P-Cube

P-Cube was a technology company founded in 1999 by Israeli entrepreneurs to help Internet service providers improve profitability through the controlled delivery of additional network services. Its commercial concept was based on enabling operators to identify, manage, and monetize different types of Internet traffic and service usage rather than treating connectivity as an undifferentiated offering. The company was based in the United States and maintained research and development facilities in Herzliya, Israel. The company was established by Yuval Shahar, Benny Shnaider, and Giora Yaron. Shahar became chief executive officer and brought prior experience as a development manager at VocalTec. Shnaider had previously co-founded Pentacom, another Israeli networking company later acquired by Cisco, while Yaron had held senior positions at Indigo and Tower Semiconductor. Their backgrounds placed P-Cube within the Israeli communications-technology ecosystem and connected it to the broader development of carrier networking and Internet infrastructure. P-Cube raised more than $65 million in venture capital from investors including Granite Global, Accel Partners, ComVentures, Evergreen, Sandoz, and Venture TDF. The funding supported the development and commercialization of service delivery platforms for telecommunications operators and Internet service providers. These platforms were intended to give providers greater control over subscriber traffic and enable differentiated services that could generate additional revenue. Cisco Systems acquired P-Cube on August 23, 2004. Following the acquisition, P-Cube's technology was incorporated into Cisco's service-control product portfolio. The platform was subsequently marketed under the name Service Control Engine, or SCE. Cisco later announced in October 2012 that it would end sales of the lower-end SCE platforms. According to the referenced Wikipedia account, development of the broader SCE platform continued and replacement products remained available from Cisco. P-Cube therefore no longer operated as an independent company, but its technology continued within Cisco's networking business.

P-Cube was founded in 1999 by three Israeli technology entrepreneurs: Yuval Shahar, Benny Shnaider, and Giora Yaron. Although the company was based in the United States, it maintained research and development facilities in Herzliya, Israel. Its creation reflected a broader effort within the communications-technology sector to help Internet service providers earn more from network infrastructure and subscriber connections. The founders developed the business around the problem of ISP profitability. Basic Internet access was becoming increasingly competitive, while operators still had to fund extensive network infrastructure. P-Cube's proposed answer was a service delivery platform capable of helping providers manage traffic and introduce additional paid services. Instead of treating all packets and subscribers identically, operators could use the platform to apply policies, support differentiated service offerings, and obtain more commercial value from their networks. The leadership team brought experience from several Israeli technology companies. Yuval Shahar, who served as chief executive, had previously been a development manager at VocalTec. Benny Shnaider had co-founded Pentacom, a company later acquired by Cisco in April 2004. Giora Yaron, P-Cube's president, had previously served as president of Indigo and general manager of Tower Semiconductor. Their prior work in communications, semiconductors, and enterprise technology helped shape P-Cube's carrier-focused product strategy. P-Cube obtained more than $65 million in venture financing. The listed investors included Granite Global, Accel Partners, ComVentures, Evergreen, Sandoz, and Venture TDF. This capital supported product development and the company's efforts to sell service delivery infrastructure to Internet service providers and telecommunications operators. Cisco Systems acquired P-Cube on August 23, 2004. The transaction ended P-Cube's existence as an independent company and transferred its technology and personnel into Cisco's organization. Cisco subsequently renamed the relevant platform the Service Control Engine, commonly abbreviated SCE. The product family continued to address service-control and traffic-management needs in operator networks. In October 2012, Cisco announced the end of sale of the lower-end SCE platforms. This represented a reduction or transition in part of the product range rather than the disappearance of all technology associated with P-Cube. The referenced account states that further development of the SCE platform continued and that Cisco made replacement products available. P-Cube is therefore best understood as a defunct acquired company whose principal technology continued under Cisco branding.

• 2012

  Lower-end SCE platforms reach end of sale

  [1]P-Cubeen.wikipedia.org

  Cisco announced the end of sale for lower-end platforms derived from P-Cube technology and marketed as Service Control Engine products.

• 2004

  Cisco Systems acquires P-Cube

  [1]P-Cubeen.wikipedia.org

  Cisco acquired P-Cube on August 23, 2004, incorporating its service delivery platform technology into Cisco's portfolio.

• 1999

  P-Cube is founded

  [1]P-Cubeen.wikipedia.org

  Yuval Shahar, Benny Shnaider, and Giora Yaron founded P-Cube to develop service delivery technology for Internet service providers.

• P-Cube raises more than $65 million

  [1]P-Cubeen.wikipedia.org

  The company raised more than $65 million from a group of venture investors, including Accel Partners, Granite Global, ComVentures, Evergreen, Sandoz, and Venture TDF.

P-Cube positioned its technology as an infrastructure layer for Internet service providers that could improve traffic control, support differentiated services, and create additional sources of operator revenue.

• Network service delivery platform

  P-Cube service delivery platform

  P-Cube's core offering was a service delivery platform designed for Internet service providers and telecommunications operators. It was intended to provide more granular control over network traffic and support the creation of additional, potentially chargeable services. The platform addressed the commercial and operational challenge of improving ISP profitability through differentiated network services rather than connectivity alone.

• Carrier network service-control platform · 2004

  Cisco Service Control Engine

  After Cisco acquired P-Cube, the underlying technology was incorporated into Cisco's portfolio and renamed the Service Control Engine, or SCE. The product family continued the original focus on service control and traffic management for operators. Cisco later ended sales of lower-end SCE platforms while continuing development of the broader platform and offering replacements.

• 2012

  Cisco ends sale of lower-end SCE platformsStrategy

  Background

  Cisco's Service Control Engine product family represented the continuation of P-Cube technology after the acquisition.

  Action taken

  In October 2012, Cisco announced that it would end sales of the lower-end SCE platforms.

  Aftermath

  The lower-end products were withdrawn, while further development of the SCE platform and replacement products continued according to the referenced account.

  Source

• 2004

  Cisco acquires P-Cube and integrates its technologyM&A

  Background

  P-Cube had developed service delivery technology aimed at helping Internet service providers manage traffic and generate revenue from differentiated services.

  Action taken

  Cisco Systems acquired P-Cube on August 23, 2004, after which the technology became part of Cisco's service-control portfolio and was marketed as the Service Control Engine.

  Aftermath

  P-Cube ceased to operate as an independent company, while its principal platform continued within Cisco's networking business.

  Source

1. 1P-Cubeen.wikipedia.org