Acme Packet Establishes Ecosystem
for Acme Packet’s Open Session Routing Architecture
Ecosystem members provide leading session routing database products and services
in open, industry-standard solution for mobile, fixed and transit networks
LAS VEGAS, NV, CTIA WIRELESS 2008®, MARCH 31, 2008 — Acme Packet® (NASDAQ: APKT), the leader in session border control solutions, today announced an ecosystem of companies providing leading session routing database products and services for Acme Packet’s Open Session Routing (OSR) architecture (see today’s release Acme Packet Deploys Open Session Routing Solution for Mobile, Fixed and Transit Networks). Together, Acme Packet and its OSR ecosystem members are delivering an open, industry standard-based routing solution for mobile, fixed and transit networks. Members of this ecosystem include NetNumber, Nominum, NeuStar, Stealth Communications, Telcordia, TransNexus, Vero Systems and XConnect.
Acme Packet’s Net-Net® Session Router and its OSR ecosystem members’ products and services are operational in several tier one service provider networks around the world today. In contrast with traditional session-stateful approaches, these solutions are designed to simplify core and inter-network session routing and reduce capital and operational expenditures as service providers transition to and further evolve their next generation networks.
Acme Packet’s OSR architecture features the use of Acme Packet’s Net-Net Session Router (SR), a session routing proxy, working in conjunction with best-of breed routing database products and services from Acme Packet OSR ecosystem members. These complementary product vendors and service providers offer centralized routing databases and database provisioning tools for dynamic route selection. Acme Packet’s Net-Net SR, as well as the Net-Net Session Director session border controller (SBC), queries the OSR ecosystem members’ databases using industry-standard ENUM, SIP and DNS protocols. The Net-Net SR’s local route tables may also be provisioned by these members’ products or the Acme Packet Net-Net EMS using XML. Using the OSR ecosystem databases, dynamic routing decisions within the core IP network and to the PSTN and other IP networks may be made using a wide selection of parameters.
“Session routing decisions in next-generation networks are incredibly complex and often require access to multiple databases,” commented Seamus Hourihan, vice president of marketing and product management at Acme Packet. “Our Open Session Routing ecosystem members are best-of-breed and enable service providers to satisfy their session routing requirements today and as they scale and transition their networks in the future.”
Acme Packet OSR ecosystem product vendors
Product vendors in Acme Packet’s OSR ecosystem include leading routing database and database provisioning and analysis vendors. The vendors are also members of Acme Packet’s Pinnacle Partner Program, an alliance program that formalizes Acme Packet's relationships with complementary product, solutions integration and consulting services suppliers. It fosters technical and business collaboration to ensure interoperability among best-of-breed products and the delivery of seamless and secure interactive communications solutions. The OSR ecosystem product vendors announced today include:
NetNumber is the global leader in development and deployment of addressing and routing solutions for fixed line carriers, mobile operators and cable operators. NetNumber’s next-generation TITAN addressing platform is the outgrowth of a nine year technology development and industry standards effort. The TITAN server provides communications service providers with a common platform for the delivery of both legacy SS7/C7 addressing applications as well as emerging IP-based addressing applications and is deployed in conjunction with the Acme Packet Net-Net SBC in multiple tier one service providers.
Nominum is a global provider of Navitas IPRD-ENUM based IP Routing directory, that enables service providers to deliver consolidated VoIP routing, peering solutions, in-network IP-SCP services for LNP, CNAME and emergency database for IP networks. In IMS networks, Nominum Navitas delivers ENUM translations and BGCF routing server functionality to enable convergence. Acme Packet is deployed with Nominum in a core wholesale routing solution at TELUS, the second-largest service provider in Canada.
TransNexus provides operations and billing support system software for wholesale VoIP carriers and SIP trunking service providers. Features include dynamic least cost routing with credit and quality of service controls for local, intra-state, inter-state and international calls, plus near real time traffic analysis and profitability reports.
Vero Systems is the dominant provider of Margin Management solutions that enable Tier 1, 2 and 3 Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to proactively understand, manage and significantly reduce their network operating costs. Vero’s solutions provide the CSP with complete cost visibility, dynamic real-time traffic management, optimal cost routing and the ability to integrate new, higher margin VoIP and other IP technologies with their current network base.
Acme Packet OSR ecosystem service providers
Acme Packet’s OSR ecosystem also includes previously announced leading providers of neutral directory services and federation-based interconnection services. These services enable inter-service provider routing for bilateral and multi-lateral business VoIP peering relationships. These companies are also Constellation members in Acme Packet Connected Universe, a program designed to facilitate business relationships among Acme Packet-enabled service providers that extend service reach, drive down costs, improve service quality and ultimately leverage new IP interactive communication service opportunities beyond voice. The service provider members include:
NeuStar provides essential, central directory services to the North American communications industry and to network operators around the world, including neutral registry, trusted third-party lawful intercept, and DNS services, as well as SIP-IX, the world’s first standards-based, cross domain registry service that is integrated with the world’s leading Internet Exchange Providers (IXPs). NeuStar’s SIP-IX offers a suite of neutral application peering capabilities that include policy-enabled, shared routing and addressing directory services, and are based on existing, in-production ENUM solutions.
Stealth Communications' Voice Peering Fabric (VPF) is designed as a private voice Internet and functions as an exchange or meet-point for enterprises, government agencies and carriers to establish peer-to-peer connections in a secure, quality-of-service environment. Connected organizations can than participate in the marketplace to establish bilateral and multilateral peering relationships for the exchange of VoIP, mobile, SS7 and other telephony-related traffic. Established in 2003, VPF transports more than 300 billion minutes annually.
Telcordia Technologies, Inc. is the leading global provider of communications network software and services for IP, wireline, wireless, and cable. The Telcordia® Service Interconnection Registry is a secure, centrally-managed, and carrier-grade registry that enables inter-carrier routing and rating for both TDM- and IP-enabled services. IP Service Interconnection allows carriers to interconnect via IP to deliver VoIP, IMS, and other converged services, while enabling carriers to migrate seamlessly from PSTN to IP.
XConnect Global Networks, Ltd provides trusted NGN peering federation services that enable the deliver of end-to-end multi-media services and reduce operating costs for member companies. XConnect’s federations include the settlement-free XConnect Alliance, wholesale cost reducing XConnect DirectRoute, and customized, policy driven XConnect Private Federations. Founded in 2005, XConnect’s registries handle over 100 million queries per month for 400 service providers in 35 countries. Features of XConnect Federations include secure (ENUM) registries, multi-protocol signaling management and advanced security systems including patent-pending SPIT protection.
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 500 customers in 85 countries, including 24 of the top 25, and 82 of the top 100 service providers in the world. For more information, contact us at +1 781.328.4400, or visit www.acmepacket.com.
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 establish and maintain intellectual property rights, our ability to build and grow Acme Packet, the benefits and advantages of our products, including any enhancements or new features, services and programs, including the OSR ecosystem program, 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.
