GENBAND's G6 Universal Media Gateway Completes Compatibility Testing with Nortel Communication Server 2000.

PLANO, Texas -- GENBAND[TM] Inc., a leading provider of IMS-based telecommunications applications and infrastructure products enabling converged IP multimedia services, today announced that its G6[R] Universal Media Gateway has successfully completed laboratory compatibility testing with Nortel's Communication Server 2000 (CS 2000) softswitch.

Interoperability testing was performed between CS 2000 and G6 using H.248 protocol for trunking and packet line gateway functions.

"This is another important step in GENBAND's strategy to provide industry leading IMS solutions while maintaining softswitch neutrality," said Charles Vogt, president and chief executive officer of GENBAND. "Service providers migrating networks to IMS or softswitch-controlled next-generation networks must be afforded the confidence of seamless interoperability for their key applications and infrastructure selections. As a company, GENBAND is focused on delivering this promise by ensuring our IMS solutions are proven to be interoperable with all key softswitch vendors. Nortel is obviously one of the most important and we look forward to working with Nortel and customers that choose Nortel's Communication Server 2000 softswitch as their next generation call control. Furthermore, using the G6 packet line gateway functionality with H.248 combined with Nortel's call control, we can empower service providers to leverage their existing access plant as they take the next steps in network migration."

GENBAND's G6 Universal Media Gateway was tested with Nortel's CS 2000 in Nortel's testing laboratories in Research Triangle Park (RTP), US.

Deployed by North America's largest incumbent telephone companies, competitive carriers, and cable operators, the G6 Universal Media Gateway is the industry's only purpose built carrier class media gateway. The G6 is RUS listed, OSMINE certified, PacketCable[TM] qualified, NEBS-3 certified, and produced in a TL9000 quality system. The G6 is the voice integration solution for most of the broadband equipment suppliers in North America and has been deployed by 114 carriers in 817 sites.

With billions of in-service minutes, the G6 platform is purpose-built for the central office, headend, or POP, with the capability to simultaneously support multiple service architectures including Class 5 switches, SIP application servers and softswitches. The G6 can be deployed as an access voice gateway, leveraging the legacy-Class 5 switching infrastructure by providing packetized voice and enabling traditional features over broadband networks. Next generation call control and applications are enabled over the service provider's legacy, circuit based access plant such as Digital Loop Carriers (DLC) or Host Digital Terminals (HDT) using the G6 platform. This allows the benefits of IP features in legacy PSTN access plant. In addition, the G6 platform provides emergency standalone service (ESA) in the event call control communications fail. At this stage, the legacy Class 5 switch can be minimized or retired.

GENBAND has received a Nortel Certification of Compatibility which is available from Nortel's Developer program website at:

http://www.nortel.com/prd/dpp/product/prodpages/certs/ cert1936.html

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About GENBAND[TM]

GENBAND is a leading supplier of IP multimedia application and infrastructure products and solutions for a diverse set of VoIP and IMS networks worldwide. These IMS-ready applications and solutions enable wireline, cable, and wireless service providers to rapidly deploy new multimedia services, while providing a foundation to transition legacy networks to next generation networks. GENBAND has deployed its IP Multimedia products and technology to over 275 customers with more than 3,200 deployments, across three continents. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, GENBAND has research and development facilities in; Austin and Plano, Texas; and New Delhi, India. Additional information is available at www.genband.com.