Austin, Texas -- General Bandwidth, a leading Voice over IP equipment manufacturer enabling rapid deployment and new service revenue generation over broadband networks, announces its IP PBX Network Trunking solution for service providers seeking to offer a differentiated PBX trunking service to their enterprise customers.  This unique solution eliminates equipment costs for enterprise customers with IP PBX systems while enabling a single, converged voice and data connection back into the service provider network.

Enterprise customers are accelerating their purchases of IP PBX systems to deliver enhanced VoIP services and to reduce their overall telephony costs, but they have been forced to accept the higher equipment and network costs of connecting to the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for calls outside their enterprise network.  These costs are driven by their need to support two different network connections from their local service provider:  circuit-based connections to the PSTN and packet-based broadband lines for their high-speed data access.
    
With General Bandwidth’s IP PBX Network Trunking solution, which is available today, service providers can eliminate voice and data facility duplication, including the expense associated with T-1/E-1 and PRI facilities, SONET infrastructure, and other access equipment commonly used to provide voice services to enterprises.  Switch ports can be dramatically reduced, and premises-based gateways and integrated access devices (IADs) are eliminated.  The service provider simply offers a data facility and telephone numbers or voice trunks.  In addition, the solution can easily be bundled into a network service and equipment sale by service providers or their agents.

 “As more enterprise end users migrate to IP PBX solutions, service providers need to adapt their service offerings to leverage the cost benefits of VoIP,” said Charles Vogt, General Bandwidth’s president and chief executive officer.  “Our IP PBX Network Trunking solution is a new and innovative application many of our service provider partners plan to offer their SME customers.”

“The IP PBX market is growing ferociously, with 50%-plus growth between 2003 and 2004.  This is fueling the growth of the overall PBX/key system market which is expected to grow to $9.1 billion by 2008,” said Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst and author of Infonetics Research’s ‘Enterprise Telephony’ Report.  “By eliminating the need for circuit-based connections into the customer premises, General Bandwidth’s solution streamlines service delivery, which opens up new service possibilities and creates a win-win for both enterprise customers and service providers.”

About The G6 Universal Media Gateway Platform
The G6 Universal Media Gateway platform is the architectural basis for the multiple media gateway products offered by General Bandwidth.  The G6 platform is a true carrier class VoIP services platform with the capability to simultaneously support multiple service architectures including legacy Class 5 switches, SIP-based feature servers, and next generation softswitches.  The platform supports a variety of packet and PSTN interfaces, scaling from 240 to 16,128 simultaneous DS0s in a single chassis.  The company markets the following media gateway products globally:

G6 Access MG
Providing Class 5 services over VoIP and AAL1/AAL2 broadband networks using existing GR-303, TR-08, V5.2, or T1/E1 CAS interfaces; extending the life of the legacy switching network.

G6 Reverse MG
Proven interoperable with the leading wireline and cable-based softswitches via MGCP or H.248, the G6 Reverse MG enables new IP-based features on legacy remote terminals by enabling their call control to be softswitch-based. The product is applicable to most GR-303, TR-08, and V5.x remote terminals.

G6 Trunking MG
Proven interoperable with the leading wireline and cable-based softswitches, the G6 Trunking MG provides circuit-to-packet media conversion using MGCP, H.248, or SIP softswitch call control.    The product also provides SIP to PRI interworking for hosted IP communications services.

G6 Universal MG
The industry’s first universal media gateway serving the ILEC/PTT, CLEC, and MSO networks, the G6 Universal MG, provides simultaneous support for all access, reverse and trunking media gateway applications on a single G6 chassis.  The product delivers seamless, risk-free migration to next generation services to address evolving broadband and voice service needs.  The consolidation and management of voice services through a single G6 significantly reduces capital and operational expenses.  The G6 Universal MG is the only media gateway awarded OSMINE, RUS and PacketCableTM qualification for network infrastructure.

About General Bandwidth
General Bandwidth is a leading provider of Voice over IP infrastructure solutions spanning more than 40 service providers worldwide. General Bandwidth delivers broadband solutions addressing a full range of applications, including residential and business access, trunking and enhanced VoIP solutions.  With eight patents issued and ten pending, General Bandwidth’s flagship G6 Universal Media Gateway and network management system are OSMINE, RUS, PacketCableTM, and NEBS-3 certified, produced in a TL9000 quality system, and deployed in ILECs, CLECs, RLECs and Cable service provider networks worldwide. General Bandwidth was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.   Additional information on General Bandwidth is available at www.genband.com.

Contacts:
Noah Sessions
GENBAND Inc.
+1.972.265.3664 (office)
noah.sessions@genband.com

Trademark notes:  G6 and General Bandwidth are registered trademarks of General Bandwidth Inc.