ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 23, 1998--Ascend
Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND), a leader in wide area networking
(WAN) and Intelligent Networking (IN) solutions for providers and
users of the next-generation public network, today announced the first
complete integration of carrier signaling telecom products and
technologies as a key element for building the next-generation public
network. This announcement coincides with the release of the Ascend
SS7 Gateway (ASG), (see "Ascend Delivers First Fault-Tolerant
Central-Office Compliant Internet SS7 Gateway") the first commercially
available, open standards-based platform that revolutionizes the
transport of voice, data, fax and video over the public network. The
ASG is the first product deliverable resulting from Ascend's
acquisition of Stratus Computer, completed in October 1998. Ascend's
Carrier Signaling and Management Division, which was formed out of the
acquisition of Stratus, is charged with developing solutions that
accelerate Ascend's strategy for voice and data convergence.
"Recent Yankee Group research shows that 71 percent of the
Fortune 1000 companies in America have either implemented voice and
fax applications across some form of data network, or are strongly
considering it," said Rob Rich, senior vice president of
Telecommunications Research at the Yankee Group. "Platforms like
Ascend's carrier signaling technology solutions can provide carriers
with the wherewithal to quickly and cost-effectively scale service
solutions for these customers."
The next-generation public network is a packet-oriented network
designed with the capacity and flexibility to rapidly handle
increasing data traffic and contrasts with the traditional
circuit-based network that was designed solely to manage voice
traffic. It leverages a Quality of Service (QoS)-based IP, Frame Relay
and ATM infrastructure that enables simultaneous delivery of voice,
data, fax and video. Ascend's powerful fault-tolerant signaling
technology brings the IN functionality of the Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN) to this next-generation public network,
blending the old-world with the new.
Internet Call Diversion, the first application delivered by the
newly formed Carrier Signaling and Management Division, offloads data
from the PSTN and diverts it directly to data networks via Ascend's
market-leading MAX TNT WAN switches. Future technology enhancements
will extend this capability to third-party remote access products, and
will add advanced voice and data routing capabilities to enable the
next phase of Ascend's MultiVoice strategy. MultiVoice is Ascend's
three-phase strategy to integrate voice, data, fax, and video over IP,
Frame Relay, and ATM switched backbone networks.
Ascend's strategy for integration of voice and data networks
leverages the strength of the company's WAN access switch
installed-base with 8.25 million ports installed in 100 countries
worldwide with QoS and carrier-class network management. It is based
on fault-tolerant, service control point (SCP) technology already
installed in 27 of the top 30 telecommunication companies, all five
Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), and three of the largest
interexchange carriers. These systems are extensively used in IN
applications for the PSTN and wireless networks, and will be applied
in the next-generation public network to deliver enhanced services to
consumers and corporate end-users. These services include Internet
Telephony, interactive E-Commerce, as well as "telephone-class"
services like 800 number/Freephone and prepaid calling.
While other industry vendors in this market space have announced
intentions to create "new business models" and form new partnerships
to offer a comparable solution in the future, Ascend is the only
vendor today delivering a field-trial tested and deployed solution.
(See "Ascend Delivers First Fault-Tolerant Central-Office Compliant
Internet SS7 Gateway.")
"The rapid integration of carrier signaling technology and the
delivery of Ascend's SS7 Gateway (ASG) extends Ascend's market lead by
solving key technical challenges that will make the next-generation
public network a reality," said Mory Ejabat, president and chief
executive officer of Ascend. "While the next-generation public network
continues to evolve, our technology is supplying our service provider
customers worldwide with products they can deploy now to develop
additional services that advance their businesses, and at the same
time lower operating costs."
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