News

Sonus Networks and Belkin Corporation Deliver High Performance, Consumer-Ready Voice Over Broadband Solutions (27/5/2005)

Companies Complete Interoperability Testing and Enter Co-Branded Marketing Agreement

Sonus Networks (Nasdaq: SONS), a leading supplier of service provider voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure solutions, and Belkin Corporation, the global leader in connectivity solutions, announced today that they have successfully completed interoperability testing between Sonus' Insignus(TM) Softswitch and Belkin's line of VoIP broadband phone adapters, helping to streamline the configuration process for Belkin's VoIP products and enabling users to easily set-up and use a consumer VoIP system. The two companies have also entered into a co-branded marketing agreement that combines the strength of Belkin's worldwide brand recognition in consumer electronics and Sonus' renowned expertise in building carrier-class VoIP networks.

"We're proud to be entering a strategic co-branding agreement with Sonus Networks because of our companies' shared reputation for exceptional reliability and performance," said Mark Reynoso, Belkin's Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "By teaming with Sonus and undergoing a rigorous testing process, we're helping to ensure that our VoIP products are easy and straightforward to use during this critical juncture in the adoption of consumer VoIP services."

Belkin's line of VoIP broadband phone adapters enable innovative messaging and voice features while providing consumers with the ease of use that is critically important to service providers looking to expand their VoIP subscriber base. Belkin's VoIP products are also available to service providers as customer premises equipment, and are fully supported by Belkin's global logistics, engineering, and technical support organisations. Sonus and Belkin will be showcasing this entire line of solutions at the VON Europe 2005 Show in Stockholm, Sweden, May 23 Ð 26 at Stand No. C06:21.

"From day one, Sonus' vision has been to develop solutions that would enable consumers to leverage the power of the Internet for their telephony services. With the pervasiveness of broadband and continued innovation from companies like Belkin, we've seen a number of product offerings and innovative applications specifically designed for next generation networks. Our goal now is to help service providers rapidly bring to market new VoIP services and improve ease of use for consumers," said Mike Hluchyj, founder and chief technology officer of Sonus Networks.

"The dynamics of the telecommunications industry have changed drastically over the past couple of years. Service providers are launching consumer VoIP services which allow them to offer enhanced services and to target price sensitive users in order to remain competitive," said Teresa Mastrangelo, principal analyst at broadbandtrends.com, a service of The Windsor Oaks Group LLC. "Global adoption of consumer voice over broadband (VoBB) has been widespread. Entering 2005, we estimated there were 3 million global VoBB subscribers and expect this number will grow to more than 100 million VoBB subscribers by year-end 2009. Partnerships to facilitate interoperability such as the one between Sonus and Belkin are critical to drive this growth forward."

www.sonusnet.com
www.belkin.com