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Iowa Network Services Introduces Hosted VoIP Service With MetaSwitch and Sylantro Systems

Posted on: Monday, 7 November 2005, 06:00 CST

Iowa Network Services, Inc. (INS) today announced at the 109th Annual Iowa Telecommunications Association (ITA) Convention that it has deployed industry-leading vendors MetaSwitch and Sylantro Systems Corporation to power its Voice over IP (VoIP)-based services network, allowing Iowa's Independent Telephone Companies to deliver advanced hosted communications services to customers throughout the state. INS is launching its VoIP product offering following several months of extensive lab and field trials, which have demonstrated the combined solutions' robustness and appeal to end-users.

"When we looked strategically at where we needed to be, we realized we had two overriding imperatives. First, we had to move to a true next-generation softswitch architecture. Second, we had to deliver a range of hosted IP applications that would drive the revenue dollars," explained Leon Hofer, Vice President of Network Operations for Iowa Network Services. "Through our evaluation process, we have concluded that MetaSwitch's stable call control and high-density media gateway capabilities and Sylantro's telco-grade hosted communications applications are a winning combination."

"Central Scott Telephone has worked very closely with INS implementing our VoIP service this year. The feature-rich packages we're now able to offer potential customers give us an advantage when competing for voice services," stated Butch Rebman, President & COO of Central Scott Telephone. "The 'Web Portal' and 'Find Me Follow Me' features are fun to use and easy for the consumer to understand. These 'next generation' technologies make our VoIP service even more attractive especially because they are very cost-effective for local businesses."

Founded in 1989, Iowa Network Services has long been an innovator, combining the strength of its participating telephone companies to deliver high quality, leading-edge telecommunications services statewide. The company's operations range from transport - over its 4,500-mile fiber optic network - to SS7 services, an Internet Service Provider and VoIP interconnection and hosted IP Centrex services.

The deployment is made possible through MetaSwitch and Sylantro's joint use of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) interfaces that enables service providers to select and combine best-of-breed components. A close partnership between the companies to ensure comprehensive and accountable engineering support was essential to the success of the INS field trials.

"We are pleased that INS has chosen the Sylantro platform as one of the foundation technologies in their transition and evolution to a fully IMS-compliant architecture," said David Illing, senior vice president of Marketing and Operations for Sylantro Systems. "Working with the MetaSwitch softswitch and media gateways, the Sylantro solution gives Iowa Network Services a flexible, carrier-grade platform to power innovative service offerings for business users of all sizes."

"We have always believed in an open architecture, with IMS being a key enabler for plug-and-play interworking between softswitches such as ours, and feature servers such as the Sylantro platform," said Chris Mairs, MetaSwitch senior vice president of Product Management and Business Development. "Our partnership with Sylantro demonstrates the wisdom of this approach, resulting in a winning solution for INS, and all service providers seeking the best-in-class softswitch, media/signaling gateway and applications feature server combination."

Tony Mumm, Network Planning engineer at INS, will be speaking about INS' deployment experience and plans for VoIP at the ITA Convention this week in the General Session entitled "VoIP Wheel of Fortune". In addition, Anthony Marcello, MetaSwitch Director of IOC Operations, will be speaking in the Breakout Panel Session "Who wants to be my Customer so that I can be a Millionaire"?

About Iowa Network Services

The INS Network with two switching centers in Iowa teams up with the Independent Telephone Companies of Iowa to provide access to fiber optic technology to over 300 communities. The INS and independent telephone industry's 4,500 mile fiber optic network brings the latest in telecommunications services to Iowa's rural areas. On the Web: www.iowanetworkservices.com

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.

About Sylantro Systems Corp

Sylantro Systems provides the premier software platform for advanced IP Centrex and hosted communications services for business, residential, wireless and other applications. The company leads the market in deployments, with U.S. carriers such as SBC, PTTs such as Swisscom and China Unicom, and next-generation service providers such as Bandwidth.com and Covad using the Sylantro platform. With a unique combination of advanced applications, a carrier-class platform, and proven go-to-market services, Sylantro allows service providers to rapidly deliver high-value, high-margin managed telephony services. These award-winning solutions offer business users sophisticated communications services without the cost and complexity of today's in-house PBX and key systems, and give consumers new flexibility in their communications services. Sylantro is a privately held company backed by premier investors. On the Web: www.sylantro.com

MetaSwitch are trademarks of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Sylantro is a registered trademark of Sylantro Systems Corporation. All rights reserved. All other products and brands mentioned are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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