USNT acquired a major share ownership in Packetrino, started and owned by software programmer Mario Guzman. The purchase price paid is based on performance, with a maximum of $685,000 in development expense, cash and shares to be paid over the next two years. This Packetrino deal will not cause any immediate impact on USNT shares for current shareholders, and any shares paid as part of the purchase price will be restricted and may not be sold for at least two years.
Packetrino is developing a product commonly known as a Session Border Controller, or SBC and a softswitch. However, the Packetrino SBC will have additional management features as well as security and load balancing features that are missing or cost extra in other SBC products.
The Packetrino product will be sold as a hardware/software combination, sold as a pair of servers. Prices will range from $14,850 for the load balancer and security version, to upwards of $84,000 for the SBC and routing version. Other companies in this marketspace include Acme Packet, Sansay, and NexTone. Packetrino pricing will be about half of what these other companies charge, but will include many additional features.
USNT expects that Packetrino will be a winner. Products will start shipping by Spring 09. www.Packetrino.com
