Some really interesting finds, Dave. Thanks. The wireless solutions especially, they seem to be appearing regularly now.
Tell me what you [all] think about the following end-to-end solution set from First World Communications. It's not far off, in fact it is right on in many ways, re: the next logical extension of IP in the LEC serving area, for multi-service delivery including voice over IP and Internet access.
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FirstWorld Signs $70 Million Strategic Agreement
With Lucent Technologies to Deploy End-To-End
Packet Network
firstworld.com
April 16, 1999
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge
Corporation --
FirstWorld Plans to be first to deploy Lucent's
Revolutionary PathStar (TM) Access Server to build
IP-based local network
FirstWorld Communications, an Internet solutions
and telecommunications provider, and Lucent
Technologies today announced a five-year, $70
million strategic agreement to deploy and support an
end-to-end packet network. Lucent's portfolio of
industry-leading data networking products and
professional services from NetCare(R), will enable
FirstWorld to rapidly deliver its customers premium
voice and data services over Internet Protocol (IP),
as well as high-speed Internet access, at low entry
and operational costs.
FirstWorld plans to be the first company to deploy
Lucent's PathStar (TM) Access Server, a
revolutionary new class of central office product, to
build an IP-based local network. The PathStar
Server will allow FirstWorld to integrate voice and
data over ATM throughout its network, utilizing DSL
(digital subscriber loop) and provide its business
customers voice, data and Internet services,
creating a true IP connection. In addition, FirstWorld
will be able to provide its customers the most
desired set of telephony features, such as call
waiting, three-way calling, business group dial and
auto call back, over their IP network.
"Lucent's complete solution is giving us a clear
advantage over our competitors' legacy networks
and placing FirstWorld at the forefront of the
convergence between voice and data," said Sheldon
S. Ohringer, FirstWorld president and CEO.
"FirstWorld plans to be the first to deploy Lucent's
next-generation, carrier-class system, which allows
us to leverage the world's most superior packet
based technology and provide a complete range of
feature-rich voice, data and Internet solutions to our
customers."
Under the agreement, FirstWorld will also deploy
Lucent's PortMaster 4(R) integrated remote access
concentrators. Lucent's professional services
organization, NetCare, the largest such organization
in the industry, will help FirstWorld plan, implement,
manage and maintain its IP network. The five-year
agreement is an important component of
FirstWorld's strategy to become the nation's premier
provider of Internet solutions to small- and mid-sized
businesses.
"New and emerging service providers need to
minimize their costs, rapidly offer innovative
services, simplify management and quickly generate
return on investment," said Bill Plunkett, Lucent vice
president emerging service providers. "We're
delivering a complete, leading-edge solution that
addresses all these needs and will allow FirstWorld
to take full advantage of today's business
opportunities."
The PathStar Advantage
Lucent's PathStar Access Server, introduced last
May with availability in 1Q99, delivers a desirable
set of Class 5 telephony features based entirely on
Internet technology for IP and/or ATM networks for
new and emerging carriers. The product integrates a
loop carrier, Class 5 telephony system, a
voice-over-IP gateway, a remote access server, a
DSL access multiplexer, and an edge router into
one single network element. This enables service
providers to offer feature-rich, integrated voice and
data services such as local and long-distance
POTS/Centrex, IP-Centrex(TM), Internet Access,
and IP-Virtual Private Networking all from a system
that takes up less space than traditional switches,
resulting in significant cost savings.
The product will deliver additional capital and
operational cost savings to FirstWorld by reducing
the number of components deployed in the network,
and simplifying the process for provisioning
customer service. In the near future, FirstWorld
plans to implement a web-based interface that will
give customers greater control over their services.
"The multiservice capability of the PathStar Access
System offers tremendous flexibility in the design,
deployment and operation of next-generation
networks, creating new revenue opportunities for
FirstWorld, " said Doug Kramer, FirstWorld senior
vice president and chief technology officer.
Lucent's ultra-reliable PortMaster 4 remote access
product, which offers V.90 modem and ISDN
services, will allow FirstWorld to deliver a wide
variety of high-speed and reliable access
applications -- ranging from Internet access to virtual
private networks (VPNs) -- to its customers. The
carrier-class PortMaster 4 supports any service on
any port at any time, offering carriers unrivaled
service flexibility.
FirstWorld Communications, Inc. headquartered in
Denver, CO, is an Internet solutions company
employing advanced technology to deliver a full-array
of IP-based services for businesses, including
high-speed Internet access, Web integration,
hosting and e-commerce, DSL, frame relay, voice
over IP, and local and long distance telephony. For
more information, visit the company's Web site at
www.firstworld.com.
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. More information
about Lucent Technologies can be found on the
company's Web site at lucent.com.
<<Business Wire, 04-15-99, 08:07 Eastern>>
CONTACT: Lucent Technologies | Vibha Agrawal,
908/953-2679 | vagrawal@lucent.com | OR | Lucent
Technologies | Ed Beltram, 303/290-2453 |
ebeltram@lucent.com | OR | FirstWorld | Leslie
Aun, 303/874-2848 | leslie.aun@firstworld.com | OR
| FirstWorld | Seth Levine, 303/874-8010 | |
