Verso Technologies will help pilot a program to enable Hainan Mobiles's landline-based enterprise customers to connect to the existing backbone of their wireless network.

Verso has signed an agreement to provide its Clarent Edge Access Softswitch Solution to Hainan, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Mobile Communications Co. (CMCC).

The Clarent Class 5 Call Manager, part of Verso's Clarent Edge Access Softswitch Solution, will be used. It allows service providers to support enterprise managed services for voice and data convergence and Voice over Broadband (VoBB) services for residential and small office/home office customers. Hainan and CMCC came to Atlanta-based Verso seeking a solution that would enable landline customers to connect to CMCC's existing network for trunking, the company said, while taking advantage of the explosion of broadband in China to support the last mile.

"Our Edge Access solution will enable CMCC to create what is essentially a hybrid carrier in that it is a wireless carrier serving both wireless and landline customers with a wide range of call services using VoBB," said Steve Odom, Verso's chairman and chief executive officer. "We see this as critical step in expanding both VOBB and other calling services throughout China."