Packet1 Converge provides an IMS network with a Signaling Gateway Controller and a Media Gateway Controller.

In a carrier-grade packet-core environment, a carrier must deploy media resources at the network edge not unlike when networks were TDM-based and media was referred to as the B-Channels. Principals have not changed in the IP world, only the transmission method.

Packet1 Converge includes:

The MGCF manages the call control between the endpoints and the session description parameters. The MGCF communicates with the media server to allocate the session parameters and forwards this back to the connecting endpoint. The MGCF can also be instructed to play media files through the SIP Invite message header. The session description parameters will contain the recorded voice announcement to play.

The SGCF manages the call control between a SIP endpoint via a proxy or B2BUA and a TDM circuit such as ISDN. A signaling gateway in the traditional SIP world is known as a voice gateway and used to terminate off-net calls. In the traditional carriers network call routing configuration would often be staggered across many technologies increasing the maintenance overhead. With an IMS IP core the routing can be centralized and access technology independent (see Packet1 Ingress).

The BGCF provides topology hiding and secure access into the Carrier's private network. Codec mismatches can be a hindrance so the purpose of the BGCF is to provide codec conversion where necessary. In a purely SIP environment the BGCF is regarded as a Session Border Controller.