Lucent Technologies Updates Network and Service Management Software Solutions to Support IP Multimedia Services

Business Wire, May 16, 2005

NICE, France -- Expands VitalSuite(R) Network And Service Management Solutions To Securely Enable And Assure Quality Of Converged Services

Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced an updated network management solution and enhancements to its unified software portfolio that will help service providers, governments and enterprises simplify the management of blended multi-media business and lifestyle services.

With the enhancements and a new professional services offering, Lucent has equipped its network and service management software portfolio with the functionality needed to support networks based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem(IMS) standard. IMS is an industry standard way of building next-generation networks that will deliver rich IP multimedia services to subscribers over wireless, wireline or converged networks. IMS greatly improves the ability of service providers to introduce new Value Over IP(TM), VoIP and multimedia services simply and cost-effectively.

The IMS enhancements in Lucent's expanded VitalSuite(R) software applications gives service providers, governments and enterprises real-time, end-to-end visibility into the quality and performance of their enhanced services, and provides comprehensive service assurance and IP services management solutions to improve their service quality and ultimately the user experience.

With the assistance of a standards-compliant architecture and patented Bell Labs innovations in the VitalSuite(R) software solution, providers can rapidly deploy truly blended, next-generation services for increased revenue, while cutting costs through superior service assurance and quality management. Governments benefit from increased real-time mission status, security and automation, while enterprises enjoy better returns on network investments and they are able to eliminate costly downtime from IT systems, enhancing IT productivity. To facilitate the introduction of these powerful new capabilities, Lucent Worldwide Services(LWS) offers a full range of world-class services to assist customers in the planning, design, and deployment of Lucent's VitalSuite(R) software solutions into their existing network operations environment.

"Our customers need to transform their service and IT operations to support the convergence of voice, data, video and multi-media management, " said Janet Davidson, chief strategy officer and president, Network Operations Software. "We created a robust and highly-scalable management platform for the delivery of enhanced services over IP. This new service management solution, combined with professional services that focus on operations support transformation and service-oriented operations, empowers the customer to rapidly enable and assure high- quality, next-generation blended services".

New Capabilities

Lucent's VitalSuite(R) software provides mechanisms to manage strategic performance objectives and formal business agreements. Among the new capabilities that are available to operators today, are:

--Innovative multimedia probe technology from Bell Labs, developed in the Bell Labs Networking Lab in Holmdel and in Bangalore, India, that works over fixed and mobile access through IMS networks to help resolve customer problems such as voice echo and other difficult to identify media disturbances. Lucent is also using advanced VoIP Agent technology to provide an end-user experience view.

--Real-time analytical and service quality models for SIP, IP streams, and the end point and access layer that allow operators to support IMS-based networks and quickly deliver negotiated service levels and best-in-class quality for enhanced service bundles.

--Consulting services that facilitate benchmarking of metrics, processes and models for next-generation IMS services and operations, which will enable customers to formulate strategic quality objectives and drive faster, cost effective rollout of IMS services.

--Centralized, secure authentication for a wide range of access means including 3G mobile, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and DSL simply and reliably, permitting users to seamlessly roam in a barrier free manner increasing usage and loyalty.

--New protocol features such as EAP-SIM, IMS standard Diameter protocol support, and advanced certificate handling, coupled with powerful policy management capacities to improve security and let providers create profitable new revenue streams.

--For common name and secure IP management for advanced multimedia services, VitalSuite offers ENUM (Electronic NUMbering), robust DHCP rules setting, and automated server farm management. The ENUM software enables seamless compatibility between enterprise, call center, and consumer VoIP with existing phone networks by managing the complexities in translating and converting IP addresses to 10-digit telephone numbers that can be accepted by DNS services-based architecture. Providers can leverage ENUM and centralized authentication to drive VoIP and new IMS service adoption.

VitalSuite's innovative service-oriented software architecture also permits integration with web services frameworks via XML and other open industry standards cutting down system integration intervals.