CornerStone Telephone Company Selects MetaSwitch for VoIP
CornerStone Telephone Company Selects MetaSwitch for VoIP
Troy, NY: June 15, 2005. CornerStone Telephone Company today announced it is now the only locally owned and operated Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in the Capital Region to install a fully functional next generation Class 5 softswitch to transmit integrated voice and data services. The VP3510 softswitch, purchased from MetaSwitch, will allow CornerStone to offer its customers new services that utilize Internet Protocol (IP) to route voice and data more efficiently.
Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) turns analog audio into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. The technology enables regular voice calls to be routed less expensively over the Internet. For dispersed companies, or those with many employees who telecommute, the cost-savings can be substantial using IP to transmit both voice and data over wireless and DSL networks.
Using MetaSwitch's softswitch, CornerStone will be able to offer its customers new packages of services utilizing VoIP technology. As well, the softswitch will enable CornerStone to service the entire country using VoIP, rather than facilities-based networks, which can be costly to maintain. CornerStone is expanding service to all of New England immediately, with plans to extend its offerings nationally.
"The installation of the MetaSwitch softswitch is the next step in the evolution of CornerStone," said Dan Yamin, co-founder of CornerStone Telephone Company. "We estimate initially about 10% of our customer base will utilize the new switch but with the economies of VoIP, it is destined to be a growth area for us."
Co-founder of CornerStone Telephone Company Don Walsh added, "The purchase of this softswitch means that we can rely less on other carriers' infrastructure and facilities, thus increasing our margin for a savings that can be passed onto customers. The softswitch opens up a whole new world of service offerings that will make our company more competitive in the Competitive Local Exchange Carrier market."
"MetaSwitch was founded to simplify the delivery of voice services and enable CLECs, like CornerStone, to utilize advanced technologies," said Mike Ward, Senior Vice President of Sales at MetaSwitch. "We are excited to have CornerStone as a customer and look forward to helping them expand nationwide by meeting their customers' demands for flexible and reliable services."
CornerStone Telephone expects to start offering VoIP services based on the MetaSwitch softswitch in the second half of 2005.
About CornerStone
CornerStone Telephone Company is an integrated communications provider specializing in services for small and medium sized businesses and residential customers. The company provides its customers with the highest level of customer support while offering competitive service rates. CornerStone has 25,000 access lines, providing local and long distance telephone service and high-speed Internet access. The company services customers in New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Established in 2001, CornerStone has over 60 employees and 5,000 customers. The company is headquartered in Troy, N.Y. with offices in Poughkeepsie, Utica, New York City and Pittsfield, Mass. For more information, visit www.cornerstonetelephone.com.
About MetaSwitch
MetaSwitch is the industry's leading vendor of packet-based Class 5 softswitch and enhanced applications solutions. Its widely deployed call agent, media/signaling gateway and application server platform supports over 100 Class 5 features including CLASS services, IP Centrex, Unified Messaging, E911, LNP, 1-800 and CALEA, and scales from a few hundred to half a million subscribers in both integrated and distributed configurations. Customers include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers, as well as operators of broadband wireless, cable and fiber networks.
MetaSwitch is a division of established telecom technology provider Data Connection (DCL). The company is consistently profitable and privately held, with US locations in California, Virginia, Texas and Florida, and European headquarters in London, UK.
Data Connection and MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.