As long as we're talking about BridgePort Networks, let's openly acknowledge that they're newsmakers, in a hot market segment, and absolutely on a roll. In addition to the interview posts and podcast I did with Sanjay, don't overlook the big announcements they made recently in conjunction with Siemens and Net2Phone. I posted a few minutes ago about what they're doing with MobileIGNITE. And now another nugget.

Tomorrow BridgePort Networks will announce the launch of their Device Development Program, which will provide device manufacturers and client software developers with the resources and support to innovate and test new products in both current mobile networks and IMS networks.

A specific focus of the program is the interoperability and certification of cellular/Wi-Fi converged handsets for cellular-to-Wi-Fi seamless voice call handover together with BridgePort Networks¹ standards-based network server products.

Kudos to BridgePort for not just leading the way, but showing the way to the next generation of converged services.

BRIDGEPORT NETWORKS LAUNCHES DEVELOPERS’ PROGRAM FOR FIXEDMOBILE CONVERGENCE DEVICE AND CLIENT SOFTWARE VENDORS

Certifies Cellular/Wi-Fi Converged Handsets and Other VoIP Terminals as Part of Complete Go-To-Market MobileVoIP Solutions

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 31, 2006 - BridgePort Networks, the leader in MobileVoIP convergence, today announced the launch of its Device Developers’ Program. The program will provide handset device manufacturers and client software developers with the resources and support to innovate and test new products in both current mobile networks and IMS networks.

One specific focus of the program is the interoperability and certification of cellular/Wi-Fi converged handsets for cellular-to-Wi-Fi seamless voice call handover together with BridgePort Networks’ standards-based network server products.
In a fiercely competitive market characterized by innovation and cutting-edge technology, this initiative from BridgePort Networks will drive the delivery of new products and services from a wide range of suppliers and vendors. The announcement follows on the heels of reseller agreements with Siemens and Net2Phone that extend the reach of BridgePort Networks’ solutions to both companies’ global service provider customers.

The new Device Developers’ Program provides live access to integrated, fixed, and mobile environments using BridgePort Networks’ NomadicONE Network Convergence Gateway (NCG) with today’s cellular networks or using the company’s NomadicONE IMS Convergence Server (ICS) with next-generation IMS networks. Device manufacturers and client software developers are able to test new products and services on a live fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) system in either environment.

“The Device Developers Program will act as a catalyst for the delivery of a broad variety of interoperable FMC devices,” explains Mike Mulica, CEO BridgePort Networks. “By providing an end-to-end development and test environment, we will stimulate the creation of new innovative services and applications for service providers.”

The key to the Device Developers’ Program is the ability to perform convergence-related interoperability testing (IOT) facilitating the development of new features within BridgePort Networks’ ecosystem. There are four levels to the program, starting from basic remote access to a laboratory network test environment and scaling up to full live network certification equivalent to a typical network operator’s formal acceptance testing for commercial launch.

Channel partners and service providers will also benefit as the Program will provide a set of tested solutions for demos, trials and commercial offerings, encouraging the innovative development of new products and accelerating their time to market. 

Current participants in the program include: E28, PCTEL, CounterPath, Core Mobility, Kyocera Wireless, FirstHand Technologies, and TapRoot Systems.

E28 Limited
“Participating in Bridgeport Networks Device Developer’s Program has accelerated the completion of E28 GSM+Wi-Fi dual-mode smartphone interoperability and IMS/VCC compliance testing” Said Michael Chu, Vice-President of Marketing & Chief Software Architect of E28 Limited, “It has enabled our customers to deploy their trial and deployment of FMC services ahead of their schedule.”

FirstHand Technologies (Formerly SIPQuest)
"We are excited to bring our innovations to BridgePort Networks’ Device Developer's Program, because it will accelerate time to market for our offerings. And being first is very important to us," said Peter Brockmann, Senior Vice- President of Marketing and Business Development for FirstHand Technologies.

Kyocera Wireless Corporation
“Kyocera Wireless is on the cutting edge of CDMA/Wi-Fi integration and it’s tools like BridgePort Networks’ Device Developers’ Program that are helping us maintain that leadership position,” said Tom Maguire, Vice-President Global Marketing, Kyocera Wireless Corporation. “Our participation in the program has given us access to BridgePort Networks’ systems, a great benefit to our engineering and product development teams.”

PCTEL
"Our relationship with BridgePort Networks has certainly been strengthened by having access to the Device Developers' Program," said Biju Nair, Vice-President and General Manager of PCTEL's Mobility Solutions Group. "This program has greatly enhanced our ability to bring a quality product to market quickly."

Notes:
The BridgePort Networks’ NomadicONE product is software that operates on a telecom grade network server that is deployed into operators’ networks to bridge mobile and broadband networks for both consumer and enterprise users. For voice call, messaging, and presence services, BridgePort Networks has created two versions of the NomadicONE: the Network Convergence Gateway (NCG) to support pre-IMS networks and the IMS Convergence Server (ICS) to support IMS networks.

About BridgePort Networks
BridgePort Networks is the leader in MobileVoIP convergence -- combining the personalization and mobility of mobile phone services with the flexibility, innovation and outstanding cost economics of the rapidly growing VoIP sector. The NomadicONE product family extends single identity phone number services over multiple access networks, including - mobile, cable, DSL and Wi-Fi – in both current networks and IMS environments. The company is a leading member of the MobileIGNITE industry association for the interoperability of fixed mobile convergence (FMC) services and applications. BridgePort Networks is a global company, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. To learn more about BridgePort Networks visit: www.bridgeport-networks.com.

BridgePort Networks logo and NomadicONE are trademarks of BridgePort Networks Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.