Lucent Technologies Unveils Next-Generation IP Business Systems That Converge Voice and Data Over Local and Wide Area Networks
October 22, 1998
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge Corporation -- Lucent Technologies today announced a family of next-generation communications systems that make it easy for small and mid-sized businesses to converge voice, data and fax traffic over their local and wide area networks, and the Internet. The systems were unveiled here at NetWorld+Interop.
Called Lucent IP Exchange Systems (IPES), the open, software-based systems integrate an advanced telephone system with industry-standard computers and networking equipment. They give businesses a simple way to move all their voice, data and fax communications over a single IP (Internet Protocol) network, eliminating the need for separate voice and data networks. Developed by Bell Laboratories, the scalable systems are easy to use, install, service and maintain. They can be used by enterprises as an alternative to a key system or PBX, in conjunction with a PBX, and by service providers to offer advanced network IP services.
The IP Exchange Systems family includes the IP ExchangeComm(tm) system, designed for mid-sized businesses with single or multiple locations, and service providers, and IP ExchangeLink(tm) system, designed for small businesses as a turnkey solution.
The systems will be sold through Lucent's BusinessPartners, service providers and Lucent's direct sales force. Lucent's BusinessPartners includes the company's major distributors and their certified dealers and value added resellers. Inacom Communications and Pinacor Inc. will be among the first to distribute IP Exchange Systems. Service providers can both distribute the systems to enterprise customers or use them to provide advanced network IP services. Companies trialing the systems include Challenge Dairy, USWeb Corporation, Ingram Micro and the State of Michigan.
"IP Exchange Systems are the next step in the evolution of communications, " said Angie McGuire, Lucent vice president of General Business Systems and Services. "By making it easy for businesses to manage sophisticated voice and data communications over one network, the IP Exchange Systems deliver on Lucent's promise to help customers reduce the cost and complexity of their networks while giving them the flexibility and power of an open systems platform."
IP ExchangeComm System
The IP ExchangeComm system includes call manager software, which provides call routing and PBX-like telephony features; the Lucent IP Exchange Adapter, which converts telephones and fax machines into IP clients; and an optional IP Telephony Gateway, which connects the system to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The call manager software runs on a Microsoft(R) Windows(tm) NT server and interoperates with a business' existing hubs and routers.
Initially, the system will support up to 96 phones and fax machines at a single site. The IP ExchangeComm system's scalability will allow businesses to share the resources of a single server across multiple locations, eliminating the need to buy, maintain and administer a server and applications for each site. Plans are underway to increase support for up to 1,000 phones and fax machines, enabling IP ExchangeComm to be deployed for advanced network IP services.
IP ExchangeLink System
The IP ExchangeLink system is an integrated solution that combines call manager communications software, a 7-port Ethernet LAN Hub, an IP Router, and an 8-port Lucent Exchange Adapter with an embedded PowerPC(tm) platform.
The all-in-one, scalable system eliminates the need for separate equipment and networks for data, voice and fax communications. It links as many as 48 telephones and fax machines through a business' existing local area network. It can be used as a stand-alone server for a single site, or linked to an IP ExchangeComm system distributed network.
The IP ExchangeLink system can transport voice, data and fax traffic to and from the PSTN through a service provider's gateway. IP ExchangeLink system also can interoperate with the IP ExchangeComm system, enabling it to use the ExchangeComm system's IP Gateway to transport IP traffic over the PSTN.
Customer Trials
USWeb's Network Solutions, a leading network and IT consulting firm, is testing the IP Exchange Systems in its state-of-the-art, voice-over-IP testing facility. "Because Lucent is clearly committed to IP telephony, we're excited about testing their system," said Tony Schmitz, managing partner, USWeb's Network Solutions. "We understand how they will bring value to an enterprise network." Lucent and USWeb's Network Solutions plan to work together to develop voice-over-IP solutions for customers.
Challenge Dairy, which markets and distributes dairy products throughout the world, will trial the IP ExchangeComm system for communications between its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Calif., and its branch office in Los Angeles. "We see terrific promise in the cost-savings and efficiencies of putting voice and data on one network," said Eric Grosshans, Challenge Dairy's network manager.
Innovative Distributed Software
Both the IP ExchangeComm and IP ExchangeLink systems are based on an innovative, distributed software platform developed by Bell Labs called Mantra. The Mantra call model provides a high-level of interoperability, creating a media- and operating system-independent platform that can connect directly to IP networks. The software also makes it easier and faster for programmers to develop new applications and to add software supporting new protocols.
Mantra software, which also underlies Lucent's recently announced PacketStar(R) IP Services Platform, creates a bridge between different signaling systems and protocols, enabling telephony, data and fax devices from different vendors to connect seamlessly over a TCP/IP network. This unique capability not only simplifies and enhances the creation and integration of voice, data and fax applications, it enables businesses to add analog, digital, PC-based and IP phones from multiple vendors to their networks.
"By creating this open environment, the IP Exchange Systems architecture frees businesses from dependency on single-vendor, proprietary equipment and software, enabling them to choose the data, telephony and CTI applications and devices that best meet their needs," McGuire said. The initial system release will support analog telephones, Lucent's PARTNER(R) systems, cordless phones, fax machines and Microsoft(R) NetMeeting clients. Lucent will be building the interfaces needed to support other feature phones. Support for IP phones will be available in 1999.
The IP Exchange systems provide support for traditional key system calling features and functions such as conference, transfer, hold, drop, call forward, call waiting, and voice mail, as well as more advanced applications such as interactive voice response and call centers. Future software releases and upgrades will support capabilities that take advantage of voice and data convergence, including: Unified Messaging, personal assistants and text-to-speech capabilities.
Easy to Program and Administer
The system's software, written in JAVA(tm) and C, uses a distributed approach that separates call processing from other system functions, making it easy for programmers to develop new features and applications. An application programming interface (API) will be provided to support third party vendors that want to add customer applications and new communications devices. A Software Developers Toolkit for the IP Exchange Systems will be available by the end of the year.
The IP Exchange Systems are simple to maintain and administer. Lucent has built remote diagnostics and maintenance capabilities into the systems, giving businesses the choice of having a third party handle routine adds, moves and changes, system upgrades, and system management remotely. In addition, the system's management platform is designed with an intuitive Web-based user interface, allowing IP Exchange Systems to become part of a business' total data networking management solution.
The IP ExchangeComm system will be available in March 1999. The IP ExchangeLink system will be available in the second quarter of 1999. For more information about the IPES family, call 1-800-325-7466, extension 451, or visit the IP Exchange Systems Web site at lucent.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 microelectronics components. Bell Labs is the research and development arm of the company. For more information about Lucent Technologies, visit its web site at lucent.com.
CONTACT: Mitch Montagna | 908-953-5707 (office) | 404-659-2000 (at N+I) | mmontagna@lucent.com | or | Marianne Carlton | 908-953-7520 (office) | 404-659-2000 (at N+I) | macarlton@lucent.com | pager: 888/687-3266 | or | Mary Thiele | 908-953-6152 (office) | mthiele@lucent.com
[Copyright 1998, Business Wire]
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