[VoiceOps] Acquire MetaSwitch

Tue Aug 13 16:02:21 EDT 2024

            I think the new model is going to be:TDM Trunk media gateway to IPFXS to IPONT to IPSDWAN to Azure where logic is doneMonthly subscription for switchingPretty much the same, but everything is over SDWAN get to the meta. So if the CO loses Internet or experiences Internet packet loss, all voice services will be impacted.Very dystopian, but I think that’s the future for rural ILECsBest,Ethan Clay     ---- On Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:50:07 -0400  voiceops at voiceops.org<voiceops at voiceops.org> wrote ---- I don't think it's getting run over by AI. Peter R called it; it's about welding everyone to Azure and Teams.—Sent from mobile, apologies for brevity and errors.On Aug 13, 2024, at 3:46 PM, Jeff Brower via VoiceOps <voiceops at voiceops.org> wrote: 

"The telecommunications industry remains a priority industry for Microsoft" 

that is questionable. Like other areas getting run over by AI, priorities are shifting. Maybe they expect that if their AI gets smart enough, it can solve telecom use cases anyway :-) 

Quoting Jawaid Bazyar via VoiceOps <voiceops at voiceops.org>: 

"Azure for Operators" is what Microsoft was calling the Metaswitch products. 
This went out a couple months ago: 
--- 
We are reaching out to customers of our Azure for Operators portfolio, which includes products we acquired from Affirmed Networks and Metaswitch Networks, to explain recent updates to our portfolio. 
In 2020, we announced our Azure for Operators initiative.  As part of this effort, we acquired Affirmed Networks, Metaswitch Networks, and IP from AT&T to acquire “Telco DNA” that would enhance our operational / technical engineering skills for building a carrier grade platform.  As these acquisitions came together with Azure, we created Azure Operator Nexus – a carrier grade, hybrid cloud platform.  We are moving Azure Operator Nexus into our broader Azure Edge and Platform portfolio and continue to service operators. 
Based on customer demand, the Azure for Operators initiative also focused on automation and analytics capabilities as early products.  Given the acceleration of Microsoft’s AI capabilities overall, we are now aligning these early efforts with Microsoft’s broader portfolio. 
As we advance our platform and AI capabilities, we are shifting our focus from the Network Function layer to partnerships with industry leaders of these capabilities. We will fulfill all our contractual obligations to existing customers and we will be consistent with published end-of-life policies.  We will not expand our customer base for Microsoft’s Network Functions, including the former Metaswitch and Affirmed Networks software products. 
The telecommunications industry remains a priority industry for Microsoft.  We will continue to empower telecommunications organizations to achieve more through a trusted and secure platform built to elevate customer experiences, streamline enterprise operations and business support systems, accelerate network transformation, reinvent product innovation and monetization, and build a secure data-driven business. 
We appreciate the importance our products provide in supporting your network.  We also appreciate the long-term planning that network development requires, so we will communicate our roadmap plans at the earliest opportunity.  It is important to note that these changes do not require immediate action from you today, nor do they change any agreement that you have in place with Microsoft.  We will continue to meet all customer contractual commitments. 
If you have any questions, please contact: AFO Sales Questions afosalesqst at microsoft.com. 
Thank you. 

FAQ 
Q:  Is there any action I need to take today?  When will you have more details to share about retirement dates (Azure services) or End of Life dates (Metaswitch Networks & Affirmed Networks products)? 
A:  We will continue to meet all customer contractual commitments and be consistent with published end-of-life policies.  We also appreciate the long-term planning that network development requires, so we will communicate our roadmap plans at the earliest opportunity. 

Q:  Will you still support our cloud and AI transformation? 
A:  Yes, Microsoft is refining the offers we provide to operators to reflect the strong demand for cloud and AI based solutions. 

Q:  If you are announcing an End of Sale for the Affirmed Network and Metaswitch Network products for new customers and net new deployments, what does this mean for my existing service? 

We will meet all existing customer contractual obligations. 
We will continue to maintain the software to provide security patches and bug fixes.  We highly recommend that customers follow standard security practices and upgrade to the latest releases. 
We will provide support consistent with existing contracts. 
We will continue to offer project level support / maintenance services on a case-by-case basis (as we do today). 
We will support the expansion of volumes of current deployments. 
We will not expand the customer base / add new customers. 
We will not expand to entirely new deployments for existing customers (e.g., launching for a new OpCo or OpCo not currently deployed) where the new deployment is not already contractually committed. 
We will not expand or offer new feature sets beyond those that have already been committed. 

Q:  What Are you announcing for the Azure for Operators products? 
A:   Here is a summary of these changes: 

We promoted Azure Operator Nexus to Azure’s Edge and Platform portfolio and will continue to sell it. 
We will continue to support Azure Programmable Connectivity. 
We will support existing customers of Azure Operator Insights / AIOps Copilot, but we will not accept new customers.  Microsoft Fabric will address this functionality. 
We will no longer add new customers for: Azure Communication Gateway (ACG), Azure Operator Insights (AOI), Azure Private 5G Core (AP5GC), Affirmed Mobile Content Cloud (MCC), Affirmed UnityCloud (UC), Metaswitch Rhino TAS, and Metaswitch Perimeta SBC.  If you have a customer who is in the process of onboarding, please contact the appropriate In-flight Projects contact: sallywathen at microsoft.com (APAC and EMEA) or seanjames at microsoft.com (Americas). 
We will not accept more preview candidates for: Azure Operator Call Protection (AOCP) and Azure Operator 5G Core (AO5GC), and we will not move these services to General Availability. 

Q:  What is next after you stop selling a product, and how will you manage these products? 
A:  We will continue to support these products in accordance with our existing customer commitments.  We will eventually retire these services in accordance with our lifecycle policies.  In advance of retirement, we will provide notification as well as details on transition recommendations.  We are committed to supporting you through this transition. 

Here are the current plans for each product, but plans may evolve as we work with customers: 

Azure Communication Gateway (ACG) – We will publish a transition roadmap to recommend options to migrate off these services to partner solutions when the service is retired. 
Azure Operator Insights (AOI) – We will work with customers to align this service to Microsoft Fabric before the service is retired. 
Azure Operator 5G Core (AO5GC)  – We will not move this product from Public Preview to GA 
Azure Private 5G Core (AP5GC) – We will provide options to adopt services using partner solutions before the service is retired. 
Azure Operator Call Protection (AOCP) – We will not move this product from Private Preview to GA.  Operators may still use existing Microsoft tooling and partner solutions to create a similar solution. 
Affirmed Mobile Content Cloud (MCC) – We will meet obligations as defined above until product End of Life. 
Affirmed UnityCloud (UC) – We will meet obligations as defined above and move to product End of Life. 
Metaswitch Rhino TAS – We will meet obligations as defined above until product End of Life. 
Metaswitch Perimeta SBC – We will meet obligations as defined above until product End of Life. 

Q:  Is Microsoft exiting the telecommunications industry? 
A:  No.  Microsoft remains fully committed to supporting the telecommunications industry by empowering them to achieve more with the power of Cloud and AI.  The changes to the Azure for Operator portfolio reflect customer demand and enable us to focus on the technologies that drive the most value for our customers and partners. 

Q:  If these changes impacted my contacts at Microsoft, who can I contact? 
A:  We apologize for any inconvenience personnel changes have caused you.  Please reach out to your assigned Microsoft Account Executive.  For issues requiring escalation, you may contact the following:  

Questions / inquiries:                                                        afosalesqst at microsoft.com 
Industry Lead Sponsor:                                           silvia.candiani at microsoft.com 
Support Issues:                                                          mhenderson at microsoft.com  
In-flight Projects (APAC and EMEA)                     sallywathen at microsoft.com 
In-flight Projects (Americas):                                 seanjames at microsoft.com 
Purchase Orders:                                                      jason.ryberg at microsoft.com  
Executive Escalation:                                          shawn.hakl at microsoft.com 

On Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 8:41 AM Mike Hammett <voiceops at ics-il.net> wrote: 

"Given the MetaSwitch products are no longer sold, and Microsoft is EOLing them, and not taking new support contracts..." 

That's news to me. 

----- 
Mike Hammett 
Intelligent Computing Solutions 
http://www.ics-il.com 

Midwest Internet Exchange 
http://www.midwest-ix.com 

From: "Jawaid Bazyar via VoiceOps" <voiceops at voiceops.org> 
To: "voiceops" <voiceops at voiceops.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 7:23:05 AM 
Subject: [VoiceOps] Acquire MetaSwitch 

Hello, 

We are in the market to acquire / take over a MetaSwitch CFS. In particular, we're looking for the virtual edition that runs purely in VMWare. 

The components we'd need are: 
    CFS 
    MRS (Media Resource Server) 
    Perimeta 
    SAS (Service Assurance Server) 
    MetaView Server 

These are fairly common components. 

Given the MetaSwitch products are no longer sold, and Microsoft is EOLing them, and not taking new support contracts, we're not talking about a big cash up front kind of deal, but, instead a revenue share kind of arrangement. 

Anyone that has one and is interested, contact me directly off-list. 

Cheers, 

Jawaid 

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