3Com Corporation and Bull Partner to Enable Internet Remote Access With SS7
BW - 01:43 p.m Nov 02, 1998 Eastern
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1998--3Com
Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS) and Bull today announced an
interoperability solution providing Signal System 7 (SS7)
integration that will allow carriers and network service providers
(NSPs) to roll out truly carrier scaleable Internet deployment,
including data, voice and fax services, on their existing data
infrastructure. Enhanced Integration, Reduced Costs, Increased
Scalability
The 3Com/Bull solution allows NSPs with access to the SS7
signaling network to directly connect their 3Com Total
Control(tm) multiservice access platform to the telephone trunk
network. Benefits of this solution include enhanced integration
into the telephone network, reduced network connection costs,
increased scalability, and integrated management into the
telephone network's operation support systems. The two
companies have entered into an agreement that calls for common
marketing and development of the solution.
"With this solution, carriers and NSPs now can make a smooth
migration toward revenue-generating Internet services, like
voice, data and fax," said Ross Manire, Vice President and
General Manager, 3Com Carrier Systems. "We have combined
the best offerings of the two companies -- 3Com in remote
access, and Bull as a leading SS7 vendor."
"This agreement reinforces the commitment of Bull to develop
dedicated products for the telecommunications operators,
especially in the fast growing Internet arena," said Don Zereski,
Bull's General Director of Operations.
Bull has entered a new and highly ambitious phase of business
development. Its strategy is based on a strong focus on selected
domains of excellence that will enable Bull customers to
successfully move into the new networked and customer-centric
world.
Bull positions itself as a leading provider of secure and
dependable IT products and services in the networked world.
Third European Integrator, Bull is focusing its services
businesses with a special emphasis on Internet related services.
Smooth Integration of the Best of Breed Technologies
The joint solution integrates 3Com's Total Control multiservice
access platform and the NASgate7 Gateway, which is based on
Bull's general purpose PowerSS7 platform and is already
deployed in several hundred sites. The NASgate7 translates SS7
signaling messages into the 3Com's SLAP protocol (Signaling
LAN Application Protocol) as the first release. 3Com and Bull
will continue to participate in related industry and standards
forums as this new multiservice call control architecture evolves.
3Com is an active member and contributor to a number of
related forums, including the IPDC technical advisory council
and the Bellcore sponsored SGCP group, among others.
The integration of the SS7 signaling protocol is possible on both
existing and new Total Control systems through the addition of
the SS7i signaling interface card and by reconfiguring the
existing HiPer(tm) DSP cards with a simple software download,
thus enhancing the continued investment protection offered by
using the Total Control platform.
The solution includes the 3Com's leading remote access
product, the Total Control multiservice access platform. Total
Control perfectly fulfills the requirements of Network operators.
Powerful, flexible and evolutionary, it includes connectivity to
LAN and WAN networks such as Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, ATM
and Frame Relay.
The high availability of the NASgate7, based on a redundant
architecture including two Bull Escala machines running under
AIX(TM), is ensured by the Bull SecurWare(TM) Cluster
software already used in numerous Internet projects, including
Internet phone directories such as "PagesZoom(TM)" and the
Operation Support System of NSPs such as Wanadoo(TM).
All gateway information is stored in an object-oriented database.
An available API allows operators to develop additional specific
applications. In addition, an integrated and centralised
management solution of the NAS and the gateway based on ISM
Open Master guarantees optimised operation of the network.
About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organisations
worldwide to stay more connected by communicating and
sharing information and resources anytime, anywhere. As one
of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video
communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking
solutions to more than 200 million customers worldwide. The
company provides large enterprise, small and medium
enterprise, carriers and network service providers, and
consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access
products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable
and high performance local and wide area networks. For further
information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at
3com.com or the press site at
3com.com. About Bull
Bull is an international I.T. group based in Europe with 21,000
people and operations in nearly 100 countries. In 1997, Bull
earned revenues of $4.2 billion including over 65% outside of
France, its country of origin. Bull offers a wide range of
systems, infrastructure software and I.T. services, through
focused innovation, alliances with the best partners and its own
integration expertise. In its industry, Bull is recognized for
innovative products including Escala family of open servers,
smart cards and software such as OpenMaster for secure
management of systems and networks. In I.T. services, Bull is
ranked in Europe as the third largest systems integrator and fifth
in maintenance and support services. Information on Bull is
available at:
bull.com
Copyright 1998, Business Wire
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