Associated Network Partners Inc. Selects Versatel Networks Intelligent Media Gateway to Support National VoIP Rollout

Powered by the EdgeIQ Media Gateway, ANPI Scales to Meet Anticipated VoIP Growth

Associated Network Partners, Inc [ANPI] today announced that they have selected Versatel Network's intelligent media gateways to power their new national VoIP service. ANPI, a consortium owned by over 325 Independent Telephone Companies spanning 38 states, will use Versatel Networks' EdgeIQ intelligent media gateways to provide services such as long distance VoIP termination and peering, personal conferencing and seamless VoIP Wi-Fi to GSM roaming. By using the EdgeIQ platform, ANPI members will extend the reach of their existing TDM switching infrastructure into the IP network. In addition, Versatel Networks equipment enables them to deliver new and lucrative applications to their entire customer base, going above and beyond a typical Voice over IP offering. ANPI has deployed Versatel Networks' equipment in three member companies, with a full rollout for the membership to begin in April.

Concluding a two-year evaluation of vendors, ANPI president David Lewis remarked, "We are very excited about the market opportunities enabled by the Versatel solution. VoIP has rapidly moved beyond a side show technology, and is now solidly positioned to be the medium over which future communications will be provided. As such, it is important that Independents begin evolving their networks to cost-effectively integrate VoIP in a meaningful and substantive way, while sharing certain network assets at a centralized level in order to capture economies necessary to effectively compete in an increasingly cut-throat marketplace."

Versatel's EdgeIQ meets the large-scale requirements of a VoIP network, accommodating termination, peering and revenue generating voice applications, all from the same platform. A single IQ4000 chassis supports redundant configurations for Media, SS7, VoIP, T1, or E1 solutions. With the EdgeIQ capital expenditures are up to 60% lower than the competition, thereby leading the industry in price per port for VoIP.

"We are very pleased to play a lead role in ANPI's VoIP rollout," said Robert Mimeault, President of Versatel Networks. "Versatel Networks is first in the industry to provide an intelligent media gateway based on a distributed architecture which incorporates the ability to immediately generate new services. We have changed the way that carriers purchase media gateways, evolving the process from just another necessary capital expenditure into a revenue generation resource."

"Versatel is a feature rich carrier class solution that allows us to cost-effectively integrate a carrier grade CLASS 4/5 solution within the Independent's local network, while simultaneously syncing such a local network with a set of redundant Versatel core facilities breeding a marriage of local command and control with national economies for toll termination, back office operational support systems, feature procurement and bulk purchasing," notes Lewis.

Associated Network Partners Inc. [ANPI]

ANPI is an Independent Telephone Company owned and managed consortium serving the telecommunications needs of over 325 companies across 38 states. ANPI's members serve approximately 2 million local lines, with ANPI carrying in excess of 1 billion minutes of toll per year. ANPI provides its members with a wide array of toll services, real-time marketing metric tool sets, and a feature rich turn-key VoIP solution set.

About Versatel Networks

Versatel Networks builds Intelligent Media Gateways that drive service provider growth and wow end-use customers. Versatel platforms integrate seamlessly with existing network investments and scale effortlessly. Versatel quality means rock solid carrier-class reliability, and the industry's lowest operating costs.

Versatel solutions help service providers achieve sustainable growth in VoIP by seizing new markets through unique features and service offerings.

Service providers achieve a return on investment in months, not years. In fact, our world-leading VoIP engineers pioneered the ingenious service architecture that situates Versatel applications at the network's edge, minimizing bandwidth use, and assuring reliability. "Zero-fault" carrier grade quality is at the core of Versatel's mission.

Versatel Networks' headquarters is located in Canada's National Capital Region, the "telecommunications corridor" (Ottawa/Hull). The company is led by a seasoned and experienced management team from such industry leaders as Nortel Networks, Mitel and Newbridge Networks.

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