Acme Packet Certified in GSMA PathFinder Partner Programme
Acme Packet Open Session Routing architecture delivers dynamic routing for SIP-based services between service providers and IPX carriers
BURLINGTON, MA, NOVEMBER 18, 2008 — Acme Packet® (NASDAQ: APKT), the leader in session border control solutions, today announced that it is the first session border controller vendor to obtain product certification for the GSM Association’s (GSMA) PathFinder Industry Partner Programme. PathFinder is a GSMA-managed service operated by NeuStar that enhances IPX (IP eXchange) services with destination discovery capabilities for voice and other sessions. The IPX is a managed interconnect service defined by the GSMA, offering secure, high-quality transit services to both mobile and fixed network operators for SIP and other IP-based services.
The PathFinder Industry Partner Programme is designed to foster interoperability and support relationships with companies offering products and services that are complementary to the PathFinder service. Acme Packet’s Net-Net Session Director (SD) and Session Router (SR) configurations have proven interoperability with the ENUM-based number and route resolution service managed by NeuStar. This service demonstrates Acme Packet’s Open Session Routing (OSR) architecture for delivering trusted, first-class SIP-based interactive communications within and between mobile, fixed-line and transit networks.
“PathFinder represents a breakthrough for inter-service provider routing of numerous SIP services—VoIP, instant messaging, MMS, video and other IP-based communications,” commented Steve Edwards, general manager and senior vice president of converged addressing at NeuStar. “Acme Packet’s interoperability certification with PathFinder is a key requirement as the service moves into production.”
“As the migration to SIP services continues, PathFinder provides compelling value to IPX carriers, and interconnected mobile and fixed providers,” said Seamus Hourihan, vice president of marketing and product management at Acme Packet. “Acme Packet’s proven products and extensive experience is well suited to enabling secure, controllable VoIP interconnects and scalable, low-cost session routing required by IPX carriers.”
GSMA PathFinder and Acme Packet
The PathFinder service facilitates IP interoperability by translating telephone numbers to IP-based addresses for SIP-based services such as voice, messaging, presence and video sharing. Based on Carrier ENUM, PathFinder is a centralized routing database for dynamic route selection and is available to mobile and fixed network operators.
Acme Packet’s Net-Net SD and Net-Net SR query the PathFinder databases using the industry-standard ENUM protocol. Using these databases, Acme Packet products make dynamic routing decisions within the core IP network and to the PSTN and other IP networks using a wide selection of parameters. Acme Packet’s Net-Net SD and SR support the various PathFinder service types, including SIP or H.323-based VoIP, presence and messaging.
The GSMA PathFinder service demonstrates the principals of Acme Packet’s OSR architecture, which features Acme Packet’s session routing proxy or session border controller working in conjunction with best-of breed routing database products and services. Acme Packet’s OSR architecture addresses scaling problems when SIP session routing decisions become much more complex, requiring a dynamic, real-time routing decision for each individual session for multiple sources and destinations within a network. Acme Packet’s OSR architecture is deployed in several tier-one fixed, cable and wireless operators’ networks around the world.
Acme Packet SBCs have been widely used in GSMA IPX trials since 2007—both by IPX carriers or connecting service providers. The Net-Net SBCs were most recently used at IPX trials conducted by Telecom New Zealand International. This builds upon Acme Packet's IPX trial experience with customers including Belgacom International Carrier Services, Telefónica International Wholesale, Telenor Global Services and others.
About Acme Packet
Acme Packet, Inc. (NASDAQ: APKT), the leader in session border control solutions, enables the delivery of trusted, first class interactive communications—voice, video and multimedia sessions—and data services across IP network borders. Our Net-Net family of session border controllers, multiservice security gateways and session routing proxies supports multiple applications in service provider, large enterprise and contact center networks—from VoIP trunking to hosted enterprise and residential services to fixed-mobile convergence. They satisfy critical security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in wireline, cable and wireless networks; and support multiple protocols—SIP, H.323, MGCP/NCS and H.248—and multiple border points—interconnect, access and data center. Our products have been selected by more than 580 customers in 85 countries, including 29 of the top 30, and 84 of the top 100 service providers in the world. For more information, contact us at +1 781.328.4400, or visit www.acmepacket.com.
About PathFinder
The GSMA’s PathFinder service is a so-called “Private” or “Carrier” ENUM solution and will include a global master root directory. “Private” or “Carrier” ENUM solutions are an enabler used by operators to associate the phone numbers of subscribers with the IP addressing information of the subscriber’s IP based services. This information is populated by the operator on behalf of the subscriber and is not made available to 3rd parties except for the purposes of routing. The system enables IP-based calls and messages addressed to a subscriber’s phone number to be delivered. The system affords subscribers the same levels of control and privacy that they currently enjoy with existing telephone services.
PathFinder will enable operators to exchange ENUM data via a common commercial and technical framework, facilitating the rollout and interconnection of IP-services across network boundaries. Based on tried and trusted DNS technology, this Carrier ENUM service will enable operators to route and exchange IP traffic of any kind using telephone numbers.
The GSMA selected the clearinghouse and directory services provider NeuStar to manage the Pathfinder service on the GSMA’s behalf, following a competitive evaluation process.
Acme Packet Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained herein that are not historical fact may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may relate, among other things, to our position in the session border control market, our expected financial and operating results, our ability to build and grow Acme Packet, the benefits and expected deployments of our product, and our ability to achieve our goals, plans and objectives. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These include, but are not limited to: difficulties in growing our customer base, difficulties leveraging market opportunities, difficulties providing solutions that meet the needs of customers, poor product sales, long sales cycles, difficulty developing new products, difficulty in relationships with vendors and partners, higher risk in international operations, difficulty managing rapid growth, and increased competition. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially form those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in such filings.
