Tekelec Adds TALI Monitoring to the Sentinel(TM) Network Monitoring and Diagnostic System.

Business Editors/High Tech Editors

MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2000

Tekelec (Nasdaq: TKLC) today announced significant enhancements to its leading network monitoring and diagnostic system, Sentinel.

New capabilities include Transport Adaptor Layer Interface (TALI) monitoring for Internet Protocol (IP) networks, new data display graphics, and new protocol analysis features for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) wireless networks.

Sentinel enables wireline and wireless service providers to monitor, maintain, and ensure the reliability of innovative telecommunication products and services implemented across Signaling System 7 (SS7)-based Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs) and next-generation wireline and wireless networks.

"Tekelec continues to add versatile new features and functionality, like TALI monitoring, to Sentinel to meet the demands of service providers as they expand their networks and enhance their services," said Danny Parker, vice president and general manager of Tekelec's Network Diagnostics Division. "Since it was introduced in June 1998, Sentinel has been deployed by more than 50 providers of telecommunications products and services in 12 countries. With the addition of TALI monitoring for IP networks and the new GSM capabilities, our customers can now monitor mission-critical signaling links in today's sophisticated multi-media networks."

Parker added, "In a rapidly evolving network with multiple new revenue sources based on signaling protocol interaction with a database, carriers demand the ability to monitor traffic and to immediately discover and diagnose protocol problems. Sentinel, with TALI protocol capability, is able to monitor and maintain services in these new networks, ensuring end-to-end call viability."

With the new TALI monitoring feature, a carrier can now monitor and maintain signaling links installed between a Tekelec Eagle(R) signal transfer point (STP) and an associated Calling Name signaling control point (SCP) using a high-volume TALI link. In this scenario, Sentinel provides the ability to monitor and decode both database queries and responses that are carried on the TALI link and to trace calls throughout the network using data from both the TALI link and any associated Signaling System 7 (SS7) link monitored by Sentinel.

The Sentinel graphical enhancements add a geographic map interface to the Sentinel alarm management system, which provides the ability to "drill" down on a high-level map to elements originating alarms. In addition, Sentinel provides a visual indication of alarm status. Using this new capability, a carrier is able to easily update existing system maps or include custom maps.

For GSM wireless networks, a new protocol analysis form, with pre-defined filters and traces, is provided with the new enhanced GSM call trace capability. It displays messages from any of several GSM/PSTN protocols, including Direct Transfer Application Part (DTAP), Base Station System Mobile Application Part (BSSMAP), Mobile Application Part (MAP), and Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (ISUP).

With the new network monitoring and proactive testing capabilities, Sentinel enables service providers to perform fault management, including problem identification, analysis, and resolution verification on a single platform. Sentinel now provides protocol analyses to trace calls from start to finish, across multiple protocols, including ANSI ISUP, IS-41, and TALI. Sentinel displays call trace records in a single "window," which provides a consolidated view of the call with all protocol segments. Users are able to perform simple or complex filtering on messages of various protocol types as they use the features of the Sentinel system to maintain complex, multi-protocol networks.

An easy-to-use graphical user interface on Sentinel enables non-technical network operations center personnel to quickly troubleshoot network problems without an immediate referral to second- or third-tier technical support. In addition to basic surveillance tools, the Sentinel protocol analysis feature provides real-time filtering, trapping, and network-wide call tracing.

Traffic data collected from the SS7/TALI signaling network offers a wealth of information for downstream data mining. With default traffic recording scripts, Sentinel is able to convert raw traffic data into clear text traffic reports. Sentinel also provides a structured query language interface to an Oracle8(TM) database to assist carriers in data mining.

The availability of the new Sentinel capabilities is described below.

Sentinel Release 3.0, introduced to network operators in March 2000, provides the new graphics interface, enhanced traffic reports, extended call trace feature, and new GSM protocol forms.

Sentinel Release 4.0, available now, introduces basic TALI monitoring capability on the Sentinel platform in addition to the enhanced graphics capabilities and surveillance features delivered in Release 3.0.

Sentinel Release 5.0, generally available for network implementation in August 2000, enhances the TALI monitoring functionality to include both TALI 1 and TALI 2 along with full Sentinel monitoring and diagnostic capabilities. Additionally, Sentinel Release 5.0 will provide enhanced traffic reporting as well as enhanced real-time call trace performance.

About Tekelec

Tekelec, a leading supplier of signaling and control systems, develops innovative network switching and diagnostic solutions that enable the convergence of traditional and converged wireline, wireless, and IP voice and data communications networks. The company also provides products and solutions for call centers and other telecommunications markets. Tekelec has its headquarters in Calabasas, California, and divisions in Morrisville, North Carolina, and Richardson, Texas. For more information, please visit http:\\www.tekelec.com .

The Tekelec logo is a registered trademark and Sentinel is a trademark of Tekelec. All other products are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.