MetaSwitch, SOMA Team

MINNEAPOLIS -- MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of next-generation switching and application solutions, and SOMA Networks, Inc., a leading provider of Mobile WiMAX technology, announced today at the IP Possibilities Conference & Expo a partnership that provides a proven solution for carriers looking to deploy next generation applications over wireless broadband services. As a result of the partnership’s rigorous interoperability testing, service providers can quickly and confidently deploy Voice over IP (VoIP) and high speed Internet access to subscribers without requiring access to the incumbent carriers’ local loop facilities.

A key differentiator for the combined solution is that both the SOMA broadband wireless system and MetaSwitch elements integrate native support for VoIP. All MetaSwitch systems are built around an IP switching architecture, while SOMA indoor gateways, which reside in the home or office of the end user, offer an all-in-one device that integrates the functionality of a wireless broadband modem, analog terminal adaptor (ATA) and Session Initiation Protocol user agent (SIP-UA). As a result, no additional gateway hardware or telephone adaptors are required at either the service provider’s or the end user’s premises to enable an end-to-end high-quality voice service.

For carriers operating in rural areas, the solution will be particularly appealing since both SOMA Networks and MetaSwitch have received Rural Utilities Service (RUS) listing for their products. This means that qualifying rural telephone companies can purchase the end-to-end VoIP switching and broadband wireless system with federally subsidized funds. For 2007, the program budget provides for more than $1 billion in loans and grants for telecommunications and broadband access equipment.

“By collaborating to ensure interoperability, MetaSwitch and SOMA Networks are accelerating the adoption of voice services utilizing VoIP over a mobile infrastructure, in a context where we predict WiMAX subscribers to reach 67 million by 2012,” said Adlane Fellah, CEO and founder of Maravedis, a Canadian research firm specializing in WiMAX and broadband wireless. “Collaboration such as this between two market leaders fosters greater ease of use, more rapid deployment and faster return on investment.”

“Service providers are increasingly looking for ways to cost-effectively reach a larger customer base with high-value offerings. MetaSwitch and SOMA are teaming to provide forward-looking carriers with a clear differentiator,” said Andrew Randall, MetaSwitch vice president of marketing. “Our solution provides carriers a lure much stronger than a simple price discount; this enables carriers to offer services such as IPTV, broadband access or IP PBX across a defined geographic area.”

Metaswitch Networks