1. What is the Parlay Group?
2. Who were the originators of the Parlay work and how did the Group come about?
3. Is the Parlay Group an open standards body?
4. What is the origin of the Parlay name?
5. Why did leaders of telecommunications and high-tech business initiate the creation of the Parlay API?
6. Can my company join the Parlay Group?
7. Why now?
8. What network functionality is accessed by the Parlay API?
9. How does the API find its way to non-Parlay Group members?
10. Doesn't access to telecommunications network functions, via such an open API, pose a threat to the integrity of the network?
11. Are we talking about re-inventing or replacing IN?
12. What differentiates this API specification from existing "standards" that have their own protocols (such as AIN)?
13. The API seems to address capabilities at the edge of the [signaling] network. Will it replace CTI?
14. What are the benefits to the end user of the Parlay API?
15. Are there any geographic limitations to the adoption of the API?
16. Does the Parlay Group produce products?
17. Are Parlay products and applications available now?
18. Are the APIs implemented directly on network-equipment (e.g. switches and routers)?
19. Can the Parlay API be implemented on multiple technologies and platforms (such as Windows NT, JAVA VM, UNIX and others)?
20. What is the relationship of the Parlay Group to standards emerging from standards bodies and working groups (e.g. IEEE, OMG, ITU, TINAC, IETF, ETSI, 3GPP, etc.)?

The Parlay Group has been formed to create an explosion in the number of communications applications by specifying and promoting open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that intimately link IT applications with the capabilities of the communications world.

Founded in 1998, The Parlay Group focused initial development of its APIs on functions such as call control, messaging and security. The Parlay Group was formed by a group of companies (BT, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Siemens, and Ulticom - formerly DGM&S Telecom). The Group first demonstrated a Parlay service in the UK and USA in December 1998 and since used industry feedback to refine its specifications. The current Parlay Specifications pave the way forward in developing usable, real-world product implementations of the APIs.

The Parlay Group, Inc. is not a standards body. It is an open, multi-vendor consortium organized to develop open, technology-independent application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable the development of applications that operate across converged networks. The Group promotes the use of Parlay APIs and ultimate standardization.

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The word parlay originally comes from the French verb parler, which means "to talk." The term entered into the English language as a result of the activities of French traders/explorers in North America. In order to deal in animal pelts with the Native Americans, a trade pidgin language developed in which the term grew to mean "negotiate.” English explorers later encountered and adopted the term, and from there it entered into English general usage, meaning "to negotiate a favorable deal” or “to grow an investment."

The name Parlay was chosen by the Parlay Group because it encompasses both the technical and commercial objectives of Parlay:

• To Talk -- Parlay allows the telecom and IT worlds to talk by providing a mediating interface
• To Negotiate a Favorable Deal -- Parlay negotiates favorable deals by providing a commercial framework for profitable participation of all members in the value chain.

The term held additional appeal because its cross-cultural origin mirrors the diversity of the Parlay membership. The word Parlay had been trademarked by Lucent Technologies, a Parlay Group member, that graciously donated the term to the Parlay Group.

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We wanted to get the job started and to progress rapidly to meet the needs of the industry and our customers. So we commenced work with just five companies, all of whom were already working in the "Open APIs" technology area. In Parlay Phase 2 (in June 1999), we expanded to eleven companies so that we could embrace skills in IP network control, mobility, performance management, audit capabilities, and improved integrity technology areas. Now, the group has progressed to the point where a fully open, non-profit organization is the best method to carry the work forward, and we seek members with skills for contributions in all areas of application delivery. 

Yes. You need only to sign the membership agreement and pay your dues. No other restrictions exist. Learn more.

In today's network, applications and services are part of the network operator's domain. This network centric approach was excellent for simple mass-market applications. But the network is changing, with the emergence of mobility and IP. What is now needed is a solution that combines the benefits of the network-centric approach of economies of scale and reliability with the creativity and power of the IT industry. It's possible for applications to be built, tested and operated by enterprises outside network domain. This is achieved with a programming interface, which allows applications to access the functions of the network and generic support functions in a secure way. This is the role of Parlay APIs.

Parlay is an umbrella architecture that provides network independence and application portability. The Parlay APIs enable a new generation of off-the-shelf network applications/components (e.g. messaging, mobility, end-to-end quality of service, etc.) to be developed by application providers (ISVs/ASPs) independent of the underlying voice/multimedia network.

The Parlay Specifications are publicly available on this website. In addition, Parlay's Official Spokespeople travel internationally, discussing the benefits of Parlay at conferences an tradeshows. The Parlay Group also hosts Parlay/OSA Conferences 3 times a year in the Americas, APAC region, and EMEA region. These events are open to the public and include product showcases by Parlay Member Companies, live demonstrations of Parlay applications, an "Intro to Parlay" Educational Seminar, business-focused presentations in our Business Summitt, and more. Join the Parlay Interest Community to receive invitations to international Parlay/OSA Conferences. Are you an operator? If so, be sure to join the Parlay Operator Interest Group, too.

The Parlay API addresses security and load management to ensure that the integrity of the network is maintained and has been proven secure by those companies who are using Parlay today.

As networks of the future evolve, there will be a growing need to harmonize intelligence in the center of the network with intelligent devices at the network edge. The Parlay APIs allows services -- which use the wide range of common functions at the center of the network -- to be developed outside of the network . The openness of the APIs encourage more utilization of IN.

Today's IN solutions have been designed to meet the needs of telecommunication network operators through protocols (not open APIs) within the network. The Parlay Group provides specifications for an external APIs to support a wide range of external applications (e.g., from service providers) while maintaining the security and integrity of the network.

Not at all. Rather, implementations of the specification augment CTI by finally breaking down the barriers at the edge of the networks and allowing creation of services and applications outside of the network that are less constrained. Parlay allows applications external to the world's telecommunication networks to customize the interactions of these networks. This enables the combined resources of the world's telecommunication networks, the world's "enterprise" networks, the Internet, and even personal data networks to be brought to bear to provide services that use all communications functions, including voice, video, data, etc.

Implementation of the API specification enables more services and and less-expensive services and creates a more competitive market for telecoms applications and services. Today end users are bound to whatever the carrier alone has to offer. Implementation of the API specifications allows the end user to find services that are more finely attuned to their specific needs. Service providers are now easily providing "mass-customization" of services that meet the specific needs of particular customer market segments.

No, Parlay was designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of networks around the world and has been deployed globally.

No. Work within the group is confined to the creation of a specification, which can be used by anyone and everyone to deliver compliant products and applications. Many Parlay Members, however, produce Parlay products and Parlay applications.

Yes! Parlay products and applications are available now and more are emerging every day!

The entities that implement the API specifications produce a variety of implementations to match the dictates of the market. The Parlay Group specifies the APIs so as to allow as much flexibility as possible.

Yes, the APIs is platform, vendor- and technology-independent, allowing it to be implemented on multiple technologies, and to work easily with other industry initiatives.

The Parlay Group has an on-going working relationship with standards fora and consortia. The Parlay Group works with ETSI, 3GPP, and 3GPP2 to publish the Parlay Specifications.