Lucent Technologies extends reach, adds high-speed access to DEFINITY ECS Server.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 1996--Lucent Technologies today announced enhancements to its market-leading DEFINITY(R) Enterprise Communications Server (ECS) that make it even more powerful and flexible in distributed enterprise networks.

Lucent Technologies is building on its industry-leading networking expertise with enhancements under its BusinessWorks(TM) framework, with the introduction of DEFINITY ECS Release 5.0. The networking enhancements include an access link that provides more bandwidth for both voice and data traffic being routed to Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks, and new options for extending the reach of the DEFINITY ECS into remote locations. In addition, Lucent Technologies is introducing a Bell Labs-developed management solution that makes it faster and easier for customers to administer their systems.

Businesses will be able to utilize the full capabilities of these networking enhancements through the DEFINITY ECS' RISC-based architecture, regardless of size.

Together, the BusinessWorks solutions announced today expand the role of the DEFINITY ECS in enterprise networking and distributed workforce applications by supporting high-speed technologies, such as ATM, and reducing acquisition and management expenses.

"Customers want to evolve their networks to integrate their voice communications into their expanding enterprise network, but they want to protect their existing investment,'' said Susan Barbier, strategic planning director for Lucent Technologies' Business Communications Systems (BCS) large systems division. "We are committed to doing that by enabling them to use the newest enhancements in whatever size DEFINITY ECS they have. That is true seamless integration and outstanding investment protection for our customers.''

ATM ENHANCEMENTS

To help businesses gain more bandwidth and integrate voice with data over ATM facilities, Lucent Technologies is introducing ATM access enhancements to the DEFINITY ECS. The first enhancement is an ATM concentrator called the DEFINITY ECS nET90, which integrates with DEFINITY ECS to allow customers to route voice over their ATM networks. The wideband signaling capabilities of the DEFINITY ECS have also been enhanced to allow customers at remote locations to use a feature called dynamic bandwidth allocation. This will give customers the benefits of using high-bandwidth applications.

When businesses connect DEFINITY ECS to DEFINITY nET90, they will be able to use the full bandwidth of the T-1/E-1 interface in the DEFINITY ECS for routing traffic to ATM networks. This approach assures high quality transmission of voice and data and lowers network costs.

DISTRIBUTED WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS

Lucent Technologies is also announcing two major options for the DEFINITY ECS switch modules. The first option allows customers to extend a switch module up to 22 miles away from a DEFINITY ECS located in a central site using single-mode fiber transceivers. This remote option is more than four times the previous distance of five miles. The second option enables the customer to extend DEFINITY ECS switching modules up to 3,500 miles from a central site using up to four T-1 facilities. The former distance was 100 miles. For added reliability, customers can employ redundant links over these distances. The two options have been enhanced to support dynamic bandwidth allocation for remote locations. These distributed workforce enhancements will allow all businesses -- central and remote -- to have the same functionality of the DEFINITY ECS from wherever they are.

SUPPORT OF GLOBAL NETWORKING STANDARDS

Lucent Technologies is enhancing the DEFINITY ECS' support of Q.932 Signaling (Qsig) -- the global internetworking standard which allows switches from different vendors to communicate -- by enabling DEFINITY ECS telephones to display updates on calls indicating the reason they are being redirected, such as those that are busy or don't answer. These enhancements will improve users' productivity in a multivendor business communications environment.

MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Extending its leadership in providing switch management solutions, the company is also introducing a new software module called TERRANOVA(R) ECS Station Administration that gives network managers an intuitive interface for administering telephone stations from a single PC-based console. This software, which can be loaded on any PC platform, is based on Microsoft's Windows(R) and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) developed by Bell Labs.

"We want to make systems administrators as effective and productive as they can be in serving their customers,'' said Barbier.

The ECS Administration application lets businesses add, change or remove stations; schedule translations for the DEFINITY ECS; and create templates and pre-printed labels for the stations. For added convenience, the application provides button icons for adding important functions or printing out labels for telephone sets that show extension numbers or other specialized features. The ease-of-use and intuitive features in TERRANOVA ECS Station Administration will allow customers to manage their business communications' environments more effectively

Slated for general availability on Sept. 30, TERRANOVA ECS Station Administration is priced at $2,900. Included in the price are two other TERRANOVA modules, ECS Reports Generator and a remote LAN access package called ECS Communications. Lucent Technologies also provides a service offering called Systems Management Assist for TERRANOVA ECS Station Administration.

Customers attending the NetWorld+Interop show in Atlanta Sept. 18-20 can see a demonstration of these powerful new networking enhancements, which include ATM and distributed workforce solutions, and TERRANOVA ECS Station Administration software, at Lucent Technologies' booth #2026. Customers can get more information about these solutions by calling Lucent Technologies at [phone], ext. 105.

Lucent Technologies, formed as a result of AT&T's restructuring, designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, consumer and business telephone systems, and microelectronics components. Bell Laboratories is the research and development arm for the company.

CONTACT: Lucent Technologies

Stephen Loudermilk

At NetWorld+Interop Booth #2026

908/953-7514 (work)

908/432-0862 (home)

[e-mail]