OSA/Parlay is an open Application Programming Interface (API) for application access to telecoms network resources. OSA/Parlay technology integrates telecom network capabilities with IT applications via a secure, measured, and billable interface. OSA/Parlay APIs are network independent, and applications can be hosted within the telecom network operator's own environment, or by external third party service providers.
The specification of the OSA/Parlay APIs is a joint effort between ETSI, 3GPP and The Parlay Group. The specifications are produced using a UML model, from which the text documents, IDL code, J2SE and J2EE Java code is produced. Using this approach, the ETSI/Parlay specification, the 3GPPTM specification, and the associated code, come from the same source so are aligned. Furthermore, the generated code is verified and checked for errors before generating the documents, which acts as a further quality control.
A web-services API is also available, known as Parlay X. This is also standardized jointly by ETSI, Parlay and the 3GPP. Parlay X is a simplified web services interface to telecom network functionality. It may be used in conjunction with the base OSA/Parlay APIs, or on its own.
ETSI involvement in OSA
ETSI Centre for Testing and Interoperability plays the following roles in the standardization of OSA:
maintain the UML model for the various editions of OSA/Parlay
assemble the model from various contributions submitted for standardization
manage and perform the code generation and document generation for the base OSA/Parlay APIs
act as the principle link between ETSI and The Parlay Group.
OSA/Parlay work is managed in ETSI by technical committee TISPAN. See information on working with this group, including how to get draft documents and how to participate.