Verso Technologies Announces General Availability of NetPerformer GSM A.bis/A.ter Cellular Backhaul Option.

ATLANTA -- NetPerformer(R) Solution Optimizes Bandwidth Utilization for GSM Applications, by Slashing Operators' Recurring Infrastructure Costs by 50% to 90%, without Sacrificing Quality of Service

Verso Technologies, Inc., an integrated communications solutions company, today announced general availability of a major enhancement to its award winning NetPerformer voice and data routing products. Verso has released the GSM A.bis/A.ter bandwidth optimization solution for the NetPerformer Multi-Service Convergence Platform. This solution provides GSM network operators with a new way to reduce their operating costs by providing bandwidth optimization for their entire GSM backhaul network, including the data portion. The NetPerformer offers multiple connectivity options, including Internet Protocol (IP), easily integrating with any existing network infrastructure.

NetPerformer's GSM A.bis/A.ter option converts TDM voice and data traffic channels to a more efficient packet-based format, which results in better bandwidth utilization, without any GSM transcoding that would impact the voice quality. While optimizing the bandwidth required for GSM A.bis/A.ter up to 2:1 or greater, the NetPerformer also provides a convergence path for GSM 3G using a common network infrastructure. This reduces the cost of the introduction of both technologies and reduces the recurring costs of the facilities serving sites that are migrating to 3G.

NetPerformer's toll quality voice compression has been used for many years to optimize bandwidth by a factor of up to 20:1 on GSM A and E interfaces which results in significantly lower operating expenses. The NetPerformer also optimizes bandwidth of the signaling channels with data compression of 4:1 and SS7 spoofing, further reducing the recurring costs of the carriers.

The NetPerformer can utilize a variety of WAN infrastructures such as serial or digital leased lines, ethernet, satellite, or packet based networks including IP and Frame Relay. This feature gives network operators the flexibility to choose between the most economical or most readily available network facilities, and also allows them to migrate to a different network infrastructure, as required, without any additional cost. The NetPerformer Cellular Backhaul solution supports multiple GSM interfaces, offers superior optimization and WAN flexibility in a single product, which constitute a unique competitive advantage.

Not only can the NetPerformer use IP for WAN connectivity, but it can also deliver VoIP connectivity to GSM E interface. NetPerformer's VoIP SIP feature can be used autonomously or in conjunction with Verso' Clarent softswitch to provide GSM operators an alternative, or toll bypass, to the PSTN.

"The combination of these techniques results in bandwidth savings of 50% to 90% and a typical return on investment of six to twelve months," said Greg Kustudia, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Verso. "We have already sold the solution to two Tier 1 operators, and are in field trials with providers in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and our Asia Pacific regions."

"We are extremely pleased with the new capabilities of the NetPerformer, and the customer wins that are associated with this additional capability," said Monty Bannerman, Verso's Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. "NetPerformer has been providing satellite and terrestrial networking solutions to reduce operational expenses for service providers and end-users since 1989. With over 80,000 units installed in 120 countries, our experience speaks for itself. We feel confident that the NetPerformer GSM solution will be the springboard to a more important role for Verso in the GSM community."

Visitors are invited to visit Verso in booth 392 at Satellite 2005 Exhibit and Conference in Washington DC from March 23rd to 25th 2005.

About Verso Technologies

Verso is a leading provider of next generation communication solutions for service providers that want to lower their communication infrastructure costs and enhance service capabilities without sacrificing reliability, scalability and quality of service. With an extensive solutions portfolio that extends from the core to the edge of a network, Verso enables customers to leverage legacy technology investments towards converged networks that are faster and more cost-effective to deploy and easier and more flexible to manage. Verso solutions are currently deployed in thousands of customer networks in over 120 countries. For more information, contact Verso at www.verso.com or call 678.589.3500