[VoiceOps] Acquire MetaSwitch

Peter Rad peter at 4isps.com
Wed Aug 14 14:22:00 EDT 2024


"Telecom" is a priority. That means they want to get the same partners 
as RingCentral to sell more Teams as softphone; use more vSBC; get more 
Azure usage.  It has nothing to do with interconnection, TDM, 
residential or every telecom operator - just about getting more 
enterprises on Teams

Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.  Thank you.

Regards,

Peter Radizeski
RAD-INFO INC
Telecom Consultant
Bandwidth * Voice * Cloud * Data Center * Internet * CyberSecurity
(813) 963-5884



On 8/13/2024 3:40 PM, Jeff Brower via VoiceOps 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 <mailto: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
>>     <mailto:sallywathen at microsoft.com> (APAC and EMEA) or
>>     seanjames at microsoft.com
>>     <mailto: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 
>> <mailto:afosalesqst at microsoft.com>___
>>
>> ___Industry Lead Sponsor: silvia.candiani at microsoft.com 
>> <mailto:silvia.candiani at microsoft.com>___
>>
>> ___Support Issues: mhenderson at microsoft.com 
>> <mailto:mhenderson at microsoft.com>___
>>
>> ___In-flight Projects (APAC and EMEA) sallywathen at microsoft.com 
>> <mailto:sallywathen at microsoft.com>___
>>
>> ___In-flight Projects (Americas): seanjames at microsoft.com 
>> <mailto:seanjames at microsoft.com>___
>>
>> ___Purchase Orders: jason.ryberg at microsoft.com 
>> <mailto:jason.ryberg at microsoft.com>___
>>
>> ___Executive Escalation: shawn.hakl at microsoft.com 
>> <mailto: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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