Bandwidth.com Acquires Dash - Google Voice, Skype & Others Impacted

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Bandwidth.com Acquires Dash - Google Voice, Skype & Others Impacted

bandwidth-logo-new.jpgBandwidth.com, a nationwide supplier of VoIP network services to Voice 2.0 innovators such as Skype, Pinger, and others, today announced the acquisition of dash Carrier Services (dash), a North American-based provider of tier-one emergency services and wholesale carrier voice solutions. The acquisition provides Bandwidth with a definitive competitive edge, as it will now tightly couple additional advanced services, such as E911 calling, with its core voice and SMS offerings to deliver a stronger experience for customers who would otherwise need to cobble together these services in much less efficient ways. The deal was all-cash, and the combined company is now projected to generate over $100MM in revenues this year.

Voice 2.0 innovators will increasingly need to add services like E911 calling as VoIP adoption continues to accelerate, and Bandwidth.com can directly address this need through its now expanded portfolio of solutions. Bandwidth.com already has Voice 2.0 innovators such as Google, Skype, Pinger, and Ifbyphone as customers. E911 is going to become even more critical as developers create these new Voice 2.0 apps that often run on smart phones. Imagine you're using Google Voice or some SIP-based app on your iPhone or Android and dial 911? Will it locate you properly? If you're a Bandwidth.com customer using Dash's E911 technology you'll be golden.

So what does this acquisition mean?

A Bandwidth.com representative explained, "Emergency calling has long been a concern as the market shifts away from traditional phone lines and begins adopting VoIP technologies at an unprecedented pace and scale.  The combination of Bandwidth’s existing network and API offerings with Dash’s technology gives customers the ability to plug emergency calling into their voice applications. The truth is emergency services such as 911 calling for VoIP are eventually going to be a regulatory requirement with the FCC. Bandwidth is investing ahead of the market so that they can be ready with a plug-and-play service that’s immediately available to their customers."

They added, "And the technology is by no means trivial -- Dash’s patent-pending geo-spatial technology can do location-based directing of 911 calls.  That means it doesn't matter where you're located when using 911 in future voice apps, the call will route to the nearest emergency line. This shows how innovation in this space can fuel a transition from yesterday’s infrastructure to tomorrow’s communications technology."

This deal marks the latest in a series of major milestones for Bandwidth.com as the company continues to expand rapidly, including signing a landmark commercial deal with the Verizon wireline companies for the exchange of VoIP traffic, serving up several billion voice minutes on its IP network in 2010, and becoming the sixth-largest provider of phone number based services in the United States this year. dash CEO Justin Nelson will remain as an advisor to the company.

“Emergency services are a critical component in the continued growth of VoIP adoption as users increasingly will expect their new communication applications to offer the same reliability and functionality, including emergency services, as found in their legacy telephony solutions,” said David Morken, CEO of Bandwidth.com.  “The acquisition of dash, combined with our existing nationwide IP network and services, gives us a tremendous advantage in the industry and the necessary assets to continue pushing the market forward.”

Founded in 2002 with headquarters in Denver, Colorado, dash boasts a nationwide footprint and maintains partnerships with several of the industry’s foremost innovators.  In addition to offering the industry’s most reliable FCC-compliant E911 for VoIP solution, the company operates the most expansive, purpose-built emergency services IP network in the United States. As a result, customers avoid costly delays from geographic dependency, integration and interoperability problems, as well as operational expenses that frequently result from relying upon outdated and inflexible networks.

dash also provides a complete set of unique voice products to both its emerging voice provider and major carrier customers – making the company a perfect fit within Bandwidth.com, whose nationwide network has become the go-to platform for Voice 2.0 innovators. Other advanced services dash provides include nationwide origination and termination, CNAM, 411, live nationwide directory listing, and other N11 dialing services thatwill instantly reinforce Bandwidth’s position as a one-stop shop.

“For nearly a decade dash has servedthe voice industry with innovative, reliable emergency calling and other advanced voice services,” said Steve Leonard, SVP and General Manager of Bandwidth.com’s Wholesale business.  “As dash joins the Bandwidth.com team, new and existing customers can continue to expect the same world-class products and services, and we will also be expanding upon those offerings to provide them with even more value from our unique and comprehensive portfolio of communication solutions.”

As a carrier with over 17 million numbers under its management, making it the sixth largest facilities-based provider in the country, Bandwidth.com makes it easier via simple API’s and more open business rules for application developers to launch voice, SMS, and now emergency services without needing deep in-house telecom resources or expertise.  Bandwidth’s offerings are empowering entrepreneurs and innovators to focus on what they do best - developing great applications for their customers while Bandwidth manages the telecom challenges for these services on their behalf.



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