TOLLBRIDGE AND IPVERSE JOIN FORCES TO DELIVER CARRIER CLASS VOICE OVER BROADBAND SYSTEMS
Softswitch and Class 5 Services Combined for Smooth Migration from PSTN to End-to-end IP Telephony Using Any Broadband Access TechnologyATLANTA, Ga., (SUPERCOMM) June 5, 2000 - TollBridge Technologies (Santa Clara, Calif.) and ipVerse (Sunnyvale, Calif.) announced today that they will integrate their technologies and will collaborate on sales efforts to deliver a fully featured, carrier-class voice-over-broadband system to next-generation communications carriers. TollBridge will enhance its market-leading broadband-to-PSTN media gateway for integration with ipVerse's ControlSwitch, a multi-protocol, scalable softswitch. The TollBridge-ipVerse alliance will produce the only voice-over-broadband solution today that supplies advanced, next-generation softswitch services and familiar PSTN support for Class 5 switches via the GR-303 and V5.2 protocols-all over the same managed access network. [Editor's Note: Products from both vendors can be seen at SuperComm in Atlanta, Ga., June 6-8, at TollBridge Technologies (Booth #319) and at ipVerse (Booth #8107).] ipVerse's and TollBridge's combined technologies will provide Integrated Communication Providers (ICPs) the flexibility to determine, on a per-subscriber basis, whether to utilize their existing Class switch infrastructure or a next-generation network enabled by the ipVerse softswitch. This flexibility will enable them to offer advanced services not available with traditional Class switches while at the same time allowing them to maximize existing investments in Class switches to deliver traditional voice services. "The existing Class 5 circuit switches and new softswitch based services will continue to co-exist in the network for some time to come," said Kevin Conklin, director of business development at TollBridge Technologies. "With the joint TollBridge-ipVerse solution, the choice of technology can be made based on economic and geographic considerations. With the benefits of broadband independence and common management, the migration path from PSTN to end-to-end IP is assured." The flexibility of the joint solution is beneficial to ICPs with multiple broadband properties, such as DSL, cable, and fixed wireless, because they can continue to grow their subscriber base using any broadband access. For providers looking to expand into new geographic areas where initial investment in a Class switch may be cost prohibitive, the provider can instead-for a modest initial investment-start with a softswitch and have the platform required for next-generation services. "Besides offering new, revenue-producing, ControlSwitch-based broadband services, it is important for us to preserve the investments of our customers in some of the existing Class 5 feature services. Our partnership with TollBridgeis meant to help ICPs meet the growing demands of their subscriber bases and continue to offer some of the existing services," said R. Paul Singh, vice president of business development at ipVerse. Laboratory trials will begin in the third quarter of 2000 and will focus on the interworking of Class 5 services with the media gateway control protocol (MGCP)-based products from Tollbridge and ipVerse. Field deployments are slated for the fourth quarter. Other enhancements during 2000 will include the session initiation protocol (SIP) and SS7 support for tandem services. About ipVerse ipVerse is a supplier of next-generation software-based switches that empower service providers to rapidly deploy new, revenue-generating services. By providing a smooth migration path between existing voice networks and next-generation data networks, the ipVerse ControlSwitch accelerates the convergence of voice and data communications while preserving carrier-class quality and performance. The ipVerse ControlSwitch gives service providers the freedom to choose best-of-breed products by offering complete interoperability between new and existing protocols, protecting carriers' investments in their existing infrastructures. ipVerse is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and is privately funded by Norwest Venture Partners and Battery Ventures. For more information, please visit www.ipverse.com or contact Ed Camarena at (408) 830-3200. About TollBridge Technologies Founded in March 1998 and located in Santa Clara, Calif., TollBridge Technologies-selected as one of UPSIDE's Top 100 Private Companies (May 2000)-is the leading provider of high-quality voice-over-broadband solutions to the new generation of carriers. TollBridge's solutions change the economics of delivering voice services to small-business customers by allowing carriers that own Class 5 switches to use broadband access technologies, such as DSL, cable, and wireless, to bypass the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) and deliver toll-quality voice and integrated data services. TollBridge and TollVoiceTM are trademarks of TollBridge Technologies, Inc. All other service marks and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. | 
