Tollgrade Partners with Minacom to Deliver Advanced VoIP Testing to DOCSIS(R)-Based Transponders and End-of-Line Probes
13 June 2006
Tollgrade Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: TLGD), a leading supplier of network service assurance products, and Minacom, the leading VoIP test solution provider for Cable MSOs, announced today a strategic alliance to deliver advanced, integrated testing solutions for VoIP over cable networks. These VoIP testing solutions will be deployed on Tollgrade's recently-released End-of-Line (EOL) probes and its widely deployed DOCSIS(R)-based Status Monitoring Cheetah(R) Transponders that will now feature embedded Minacom VoIP testing technology, allowing the Tollgrade units to act as responders for test calls placed by the Minacom probes. Using Minacom's Patent-Pending softswitch integration, tests are conducted over actual PacketCable(TM) Dynamic Quality of Service (DQoS) voice channels, providing true user-perceived VoIP service quality testing throughout the hybrid fiber / coax (HFC) network.
An industry first, the integrated remote-testing solution can significantly reduce the time required to identify, isolate and diagnose VoIP service issues, while also providing proactive, real-time monitoring to detect service level degradation before quality issues affect subscribers. Test automation, results analysis, service level classification, fault management and reporting are controlled by Minacom's DirectQuality(R) R7 web-based OSS, already deployed by over 70 service providers worldwide.
Test calls use Minacom's award-winning VoIP testing technology to measure over 40 service quality measurements including speech quality (MOS), speech power, loss, distortion, clipping and noise, call connectivity metrics such as Post Dial Delay (PDD), as well as dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF / Touch Tone) transparency. Minacom's PowerProbes can be co-located with Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS), or installed in the IP or PSTN segments of a PacketCable network. Tollgrade's Cheetah CMD-P transponders are "Verified for Interoperability" with CableLabs(R)' PacketCable 1.0 specification and respond to and initiate PowerProbe test calls using an embedded E-MTA emulator.
The strategic alliance between Tollgrade and Minacom will focus on further developing and co-marketing integrated triple-play, service level test solutions for Cable MSOs and Telcos, helping them to provide the best possible VoIP, digital Video, and Internet services to their subscribers.
"Minacom service level automation solutions are based on true user- perceived service quality testing, allowing Cable MSOs to provision, monitor and troubleshoot large-scale VoIP deployments with the confidence that subscribers will enjoy the very best service quality from day-of-install onward. Tollgrade's integration of Minacom technology into their products allows operators to leverage this extensive test visibility throughout the HFC plant - where problems are most likely to occur and are most difficult to detect," commented Michel Nadeau, President & CEO of Minacom. "Tollgrade and Minacom solutions are widely deployed in leading Cable and Telco networks worldwide. By working together, we can effectively offer innovative test solutions that help our customers provision, troubleshoot and maintain large- scale VoIP deployments."
"Tollgrade's Cheetah Cable Solution is an industry first, integrating HFC, DOCSIS and PacketCable VoIP fault/performance data into a single system, instrumenting the HFC plant to test and measure the true customer experience. This unique multi-layered capability and VoIP test integration with Minacom provides a critical element of our customers' installation and maintenance processes for cable broadband services," said Mark Peterson, Tollgrade's President & CEO.
Tollgrade network service assurance solutions will be featured at the SCTE CableTec EXPO on June 20-23, 2006 at its display area Booth # 593. Minacom test solutions will be displayed at Booth #1931. Both companies will be conducting live demonstrations of their integrated test solutions.
About Minacom
Minacom builds Service Level Test Systems for Telcos and Cable MSOs, and Internet Telephony Service Providers. Minacom's automated test systems help maintain the integrity and quality of large-scale multi-service deployments, including Voice, VoIP, IPTV, Caller ID, Voicemail, Conferencing, Fax, Dial-Up Modem, Video Conferencing, and IP Services from Ping and DNS to Audio & Video RTP Streaming.
Minacom systems are web-controlled by a centralized server platform that integrates years of operational experience into test setups, test strategies and result analysis rules used by over 70 operators worldwide including AT&T, Comcast, France Telecom, Liberty Global, Primus, Orange, Clearwire, VSNL and Bellsouth, as well as softswitch manufacturers such as Siemens, Cedar Point and Ericsson. Experience Minacom's QoS test automation live at http://www.minacom.com/try .
About Tollgrade
Tollgrade Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of network service assurance products and services for centralized test systems around the world. Tollgrade designs, engineers, markets and supports centralized test systems, test access and status monitoring products, and next generation network assurance technologies for the broadband marketplace. Tollgrade's customers range from the top RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies) and Cable providers, to numerous independent telecom, cable and broadband providers around the world. Tollgrade's network testing, measurement and monitoring solutions support the infrastructure of cable and telecom companies offering current and emerging triple play services. Tollgrade, headquartered near Pittsburgh in Cheswick, Pa., and its products and customer reach span over 200 million embedded access lines, more than any other test and measurement supplier. For more information, visit Tollgrade's web site at http://www.tollgrade.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
Tollgrade cautions readers that the foregoing release contains "forward looking statements" regarding future events or results within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements concerning the launch of new product interoperability and the effectiveness of such products. Tollgrade cautions readers that such "forward looking statements" are, in fact, predictions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and that actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated events or results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Tollgrade disclaims any current intention to update these "forward looking statements," and the estimates and assumptions within them, at any time or for any reason. In particular, the following factors, among others could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the "forward looking statements:" (a) possible unforeseen delays in the deployment of these technologies; (b) inability to maintain interoperability among the Tollgrade and Minacom products; (c) inability to maintain "Verified for Interoperability" status of Tollgrade's CMD-P transponders due to technical modifications that may be required in the future which might require that the products be resubmitted, which status is not in such event guaranteed; (d) inability to protect Tollgrade's intellectual property from infringement or the possibility that Tollgrade technology infringes upon the intellectual property rights of others, adversely affecting Tollgrade's ability to market and sell such technology; and (e) Tollgrade's dependence upon a limited number of third parties manufacturing our products or specific technology incorporated into our products. Other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those contained in the "forward looking statements" are included in Tollgrade's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") including, but not limited to, Tollgrade's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and any subsequently filed reports. All documents are also available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system at http://www.sec.gov or from Tollgrade's website at http://www.tollgrade.com.
Cheetah is a trademark of Tollgrade, Inc. Minacom, Simplifying Service Assurance, DirectQuality, DirectCare, DirectReach and PowerProbe are registered trademarks of Minacom Labs, Inc. CableLabs, PacketCable and DOCSIS are trademarks of CableLabs. All other trademarks used in this document are the property of their respective owners.
Source: prnewswire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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