Ericsson solution unifies services over wireline and wireless networks

Ericsson solution unifies services over wireline and wireless networks Ericsson's latest Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions allow operators to bundle services for their business customers, transparently integrating services over wireline and wireless networks. The new solutions are aimed at unifying services over different networks and phones, giving business users greater simplicity and mobility. These solutions build on Ericsson's strength in wireline and wireless networks, giving Ericsson a unique position - with 250 million subscribers using AXE for their wireline or wireless communication needs. Users now have available Value Added Services that leverage Ericsson's number one position in Intelligent Networks (IN). With Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC), users, as an example, get a single number, which is common for their fixed and mobile phone, giving them geographic as well as device independence. Operators can provide unified services such as single "one mailbox" service, where all messages are stored, managed, and handled, independent of source or destination. Added benefits also are single billing and subscription processes. Ericsson's new FMC solutions are the FMC Virtual Private Network and the FMC Information and Business service packages. Ericsson will be showing these latest FMC solutions at the CeBIT '99 exhibition in Hannover, Germany, opening March 18. "Operators are very interested in finding solutions that can combine the merits of fixed and mobile networks into attractive full service packages," said Ulf Lesley, Global Marketing Communications Manager, Value Added Services at Ericsson. "Our FMC solutions put operators in a position to offer converged services to their business customers in a manageable and cost- effective way." The new FMC VPN solutions are build on Ericsson's widely deployed wireline and wireless VPN solutions. These new solutions fully integrate wireline and wireless VPN services. Operators can offer a complete global private network with customized number plan, worldwide transparent services, spanning both fixed and mobile phones. Last year, sales of Ericsson IN-based VPNs for GSM operators were at the same level as sales of prepaid solutions for GSM operators. With outsourced VPNs, businesses will reduce costs and simplify administration. For operators, VPN services are an effective strategic tool for strengthening customer relations and reducing churn. Ericsson's new FMC Information and Business service package enables operators to offer a flexible package of services, including Freephone, Universal Access Number (UAN) and Premium Rate. The Freephone (800 numbers) and UAN services allow users to call one number and reach a company's closest open outlet or service desk. It has proved to be very popular with consumers and is an exceptionally effective marketing tool. Currently, in the US more than 50 percent of the wireline long-distance calls are actually Freephone calls. "Ericsson's convergence concept spans datacoms and telecoms, with Internet and IP as natural parts of the FMC solutions. One example being the new Internet Customer Control feature," continues Ulf Lesley. The Internet Customer Control feature allows settings to be updated instantly from a computer located anywhere connected to Internet, further simplifying management of the services. Ericsson, the world leader in Network Intelligence , has supplied IN solutions to more than 120 wireline and wireless operators in over 50 countries, with customers' ranging from start-up carriers and ISPs to full service operators. Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Ulf Lesley, Global Marketing Communications Manager Value Added Services, Ericsson GSM Systems Phone: +46 8 719 6862, +46 70 519 6862; E-mail: ulf.lesley@ericsson.com Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@lme.ericsson.se