Lucent brings messaging into intelligent network

Building off last month's universal messaging alignment with Sun Microsystems, Lucent Technologies will announce this week the availability of a messaging system that can be integrated within the intelligent network. Additionally, the company said it would promote three applications to carriers as a way to introduce thetechnology.

Combining the intelligent network with messaging not only gives carriers more services to offer customers, it leverages their existing network infrastructure, said Larry Frank, vice president of service provider marketing for Lucent's Octel division.

The effort aims to take messaging away from the network periphery. The result is that carriers will be able to develop "sticky" applications that increase users' reliance on them and decrease their desire to leave for competitors' services.

"With the intelligent network, messaging becomes much easier and a more controllable experience," said Frank.

Among the initial three applications, most appear geared toward high-end users, although Lucent is pushing them as mass-market services. "We're really expanding the reach of the mailbox here," said Connie Blackburn, director of network solutions.

According to one analyst, though, most advanced messaging applications will take several years to reach general consumers. "They just aren't ready for it, and frankly most of them don't need it," said Blair Pleasant, director of communications analysis for Pelorus Group.

However, she added, the concept of pushing messaging into intelligent network elements will allow telcos to leverage their existing infrastructure. "What they get is the billing infrastructure and a lot of the data that the intelligent network already has."