Granite Systems Automates Carrier Business Processes; Next-Generation Service Resource Management System Provides Platform to Enhance Customer Service and Reduce Costs.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

TeleManagement World (Stand #74)

NICE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2003

Granite Systems, the leading communications software provider of Service Resource Management (SRM) solutions, today announced general availability of Xng 4.1, a next-generation SRM system that provides carriers with unprecedented network information and workflow capabilities. Fully adapting to a carrier's proprietary business processes, Xng 4.1 automates critical activities such as service provisioning and customer care, both of which are of strategic importance to current and future business objectives. Xng 4.1's eXtreme scalability, openness and adaptability ensure that carriers will be able to integrate current, relevant network information into any connected business process.

Xng 4.1 is the only SRM system that enables full Data Domain Partitioning (DDP), allowing top-tier carriers to easily protect and distribute specific network information across the enterprise. DDP allows top-tier carriers to maintain large, distributed network records on a single Xng database machine, lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the system, while securely providing highly granular access to network information based on criteria as diverse as geographic region, customer and equipment age. Business applications of DDP include customer self-care as carriers partition and provide customers access to their records.

"Granite's Xng continues to focus on placing greater control of network information in the hands of carriers," stated Sanjay Mewada, director of the Yankee Group. "Service providers are asking for access to critical network information that is relevant to their business and operations decision makers. Tools such as Xng 4.1 that enable database access, flexibility and customization will go a long way in meeting those needs."

Xng 4.1's unique User Defined Classes (UDC) enable carriers to extend and customize the data objects used in the system so Xng matches the exact data models of their particular network. This measure of control over the data model provides unprecedented flexibility to carriers and SIs, enabling Xng customization without the need for source code changes. Tier 1 carrier customers are already planning to use UDCs to greatly simplify outside plant management and facilitate the transition to next-generation technologies such as wireless 3G. These UDCs, in cooperation with the long-provided UDAs (User Defined Attributes) that provide dynamic data element extensions, also ensure that future business priorities will not outpace the technology supporting them.

Additional enhancements to Xng 4.1 include:

-- The full integration of worXng, the first network-driven

workflow manager, within the Xng n-tier architecture 

-- Trunk Checkbook - a full-function trunk group management

system

-- Additional outside plant management features such as detailed

logical mapping of all outside plant characteristics including

multiple cable splices and bridgetaps

-- Integration of network element autorouting within the core Xng

product

"Carriers are looking to OSSs to give them the ability to reduce costs today and effectively position them to take advantage of the market turnaround tomorrow," stated John E. P. Borden, Jr., president and CEO of Granite Systems. "Xng has maintained its market lead by effectively bridging both needs. Numerous carriers around the globe are using Xng to develop streamlined and automated operations as well as to plan the acquisition and development of the necessary network resources for delivering tomorrow's hot services."

Availability

Xng 4.1 is currently available from Granite Systems and its channel partners.

About Granite Systems, Inc.

Granite Systems provides Service Resource Management (SRM) software for top-tier carrier and large enterprise networks. Utilizing Granite Systems' Xng system, carriers can manage inventories of network resources and capacity, define network configurations, order and schedule resources and provide a database of record to other operational support systems (OSSs). An Inc. 500 company since 2000, Granite Systems enables clients including AT&T Wireless, KPN Belgium and Verizon to eliminate resource redundancy, improve network reliability and speed service deployment. Founded in 1993, Granite Systems is headquartered in Manchester, NH with offices in London, U.K.; Nice, France; Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Rome, Italy; and Singapore. Additional information about Granite Systems and its Xng system may be found at http://www.granite.com/ or by contacting +1.603.625.0100.