Building services the Internet way

• Published in: Telephony Vol. 238; no. 23; p. 278
• Main Author: Kozik, Jack
• Format: Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago Informa 05.06.2000
• Subjects: Alliances; Architecture; Customer services; Infrastructure; Internet; Internet access; Packet switched networks; Protocol; Service introduction; Speech; Wireless networks; United States > US
• ISSN: 0040-2656; 2161-8690

Network service providers worldwide are evolving to new packet-switched networks to improve their ability to offer new services and to realize long-term cost savings. While many new services are well-suited for this converged environment, the average half-life of a killer application in the Internet space is no more than 6 to 12 months. The reality of this accelerated life cycle for new applications deems that network operators must have access to as many services as possible. This also requires a service creation environment that many developers can use. While the intelligent network model has worked exceptionally well in the circuit-switched world, it never was designed to handle the multitude of protocols required to interact with network and services based on ATM or IP technologies. New packet-based intelligent network platforms that include a next generation service creation enviroment are becoming available to help service providers reach new subcribers and build additional revenue using their existing voice infrastructure. At the core of the next generation service creation paradigm will be a set of standards and protocols unfamiliar to any provider with a circuit-switched network infrastructure. By understanding how these standards can - and will - affect their business, service providers can better prepare and execute the convergence of voice and data. Better yet, they can participate in the many forums and work groups currently working to define these standards.