Lucent officially kills SpringTide box

Lucent Technologies confirmed that it has ceased all development of the SpringTide IP box. Last week, Lucent confirmed that it had stopped development of the TMX 880, while sources close to the company said plans regarding the SpringTide box would be put into affect this week. (See story from October 30, “Lucent dumps TMX 880 http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_lucent_dumps_springtide/index.htm)

“We discontinued further development of the SpringTide 7000 box both wireline and wireless and we are no longer actively supporting the product,” a Lucent spokesman said.

The company will continue to support existing customers of the product, which Lucent paid $1.3 billion to acquire in 2000. Some of the technology used in the SpringTide equipment will be utilized in Lucent’s unnamed multiservice edge box due out next year.

Employees affected by the SpringTide shut down were informed this week, the spokesman said. And although Lucent wouldn’t confirm the actual number of heads cut, there were more than 200 employees working on the equipment.