"Azure for Operators" is what Microsoft was calling the Metaswitch
products.
This went out a couple months ago:
---
We are reaching out to customers of our Azure for Operators
portfolio, which includes products we acquired from Affirmed Networks
and Metaswitch Networks, to explain recent updates to our portfolio.
__In 2020, we announced our Azure for Operators initiative. As part
of this effort, we acquired Affirmed Networks, Metaswitch Networks,
and IP from AT&T to acquire “Telco DNA” that would enhance our
operational / technical engineering skills for building a carrier
grade platform. As these acquisitions came together with Azure, we
created Azure Operator Nexus – a carrier grade, hybrid cloud
platform. We are moving Azure Operator Nexus into our broader Azure
Edge and Platform portfolio and continue to service operators.__
___Based on customer demand, the Azure for Operators initiative also
focused on automation and analytics capabilities as early products.
Given the acceleration of Microsoft’s AI capabilities overall, we are
now aligning these early efforts with Microsoft’s broader portfolio.___
___As we advance our platform and AI capabilities, we are shifting
our focus from the Network Function layer to partnerships with
industry leaders of these capabilities. We will fulfill all our
contractual obligations to existing customers and we will be
consistent with published end-of-life policies. We will not expand
our customer base for Microsoft’s Network Functions, including the
former Metaswitch and Affirmed Networks software products.___
__The telecommunications industry remains a priority industry for
Microsoft. We will continue to empower telecommunications
organizations to achieve more through a trusted and secure platform
built to elevate customer experiences, streamline enterprise
operations and business support systems, accelerate network
transformation, reinvent product innovation and monetization, and
build a secure data-driven business.__
___We appreciate the importance our products provide in supporting
your network. We also appreciate the long-term planning that network
development requires, so we will communicate our roadmap plans at the
earliest opportunity. It is important to note that these changes do
not require immediate action from you today, nor do they change any
agreement that you have in place with Microsoft. We will continue to
meet all customer contractual commitments.___
___If you have any questions, please contact: AFO Sales Questions
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.___
___Thank you.___
___*__*___
___*FAQ*___
___*Q: Is there any action I need to take today? When will you have
more details to share about retirement dates (Azure services) or End
of Life dates (Metaswitch Networks & Affirmed Networks products)?*___
___A: We will continue to meet all customer contractual commitments
and be consistent with published end-of-life policies. We also
appreciate the long-term planning that network development requires,
so we will communicate our roadmap plans at the earliest opportunity.___
___*__*___
___*Q: Will you still support our cloud and AI transformation?*___
___A: Yes, Microsoft is refining the offers we provide to operators
to reflect the strong demand for cloud and AI based solutions.___
________
___*Q: If you are announcing an End of Sale for the Affirmed Network
and Metaswitch Network products for new customers and net new
deployments, what does this mean for my existing service?*___
* ___We will meet all existing customer contractual obligations.___
* ___We will continue to maintain the software to provide security
patches and bug fixes. We highly recommend that customers follow
standard security practices and upgrade to the latest releases.___
* ___We will provide support consistent with existing contracts.___
* ___We will continue to offer project level support / maintenance
services on a case-by-case basis (as we do today).___
* ___We will support the expansion of volumes of current
deployments.___
* ___We will not expand the customer base / add new customers.___
* ___We will not expand to entirely new deployments for existing
customers (e.g., launching for a new OpCo or OpCo not currently
deployed) where the new deployment is not already contractually
committed.___
* ___We will not expand or offer new feature sets beyond those that
have already been committed.___
________
___*Q: What Are you announcing for the Azure for Operators products?*___
___A: Here is a summary of these changes:___
* ___We promoted Azure Operator Nexus to Azure’s Edge and Platform
portfolio and will continue to sell it.___
* ___We will continue to support Azure Programmable Connectivity.___
* ___We will support existing customers of Azure Operator Insights
/ AIOps Copilot, but we will not accept new customers.
Microsoft Fabric will address this functionality.___
* ___We will no longer add new customers for: Azure Communication
Gateway (ACG), Azure Operator Insights (AOI), Azure Private 5G
Core (AP5GC), Affirmed Mobile Content Cloud (MCC), Affirmed
UnityCloud (UC), Metaswitch Rhino TAS, and Metaswitch Perimeta
SBC. If you have a customer who is in the process of onboarding,
please contact the appropriate In-flight Projects contact:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> (APAC and EMEA) or
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]> (Americas).___
* ___We will not accept more preview candidates for: Azure Operator
Call Protection (AOCP) and Azure Operator 5G Core (AO5GC), and we
will not move these services to General Availability.___
___*__*___
___*Q: What is next after you stop selling a product, and how will
you manage these products?*___
___A: We will continue to support these products in accordance with
our existing customer commitments. We will eventually retire these
services in accordance with our lifecycle policies. In advance of
retirement, we will provide notification as well as details on
transition recommendations. We are committed to supporting you
through this transition.___
________
___Here are the current plans for each product, but plans may evolve
as we work with customers:___
* ___*Azure Communication Gateway (ACG) *– We will publish a
transition roadmap to recommend options to migrate off these
services to partner solutions when the service is retired.___
* ___*Azure Operator Insights (AOI) *– We will work with customers
to align this service to Microsoft Fabric before the service is
retired.___
* ___*Azure Operator 5G Core (AO5GC) * – We will not move this
product from Public Preview to GA___
* ___*Azure Private 5G Core (AP5GC)* – We will provide options to
adopt services using partner solutions before the service is
retired.___
* ___*Azure Operator Call Protection (AOCP)* – We will not move
this product from Private Preview to GA. Operators may still use
existing Microsoft tooling and partner solutions to create a
similar solution.___
* ___*Affirmed Mobile Content Cloud (MCC)* – We will meet
obligations as defined above until product End of Life.___
* ___*Affirmed UnityCloud (UC)* – We will meet obligations as
defined above and move to product End of Life.___
* ___*Metaswitch Rhino TAS* – We will meet obligations as defined
above until product End of Life.___
* ___*Metaswitch Perimeta SBC* – We will meet obligations as
defined above until product End of Life.___
________
___*Q: Is Microsoft exiting the telecommunications industry?*___
___A: No. Microsoft remains fully committed to supporting the
telecommunications industry by empowering them to achieve more with
the power of Cloud and AI. The changes to the Azure for Operator
portfolio reflect customer demand and enable us to focus on the
technologies that drive the most value for our customers and partners.___
___*__*___
___*Q: If these changes impacted my contacts at Microsoft, who can I
contact?*___
___A: We apologize for any inconvenience personnel changes have
caused you. Please reach out to your assigned Microsoft Account
Executive. For issues requiring escalation, you may contact the
following:___
______
___Questions / inquiries:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>___
___Industry Lead Sponsor: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>___
___Support Issues: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>___
___In-flight Projects (APAC and EMEA) [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>___
___In-flight Projects (Americas): [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>___
___Purchase Orders: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>___
___Executive Escalation: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>___
________
___On Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 8:41 AM Mike Hammett <[email protected]>
wrote:___
___"Given the MetaSwitch products are no longer sold, and
Microsoft is EOLing them, and not taking new support
contracts..."___
___That's news to me.___
___-----
Mike Hammett
Intelligent Computing Solutions
http://www.ics-il.com
Midwest Internet Exchange
http://www.midwest-ix.com___
------------------------------------------------------------------------
___*From:* "Jawaid Bazyar via VoiceOps" <[email protected]>
*To:* "voiceops" <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Tuesday, August 13, 2024 7:23:05 AM
*Subject:* [VoiceOps] Acquire MetaSwitch___
___Hello,___
___We are in the market to acquire / take over a MetaSwitch CFS.
In particular, we're looking for the virtual edition that runs
purely in VMWare.___
___The components we'd need are:___
___ CFS___
___ MRS (Media Resource Server)___
___ Perimeta___
___ SAS (Service Assurance Server)___
___ MetaView Server___
___These are fairly common components.___
___Given the MetaSwitch products are no longer sold, and
Microsoft is EOLing them, and not taking new support contracts,
we're not talking about a big cash up front kind of deal, but,
instead a revenue share kind of arrangement.___
___Anyone that has one and is interested, contact me directly
off-list.___
___Cheers,___
___Jawaid___
__________________________________________________
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https://puck.nether.net/mailman/listinfo/voiceops___
