Tekelec

GENBAND, Top VoIP Company 2008: FierceVoIP, Fierce 15

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:01:16 -0500

GENBAND

Where it's based: Plano, Texas
When was it founded: 1999
Website: www.genband.com

Why it's Fierce: Since it started acquiring companies in September 2006, GENBAND has been on a Fierce jag to dominate hardware equipment in the core by bridging the old TDM network while offering the next generation network all-IP, IMS capable solutions to carriers when they're ready. The company has acquired Siemens switch division, Tekelec's switching solutions group, Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) gateway product lines and NextPoint Networks. On top of that, add reseller relationships with Alcatel-Lucent, NEC, NSN, and Nortel.

GENBAND's purchase of NextPoint was significantly Fierce; NextPoint had developed deep packet inspection (DPI) and session border control (SBC) technology on open platforms, with the number two market share position on SBCs. Loading new security capability on existing GENBAND hardware is basically a code port.

With all of its acquisitions, GENBAND has over 800 service provider customers in more than 80 countries and lists 61 of the top 100 largest service providers. Given current market conditions, we wouldn't be surprised with another acquisition or two in 2009.

SIP Forum Membership Surges

Doug Mohney — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:22:00 -0400

The SIP Forum has announced it has experienced a "dramatic surge" in memberships since the beginning of the year, with both corporate dues-paying and individual memberships experiencing 100 percent growth compared to the last quarter of 2007.

Currently, the SIP Forum has 45 "Full Member" companies and more than 5,000 individual members around the world. Recent dues-paying companies joining SIP Forum include Audiocodes, CableLabs, Covergence, Dialogic, HP, Microsoft, NEC Unified Solutions, Sonus Networks, and Tekelec.

SIP Forum Managing Director and President of the U.S.-based subsidiary of SIP Forum Marc Robins attributes the surge in growth to the work of the organization, and most especially the support and moment behind the SIPconnect SIP trunking initiative. SIPconnect has established an industry-approved set of rules and guidelines for setting up trouble-free (or at least less painful) direct IP peering between SIP-enabled IP PBXes and SIP-enabled VoIP providers. A SIPconnect approved product should be easily setup up with a SIP-enabled VoIP provider, making life much easier for the poor customer who has to set everything up in the first place.

For more:
- Read the full SIP Forum membership growth release

Related articles:
SIP Forum pursues interop

Mavenir Systems and GENBAND Collaborate for Convergence

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Mavenir Systems and GENBAND are going to collaborate on joint convergence solutions for operators, specifically to assist in the rapid deployment of new multimedia services across all types of devices, as well as offering next-generation services on legacy (i.e. non-IP) infrastructure. Trials and acceptance by tier one operators in North America and EMEA are "in various stages," according to Mavenir.

A variety of applications are being delivered over the joint solution, including VoIP services provided directly from an existing 2G/3G core for primary and secondary line service and intelligent inter-working for femtocell gateways and multiple domains. GENBAND has gone big on femto of late, rolling out a Packet Access Gateway for its G9 Mobile Gateway; the PAG provides transcoder-free operations, packet-to-packet inter-working, a signaling gateway and mobile access side capabilities.

Mavenir incorporates the G9 into their mOne Intelligent Convergence Engine, providing a solution to bridge IP-based service delivery with traditional mobile infrastructure; the net result allows operators to deliver IMS services directly to 2G and 3G-CS mobile devices.

Interestingly, Mavenir is based in Richardson, Texas, right next door to GENBAND in Plano. And GENBAND hasn't been shy about buying other companies. Is this a trial courtship before acquisition?

For more:
- Mavenir's website is here.

Related Article:
Genband/Tekelec a done deal

Genband, Nortel offer smooth path to VoIP

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:59:54 -0400

Genband and Nortel are teaming to help make it easier for carriers to transition their TDM networks to IP. Nortel is reselling, distributing and supporting Genband's G6 and G2 media gateways. The Genband gateways complement Nortel's Communications Server (CS) 2000 and CS 1500 by extending Nortel's migration capabilities to more legacy digital switches.

For more on Genband and Nortel VoIP migration solution for carriers:
- read this article from TMCnet

Related Articles:
Northwestern University graduates to VoIP. Report
Genband/Tekelec a done deal. Report
Genband buys Siemens DCO products. Report
NYT goes with Nortel for new IP net. Report

Press Release: Genband to Acquire Tekelec's Switching Solutions Group

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 08:53:25 -0400

Genband to Acquire Tekelec's Switching Solutions Group

Acquisition Establishes GENBAND as Complete Broad Based Applications and Gateway Infrastructure Equipment Provider for VoIP and IMS Networks

March 20, 2007, Plano, TX - GENBANDâ„¢ Inc., a leading provider of IMS-based telecommunications applications and infrastructure products enabling converged IP multimedia services, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tekelecâ€™s switching solutions business unit.

The acquisition will expand GENBANDâ€™s portfolio of infrastructure, applications and services for wireline, wireless and cable service providers. Tekelecâ€™s switching solutions business unit includes the businesses Santera, VocalData and Taqua, all of which had been acquired by Tekelec between 2003 and 2004. The portfolio of wireline and wireless media gateways and application platforms are synergistic with GENBANDâ€™s existing gateway and application portfolio. The resulting GENBAND product portfolio represents an aggregate next-generation development investment that exceeds $1 billion.

"It is rare that an acquisition such as this one allows for such product synergies,â€ said Charles D. Vogt, president and CEO of GENBAND. â€œIn addition, the two companies are headquartered in Plano, Texas. GENBANDâ€™s vision and direction has been clearly focused on market leadership in the applications and infrastructure solutions market. The combination of the two companies creates an enviable gateway and applications product portfolio and enables GENBAND to strengthen its relationship with our existing customers as well as our call control and access business partners.â€

â€œThis is a very positive move for everyone involved in this transaction,â€ said Frank Plastina, president and CEO of Tekelec. â€œProspective and existing customers should feel very comfortable to know that the SSG portfolio is with a company like GENBAND who is already very familiar with the product line and market it serves.â€

The combined company will continue to be headquartered in Plano, Texas with research and development facilities in Plano and Austin, Texas, Shanghai, China and New Delhi, India.

About Tekelec
Tekelec is a high-performance network applications company that is accelerating the transition to IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks for service providers around the globe. With its experience at the intersection of network applications and session control, Tekelec creates highly efficient platforms for managing media and delivering network solutions. Corporate headquarters are located near Research Triangle Park in Morrisville, N.C., U.S.A., with research and development facilities and sales offices throughout the world.

About GENBAND
GENBAND is a leading supplier of IP multimedia application and infrastructure products and solutions for a diverse set of VoIP and IMS networks worldwide. These IMS-ready applications and solutions enable wireline, cable and wireless service providers to rapidly deploy new multimedia services, while providing a foundation to transition legacy networks to next generation networks. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, GENBAND has research and development facilities in Austin and Plano, Texas; and New Delhi, India. Additional information is available at www.genband.com.

Press Release: Genband to Acquire Tekelec's Switching Solutions Group

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 08:53:25 -0400

Genband to Acquire Tekelec's Switching Solutions Group

Acquisition Establishes GENBAND as Complete Broad Based Applications and Gateway Infrastructure Equipment Provider for VoIP and IMS Networks

The combined company will continue to be headquartered in Plano, Texas with research and development facilities in Plano and Austin, Texas, Shanghai, China and New Delhi, India.

Genband/Tekelec a done deal

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:01:35 -0400

We wrote last issue about rumors of Genband buying Tekelec's switching business. Monday evening, Genband execs declined to comment. Tuesday afternoon, they handed around a press release announcing the sale. Tekelec got into the switch business by buying Santera Systems and Taqua; it's getting out of the business by essentially selling those assets and its SSG group to Genband for just under 20 percent of Genband. Tekelec's taking quite a haircut: the company said it expects to realize a net loss of between $55 million and $70 million on the sale (although, by the miracle of tax accountancy, it doesn't expect it to much effect on its cash holdings. The deal is expected to close next month.

For more information about the Genband Tekelec purchase:
- see Genband's release

Related Article:
Genband buys Siemens DCO products. Report

VON: Is there a Genband/Tekelec deal in the works?

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:01:38 -0400

The media gateway business is robust and competitive, but there may be one less player in the days to come. There are whispers that Genband, which for the last couple of years has been in acquisition mode, is about to buy the switching business of Tekelec. Tekelec, which is active in the signaling and session control business as well as number portablity and hosted VoIP, has been looking for a buyer for several months; there were reports that Ericsson or Alcatel-Lucent had been kicking the tires. I'll be meeting with Genband at VON, and I'll pass along what they say.

For more about the rumored Genband/Tekelec deal:
- read this article in Light Reading

Related Articles:
Genband buys Siemens DCO products. Report
Tekelec picks active IMS FMC testing vendor. Report
Tekelec's IMS brew. Report

ALSO NOTED: Recording Cisco Call Manager calls; Tekelec's big Ring9 score; and much more...

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:01:32 -0400

> Use Cisco Call Manager? Telrex claims to be the first call-recording product to be verified that it can capture encrypted Unified Call Manager VoIP calls. Press release

> Ring9 is putting the Tekelec 6000 VoIP Application Service in its network to serve SMB customers. Press release

> Netopia--which once made doodads that networked Macintosh computers--is out in the market showing hardware that can let ISPs provide triple-play services. Press release

> And finally.... Will we run the robots, or will they run us? Article

Tekelec pushes disaster recovery

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 20:01:36 -0400

It's been a year since Hurricane Katrina first popped up on radar screens; if you haven't been thinking about it, don't tell your bosses or clients. Tekelec says its Tekelec 6000 VoIP Application Server now has disaster recovery features. One of those features will reroute VoIP calls to a wireline or mobile number if the destination IP network goes down. Another allows the various servers and controllers to be deployed in geographically diverse locations--key for survivability.

For more information about Tekelec 6000 server:
- read this article at TMCNet

Tekelec picks active IMS FMC testing vendor

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 20:01:34 -0400

Tekelec has picked Ixia to do active testing on its IMS-based FMC network. Ixia's IxVoice is a hardware and software suite that tests both VoIP and PSTN installations running on a full suite of digital and analog standards that cover voice, video, tone and fax. Tekelec recently announced the sale of Class 5 packet switches and VoIP application servers to two CLEC carriers: Burlington Telecom and Crocker Telecommunications.

For more information about Tekelec and Ixia:
- read this article from TMCNet.

Tekelec's IMS brew

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 14:53:41 -0400

Tekelec launched the Tekelec 3300 Convergence Gateway that supports service capability interaction manager. The T-3300 supports voice call continuity for FMC when deployed with the T-9000 distributed switch and Tekelec 6000 VoIP Application Server. Tekelec also announced that its T-8000 Wireless Media Gateway interoperates with Samsung's SSX-300C Wireless Softswitch for North America. Finally, Tekelec announced Leap Wireless as a T-8000 and T-3000 customer to support its VoIP and data network across its operating territory.

On a side note, how does the Alcatel-Lucent merger impact Tekelec? Tekelec VP of Corporate Marketing Mark Whittier said that the merger is only positive for Tekelec. If at all, it will open some domestic opportunities for the company. The T-8000 WMG and Spatial Wireless' SoftSwitch have been deployed by T-Mobile, Cingular and Orange. Spatial Wireless was bought by Alcatel in September 2004 for $250 million. Tekelec cemented their relationship with Alcatel with a three-year contract in December of last year. So, the Alcatel-Lucent merger is appears to be a blessing for Tekelec.

For more on Tekelec's recent developments:
- read Tekelec's press release

PLUS: Tekelec appointed Jay Whitehurst as the president and general manager of the Switching Solutions Group based in Plano, TX. Whitehurst comes from Nortel Networks and Axes Technologies. Release