The global market for media gateways and Class 4 and 5 softswitches will jump from $2.7 bln in 2005 to $8.4 bln in 2010, reports In-Stat. One of the advantages of media gateways and softswitches is that they cost less than traditional equipment, the high-tech market research firm says. It also creates carrier infrastructure to support future services. Chinese equipment vendor, Huawei, garnered the largest market share for media gateway port shipments and Class 4 softswitch licenses for 2005; however, over half of those shipments were to domestic markets.