iting) they will get it. H.323-Compatible Products Since only the end-points of multimedia applications are impacted by H.323, there is no need to make changes to network interface cards, hubs, routers, or switches-except, perhaps, to upgrade routers and/or switches to make them RSVP compliant. Newer Cisco Systems and Bay Networks products support it, but a bottleneck may occur at any point along the data path at which a device does not. H.323-compatible products began appearing on the market late in 1996. By the first quarter of 1997, there were many more implementations. In October 1998, the ITU-T ratified H.323 version two (H.323v2). The new version of the standard advanced integration with T.120, resolved limitations in the original version, and specified enhancements to the H.225, H.245, and Q.931 protocols. New features included: GSM Compression Arbitration-Additional audio capabilities via H.245. V.Chat Arbitration-V.Chat, an instant messaging protocol, exchange. Fast Connect or Fast Start-Decreases call setup time by reducing the number of round trip times necessary to establish a session. Overlapped Sending-Allows connection to be established more quickly by enabling process routing to occur while the calling party is entering the address. Security-H.235 Specifies enables Authentication, Integrity, Confidentiality, and Non-Repudiation. Supplementary Services-H.450.1- - defines the signaling protocol between endpoints for supplementary services, Call Transfer, and Call Diversion. H.323v2 enhancements include: Additional Alias Address Types-URLs, Email addresses, and public and private party numbers. Call Identifier-Creates a unique global identifier to allow all messages associated with a call to be transferable between the RAS protocol in IP networks, and the Q.931 signaling protocol used in circuit-switched telephony networks. Conference List-Allows a MCU to specify a calling endpoint by sending a Q.931 Facility Message, which contains a list of conferences, to that endpoint. Conference Requests-Allows 