Alabama Carriers Stay Ahead of the Next-Generation Communications Curve with MetaSwitch; Southeastern Region MetaSwitch Customers Reduce Costs, Update Services with IP-Based Architecture.

CHOCTAW, Miss. -- Forward-thinking Alabama carriers are offering their subscribers big-city communications services thanks to MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of carrier switching and applications solutions. Announced today at the Alabama-Mississippi Telecommunications Association (AMTA) Telephone Equipment Exposition in Choctaw, Mississippi, MetaSwitch customers -- Graceba Total Communications, Union Springs Telephone Company and Castleberry Telephone Company -- are migrating to all-IP networks based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture for the delivery of exciting new multimedia-enhanced telephony services. These service providers share the common goal of building future-proof networks and sustainable business models as independent operators within an increasingly competitive telecommunications landscape.

Graceba Total Communications, Inc. of Ashford, Alabama deployed MetaSwitch's softswitch solution for a wide range of applications including interfacing with legacy access devices, voice over IP (VoIP), voice over ATM, and voice over cable (via PacketCable NCS). Graceba is an established independent operating company (IOC) and cable TV provider, which has also operated a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier) for five years using a Siemens EWSD digital switching system for about 10,000 lines. Graceba selected MetaSwitch for its flexibility to handle multiple protocols from a single media gateway interface card. With MetaSwitch in place, Graceba has introduced new services, saved money and reduced equipment costs.

"Graceba has been entrenched in the local community for more than 90 years, and we pride ourselves on our technology leadership and ability to offer customers the same quality of service as we've been known for in the past, while also offering the rich set of features they might find in large metropolitan areas," said James Etheredge, Chief Operating Officer, Graceba Total Communications, Inc. "MetaSwitch has not only helped us deliver a cutting edge product, but we've saved money and tightened operational efficiencies in the process. It's a true win-win: our subscribers benefit from a wealth of feature choices and we benefit from Capex and Opex savings."

Union Springs Telephone Company of Union Springs, Alabama looked to MetaSwitch for similar "big-city" enterprise features as well as VoIP compliance and local number portability support. Union Springs began making the transition from Nortel Networks (NASDAQ: NT) to MetaSwitch more than a year-and-a-half ago, installing MetaSwitch as a tandem to the company's existing Nortel DMS-100. Union Springs is steadily cutting lines across to the MetaSwitch via existing digital loop carriers and next-generation copper and fiber access equipment from Occam Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCNW) and Optical Solutions, Inc. (OSI). In addition, Union Springs is deploying MetaSwitch to provide Centrex services to local businesses using IP phones from Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO).

"We were looking for a well-known, proven leader to team with and help us achieve our communications goals and we selected MetaSwitch after extensive due diligence," said Billie Pirnie, President and CEO, Union Springs. "We have reduced operating costs and maintenance fees, but that only scratches the surface. MetaSwitch has enabled us to add a multitude of new subscriber services, including unified messaging and advanced IP-based features with the MetaSwitch UC9000 Unified Communications System. As a result, customers can count on us to deliver the most advanced telecommunications services currently available anywhere, with the same quality of service that they're used to."

Castleberry Telephone Company in Castleberry, Alabama has recently signed on with MetaSwitch after searching for a true packet-based switch that could elegantly enable the convergence of voice, video and data on a single IP pipe. As it begins to offer DSL services, the company wanted to ensure it was investing in a next-generation IP-based architecture. Castleberry is set to use the MetaSwitch VP2510 integrated softswitch, the industry's most compact fully-featured class 4/5 softswitch, and most recent addition to the vendor's IMS product portfolio.

"MetaSwitch is committed to enabling forward-looking service providers like Union Springs, Castleberry and Graceba to transition to next generation networks," said Mike Ward, MetaSwitch Senior Vice President of Sales. "Our success in Alabama is a result of that commitment and reflects our growing momentum across the whole U.S., where we now have deployments in over 45 states."

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch (www.metaswitch.com) is an industry-leading vendor of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) switching and applications solutions for both packet and circuit-switched networks. Its widely deployed call agent, media/signaling gateway and application server platform supports a full range of legacy Class 4/5 capabilities and hosted unified communications services, and scales from a few hundred to millions of subscribers in both integrated and distributed configurations. Customers include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers, as well as operators of broadband wireless, cable and fiber networks.

MetaSwitch is a division of established telecom technology provider Data Connection. The company is consistently profitable and privately held, with main US offices in California and Virginia, and European headquarters in London, UK.

Data Connection and MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright (C) 2006 Data Connection Limited