Triple Play

NetCentrex moved a step closer to offering a complete IMS architecture by acquiring NeoTIP.

NetCentrex, Inc., a developer of next-generation converged voice and video solutions, added key component in its effort to offer a complete IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture with today's announcement that it entered into an agreement to acquire NeoTIP, a European-based supplier of session border control technology (SBC).

A NetCentrex representative declined to provide financial details surrounding the cash/stock deal.

The two companies, both of which are headquartered in France, are "kindred spirits" with similar cultures and, therefore, aren't expected to experience the growing pains associated with many acquisitions, NetCentrex' Vice President of Marketing Brian Mahony told TMCnet in an interview on Tuesday.

It also didn't hurt that NeoTIP is profitable.

The crown jewel in the deal, however, is NeoTIP's SBC technology, which delivers security and quality assurance to VoIP and other services, according to the release. SBC will be folded into NetCentrex' IMS developments component (the Proxy Call Session Control Function in particular).

Managing network borders cannot be performed by regular network services such as routers, softswitches or firewalls, NeoTIP's Web site states.

"As IP technology is becoming the foundation for delivering advanced applications to consumers and enterprises, operators demand increased security and quality of service without increased complexity or cost," said Olivier Hersent, chairman and CTO of NetCentrex, in a press release.

Mahony said the acquisition is a natural progression for both companies in light of the rapid evolution of IMS.

"It just makes sense," Mahony said.

IMS is used by telecom operators in NGN networks to offer network controlled multimedia services. The architecture is appealing for a number of reasons, including its flexibility that allows operators and service providers to use different underlying network architectures as well as offer any IP-based service.

NetCentrex' full commitment to IMS puts the company in a favorable position to assist service providers in delivering data and fixed-mobile services to consumers and enterprises quickly and efficiently.

"NetCentrex is growing; we're waking up and being aggressive," Mahony said. "We're doing what we need to do to be a major player."

In April, Frost & Sullivan recognized NetCentrex as the worldwide leader in the Class 5 Application Server market.