AT&T BRINGS NETWORK MANAGEMENT TO DESKTOP PC'S.BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 1995--AT&T today announced the first unified software platform in the Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. (TM) environment designed to help businesses manage their outbound out·bound adj. Outward bound; headed away: outbound trains. Adj. 1. outbound - that is going out or leaving; "the departing train"; "an outward journey"; "outward-bound ships" calling services. Called AT&T Customer Direct, the new platform lets AT&T Software Defined Network customers use their desktop PC's to track, analyze, and modify their outbound calling services. Applications scheduled for 1995 include configuration management, bill analysis, performance management, traffic analysis, and ordering, all provided within AT&T's Custom SDN SDN Sun Developer Network (Sun Microsystems) SDN SAP Developer Network SDN SOF (Special Operations Forces) Deployable Node SDN Sociale Databank Nederland (Dutch) offer. "We're we're Contraction of we are. we're we are bringing the power of network management to the desktop PC," said Sally Muscarella, AT&T marketing vice president. "This is just the first step in giving our customers all the capabilities they've asked us for to control and improve the management of their network service." AT&T will make the applications most requested by customers available in 1995, with more coming out next year. Configuration Management (formerly called Network Administration System) is already available, providing inventory management, security, and network planning. Simple to operate, Configuration Management lets telecommunications Communicating information, including data, text, pictures, voice and video over long distance. See communications. managers update employee rosters, restrict calling to specific countries, build network performance reports, and reroute calling traffic around emergencies. Because Configuration Management sends information directly to AT&T's network databases, changes to a customer's SDN configuration are typically active in 15 minutes. Configuration Management also lets customers download To receive a file transmitted over a network. In any communications session, "download" means receive, and "upload" means send. The download/upload often implies a big/little scenario, in which data is being downloaded from the "big" server into the "little" user's computer. to a PC the complete and current inventory of all their SDN locations, including virtual on-net, dedicated, and switched access points. The Customer Direct platform will also include AT&T SDN Billing Edge (TM), a state-of-the-art software package using CD- ROM technology for delivery and analysis of monthly invoice An itemized statement or written account of goods sent to a purchaser or consignee by a vendor that indicates the quantity and price of each piece of merchandise shipped. A consular invoice is one used in foreign trade. and call detail data. This highly rated application lets customers query extensive databases of usage records, build custom reports, and export data to many industry standard data base managers and spreadsheet spreadsheet Computer software that allows the user to enter columns and rows of numbers in a ledgerlike format. Any cell of the ledger may contain either data or a formula that describes the value that should be inserted therein based on the values in other cells. programs. Customers can also choose from over 160 standard reports and several graphics formats. AT&T SDN Billing Edge is currently in wide use among SDN customers as a standalone stand·a·lone adj. Self-contained and usually independently operating: a standalone computer terminal. application. It will join the Customer Direct platform in second quarter 1995. AT&T will deliver two more applications in the Customer Direct environment in the same time frame. The Performance Management applications will monitor network cost, call volume, and network integrity through the generation of on- demand reports. Performance Management also lets customers perform on-line analyses to compare performance and cost effectiveness of switched versus dedicated access. The Traffic Data Analysis application will provide specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. reports on outbound trunk A communications channel between two points. It generally refers to a high-bandwidth, fiber-optic line between telephone switching centers (central offices). Telephone "trunks" handle thousands of simultaneous voice and data signals, whereas telephone "lines" are the wires from the group utilization and performance. Traffic Data Analysis lets customers maximize capacity through quick access to information on calls completed, line load, and usage trends. Currently available as standalone systems, Performance Management and Traffic Data Analysis will be added to the Customer Direct platform in the second quarter of 1995. The fifth application, Customer Direct Ordering (formerly called the Service Request System) provides electronic ordering of SDN phone numbers and access points. Planned for general availability in fourth quarter 1995, Customer Direct Ordering lets customers modify, track, and analyze orders through reports that the user can customize. Customer Direct Ordering significantly improves the SDN order provisioning process by replacing many manual transactions with automated au·to·mate v. au·to·mat·ed, au·to·mat·ing, au·to·mates v.tr. 1. To convert to automatic operation: automate a factory. 2. electronic processing. Additional applications are being developed for the Customer Direct platform for late 1995 and beyond. The five Customer Direct applications for outbound calling service are provided as part of the Custom SDN offer at no additional charge. For Basic SDN, there are installation and monthly maintenance charges for Configuration Management, Performance Management, and Traffic Data Analysis. Customers who want more information about the Customer Direct platform should contact their AT&T account executive. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp. CONTACT: AT&T Karen Way, 908/221-6632 (office) 908/545-0225 (home) Mike Lordi, 908/221-6382 (office) 215/559-7765 (home) |
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