Multi-Access Convergence Gateway offers scalable management.
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Press Release Summary:
Integrated hardware and software solution, Stoke Session Exchange (SSX), enables network operators to deliver multimedia services concurrently over fixed and wireless broadband access technologies. It helps solve security, QoS, and mobility challenges associated with optimizing secure subscriber sessions within and across different broadband access alternatives. Capabilities include granular session management, service creation/control, and multi-access subscriber connection scaling.
Original Press Release:
Stoke Redefines Fixed and Wireless Broadband Access With New Convergence Gateway; Raises $20 Million in Series C Funding
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 22 -- Stoke, Inc., today announced the commercial availability of the Stoke Session Exchange (SSX), an integrated hardware and software solution that enables network operators to deliver multimedia services concurrently over fixed and wireless broadband access technologies. The SSX is the industry's first multi-access convergence gateway designed from inception to solve the security, quality of service and mobility challenges associated with optimizing subscriber sessions within and across different broadband access alternatives. The SSX significantly reduces the cost and complexity of delivering rich, best-connected services and uniquely enables operators to fully realize the economic benefits and competitive advantages of network convergence.
Stoke also announced the closing of a $20 million Series C financing. The oversubscribed, up-round was led by DAG Ventures, and included existing investors, among them Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital.
"Operators are under intense commercial pressure to unlock the multimedia capabilities inherent with broadband connectivity. At the same time, the growing, diverse range of fixed and wireless access technologies is increasing network cost and complexity, and making service delivery more fragmented and problematic," said Randall Kruep, founder and CEO of Stoke. "With the launch of the SSX our mission is clear -- to enable operators to offer imaginative new services to subscribers, regardless of their location or device -- in the most optimized fashion. In short, to simplify network convergence."
Stoke Session Exchange 3000
The SSX is the only product of its kind purpose-built for scalable, stateful management of secure, reliable, high-quality subscriber sessions over multiple network access types including fixed, cellular, Wi-Fi and WiMAX.
The SSX was architected to enable operators to address the critical challenges of network convergence -- such as cost-effective scaling of multi-access subscriber connections, granular session management, and improved service creation and control. The SSX was developed in compliance with leading standards including 3GPP/2, ITU and PacketCable Multimedia (PCMM) specifications.
Highlights of the SSX include:
Multi-access Intelligent Session Management
The SSX provides comprehensive management of diverse session and tunnel types to unify different kinds of access networks, ensuring services can be deployed consistently to subscribers regardless of location or device. Operators can deploy the SSX for a range of current convergence initiatives with the assurance that the platform can evolve to provide the multi-access foundation required in the future.
Contemporary System Architecture
Stoke's unique architecture distributes control, packet forwarding, encryption and switching functions to every line card. This yields linear scaling of subscribers and high-performance services as well as a low entry cost with "pay as you grow" economics. Programmability in the control and data paths ensures rapid feature development and application versatility. By harnessing merchant silicon, the SSX leverages processing price/performance curves and ensures system longevity through future technology lifecycles.
Enhanced Service Creation and Billing
The SSX has the processing power to unlock the value of multimedia services in a scalable manner. Content awareness, session- and flow-based QoS and service control, and highly dynamic policy management enable operators to offer a wide range of innovative new services and generate very granular accounting records. Providers can now create, track and charge for services based on any combination of bandwidth usage, time, events, or content.
Carrier-Class Foundation
SSX hardware is highly reliable with no single point of failure, and critical components are redundant and hot swappable. Additionally, SSX software employs the latest high availability design principles, making it exceptionally resilient with a modular architecture and features. Stoke has developed middleware that implements self-monitoring and self-correcting capabilities to provide proactive fault recovery.
"As operators around the globe try to maximize the value of existing fixed and wireless access networks and embark on fixed-mobile convergence, IMS, WiMAX and other initiatives, the need for a multi-access gateway like Stoke's is clear," said Stephane Teral, principal analyst, VoIP, IMS, & FMC for Infonetics. "We think the company is well positioned to benefit from a range of near-term carrier projects, and believe they have the right elements in place to become a leader in this new product category."
$20 Million Series C Funding
Stoke received $20M in an over-subscribed Series C financing round, bringing the company's total funding to date to more than $50 million. The latest investment will be used to increase its sales and marketing activities and further advance the development of the product.
"Wireless broadband has become a top priority for operators globally as they race to meet the demand for higher bandwidth, richer applications and always available access from billions of fixed and mobile subscribers," said Matt Murphy, partner at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers. "This phenomenon will drive one of the largest network upgrade cycles in recent history, and we believe Stoke has the ideal combination of highly differentiated technology, a proven team, and customer focus to capitalize on it."
About Stoke, Inc.
Santa Clara, CA-based Stoke develops carrier-class multi-access convergence gateways specifically engineered to help fixed, mobile and Internet-based operators realize the economic benefits and competitive advantages of network convergence. Stoke's standards-based, integrated hardware and software platform -- the Stoke Session Exchange (SSX) -- uniquely addresses the security, quality of service and mobility challenges associated with optimizing subscribers' multimedia sessions across fixed, mobile, WiFi and WiMAX networks. Stoke has received more than $50 million in funding from leading venture capital firms Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital, and DAG Ventures, among others. For more information, visit www.stoke.com.
CONTACT: US, Nancy Hill of RealTime Communications, +1-510-733-6228, or nancy@realtime-comm.com, for Stoke, Inc.; or Europe, George Coleman of Nelson Bostock Communications, +44
