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Verso and Saab Grintek Complete
VoIP Trials Over WiMAX Platform in South Africa
Other Topics: WiMAX 802.16e
Standard, WIMAX Networks Deployment
Verso Technologies, Inc.
December 15, 2005
Atlanta, GA -- Verso Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSO), a leading provider
of packet-based solutions, announced today the successful completion of
a trial of its VoIP products operating on a Pre-WiMAX (IEEE802.16a)
network. The trial was with Telkom South Africa (SA), in conjunction
with Verso's partner, Saab Grintek Technologies, one of South Africa's
leading information technology, telecommunications solutions and
integration companies.
This trial enabled WiFi-compatible personal digital assistants (PDAs) to
have access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) by utilizing
customer premise gateways (CPGs) and then backhauled using WiMAX
technology to an existing Telkom central office. This trial solution was
successfully deployed using Verso's Class 4 and Class 5 softswitching
and gateway technologies (BHG2500). |
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WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology that provides
high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be
used for a number of applications, including "last mile" broadband
connections, hotspots and cellular backhaul, and high-speed enterprise
connectivity for business.
The demand for broadband wireless Internet access has climbed steadily
in recent years. Reaching customers with traditional broadband
connectivity has been very expensive in existing metro environments that
lack copper or fiber infrastructure, or in geographical areas that are
difficult to reach with traditional broadband technologies. These
include rural areas within the African continent with low population
density, as well as emerging markets in the developing world with little
or no existing communications infrastructure.
Broadband wireless promises to reach these markets without the cost of a
hard-wired infrastructure. The potential benefits of a WiMAX network
include reaching more customers, delivering more services to existing
customers and lowering the cost of delivery, producing greater revenue
for carriers and content providers with lower costs.
"This trial demonstrates Verso's ability to provide carrier grade VoIP
solutions and applications and specifically demonstrates that Verso can
successfully deliver voice and data over a WiMAX network," said Monty
Bannerman, chief executive officer, Verso Technologies. "Verso's goal is
to create a well aligned product portfolio which supports new market
opportunities, cultivates and strengthens existing relationships and
delivers superior value to our customers and partners in the African
region. We feel that the company is well positioned to leverage the high
growth opportunities afforded by WiMAX. We are pleased to be working
with our long-time partner Saab Grintek and look forward to a long
standing relationship with Telkom SA," continued Bannerman.
"Verso's product portfolio addresses the challenges faced by telecom
carriers on the African continent," said Delio Senatore, Carrier
divisional head for Saab Grintek. "We are confident that our strong
partnership will continue to assist our mutual customers to select and
deploy solutions that are timely, cost effective and address the needs
of this evolving telecommunications market," said Senatore.
About Verso Technologies
Verso is a leading provider of next generation communication solutions
for service providers that want to lower their communication
infrastructure costs and enhance service capabilities without
sacrificing reliability, scalability and quality of service. With an
extensive solutions portfolio that extends from the core to the edge of
a network, Verso enables customers to leverage legacy technology
investments towards converged networks that are faster and more
cost-effective to deploy and easier and more flexible to manage. For
more information, contact Verso at www.verso.com or call 678.589.3500.
About Saab Grintek
Grintek is a leading high-technology partnership between Kunene Bros
Holdings (29.7%) and Saab AB (70.3%). The group specializes in three
main market segments, namely telecommunications and selected niche
opportunities within industrial and defence electronics. Grintek is a
business unit of Saab.
About Saab
Saab is one of the world's leading high-technology companies, with its
main operations focusing on defense, aviation and space. The Group
covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems
integration. |
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