Alcatel Pushes VoIP Into Branch Offices With New IP Features For OmniPCX 4400.

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2001

IP Telephony Leader Adds New Capabilities for Branch Offices;

Java-Based Network Management; PC Telephony Capabilities

Alcatel (Paris:CGEP.PA) (NYSE:ALA) today announced new IP capabilities for its Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 IP-based private communications exchange (PCX) that bring remote branch offices lower communication costs and improve voice quality over IP networks. New offerings also include a web-based network management application and PC telephony capabilities.

With more than five best-product awards won during 2000, the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 is the highest performing IP PCX on the market. Based on a UNIX client/server architecture for 99.999% reliability, the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 can scale from 50 users up to 50,000 users. The OmniPCX 4400 is the only IP-based PCX available that can simultaneously accommodate radio, circuit-switched, and packet switched voice traffic, with quality of service, while maintaining all the strength of the PCX (conference calls, call transfer, voicemail, etc.).

"Gartner research shows that an increasing number of customers are planning to implement converged communications solutions. What holds many back are concerns about the ease of implementation and the extent to which solutions will meet all their needs. A bundled offering, providing data switching, traditional voice functionality, and telephones in an IP environment, goes a long way in allaying those fears," said Steve Cramoysan, Principal Analyst, Gartner Dataquest.

Concerning voice over IP for branch offices, the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 has new functionalities that allow banks, schools, governments and corporations to build VoIP networks cost effectively and with better voice quality:

IP Domain Capability

For branch offices with up to 25 users, the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 now offers IP domain capability allowing network managers to use a central Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 to group branch office users to create a "virtual Alcatel OmniPCX 4400". This allows branch offices access to the call server, voicemail, unified messaging, contact center services and other PBX services of an Alcatel OmniPCX 4400, eliminating the need to maintain small PBXs and other phone systems that can be difficult to manage, expensive to support, and fall short on desired services.

Another benefit of the IP domain capability is that interoffice calls can be switched over the local area network (LAN). This saves wide area network (WAN) bandwidth, improving voice quality by eliminating the need for compression, and reduces the cost of branch office calls by consolidating voice traffic onto an IP network.

Scalable Media Gateway

For larger branch offices with up to 500 users, a media gateway can be installed to extend the rich features of the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400. This provides the necessary translation between local VoIP networks, wide area IP, Frame Relay, and leased line networks--allowing network managers to use the most cost-effective WAN services for each office. The media gateway also allows existing circuit-switched telephones, fax machines and DECT/PWT base stations to be reused in an IP environment, providing investment protection for current assets and prolonging the life of existing devices. This new generation also includes some additional features further enriching its current offering:

New Web-based network management

Alcatel has further strengthened the Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 by enhancing its network management platform, Alcatel OmniVista, making network management simpler and more accessible. The system now features a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) capability that allows automatic synchronization of databases on Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 contact centers, voice, and mobility applications. When an administrator registers a new user, each Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 on the network receives and records all the details related to the new entry.

Unified Communication

The new Alcatel 4980 PC Telephony application represents a new generation of communication tools, enabling quick and easy integration of the telephone into the PC workflow. Through means of a graphic interface, teleworkers can use their PCs for telephone contact, without a handset, making and receiving calls without compromising voice quality and using call features available with Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 such as call-waiting and automatic ring back. This application is open to other business applications such as Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook.

"Today, companies consider IP solutions as critical applications which improve competitiveness and reduce cost while simplifying network management. The new Alcatel OmniPCX 4400 IP solution allows us to offer customers the most advanced platform on the market and enhances our leader position in IP applications," said Patrick Liot, President of Alcatel's e-Business Networking activities.

According to a study published by Phillips Group InfoTech this month, cost savings and remote networking head the list of reasons why businesses plan to purchase IP LAN Telephony. Most decision-makers believe that one system that can handle both voice and data will cost less than separate systems. "Companies can install one of these systems at a central location, and use it to serve IP phones at remote locations over an IP network," said Terry White, the lead analyst for the study. "This is one of the key economic advantages of IP Telephony."

About Alcatel

Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 130,000 employees and sales of EURO 31 billion in 2000, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com