TAQUA SYSTEMS AND TOLLBRIDGE TECHNOLOGIESSIGN INTEROPERABILITY AND JOINT MARKETING PACT
cheap hotels in Saint MaloNext-Generation Class 5 Switch and Voice Gateway Providers to Offer Highly Integrated, Cost-Effective Voice Over Broadband and Cable Solutions for Competitive Telecommunications MarketHYANNIS, Mass., December 4, 2000 - Taqua Systems, Inc., a leading provider of next-generation Class 5 access switching platforms for voice and data convergence, and TollBridge Technologies, a leading developer of high quality voice-over-broadband solutions for a new generation of carriers, today announced the signing of an interoperability and joint marketing agreement. Under terms of the agreement, the companies will work closely together to ensure full interoperability between Taqua's award-winning Open Compact Exchange (OCX) Class 5 access switch and the TollBridge TB200 Voice Gateway and TB50/TB55 Integrated Access Device (IAD). In addition, Taqua and TollBridge will participate in joint marketing and sales activities. Taqua OCX and TollBridge TB200 Offer Service Providers a Rich VoDSL and Voice Over Cable Solution for Next-Generation Networks The combination of Taqua's OCX and TollBridge's broadband voice services gateway will provide a tested voice and data services solution for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), Independent Telephone Operating Companies (ITOCs) and other competitive service providers that are building new or enhancing existing communications networks. The OCX Class 5 access switch enables service providers to offer a breadth of CLASS and Custom Calling features and highly-differentiated services developed through its Telephony Toolbox and the Taqua Open Programmable Interface (TOPI), while taking advantage of the economic benefits provided by VoDSL technology. The Taqua-TollBridge alliance, which enables the development and implementation of next-generation Voice over Broadband services that carriers need to maximize offerings and revenue potential, represents a significant catalyst for the transformation of data-centric and voice-centric service providers to Integrated Communications Providers (ICP). "Taqua Systems shares a complementary vision with TollBridge for enabling cost-effective, revenue-generating services for next-generation telecommunications service providers, and our announcement today is evidence of our mutual commitment to that vision," said Dr. Thomas DeCanio, vice president of product management and marketing for Taqua Systems. "As Taqua moves ahead with its partnership strategy we look forward to working with best-in-class technology providers such as TollBridge that can help accelerate the development of next-generation network architectures and highly profitable voice service offerings." "In partnering with Taqua Systems we are able to further expand our reach to next generation carriers to offer them a complete, viable solution that addresses their needs while enabling them to bring a new wave of services to businesses and consumers nationwide," said Agnes Imregh, vice president of marketing at Tollbridge. Taqua Open Compact Exchange (OCX) Taqua's OCX creates an entirely new model for delivering telecommunications services - one which dramatically reduces initial and overall cost of ownership, while realizing the promise of voice/data network convergence. A true, carrier-class Class 5 switching system, the OCX is based on a groundbreaking hardware and software architecture that transforms legacy proprietary, centralized switching environments into a next-generation network of distributed, intelligent, highly available switches. The OCX also employs the Taqua Open Programmable Interface (TOPI), the industry's most open Application Programming Interface (API), enabling carriers to develop their own unique enhanced services quickly and cost-effectively. By placing true Class 5 access switch functionality at the edge of the network, the OCX removes cost-of-entry barriers and increases service flexibility for telecommunications carriers, including Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) and Independent Telephone Operating Companies (ITOCs). TollBridge TB200 Voice Gateway Technology TB200, a carrier-grade IP-PSTN Gateway allows carriers to deliver toll-quality voice services from a Class 5 switch over a high-speed data infrastructure. The TB200 is fully compatible with existing phones, modems, faxes, key systems and PBXs. Dialtone, billing and all the value-added custom calling features available from the Class 5 switch are transparently delivered by the TollBridge platform. The TB200 allows carriers to deploy today leveraging Class 5 switches and migrate to an end-to-end IP network in the future. 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. | 
