Summa Four, e-Net Sign Contract for Development of Carrier-Class IP Telephony Switch; E-Net to be First for Summa Four's Project Sigma Product
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Note: e-Net you likely know about, already. Summa Four is one of the smaller (than traditional central office big iron) distributed, programmable switch manufacturers I've discussed, generically, in the past.
Summa Four (SUMA) and Excel (XLSW) are favorites among the smaller, specialized carriers, facilities-based resellers and the emerging international carriers.
This is because these switches have their own micro-based (Unix and NT) hosts and links, and allow for quick customization which is in sharp contrast to the lengthy generic code release cycles inherent in the larger central office switches. This allows the startup (and often cash sensitive) smaller carriers the ability to introduce Intelligent Network features and upgrades, while at the same time fully supporting A-links to the the PSTN's SS7 network and its associated AIN and 800 databases.
AT&T recently announced the cesation of its Class 4 iron purchases, and shortly after that they announced a plan to begin introducing smaller distributed devices throughout certain target locations in metropolitan areas. This is the sort of application that these switches could also satisfy.
These distributed programmable platforms historically served as adjuncts to older Class 5 CO switches for special functions like ISDN relief, teleconferencing, coin functions, protocol conversion, etc., and will possibly be used in future local number portability functions, as well.
This arrangement between the two companies represents the kind of integrated platform (as opposed to add-on box solutions) that I have been alluding to in some of my previous posts. It's not the holy grail or the end game of VoIP, but it's a far cry better than onesy twosy patchwork solutions we've been reading about. It'll do as an interim solution with capabilities for extensibility, if they do it right, for some period of time to come. They should be able to do a lot of good things going into the future with DSPs and the right software solutions, without the need to change out the base unit, in other words.
This is not rocket science. Look to other gateway vendors and switch manufacturers to do something similar to this, soon.
And this is, of course, MHO.
Enjoy,
Frank Coluccio
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GERMANTOWN, Md., April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- e-Net, Inc. (Nasdaq: ETEL - news), today announced that they have signed a development contract to build a carrier-class IP Telephony switch based upon Summa Four's (Nasdaq: SUMA - news) Project Sigma product. Summa Four is a leading worldwide provider of open, programmable switching platforms, and e-Net is a leading provider of voice- over-data technology that has been cited by LAN Times among others as delivering the best Internet Telephony voice quality at the best value price. Under the nonexclusive agreement, the parties will jointly develop and jointly market the product. e-Net will receive the first unit of Summa Four's Project Sigma product for Voice-over-IP product production.
The parties have been jointly exchanging engineering and marketing efforts since they executed and announced a Letter of Intent on December 8, 1997. The signing of the contract moves this co-operative effort forward, as e-Net will begin development on a Summa Four VCO/4K-Series platform immediately. The parties will go into production with e-Net IP telephony technology incorporated into Summa Four's Project Sigma platform in the third and fourth quarters of this year, creating the most advanced IP telephony switch in the world.
''We are pleased and proud to be working with e-Net on this project,'' said Robert Degan, President and CEO of Summa Four. ''e-Net was the first IP telephony company to recognize that our technology is the best for the carrier class VoIP market,'' Degan said. They will receive the first Project Sigma platform for IP telephony development, and, together, we intend to have a lead in this high-growth field.''
''The two companies have already done a lot of work on this major undertaking since December,'' said e-Net President and CEO Robert A. Veschi. ''Bob Degan and I have conferred closely on this matter, and we agreed it was time to sign the development agreement and retain the momentum and first-to- market position we have together. Our development efforts on the VCO Series will enable a quick roll-out of a Sigma-based product.''
Veschi continued, ''There have been a number of 'Me too' announcements about carrier-class IP telephony switches since we began our work under our Letter of Intent. The serious telco customer will see, however, that e-Net's intellectual property ported to the Project Sigma platform is the first to market and will be the best buy. This product will give the most ports -- over a thousand simultaneous calls -- at the best price, with the best quality, and will be standards compliant, scaleable, in a single-shelf. It will be carrier- certified, a small-footprint unit. This product will be e-Net's flagship unit going forward.'' Under terms of the agreement, both companies will have the right to market and sell the product.
Carrier-class gateways are a key enabling technology for service providers and corporate network operators to fully exploit the inherent cost and feature advantages of routing voice traffic over data networks and the Internet. Though still in their infancy, voice over IP is predicted to grow to a $1.8 billion market by 2001.
''We believe Sigma is optimal for voice over IP technology vendors,'' said Degan. ''e-Net has become known for its IP voice quality. Together and in combination, our companies and technologies are formidable.''
Mr. Degan's remarks closely follow recent industry trade magazine reviews of e-Net's Telecom 2000(TM), a family of products that has become widely recognized for its technology and low cost point. A review in the March 31, 1998, issue of McGraw Hill's LAN Times, in comparing e-Net to other VoIP leaders, called Telecom 2000 ''The epitome of a flexible, scalable VOIP [Voice Over Internet Protocol] system.''
About e-Net
e-Net, Inc. develops, markets, and supports open telecommunications software and associated hardware that enable local, national, and international telephone communications and network optimization. Its leading product is Telecom 2000(TM), a powerful, cost-effective hardware and software combination that delivers full voice quality-of-service at a low per-station price. Fully integrating voice and data networks in both the local and wide area, users enjoy advanced access features, such as call transfer, call hold, and call forward, on a simple GUI, utilizing the most familiar system interface, the telephone. Telecom 2000(TM) provides full PBX functionality and delivers its Data Telephony(TM) capability to public or private networks in the local or wide area, incorporated into the public system. Telecom 2000(TM) was recently named ''The Best of LANTIMES'' and ''Best of Show'' at Computer Telephony magazine's 1997 Fall Demo Expo. For more information on Telecom 2000(TM) or other e-Net products, visit the company's Web site at datatelephony.com, call e-Net at 1-888-FON-ENET or 301-601-8700, or telefax e-Net at 301-601-8777.
About Summa Four
Summa Four is a leading provider of open, programmable switching platforms that enable telecommunications providers worldwide to build intelligent, flexible networks that support the rapid deployment of new wireline and wireless services. An ISO 9001 certified company, Summa Four is headquartered in Manchester, N.H., and has sales, service and support offices in the United States, U.K., Singapore, and Japan.
The above forward-looking statements are subject to change, based on various important factors, including without limitation, the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement with e-Net. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included in the Company's periodic reports filed with the SEC.
SOURCE: e-Net, Inc.
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