http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=MetaswitchMetaswitch - Revision history2026-10-26T13:29:33ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.1http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Metaswitch&diff=7782083&oldid=prev72.136.101.199: Changed a few words from past tense - it sounded like Metaswitch was out of business which is not the case2025-05-29T21:41:36Z<p>Changed a few words from past tense - it sounded like Metaswitch was out of business which is not the case</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|UK-based technology company}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}<br />
{{UBE|date=August 2024}}<br />
{{Infobox company<br />
| name = Metaswitch Networks<br />
| logo = Metaswitch_Logo.svg<br />
| type = [[Subsidiary]]<br />
| founder = Ian S. Ferguson<br />
| key_people = {{Plainlist|<br />
*Martin Lund {{Small|(CEO)}}<br />
*Tom Cronan {{Small|(CFO)}}<br />
*Ian Maclean {{Small|(CMO)}}<br />
*Roger Heinz {{Small|(CSO)}}<br />
*Dave Reekie {{Small|(Chief Scientist)}}<br />
*Martin Taylor {{Small|(CTO)}}<br />
}}<br />
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]s<br />
| products = Virtualized software for service providers, network protocol stacks for equipment manufacturers<br />
| parent = Alianza (2025-present)<br />
| footnotes = <ref name="factsheet">{{cite web|url=https://www.metaswitch.com/about|title=Fact Sheet Overview|work=Metaswitch Networks}}</ref><ref name="history"/><ref name="keyhole"/><ref name="Locations">{{cite web|url=https://www.metaswitch.com/about/contact|title=Locations|work=Metaswitch Networks}}</ref><br />
| founded = {{start date and age|1981}}<br />
| hq_location_city = [[London]]<br />
| hq_location_country = [[United Kingdom]]<br />
| num_locations = 11<br />
| num_locations_year = 2019<br />
| website = {{URL|www.metaswitch.com}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Metaswitch Networks''' (formerly '''Data Connection Ltd''') is a private UK-based telecommunications software company. It was acquired by [[Microsoft]] in July 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Microsoft to acquire Metaswitch Networks to expand Azure capabilities for operators |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/05/14/microsoft-to-acquire-metaswitch-networks-to-expand-azure-capabilities-for-operators/ |website=Microsoft Blog |date=14 May 2020 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref> and subsequently by '''Alianza''' on March 4, 2025.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Alianza Completes Acquisition of Metaswitch from Microsoft to Empower Service Provider Growth and Help Telcos Close a Massive Gap in Services Revenue |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alianza-completes-acquisition-of-metaswitch-from-microsoft-to-empower-service-provider-growth-and-help-telcos-close-a-massive-gap-in-services-revenue-302390752.html |publisher=PR Newswire |date=4 March 2025 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref> Metaswitch Networks designs, develops, manufactures, and markets [[telecommunications]] software to communication service providers, equipment manufacturers, and large enterprises.<br />
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==Corporate history==<br />
[[File:Metaswitch office, Enfield, UK.jpg|thumb|Metaswitch head office in Enfield, UK]]<br />
Metaswitch (then Data Connection) was founded in 1981 by seven former [[IBM]] employees led by Ian Ferguson, who remained on the board of directors until the company's acquisition by Microsoft.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://network-technologies.metaswitch.com/company/history.aspx|title=History|work=Metaswitch Networks}}</ref><ref name="keyhole">{{cite web|url=http://www.opticalkeyhole.com/interviews/metaswitch.asp|title=MetaSwitch - Engineered for Success in VoB/VoIP |work= Optical Keyhole|date=15 March 2004|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820124301/http://opticalkeyhole.com/interviews/metaswitch.asp|archivedate=20 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="bod">{{cite web|url=http://www.metaswitch.com/company/board-of-directors|title=Board of Directors|work=Metaswitch Networks}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=METASWITCH NETWORKS LTD - Filing history (free information from Companies House)|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/01578918/filing-history|access-date=2020-07-15|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> The company's earliest business areas included IBM [[Systems Network Architecture (SNA)]] and retail point of sale systems. In the 1990s, the company began developing network protocol software.<ref name="history"/><br />
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In 2000, the company launched the Metaswitch brand, which provided [[softswitch]]es and network management systems designed to enable telephone service providers to migrate to [[Voice over IP]] (VoIP) networks while still supporting legacy telephone technologies.<ref name="history"/> By 2008, the Metaswitch division was responsible for 78% of the company's revenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connectedplanetonline.com/software/news/metaswitch-touts-growth-1029/index.html |title=Metaswitch Touts 22% Growth |work=Connected Planet Online |date=29 October 2008 |last=Karpinski |first=Rich |archivedate=21 July 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721004253/http://connectedplanetonline.com/software/news/metaswitch-touts-growth-1029/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
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In April 2009, the company announced intentions to consolidate all of its products and business operations under the Metaswitch brand, with two business units: the Carrier Systems Division and Network Protocol Division.<ref name="multiple">{{cite web|url=http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/metaswitch-forum-2009-metaswitch-appoints-lazar-ceo-adds-denuccio-board-consolidates-brand/200 |title=MetaSwitch Forum 2009: MetaSwitch appoints Lazar CEO, adds DeNuccio to board, consolidates brand |work=FierceVoIP |publisher=FierceMarkets |date=8 April 2009 |last=Mohney |first=Doug |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211113959/http://www.fiercevoip.com/story/metaswitch-forum-2009-metaswitch-appoints-lazar-ceo-adds-denuccio-board-consolidates-brand/200 |archivedate=11 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In October 2009, the company rebranded itself as Metaswitch Networks, to reflect the growing focus on the products and services that it sells to telephone service providers.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2009/metaswitch-networks-annual-results-show-revenue-growth-strong-profitability|title=Metaswitch Networks Annual Results Show Revenue Growth, Strong Profitability and Market Share Gains|publisher=Metaswitch Networks|date=7 October 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109113201/http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2009/metaswitch-networks-annual-results-show-revenue-growth-strong-profitability|archivedate=9 November 2011}}</ref><br />
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In August 2011, the company formally changed its name from Data Connection Ltd to Metaswitch Networks Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/metaswitch-networks|title=Metaswitch Networks|publisher=Companies in the UK}}</ref><br />
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In July 2014, the company moved some of its software to [[open-source model|open-source]] with the launch of Project Calico.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/10/metaswitch_opens_nfv_code_as_project_calico/ |title=Metaswitch opens NFV code as Project Calico|website=[[The Register]] |language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> Project Calico was subsequently spun out into an independent startup, [http://www.tigera.io Tigera, Inc.], with Andy Randall (formerly the general manager of Metaswitch’s Networking Business Unit) as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tozzi |first=Christopher |date=20 May 2016 |title=Tigera Plans to Solve the Container Networking Challenge |url=https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/tigera-plans-to-solve-the-container-networking-challenge/2016/05/ }}</ref><br />
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In May 2020, [[Microsoft]] announced a definitive agreement to acquire Metaswitch Networks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft announces definitive agreement to acquire Metaswitch Network|date=14 May 2020|url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/05/14/microsoft-announces-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-metaswitch-networks-expanding-approach-to-empower-operators-and-partner-with-network-equipment-providers-to-deliver-on-promise-of-5g}}</ref><ref name="Khalidi">{{cite web |url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/05/14/microsoft-announces-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-metaswitch-networks-expanding-approach-to-empower-operators-and-partner-with-network-equipment-providers-to-deliver-on-promise-of-5g/ |title=Microsoft announces definitive agreement to acquire Metaswitch Networks, expanding approach to empower operators and partner with network equipment providers to deliver on promise of 5G |date=14 May 2020 |first=Yousef |last=Khalidi |accessdate=12 October 2021}}</ref> On 15 July 2020, the acquisition was completed.<ref name="Khalidi"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft Completes Metaswitch Networks Acquisition |date=16 July 2020|url=https://www.channele2e.com/investors/private-equity/microsoft-completes-metaswitch-networks-acquisition}}</ref><br />
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In June 2024, Microsoft made major cuts to its Azure for Operators business, which then included most of Metaswitch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Layoffs crash into Microsoft's Azure for Operators |url=https://www.lightreading.com/cloud/layoffs-crash-into-microsoft-s-azure-for-operators |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.lightreading.com |language=en}}</ref><br />
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In December 2024, Alianza announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Metaswitch from Microsoft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-10 |title=Alianza Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Metaswitch from Microsoft {{!}} Alianza |url=https://www.alianza.com/press-releases/alianza-to-acquire-metaswitch-from-microsoft/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.alianza.com |language=en-US}}</ref> On 04 March 2025, the acquisition was completed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-04 |title=Alianza Completes Acquisition of Metaswitch from Microsoft to Empower Service Provider Growth and Help Telcos Close a Massive Gap in Services Revenue - Full-Stack Communications for Service Providers {{!}} Alianza |url=https://www.alianza.com/press-releases/alianza-completes-acquisition-of-metaswitch-from-microsoft/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.alianza.com |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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==Acquisitions==<br />
In March 2010, the firm acquired AppTrigger Inc, a provider of service broker software in [[Richardson, Texas|Richardson]], Texas.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2010/metaswitch-enters-service-broker-market-acquisition-apptrigger |title= Metaswitch Enters Service Broker Market with Acquisition of AppTrigger |publisher= Metaswitch Networks |date= 9 March 2010 |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20111109113505/http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2010/metaswitch-enters-service-broker-market-acquisition-apptrigger |archivedate= 9 November 2011 }}</ref> In April 2011, it acquired Colibria AS, a provider of [[Rich Communication Suite]] (RCS) software in Oslo, Norway.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Metaswitch Acquires Colibria|date=6 April 2011|publisher=Metaswitch Networks|url=http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2011/metaswitch-acquires-colibria|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109114232/http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2011/metaswitch-acquires-colibria|archivedate=9 November 2011}}</ref> In February 2017, Metaswitch acquired OpenCloud Ltd, a provider of an open mobile services platform.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lightreading.com/mobile/volte-rich-communications/metaswitch-eyes-volte-with-opencloud-buy/d/d-id/730336|title=Metaswitch Eyes VoLTE With OpenCloud Buy {{!}} Light Reading|work=Light Reading|access-date=2017-03-13|language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Ownership and investors==<br />
In 1987, Metaswitch established the Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) to hold shares of the company on behalf of the employees, which enabled company-wide [[profit sharing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=40555|title=DCL: Hiring Toward Profits |work=Light Reading|publisher=[[UBM TechWeb]]|date=22 September 2003|last=Jander|first=Mary|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031103090221/http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=40555|archivedate=3 November 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metaswitch.com/company/stability.aspx |title=Stability |work=Metaswitch Networks |archivedate=12 June 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612162730/http://www.metaswitch.com/company/stability.aspx |at=Ownership |quote=The company is privately held by top-tier investment firms Francisco Partners and Sequoia Capital, as well as the Employee Benefit Trust (EBT), which distributes a share of profit to all employees… |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
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In January 2008 [[Francisco Partners]], a [[private equity]] firm, and [[Sequoia Capital]], a [[venture capitalist]] firm, invested an undisclosed sum in Metaswitch.<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Metaswitch Networks|date=14 January 2008|title=Francisco Partners and Sequoia Capital make significant investment in Data Connection and MetaSwitch|url=http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2008/francisco-partners-and-sequoia-capital-make-significant-investment-data-con|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120225525/http://www.metaswitch.com/news/press-releases/2008/francisco-partners-and-sequoia-capital-make-significant-investment-data-con|archivedate=20 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://connectedplanetonline.com/software/news/metaswitch-finding-investment-0114/ |title=MetaSwitch gets cash infusion |work=Connected Planet Online |date=14 January 2008 |last=Wilson |first=Carol |archivedate=21 July 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721004341/http://connectedplanetonline.com/software/news/metaswitch-finding-investment-0114/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.metaswitch.com Official website]<br />
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{{Microsoft}}<br />
{{Auth}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Metaswitch}}<br />
[[Category:Networking companies]]<br />
[[Category:Networking software companies]]<br />
[[Category:Telecommunications equipment vendors]]<br />
[[Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Enfield]]<br />
[[Category:British companies established in 1981]]<br />
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1981]]<br />
[[Category:Software companies established in 1981]]<br />
[[Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions]]<br />
[[Category:Microsoft acquisitions]]<br />
[[Category:Microsoft subsidiaries]]<br />
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]<br />
[[Category:Software companies based in London]]</div>72.136.101.199