LUCENT UNVEILS ENHANCED SERVICE NODE FOR THE DELIVERY OF VOICE AND DATA SERVICES ON SOFTSWITCH-BASED NETWORKS.

Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) has unveiled the EXS Converged Services Platform, an Internet Protocol (IP) enhanced service node that supports the deployment of voice and data services in circuit, packet and converged networks.

The EXS enables third-party application developers to create and deliver services that carriers can offer on softswitch-based IP networks, as well as existing circuit-based infrastructures. Several systems integrators are currently conducting trials of the EXS Converged Services Platform.

This new platform provides developers with open, programmable interfaces and supports industry-standard protocols such as H.323 and MGCP for telephony and media capabilities, and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for application connectivity. SIP will allow developers using the EXS to offer applications to softswitches, including the Lucent Softswitch. Support of these protocols will allow developers to rapidly enable existing applications to run on IP or converged networks, opening up new market opportunities with minimal additional cost or effort. Earlier versions of the EXS can be upgraded easily to support the new packet capabilities.

"The EXS Converged Services Platform enhances the value of Lucent's next-generation Softswitch-based architecture by giving third-party developers a quick, cost-effective way to capitalize on the shift toward IP networks," said Joe Mele, vice president and general manager of Lucent's OPENet Solutions Group. "Service Providers worldwide will be able to deploy a broad and growing array of IP-enabled services from more than 100 developers, helping them generate additional revenue, while protecting their existing platform investments."

The new EXS Converged Services Platform will be demonstrated in Phoenix, March 20-23 at the VON Spring 2001 Show, an industry conference and exhibition focused on the Internet telephony market.

"Lucent's EXS has proven to be a reliable and scaleable platform. The introduction of the IP-enabled EXS platform will enable us to migrate our existing applications to packet networks. By leveraging on our initial platform investment, it is both a cost-effective and flexible way to provide more innovative solutions to our customers," said Michelle Chan, Executive Vice President, Global Business, iSoftel Ltd.

The EXS platform offers developers and service providers significant investment protection because existing applications can be modified as needed to support emerging IP protocols. This allows these applications to be delivered in next-generation networks with minimal impact on the functionality of the application, or the end-user experience of existing subscribers.

More than 100 customers -- members of Lucent's Open Network Platforms Partner program -- have deployed earlier versions of the EXS platform to carriers worldwide, providing solutions such as intelligent networking, tandem switching, international gateway & callback, virtual private network, call centers, wireless local loop and a wide variety of enhanced subscriber services such as unified messaging, prepaid calling and single-number services.

The EXS Converged Services Platform delivers carrier class reliability and redundancy that meets key regulatory and quality standards, and offers cost-effective scalability from 100 to more than 30,000 ports. It supports popular global signaling and service delivery protocols, and is available for deployment worldwide. The EXS product family also features the new Converged Services Administrator, a Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based configuration tool that reduces the time it takes to develop new applications significantly.