Wednesday, October 16, 2002

Hughes Software Systems (HSS), a specialist in convergent network software, today announced a partnership with MontaVista Software Inc., a company powering the embedded revolution.

This partnership brings together the market leaders in carrier grade Linux edition and communication protocol stacks (Wireless/3G/2.5G, VoIP and SS7) offering best of breed solutions to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) market place.

"HSS is serving an increasing number of network equipment providers who are demanding carrier-grade Linux platforms for their next-generation infrastructure products," said Manoranjan Mahopatra, chief operating officer, HSS.

"The availability of HSS protocol stacks for MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition will drastically reduce development cost and time-to-market for these OEMs," he added.

MontaVista Linux CGE provides the scalability, dependability and functionality required by telecommunications and data communications such as soft switches, BSC/RNC (base station controllers/radio network controllers) media gateways control plane applications in core/edge, media
servers and core switches.

Carrier Grade Edition provides essential high availability features including CompactPCI hot swap drivers, redundant Ethernet and RAID1. It also delivers hardened driver architecture resource monitoring and fault management services and other carrier grade capabilities.

HSS' high performance, inter-operable and versatile protocol stack software enhances next generation and traditional communications networks with Voice over Packet and high-speed mobile data capability. HSS offers a range of protocol stacks, including SIP, H.323, H.248, MGCP, MEGACO etc for
enabling Voice over Packet network solutions, and B-SS7, ISDN, GPRS, UMTS, MAP, CAP, GTP, Gb and RANAP for 3G/2.5G mobile networks as well as other standards based communications protocol stacks.

HSS is a leader in providing GPRS, UMTS as well as VoIP software to OEMs. In order to further de-risk its business, HSS has decided to enter the business process outsourcing (BPO) segment. This will be started as an independent operation.

HSS is a subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems (HNS), a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation (HEC). HNS is a networking company, dedicated to providing products and services to build and operate digital communication networks worldwide. HNS is the world leader in VSAT-based networks. HEC is
a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of advanced electronic systems. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation, USA.

HNS India Inc. is the principal shareholder in HSS. Last year, HSS underwent change in its parentage after General Motors entered into an agreement to sell Hughes Electronics Corporation to EchoStar Communications Corporation (HEC) for $25.8 billion in cash and stock. HSS derives substantial revenues from HEC, which may continue in the near future.

As on 30 June 2002, the promoter's holding in HSS was 55.57%, while institutions and public held 15.9% and 10.4%, respectively.

The HSS scrip closed 3.14% lower at Rs 147.95 on the BSE today, with a volume of 12,07,048 shares.

Last updated : February 2, 2004