Acme Packet gets RUS for session border control

Halfway through 2006, Acme Packet beat its full 2005 revenue, according to yesterday’s latest SEC filling. The rest of the year could include ringing up more revenue from independent operators thanks to long-standing deployments of its session border control solutions, particularly its Net-Net 4000 SBC, that have led to the company’s acceptance for listing by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS).

The designation on the RUS List of Materials means that qualifying rural telephone companies can purchase the Acme Packet solution with long-term, low-interest loans from the federal government. The loan program is designed to enable rural operators to cost-effectively deploy new technology to deliver services on par with urban and suburban markets.

“The session border controller is part of the next generation infrastructure migration just like softswitches and loop carriers; now it is available through these low interest loans,” said Kevin Mitchell, director of solutions marketing at Acme Packet.

As of Aug. 1, Acme has more than 275 interactive communications service provider customers in more than 55 countries. And at the end of June, the company had earned more than $38 million compared to 2005 full-year earnings of $36.1 million. Mitchell said that at the beginning of the year, Acme Packet had just over 200 customers. That, along with growth within existing customers who spent on additional gear, features and capacity, drove the revenue growth.

Acme Packet’s Net-Net SBCs provide the control function for interactive communications such as voice, video and multimedia sessions across IP network borders. The control functions satisfy new requirements for VoIP and other session-oriented communications in five major areas: security, service reach maximization, SLA assurance, revenue and profit protection and regulatory compliance.

Joe McGarvey, principal analyst with Current Analysis said in a statement that the listing will help accelerate the adoption of session border control by IOCs and rural service providers.

“It’s a cash flow issue for some of these guys,” Mitchell said. “We have some small telcos that have deployed our products without RUS, because we just got listed, but telcos prefer to buy equipment through RUS because the low interest and long-term loans help manage their cash flow.”

Also, last week, Acme launched a new Canadian operation with sales and service presence in Ottawa, Ontario and named Rob Saloman as general manager of the division. Saloman’s previous experience includes Cambrian Systems, Mitel, Newbridge Networks, and Nortel Networks. Most recently he served as vice president of sales and marketing at Nakina Systems.