Nortel Networks introduced its Succession VoIP VPNs for service providers wishing to offer outsourced, enterprise voice networks using their IP infrastructure. At the heart of the Succession VoIP VPN service offering are Nortel Networks’ Succession Communication Server 2000 and Succession Communication Server 2000-Compact “superclass” softswitches. The company defines a “superclass softswitch” as one that provides local, tandem and long distance capability on a single platform; full business and residential telephony service sets; regulatory features like ‘Lawful Intercept’ and ‘Number Portability;’ and carrier-grade reliability and scalability. Service offerings that have now been defined for these platforms include:
- Succession Centrex and Succession Centrex IP — a “low risk, low cost” evolution to packet with line-by-line migration and more than 200 business features.
- Succession Personal Communications Manager — provides web-based, end-user programmable, call screening, routing and call management capabilities.
- Succession Multimedia and Collaboration — combines voice, video, and text media in a single communication session. Services include web-based video calling, instant video conferencing, and presence-based collaboration capabilities.
- Succession Internet Voice — provides voice over broadband, soft second line voice service that can be augmented with both the Succession Personal Communications Manager and Succession Multimedia and Collaboration services for enhanced communications.
- Succession Primary Voice — provides a regulatory-compliant primary voice service set for new market entry and competitive service differentiation, including the full set of class 5 residential voice services.
In addition, Nortel Networks announced several VoIP product enhancements, including:
- new H.323 interfaces to Succession softswitches to support direct packet interworking with H.323 IP PBX systems and gateways.
- expanding support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) on Succession softswitches to support direct packet interworking with SIP-based enterprise PBXs or gateways.
- expanding support for SIP on Succession softswitches to encompass both SIP and SIP-T on the trunk side. This extends the interworking capabilities of Succession softswitches to third party application servers, enabling carriers to offer a wider range of new services.
- adding SIP extensions that uniquely integrate Succession softswitches and Succession Interactive Multimedia Server (IMS) to enhance the multimedia feature set that carriers can deliver to existing phones.
- adding SIP proxy capability to Succession softswitches to allow multimedia traffic to cross enterprise and PSTN domains and carrier boundaries more efficiently.
Nortel Networks also said it would expand its co-marketing programs to help carriers strengthen business planning and pricing analysis for introducing new services.
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- Nortel Networks noted that it has deployed softswitches and gateways in 38 service provider networks across 22 countries, and has announced Succession portfolio contracts collectively estimated at approximately US$2 billion.
- In July 2002, Verizon confirmed the installation of Nortel Networks’ packet-switching equipment in large Verizon switching centers in Newark, New Jersey and Tampa, Florida in a voice-over-packet trunking application. Specifically, Verizon is using voice trunking over ATM switches, or VtoA, to increase the efficiency of existing transmission capacity and lines. During the initial Verizon VToA deployment, voice calls are being transmitted through major regional call- and data-switching centers known as tandems. Equipment used includes Nortel Network’s Succession Communication Server 2000 softswitches, Succession Multi-service Gateway 4000 and Passport 15000 Multiservice Switches for ATM transport.
- In November 2001, Sprint announced that Nortel Networks would provide products and services for the conversion of Sprint’s Local Telecommunications Division network from digital circuit-switched to next generation packet-switched. The transition was scheduled to begin in January 2003. The conversion consists of an entire network evolution including both Class 4 and Class 5 components to packet utilizing subscriber line over ATM (SloA) technology. Nortel Networks was awarded a supply and services agreement estimated to be worth approximately US$1.1 billion over four years. Key elements of the deployment include Nortel Networks Succession Communication Server 2000 softswitches, MG 4000 trunking gateways, MG 9000 access gateways, and Nortel Networks Passport 15000 Multiservice Switches.