net.com downsizes voice-over-IP media gateway

The downsized unit—the Shout900—scales up to eight T1s, includes SS7 termination, and supports SIP and H.323 protocols, IVR and bandwidth management.

“On the whole, it had to be easy to configure … because most of the customers in this space are keen to avoid trying to become too technical,” Gleave said. “The business is really about marketing VoIP services, not about trying to understand the technology.”

The business is also about making money in a rudimentary space—at least when compared to advanced broadband and wireless services.

“The customers we’re targeting are Tier 2/3 carriers who are delivering wholesale VoIP minutes and calling card services,” Gleave said. “We’re looking at pockets of growth that exist today rather than pockets of growth that we can predict.”

Broadband, he said, will come along and net.com will have products to fit in that space.

“We’re taking legacy TDM and ATM networks and slowly moving them to IP,” Gleave said. “We did not buy this technology to go exclusively after this business. We bought this technology to go after VoIP as an integral part of any networking company’s plans.”