Netopia Optimizes Embedded Software for IPTV, Enhancing Performance and Manageability

Netopia, Inc. (Nasdaq:NTPA), a market leader in broadband service assurance solutions, announced enhancements to the embedded software for its gateway and router product lines which improve performance and manageability and pave the way for new services like IPTV. Release 7.7 Software for Service Provider DSL Gateways Netopia DSL gateway products are designed for high-volume deployment by telecoms and Internet service providers, to both residential and business customers. Release 7.7 of Netopia’s embedded software ensures the superior delivery, performance, and reliability of triple-play services across the 2200, 3300, and MiAVO families of xDSL gateways. The enhancements to the software include: Automated initial provisioning and configuration: The Netopia gateways’ support of the TR-069 specification enables them to automatically "phone home” the first time they connect to the DSL line. The service is provisioned, the software configured, upgrades delivered and the correct services activated – all without subscriber intervention. Support for TR-101: Netopia gateways can manage multiple services from different providers simultaneously, in accordance with the DSL Forum specification TR-101. This functionality is particularly important for IPTV deployments when content is delivered by different service providers. Support for IGMPv3: IPTV delivery is improved by assuring quality of service (QoS) when multiple video streams are delivered to different TVs simultaneously or when a subscriber needs to channel surf. Support for Wireless Multimedia Protocol (WMM): New QoS mechanisms enable effective blending of data, voice, and video over the wireless network. Support for TR-111: Devices such as VOIP phones, set-top boxes, and gaming systems that support the TR-069 specification can be remotely configured and managed when connected to the network behind a gateway. Release 8.7 Software for Commercial Applications Netopia’s commercial software operates across its 3300 and 4000 families of routers, supporting a range of WAN interfaces including T1, xDSL, and Ethernet. It offers a rich feature set that provides a simple, secure, and reliable solution for applications like point of sale and enterprise routing. The software includes a stateful packet inspection firewall and VPN management, with hardware acceleration supporting up to 15 VPN tunnels, and includes support for L2TP, PPTP, GRE, IPSec, and VRRP. Netopia embedded software supports extensive LAN to WAN QoS routing and security including virtual router interfaces, multiple DHCP zones, and IP QoS granularity with CBR, UBR, VBR. In addition the software supports TOS/DiffServ packet marking, as well as IEEE 802.1 p/q packet tagging to ensure delivery of critical business traffic. The software includes a network admission control (NAC) module to protect the business network from unwanted access, with support for authentication standards like 802.1x, Radius AAA, TACACS+ as well legacy PAP/CHAP and MSCHAP authentication. Software enhancements introduced today include: Support for IGMPv3: Bandwidth utilization and security have been improved, enabling managed service providers to effectively deliver new multicast services with higher levels of control. Of particular importance to business customers is IGMPv3’s filtering capability, which protects against denial of service attacks. Support for Wireless Multimedia Protocol (WMM): Netopia’s embedded software with WMM wireless capability enable a single wireless access point to provide differentiated services and mixed applications, and to serve multiple users competing for bandwidth. This is critical when wireless users are concentrated, as happens with commercial Wi-Fi access systems. "Our embedded software is one of our key competitive assets,” said Ken Haase, vice president of product management at Netopia. "It is the foundation of our CPE functionality and enables us to provide common features to service providers across our cost-optimized and performance-optimized products. In addition, it enables us to provide highly specialized functionality for commercial applications like Netopia Hot Spots and point-of-sale applications. We’ve architected our embedded software families to allow rapid compilation and deployment across various chipsets, while providing consistent functionality. This enables us to incorporate advancements in chip design into our products very quickly. Through our embedded software, we can add significant value to commercial off-the-shelf components through software-based functionality and security.” Netopia staff is available to discuss its embedded software in Broadband World Forum booth No. 518 at CNIT La Défense in Paris, from October 10 to October 12. About Netopia Netopia, Inc. delivers broadband service assurance solutions through high-performance broadband customer premises equipment and carrier-class remote device management and support software. Netopia's broadband gateways feature advanced technology, high reliability, and remote manageability to assure delivery of triple-play and IPTV services. Netopia's service assurance software platforms empower carriers, service providers, and enterprises with remote device management, centralized support, and value-added services to speed deployment of innovative new broadband applications across home and business networks. Netopia has established strategic distribution relationships with leading carriers and broadband service providers, including AT&T, BellSouth, Covad Communications, eircom, Swisscom, and Verizon. Headquartered in Emeryville, Calif., Netopia's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "NTPA." Further information about Netopia can be obtained via phone at (510) 420-7400, fax at (510) 420-7601, or on the Web at www.netopia.com. All company names, brand names, and product names are trademarks of their respective holder(s).