Denwa Communications Enables Microsoft MSN Messenger Users to Call Anyone, Anywhere Using Advanced VoIP Services

Business Wire, Feb 18, 2002

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2002

Microsoft and Denwa Leverage the SIP Protocol within Microsoft XP

and the Denwa VoIP Network

Denwa Communications, a leading provider of the Next Generation Network, and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) announce a partnership to enable users of Microsoft.Net to place Voice over the Internet (VOIP) and PSTN calls through Microsoft's MSN Messenger 4.6 client.

MSN 4.6 users can now access a fully functional next generation Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network to make voice calls over the Internet to any phone in the world. Previously, users were only able to call other users within Microsoft.Net. Denwa's service assigns a telephone number to each MSN Messenger client, which allows any phone to call the computer that supports that client.

This allows users to be contacted with a single phone number anywhere they connect to Microsoft.Net, be it at work, home, or traveling.

The Denwa service provides originating and terminating telephone service, as well as providing a number of advanced VoIP services. The full interoperability with other VoIP systems as well as circuit-based systems is currently unique to Denwa.

This means that a user of Microsoft Messenger 4.6 can seamlessly use SIP as a follow-me telecommunications device much in the same way that e-mail or instant messenger services work operate. The assigned telephone number is routed not to a physical location, but to an underlying IP address, which is fully portable.

Users of MSN can thus receive and originate toll-quality voice communications anywhere, anytime on Denwa's network. The underlying technology that makes this service possible is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

Using the SIP-based Denwa Network, and the SIP Interface inherent in all Microsoft XP operating systems, Microsoft becomes the only Instant Messenger service with a fully functioning VoIP service. SIP has distinct advantages over traditional VoIP protocols in that it provides toll-quality communications with better scalability, features and interoperability with non-VoIP devices.

Denwa's SIP network provides toll-quality sound quality at a fraction of the cost of circuit-based telecommunications. For calls between Denwa clients, there is no toll charged, for calls originating on MSN that access the switched network, Denwa's solution offers the customer both routing control and cost advantages.

Additionally, Denwa has access to third party databases of SIP addresses, thus if a MSN Messenger client contacts another SIP number that lies outside of Microsoft.net, the call will still be treated as on-net and thus toll-free.

Denwa is providing the world's first commercially available SIP service. The Denwa service was developed through a unique partnership between itself and several equipment manufacturers, including LongBoard, the leading telecommunications applications server and service development platform provider, and Nuera, a carrier-grade IP telephony gateway and Softswitch manufacturer.

Nuera provides the network connectivity, and LongBoard provides SIP-based call signaling and advanced features. Using LongBoard as its development platform, Denwa will continue to add customer-driven features to their network.

The resultant service offers unparalleled flexibility and interoperability - customers can select a wide range of handsets from manufacturers such as Pingtel and Cisco, and moreover on the Denwa network a call transaction between two different types of SIP equipment is seamless.

About SIP: The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) standard was adopted by the IETF in 1999 and is rapidly becoming the de facto call control protocol for IP telephony. IP telephony vendors and service providers are building new products and services based on SIP because it enables better innovation, scalability, interoperability, and manageability than products using other VoIP protocols.

About Microsoft: Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

About Denwa Communications: In 1996, Denwa Communications was founded to provide International Private Data services to large institutional clients. Today its voice and data communications expertise spans (50) countries on (5) continents. Denwa counts among its customers many US-based Tier 1 and Tier 2 carriers, as well as top-level competitive or monopoly carriers overseas.

Leveraging existing business and infrastructure, Denwa Communications is now a leader in the development and deployment of next-generation services characterized by the "New Public Network". Denwa Communications, a privately held company, is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, and maintains an operations office in Capetown, South Africa.

Information about Denwa Communications and its products can be found at www.denwa.com.