In an effort to tap into the expanding Internet
telephony market, Lucent Technologies
today announced new software for converging voice and data networks.
PacketStar IP Services Platform, developed by Bell Labs, is designed
to let Internet telephony gateways from different vendors interoperate with
each other and with traditional telephone networks.
The product features an interoperability capability made to solve
basic interoperability problems caused by signaling, directory and protocol
incompatibilities between packet-circuit gateways from different vendors.
Also included is a software switch offering, designed for seamless
connectivity between public telephone networks and various Internet
telephony networks, according to the company said.
The software switch enables network operators to offer their customers
Intelligent Network services–such as call waiting, call forwarding,
billing and operator assistance–over either traditional networks or the
Internet, said Lucent. Service providers can access and use
existing directories and databases on both the Internet and the phone
network.
Lucent said the software is aimed at those just entering the telephony
arena. The firm described its customer base as traditional carriers
expanding into Internet telephony, competitive entrants building
Internet-style networks, and ISPs who want to offer standards-based
Internet Telephony services.
“This is breakthrough technology that will redefine Internet telephony,”
said Dan Stanzione, chief operating officer of Lucent Technologies and
president of Bell Labs. “This technology gives Internet service providers
the ‘glue’ they need to make Internet telephony equipment work together and
to make Internet phone calls look, feel and work like regular phone calls.”
The software is written in Java and runs on most
commercially available servers. Beta testing is slated for this month.
Although the telephony market is in its infancy revenues are
predicted to reach as high as $9 billion by 2002.
