i3 Uses 'Timeshare' Concept To Help CLECs With Switching

Houston-based i3 Voice & Data Inc. now offers ala carte access to TDM- and IP-based switching facilities based on a "timeshare" concept to CLECs displaced by the phase-out of UNE-P. The one-year-old company's UNE-3 Fractional Switch Ownership program service goes live next month.

With UNE-3, CLECs purchase only the ports they need (the minimum purchase is 1,000) from a MetaSwitch VP3500 series softswitch that i3 operates out of a PoP in Dallas, where the company also has a MetaSwitch UC9000 Unified Communications System and session border controller equipment from NexTone Communications. The softswitch provides more than 100 Class 5 features including the full range of custom calling and Centrex services, plus TDM, Ethernet and IP protocol support.