Pat,I like this:
Leading Telecom Firms Initiate Multiservice
Switching Forum;
Industry Forum to Accelerate Deployment of Open Multiservice Switching Systems
FREMONT, Calif., Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of leading telecom firms announced today the formation of the
Multiservice Switching Forum (MSF). The founding members from the carrier and equipment community include technology
leaders such as MCI WorldCom, Cisco Systems, Bellcore, AT&T, Alcatel, Ascend Communications, British Telecom,
Fujitsu Network Communications, Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks, Siemens, Telecom Italia, Telia AB, and US
West.
The new forum is an open membership organization committed to reaching and promoting consensus on implementation of
ATM-capable multiservice switching systems. These systems support voice, video, private line, and data such as
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay, and Internet Protocol (IP) services. Multiservice systems may use a
broad range of access technologies, including traditional Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL),
wireless data, and cable modems.
''We believe that MFS has a key role to play in the deployment of networks providing voice and data conversions,'' said
Dave Hinshaw, Senior Vice President of Alcatel USA's switching business. ''Alcatel has always provided strong support for
industry forums and standards organizations that promote interoperability and open standards.''
The MSF will enable carriers to deploy open switching systems with components from multiple vendors. This will accelerate
deployment of next generation networks supporting advanced, integrated broadband communications services.
''The MSF is dedicated to an open systems model that will expedite the delivery of new integrated broadband
communications services to the marketplace,'' said Charles Corbalis, Vice President and General Manager of Cisco's
Multiservice Switching Business Unit. ''Multiservice switching systems will benefit from the same innovation and cost
reductions that open systems in the computing world have achieved. The MSF is a clear win-win for the industry.''
The transition of traditional TDM networks to a packet/cell network model, which supports voice, data and video services,
is already underway with the growth of the Internet. The MSF will complement the scope and activities of existing
associations by enabling the integration of leading components from multiple vendors into a single multiservice switching
system. The MSF will focus on protocols and interfaces used within switching systems and will use specifications of the
ATM Forum, Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Frame Relay Forum,
Bellcore Generic Requirements process, and other industry associations.
''Bringing industry leaders together is critical to achieving the open systems goals of the MSF Forum,'' said John Boese,
Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Network Solutions at Bellcore. ''We also plan to work in conjunction
with other public forums and standards bodies, including reflecting the work of the MSF in Bellcore's Generic Requirements
process for voice over packet networks.''
The initial working groups proposed by the MSF include Architecture, Switch Control, and Voice. The founding members
have proposed provisional Implementation Agreements for the Architecture and the Virtual Switch Interface (VSI) protocol
for Switch Control. The MSF endorses and is contributing to the IETF activity to standardize the Media Gateway Control
Protocol (MGCP) for supporting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(VoATM) services. Additional working groups will be created by the forum's membership as necessary.
''Our goal is to speed the arrival of an open switching platform that will enable us to deliver new and better services at a
lower cost to our customers,'' said Fred Briggs, Chief Technology Officer of MCI WorldCom. ''The MSF is an important
step toward this goal and our strategy to develop next generation networks for access aggregation, enhanced quality of
service features, and to separate network intelligence from switching and routing.''
For information about Multiservice Switching Forum membership, please contact the MSF office at info@msforum.org, or
(510) 608-3990. Additional information on MSF can be found at msforum.org.
About Alcatel
A world leader in telecommunications systems and equipment, as well as related cables and components activities, Alcatel
operates in over 130 countries. Alcatel provides complete solutions and services to operators, service providers, enterprises
and consumers, ranging from backbone networks to user terminals. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet:
alcatel.com or the US web site at www.usa.alcatel.com.
About Bellcore
Bellcore, an SAIC company, is a leading provider of communications software, engineering, consulting and training services
based on world-class research. Bellcore creates business solutions that make information technology work for
telecommunications carriers, businesses and governments worldwide. More information about Bellcore's products and
services is available on Bellcore's web site at bellcore.com.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO - news) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information
are available at cisco.com.
About MCI WorldCom
MCI WorldCom (Nasdaq: WCOM - news) is a global communications company with revenue of more than $30 billion and
established operations in over 65 countries encompassing the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. MCI
WorldCom is a premier provider of facilities-based and fully integrated local, long distance, international and Internet
services. MCI WorldCom's global networks, including its state-of-the-art pan-European network and transoceanic cable
systems, provide end-to-end high-capacity connectivity to more than 38,000 buildings worldwide. For more information on
MCI WorldCom, visit the World Wide Web at mciworldcom.com or wcom.com.
About Other MSF Founding Companies
AT&T: www.att.com, Alcatel: www.alcatel.com, Ascend Communications: www.ascend.com, British Telecom:
www.bt.com, Fujitsu Network Communications: www.fnc.fujitsu.com, Lucent Technologies: www.lucent.com, Nortel
Networks: www.nortel.com, Siemens www.icn.siemens.com, Telecom Italia: www.telecomitalia.it, Telia AB: www.telia.se,
US West: www.uswest.com.
About Multiservice Switching Forum
The Multiservice Switching Forum is an open membership organization committed to developing and promoting
implementation agreements for ATM- capable multiservice switching systems. Additional information on MSF can be found
at msforum.org. |
