Lucent ‘Accelerates’ VoIP Strategy

Vendor Aims to Help SPs Offer New Revenue-Generating Services

Although Lucent says Accelerate is a significant announcement for the company, Jon Arnold, VoP (voice over packet) program leader at Frost & Sullivan, sees the news as basically a rebranding strategy. But Arnold indicates this may be a sign that Lucent sees VoIP as more central to its strategy, since “it looked like Lucent was moving out of softswitch [for a while], and now they’re moving back into it.”

As part of the Accelerate strategy announced late last year, Lucent introduced a new gateway called the Intelligent Media Gateway, which provides VoIP functionality for the AnyMedia Access System, a next-generation access platform.

The new gateway, which supports both line- and trunk-side applications, will be available toward the middle of the year.

The Intelligent Media Gateway connects standard phones to either the traditional voice network or a VoIP network. This enables service providers to deploy an immediate solution and evolve to a VoIP network that supports customers using standard and IP phones and services. The gateway supports up to 10,000 lines in less than three bays and can be controlled by the 5E-XC switch or the Lucent Softswitch. The Intelligent Media Gateway also offers emergency standalone capability, allowing the unit to continue to switch 911 and intracommunity calls if there is an interruption in the line to the host switch.

The Accelerate portfolio also includes Lucent’s existing softswitch; 5E-XC switch products and applications, which the company unveiled about a year ago; the EBS Multimedia Portal; the PacketIN portfolio of applications and services, including MiLife solutions for mobile operators; the Flexent portfolio of mobile networking solutions; the AnyPath Messaging System; the AnyMedia Access System; the iMerge Gateway, APX Universal Gateways, MAX TNT Universal Gateways and PacketStar Multiservice Media Gateways; the Lucent VPN Firewall; Access Point IP Services Routers; Navis iOperations software; and Lucent professional services. The company will also sell its previously announced iGEN Compact Switch, which will be generally available in February or March, under the Acclerate banner.

Most of these products are already in use by service providers. For example, Lucent’s softswitch is used in some Class 5 applications in Asia by undisclosed service providers; and there are 13 trials around the world of the softswitch for various other applications, according to Roger Heinz, vice president of Lucent Technologies Convergence Solutions. SBC Communications Inc.

is among the users of Lucent’s iMerge product. As of mid-November, EBS was still in trial-only mode with service providers.

Qwest Communications International Inc. is the first publicly announced customer that has expressed its intention to use the new gateway, along with other Accelerate equipment including the 5E-XC. The company has signed a three-year agreement with Lucent for equipment to replace older technology, consolidate end-offices and lay the groundwork for Qwest’s migration of its network to VoIP. Initially the 5E-XC switches will be used to upgrade Qwest’s existing circuit-based voice network where needed. Following lab and field trials next year, Qwest plans to deploy the new Intelligent Media Gateway that will eventually connect existing customers to VoIP networks. This will position Qwest for smooth transition of its 5E-XC network to softswitch control and effectively transform its entire local network to VoIP in the future, according to Lucent.  

Accelerate Applications

Each Accelerate solution offers customers options, whether they want to build on their existing networks with products such as the 5E-XC switch or build a greenfield VoIP network with products such as the Lucent Softswitch.

Enterprise Solutions — Next-generation solutions for small, medium and large enterprises that unify voice and data. IP Centrex is an example of such a solution.

Mobility Solutions — Third-generation mobile solutions for CDMA2000 and UMTS/WCDMA that enable mobile operators to offer combined voice and data services using multiple devices, including mobile phones, PDAs and laptop computers. Examples of such services for enterprises include secure, high-speed mobile access to the Internet and corporate Intranets; examples for consumers include video downloads and mobile e-mail access.

Voice/Data/Video Over Broadband Solutions (for residential and business use) — Next-generation voice and data services over any IP connection. Examples are voice over DSL and triple play communications and entertainment services delivering voice, data and video to subscribers.

Local Network Solutions — Based on a next-generation platform that provides traditional Class 5 services via VoIP, these solutions can incorporate existing network elements. The Lucent Softswitch interworking with the 5E-XC switch and the new media gateway, for example, supports calls on traditional wired or mobile phones and IP-based devices, such as computers.

Service Provider Trunking Solutions — VoIP connectivity on network switches, such as on the 5E-XC switch, mobile switching centers and next-generation media gateways. This reduces network complexity and speeds evolution to an all-IP core network.

Next-Generation Applications Solutions — Lucent or partner-developed applications that enable service providers to offer new revenue-producing voice, data and multimedia convergence services. For example, with a find me-follow me application, an overnight delivery company would be able to instantly notify a customer of an impending delivery because the service provider’s network would know how to find the customer based on his or her preferences stored in the network. The preferences could include voice, text or video messaging to a phone, computer, PDA or other device.

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