An extreme measure: Nortel marketing program broadens Centrex offerings

Nortel Networks has launched its Extreme Centrex marketing program, which expands the capabilities of the DMS-100 Centrex services. The program includes four products: Centrex IP, Wireless Centrex, Centrex Voice Attendant and the 1-Meg Modem. The 1-Meg Modem, already available, is included because the Centrex IP service requires high-speed access.

Centrex IP integrates time division multiplexing (TDM) and Internet protocol capabilities. To use Centrex IP, the customer needs a managed IP network. A gateway card in the DMS-100 is used to convert between TDM and IP (see figure). A gatekeeper provides address translation between the telephone access and IP address.

The gatekeeper "provides security, authentication and [eventually] the ability to deploy enhanced applications capabilities," said Janet Smith, senior manager for Centrex IP marketing at Nortel. Telecommuters and road warriors can log onto the corporate network and have the same access as they would if they were in their offices. Business calls can be automatically routed to a home office or hotel room.

Centrex IP is a "major leap," noted David Yedwab, executive vice president at Eastern Management Group. "The 'old' telephone network has been based on wiring centers, and the area covered by a central office switch, This IP capability can really provide that flexibility to the nth degree, so you can virtually take your entire office with you."

Integrated Wireless Centrex combines cellular and Centrex phone services on one phone. "It allows you seamless handover between the public and private [networks from a] wireless handset to an office cordless phone," said Chand Gundecha, senior manager for the DMS-100 wireless program at Nortel.

The service supports AMPS, time division multiple access and code division multiple access technologies. Callers are charged Centrex or cellular rates depending on where they use the phone.

The wireless twinning capability bodes well for service providers, said Ed Poshkus, CEO of Creative Strategies. "You can walk beyond the private sector into the public sector completely transparently. Being able to do that, service providers can capture more minutes in terms of connect time." That means enhanced revenue potential. And users don't have to deal with multiple handsets or vendors, he added.

Centrex Voice Attendant is a speech-activated voice recognition service. It can be a front end for a corporate directory, so callers announce the party with whom they want to speak, and the automated attendant transfers them.

The voice attendant service is available this week. Wireless Centrex service will be generally available by the end of the year. Centrex IP services are slated for the fourth quarter of 1999.