TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Advances Telecom Industry's First Use of Open-Source Software to Drive Implementation of OSS Standards; TMF OpenOSS Catalyst Aims to Save Time and Money for Systems Integration.

NICE, France -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced the first deliverable from a collaboration to assemble and build the communication industry's first set of open-source software components to support implementation of Telemanagement Forum (TMF) New Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS) standards. These components will provide an open-source "sandbox" of NGOSS- and OSS/J-compliant software as part of the OpenOSS initiative to drive industry collaboration on OSS implementation, thereby lowering integration costs. Agilent, through its open-source components, has demonstrated simplified integration between its NgN Analysis System and systems from other OpenOSS Catalyst participants. E[acute accent]"An open-source approach offers a valuable, complementary route to help test and realize NGOSS standard interfaces," said Mick Reeve, group technology officer for BT. "BT is pleased to be sponsoring this activity." E[acute accent]"While OSS/J has been proven in some network and service management domains, there are still unknowns regarding its applicability to other key functions," said Kevin Scarr, principal systems developer at Vodafone UK. "Through the OpenOSS Catalyst, Vodafone UK aims to validate these areas of OSS/J and promote the uptake of open standards by the industry." E[acute accent]As a primary participant in the TMF OpenOSS Catalyst Project, Agilent used OSS/J and the NGOSS standards to create open-source components for simplified integration between the Agilent OSS NgN Analysis System and systems from other catalyst participants. This solution will be demonstrated this week at TMW as part of the TMF Catalyst Showcase Booth CS3 in Hall #1, in the OSS/J Booth 81, Hall #2, and in the Sun Microsystems Booth 117, Hall #1. The open-source software developed for this project and the associated documentation will be freely available to the industry to encourage re-use and continued open development. E[acute accent]"The primary goal of the OpenOSS initiative is to promote the uptake of OSS standards," said Martin Creaner, chief technology officer at TMF. "The catalyst demonstrations, open-source components, openly shared knowledge and invaluable feedback into the TMF NGOSS standards committee will offer service providers and ISVs a path to more easily integrate business-critical systems." E[acute accent]The OpenOSS Catalyst is supported by Agilent, AutoMagic KB, BT Group Plc, Budapest University Networking Technology Laboratory (BUTE), Cable & Wireless, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., COLT Telecom Group, Covad Communications, Invocom Ltd., NTT Group, QinetiQ, Sun Microsystems, the TMF, University of Southampton, and Vodafone UK. E[acute accent]Agilent is also a participant in other standards programs, most recently collaborating in the newly formed Telecom Operations Benchmarking (TOB) and implementing the OSS/J standards. The TOB aims to provide business-performance reference data to support benchmarking and decision-making. OSS/J is a group that is using J2EE to set standards for telecom systems integration, including the definition, reference implementation and compatibility testing of API definitions.

E[acute accent]For More Information

E[acute accent]--OpenOSS Web page: www.openossinitiative.org

E[acute accent]--OpenOSS Initiative: www.tmforum.org/browse.asp?catID=2248&linkID=29972

E[acute accent]--NgN Analysis System: www.home.agilent.com/USeng/nav/-536885380.536882660/pd.html

E[acute accent]Agilent in Communications

E[acute accent]Agilent Technologies is a leading provider of components, test, measurement, monitoring and management solutions for the communications industry. Agilent enables designers, manufacturers and service providers to accelerate the delivery of next-generation devices, networks and services. Agilent's broad set of solutions and services includes optical, wireless, Internet and broadband technologies that span the entire communications life cycle.

E[acute accent]About Agilent Technologies

E[acute accent]Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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