Deal Marks First TVoIP Customer Win Following Product Launch Last Month
ALAMEDA, Calif., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UTStarcom, Inc.
(Nasdaq: UTSI), a global leader in IP access networking and services, today
announced that DSSI LLC and SmartTel, a DSSI LLC company and a
facilities-based competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), have selected
UTStarcom as the key technology vendor for its rollout of triple play services
to subscribers in Alabama and Florida.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031229/UTSLOGO )
DSSI is partnering with UTStarcom to provide the initial 100,000 homes and
multi-dwelling units (MDUs) with IP-based voice, high-speed data, on-demand
video and video gaming, and 100-channel Television over IP (TVoIP) service to
subscribers via Fiber to the Home (FTTH) over the operator's fiber network.
DSSI will deploy an initial phase of 12,000 platforms to residential
subscribers from Panama City, Fla. to Mobile, Ala, with additional deployments
to follow. SmartTV, a DSSI integration division, intends to rollout its new
converged services on January 1, 2005 to customers in Pensacola, Fla., and
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Ala.
"Converged voice, data, and video services are the future of telecom, and
IP is the future of converged telecom-services delivery," said Jeff Hathaway,
chief executive officer of DSSI. "UTStarcom is providing us with an across-
the-board IP solution that enables us to deliver the multiple, high-bandwidth
services of the future to our customers now."
DSSI is deploying UTStarcom's complete mVision(TM) TVoIP solution,
including a cost-effective, low-bit-rate encoding platform; IP TV streaming
platform; TVoIP set-top boxes; and a field-proven Operations Support System
(OSS). UTStarcom's IP-based mSwitch(TM) softswitch and carrier-class software
suite are designed to provide OSS capabilities by handling media asset
management, channel management and scheduling, billing, security and
conditional access, system management, and other management functions.
UTStarcom is also providing DSSI with its 8250 Personal Communications
Management System (PCMS), which integrates enhanced voice services and unified
messaging in one platform.
"UTStarcom's end-to-end TVoIP solution enables us to offer our customers a
superior converged-services offering -- a quad play that includes voice, high-
speed data, on-demand video, and video-gaming," said Gary Stepanian, chief
technical officer for DSSI. "With UTStarcom's mVision, we can deliver HDTV-
quality video services today, and offer a competitive service bundling that
cost effectively scales as we expand our customer base."
UTStarcom is demonstrating its mVision TVoIP solution this week at the
TelcoTV 2004 Conference and Expo, which runs from November 16-18, at the
Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
"UTStarcom first announced the availability of mVision in October 2004.
Just one month later, we are announcing our first mVision customer," said John
Giarolo, vice president of North American sales for UTStarcom. "DSSI is an
innovative telecom provider and we're looking forward to working with them as
they expand their delivery of TVoIP and other converged services throughout
the Gulf Coast."
The contract with DSSI is yet another example of UTStarcom's evolution
from a vendor focused primarily on its successful PAS business in China to a
global leader in
next-generation telecommunications solutions. UTStarcom believes that
diversifying its solutions and expanding its relationships with operators
around the world will benefit its long-term growth and its ability to deliver
value to its shareholders in 2005 and beyond. Revenue from this contract
announcement is anticipated in 2005.
About mVision(TM)
UTStarcom's mVision offers an end-to-end solution designed for
telecommunications operators and broadband service providers to deliver
broadcast quality TV and on-demand entertainment service programming over IP
networks. mVison is designed to provide scalability, reliability, and
bandwidth efficiency for carriers to offer new services over existing network
infrastructures. These services include broadcast TV, Network PVR (n-PVR),
Video on Demand (VoD), and Near Video on Demand (NVoD). mVision enables local
exchange carriers and service providers to deliver traditional television
programming along with advanced content over their existing broadband
infrastructure. This results in new revenues, new services, and improved
customer satisfaction and retention.
About mSwitch(TM)
The IP-based mSwitch is designed to be a cost-effective, flexible, and
highly scalable switching infrastructure that supports voice and data services
over wireline and wireless networks. Service operators can use the platform to
migrate their traditional voice-based TDM networks to a next-generation,
IP-based packet switching architecture. Because the mSwitch supports a variety
of industry standards and protocols, operators can offer a full gamut of
revenue-generating services over one platform. In addition, the low price per
port of the mSwitch drives down application-per-subscriber costs and increases
operator revenue. However, service providers can also deploy the mSwitch as a
separate system, and they are increasingly interested in using the mSwitch for
additional applications.
About DSSI LLC
DSSI LLC maintains its corporate headquarters in Orange Beach, Alabama.
DSSI is a system integrations company providing clients with leading edge
technology solutions including consulting, engineering, deployment of turnkey
solutions, maintenance and training services. Its main focus is in the area of
voice, video and data technologies, web application development, wireless
communications and tower construction and turnkey solutions.
About UTStarcom, Inc.
UTStarcom is a global leader in IP access networking solutions and
international service and support. The company sells its wireline, wireless,
optical and switching solutions to operators in both fast growth and
established telecommunications markets around the world. UTStarcom enables
its customers to rapidly deploy revenue-generating access services using their
existing infrastructure, while providing a migration path to cost-efficient
end-to-end IP networks. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Alameda,
California, the company has research and design operations in New Jersey,
China, and India. UTStarcom is a FORTUNE 1000 company. For more information
about UTStarcom, visit the company's Web site at http://www.utstar.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The foregoing statements regarding, without limitation, the timing and
scope of the roll out of services by DSSI and its sister company SmartTV to
households in Florida and Alabama, the ability of mVision to deliver
high-quality video services, allow the provision of service bundling that cost
effectively scales as customer bases expand and generate new revenues, new
services and improved customer satisfaction and retention, and the cost-
effectiveness, flexibility, scalability and revenue-generating capability of
mSwitch are forward-looking in nature and are subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These
factors include rapidly changing technology, the changing nature of the
telecommunications market in general and the market for the southern United
States in particular, the possibility of slower than expected growth in the
telecommunications market, evolving product and application standards, changes
or delays in product introductions and deployments, possible downturns in the
U.S. market, the termination or material amendment of significant contracts,
partnerships or alliances, including that with DSSI, and other uncertainties,
such as changes in government regulation and licensing requirements in
relevant markets. UTStarcom also refers readers to the risk factors
identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
and Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
SOURCE UTStarcom, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.utstar.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031229/UTSLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Chesha Kamieniecki, Senior Manager of
Investor Relations of UTStarcom, Inc., +1-510-749-1560; or media,
Stephanie Gallagher of Engage PR, +1-510-748-8200, ext. 213, or
stephanie@engagepr.com, for UTStarcom
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