Metaswitch

Metaswitch, founded in 1981 as Data Connection Ltd by Ian Ferguson and six unnamed individuals from IBM, is a developer of cloud-native communications software designed for enterprises, communication service providers, and equipment manufacturers. Cloud-native software is designed to run in private, public, and hybrid clouds, or on customer premises. Metaswitch provides communication solutions for over 750 communication service providers across the world. The company has offices in eleven cities in eight countries. Metaswitch has headquarters in the United Kingdom and the United States. Metaswitch was acquired by Microsoft in July 2020 for an undisclosed amount, although it was reported that part of the deal included the issuing of $270 million worth of Microsoft stock.

Metaswitch started as Data Connection Ltd in 1981. The company was founded by Ian Ferguson and six former employees of IBM. In August 2000, its voice-over-DSL group––the VPSwitch Group––was relaunched as the MetaSwitch Group. The first MetaSwitch product was the VP3000 integrated DSL voice switch, announced in June 2000. In August 2011, the company formally changed its name from Data Connection Ltd to Metaswitch Networks Ltd.

Microsoft acquired Metaswitch in July 2020. Metaswitch was previously owned by Francisco Partners and Sequoia Capital after the two companies took over a majority stake in 2008; they held Metaswitch up until Microsoft's acquisition.

Through Metaswitch services, businesses receive support in areas such as the development, deployment, and management of custom Metaswitch solutions; seamless subscriber migration; launching and marketing of new services; and interactive staff education with certification programs.

Metaswitch Fusion Core, designed for 4G and 5G deployment, is comprised of a 5G user plane function (UPF), core control plane functions (AMF/SMF), service-based architecture elements, and management components for network orchestration and automation. With the Metaswitch NOS Toolkit and suite of protocol stacks behind it, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can easily build new network functions or a complete network operating system.

Clearwater Core IMS provides highly scalable IMS components. It is supported by Metaswitch's Perimeta SBC, a session border controller used to provide security and interconnections. Rhino Telephony Application Server (TAS) for Mobile is a multimedia telephony application server that delivers VoLTE and VoNR services. MetaSphere QCall is Metaswitch's robocall blocking service that follows STIR/SHAKEN standards. MetaSphere Call Feature Server (CFS) and Enhanced Application Server (EAS) provides support for Metaswitch's consumer voice solutions. Metaswitch's portfolio of media gateways serve as critical components in the company's integrated migration strategies.

Metaswitch's unified communications products are built using the MetaSphere Multiservice Telephony Application Server (MTAS) platform. MaX UC is a unified communications and collaborations (UC&C) platform that provides video meetings, messaging, complete contact management features, and more. Cloud Contact Center is a cloud-based call center and customer service platform equipped with features intended to increase customer satisfaction.

MetaView Network Management System (NMS) is a suite of analytics applications with the tools needed to deploy, provision, manage, and troubleshoot end-to-end voice infrastructure. ServiceIQ is a suite of cloud deployment and automation tools that provide continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) software updates and service configuration.

Based on Metaswitch's Rhino application, Metaswitch Mobile Control Point (MCP) is a carrier-grade application server specifically for mobile operators providing Microsoft’s Operator Connect Mobile service. MCP connects to a mobile operator’s IMS core and determines where calls should be routed––through the mobile operator's network or through Microsoft Teams for calls made to and from users of Teams.

Metaswitch Managed Service for Teams Calling is an accelerated development service that supports and assists in the network operations of telecom operators as they develop voice calling services integrated with Microsoft Teams and other public switched telephone network (PSTN) service providers. The service fast-tracks a company's entry into Metaswitch's Operator Connect program. Similarly, Microsoft Operator Connect Accelerator is a Metaswitch partner program that helps operators achieve a faster time-to-market Operator Connect service delivery.

Among Metaswitch's packet core solutions are private, cloud native 5G and LTE networks designed for high-traffic enterprises; 5G wireless wireline convergence via Metaswitch's Access Gateway Function (AGF) solution; and complete mobile infrastructure with 4G LTE and 5G NR support.

Metaswitch provides Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) elements and solutions; IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for deploying fixed-line and mobile communications applications; MetaSphere, a platform for delivering fixed-line local calling and softswitch services; Metaswitch mobile voicemail; robocall prevention; and Open Service Creation, a solution for modifying and creating communications applications based on exposed existing network assets from other vendors.

Metaswitch offers unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solutions, such as UC and Collaboration, powered by its MaX UC platform; SIP trunking, which replaces traditional time-division multiplexing (TDM) voice connections with a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service;

and contact centers, specifically its Cloud Contact Center.

Metaswitch's first acquisition was AppTrigger––a service broker solutions provider––in March 2010. In April 2011, it acquired Colibria, a company that provided enhanced instant messaging and other similar solutions. In February 2017, Metaswitch acquired OpenCloud, a company of mobile service enablement experts.

Metaswitch is partners with over one hundred companies, including Dell, Nokia, Samsung, Cisco, 3M, Red Hat, Panasonic, Oracle, HP, and Affirmed Networks.