VPI and Telcordia Technologies sign OEM deal; Leader in Operations Support Systems —OSS— Teams up with Leader in Optical Planning and Design Tools

Business Wire, Dec 4, 2000

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

HOLMDEL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2000

VPI Virtual Photonics, leaders in optical network planning and design tools and Telcordia Technologies, leaders in Operations Support Systems (OSS) today announced an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement that will result in the integration of the VPI planning and design tools for broadband access and IP/Optical network optimization with the Telcordia Technologies successful Network Design and Inventory Suite.

The worldwide deal anticipates demand for the convergence of planning and inventory management resources.

Under the new agreement, VPIaccessMaker(TM), VPIserviceMaker(TM) and VPItransportMaker(TM) will be packaged as part of the Telcordia Technologies Network Design and Inventory Suite. VPI will deliver planning components of the suite, which are interoperable with the network engineering and inventory management capabilities of the Telcordia offering.

The solution will be licensed by Telcordia under the Telcordia Network Engineer product family.

"This OEM agreement demonstrates the continued expansion of our Engineering and Inventory Product Line as well as the functional convergence of planning and inventory management functions, brought about by increased competition, technical innovation and demand for bandwidth," said Dave Leonard, Vice President and General Manager of Engineering and Inventory Systems, Telcordia Technologies.

In the past, planning cycles were years long, so it was desirable to develop and maintain distinct planning and inventory management processes. Today, forward looking plans span six months at most, since objectives can change weekly. Service provisioning is expected within hours, and often requires rapid infrastructure upgrades.

Instant knowledge of the available inventory is critical to the network planning process.

"VPI shares our understanding of the customer's needs," Leonard stated. "Our Engineering and Inventory Systems in conjunction with the VPI planning tools facilitate accelerated time to market for new network designs."

"The Telcordia expertise and experience in developing, implementing and maintaining operations support systems established over decades, made the company an obvious choice for the VPI Business Partners Program," said Dirk Seewald, co-founder and Vice President of the Business Partners Group at VPI. "We are pleased that Telcordia has chosen VPI to deliver the network planning capabilities in future Network Design and Inventory solutions."

About Telcordia Technologies

Telcordia Technologies, Inc., an SAIC company, is one of the world's largest providers of operations support systems, network software and consulting and engineering services to the telecommunications industry. A leader in the development of Next Generation Network technologies, Telcordia employs more than 7,000 professionals, and has revenues of more than $1.5 billion.

Telcordia (www.telcordia.com) is headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey with offices throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Central and South America and Asia Pacific.

About VPI

VPI Virtual Photonics makes design and planning tools for access providers, network operators, system integrators and manufacturers of WDM transmission systems and optical components. Development groups are located in Munich (Broadband Access), Holmdel, NJ (IP/Optical Networking), Australia (Optical Systems) and Minsk (software production).

Technical expertise and a formidable customer base are establishing VPI tools as the language for innovation and exchange across the bandwidth value chain.