eTunnels Launches VPN-On-Demand

Soon ISPs will be able to offer managed virtual private network services without customer premise equipment—as a matter of fact, without any equipment at all!

by Barry Elad
Managing Editor, Seattle.internet.com
[September 15, 2000]

Seattle-based eTunnels has launched it VPN-On-Demand, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) provisioning platform that allows service providers to provision customer VPN implementations for remote acess, extranet and site-to-site connectivitiy through a simple web interface. The official announcement was made earlier this week at VPNCon 2000 in Boston.

In making this announcement, eTunnels becomes the first company to offer a POP-less, network-based VPN service platform. While traditional network-based VPN service platforms reduce deployment hassles and lower capital costs by eliminating customer premise equipment, the VPN-On-Demand service platform goes further by also eliminating central office and POP equipment, through a unique, patent-pending service architecture.

According to eTunnels CEO & President Dimitri Sirota, in an exclusive interview with Seattle.internet.com, the response the company received at the VPNCon show was overwhelming. "VPNCon is not a large show but highly focused. Everyone attending is a decision maker within a Fortune 500 company or carrier."

Sirota believes that VPN-On-Demand stands apart by offering the best of both worlds: reliable peer-to-peer performance without the truck rolls. Service providers need high margin, differentiated IP services they can rapidly deploy to the field. eTunnels enables them to become 'VPN ASPs' quickly and cost-effectively.

"Because VPN-On-Demand does not require network build-out or field service, it can be production-ready in just two weeks. Service providers realize returns right away, making the VPN-On-Demand provisioning platform attractive as a source of immediate, high margin, recurring revenue for this market," says Sirota.

Sirota reports that the beta tests for the initial release of VPN-On-Demand were successful, and they demonstrated the potential of the company's technology while clearly revealing a path for the company's next release in October.

As regards the use of the platform, the company plans on announcing an agreement with a national service provider sometime next week.

—End

Related articles
Offer Managed Security & Anti-Virus Services
Helping ISPs Become Managed Security Providers
Best-of-Breed Platform for Managed Security Services