MetaSwitch Delivers Core Switching Functionality Enabling Advanced IP Service Creation and Delivery at Global MSF Interoperability (GMI 2006) Event

Alameda, CA: October 30, 2006. MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of next-generation carrier switching and application solutions, announced today it has successfully participated in the Global MSF Interoperability 2006 (GMI 2006) event, a worldwide interoperability event focused on the technical interoperability issues surrounding IP Multimedia Sub-system (IMS) deployments. MetaSwitch's core switching solutions were tested within the joint BT and Vodafone test facility in the UK and used to support advanced IP services that spanned the four continent network test bed.

"The MSF's GMI event provided a critical, real world test of how carriers will develop and deploy advanced IP services across all types of networks, enabling end customers to enjoy services anywhere, anytime with any device," said Carol Daniels, director of marketing for MetaSwitch. "IMS enables service providers to decouple the physical infrastructure from the service application layer and will be an instrumental element of the carriers' development of advanced IP communication services."

MetaSwitch's participation demonstrated the full strength of the Multimedia-Enhanced Telephony Architecture (META) strategy, targeted at carriers migrating to converged multi-service networks. This year's GMI event marks the third MSF test program that has leveraged MetaSwitch's technology at its core. This year's participation is part of MetaSwitch's ongoing commitment to provide the linchpin for a carrier's ability to successfully embark upon their migration to an advanced IP services creation architecture, and an extension of the leadership role it plays within the MSF's architecture work group.

The worldwide GMI 2006 interoperability event was led by five of the world's leading service providers, BT, KT, NTT, Verizon and Vodafone, and took place over a two-week period across four test locations, including the BT Advanced Research and Technology Centre (United Kingdom), the KT Technology Lab (Korea), NTT's Musashino Research and Development Center (Japan), and Verizon Labs (MA,USA).

About GMI 2006

GMI 2006 brought together dozens of carriers and vendors to test the interoperability of IMS-based infrastructure components in a real-world setting. Providing a test bed for the full spectrum of hardware, processes and services needed to assemble an effective next-generation delivery platform, GMI 2006 was designed to validate MSF Release 3 Implementation Agreements covering a wide range of topics including roaming across multiple network types (including cellular and WiFi), QoS issues (including session border control and bandwidth management), and interoperability with 3GPP release 4.

Five of the world's top carriers - BT, KT, NTT, Verizon and Vodafone and a world class test facility UNH-IOL - hosted the event to provide world-class networked test facilities spanning 3 continents. Comprising a massive 'real network' trial of the MSF IMS-compatible (IP Multimedia System) Release 3 architecture, this event is critically important to any carrier or vendor committed to building or implementing infrastructure elements compatible with IMS.

About the MSF

The MultiService Forum is a global association of service providers and system suppliers committed to developing and promoting open architecture, multi-service networks. Founded in 1998, the MSF is an open membership organization comprised of the world's leading telecommunications companies. The MSF's activities include developing Implementation Agreements, promoting worldwide compatibility and interoperability, and encouraging input to appropriate national and international standards bodies. For more information about the MSF and its members, visit the MSF web site at http://www.msforum.org/.

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch is an industry-leading vendor of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) switching and applications solutions for both packet and circuit-switched networks. Its widely deployed call agent, media/signaling gateway and application server platform supports a full range of legacy Class 4/5 capabilities and hosted unified communications services, and scales from a few hundred to millions of 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. The company is consistently profitable and privately held, with main US offices in California and Virginia, and European headquarters in London, UK. For more information: www.metaswitch.com.