MontaVista Linux Powers New Softswitch from Iskratel

Carrier Grade Edition Supports Intel® Building Block-Based ATCA Platform for
Next-Generation Switching Equipment

Embedded World, Nürnberg, Germany, February 17, 2004 — MontaVista Software, Inc., the company powering the embedded revolution, and Iskratel, a leading European supplier of telecommunication equipment, today announced that MontaVista® Linux® Carrier Grade Edition (CGE) is the chosen operating system (OS) for Iskratel's SI2000 CS - Call Server, the nerve center in Iskratel's vision of next-generation networks (NGN). Based on the Intel® NetStructure™ ATCA™ product family, utilizing Low Voltage Intel Xeon™ processors, the SI2000 manages calls, controls access and trunking gateways, delivers services, and operates in an open, standards-based network.

The SI2000 Call Server, one of the key product components from Iskratel's SI2000 NG (next generation) portfolio, is Iskratel's solution for building NGNs that delivers a full suite of CLASS-4 and CLASS-5 functionality. The SI2000 CS is a softswitch or media gateway controller that delivers a full suite of subscriber-side interfaces and trunking signaling to the packet telephony network. It fulfils all the expectations of service providers for local and long-distance capability; full business and residential service sets; regulatory features; and carrier-grade reliability and scalability.

"Iskratel has been able to launch new and advanced telecommunications products consistent with the needs of our customers," said Franc Dolenc, director of Iskratel Business Unit Wireline. "By using a modern OS such as CGE together with Intel's AdvancedTCA chassis and CPU blades, we can provide our customers with a low-risk and cost-effective product platform supporting carrier grade services. MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition and AdvancedTCA provide a standards-based, open architecture, software and hardware development platform that is reliable and scalable."

"MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition is engineered and comprehensively tested, from the ground up, to address telecom availability needs and OSDL feature requirements," said Hendrik Noorderhaven, managing director for Central Europe, MontaVista Software. "CGE reduces development time and costs for telecommunications and networking equipment providers such as Iskratel. It also allows telecom carriers to provide rich services to their customers with carrier-grade reliability, easy operation and high performance."

Choice of OS and Development Platform
Iskratel's decision to choose MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition was based on the several requirements including:

  • A robust OS with the complete set of kernel and I/O functionalities
  • Compliance with the Open Systems Development Labs (OSDL) Carrier Grade Linux specification
  • Strong vendor support, currently and for the long term
  • Meeting stringent high reliability, availability and serviceability requirements
  • Support for several target and host platforms with application portability
  • Strong development tools portfolio
  • Third party support from major hardware and software vendors
  • Optimal real-time performance, foot print size, and scalability
  • Source code availability
  • An effective business model, sensible pricing and eliminating royalties

Iskratel's development team evaluated MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition against a range of widely available commercial proprietary platforms. CGE from MontaVista Software proved to be the platform that met all their technical and business needs.

Iskratel SI2000 Call Server is based on a suite of Intel AdvancedTCA products, including the Intel NetStructure MPCHC0001 14U Shelf, Intel NetStructure MPCBL0001 High-Performance Single Board Computer utilizing Low Voltage Intel Xeon processors, and the Intel NetStructure MPCMM0001 Chassis Management Module. Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) is the standard basic architecture based on the next-generation, highly advanced telecommunications specifications developed by the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG).

"The standards-based modular approach to delivering next-generation telecom infrastructure products is rapidly gaining momentum within the telecom industry because it offers service providers faster time-to-market with lower operating costs," said Anthony Ambrose, general manager, Intel Modular Platform Programs. "Combining high-performance Intel building blocks with MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition highlights Iskratel's ability to leverage today's ecosystem of standards based products to quickly meet customer demand."

MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition (CGE)
CGE is an advanced Linux-based development platform engineered specifically for the robust and highly available requirements of carrier grade applications. CGE is being used today in telecommunications and data communications applications for use in packet based and wireless infrastructure solutions. CGE is targeted for edge and core telecommunications including applications for the converging IP and voice networks such as softswitches, SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) and GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node), Voice over IP (VoIP) gateways, and many other applications. It enhances standard Linux with additional real-time, high availability and high reliability features based on the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL) Carrier Grade Linux Specification, and it is ideal for deployment in any carrier-grade environment.

Availability
Single products from Iskratel SI2000 NG (next generation) product portfolio are already available to Iskratel's key customers as parts of their complete solutions.

MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition is currently available as a product subscription through MontaVista Software and its worldwide distribution channels. MontaVista Linux product subscriptions provide developer teams with the MontaVista Linux kernel, deployment components, utilities, development tools, software updates, access to the MontaVista Zone (customer resource portal), comprehensive technical support a nd hands-on Linux training classes.

About Iskratel
With over 50 years of experience, Iskratel is one of the most successful telecommunications companies and is known as an important supplier of telecommunications equipment, services and solutions in both the carrier and enterprise segments. Over the past five years the company has recorded an average annual growth of 10%. As an innovative and reliable partner that has constantly been taking up challenges, Iskratel supplies and supports its customers with high-quality products and solutions. For further information, please visit www.iskratel.com

About MontaVista Software
MontaVista Software is a leading global supplier of systems software and development tools for intelligent connected devices and associated infrastructure. MontaVista powers the embedded revolution by providing Open Source GNU/Linux-based software solutions. Founded in 1999 by real-time operating system pioneer James Ready, MontaVista offers a family of products that address software developer needs encompassing applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer electronics. MontaVista products include MontaVista Linux Professional, Consumer Electronics and Carrier Grade Editions. MontaVista DevRocket, a powerful integrated development environment, delivers state-of-the-art development tools across all the product Editions. MontaVista Graphics offers a rich GUI development tools platform.

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co., IBM, Intel Capital, Sony, Panasonic (Matsushita), Toshiba America and Yamaha Corporation. For more information about MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com .

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a registered trademark of MontaVista Software, Inc. Intel, Xeon and NetStructure are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.


Contacts:

MontaVista Software
Joe Samagond
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications
MontaVista Software
Phone: (408) 328-9234
E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com

Patricia Colby
PR Strategy and Business Development
Pacifico, Inc.
Phone: (408) 293-8600 x340
E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com

Iskratel
Tomaž Vidonja
Director of Product Marketing
Business Unit Wireline
Phone +386 4 207-2118
E-mail: vidonja@iskratel.si