Astracon Enters into OEM Agreement with Telcordia Technologies to Enhance Service Provisioning and Troubleshooting for Next-Generation Networks

Business Wire, June 21, 1999

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 1999--

Astracon Inc., a leading provider of automated service delivery and connection management software for broadband and Internet protocol (IP) networks, Monday announced they have entered into an OEM agreement with Telcordia Technologies to provide its Connection Manager software for Telcordia Network Configuration Software System (NCON).

As a result, Telcordia's customers around the world will be able to simplify service delivery, provisioning and management across complex networks.

"Connection Manager software has allowed us to accelerate our time to market with a comprehensive provisioning and inventory solution. NCON, which integrates Connection Manager as a module, provides telecommunications carriers and enterprises the ability to more effectively deliver services to their customers based on multiple network technologies, including packet switching," said Jerry Roberto, group president of Telcordia's Operations Support Systems Group and corporate vice president. "This focus on packet-based services will prove increasingly important as network providers evolve to support next-generation networks."

By using Connection Manager to eliminate manual processes and automate tasks, NCON greatly reduces the time, effort and errors associated with activating customer circuits, trunks, carriers systems and networks. NCON also supports service assurance processes by providing an easily accessible database of system configurations. In addition, NCON helps network planners and engineers improve capacity use by providing a centralized database that can be used to determine the status of network equipment and facilities.

"Through our agreement with Telcordia, Connection Manager will be incorporated into some of the world's largest and most complex network systems and be leveraged to deliver a new level of end-to-end connection management," said Rob Cook, president of Astracon. "With Connection Manager, service providers are able to focus on delivering a higher level of service to their customers, rather than dedicating resources to the monumental task of operating a multiple-technology, multiple-vendor, next-generation network."

About Connection Manager

Connection Manager manages end-to-end connections in complex network environments where multi-carrier, multi-technology, multi-layer and multi-vendor telecommunications networks exist. The product manages the full lifecycle of a connection, from planning and activation, through operations and maintenance, to tear down. Through its various customizable components, Connection Manager automates the numerous tasks required to provision and monitor connections in complex networks, allowing carriers to save time and money while delivering excellent service to their customers.

The software is currently available through Astracon to communications service providers including traditional carriers, new and emerging telecommunications companies, cable companies, satellite network operators and Internet service providers (ISPs). Additionally, the software is available through Astracon's OEM partners, including Telcordia.

About Astracon

Astracon develops, manufactures and markets the Connection Manager family of software products to the worldwide telecommunications industry.

Astracon, with headquarters in Englewood, Colo., incorporated in 1998 when it spun-off from CiTR, a network management solutions provider. In addition to working directly with service providers, Astracon partners with some of the world's foremost equipment and software suppliers and systems integrators. Astracon has a development facility in Brisbane, Australia and Asia/Pacific regional offices. For further information, visit Astracon's Web site at www.astracon.com, or contact Astracon headquarters at 303/486-5833.

About Telcordia Technologies

Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore) is an SAIC company providing software, engineering, consulting and training services to optimize the performance of communication networks worldwide. Telcordia was created in 1984, employs 6,000 professionals, and has revenues of more than $1.2 billion. Telcordia (www.Telcordia.com) has headquarters in Morristown, N.J., with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America and Asia Pacific.