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ALAMEDA, Calif., and TULSA, Okla., Nov 10, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- UTStarcom, Inc. (Nasdaq: UTSI), a global leader in IP access and core networking and services, and VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for Internet and telecommunications networks, today announced a joint marketing agreement through which both companies will work together to increase market reach and attract new customers. As a part of this agreement, UTStarcom will refer its mSwitch™ IP telecom softswitch platform customers -- those who need assistance in compliance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) -- to the VeriSign® NetDiscovery(SM) Service. The two companies have made NetDiscovery interoperable with mSwitch in order to support service providers' voice-over-IP (VoIP) and other voice-over-broadband (VoBB) deployments.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031229/UTSLOGO )
UTStarcom's mSwitch platform supports traditional PSTN and softswitch protocols, seamlessly bridging the gap between existing circuit-switched platforms and next-generation packet-switched networks, while enabling service providers to offer VoBB services. VeriSign's NetDiscovery Service is a lawful-assistance and CALEA-compliance service that handles provisioning, access, delivery, and collection of call information for service providers and network operators, to facilitate directives from Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). Until recently, CALEA applied only to PSTN switches. Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a proposed rulemaking regarding the applicability of IP voice services to CALEA, which is expected to take effect early next year.
"Interoperation between our mSwitch and VeriSign's NetDiscovery Service adds value by meeting service providers' needs for regulatory services," said Farshid Mohammadi, general manager of switching, North America and International, at UTStarcom. "The FCC is now recommending that VoBB service providers comply with CALEA. UTStarcom can take advantage of the agreement with VeriSign to make the widest range of options, including the leading hosted CALEA service, available to service providers that offer VoBB. Because VeriSign has a global presence, the agreement also offers a huge value to UTStarcom's international customers."
"VeriSign typically works directly with carriers for our comprehensive portfolio of managed communications services," said Raj Puri, vice president of VeriSign NetDiscovery services. "Our agreement with UTStarcom gives an additional avenue for reaching a whole new VoBB provider market for our hosted CALEA services. We anticipate that the agreement will also increase our value to our existing PSTN customers that are looking to expand into IP voice services."
Cost-Effective, Easy CALEA Compliance
Meeting CALEA compliance with assistance from VeriSign's outsourced service model helps minimize capital and operational expenses for providers that employ UTStarcom's mSwitch. CALEA requires carriers to assist LEAs in lawfully authorized interception and subpoena requests for subscriber records. To comply, carriers often have to purchase dedicated hardware, invest heavily in training, and maintain connectivity with a variety of LEAs. The VeriSign NetDiscovery Service greatly streamlines CALEA compliance requirements by maintaining all LEA connections, and it eliminates the need for UTStarcom's mSwitch users to purchase costly equipment.
The VeriSign service offers secure and streamlined administration and a multitude of connectivity options that help reduce the burden and expense of compliance for a service provider, allowing them to more easily fulfill the mandates of lawful interception.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. delivers intelligent infrastructure services that make the Internet and telecommunications networks more reliable and secure. Every day VeriSign helps thousands of businesses and millions of consumers conduct commerce and communications with confidence. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.
About UTStarcom, Inc.
UTStarcom is a global leader in IP access and core 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 www.utstar.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The foregoing statements regarding, without limitation, anticipated increases in UTStarcom's market reach and new customers resulting from the joint marketing agreement with VeriSign, the ability of interoperation between mSwitch and Verisign's CALEA Services to add value by meeting service providers' needs for regulatory services, UTStarcom's ability to make the widest range of options including the leading hosted CALEA solution available to service providers that offer VoBB as a result of the joint marketing agreement, the huge value to UTStarcom's international customers resulting from the joint marketing agreement, anticipated increases in value to UTStarcom's existing PSTN customers and the minimization of capital and operational expenses of providers that employ UTStarcom's 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, possible delays in system deployments or product introductions, competitive pressures on UTStarcom and its customers, changes in governmental regulation and licensing requirements, termination of new contracts, partnerships or alliances and other uncertainties. The Company 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.
Chesha Kamieniecki, Senior Manager of Investor Relations of UTStarcom, Inc., +1-510-749-1560; or Leslie Rubin, Corporate Communications of VeriSign, Inc., +1-650-426-5363, or lrubin@verisign.com; or Stephanie Gallagher of Engage PR, +1-510-748-8200, ext. 213, or stephanie@engagepr.com, for UTStarcom Inc. /Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031229/UTSLOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comhttp://www.utstar.com
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