MetaSwitch Introduces Desktop Assistant, Extending Class 4/5 Softswitch Leadership with Industry-First Capabilities

Leveraging IMS Services Architecture, New Productivity Software Revolutionizes Every User's Phone Experience

 

Boston, MA - VON Fall Conference and Expo: September 20, 2005. MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of next generation carrier switching solutions, has once again raised the bar for the softswitch industry with the introduction of the MetaSwitch Desktop Assistant, a new productivity-enhancing application that offers advanced features previously only seen on high-end IP PBXs. MetaSwitch is the first vendor to integrate this rich functionality into a Class 4/5 Softswitch product line, as part of its UC9000 Unified Communications platform for enhanced services.

Leveraging MetaSwitch's SIP-based IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Application Server interface, the Desktop Assistant enables enhanced communications capabilities for any endpoint - whether an IP phone or traditional analog line. Desktop Assistant therefore brings the richness of features associated with IP telephony and IP phones to every subscriber, whatever access technology they happen to be using.

"MetaSwitch established itself as an innovator when it was the first to integrate IP Centrex with its Class 5 Softswitch over three years ago," said Jon Arnold, Principal Analyst at Arnold and Associates. "This announcement is important as it establishes MetaSwitch's technology leadership in services that go beyond basic IP calling, distinguishing them from TDM-based switches that are starting to gain limited VoIP functionality by means of add-on gateway cards."

Key features of the Desktop Assistant include the ability for users to

  • see the full contact details of a caller when their phone rings ("Outlook-enhanced Caller ID") - and have the option to ignore the call or send to voicemail
  • manage their contacts, and simply click on a contact name to initiate a call ("click-to-call")
  • monitor the presence information of their colleagues and friends, and have the option of sending a quick instant message instead of placing a phone call
  • be alerted of new voicemail messages by a discreet system tray icon
  • access recently dialed, received and missed calls
  • view and control their phone feature settings - such as turning on "do not disturb" - direct from the main feature window.

All the above features are fully integrated with the MetaSwitch Class 4/5 Softswitch - for example, the recent call list is downloaded from the switch, so shows all missed calls, even if the Desktop Assistant application was not running at the time of the call. Similarly, features such as "do not disturb" are not implemented by the client application but control configuration settings on the switch so that their operation is not dependent on the application continuing to run on the user's computer. This ensures that the Desktop Assistant enhances - but does not replace or otherwise interfere with - how users currently use their telephone.

Desktop Assistant is being demonstrated at VON Fall 2005 Conference and Expo, booth #226. Desktop Assistant Pro, planned for early 2006, is scheduled to add further functionality including an integrated softphone client, data-conferencing and integration with third party CRM solutions.

In a related release, MetaSwitch today also announced enhanced Auto Attendant and Privacy Defender functionality, another extension to its UC9000 Unified Communications IMS application platform.

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch is the industry's leading vendor of Class 4/5 softswitch and enhanced applications solutions for TDM and packet networks. 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.