Tatara Systems Announces $7 Million Financing

ACTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tatara Systems, the leader in SIP-based network solutions for femtocell convergence, today announced that it has secured a $7 million financing. The investment was led by North Bridge Venture Partners, a premier venture firm with extensive experience investing in communications software, equipment, and network infrastructure, with participation from Highland Capital Partners.

“Tatara’s SIP-based convergence architecture has a competitive advantage within the femtocell market since it is the only solution available today that provides operators with the coverage and capacity benefits of femtocells together with the full mobile core offload and enhanced services revenue”

Femtocells, a disruptive new wireless communications technology initially viewed as an advanced in-building coverage solution, have increased in prominence recently as a principal element in addressing network capacity challenges and data off-load requirements accentuated by accelerating smartphone usage in both the consumer and enterprise markets. Tatara staked out an early leadership position in this market as the first vendor to announce an all-IP solution for femtocell convergence by introducing the Tatara Convergence Server, the industry’s first femtocell and fixed-mobile convergence application server.

The Tatara Convergence Server utilizes a flat, SIP-based architecture that allows for easier core network integration while providing a carrier grade platform that is highly scalable, is future proof to IMS and 4G, caps circuit switch investment by enabling off-load, and enables services beyond femtocell. Currently being deployed for both consumer and enterprise femtocell service in a Tier 1 CDMA carrier network, the Tatara Convergence Server also supports GSM/UMTS deployments. In March 2010, Tatara Systems’ SIP-based convergence architecture was adopted by the 3GPP2 standards body as the cdma2000 1x Femtocell Network standard. For CDMA networks, Tatara Systems has the only 3GPP2 standard compliant femtocell convergence server on the market today.

“With the explosive growth of mobile data and the evolution to 4G technology, mobile operators are faced with numerous challenges,” said Ed Anderson, managing general partner at North Bridge Venture Partners. “Tatara Systems’ standards-based platform addresses these challenges by offering operational efficiencies, substantial cost advantages and new revenue opportunities while leveraging both the legacy and next-generation network investments.”

“Tatara’s SIP-based convergence architecture has a competitive advantage within the femtocell market since it is the only solution available today that provides operators with the coverage and capacity benefits of femtocells together with the full mobile core offload and enhanced services revenue,” stated E.Y. Snowden, president and CEO of Tatara Systems. “Our Tatara Convergence Server is well positioned for further success in providing superior standards-based solutions to help address other convergence challenges faced by mobile operators.”

About Tatara Systems

Tatara Systems is the leader in SIP-based femtocell convergence, supporting both IMS and pre-IMS standards based architectures. Tatara’s cost-effective, highly scalable and flexible approach to femtocell deployment provides seamless integration with the legacy network while enabling operators to deliver next-generation residential and business services without re-engineering the incumbent mobile core. The Tatara Convergence Server solution provides service interworking; delivers unified voice, messaging and data services; and provides uniform calling and feature plans across diverse networks. Tatara is working with its customers and partners to speed the deployment of femtocells worldwide. For more information, visit www.tatarasystems.com.

About North Bridge Venture Partners

North Bridge Venture Partners is an active, bi-coastal, early-stage venture capital firm based in Boston, Massachusetts and San Mateo, California. Established in 1994, North Bridge provides seed-to-growth financing and company-building expertise. Together with North Bridge Growth Equity, our mid-market focused growth capital fund, North Bridge manages over $3 billion. For North Bridge Venture Partners, success is derived through a partnership with entrepreneurs that produce industry-leading companies in large emerging markets. Historically, the firm's partners have played a significant role in organizing, starting and building successful companies. Working in concert with entrepreneurs, North Bridge adds value by providing strategic guidance, sharing operating experience, industry specific knowledge, team-building skills and an in-depth understanding of both private and public financings. North Bridge's sector focus includes Software, Communications, Healthcare Technology, Digital Media, and Materials. For more information about North Bridge, go to www.northbridge.com.

About Highland Capital Partners

Highland Capital Partners was founded with the mission of helping great people build great companies. For over twenty years, the firm has taken a sector-focused approach to investing in exceptional healthcare, internet & digital media and technology companies. With $3 billion of committed capital and offices in Boston, Silicon Valley, Shanghai and Geneva, Highland has invested in and worked to create such firms as Ask Jeeves, Avid Technology, CheckFree, Conor Medsystems, Continental Cablevision, lululemon athletica, Lycos, MapQuest, Navic Networks, New York Times Digital, Ocular Networks, P.A. Semi, Quattro Wireless, Quigo, Renal Treatment Centers, Staples.com, Starent Networks, Sybase, Telica and VistaPrint. For more information, visit Highland's web site at www.hcp.com.

Tatara Systems, Tatara and Tatara Convergence Server are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Tatara Systems, Inc. in the United States and certain other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owner.