IMS-Ready Technology Enables France's First GSM/WiFi Consumer Service
FRANCE, Oct. 30 /CNW/ - Neuf Cegetel, the leading alternative operator in
France, is using an IMS-ready solution from Nortel(x) (NYSE/TSX: NT) to deliver
TWIN(xx), the country's first affordable fixed/mobile convergence service. The
GSM/WiFi TWIN service will enable subscribers to save between 10% and 30% on
their mobile phone expenditure and also to benefit from a broadband Internet
connection at up to 11 Mbit/s.
The Neuf Cegetel TWIN service uses Nortel's industry-leading carrier VoIP
and IMS-ready technology. This provides unified voice, messaging and
multimedia communications services for use at home or for working remotely
with high-speed broadband Internet connections.
Neuf Cegetel estimates users of TWIN are achieving savings of up to
30%(xxx) on their mobile phone fees. Under WiFi coverage the TWIN phone
automatically connects to the Neuf box or WiFi community access point and
calls are made at the same price as calls from a landline phone. Users will
also benefit from receiving one, convenient consolidated phone bill.
"The future of communications will depend on multiple network types -
both wireless and wireline - working together on a converged/unified network
to provide anywhere, anytime access a communication experience," said Lee
Doyle, group vice president, Network Infrastructure, IDC. "Service providers
that deliver fixed/mobile convergence services are better able to retain
customers and reduce customer churn by allowing users to stay connected,
regardless of device or location. It will also help increase enterprises
productivity and customer service."
"TWIN is the first true converged fixed-mobile telephony service in
France and demonstrates Neuf Cegetel leadership in delivering innovative
services to the marketplace," said FranEcois Paulus, general manager, Network
and Marketing division, Neuf Cegetel. "Nortel has delivered a cutting-edge
technology to allow us to lead in the converged telecommunication market.
People today want to be able to communicate effectively whether they are at
home, at work, or traveling. Nortel technology is enabling Neuf Cegetel to
harness the power of converging all networks over IP providing users with
feature-rich communications from any broadband connection worldwide."
"Users want their communications experience to fit their lifestyle and
follow them regardless of their network connection or location," said Michel
Clement, president, Southern Europe, Nortel. "Our solution for Neuf Cegetel is
IMS-ready, which means that they can easily and cost-effectively add advanced
multimedia services according to their business objectives. Nortel's IMS
solution liberates communications from physical boundaries, delivering a
consistent communications experience across cellular and WiFi networks."
The TWIN mobile terminal benefits from innovations developed by Neuf
Cegetel working with Nortel since 2005 as part of the Neuf BeautifulPhone
project. The trial tests convergence technologies under live conditions some
of which will, over time, be used to enhance the TWIN service.
Neuf Cegetel has more than 1.4 million residential broadband customers in
France. Since June 2004, Neuf Cegetel has been using a Nortel solution to
provide VoIP services to more than 500,000 of those customers.
The solution for Neuf Cegetel includes Nortel's IMS-ready Multimedia
Communication Server 5200 (MCS 5200) which seamlessly integrates voice with
video, collaboration, and presence services. This solution leverages SIP to
enable service providers to deliver seamless handover between cellular and
WiFi technologies and create new revenue-generating opportunities for service
providers.
Nortel's IMS solution is access-aware and supports 3GPP (IMS), 3GPP2
(MMD), Packet Cable 2.0 and TISPAN standards. According to Synergy Research
Group, Nortel ranked number one in the global markets for service provider
softswitches and gateways for the first half of 2006. Nortel is currently
engaged in IMS trials with leading operators in wireline, cable, CDMA and
GSM/UMTS markets.
About Nortel
Nortel is a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities
that enhance the human experience, ignite and power global commerce, and
secure and protect the world's most critical information. Our next-generation
technologies, for both service providers and enterprises, span access and core
networks, support multimedia and business-critical applications, and help
eliminate today's barriers to efficiency, speed and performance by simplifying
networks and connecting people with information. Nortel does business in more
than 150 countries. For more information, visit Nortel on the Web at
www.nortel.com. For the latest Nortel news, visit www.nortel.com/news.
Certain statements in this press release may contain words such as
"could", "expects", "may", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates",
"targets", "envisions", "seeks" and other similar language and are considered
forward-looking statements or information under applicable securities
legislation. These statements are based on Nortel's current expectations,
estimates, forecasts and projections about the operating environment,
economies and markets in which Nortel operates. These statements are subject
to important assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to
predict and the actual outcome may be materially different. Further, actual
results or events could differ materially from those contemplated in
forward-looking statements as a result of the following (i) risks and
uncertainties relating to Nortel's restatements and related matters including:
Nortel's most recent restatement and two previous restatements of its
financial statements and related events; the negative impact on Nortel and NNL
of their most recent restatement and delay in filing their financial
statements and related periodic reports; legal judgments, fines, penalties or
settlements, or any substantial regulatory fines or other penalties or
sanctions, related to the ongoing regulatory and criminal investigations of
Nortel in the U.S. and Canada; any significant pending civil litigation
actions not encompassed by Nortel's proposed class action settlement; any
substantial cash payment and/or significant dilution of Nortel's existing
equity positions resulting from the finalization and approval of its proposed
class action settlement, or if such class action settlement is not finalized,
any larger settlements or awards of damages in respect of such class actions;
any unsuccessful remediation of Nortel's material weaknesses in internal
control over financial reporting resulting in an inability to report Nortel's
results of operations and financial condition accurately and in a timely
manner; the time required to implement Nortel's remedial measures; Nortel's
inability to access, in its current form, its shelf registration filed with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Nortel's below
investment grade credit rating and any further adverse effect on its credit
rating due to Nortel's restatements of its financial statements; any adverse
affect on Nortel's business and market price of its publicly traded securities
arising from continuing negative publicity related to Nortel's restatements;
Nortel's potential inability to attract or retain the personnel necessary to
achieve its business objectives; any breach by Nortel of the continued listing
requirements of the NYSE or TSX causing the NYSE and/or the TSX to commence
suspension or delisting procedures; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to
Nortel's business including: yearly and quarterly fluctuations of Nortel's
operating results; reduced demand and pricing pressures for its products due
to global economic conditions, significant competition, competitive pricing
practice, cautious capital spending by customers, increased industry
consolidation, rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards,
frequent new product introductions and short product life cycles, and other
trends and industry characteristics affecting the telecommunications industry;
the sufficiency of recently announced restructuring actions, including the
potential for higher actual costs to be incurred in connection with these
restructuring actions compared to the estimated costs of such actions and the
ability to achieve the targeted cost savings and reductions of Nortel's
unfunded pension liability deficit; any material and adverse affects on
Nortel's performance if its expectations regarding market demand for
particular products prove to be wrong or because of certain barriers in its
efforts to expand internationally; any reduction in Nortel's operating results
and any related volatility in the market price of its publicly traded
securities arising from any decline in its gross margin, or fluctuations in
foreign currency exchange rates; any negative developments associated with
Nortel's supply contract and contract manufacturing agreements including as a
result of using a sole supplier for key optical networking solutions
components, and any defects or errors in Nortel's current or planned products;
any negative impact to Nortel of its failure to achieve its business
transformation objectives, including completion of the sale of its UMTS access
business to Alcatel; additional valuation allowances for all or a portion of
its deferred tax assets; Nortel's failure to protect its intellectual property
rights, or any adverse judgments or settlements arising out of disputes
regarding intellectual property; changes in regulation of the Internet and/or
other aspects of the industry; Nortel's failure to successfully operate or
integrate its strategic acquisitions, or failure to consummate or succeed with
its strategic alliances; any negative effect of Nortel's failure to evolve
adequately its financial and managerial control and reporting systems and
processes, manage and grow its business, or create an effective risk
management strategy; and (iii) risks and uncertainties relating to Nortel's
liquidity, financing arrangements and capital including: the impact of
Nortel's most recent restatement and two previous restatements of its
financial statements; any inability of Nortel to manage cash flow fluctuations
to fund working capital requirements or achieve its business objectives in a
timely manner or obtain additional sources of funding; high levels of debt,
limitations on Nortel capitalizing on business opportunities because of credit
facility covenants, or on obtaining additional secured debt pursuant to the
provisions of indentures governing certain of Nortel's public debt issues and
the provisions of its credit facilities; any increase of restricted cash
requirements for Nortel if it is unable to secure alternative support for
obligations arising from certain normal course business activities, or any
inability of Nortel's subsidiaries to provide it with sufficient funding; any
negative effect to Nortel of the need to make larger defined benefit plans
contributions in the future or exposure to customer credit risks or inability
of customers to fulfill payment obligations under customer financing
arrangements; any negative impact on Nortel's ability to make future
acquisitions, raise capital, issue debt and retain employees arising from
stock price volatility and further declines in the market price of Nortel's
publicly traded securities, or any future share consolidation resulting in a
lower total market capitalization or adverse effect on the liquidity of
Nortel's common shares. For additional information with respect to certain of
these and other factors, see Nortel's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q and other securities filings with the SEC. Unless
otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Nortel disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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(x) Nortel, the Nortel logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel
Networks.
(xx) TWIN is a trademark of Neuf Cegetel
(xxx) Data from mobile operators: 30% of calls made using mobile phones
are made in the subscriber's home
>>
