OpenCloud, which supplies open standards-based application servers for the deployment of next-generation convergent telecoms services, has been awarded the Product Differentiation Innovation of the Year award in the European Telecommunications Market by global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.  The accolade was awarded to OpenCloud for its Rhino application server, an open, carrier-grade platform that provides flexibility and agility for converged service development and deployment by telecoms network operators.
The Frost & Sullivan Product Differentiation Innovation of the Year award is presented annually to the company demonstrating the ability to develop the most innovative products in a competitive market. The award recognises adoption of new or existing technology that is part of its product family and expected to significantly contribute to the industry. The accolade is awarded after extensive independent research by Frost & Sullivan into the entrants product differentiation strategies, including the positive impact of the product on sales, benefits to end-users and the effect of product differentiation on market maturation.
Operators legacy networks are traditionally a proprietary mix of incompatible and expensive application environments, restricting them to certain vendors for development of new services and updates. OpenClouds Rhino platform won the award for its JAIN-SLEE open standards-compliant support for large-scale executions of communications services across existing and next-generation networks. In contrast to cumbersome proprietary platforms, says OpenCloud, Rhino provides an open, flexible environment that is essential to achieving rapid service development and deployment. Operators or third party application developers can overcome vendor lock in to develop and deploy innovative new and converged services that can be delivered to market quicker and at significantly lower cost. The combination of openness and carrier grade standard is provided by no other vendor, says OpenCloud,  and this is what clinched the award.
OpenCloud recognised a gap in the market for a truly carrier grade platform that gives operators the boost they need in the evolution to next-generation networks and services, says OpenCloud CEO Stephen Newton. From the outset, we have focused our business on building a JAIN SLEE-compliant application server that opens up a wealth of competitive opportunities for telecoms operators by building other solutions on the server, and lowering the cost and timescale for bringing new services to market. Winning this award confirms the market leadership we have established and the quality and innovation built into our Rhino solution.
Luke Thomas, Research Analyst with Frost & Sullivans ICT Europe practice says: JAIN SLEE is the only open standard specification for an application server designed to provide a run-time environment for in-network telecommunications applications. Unlike OpenClouds Rhino, not all JAIN SLEE based platforms have been designed to meet the exacting high availability requirements of telecommunications (99.999% or greater) and provide service continuity of calls/sessions on network equipment failure. 
OpenCloud was formed in New Zealand in 2000 to create open standard software that would revolutionise the portability and interoperability of services in telecommunications, specifically in the evolution to IP and 3G IMS. The company was founded on the vision that the use of Java within the telecommunications network would stimulate innovation, interoperability and simplicity in telecommunication infrastructure equipment.