Agilent Technologies and Nortel Networks Team to Fight Telecoms Fraud; Best-in-class Fraud Management and SS7 Monitoring Will Help Carriers Protect Revenues.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif. & HARLOW, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2001

Telecoms fraud is at an all-time high, costing the telecommunications industry billions of dollars each year. The International Forum of Irregular Network Access (FIINA) estimates that telecoms fraud is a $55 billion problem for the telecommunications industry worldwide.

To help carriers eliminate telecoms fraud, Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) and Nortel Networks(TM) (NYSE/TSE:NT) Fraud Solutions (NNFS) have signed an agreement to integrate Agilent's acceSS7 CDR Agent solution with CerebrusRE, Nortel Networks' fraud detection and management application. The combined solution will enable service providers to detect suspected fraud as it happens on their networks and services and to take immediate action to prevent or reduce fraud losses.

Agilent and Nortel Networks will market the joint solution to carriers worldwide, with Agilent providing the CDR collection capabilities, supplying CerebrusRE with a rich source of real-time information for the early detection of many types of telecoms fraud. Examples of fraud scenarios range from innocent but expensive configuration errors and ghosting fraud to organized fraud that exploits mobile phone roaming capabilities and call back scenarios.

"The real-time acceSS7 solution will give CerebrusRE greater visibility of carriers' networks, providing a very powerful solution to detect and shut down fraud as it happens," said Faz Hussain, president and general manager of Nortel Networks Fraud Solutions.

"Agilent has already demonstrated how SS7 can be used to reduce fraud losses for service providers around the world," said Andy Belcher, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Telecommunication Systems Division. "Cerebrus is one of the leading fraud management solutions in the industry, and combined with acceSS7, will help carriers stay one step ahead of the fraudsters."

About CerebrusRE

CerebrusRE will be launched this spring as a new generation version of the market-leading Cerebrus fraud management solution. It will give carriers advanced capabilities to develop a fully scalable, tailored fraud solution for any telecoms environment and to meet the challenges that will follow the introduction of new services and technologies.

Information about CerebrusRE can be found on the Web at www.fraud-solutions.com.

About Agilent acceSS7 and CDR Agent

Agilent acceSS7 collects and analyzes SS7 messages flowing on an SS7 network to provide network operators with insights to dramatically improve the efficiency of their network, boost profitability and increase customer satisfaction. The system is deployed by many of the world's leading wireline and wireless operators. Agilent acceSS7 CDR Agent allows carriers to configure, manage and control SS7 CDR collection and delivery infrastructure, simply and cost-effectively, providing access to invaluable customer and network data.

Information about acceSS7 and CDR Agent can be found on the Web at www.access7.com.

About Nortel Networks Fraud Solutions

Nortel Networks Fraud Solutions is a business unit within the Nortel Networks Corporation, specializing in advanced software and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Established in 1997, Fraud Solutions is committed to helping carriers minimize exposure to telecoms fraud, thereby helping to maximize profits.

With its headquarters in the U.K., the company operates on a global scale through Nortel Networks' presence in more than 150 countries. Information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com.

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.

This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, information regarding the expected launch of CerebrusRE, its successful integration with Agilent acceSS7, and Agilent's ability to provide CDR collection capabilities to the jointly marketed solution with Nortel Networks) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management's current expectations. These and other risks are detailed in Agilent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2000, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note to Editors: Nortel Networks is a trademark of Nortel Networks Corporation. Also note, in the product name "CerebrusRE" the final RE should be superscripted.