APERTO NETWORKS AND TOLLBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES PARTNER ON MULTI-SERVICE BROADBAND WIRELESS SOLUTIONS
MILPITAS, Calif., July 10 - Aperto Networks, a new developer of multi-service fixed broadband wireless access platforms, and TollBridge Technologies, the leading developer of high-quality, voice-over-broadband solutions for the new generation of carriers, announced today a partnership to deliver voice-over-IP for wireless networks. The precedent-setting relationship leverages TollBridge Technologies' market lead in delivering packetized voice over DSL and other broadband access media, and Aperto Networks' highly-innovative ServiceQ(TM) architecture, to enable the introduction of multi-service wireless access. The companies expect to deliver joint solutions to market during 1Q 2001. "Up to now, the Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) marketplace has largely addressed the delivery of data networking and voice connectivity as separate applications requiring separate infrastructures and support tools," said Reza Ahy, CEO, president and founder of Aperto Networks. "The time is ripe to seamlessly address these needs through an integrated approach including Quality of Service (QoS), multi-phase advancements in voice signaling/processing, and network management. Integration of Aperto's multi-service wireless architecture and TollBridge Technologies' voice-over-broadband architecture will make this possible. Now BWA can join the ranks of a viable complement -- or alternative -- to broadband wireline access, for millions of users. With TollBridge's impressive success deploying the TB200 Voice Gateway, we believe the barriers to adoption of our synergistic solutions will be minimized among the 200+ US broadband CLECs." "TollBridge sees the integration of our voice-over-broadband solution into wireless access platforms as essential to extending our 'Any Service over Packets' architecture ubiquitously to small business users," said Gary Tauss, president and CEO of TollBridge Technologies. "Our success in creating an IP-based platform that seamlessly interoperates with DSL, cable, fiber and other wireline broadband access networks has established us as leaders in the wireline multi-service access space. Now through our initiatives in wireless access, we will extend the benefits of our signaling software and encapsulation of voice channels over packet to BWA. We are pleased to work with Aperto Networks to expand into this critical delivery domain." Aperto's ServiceQ architecture is an innovative means of managing QoS across the air interface, and will drive both voice and data traffic prioritization from the wireless base station. ServiceQ supports up to 64 individual queues per CPE device, at three distinct service levels: Constant Bit Rate (CBR), Committed Information Rate (CIR), and Best Effort (BE) service. Aperto uses industry-standard IP DiffServ to maintain QoS delivery through the metropolitan area backhaul network. Aperto's future innovations to extend this capability for voice-over wireless will entail application of softswitch functionality and the emerging MGCP protocol. Aperto licensed TollBridge's voice-over-broadband technology for integration into Aperto's customer premises devices. This standards-based technology enables the encapsulation of multiple voice channels into single packet streams to aggregate multiple voice calls to Class 5 circuit switches. This integration is key to ensuring cost-effective traffic consolidation for wireless and wireline service providers. Aperto Networks is being introduced to market at the Wireless Communications Association (WCA) annual conference in New Orleans, La., July 10-14, 2000. Company representatives and further information about the Aperto Networks architecture and TollBridge relationship will be available at Booth 621. About Aperto Networks Aperto Networks was founded to provide a breakthrough solution to one of today's critical network bottlenecks -- last-mile broadband access. Aperto is developing multi-service, fixed broadband wireless access systems to address service providers' needs for rapid network deployment, multi-service scalability, ease of installation and cost-effectiveness. The company blends breakthrough technology with practical, scalable systems that ensure rapid deployment and rapid payback. Aperto's solutions and patent-pending technology support new wireless builds and complement existing wireline broadband access technology. For more information, go to http://www.apertonet.com 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. | 
