Distributed softswitch-based architecture fosters rapid development and deployment of  services, releases service providers from dependence on circuit switches for new features.  

SAN JOSE, Calif.  Oct. 31, 2000 – AccessLan Communications, pioneer of i-SLAM and the leading supplier of DSLAM equipment for Voice-over-DSL, today announced a joint marketing partnership program to offer communications service providers an end-to-end solution for next-generation converged services based on IP and soft-switch technology.  The solution will consist of AccessLan's IP QoS-enabled i-SLAM equipment and IP-based softswitch, telephony and IP connectivity services from a broad array of best-of-breed softswitch network element suppliers.  Partners such as telecom technologies, ipVerse, NexTone Communications, VocalData, Sylantro, Packetort.com, Inc. and Tellabs will provide the industry's most comprehensive softswitch-based service convergence solution including softswitches, media gateways, service creation platforms, application switches and customer premise gateways. 

Under the joint marketing partnership, AccessLan will offer its CLEC, BLEC, ILEC and ISP customers a turn-key package of IP-based solutions consisting of its i-SLAM equipment and partner services including IP connectivity, softswitch, class-independent switching, local and long distance telephony, etc.  The end-to-end IP-based softswitch infrastructure will give service providers a low-cost, low-risk alternative to the existing circuit switch infrastructure. The open standards-based architecture opens up the network to innovative services created by independent application service providers that will present higher value and higher margins than traditional CLASS features and basic Internet access. For instance, service providers will be able to rapidly deploy a wide range of services including toll-quality voice over IP, streaming video, unified messaging, follow-me numbers, virtual call centers, multi-session calls, application switching and self-provisioning capabilities. 

"The AccessLan partnership program significantly boosts service providers' ability to compete with incumbent local exchange carriers in several ways," said Nick Lippis, independent industry analyst. "First, eliminating the capital expenditure and maintenance costs of a Class 5 switch removes a significant barrier to entry, opening the field to Internet service providers (ISPs), competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), wireless service operators and even traditional utilities companies. Second and more importantly, it is rooted in open standards which enables true competition based on differentiated services developed by the intellectual and entrepreneurial energy of many companies rather than the centralized planning of a couple of giants."

"By leveraging the global IP infrastructure provided by AccessLan's partnership program, new world service providers can instantly establish global reach and compete with the global service providers on a level-playing field," said Kumar Shah, vice president of marketing for AccessLan. "This ability to quickly deploy new and traditional services without the large capital and maintenance required in building a circuit-switched network puts new world service providers in a position to create a huge change in the telecom services market and build an enormous competitive advantage."

Breaking Through The Access Bottleneck

The move to IP has already yielded substantial benefits at the core of the network, fostering revolutionary innovations in optical switching and transmission. Indeed, the optical core and the enterprise LAN are already IP-based.  Access service providers have been hindered by a lack of access-ready convergence solutions that give them the same cost and service advantages as core service providers. AccessLan and its partners are bridging this gap with a broad range of interoperable equipment including soft-switches, collapsed switches, service creation platforms, application switches and CPE devices to offer the industry's most comprehensive convergence network.

AccessLan's i-SLAM architecture creates the ideal access infrastructure for IP-based services. Features like IP Services Aggregation (IPSA) eliminate the need to provision virtual circuits all the way from customers to switching centers, allowing the network to handle the scalability issues associated with the tens of thousands of users anticipated with mass deployment. Sophisticated QoS like Multi-protocol Label Switching and Label Edge Routing at the point of access ensure the delivery of reliable IP telephony services.

"Furthering the IP revolution from the core of the network to the edge is long overdue," said Ron Westfall, senior analyst at Current Analysis. "The spread of IP to the edge will be particularly rewarding for new world service providers because it allows them to compete for $113 billion in annual local and long distance revenue with a dramatically reduced cost structure offered up by the AccessLan partner program. Unencumbered by the legacy of $250 billion in TDM and circuit-switched equipment already deployed by the incumbent and old world service providers, the new world service providers will be in a position to speed up development and deployment of new and innovative converged services."

The package will be available in North America starting January 1, 2001; in Europe in the first half of 2001 and in other parts of the world in the second half of 2001.

About AccessLan 

AccessLan Communications, Inc., a pioneer i-SLAM, is a leading supplier of carrier-class access equipment for Voice over DSL and Enhanced IP services.  The company targets Local Exchange Carrier and MTU, MDU and Hospitality markets, with PL-2000 C.O. and PL-1000 stackable i-SLAMs that deliver VoDSL, Internet access and enhanced IP services like e-Commerce, Web hosting, streaming audio and video. The company's Internet Scaling Architecture (ISA) and Priority-Q feature-set together deliver the industry's most comprehensive and scalable IP QoS management solution. Founded in 1997, AccessLan is financed by leading venture capital firms BancBoston Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners, Berkeley International Capital, Highland Capital, Tudor Private Equity Fund, The Ignite Group, Intel Corporation and NIF Ventures.  The company is headquartered in San Jose, California.  Contact the company at (888) 411-4DSL or www.accesslan.com