Switch and Data Expands VoIP Capabilities

Colocation provider Switch and Data unveiled a partnership with VeriSign, Inc. Tuesday that will enable Switch and Data to offer VoIP exchange services. The agreement brings together Switch and Data's PAIX peering infrastructure and VeriSign's Network Routing Directory, and will initially be available in Switch and Data's New York data centers located at 60 Hudson and 111 8th Avenue.

VeriSign's Network Routing Directory allows VoIP providers using Switch and Data's PAIX infrastructure to bridge the so-called "islands of connectivity," enabling true end-to-end VoIP call completion. "We are focused on leveraging our PAIX peering infrastructure and extensive choice of networks and applications to provide the ideal environment for VoIP providers," said Ernie Sampera, CMO at Switch and Data. "VeriSign's expertise, industry leadership and innovation in VoIP services are significant additions to our VoIP Exchange. VoIP providers can now benefit from our PAIX peering, density of networks, VeriSign's Network Routing Directory and a number of additional vital VoIP applications all within one facility."

Voice over IP is an emerging market for consumers and businesses. AT&T, Vonage, Verizon and Skype are considered market leaders and AOL, Microsoft and Time Warner have recently introduced services.

"VoIP will grow rapidly over the next few years in both the consumer and business markets," said Jan Dawson, vice president, US Enterprise Practice, Ovum. "In the business market, we expect hosted and managed VoIP flavors to grow particularly strongly, complementing the already solid growth of IP PBX solutions. As enterprises deploy VoIP, there will be an increasing need to interconnect their networks to enable end-to-end VoIP calling, which may help reduce costs and help to ensure businesses benefit from using feature-rich VoIP services and applications."

Switch and Data's VoIP exchange services will help enable near seamless VoIP call exchange through a highly scalable network directory resolving Internet endpoint and gateway locations, the company said. Based on standard protocols such as SIP and ENUM, the exchange handles inter- and intra-domain resolution for efficient and secure call routing and gives customers a self-management portal that accesses features beyond simple DNS-based telephone number lookups.