-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QxH6b/rJ2N559EE+78z4ain2evW2vVCtYSFVjgprY+qK6rXQGp5cz6jMvp7yGNBe
 xRM5ymZkTV0AiFfLtCIauA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-008954.txt : 20031020
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-008954.hdr.sgml : 20031020
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031020070147
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-008954
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031016
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031020

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RYAN CLARKE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213918

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23282
		FILM NUMBER:		03947002

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NMS COMMUNICATIONS
		STREET 2:		100 CROSSING BOULEVARD
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NMS COMMUNICATIONS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000915866
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				042814586
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CROSSING BLVD
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5086501300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CROSSING BLVD.
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01702

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATURAL MICROSYSTEMS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931207
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-16</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000915866</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NMS COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NMSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213918</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RYAN CLARKE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 CROSSING BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRAMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01702</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.4</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-16</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-10-16</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2008-10-16</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Dianne Callan, Attorney-in-fact for Clarke Ryan</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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