Watch out Baby Bells...Here's the technology needed for unlimited local wireless calling areas if I'm not mistaken. Add to this the CTIA's petition to the FCC today for "call originator pays" and the possibility of dumping my landline service seems a lot closer. -JLF
Flexent Wireless Networks from Lucent
Technologies; Bolsters Virtual Private
Networks Offer
February 24, 1998
MURRAY HILL, N.J., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ via Individual Inc. -- As part of the
introduction of the first elements of its new Flexent(TM) Wireless Networks, Lucent
Technologies said that carriers will be able to cost-effectively create virtual private
networks within their existing service areas so they can offer tiered pricing plans and
services that are customized to specific users.
Lucent's latest Flexent CDMA Private Networks Offer is based on software
enhancements that allow wireless operators to partition the physical network into logical
or "virtual" sub-networks, each with its own custom features and billing parameters.
This network enhancement enables service providers to offer a variety of options to
their corporate customers, such as flat-rate bulk calling with custom features like 4-digit
dialing. For residential users, the operator could offer a reduced rate "home phone "
service with a premium charge for out-of-home mobility calls.
"Increasingly, people are turning to wireless for all their communications needs, not just
mobile telephony ," said Bob Sellinger, Lucent's director of PCS marketing and business
development. "Network operators are expecting us to provide them with flexible
solutions so they can quickly customize their services for a full range of fixed and mobile
personal communications services -- all from the same core network."
Virtual private networks enable business customers to obtain group discount rates and
custom numbering plans that mimic private internal office or campus dialing plans for
simplified access to enterprise voice and data networks.
Business users find this wireless office application attractive because the integration of
all voice services in one phone and one number increases employee productivity by
minimizing time used for retrieving and responding to voice mail.
The combination new network elements like an Application Processor that offers
centralized, network control of base stations like the new Flexent Microcell provides a
cost-effective means of covering buildings and campuses. Multiple locations of a single
enterprise can be offered identical private network capabilities from the same public
network.
Carriers can also take further advantage of either the Flexent microcell or third party
integrated in-building antenna distribution systems to boost capacity in large facilities
such as airports, stadiums and shopping centers. This new offer will be available later
this year for carriers using Lucent's code division multiple access (CDMA) systems.
Network operators who use Lucent's IS-136 TDMA (time division multiple access)
systems can segment their networks into public and private virtual networks thanks to
the standard Digital Control Channel, a signaling system that enables a variety of
intelligent networking options for network operators. The private networks software
feature set segments users into groups for customized service plans, including support
for billing options that identify personal and business calls.
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., designs, builds and delivers a
wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data
networking systems, business telephone systems and microelectronic components. Bell
Labs is the research and development arm for the company. For more information on
Lucent Technologies, visit our web site at lucent.com.
SOURCE Lucent Technologies
/CONTACT: Sam Gronner of Lucent, On Site at CTIA '98, 973-386-5065, office, or
908-507-2115, mobile, or samgronner@lucent.com/ /Web site: lucent.com
(LU) |
