CENTREX
    CENTREX PLATFORMS ON THE 5ESS®-2000 SWITCH

    The 5ESS®-2000 Switch offers three platforms to deliver Centrex service: Analog, Custom ISDN, and National ISDN. Each platform continues to evolve to enrich the business service capabilities supported by the 5ESS®-2000 Switch.

    Initially, Centrex services were analog-based. ISDN digital services developed by Bell Laboratories, were first introduced in 1986 as a Custom ISDN offering supporting Lucent Technologies sophisticated set of voice and data features. As the need for a common standard arose, National ISDN was created in 1991. National ISDN offers a rich subset of the features and capabilities of Custom ISDN and has been adopted as the industrywide standard. The standardization of ISDN is an ongoing process and the National ISDN feature set is continuously being updated. Lucent Technologies offers both Custom ISDN and National ISDN on the 5ESS®-2000 Switch and is committed to meeting the latest standards as they occur.

    CENTREX ANALOG VOICE FEATURES

    Centrex offers more than a hundred features designed around the needs of large, medium and small businesses. This approach ensures that Centrex voice features continue to evolve in response to subscriber demands. Centrex features provide customized solutions for various business needs. From popular features such as call forwarding and conferencing to sophisticated call pickup and call park services. Centrex features can be combined in any number of ways to provide innovative solutions to meet customer requirements using flexible Business Residence Custom Services (BRCS) capability.

    CENTREX CUSTOM ISDN FEATURES

    ISDN Features open up new solutions to business customers, especially those whose businesses depend heavily upon electronic key system voice services and data networking. Custom ISDN, generally used by large businesses, is currently more feature-rich than National ISDN. It provides users with voice, data, and image features, all in one connection to a digital telephone set and offers home and work-at-home users a level of service typically found only in a large office.

    Custom ISDN features fall into four distinct groups:

  • Circuit-Switched Voice - This capability includes the standard Centrex voice features. However, with digital service, new dimensions are added, such as multiple call appearances. This enables a user to receive multiple calls on the same number while active on another call. One call can be put on hold while another is taken or the incoming call can simply be forwarded to voice mail.

  • Out-of-Band Signaling - This capability enables users to activate features while on a phone call or without having to go off-hook.

  • Circuit - Switched Data - This capability is ideal for sending 64 Kbps data messages across a customer's data network. If no voice calls are made over an ISDN line, then the throughput can be doubled to 128 Kbps.

  • Packet -Data - This capability is used for "bursty" data. Packet messages can be sent at 16 Kbps or 64Kbps.

    NATIONAL ISDN FEATURES

    National ISDN represents the telecommunications industry's platform for upgrading the capabilities of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). National ISDN builds upon specifications developed by national standard bodies and Bellcore to ensure compatibility between different vendors' ISDN switches and Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). These standards allow the network to evolve uniformly with multiple vendors.

    The ISDN National offering allows for:

  • Terminal Portability - Any National ISDN telephone will work with any vendor's switch given the correct software level of National ISDN.

  • Switch Interoperability - Allows circuit data and packet data calls between ISDN users on different switches.

  • Service Uniformity - Features will work the same on all switches
  • Standard Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
  • Enhanced data capabilities
  • Advanced Electronic Key Telephone Service (EKTS)
  • Calling name display, Basic rate Interface (BRI) and (PRI)
  • Provisioning simplifications
  • Terminal/telephone setup simplifications

    DIGITAL CENTREX FEATURES

    Digital Centrex offers over a hundred features from the 5ESS-2000 Switch including:

  • Multiple call appearances
  • Multiple directory numbers
  • Shared call appearances
  • Conference, transfer, hold, drop
  • Call forwarding options
  • Speed Calling
  • Display features
  • Local Area Signaling Services (LASS) features
  • Music on hold
  • Call park
  • Direct inward dialing
  • Intercom calling
  • Enhanced conferencing
  • Directory services
  • Attendant services
  • Data/video/image access

    CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT

    Lucent Technologies provides ISDN CPE to complement its Centrex offering. The standard Centrex voice features can be delivered over traditional analog CPE. However, more sophisticated features available through Centrex ISDN require digital telephone sets which bring new levels of enhanced call handling to users. With our new "Look Big" digital solution the ISDN 970 telephone provides unmatched flexibility in managing voice and data calls. It provides simple to use features at the touch of a button.

    UNRIVALED EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

    Through Bell Laboratories, the inventor of CENTREX service, Lucent Technologies offers an unrivaled level of Centrex experience and expertise. We have deployed over five million Centrex lines in North America alone and have successfully implemented services for federal government agencies, thousands of businesses and millions of end users. Centrex operates off of the unique 5ESS®-2000 Switch – the switch that offers AnyMedia capability. This enables service providers to simultaneously deliver any combination of wireline, wireless, voice, data, and video services off of the same switch. With the 5ESS-2000 Switch and Centrex, you'll have the capabilities to increase revenues, enhance your competitiveness, improve customer service, and above all, better meet the needs of your subscribers.