Acterna Announces AM Communications as New TechSync--TM-- Partner.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers Cable-Tec Expo 2003 GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2003 Interactive Communication Between the Field and Back Office Systems Empowers Technicians with Monitoring, Management, and Dispatch Information Acterna, the world's leading provider of cable network test and management solutions (OTCBB OTCBB See OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB). :ACTR ACTR American Council of Teachers of Russian ACTR Actuator ACTR Association for Canadian Theatre Research ACTR A Christmas To Remember ACTR Assistant Contract Technical Representative (NMCI liaison) .OB), today announced a new partnership with AM Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board OTC Bulletin Board An electronic quotation listing of the bid and asked prices of OTC stocks that do not meet the requirements to be listed on the NASDAQ stock-listing system. :AMCM AMCM Airborne Mine Countermeasures AMCM Autoridade Monetaria de Macau (Monetary and Foreign Exchange Authority of Macau, China) AMCM Advanced Missions Cost Model AMCM Air Mission Coordination Meeting AMCM Advanced Mine Countermeasures ) to integrate Acterna's DSAM-2500 Digital Service Activation Meter, a TechSync-enabled solution, with AM Communications' family of network operations support systems Operations Support Systems (also called Operational Support Systems or OSS) are computer systems used by telecommunications service providers. The term OSS most frequently describes "network systems" dealing with the telecom network itself, supporting processes such . This integration of Acterna's advanced line of test and measurement products with AM's software-driven monitoring and management systems provides field technicians with access to information from back-office network management applications without any additional involvement from dispatch or network operations center See NOC. Network Operations Center - (NOC) A location from which the operation of a network or internet is monitored. Additionally, this center usually serves as a clearinghouse for connectivity problems and efforts to resolve those problems. personnel. The integrated systems will be on view at the SCTE SCTE Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers SCTE Society of Cable Television Engineers SCTE Serial Clock Transmit External Cable-Tec Expo in Philadelphia, May 12-14, at Acterna's booth (1161) and also at AM Communications' booth (2245). "Retrieving status information from the field has just been streamlined," said Bruce Hembree, Vice President of Workflow Solutions for Acterna. "By communicating with AM's Broadband Operations Software Solutions (BOSS) and Fulfillment Operations Support Systems (FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) See free software and open source. FOSS - free open-source software ) via the DSAM's built-in web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. over the existing DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) A cable modem standard from the CableLabs research consortium (www.cablelabs.com), which provides equipment certification for interoperability. infrastructure, field technicians will have more insight into the status of their network. They'll be able to access critical information that will help them to perform their installation, maintenance and troubleshooting assignments more efficiently than ever before possible. This translates not only into time savings for a mobile field workforce, but gains in network availability and improved subscriber satisfaction by having access to the right information at the right time." Joe Rocci, Group Vice President of AM's Broadband Products Division, added, "It has long been our vision that the functions of test and measurement, network monitoring The term network monitoring describes the use of a system that constantly monitors a computer network for slow or failing systems and that notifies the network administrator in case of outages via email, pager or other alarms. and workforce management Workforce Management (WFM) encompasses all the responsibilities for maintaining a productive and happy workforce. Sometimes referred to as HRMS systems, or even the larger ERP systems (Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP). There are many software vendors within this space. all need to become parts of a seamless fabric of integrated network operations systems. By leveraging the computing power of advanced instruments like Acterna's DSAM DSAM Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota DSAM Diploma in Small Animal Medicine DSAM Deputy Sheriff's Association of Michigan (Lansing, MI) DSAM Defense Supply Agency Manual , we are providing the technical workforce with a single portable device that is a universal measurement instrument, a dispatch management terminal and a general-purpose data terminal to access information from virtually any back-office software system. When field technicians are empowered with this kind of information, they will be able to perform their services better, faster and more efficiently than ever before." Acterna TechSync(TM) Solutions Acterna's new TechSync family of workforce management solutions reduces the costs associated with installing, troubleshooting and managing cable services. Implemented on the Acterna DSAM family of test instruments for the cable industry, TechSync solutions provide technicians with immediate, interactive access to back-office systems over existing, paid-for channels, as well as test applications and other Acterna systems. Acterna offers specific solutions that not only include the hardware but the software for providing specific applications that connect systems to field technicians. Open and customizable, TechSync solutions enable operators to control the information passed to the field in accordance with their own workforce management philosophies. TechSync solutions transform test equipment into multifunctional devices that automate advanced services testing, reduce capital expenditures and eliminate costly rework. As a result, technicians can perform more work faster with less cost and greater subscriber satisfaction. The DSAM-2500 is Acterna's newest meter used by installers and service technicians to test networks that carry DOCSIS, DTV (Digital TeleVision) Transmitting TV using digital signals. The major DTV standards are ATSC (North America), DVB (Europe) and ISDB (Japan). All three use MPEG-2 video compression and Dolby Digital audio compression. DVB and ISDB also include MPEG audio compression. , analog TV and VoIP services. The DSAM performs both traditional physical layer signal level tests and advanced IP and digital performance tests. With the integration of workforce management functions in the DSAM-2500, along with the entire suite of Acterna's TechSync Solutions, the meter will be transformed into a multifunctional device--a test instrument for advanced services as well as a mobile communications unit. AM Communications Broadband Operations Support Systems (BOSS) AM Communications BOSS family of operations support solutions is a modular, scaleable and cost-effective set of software components that is intended to streamline the cable TV field workforce by correlating data from disparate back-office systems and providing useful decision information. BOSS analyzes data from billing, provisioning, mapping and monitoring systems in order to help network management personnel identify problems before they turn into outages and quickly pinpoint the root-cause and location of outages when they do occur. BOSS, in conjunction with AM Communications' OmniStat(TM) network status monitoring system, and with AM's FOSS product, provides Cable TV network operators with an integrated, end-to-end network and field workforce management solution that interfaces with a choice of wired and wireless personal productivity terminals. About Acterna's Cable Network Products and Technologies Acterna is the world's leading provider of integrated network test and management solutions for global cable networks. Acterna's cable networks portfolio enables cable operators to meet demand and enhance the reliability and performance of their networks and services. Deployed around the world, Acterna's cable systems, software and instruments comprise the industry's broadest set of products that support cable operators through the network life cycle, from building the network to deploying and managing advanced services. About AM Communications AM Communications, Inc., located in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, is a leading supplier of software-driven network reliability solutions for HFC 1. (networking) HFC - Hybrid Fiber Coax. 2. (hardware) HFC - hydrofluorocarbon. broadband network enterprises. AM's advanced systems and service offerings employ leading-edge technologies that embody the company's 25+ years of HFC experience and expertise. Through its exclusive and strategic relationship with Network Systems and Technologies (P) Ltd. (NeST), AM has access to a skilled manpower pool of over 400 software and hardware engineers as well as 2000 operations support personnel. AM's world-class Quality credentials include ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. 9001 for engineering, business, and operations procedures, as well as CMM (Capability Maturity Model) A process developed by SEI in 1986 to help improve, over time, the application of an organization's supporting software technologies. Level 5 for software development. Visit the AM website @ www.amcomm.com. Note to editors: All company or product names mentioned in this press release may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Product-related inquiries should be directed to (800) 543-1550 or (240) 404-2999. |
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