AVCI Avici Systems Inc. (MM)

Avici Systems' (NASDAQ:AVCI) Soapstone Networks today unveiled its Provider Network Controller (PNC) (TM) at the NXTcomm trade show in Chicago (booth 1531). Soapstone's software is designed to bring orderly, predictable business-driven behavior to IP networks. The PNC creates a common control framework for various network technologies, enabling carriers to create and deploy services quickly by making services network technology agnostic. At NXTcomm, Soapstone Networks is exhibiting its Provider Network Controller for PBT in a demo that showcases automated, QoS-based path selection for customizable business, wireless backhaul, and broadband services. It is demonstrating interoperability of its control plane across a multi-node Nortel PBT switch network. "We believe the new carrier infrastructure will be based on cost-effective Carrier Ethernet solutions working in concert with NGN software frameworks," said Larry Dennison, Founder and CTO of Soapstone Networks. "PBT in combination with NGN is representative of the new Carrier Ethernet. Our PNC delivers a key module to allow technology agnostic services to be deployed in the metro Ethernet market." Soapstone also announced that it has joined Nortel's [NYSE/TSX: NT] Carrier Ethernet Ecosystem. The Carrier Ethernet Ecosystem will bring together industry hardware and software vendors as well as component and tool suppliers to participate in creating interoperable carrier Ethernet solutions. It is focused on allowing carriers to meet the explosion in demand on metro area networks from video, VoIP and other real-time communications. By advancing the benefits of lower cost and simplicity for carrier Ethernet networks, the new ecosystem will serve as a partnering framework for the industry's best solution providers to adopt Ethernet as the preferred means of information transport in carrier networks. "It is clear that carriers are looking for ways to leverage economical Ethernet switching solutions to reduce operating expenditures and enable new revenue streams," stated Michael Howard, co-founder and principal analyst of Infonetics Research. "The Carrier Ethernet Ecosystem is an important step along the path to interoperable multi-vendor metro Ethernet networks. PBT's separation of control plane and data plane allows vendors to develop products that optimize cost and increase service velocity." Soapstone Networks is taking advantage of the separation of the control and data plane in PBT to deliver a new Carrier Ethernet Control Plane expressly for NGN frameworks. By moving the control plane from equipment to software natural value optimization can occur. Data plane vendors such as Ethernet switch suppliers can work on driving down equipment costs and add new features. Control plane vendors can focus on services and feature velocity. By making the coupling between network elements looser, interoperability problems are minimized and carriers can deploy multi-vendor solutions. The Soapstone control plane exists outside the traditional router and can as easily control Ethernet, optical or routed networks. About Soapstone Networks The Soapstone Networks solution is designed to enable carriers to bring orderly, predictable, business-driven behavior to networks, regardless of vendor or technology. It utilizes an SOA-based modular architecture that provides the agility and nimbleness to target different applications. www.soapstonenetworks.com This release contains information about Soapstone Network's future expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. When used in this press release, the words "will be" and other similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Avici's ability to manage the transition of its core router business, the early stage of Soapstone Networks, market acceptance of Avici products, services and enhancements, customer purchasing patterns and commitments, development of the market place, reliance on technology and distribution partners, product development and enhancement, intensity of competition of other vendors, technological changes and other risks set forth in Avici's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission http://www.avici.com/press/2007/20070619.pdf