Jain(TM) Technology Initiative for Open Telecom Standards Triples Membership Roster
AT&T, British Telecommunications, France Telecom and Others Join Sun-Led
Forum; First Specs Released for Public Review
ATLANTA, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The JAIN(TM) technology initiative for open telecom standards is picking up steam with membership more than tripling in size since its introduction a year ago, Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) said today. New members from the carrier side include AT&T, British Telecommunications, Dutch Telecom (KPN), France Telecom and NTT Communicationware. In related news, the Sun-led initiative -- which uses Java(TM) technology to advance the convergence of voice-centric Intelligent Networks (INs) with Internet Protocol (IP) data networks -- has expanded in scope to drive the development, testing and implementation of open telecom specifications for both protocols and applications.
Traditionally, network services were built using proprietary interfaces that were specific to the hardware and software of individual networks -- requiring service providers to expend significant time and money rewriting interfaces in order to run applications across multiple networks. To resolve this problem, members of the JAIN technology community are designing open application programming interfaces (APIs) for network components, based on Java technology, that will allow service providers to create and deploy new services more quickly, easily and cost-effectively.
"The goal of the JAIN technology initiative is to put an end to the incompatibility problems that have been crippling the deployment of advanced IN services for the past decade," said Chris Hurst, vice president of worldwide communications for Sun. "The industry giants who have joined the JAIN technology community in just one year's time are evidence that we are quickly making this goal a reality. The JAIN technology initiative is leveling the telecom playing field and continues to attract overwhelming support from the architects of the communications networks of the future."
Current participants in the JAIN technology initiative are: ADC NewNet, Apion, AT&T, British Telecommunications, CMG, dynamicsoft, Ericsson, France Telecom, IBM, KPN, Nokia, Nortel, NTT Communicationware, Oracle, Periphonics, Sun, Symsoft, Telcordia, Trillium and Ulticom.
JAIN Technology Initiative Expands to Encompass Protocols and Applications
This year, the JAIN technology community has been expanded to include a Protocol Expert Group (PEG) and an Application Expert Group (AEG). Both groups will have designated participants as subgroup leaders responsible for driving the development, test suite and reference implementation of various specifications.
* The PEG will specify interfaces for wireline, wireless and IP signaling
products, and is organized into the following subgroups:
- TCAP and OAM subgroup, led by Sun
- ISUP subgroup, led by Ulticom (formerly DGM&S)
- SIP subgroup, led by Dynamicsoft
- MAP subgroup, led by Ericsson
- MGCP subgroup, led by Telcordia (formerly Bellcore)
The current roadmap for the PEG also includes specification development
for the INAP, IS41 and H.323 protocols.
* The AEG will address the APIs required for service creation within a
Java technology framework spanning across all protocols covered by the
PEG, and consists of the following subgroups:
- Service Logic Execution and Service Creation Environment subgroup,
jointly led by AT&T and IBM
- JAIN Call Control and JAIN Coordination and Transactions subgroup,
led by Telcordia
- Connectivity Management subgroup, led by AT&T
- Java Parlay APIs for Integrated Networks subgroup, led by British
Telecommunications
First JAIN Technology Specification Released
In other JAIN technology news, Sun announced the public release of the first JAIN specification -- for Transaction Capabilities Application Protocol (TCAP). The JAIN TCAP 1.0 spec is an IN protocol used for 800 number, call forwarding and most number translation services, and is the result of the work of the PEG. The TCAP spec currently is in field deployment and is being integrated into the SS7 TCAP-compliant protocol stacks of several JAIN members to enable service portability. JAIN PEG founding expert Ericsson Infotech AB also announced the first product designed to be compliant with the JAIN TCAP 1.0 spec as part of its SS7 product line.
Real World Demonstration of Converged Voice and Data Network
Building upon the demonstration of IN service portability featured at last year's Supercomm, JAIN technology participants this year will run prototype solutions for converged networks that will illustrate what the telecom industry can expect from the JAIN technology initiative in the application space over the upcoming 12 months. These include a generic call control prototype demo by Sun, IBM dynamicsoft, ADC NewNet and Apion, and a generic call control, transaction and coordination prototype demo by Sun, Telcordia and Apion.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, The Network Is The Computer(TM), has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc., to its position as a leading provider of high-quality hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $11 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at sun.com.
NOTE: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Java, JAIN, The Network Is The Computer, and HotJava are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems, Inc. are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape Navigator or Sun's HotJava(TM) browser. Type sun.com at the URL prompt. Complete background, breaking news and helpful links on JAIN can be viewed online at java.sun.com.
SOURCE Sun Microsystems, Inc.
CO: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
ST: Georgia, California
IN: CPR MLM
SU:
06/08/99 10:01 EDT prnewswire.com |
