Metaswitch Establishes Interoperability Labs, Launches Metaswitch Interoperability Partner Program.Business Editors/High Tech Writers ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2001 Facilities in US and Europe welcomed by vendors including Efficient and ishoni In response to the growing requirement from service providers for "zero headache" interoperability between multiple vendors' products, MetaSwitch today announced the launch of the MetaSwitch Interoperability Partner Program. To facilitate the program, MetaSwitch has established a test laboratory in its Alameda, CA office, complementing the company's existing facilities in London, UK. Both facilities are open to any vendor seeking to test with MetaSwitch's VP3000 Broadband Voice Platform, potentially leading to qualification as a MetaSwitch Interoperability Partner. "This is an engineering-led, rather than a marketing-driven, initiative: the lab's primary purpose is to facilitate co-operation between vendors, both to verify established standards (such as the ATM Forum's Broadband Loop Emulation Service) and to rapidly iron out any wrinkles in new ones as they emerge," said John Lazar John Lazar was Mayor of Adelaide from 1855 to 1858. John LaZar (born May 22, 1946) is a classically trained American actor of both stage and screen. , MetaSwitch's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We see this move as complementing and enhancing multi-vendor events such as the OpenVoB CallFests, which we fully support." Expanding on the Interoperability Partner program, he revealed that "we will be following a detailed and comprehensive test plan, based on work done by OpenVoB, which covers the full range of broadband functionality, from dial-tone through to a range of CLASS services specific to the VP3000. Crucially, MetaSwitch Interoperability Partner status will only be granted to vendors who pass these tests and who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to interoperability based on open standards Specifications for hardware and software that are developed by a standards organization or a consortium involved in supporting a standard. Available to the public for developing compliant products, open standards imply "open systems;" that an existing component in a system can be replaced . The result is the strongest possible guarantee to service providers that the vendor's products interoperate with our own." The facilities will include Integrated Access Devices (IADs), DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary Access Multiplexers (DSLAMs), Voice Gateways, Softswitches, ATM, IP and SS7 network infrastructure and a range of terminal equipment including telephones, faxes and modems. MetaSwitch also plans to add direct SS7/PSTN connectivity, via the MetaSwitch VP3000's built-in Class 5/Softswitch functionality, in the coming months. The end result is a complete broadband telephony See VoIP. environment where vendors can test everything from basic signalling protocol interactions through to higher-level services such as Caller ID A telephone company service that sends the caller's telephone number between the first and second ring of the call. If the calling number is not blocked, the calling number is displayed on the handset or base station of the called party. and Call Waiting. "Interoperability is a key concern for service providers, who have experienced deployment issues with the first wave of VoDSL products," said Pat Hurley, DSL Analyst at TeleChoice, Inc. "The good news is that these problems are being addressed by the growing acceptance of open standards, industry forums such as OpenVoB, and vendor-led programs like the one being announced today by MetaSwitch. Facilities like the ones MetaSwitch is making available both in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. and in Europe should be welcomed by vendors and service providers world-wide." "Efficient Networks is pleased to have become one of the first vendors to achieve Interoperability Partner status with MetaSwitch," said Steve Dunlap, Efficient Networks' Director of Business Development. "As our recent joint announcement of simultaneous voice, video and data services demonstrated, this initiative is already enabling us to co-operate closely with MetaSwitch and thereby meet our customers' requirements for reliable, toll-quality broadband services." "We appreciated the opportunity to use MetaSwitch's facilities to help verify that our DV2000 Broadband Engine is interoperable with Voice-over-Broadband standards," agreed Yong Lee, Senior Product Marketing Manager at ishoni Networks. "We were able to easily validate our implementation and rapidly prove interoperability. Certifying interoperability with other vendors is a central part of our product strategy, and becoming a MetaSwitch Interoperability Partner provides a significant boost to those efforts." Vendors seeking further information about the MetaSwitch Interoperability Partner Program, or wishing to schedule an interoperability test session, should contact Don Rosenbaum on (510) 748-8230, email dmr@metaswitch.com. About the MetaSwitch VP3000 The award-winning MetaSwitch VP3000 integrated Broadband Voice Platform combines broadband voice gateway and Class 5 switching functions in a high density, carrier class system. The result is an extremely cost-effective VoDSL solution which does away with the requirement for an expensive Class 5 switch. Support for the ATM Forum's Broadband Loop Emulation Service (BLES BLES Broadband Loop Emulation Service (DSLF) BLES Buffer Layer Engineering in Semiconductors (ESPRIT Project 6854) ) ensures interoperability with DSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexor) A central office (CO) device for ADSL service that intermixes voice traffic and DSL traffic onto a customer's DSL line. It also separates incoming phone and data signals and directs them onto the appropriate carrier's network. See DSL. and IAD (Integrated Access Device) A device that multiplexes a variety of communications technologies in the customer's premises onto a single telephone line for transmission to the carrier. It also demultiplexes the incoming streams into their respective channels. devices from a wide range of vendors. In addition, the VP3000's future-proof softswitch architecture offers a clear upgrade path to Voice over IP and 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. (VoIP/MPLS) and other broadband voice services, including wireless and cable. About MetaSwitch MetaSwitch was formed by Data Connection (DCL (1) (Digital Command Language) Digital's standard command language for the VMS operating system on its VAX series. (2) (Data Compression L ) to build best-of-breed solutions for Voice-over-DSL and other broadband voice requirements, based on the unrivaled software and hardware experience, expertise and technology that Data Connection has built up over nearly twenty profitable years supplying the most demanding Service Provider and equipment vendor customers. MetaSwitch builds on the powerful foundation created by Data Connection, pulling together its massive ongoing investment in the technology required to build converged network The integration of the telephone system with IP-based data networks. See softswitch. (networking) converged network - A single network that can carry voice, video and data. solutions (ATM, SS7, MPLS, MGCP/H.248, SIP...), and new revenue-generating services (directory, unified messaging Having access to e-mail, voice mail and faxes via a common computer application or by telephone. For example, unified messaging may send faxes and digitized voice mail to a mail server that turns them into e-mail attachments. , data/audio/video conferencing). The MetaSwitch support and customer management infrastructure taps right into the deep reservoir of professionalism and experience Data Connection has developed by helping its large strategic customers deliver successful products and services. MetaSwitch and Data Connection have offices in Alameda (California), Reston (Virginia), and Enfield (North London North London is a part of London, England which has several possible definitions. River & geography The part of London north of the River Thames (illustrated). ), Chester and Edinburgh in the UK. For information, email contact@metaswitch.com or visit www.metaswitch.com . About Efficient Networks Efficient Networks, Inc. (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 : EFNT) is a leading global provider of broadband Internet access Broadband Internet access, often shortened to just "broadband", is high speed Internet access—typically contrasted with dial-up access over modem. Dial-up modems are generally only capable of a maximum bitrate of 56 kbit/s (kilobits per second) and require the full use of a products that employ digital subscriber line See DSL. (communications, protocol) Digital Subscriber Line - (DSL, or Digital Subscriber Loop, xDSL - see below) A family of digital telecommunications protocols designed to allow high speed data communication over the existing copper telephone lines between end-users and (DSL) technology. The company's voice and data access solutions enable high-performance network services for both small to mid-sized businesses and consumers. As part of its complete broadband solution, Efficient also provides network management systems that extend from the core of carriers' networks to the subscribers' desktops. Efficient works closely with network equipment vendors, incumbent and competitive carriers, and Internet service providers Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. around the world. The company's goal is to accelerate the adoption of broadband networks and services. Efficient Networks is based in Dallas, Texas, with sales and support offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.efficient.com . About ishoni ishoni Networks builds "Broadband Engines for the New Internet" that allow OEMs to offer residential and business customers secure voice and Internet services over a single broadband connection. ishoni offers OEMs a silicon and software solution that allows them to more quickly, more easily and more affordably build broadband gateway products offering voice, data and security services. ishoni was founded in May 1998, and is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with a development site in Bangalore, India. For more information, visit ishoni Networks at www.ishoni.com . Data Connection and MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
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