Bridgewater Systems Debuts Application Authorization Server; Facilitates Service Providers' Ability to Offer Advanced Application Services

Business Wire, May 18, 2005

OTTAWA -- New Product Supports Verizon Wireless' Recently Introduced V CAST Wireless Broadband Multimedia Service

Bridgewater Systems(TM), a leading developer of subscriber-centric policy management software for IP-based services, introduced its Application Authorization Server in Verizon Wireless' network. This new software enables Verizon Wireless to launch advanced applications, such as audio- and video-based multimedia services, quickly and cost-effectively, using a common framework.

Highlighted by an initial operational deployment by Verizon Wireless for its introduction of V CAST, the Application Authorization Server provides a common profile and policy system for centralized management of authentication and authorization of users when they attempt to access applications. This centralized approach enhances the manageability and facilitates the standardization of the user's experience.

Verizon Wireless' V CAST wireless broadband multimedia service allows customers to view crystal clear video clips on-demand and graphics for 3D games. V CAST runs on Verizon Wireless' Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network -- the only widely-available fully-mobile wireless data experience in the United States.

"With the popularity of advanced applications and services, combined with the unpredictable nature of consumer demands, our customers need technology to help them more effectively respond to new trends and application interests," said Russ Freen, chief technology officer of Bridgewater Systems. "Bridgewater's Application Authorization Server provides that capability as witnessed by Verizon Wireless' impressive introduction of its V CAST multimedia service."

"Matching mobile applications with consumer demand requires network technologies that are innovative and flexible," said Jack Tang, executive director of network technology for Verizon Wireless. "We have selected best-of-breed technology partners for our network that will allow us to quickly and cost-effectively introduce leading-edge applications and services to our customers. The reliable, dynamic nature of our network allows us to deliver a whole new wireless experience to our customers."

Bridgewater Systems' Application Authorization Server gives service providers a single repository to manage all profiles relating to a subscriber's ability to access applications, and to tailor the application experience on a subscriber-by-subscriber basis. The Application Authorization Server removes the need for a separate data store for information about applications, and by using a common Application Protocol Interface (API) set, results in significant cost savings and reduced deployment times. Applications can access the single repository via a standardized Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) interface, further simplifying the application integration process. Bridgewater's Application Authorization Server extends the following benefits and features to service providers:

Benefits:

--Speed Time-to-Market delivery of new applications

--Control and manage user access to services at a more granular level

--Adapt marketing programs in real time based on unified, subscriber-centric intelligence

--Leverage data to improve customer service at call centers

--Offer highly customized applications for each customer segment

--Create new revenue-generating opportunities by building targeted service bundles

--Extend the service provider's ownership and control of the subscriber

Features:

--One provisioning API for all services to increase speed while decreasing cost of deployment

--Single database for all services decreases management and support costs

--Server offers high scalability and transaction rates

--LDAP interface is simple to integrate

--Optional IP-based queries, enabled by Session State Register

--Multiple deployment models are available

Bridgewater Systems CDMA Highlights

Bridgewater Systems is an established leader in the CDMA2000 1x marketplace, supporting the roll-out of more than 25 CDMA2000 1x networks throughout the Americas. Its carrier-grade authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) systems support deployments with more than 50 million provisioned users and one billion transactions per month. The company is an active contributor to standards development in the IETF, 3GPP2, WiMAX and DSL Forum and is an active member of 3GPP.

About Bridgewater Systems

Bridgewater Systems develops the industry's most advanced subscriber-centric policy management software for IP-based services. Its solutions help global service providers maximize profits and launch new services faster. With Bridgewater's software, service providers have an intelligent policy-decision point for the management of subscribers, applications, and network resources. The Bridgewater Systems' product suite delivers high performance policy management via its market-leading authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) systems. It also offers a range of modular products for application support, mediation, and dynamic broadband management. Bridgewater Systems' proven carrier-class products deliver on-demand data services, extensive revenue capture capabilities, and out-of-the-box value that can be deployed in weeks -- instead of months.