# Glossary: Softswitch Wikipedia defines a softswitch as, "a central device in a telecommunications network that connects calls from one phone line to another by means of software running on a computer system. This work was formerly carried out by hardware, with physical hardware to route the calls. A softswitch is typically used to control connections at the junction point between circuit and packet networks. A single device containing both the switching logic and the switching fabric can be used for this purpose; however, modern technology has led to a preference for decomposing this device into a Call Agent and a [Media Gateway](https://docs.telcobridges.com/wiki/TB_Media_Gateway)."\ A Softswitch can also be called a Media Gateway Controller (MGC). ### TelcoBridges and softswitches TelcoBridges does not develop softswitches. Instead it works with solution developers and system integrators [partners](http://www.telcobridges.com/afficher.aspx?section=199\&langue=en) that provide [softswitch](http://www.telcobridges.com/afficher02.aspx?page=806\&langue=en\&modeAffichage=0\&forceMode=0) capabilities developed internally or licensed from a third party. As of October 2014, TelcoBridges media gateways can be controlled via the [SIP](/appendices/appendix-a-glossary/glossary-sip.md) protocol or [H.248](https://docs.telcobridges.com/wiki/H.248), but not [H.323](https://docs.telcobridges.com/w/index.php?title=H.323\&action=edit\&redlink=1) or [MGCP](https://docs.telcobridges.com/wiki/MGCP). ### References * [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softswitch) --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://prosbcdocs.telcobridges.com/appendices/appendix-a-glossary/glossary-softswitch.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.