NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- MetaSwitch, the leading vendor of Voice over IP (VoIP) Class 5 switching and applications solutions to North American independent and competitive service providers, announced at the National Telecommunications Carrier Association (NTCA) VoIPossibilities conference that it has partnered with Dash911 to simplify the implementation of 9-1-1 emergency calling by VoIP providers. The joint solution is already being deployed by several service providers including Public Interest Network Services, Inc. (PINS).

The new business and technology solution combines MetaSwitch's market-leading Class 5 softswitch with Dash911's hosted service platform, to enable VoIP service providers to route 911 calls to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) based on the subscriber's current location. A full range of VoIP calling features, including custom call treatments and web-based configuration, are available to subscribers from the MetaSwitch platform. When subscribers move their VoIP device from one location to another, the Dash911 web portal --integrated with MetaSwitch's own Web Self-Care solution -- offers a "ready to go" Web-based mechanism for them to easily update their location information. Call routing is achieved either via traditional MF or SS7 trunks (for subscribers within the provider's local calling area), or via the Dash911 switched 9-1-1 service using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), for out-of-area subscribers.

While this functionality was previously technically possible, it typically required service providers to develop their own Web interface and back-end integration. This new solution enables MetaSwitch users to meet FCC and CRTC requirements for 9-1-1 call routing, along with an elegant Web interface for subscribers, by executing a single service agreement with Dash911.

PINS, a total-service communications provider based in New York City's "Silicon Alley," serves several thousand fixed VoIP lines in downtown Manhattan from its MetaSwitch VP3510 Class 5 softswitch. PINS has partnered with Dash911 in order to expand beyond its current markets without expending significant effort and resources on additional dedicated 911 trunks.

"As a carrier focused on profitable growth, we are excited by the opportunities that the MetaSwitch/Dash911 partnership opens up for us," said David Birnbaum, President and CEO at PINS. "Public safety should be a concern for all service providers, and MetaSwitch and Dash911 enable us to offer our customers the highest levels of support while expanding our footprint and service offerings."

In a separate release:

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The continued demand for greater bandwidth and next-generation IP-based services has pushed many carriers to deploy fiber-based communications infrastructures. ComSpanUSA, a facilities-based CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier), and its development partner Ledcor Technical Services (LTS) are deploying a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network in Bandon, Oregon with technology and support from MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of carrier switching and applications solutions. As a result, ComSpanUSA is positioned to expand regionally with multimedia-enabled next-generation services including IPTV and Video on Demand.

ComSpanUSA is installing the MetaSwitch VP2510 integrated softswitch, the industry's most compact fully-featured class 4/5 softswitch, in its Bandon, Oregon switching center. The most recent addition to the vendor's IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) product portfolio, the VP2510 delivers next-generation services at a lower cost, driving greater business efficiencies for carriers.

"Our strategy for growth is to build and operate a state of the art telecommunications system which will allow us to differentiate by delivering compelling services to our customers. The MetaSwitch softswitch is a part of that vision," said John Stadter, President, ComSpanUSA. "Working with LTS, we determined that MetaSwitch delivered the best combination of native IP capabilities, residential and business-class features, and scalability with their new VP2510 platform."

Metaswitch Networks