If this is the case, then next-gen convergence switch vendors such as Sonus, Convergent Networks and others, and voice gateway vendors such as CopperCom and Jetstream on the VoDSL side and TollBridge on the VoIP side may find themselves meeting at some point. When this convergence starts to happen will be dictated by the pace at which CLECs are ready to be weaned from traditional Class 5 switches and whether greenfield carriers trust the media gateway vendors enough to invest in next-gen Class 5 softswitches. Thus while media gateway vendors might feel a sense of confidence in having their products considered as a replacement for legacy Class 4 switches, they'd be even happier offering a low-cost replacement for traditional Class 5 switches. Given the choice right now I would want to interface with a Class 5 switch because it's in wide deployment. Softswitch technology isn't yet ready for prime time, according to Gleave.
Carriers deploy products based on much more than technology.
They want to be sure they can provision services off products, they want to generate revenue, they want to be sure that when the 1010th call comes, the other 1009 calls are still in operation. Voice gateway vendors know that they cannot just mark time. Jetstream has partnered with Ubiquity Software, which specializes in software that enables the creation of next-gen telephony services. At the same time that Jetstream disclosed its agreement with Ubiquity, CopperCom unveiled a new strategic direction and product roadmap that would, among other things, combine its CSX 2100 circuit switch and its voice gateway into a full-featured media gateway that works in conjunction with a softswitch to provide Class 5 calling features. Theirs is a short-term solution because they hand off voice calls to a circuit switch.