Agilent Technologies NgN Service Level Manager Enables Service Level Management for Softswitch Telephony

Business Wire, June 5, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2001

Service Level Monitoring and Troubleshooting System for Softswitch

Networks Provides Competitive Advantage to Service Providers

Supercomm 2001 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduced Agilent NgN Service Level Manager to help service providers guarantee service quality and resolve performance problems in softswitch-based next-generation networks. This application enables service providers to ensure the same quality that customers expect from the existing circuit-switched PSTN (public switched telephone network).

The Agilent NgN Service Level Manager is an enhancement to the NgN Analysis System launched earlier this year. The solution incorporates Agilent Firehunter's capability for monitoring service level agreements (SLAs), a critical competitive advantage that enables service providers to offer their customers verifiable SLAs. The application is the first step in the integration of Agilent's portfolio of operation support solutions (OSS) for next-generation networks, which include NETeXPERT, Firehunter, acceSS7 and acceSS7IP.

"Service providers who can supply customers with actual performance data on the quality of softswitch voice service will have a significant competitive advantage," said Rod Unverrich, manager of Agilent's NgN Operation. "NgN Service Level Manager's verifiable data allows service providers to deliver outstanding quality and to manage network performance."

The Agilent NgN Analysis System and the NgN Service Level Manager assist service providers in resolving customer problems faster by giving immediate access to the entire call and service level information, even after the call has been terminated. Service levels of individual users, corporate customers and softswitches can be efficiently managed through extensive analysis tools and graphical presentation of the data.

The NgN Service Level Manager generates detailed SLA reports in addition to the integrated call trace and protocol analysis capabilities. The system creates a Service Measurement Record (SMR) for each call, containing summary information about the call such as dial tone delay and post-dial delay. Automatic report and alarm generation as well as remote access through a simple Web browser enables efficient problem resolution and ensures SLA compliance.

Agilent in Communications

Agilent Technologies is a leading provider of components, test, measurement, monitoring and management solutions for the communications industry. Agilent enables designers, manufacturers and service providers to accelerate the delivery of next-generation devices, networks and services. Agilent's broad set of solutions and services includes optical, wireless, Internet and broadband technologies that span the entire communications lifecycle.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. With 48,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion in fiscal year 2000. Information about Agilent can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.