Double duty Ericsson gateway lets users have both Internet and voice access

Carriers facing a shortage of lines and a boom in demand for Internet access may find some relief in a new product that will allow customers' lines to perform double duty.

The Phone Doubler, a voice gateway product from Ericsson, uses voice-over-Internet technology to let customers make and receive phone calls while connected to an on-line service-without a second phone line.

"Many Internet users don't have second lines, and even if they want them, in an increasing number of places they simply can't get them," said Barbara Boyle, marketing manager for Ericsson. "The Phone Doubler gives carriers an opportunity to complete more calls, increase revenues and make more of their users happy.

The system is based on technology originally developed for digital wireless communication. It consists of a voice gateway server connected to an Internet access server. When a subscriber logs on to an Internet connection, the system creates an Internet protocol address.

While the user is on-line, any incoming calls are forwarded to the voice gateway using the call forwarding function in carriers' networks. There, the call is matched to the IP address and is sent to the customer's computer via the Internet connection. A screen icon signals an incoming call, allowing the customer to answer the call without signing off using voice-over-Internet software.

The system works over standard POTS lines and also allows customers to make calls over the Internet to standard telephones.

"From the customers' point of view, this solves something that has been an issue since the Internet started to take off," said Boyle. "The Phone Doubler frees up the voice side without forcing customers to wait for new lines to be installed.

For carriers, the system could provide a way to keep customers happy while their capability to install new lines catches up with demand. "It takes so long for carriers to install new copper and fiber plant, and the customers aren't going to wait for that to happen," said Boyle. "GTE reported that they had a 35% increase in the number of second lines last year, and Sprint says that one-third of all lines are now second phone lines.

Ericsson is marketing the Phone Doubler to carriers that offer Internet access and to large Internet service providers with multiple points of presence.

"It seems like a win-win situation for the carrier and the customer," said Eileen Healy, president of Fremont, Calif.-based market research firm Healy & Co. "Part of the Internet's impact on carriers is that long-distance calls can't be terminated when the line is nailed up. If you can provide a conduit around that, more of those calls can be completed and the carrier can generate extra revenue in addition to any subscriber fee they charge for the Phone Doubler service.

The system, which will be demonstrated at Supercomm in June, has been tested in Europe and will begin U.S. trials this summer. Ericsson hopes to have the Phone Doubler commercially available in the third quarter of this year.

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