's accurate analysis
of the problem and its successful and timely
implementation of an efficient solution,
ComLinQ issued two subsequent contracts to
Veeda to add enhanced system features and
functions. As part of this continuing
engagement, Veeda has already delivered a
new conference calling platform and expects
to roll out more functionality regularly.
Reflecting on the situation, ComLinQ's Hamer
states, "Veeda Software delivered spot-on
results for us - on time, on budget, as
promised. I regret not having chosen them in
the first place. Ultimately, their
commitment, expertise, and can-do attitude
saved us from a looming business disaster.
We look forward to a long and successful
partnership with Veeda."
Veeda Software, LLC continues to be a
significant resource and contributor to
ComLinQ's success as a key telephony service
provider.