Verso Announces Strategic Partnership with Alcatel
Monday July 17, 2:00 pm ET
Partnership Creates Global Distribution Channel for NetPerformer(R) IP GSM Backhaul Solution
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2006--Verso Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSO - News), a global provider of next generation network solutions, announced today a strategic partnership agreement with Alcatel Alenia Space, a global leader in satellite systems and orbital infrastructures. The partnership creates a global distribution channel for the Verso NetPerformer IP GSM Backhaul Solution, a specific evolution for Alcatel Alenia Space of the existing Verso NetPerformer series compatible with the Alcatel Wireless Access Backhaul via Satellite solution marketed under the brand name A9760 WBS
Alcatel Alenia Space focuses on the design, development, and manufacture of space systems, satellites, payloads, orbital infrastructures and space transportation, instruments and associated ground systems for civilian and military applications. The operational headquarters of Alcatel Alenia Space are located in Cannes, France, with plants in France, Italy, Belgium and Spain. It is the European leader in satellite systems with sales of approximately 1.8 billion euros (2004) and approximately 7,200 employees.
The partnership provides Alcatel Alenia Space with Verso's IP GSM Backhaul solution, a unique leading technology in this sector. The joint solution of Verso and Alcatel Alenia Space is a very cost effective offer for the backhaul via satellite of BTS (Base Transceiver Stations) from their Mobile Core Network. GSM, GPRS or EDGE traffic are compressed and optimized in order to require the smallest satellite bandwidth and reduce operating expenses (OPEX). In addition Alcatel Alenia Space experience and patents in Satcom technologies and on-demand bandwidth allocation (DAMA) enable efficient concentrated transmission systems for the GSM circuits switching.
Industry data indicates that satellite GSM backhaul technology has matured to be recognized as the most efficient means to deliver GSM services in geographically challenged areas, or in areas where conventional terrestrial transmission is not available, as well as a highly cost effective and very light solution to back-up Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in case of terrestrial network failure. However, industry estimates place satellite transmission backhaul costs at approximately 40 percent of the total OPEX related to a BTS deployment.
"Given the wide scale acceptance and maturity of the technology combined with the associated historical cost implications, operators are carefully selecting partners when designing and deploying satellite network solutions because these partners have a direct impact on the viability and profitability of the project deployed," said Yves Desmet, senior vice president, worldwide sales, Verso Technologies. "Alcatel recognized the key value proposition offered by our backhaul solution and will leverage the solution to ensure viability, reliability and profitability on their global GSM deployments."
"This partnership opens a global distribution network for our IP GSM Backhaul Solution via the leading satellite equipment vendor in the world," said Monty Bannerman, chief executive officer, Verso Technologies. "The fact that Alcatel has selected Verso as their strategic partner for this market sector shows the obvious value proposition of our technology."
"Verso's solution provides a complementary element for success in the growing GSM sector," said Laurent Feneyrol, sales and marketing Vice President of Alcatel Alenia Space. "We are committed to expanding our roster of partners to grow sales and provide our customers with a state of the art broadband networks via satellite communication solutions (DVB-RCS). Within the GSM sector, the backhaul solution offered by Alcatel Alenia Space and Verso provides numerous benefits to our GSM customers, including an award winning technology, lower operating expenses and increased network capacity to enable the introduction of new services in any remote areas."
About Verso Technologies
Verso is a global provider of Next Generation Network solutions offering a core-to-edge product portfolio primarily for telecommunications service providers. The company's products enable its customers to secure and optimize network bandwidth, generate additional revenue and reduce costs. Verso's applications and services are cost effective, deploy quickly and provide a superior return on investment. For more information, contact Verso at www.verso.com or call 678.589.3500.
About Alcatel Alenia Space
Alcatel Alenia Space, leader in satellite systems and at the forefront of orbit infrastructures, brings together the vast experience and know-how of Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio to form a new leading force in European space technology. Alcatel Alenia Space represents a worldwide standard for space development that impacts everybody's future: from navigation to telecommunications, from meteorology to environmental monitoring, from defence to science and observation. An affiliate of Alcatel (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%), Alcatel Alenia Space generated an estimated turnover of 1.8 billion euros with around 7,200 people in 2004.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.3 billion and 56,000 employees in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
Contact:
Verso Technologies, Inc., Atlanta
Investor Contact:
Monish Bahl, 678-589-3579
Monish.Bahl@verso.com
or
Media Relations Contact:
Christine Puleo, 786-385-8762
Christine.Puleo@verso.com |
