Hello, operator? Get me the Internet; Cisco Systems' assault on the telephone

Article Abstract:

John T. Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems Inc., wants Cisco to start using telephone systems that use Internet technology instead of traditional telecommunications systems. Industry experts generally agree that voice-over-Internet Protocol systems are not yet ready for widespread use by the public. Cisco's main competitor, Lucent Technologies Inc., is also developing Internet telephony products, but Lucent officials see traditional phone systems as still unrivaled in terms of reliability and feature-rich functions. At the moment, large carriers are buying phone equipment made by smaller firms. Nevertheless, the major carriers acknowledge that the firms that make traditional equipment have such a sterling reputation for absolute reliability that the smaller firms will be hard pressed to gain a foothold in the market in terms of consumer trust and perception. The greatest obstacle to widespread use of Internet telephony at present is the fact that rival systems are rarely compatible, and rival firms are each trying to promote their own standard as the industry standard for Internet telephony. As yet, no integrated and interoperable Internet Protocol telephony system exists.

Computer network equipment industry, Network hardware industry, Product development, Product information, Telecommunications equipment industry, Cisco Systems Inc., CSCO, Telephone systems

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AT&T buying I.B.M. network; 7,000 workers to be shifted in complex $5 billion deal

Article Abstract:

AT&T appears to be rounding out its strategic plan by acquiring IBM's global data network. AT&T's winning bid of $5 billion in cash is only part of the complicated deal. AT&T will now cover both ends of the spectrum, local and international; IBM wins by not having to keep up the pace with technology advancements; that will be AT&T's responsibility; outsourcing from each other is a win-win situation. 5,000 IBM employees will become AT&T employees; 2,000 AT&T employees will become IBM's.

Asset sales & divestitures, Acquisitions & mergers, Computer networks, Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, Telecommunications industry, AT&T Corp., T, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Abstract, Communications industry

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Lucent extends its reach to Internet technology

Article Abstract:

Lucent Technologies Inc. has announced a new line of products designed to use the Internet for data transport. One product is an advanced switch which allows data and voice traffic to be routed together via the Internet. The other product is a high-speed, Internet-based router which can transmit 2.5 Gigabytes of information per second.

Comment:

Announces new Internet-based data transmission products

Product development, Company Planning/Goals, New Products/Services, Lucent Technologies Inc., Article

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