Lucent adds WIN applications

Responding to demands for flexible, easy-to-implement services built on open platforms, Lucent Technologies last week introduced a suite of wireless intelligent network software applications. Carriers using Lucent's platform now can add new intelligent network-based applications such as prepaid services, voice-activated dialing and wireless number portability.

In large networks, intelligent network-based solutions are cheaper, easier to implement and more flexible than some previously available solutions, such as prepaid offerings tied to switches that require added voice trunks.

Lucent's solution enables users to offer multiple applications on a single platform. "Other solutions didn't really allow providers to leverage synergies with other applications," said J.J. Lhospital, vice president of customer marketing for the Americas at Lucent.

U S West New Vector Group, operating as AirTouch, uses Lucent's WIN platform in two markets only to fulfill the FCC's Phase I requirement for enhanced 911, said a company spokeswoman. The company is looking into using the platform for over-the-air activation and authentication and will not replace its existing prepaid service, provided by Boston Communications Group. However, the intelligent network platform is attractive because multiple services can be added to it, the spokeswoman said.

David Berndt, program manager at The Yankee Group, noted a broad trend toward integrated platforms. "Wireless carriers are more interested in combination platters than a la carte items," he said. Rather than implement new platforms for each enhanced service, operators want a single platform.

Lucent's platform allows operators to implement applications from multiple vendors, Berndt said. "Overall, this will move the wireless industry to open standards and open interfaces," he said. "Then we'll reach the true vision of intelligent network."

Subscriber Computing Inc.'s announcement in January regarding a partnership with Ericsson to market a WIN-based prepaid system follows this progression. SCI intends to work with multiple infrastructure vendors to make its prepaid offering compatible with many vendors' products.

"We have to until WIN becomes standardized," said Andres Arteta, product director for SCI's PrePay product line.

NEW APPLICATIONS Wireless prepaid Wireless virtual private networks Voice-activated dialing Flexible alerting Wireless number portability Enhanced 911

EXISTING APPLICATIONS Home location register Authentication center Short message service center Over-the-air activation