Lucent's networking R/Evolution

Lucent Technologies last week unveiled its R/Evolutionary Networking product suite designed to help legacy 5ESS customers migrate from a circuit-switched environment to a packet-based one.

The suite comprises six products, the foundation of which is the 7R/E Call Feature Server. When released in the fourth quarter, it will provide the same 3000 enhanced call features available on traditional voice networks on Internet protocol or asynchronous transfer mode networks. The 7R/E Packet Driver is a service module for the 5ESS providing a migration path to packet networking.

The 7R/E title represents the seventh generation switching technology," said Frank D'Amelio, vice president of product management and marketing for Lucent's switching and access solutions group.

Several service providers are testing the products, including US LEC, which announced plans to deploy the 7R/E Packet Driver on at least six of its 5ESS switches and install one 7R/E Call Feature Server later this year. US LEC will be one of the first carriers to turn up service on the Feature Server, said David C. Conner, executive vice president of engineering and chief technology officer of US LEC.

Lucent claims the Call Feature Server lets carriers use 80% of their legacy equipment, while saving them 70% in operational costs. US LEC conducted an internal study on the cost savings. "I wouldn't say it's 70%, but it's a substantial cost savings," said Conner.

In tandem last week, Lucent announced the PathStar Business Exchange Server, a device designed for competitive carriers and Internet service providers that want to offer toll-grade voice and data services on new or existing packet networks. Regional carrier McLeodUSA plans to test the BSX and the PathStar Access Server.

New 7 R/E products offered: * Call Feature Server

* Packet Driver

* Programmable Feature Server

* Multimedia Resource Server

* One-Link Manager

* Packet gateways