3Com Corporation and Siemens Public Communications Networks Integrate
Internet Gateway With Digital Switch to Produce First Ever
Multi-service Central Office Switch - 9:02 a.m. Mar 09, 1998 Eastern
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 1998--
3Com's Total Control(TM) Platform and Siemens' EWSD Digital Switch Enable
New Generation of Custom Calling Features, Including Voice over IP; Demo at
Cebit98
3Com Corporation (Nasdaq: COMS) and Siemens Public Communications
Networks, Munich, today announced a joint development agreement that combines
voice and data networking to produce the first ever multi-service central office
switch.
The companies have integrated 3Com's Total Control(TM) multi-service platform
with Siemens' EWSD (Elektronisches Wahlsystem Digital) Class 5 digital switching
system to simplify remote access to the Internet and enable delivery of a whole
new generation of custom-calling services, including Voice Over IP (VOIP).
This joint development agreement between the two companies positions them at the
forefront of network convergence. (Also see today's other 3Com/Siemens
announcement, which aims to meet the needs of enterprise customers: "Siemens
and 3Com To Roll Out Stackable Solutions For Voice and Data.")
The implementation of the Total Control Internet gateway in the EWSD system
enables custom-calling services that can make using the Internet and telephone
much easier.
At the same time, telephone network operators can offer efficient Internet access
through their existing networks, thereby reducing the investment in new
infrastructure. Some of the potential new services are:
-- Improved access to Voice Over IP: This service offers the subscriber the option
of completing a telephone call via the conventional telephone network, or optionally,
to complete the call via an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The integrated IP
telephony gateway provides customer-friendly access to this service. Dial-in access
and metering charges are managed within the EWSD multi-service switch. Internet,
the Internet call-waiting service alerts the user to incoming calls in a screen
window. Until now, the person being called had no way to recognize and accept
incoming calls. The phone line would be continuously busy while the user engaged
in an Internet session. The new service allows the recipient to decide whether to
accept the call, or to continue the Internet session and perhaps call back later.
-- Call completion: This service is like the Internet call-waiting service, except that
the Internet session need not be interrupted in order to accept the call. Using the
Voice-Over-IP capability of the integrated EWSD multi-service switch, the
recipient can talk from the PC, and thereby continue the Internet session
uninterrupted while accepting inbound telephone calls. service signals the subscriber
that an e-mail message has been received by using the same method used for
network-based voice messaging. This information is received at the subscriber's
telephone, without the necessity of turning on the PC. The message-waiting
information is signaled by means of the telephone display panel -- a LED -- or a
special "stutter" dial tone just like voice mail. subscribers themselves can configure
these custom-calling services for their telephone lines with the help of a
user-friendly graphic interface on their PCs. They also can obtain a display of their
current service charges online, which in turn can save telco providers an estimated
40 percent in customer provisioning costs.
"The joint effort between Siemens and 3Com takes the industry to the next frontier
of communications, and effectively marries the legacy circuit switched network
with the burgeoning data communications network to deliver new services," said
Ross Manire, senior vice president, 3Com Carrier Systems.
"The combination of Siemens EWSD switches and 3Com's Total Control
technology will provide telco service providers with the ability to deploy
high-density, scalable, modular systems in their networks, unmatched by any
competitive offerings in the market."
In January, 3Com successfully launched VOIP capabilities, built in part on
Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R) Server, in its Total Control multi-service platform, an
advanced DSP-based system ranked by global industry research firms as the
world's leading remote access system in revenue market share.
Changing the definition of remote access, 3Com's Total Control multi-service
platform is a next generation, fully modular, carrier-class access system based on
3Com's HiPer(TM) DSP technology that can deliver value-added services such as
voice, fax, video, virtual private networking and content - all in a single
software-upgradable system. More than three-million Total Control ports have been
deployed to date.
In addition, 300 providers, offering services to more than 150 million subscribers in
100 countries, use Siemens' EWSD system, making it the world's leading digital
switch and confirming Siemens' long tradition as the premier supplier of solutions
for telecommunications infrastructure systems.
"The integration of Total Control technology into Siemens' Class 5 central office
switch provides a strategic opportunity for carrier-class remote access,
Voice-Over-IP gateway services and a host of other Internet supplementary
services," said Hans-Eugen Binder, president of the Switching Networks Business
Unit of Siemens Public Communications Networks Group.
"Every installed Siemens EWSD switch can be readily upgraded into a multi-service
switch, offering cost reductions for telcos delivering Internet access services."
"This initiative further confirms the role of Windows NT as a standard platform for
commercial network services in the emerging convergence of voice, video and data
networks," said Cameron Myhrvold, vice president, Internet Customer Unit,
Microsoft.
"Microsoft is excited to see 3Com and Siemens using Windows NT Server to drive
the next generation of services within the public network." The jointly developed
Internet gateway and its new services will be demonstrated at Cebit98 March
19-25 in Hanover, Germany (3Com Booth--Hall 11, B62, Siemens Booth--Hall 14,
H14). The product is expected to ship this spring. About Siemens
The Siemens Public Communications Networks Group is one of the world's leading
suppliers of solutions for telecommunications infrastructure systems. In the 1996/97
fiscal year, the Group had 35,000 employees and sales of about 14.5 billion DM.
More than 150 million installed EWSD (digital electronic switching system)
telephone lines make it the world market leader in digital switching systems. About
3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate
and share information and resources at anytime from anywhere. As one of the
world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology,
3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers
worldwide.
The company provides enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small
businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access
products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance
local and wide area networks. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide
Web site at 3com.com, or the press site at
3com.com.
(See also: businesswire.com)
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