For Immediate Release

Announcing New Strategic Alliance, Patton and ABP Storm the Americas VoIP Market

Patton signs ABP Technology (www.abptech.com) as a master distributor for award-winning SmartNodeTM VoIP Gateways in the Americas as the partnership "Storms North America" with special pricing.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. and DALLAS, TEXAS -- January 13, 2010 -- Patton, the leader in business and carrier-class network access, connectivity, VoIP and triple-play equipment -- and ABP Technology -- value-added distributor of IP Telephony and IP Video solutions -- have announced a strategic partnership that appoints ABP as a Master Distributor for Patton's SmartNode™ VoIP Gateway product line in the Americas.

Patton has engaged ABP to distribute VoIP equipment to key reseller partners in conjunction with a blitz on the North American VoIP market that began in October.

During Q4 2009, Patton offered special year-end pricing on Patton's two best-selling SmartNode™ VoIP gateway routers.

Although Patton's promotions went out with 2009, ABP has extended the special pricing through the end of February 2010.

Resellers can view the ABP online partner storefront for Patton's complete range of VoIP gateways that includes carrier-class products for service providers and enterprise-class products for small to medium-size businesses.

"As the telecom industry shifts to VoIP," said Robert Messer, ABP's President, "the market needs carrier-class products at cost-effective price levels. We chose Patton SmartNode because it offers the industry's best price-performance for carrier and enterprise-class gateways. Of special interest to service providers is Patton's touchless provisioning and configuration feature in SmartNode CPEs."

As attested by Patton's numerous RealityCheck® success stories, SmartNode combines the maturity, stability, and technical innovation that businesses and carriers demand.

"Patton equipment is manufactured in the USA," Messer adds. "American manufacturing is a major benefit for our government sales. It also boosts our transactions with partners in NAFTA countries and Latin America."

Manufactured at Patton's Gaithersburg, MD facility, SmartNode™ recently claimed the 2009 INTERNET TELEPHONY® Excellence Award -- the seventh major award in five years for the product line.

"ABP stands out as a specialty distributor in the IP world," said Patton's North America Sales Director, Sean Gerrity. "We are very pleased to partner with ABP to build strong channel-partner relationships throughout the Americas. ABP's longstanding experience combined with strong market share in the service-provider and reseller sectors is especially attractive."

ABP will showcase Patton's award-winning SIP trunking solution -- the SmartNode 4960 PRI VoIP IAD -- at ITExpo in Miami during January 20–22 in booth 112.