All,
Further evidence of the evolving and expanding need for VoIP to comply with SS7 and Bellcore NEBS (network-equipment building standards) can be found in this morning's joint press release by Microsoft, DEC and Genesys. It appears to this consultant that the DECss7 assembly may be the _type_ of OEMable solution that some manufacturers of gateways may be interested in pursuing <hint, hint>
Frank Coluccio
===================================================
Digital and Microsoft Announce a Joint Program for
Internet-Enhanced Intelligent Networks First Intelligent
Network Windows NT Server Solution Available From
Genesys
March 20, 1998
REDMOND, Wash., March 19 /PRNewswire/ via
NewsEdge Corporation -- Digital Equipment Corp.
(NYSE: DEC) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)
today announced a new program to address the evolving
needs of the telecommunications industry for delivering
a wide array of services to their customers. The program
focuses on Internet-Enhanced Intelligent Networks,
which combine intelligent networks (IN) with the power,
flexibility and momentum of the Internet and the
Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R) Server operating system.
This enables telecom network operators to
cost-effectively deliver a new generation of services to
their customers.
At the heart of the new program is the Windows NT
Server implementation of Digital's industry-standard
Signaling System Number 7 product, DECss7
(http://www.digital.com/decss7/). DECss7 on Windows
NT provides high-performance telecom servers that
enable telecom service providers to deliver a wide range
of intelligent network services to their customers. For
telecom network deployment, DECss7 for Windows NT
Server is scheduled for delivery to market by Digital in
August 1998. The application programming interface
(API) of DECss7 for Windows NT Server is currently
available for use by applications providers to develop or
port IN applications. In conjunction with this
announcement, Genesys Telecommunications
Laboratories Inc. today became the first software
company to utilize DECss7 for Windows NT Server. As
part of the joint program, Digital and Microsoft plan to
identify and work with application providers as they
target DECss7 on Windows NT Server for enhanced
network solutions.
DECss7 for Windows NT Server will provide the level of
nonstop performance and reliability the telecom industry
requires and will be available for customer premise and
central office NEBS/ETSI-compliant configurations. The
initial use of DECss7 for Windows NT Server is targeted
for enhanced IN services such as unified messaging and
virtual call centers, and as the cornerstone for integration
of the Internet with intelligent network solutions.
The main features of the DECss7 for Windows NT Server
product line will include the following:
* Compliance with worldwide SS7 standards
* APIs identical to UNIX and OpenVMS versions of
DECss7, enabling easy porting of applications from one
operating system to another and ensuring
interoperability among each
* A full range of server configurations, from PC to very
large configurations capable of handling thousands of
transactions per second, and the ability to transparently
migrate from low to high end configurations
* Cost-effective high availability for mission-critical
applications, a feature embedded within the DECss7
family of products
DECss7 for Windows NT Server complements Digital's
industry-leading UNIX- and OpenVMS-based intelligent
network products which are in use in over 120 telecom
networks today. As with the UNIX- and
OpenVMS-based IN platforms, Digital will provide
comprehensive service capability for DECss7 for
Windows NT Server, including a full portfolio of
professional services, supporting customers and
partners from idea to implementation and
business-critical services, available worldwide, 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. By providing Windows NT
Alpha and Intel server-based systems, as well as 64-bit
UNIX, OpenVMS and interoperability between these
operating systems, Digital provides an unparalleled suite
of telecommunication platforms.
"Deregulation and the resulting increased competition in
the world telecom market, has resulted in rapid growth of
personalized services delivered via fixed and mobile
telephone networks and the Internet," said Bernard
Marclay, Digital's worldwide director for
Internet-Enhanced Intelligent Networks. "In response to
this growing market, Digital and Microsoft are working
together to produce and deliver robust computing
servers, based on the Alpha and Intel-based processors
and the Microsoft Windows NT Server operating
system. This convergence of technologies embraces
telecommunications network intelligence, equipment for
intelligent network access from customer premise,
network-based Internet telephony and Internet-enabled
telecom services."
"Digital's telecom platforms running Windows NT Server
will allow service provider customers and telecom
equipment and ISV partners to achieve new levels of
price/performance for delivering enhanced services to
their customers," said Cameron Myhrvold, vice president
of Microsoft's internet customer unit. "We are excited
about how DECss7 for Windows NT Server will enable
service providers to cost-effectively deliver a wide range
of new services drawing on resources from both the
intelligent network and the Internet."
First Application Provider Announced: Genesys
Telecommunications Laboratories
The first application developer to use DECss7 for
Windows NT Server is Genesys Telecommunications
Laboratories (Nasdaq: GCTI), a leading provider of
virtual call centers and intelligent call routing solutions.
The first application running on DECss7 for Windows
NT Server, called the Genesys Interaction Router, will be
showcased by Digital and Genesys at the IN World
Forum, to be held in Orlando, Fla., on March 30-April 2,
1998.
The Genesys Interaction Router performs flexible,
business-rules routing of calls, e-mail and other
communications within single and multi-site call centers.
It collects information from various telephony systems,
checks it against enterprise and call center applications,
and identifies the agents best able to handle that specific
customer interaction.
With the DECss7 Network Interface option, Genesys
users are able to control calls at the network level from
multiple call center premise locations. Calls are held in
the network while routing strategies are checked and
then the calls are routed to the appropriate site and agent
anywhere in the enterprise. This capability ensures that
calls get to the right agent the first time, thereby
improving customer satisfaction and service and
providing significant savings in toll charges and transfer
costs.
"We're very enthusiastic about bringing this robust,
flexible intelligent network solution to the Windows NT
Server platform. The result is a broader range of
cost-effective options for our customers," said John
McNulty, vice president of channels and sales for
Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories. "We have
optimized our Interaction Router product for Digital's IN
platform, allowing enterprises and telcos to efficiently
deploy next-generation value-added services on the
industry's most cost-effective operating system."
Digital Equipment Corp., recognized for product and
service excellence, is a leading supplier of
high-performance, Web-based computing solutions that
help enterprises compete in the global marketplace.
Digital gives its customers a winning Internet advantage
through a comprehensive portfolio of Internet solutions
based on award-winning systems, advanced networking
infrastructure, innovative software, and industry
applications -- including those from its business
partners. The expertise and experience of Digital
employees help customers plan, design, implement,
manage and support Internet solutions in countries
throughout the world. For the latest company
information, visit Digital on the World Wide Web at
digital.com; newsdesk.com.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a
wide range of products and services for business and
personal use, each designed with the mission of making
it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage
of the full power of personal computing every day.
NOTE: Microsoft and Windows NT are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries. Other product and
company names herein may be the trademark of their
respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corporation
/CONTACT: Ann Robb, 33 4 92 95 57 13, or
ann.robb@digital.com, or Steve Milmore, 508-467-2259,
or Steve.Milmore@digital.com, both of Digital; or
Francine Plaza of Plazapr, 561-477-9762, or
plaza_pr@gate.net, for Microsoft; or Lisa Bergamo of
Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories,
408-280-6000, or lbergamo@tsipr.com/ /Web site:
microsoft.com and digital.com
(MSFT DEC GCTI) |
