The NT-HWP-INTC-MSFT conference call just ended and in short these companies are developing a Center of Excellence to encourage development of applications capable of running on a non-proprietary voice-data network. This "digital nervous system" will allow systems to work together and be based on a horizontal model.
Sort of sounds like multi-service, multi-purpose, protocol- independent IP/ATM network, doesn't it. :))
Speaking of voice-data convergence, Intel's Barret said, "We're a late entrant, but are re-organizing to meet the needs of this field." He mentioned their recent acquisition of LevelOne, and added, "This field offers exciting growth opportunities and brings the speed of the computer industry to telecommunications."
John Roth, NT's CEO, said what we've known all along, that networks have to be reliable. "We need 5 nines of telco reliability." The companies represented are using their capabilities to bring telephony and voice management into each other's solutions. NT is focusing on two areas: 1) basic telephony --- putting software on a data platorm that will allow businesses to reboot without being affected; and 2) unified messaging based on Win NT.
He said they were aiming to "keep the phone systems running when servers go down." The underlying service provider won't matter --- that will be transparent. "This is a "multi-billion dollar market. . . not many [others] are growing at 30-35%."
Someone in the audience asked if the initiative being proposed would replace PBXs. No, he was told, it represents the integration of voice and data at the business level. Platforms from the voice arena are being developed for the web.
Since nothing said was new ground, I have to think the consortium wants to send a clear signal to proprietary systems providers.
Not exactly a Magna Carta, but at least it's a start. Certainly a validation of NN's approach all along.
That's it for now.
Pat
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