Fast forward: Brian McFadden, Nortel Networks

As the member of the executive leadership team at Nortel Networks with the most internal experience, Brian McFadden has ridden the roller coaster of fates that has hit the Canadian vendor over the last decade. Going into 2005, though, the company appears more stable and ready to expand on its existing markets. McFadden recently spoke with Telephony's Vince Vittore about Nortel's position in several markets, hot technologies for 2005 and external perception.

On the VoIP world: Last year everyone was saying that 2005 will be the year of VoIP. Really, what VoIP is all about is enabling people to get into multimedia applications very efficiently.

On video as part of the triple play: We're more active in the video side than people give us credit for. We have multiple partners, and we've deployed customers. Calix and ECI are our partners. Part of that offer includes the ability to deliver video over wireline and wireless. I think what you're going to see is video is a big topic. People tend to migrate to wanting video on their hand-held. You're going to see content developed for the medium. It's not a matter of making the medium fit the content but the content fitting the medium. A two-inch screen is a different experience than the living room.

On new operating systems: I think we're seeing that the development of carrier-grade Linux is the horizontal-ization of the equipment. When we started with DMS, we started with our operating system because there wasn't anything else. Carrier-grade Linux is another extension of that. A technology matures depending on the number of people working on it. It's fundamentally very cost-effective. The trick is what is the higher level capability?

On VoIP applications: We have several thousand users right now. Fundamentally, if we look at Bell Canada [with which Nortel has set up a VoIP laboratory], we're working with them to bring consumer and small/medium business applications together. It's mainly to address the tying of your voice to other things. I expect them to be making announcements relatively soon. Generally, I think there's going to be a real plethora of find-me/follow-me services. We've even had discussions with people about where you arrive in a new city and you want to find your friend, you get a map location service that tells you how to get there.

On the CPE market for triple-play service: The CPE end of the market is a different place altogether. There are companies that are very good at that part of the network. My fundamental belief is no one company can deliver an end-to-end broadband experience. Partnerships are going to have to be done.

On FTTP: I think obviously Verizon has publicly committed to a lot. Does anybody think it's the answer to all applications? I don't think so. I think it certainly is going to prove in in some areas and not provide the return in others. I think we're going to see a lot of capabilities with DSL. I think there's still a lot of life left in copper. We have a role to play there. We can bring our voice-over-IP capability to the table and complement what they're doing with fiber to the home.