[VoiceOps] Acquire MetaSwitch
Jeff Brower
jbrower at signalogic.com
Tue Aug 13 16:11:25 EDT 2024
Azure and Teams were well established in 2020 when MetaSwitch was
acquired. The ongoing "welding" is being driven by AI
Quoting Alex Balashov via VoiceOps <voiceops at voiceops.org>:
> 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___
>>
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> VoiceOps mailing list
>> VoiceOps at voiceops.org
>> https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops___
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