MetaSwitch ups ante on softswitch

MetaSwitch announced an expansion of its softswitch portfolio to include a high-capacity call agent server, the CA9020, that can handle up to 1 million busy hour call attempts. Additionally, the company said its flagship VP3510 Compact Class 5 Softswitch chassis is now available as a standalone media gateway and/or signaling gateway.

The CA9020 sits in a 2U high server, which makes it among the more dense solutions available. However, the product also is an indication that MetaSwitch is moving up into a larger carrier customer base. The company's traditional carrier has been small independent telcos.

"As we get into larger accounts, people want more than just a box," said Andy Randall, vice president of marketing for MetaSwitch. "Service providers definitely want to see this as an extensible platform." The new server also runs the same software load as the VP3510, giving carriers the option to use either the integrated softswitch or a distributed call agent / media gateway deployment model.

Increasingly as MetaSwitch gets into larger accounts, the company will rely on its roster of access vendor partners including Fujitsu, which is distributing the company's gear internationally.

"A lot of them are looking at the broadband loop carrier architecture and the value of our product comes in with its open interface," said Martin Taylor, vice president of technology strategy. "We're also an attractive partner because we have no desire to be a [digital loop carrier] vendor."