SINGAPORE and SAN FRANCISCO, June 13--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest
SOMA Networks, Inc., a leading provider of last-mile broadband wireless
access technology delivering multi-megabit Internet access and landline-quality
voice services, and SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of consumer electronics and information technology products, today announced a strategic relationship to jointly develop and manufacture next generation consumer electronics and infrastructure products for the broadband wireless access (BWA) market using SOMA Networks' highly scalable, open-standard architecture. The partnership combines SANYO's expertise in the design and manufacture of high-quality wireless infrastructure and consumer electronics products, with SOMA Networks' advanced broadband wireless systems expertise, to develop the next-generation of telecommunications products.
The first set of jointly developed products is already undergoing customer trials and is targeted to be commercially available in the second half of
2005. These products are the result of nearly two years of collaborative R&D
efforts focused on evolving SOMA Networks' BWA system to the next level of
performance and service capabilities.
As a global leader in wireless telecommunication equipment and consumer
devices, SANYO is ideally suited to partner with SOMA Networks to expand the addressable BWA market. The combined talents of the two companies have
resulted in a wide range of cost-effective and easy-to-use customer devices that reduce the complexity of fully converged networks for operators, while providing high margin applications and services. The SOMA solution(TM) is a complete BWA system, designed from its inception to support fully converged landline-quality voice, broadband data, and video services, including core network and management capabilities. Service providers throughout North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa have deployed cutting-edge BWA voice and data networks utilizing the SOMA solution.
"This partnership between SANYO and SOMA Networks signifies the start of
the next phase for the broadband wireless market. As one of the leading
providers of wireless communications equipment, SANYO has the global
experience to make BWA technologies and products available on a scale that was
previously not possible," said Greg Caltabiano, Chief Operating Officer of SOMA Networks. "SANYO has the proven R&D experience and manufacturing support
to ensure that both companies can rapidly roll-out cutting edge BWA products well into the future."
"Through our relationship with SOMA Networks, SANYO now has a competitive advantage in designing BWA products for consumers," said Yoji Ogawa, General Manager, Planning Department, New Communications System Equipment Unit of SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. "SANYO has studied the market intensely and believes
the SOMA solution uniquely provides the best BWA business case for service providers and the most attractive offering for consumers. We are extremely pleased to be partnering with a BWA technology leader as we continue our
expansion in the wireless voice and broadband data market."
About SOMA Networks
Integrating the latest advances in wireless broadband, distributed
computing, and Internet technologies, SOMA Networks offers the industry's
leading "last-mile" wireless broadband system. With the SOMA(TM) solution,
service providers can quickly and profitably roll out a feature-rich package
of broadband Internet access and landline-quality voice service to the residential and small-office market. Key advantages of the SOMA solution include its large cell size for quick and inexpensive market entry, multi-megabit data rates, voice capabilities, non-line-of-sight access enabling self-installation of the SOMAport(TM) wireless broadband gateway, subscriber self-activation of services, and the ability to support multiple wireless standards on a common platform. SOMA Networks is a supporter of WiMAX, HSDPA, and other next-generation standards. For more information, go to: http://www.somanetworks.com.
About SANYO
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. is one of the global consumer electronics giants leading the way in technology innovation for its strategic business domains "Digital & Device" and "Energy & Ecology". SANYO's businesses cover a broad range from AV/Information and Communications Equipment, Home Appliances, Commercial Equipment, Electronic Devices, Batteries and Others. For further information, please visit SANYO's web site at http://www.global-sanyo.com/.
SOURCE SOMA Networks, Inc.
/CONTACT: Adrienne Low of SOMA Networks, Inc., +1-415-882-6524,
[email protected]; or Alicia Gonzalez of LEWIS PR, +1-415-277-5400,
[email protected], for SOMA Networks, Inc./
/Web site: http://www.global-sanyo.com
http://www.somanetworks.com /
--Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--