Data Connection Accelerates Interoperability for IMS Applications.

DC-SBC's IMS functions utilized at IMS Forum interoperability test event, Plugfest II

LONDON -- Data Connection Limited (DCL), the world's leading independent provider of communications protocol software, announced today at the NXTcomm show (DCL booth #3227) that it contributed to the advancement of IMS interoperability by participating at the IMS Forum Plugfest II held earlier this month at University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL). DCL was represented with its IMS-enabled DC-SBC product, which is a portable software solution for session border control that includes full P-CSCF, IBCF, and BGF/I-BGF IMS functions.

"In very little time our P-CSCF and IBCF solutions were interoperating with multiple IMS vendors which resulted in a demonstration of IP multimedia and mobile services," said Phil McConnell, CEO of DCL's Networking Protocols Division. "This series of Plugfest events enables us to accelerate our customers' market entry for IMS while proving the viability of revenue-generating services for the wireline and wireless operators. We look forward to participating in IMS Forum Plugfest III."

At the event Data Connection's DC-SBC solution operated as a P-CSCF and IBCF for testing of IMS registration and call scenarios in interdomain and carrier's carrier network environments. Revenue generating applications of IMS such as presence, messaging, and sponsored VoIP calls were proven.

The IMS Forum Plugfests are designed to generate industry-recognized interoperability test plans for IMS applications and services, allowing service providers to expedite IMS services rollout. The results of Plugfest II, which was held June 4-8, will be released at NXTcomm, June 18-21, at the IMS Forum booth #3669.

"DCL's software and protocol solutions made an important contribution to our Plugfest II," said Michael Khalilian, IMS Forum Chairman and President. "The IMS Forum's Plugfests provide companies with a recurring opportunity to test their implementations in real world multi-vendor environment and provides a valuable resource as commercial IMS deployments are now starting to occur. A video from the Plugfest II lab will be shown at the IMS Forum booth #3669 at NXTcomm."

DC-SBC is the industry's first and only software-based, fully portable session border controller solution developed exclusively for system vendors. DC-SBC has been shipping for over two years and supports P-CSCF, IBCF, and BGF/I-BGF IMS functionality. Data Connection's DC-SBC solution enables vendors to enhance their existing and new products with full, carrier-grade session border controller functionality with massive savings in time to market and engineering costs.

About Data Connection

Data Connection Limited (DCL) is the leading independent developer and supplier of IMS, SIP, Megaco/H.248, MGCP, SBC, Unicast and Multicast IP Routing, MPLS, ATM, and SNA portable products. The company's MetaSwitch Division supplies IMS switching and applications solutions to service providers. Its widely deployed call agent, media/signaling gateway and application server platform provides an integrated solution offering a full range of legacy Class 4/5 capabilities and unified communications services. The Internet Applications Division focuses on supplying its IMS-compliant UC-Portal messaging and application services platform, together with a comprehensive set of Systems Integration engineering, migration and support services, to tier 1 service providers.

Customers include the world's largest software and hardware vendors, including Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft, and major telecommunications service providers such as AT&T, BT, France Telecom and Verizon. With over 360 employees, Data Connection is headquartered in London, UK with US offices in Alameda, CA, Boxborough, MA, Dallas, TX and Reston, VA. For more information, please see www.dataconnection.com and www.metaswitch.com.

About the IMS Forum

The IMS Forum[R] is a global, non-profit industry association devoted to interoperable IP Multimedia Subsystems services and solutions. IMS Forum's mission is to accelerate the interoperability of IMS applications and services, enabling enterprise and residential consumers to quickly benefit from the delivery of quadruple play voice, video, internet and mobile services over broadband via cable, wireless and fixed networks. The IMS Forum is the creator and organizer of the IMS Plugfest[TM], the industry's only event focused on IMS services interoperability verification and certification.

Through its organized Plugfests, working group interaction, and other activities, forum members are able to develop cost-effective technical frameworks for converged IP services over wireline, cable, 3G, WiFi and WiMAX networks. Plugfest II results will be released at NXTcomm, June 18-21, 2007, at the IMS Forum's booth #3669. For additional information or to join the IMS Forum and the IMS Plugfests, please visit www.IMSForum.org.