Business Services Industry

Acme Packet, Convedia, ETRI, IP Unity, Xener Systems Declare Compliance With MSF R2 Architecture; Equipment Now Eligible to Display MSF R2 Logo

Business Wire, Sept 14, 2005

FREMONT, Calif. -- Acme Packet, Convedia, ETRI, IP Unity and Xener Systems are the latest network equipment vendors to claim compliance with the MultiService Forum's (MSF) Release 2 (R2) Architecture. They join Cisco Systems, Fujitsu, Leapstone Systems, Marconi, MetaSwitch, Nortel, Operax and Siemens as adopters of the MSF's Release 2 Implementation Guidelines, intended to assist service providers and their vendors evolve their networks with MSF compliant solutions. MSF members who are able to demonstrate equipment that is compliant with the Release 2 Architecture and the supporting Implementation Agreements (IA's) can claim MSF R2 "compliance" and use the MSF R2 Logo on that equipment.

"Companies that claim compliance with the R2 guidelines put themselves in a position to work with carriers that place a premium on interoperable, open architecture systems," said Roger Ward, MSF President. "These system suppliers recognize that carriers making major investment in NGN networks are rejecting proprietary solutions that support neither legacy systems nor future technologies."

The MSF R2 Architecture provides the essential framework and common semantic for the definition of a multi-service network. Definition of a set of physical architecture implementations within the framework enables MSF members to focus on a common set of commercially viable scenarios.

MSF IA's focus on key protocols from industry standards bodies to ensure interoperability between components from different vendors, by specifying options and required functionality for key interfaces.

The MSF Release 2 Implementation Guidelines are consistent with the architecture documented in the MSF Architecture Release 2 Implementation Agreement. The work of the MSF in support of these documents was driven by an initial focus on:

--IP core network QoS

--Advanced services

--Interworking with legacy PSTN

--Multiple carrier QoS enabled solutions

--Global advanced services interoperability

--IPv4/IPv6 inter-working where applicable

About the MSF Release 2 Implementation Guidelines

Compliance with the MSF Release 2 Architecture Guidelines is self-determined by each participating company. The MSF Release 2 Implementation Guidelines and a usage checklist can be found on the public side of the MSF website at http://www.msforum.org/techinfo/implementation.shtml. The logo can be found on the MSF Website at www.msforum.org. To view products in support of the MSF Release 2 Implementation Guidelines go to http://www.msforum.org/techinfo/product_list.shtml.> About The MultiService Forum

The MultiService Forum is a global association of service providers and system suppliers committed to developing and promoting open-architecture, multiservice switching systems. Founded in 1998, the MSF is an open-membership organization comprised of the world's leading telecommunications companies. The MSF's activities include developing Implementation Agreements, promoting worldwide compatibility and interoperability, and encouraging input to appropriate national and international standards bodies. For more information about the MSF and its members, visit the MSF web site at http://www.msforum.org/.>