MetaSwitch Launches MetaSphere Application Suite and Service Delivery Platform

High-value applications and service creation architecture deliver rapid return on investment in legacy, next generation and IMS carrier networks

 

Chicago, IL: June 19, 2007 - NXTcomm. MetaSwitch, a leading vendor of carrier-class softswitch and applications solutions, today announced the introduction of a fundamentally new approach to service creation and application development. The MetaSphere service delivery platform (SDP) and suite of applications promises to step up the pace with which carriers can migrate toward next generation service-oriented networks, enabling streamlined service development, deployment and delivery across multiple media types and end user devices.

"There is often a disconnect between the services that customers demand and what the carrier's network is capable of delivering," said Steve Byars, research analyst at Current Analysis. "With fast-changing, often unpredictable customer markets, but currently with long development cycles, carriers need a better approach to service creation and delivery, one that enables them to quickly deliver a broad range of desirable services, test them in the market, and continue to refine and develop those that are successful."

At the heart of MetaSphere is a service delivery platform designed specifically for telecommunications applications, and pre-integrated with MetaSwitch's award winning session control, PSTN emulation server and media gateway technologies. Building on powerful core technology from MetaSwitch's parent company Data Connection, the MetaSphere SDP includes a graphical service creation and personalization environment (SCAPE), a service execution environment that supports carrier-grade availability and scalability to tens of millions of users via clustering of commercial off-the-shelf server hardware, a service capability interaction manager (SCIM) to facilitate interaction between multiple applications, and a library of common services providing access to media server, session control, "virtual home subscriber server" (HSS) data storage, diagnostic, provisioning, auditing/logging and billing functions. Another key element of the MetaSphere SDP is CommPortal, a client-server framework that uses Web 2.0 techniques to deliver a highly responsive, flexible and unified user interface to all MetaSphere services.

The MetaSphere architecture is fully aligned with the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) standards, and acts as a combined Application Server and Media Resource Function in IMS networks. But when combined with MetaSwitch session control and media gateway elements, MetaSphere delivers a rich portfolio of next-generation services to subscribers on both legacy TDM access networks and pre-IMS softswitch networks. As a result, many carriers are deploying MetaSphere as the first stepping stone in their migration to a fully-realized IMS-based session control architecture.

"While IMS services are currently creating a great deal of industry buzz, the reality is that to be applicable today, new technologies and platforms must accommodate each service provider's existing network," said John Lazar, CEO of MetaSwitch. "MetaSphere, and the powerful Data Connection SDP technology at its core, are designed for carriers that want the flexibility to quickly deploy new services to take advantage of market trends and shifts, leveraging their existing network resources."

The MetaSphere SDP supports a wide range of applications including:

  • Unified Messaging - building upon MetaSwitch's earlier generation of unified messaging applications, MetaSphere offers a faster, slicker user interface and outstanding customizability;
  • Incoming Call Manager - a rich user interface that is tightly integrated with other services via CommPortal, ICM manages incoming calls based on who is calling and the time/day/date of the call, as well as enhanced call handling options including Reject, Forward and Find Me Follow Me;
  • Desktop Notifier - provides instant desktop notification of new voice and fax messages with fast access and retrieval, helping users respond to messages in a more timely fashion;
  • Desktop Communication Manager - provides easy-to-use tools to manage call functions (e.g. reject, forward, ignore, send to voicemail, etc.), access contact lists, click-to-dial options, presence setting, broker calls and transfer call;
  • Live Message Screening - this universal application for business, residential, wireline and wireless customers solves the number one barrier to adoption of network-based voicemail: the ability to screen incoming calls. Through an innovative combination of IP phone and feature server capabilities, this service combines the call screening capabilities of a home answering machine with the always-available benefits of a network voicemail solution;
  • Incoming Call Transfer - this fixed/mobile convergence application allows calls to be seamlessly transferred between wireless and wireline devices, without requiring a dual-mode cellular device.

Please visit MetaSwitch at booth 1926 during NXTcomm '07 in Chicago June 18-21.

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch is an industry-leading vendor of switching and applications solutions for both packet and circuit-switched networks. Its widely deployed session control, PSTN emulation server and media gateway platforms and MetaSphere service delivery platform and application suite support a broad set of deployment scenarios, from Class 4/5 switch replacement to hosted IP communications services. Based on open standards including IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), MetaSwitch solutions scale from a few hundred to millions of subscribers in both integrated and distributed configurations. Customers range from tier one global carriers to regional service providers, and include operators of wireline, cellular, broadband wireless, cable and fiber networks. MetaSwitch is a division of Data Connection, a consistently profitable and privately held telecom technology provider. For more information, please visit www.metaswitch.com.