Integral Access Joins Softswitch Consortium; Developer of IP-Based Multi-Service Access Equipment Supports Industry Effort to Link Packet and Circuit Switched Networks.CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 1999-- Integral Access, Inc., the leading provider of packet-based multi-service access platforms for competitive carriers-- today announced that it has joined the International Softswitch Consortium. This international organization is the first group to focus exclusively on worldwide compatibility and interoperability of multimedia IP networks and their interconnection with other networks such as the public switched telephone network. Integral Access joins more than 50 companies working to advance the development of standards for building applications that can seamlessly span IP and circuit switched networks. "Although the convergence of circuit switched voice and packet-based applications onto a single network is inevitable, newer IP-based networks will need to inter operate with the legacy telephone network for some time to come," said Jeffrey Wake, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Integral Access. "Integral Access is committed to working with the other members of the International Softswitch Consortium to share our expertise in integrating circuit A circuit whose actuation is dependent on the time integral of a function of the influence. switched and IP technologies, and help accelerate the development of standards-based approaches for delivering voice and data services over cost-effective packet-based networks." Integral Access announced the PurePacket(TM) family of integrated access products in May 1999. PurePacket is the industry's first and only packet-based access network platform that allows competitive carriers to deliver multiple services -- including traditional voice, and new high-speed data and IP Telephony The two-way transmission of voice over a packet-switched IP network, which is part of the TCP/IP protocol suite. The terms "IP telephony" and "voice over IP" (VoIP) are synonymous. services -- at very low cost over a single copper or leased line A private communications channel leased from a common carrier. Most digital lines require four wires (two pairs) for full-duplex transmission. (communications, networking) leased line network connection. This Multi-Protocol Label Switching (networking) label switching - A routing technique that uses information from existing IP routing protocols to identify IP datagrams with labels and forwards them to a modified switch or router, which then uses the labels to switch the datagrams through the network. (MPLS (1) (MultiProtocol Lambda Switching) The earlier name for GMPLS. See GMPLS. (2) (MultiProtocol Label Switching) A standard from the IETF for including routing information in the packets of an IP network. )-based system combines dynamic bandwidth allocation Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) is a technique by which traffic bandwidth in a shared telecommunications medium can be allocated on demand and fairly between different users of that bandwidth. with advanced Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities to provide network efficiencies while maintaining the quality, reliability and scalability associated with today's Public Switched Telephone Network. The company recently announced a $5 million, multi-year contract with Actel Integrated Communications which will deploy the PurePacket platform to deliver integrated voice and data services in nine cities throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. About the International Softswitch Consortium Founded in May 1999, the Softswitch Consortium is the international organization for global cooperation and coordination of internetworking technologies in the field of Internet-based real-time interactive communications and related applications. Many applications emulate circuit switching A networking technology that provides a temporary, but dedicated, connection between two stations no matter how many switching devices the data are routed through. Circuit switching was originally developed for the analog-based telephone system in order to guarantee steady, consistent in software, hence the name "softswitch." The Consortium is a non-profit corporation with open membership committed to advancing IP distributed network architecture standards that enable and expedite application development. More than 50 companies from around the world participate as members of the organization. For more information on the Consortium, visit the organization's Web site at www.softswitch.org. About PurePacket The PurePacket family of access products provides competitive carriers a single, scalable, fault tolerant infrastructure for delivering multiple services - including voice, tiered data services and IP Telephony - at very low cost to small and medium sized businesses. The PurePacket family includes carrier network equipment (for central office, co-locations and points of presence), customer-premise equipment, and a powerful network management system. To maximize the traffic carrying capacity carrying capacity the number of animal units that a farm or area will carry on a year round basis, including that needed for conservation of winter feed. Usually stated as dry cows or dry sheep equivalents per hectare. of networks and increase revenue opportunities for carriers, PurePacket uses an MPLS-based architecture to route, transport and switch voice and data transmissions in packet format. PurePacket allows operators to leverage existing circuit-switched infrastructures, while providing a solution that is optimized for the IP-intensive applications of the future. Company Background Founded in 1997, Integral Access, Inc. provides packet-based access platforms that allow competitive carriers to deliver multiple services - including voice, tiered data services and IP Telephony - at very low cost to small and medium sized businesses. The PurePacket family of products allows competitive carriers to economically enter new markets, provide broad-based services over existing copper loop and leased facilities, and maximize revenue opportunities. Integral Access is headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and was formed by an experienced international team of engineers and executives from 3 Com (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :COMS COMS 3Com Corporation (stock symbol) COMS Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist COMS Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems COMS City of Manchester Stadium (UK) ), Bay Networks (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :NT), Shiva (NASDAQ:INTC INTC Intel (NASDAQ symbol) INTC Intercept INTC Interrupt Controller ) and Tellabs (NASDAQ:TLAB). Integral Access is privately held, and supported by $21 million in venture funding from Coral Ventures, Prism Venture Partners, St. Paul Venture Capital, Ascent Ventures Partners, Canaan Ventures, BancBoston Capital, Technology Fund II Pte Ltd. (Singapore) and SsangYong (Singapore) Limited. To contact Integral Access call +1-978-256-8833, visit us on the Web at http://www.integralaccess.com, or write to iaemail@integralaccess.com. Note to Editors: PurePacket is a trademark of Integral Access, Inc. |
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