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Unisphere Solutions Launched Today To Deliver Converged Voice/Data Networking Solutions
Acquisition Complemented By Resources Of $60 Billion Technology Giant Siemens
NEW YORK, March 8, 1999 -- Unisphere Solutions, Inc., a newly formed, U.S.-based Siemens company, today outlined its vision to address the need for converged global voice/data and high-powered IP-based (Internet Protocol) networks. The new company will provide innovative product and service solutions that leverage investments in existing wireline and wireless networks, while seamlessly and cost effectively transitioning to emerging technologies.
Martin C. Clague, President and CEO of Unisphere Solutions, said the company's mission is to deliver voice, video and data/IP networks that operate as simply and reliably as a telephone call.
Unisphere Solutions will be based in Burlington, Mass., and combine well established IP and data networking elements being transferred from Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc., as well as Argon Networks, Inc., and Castle Networks, Inc., as announced today by Siemens. The units that comprise Unisphere Solutions bring together some 500 employees with a broad base of voice, data and Internet expertise. Unisphere Solutions products and services will be marketed through Siemens Information and Communication Networks Group's worldwide sales force of 26,000.
"Unisphere Solutions redefines the word start-up," Clague said. "We offer customers, from day one, proven, world-class technology, some of the most exciting new technologies and innovative people in our industry, and the backing of a $60 billion technology giant. That's a great pedigree for a new company."
Clague said Unisphere Solutions is addressing changing requirements of the market. "As we move into the new millennium, what is really changing is the business model including the way companies work, how they service their customers, how they get their products out the door, and how they interact with their employees, their vendors and suppliers," he said.
"This paradigm shift in the business model demands solutions that are not limited to technology, but that include solution services such as technical support and strategic partnerships for global marketing and product development as well as financing. Unisphere Solutions is uniquely qualified to meet these demands."
This transformation requires solutions that leverage existing investments in the network fabric, while seamlessly and cost-effectively transitioning to a networked economy.
Clague said Unisphere Solutions will initially focus on meeting the needs of service providers such as Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) and ISPs (Internet Service Providers) as well as Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs).
Migration to New Network Technologies
Making a service like real-time voice communications work across totally different network technologies, e.g., TDM/circuit-switched, IP or ATM, requires translation capabilities for signaling, transport and management. Unisphere Solutions calls this crucial element of converged networks "Mediation‘."
Mediation allows ILECs, for example, to cost-effectively expand outside their established territories by taking advantage of low-cost, packet-based optical transport networks that can connect new customers to their existing infrastructure. Mediation can also significantly reduce the cost of delivering current and new services within an ILEC's home territory by consolidating existing multiple dedicated service networks.
CLECs, conversely, can take advantage of Mediation to reduce the cost of building new multiservice networks. Reduced cost of entry is a critical factor in the CLEC market and provides a compelling advantage for Unisphere Solutions.
The Unisphere Solutions portfolio will address all the layers of the converged network topology, including network and service management. In addition, the company offers customers a wide range of solution services such as convergence management, network planning, customer marketing and financing.
"The delivery of services based on Mediation, and more importantly, the vendors who lead in this emerging market, will drive true convergence," Clague said. "Unisphere Solutions intends to capture a significant piece of this market, which we estimate is worth some $60 billion this year."
Voice-Data Convergence at the Enterprise
Enterprise networks will also benefit from Unisphere Solutions' focus on MediationTM between voice and data. Through joint activities with 3Com, Unisphere will deliver Voice over IP solutions that can help reduce costs and simplify network management. Unisphere Solutions will continue to provide integration services along with new technologies.
"The explosive growth of networks that touch so many aspects of living and working is driving new types of relationships among service providers, end-users and suppliers," said Anthony Maher, Member of the Information and Communication Networks Group Board. "This new networked environment will create demand for speed, flexibility and a myriad of relationships across a web of high-speed, reliable communications infrastructure thus enabling an environment for new applications such as e-commerce. It turns the power of the networked environment over to the end customer. I am confident that Marty Clague and the Unisphere Solutions team are uniquely qualified and positioned to meet that demand, worldwide."
www.unispheresolutions.com
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Unisphere Solutions Background
Unisphere Solutions, Inc.
200 Wheeler Road
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803
www.unispheresolutions.com
Unisphere Solutions brings together data networking-related elements of Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla.:
Internet Services Group, providing products and services to Internet Service Providers and VoIP for carriers and ISPs.
Voice over ATM Group and Broadband Networks Group, providing broadband ATM solutions as well as complete VoATM networks, thus enabling integrated solutions for data/IP and voice solutions.
Directory Services Group, based in Burlington, Mass., which has the world's most robust meta directory capability and leads the meta directory market.
Enterprise Data Systems Group, based in Santa Clara, Calif., providing total data solutions to enterprise customers including VoIP for enterprise networks.
Additionally, acquisitions announced today by Siemens will become part of Unisphere Solutions.
Argon Networks Inc., Littleton, Mass., is developing a service provider platform for the core and high-speed access layers of the new public network. Equally a native IP router and native ATM cell switch, the award-winning product scales from 20 to 160 Gbps aggregate capacity and features keystroke configuration of any port between IP routing or ATM cell-switched operation. IP:ATM duality allows diverse services such as Packet on Sonet, Frame Relay and ATM to be provisioned based on instantaneous customer demand. www.argon.com
Castle Networks, Inc., Westford, Mass., designs next-generation central-office-based communications technologies that address the cost-effective convergence of circuit-switched voice networks and packet-switched data networks. By transitioning circuit traffic to a packet/cell infrastructure, service providers can provide their customers with innovative and differentiated services faster at dramatically lower cost. www.castlenetworks.com
Unisphere Solutions will also have equity stake in the following technology company:
Accelerated Networks Inc., Moorpark, Calif., designs and manufactures intelligent, flexible and highly integrated carrier-class broadband solutions. Accelerated Networks' award winning technology features the industry's first end-to-end voice and broadband data (SDSL over ATM) solution. The company has also introduced the most complete service provisioning suite for integrated broadband access. www.acceleratednetworks.com
© Siemens Corporation 1999
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