Feds get voice-over-IP option

Clarent Corp.'s voice-over-IP solutions are now available to government agencies thanks to a reseller agreement announced Monday with General Dynamics Electronic Systems.

The agreement makes General Dynamics the first government-focused value-added reseller of Clarent's products and services, which are used by more than 300 telecommunication carriers and service providers worldwide.

Clarent's products handle voice, data and fax communications using packet-switched technology, which breaks information into packets, sends it and then reassembles the information at its destination. This IP method takes up network space only during transmission and allows for the simultaneous transmission of voice, fax and data over the same network.

General Dynamics government customers include the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps. Dave Johnson, vice president of General Dynamics Electronic Systems' signals intelligence business organization, said this deal expands what the company can offer its government customers.

"Not only do we build and integrate custom computer and telecommunications systems for national security customers, we also serve as a value-added broker of market-proven communications solutions such as Clarent's IP solutions," he said. General Dynamics Electronic Systems will offer Clarent's solutions to its current customers, and the two companies will jointly present product information at government trade shows.

Jerry Chang, Clarent's chief executive officer, said the new relationship "opens up a key vertical market for Clarent."