Contact Information: Media and Analyst Contacts: Elizabeth Miller Connect2 for MetaSwitch, Acme Packet +1.919.554.3532 x 7 elizabeth@connect2comm.com Carol Daniels MetaSwitch +1.510.748.5368 chd@metaswitch.com Acme Packet Investor Relations: Brian Norris Acme Packet +1.781.328.4790 bnorris@acmepacket.com
MetaSwitch Inks Agreement to Resell Acme Packet Session Border Controllers
Market Leaders in IP Communications Form Relationship Focused on Removing Barriers to the Deployment of Next-Generation Network Services
| Source: MetaSwitch
LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - April 8, 2009) - MetaSwitch Forum 2009 -- Acme Packet®
(NASDAQ : APKT ), the leader in session border control solutions, and
MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of next-generation carrier switching and
application solutions, today announced that they are building upon their
long-term interoperability relationship by entering into a reseller
agreement. Under this new agreement MetaSwitch will sell Acme Packet's
family of session border controllers (SBCs) as an addition
to its call agent, media gateway and application server product offerings
for service providers looking to deploy IP voice and multimedia
communication services.
Together MetaSwitch's core networking products and Acme Packet's SBCs offer
a fully-supported joint solution with proven interoperability and closely
coordinated customer support, removing any hurdles and uncertainty for
service providers making the transition to a next-generation IP network.
When combined, these network elements provide core session control,
media/signaling gateway, application server and SBC functions, and scale to
meet the network migration requirements of service providers of all sizes.
"As demonstrated by this new agreement, MetaSwitch and Acme Packet are
committed to providing carriers with a comprehensive, secure solution for
applications ranging from basic VoIP service to advanced, interactive IP
communications solutions," said Seamus Hourihan, vice president of
marketing and product management. "Building standalone voice, video and
multimedia services over IP network islands is not sufficient. Instead,
services must be built and interconnected in a way that ensures security
and peak performance end-to-end."
Over 50 service providers have already deployed joint Acme Packet and
MetaSwitch solutions, including CLECs Engage Communications and Aero
Communications, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Computer Services Inc. (CSI).
Engage, a CLEC based in the Florida Keys, provides Internet services to
hospitality clients and small and medium businesses. Engage installed
MetaSwitch's Class 4/5 call agent and media gateway products to deliver
hosted IP PBX, legacy and advanced services to its customers without the
expense of premises equipment and maintenance that legacy systems require.
Working with MetaSwitch, Engage chose Acme Packet's Net-Net SBCs because of
the ease of interconnection, Acme Packet's proven NAT-traversal
capabilities and the ability to protect the core of the MetaSwitch-powered
network from denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
"By working with MetaSwitch, we found the right Acme Packet solution, and
as a result, we've been able to expand our service offerings to our
customers," said Brad Nye, CEO for Engage Communications. "Through this
partnership we are not only able to offer a broader selection of advanced
services, but we can do so knowing we are providing a secure and reliable
solution for our customers."
Aero Communications, a wholly owned division of Computer Services, Inc
(CSI), is a CLEC based in Paducah, Kentucky that provides wholesale legacy
and VoIP services as well as commercial services to banks through its
parent company CSI. Aero began using the MetaSwitch call agent, media
gateways and MetaSphere application suite in order to replace its aging
legacy Class 5 switches and offer its customers both legacy and IP
services. MetaSwitch helped Aero select Acme Packet's Net-Net SBCs because
of seamless integration with MetaSwitch and also its ability to provide
complete regulatory compliance.
"We rely on agreements like MetaSwitch's and Acme Packet's for the future
of our telecommunications business," said Brian Glover, general manager for
Aero Communications. "As a CLEC, it's important for us to have partners
that provide us with the support, technology and regulation insight we need
as we make the transition to interactive IP voice services."
"The depth of partnership between Acme Packet and MetaSwitch can only be
achieved when both parties are as committed as we both are to working
together to bring about the smooth migration to next-generation services,"
said Andy Randall, vice president of marketing for MetaSwitch. "When our
extensive experience in deploying multi-vendor networks is combined with
Acme Packet's knowledge of carrier-class SBCs and IP internetworking, we
provide the critical elements necessary to deliver reliable new revenue
streams."
Acme Packet is a Gold Sponsor and exhibitor at the MetaSwitch Forum in Las
Vegas from April 6th - 9th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Ray
Dequiroz, global technical director for Acme Packet will present the
session, "Protecting, Perfecting, and Profiting with SBCs," at the forum on
Wed., April 8th at 1:00pm.
About Acme Packet
Acme Packet, Inc. (NASDAQ : APKT ), the leader in session border control
solutions, enables the delivery of trusted, first-class interactive
communications -- voice, video and multimedia sessions -- and data services
across IP network borders. Our Net-Net family of session border
controllers, multiservice security gateways and session routing proxies
supports multiple applications in service provider, large enterprise and
contact center networks--from VoIP trunking to hosted enterprise and
residential services to fixed-mobile convergence. They satisfy critical
security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in wireline, cable
and wireless networks; and support multiple protocols -- SIP, H.323,
MGCP/NCS, H.248 and RTSP -- and multiple border points -- interconnect,
access and data center. Our products have been selected by more than 635
customers in 92 countries, including 29 of the top 30, and 89 of the top
100 service providers in the world. For more information, contact us at +1
781.328.4400, or visit www.acmepacket.com.
About MetaSwitch
MetaSwitch is a leading provider of carrier systems and software solutions
that are powering the migration of communications networks to open,
packet-based architectures. Hundreds of network operators worldwide depend
on its Carrier Division for reliable, scalable session control, media
gateway and application/feature server solutions to enable compelling
revenue-generating services. Its Network Protocols Division, marketed
under the Data Connection brand (www.dataconnection.com), develops high
performance, portable software components that are integrated into the
products of the world's leading communications equipment manufacturers. For
more information, please visit www.metaswitch.com.
Acme Packet Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained herein that are not historical fact may be
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Such forward-looking statements may relate, among other things, to
our position in the session border control market, our expected financial
and operating results, our ability to establish and maintain intellectual
property rights, our ability to build and grow Acme Packet, the benefits
and advantages of our products, including any enhancements or new features,
services and programs and our ability to achieve our goals, plans and
objectives. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of
future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties
that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated. These include, but are not limited to: difficulties in growing
our customer base, difficulties leveraging market opportunities,
difficulties providing solutions that meet the needs of customers, poor
product sales, long sales cycles, difficulty developing new products,
difficulty in relationships with vendors and partners, higher risk in
international operations, difficulty managing rapid growth, and increased
competition. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially form those projected or suggested in any forward-looking
statements are contained in our recent filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption
"Risk Factors" in such filings.
MetaSwitch is a registered trademark. Brands and products referenced herein
are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Copyright © 2009 MetaSwitch.