Recent article from BW. LU and NT better start picking up the pace.
This is good for the new Teleco's as well as the networkers.
Fast-Forward for Fiber-Optic Nets
IT TOOK A DECADE for telephone companies to deploy voice mail over their networks. And sending voice and video over the new Internet-based fiber-optic digital networks built by Qwest Communications, Level 3, and other telecom mavericks seemed like it might also take a while--until now.
In a move that promises to radically expand networks' capabilities, privately held Open Port Technology in Chicago says it has developed software that allows transmission of all manner of digital data. Voice and video often don't work well now because, in part, available software won't function with All the different types of equipment used. Open Port's product, code-named Harmony 5, allows networks to make disparate parts work ''seamlessly,'' says an executive at a large Internet service provider who has previewed the software. Customers such as Level 3 and IBM Global Network are evaluating Harmony 5, which is due out in February.
With Harmony 5, businesses will, for example, be able to receive faxes as E-mail or voice mail. But who works all the time? With Open Port, you can also download a movie at work and pick it up later at home. Can't wait.
By Roger Crockett
EDITED BY ROBERT McNATT
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