Clarent Introduces Distributed Softswitch Architecture

March 21, 2002 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Clarent Corporation (clarent.com), a global provider of softswitch solutions, announced this week that it has completed an 18-month effort to transform its VoIP platform components into a distributed softswitch architecture designed to meet carrier class requirements.

The Clarent Softwitch, says the company, is based on a distributed three-tiered architecture in which the intelligent network and call control layers interoperate with the transport layer through media gateways using standard protocols.

The softswitch’s distributed architecture provides the foundation for VoIP benefits, such as scalability, application flexibility and cost effectiveness, designed to meet the needs of service provider toll by-pass deployments, local access for residential service and managed services for the enterprise. Clarent says it regards these markets as today’s emerging and high-growth markets for VoIP.

The recently released UNIX versions of the Class 4 and Class 5 Call Managers are key components of the Clarent Softswitch, says the company, providing call control features such as call forwarding and caller ID to the residential and enterprise markets along with egress routing to the PSTN.

According to Clarent, the softwitch is able to interoperate using standards-based protocols with media gateways from multiple equipment providers.

“Clarent has a track record of developing the right VoIP products for the right markets,” says Gary Sbona, chairman and CEO of Clarent Corporation. “The completion of UNIX development and the integration of softswitch elements on carrier class platforms is a significant achievement for the company. It is an important step in our goal of providing carrier class reliability and robustness to all our customers, whether their deployments are in emerging regional offices or Tier 1 central office deployments.”