Two of Sonus Networks' strategic imperatives the last year or so have been to expand its wireless solutions and extend its focus from the network core out to the network edge. The company did both two weeks ago with the acquisition of Zynetix, a maker of IP-based GSM solutions.

The $13 million deal is expected to close next week. Andy Odgers, managing director for Zynetix, will become vice president of wireless technology in Sonus' office of the chief technology officer. He will take his technology from the maritime and military world to the network of wireless operators.

The Zynetix Central Controller acts as a small mobile radio center between the broadband network and the mobile radio network, said Anand Parikh, vice president of business development for Sonus. It allows single-mode GSM phones to use either the primary radio network or femtocells/picocells to access the broadband network.

“It's another example of finding interim solutions to help in the transition to IMS,” Parikh said.

Sonus' goal in integrating the Zynetix technology is to create an end-to-end wireless IP solution for both 2G and 3G markets. “Zynetix takes the promise of IP down to the in-building radio,” Parikh said. “And allowing single-mode phones to access femtocells takes some of the burden off the cellular radio network.”

Despite its finding a foothold with maritime solutions, Zynetix was founded in 2003 to build solutions for network operators, Odgers said. It now will get its chance as Sonus builds its wireless portfolio and buttresses it with partnerships like the one it announced with Apertio recently. Apertio makes a home location register, which it will integrate into Sonus' IP multimedia subsystem-ready wireless architecture and the ecosystem being built around the newly acquired Zynetix. The ecosystem also includes femtocell/picocell providers 3Way Networks, ip.access and RadioFrame Networks.