RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Building on its Succession* Services initiative announced in February 2003, Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT - News; TSX:NT - News) today introduced several key initiatives in its Succession Interactive Multimedia Server (IMS) programmability plan designed to create an open application environment that will accelerate delivery of packet voice and multimedia services. "The migration of today's telephone networks from TDM to a highly-efficient 'packet' infrastructure brings with it the great promise of empowering service providers to develop new services themselves, or to leverage the creative brainpower of the thousands of independent software developers around the world, to bring exciting new services to market much quicker and more cost-effectively than ever before," said Sue Spradley, president, Wireline Networks, Nortel Networks.

"Nortel Networks is focused on helping to deliver the most advanced service development capability - also known as 'programmability' - on the market, enabling service providers to quickly deliver valuable new services by working with Nortel Networks and creative third-party vendors, or by creating new services themselves," Spradley said.

A key initiative in the realization of Nortel Networks Succession IMS programmability strategy is teaming with Ubiquity Software Corporation for joint marketing and customer engagement.

In addition, the two companies are scheduling session initiation protocol (SIP) interoperability testing between Ubiquity's SIP Application Server (SAS) and Nortel Networks Succession IMS. Together, the two products will provide Nortel Networks IMS customers with a robust application creation environment to rapidly develop and deploy revenue-generating applications for both wireline and wireless networks.

"Being able to deliver an open application creation environment and suite of applications that customers can rapidly deploy for revenue opportunities is a critical element for any next generation network," said Ian McLaren, chief executive officer, Ubiquity. "Nortel Networks understands service provider requirements for programmability and is taking immediate powerful steps to lead in the implementation phase. And Ubiquity is thrilled to be a part of that future."

In addition, Nortel Networks has enhanced all four main components of the Succession IMS programmability plan, including:

At SUPERCOMM 2003 in Atlanta, June 2-4, Ubiquity and Nortel Networks are jointly demonstrating Ubiquity's Speak Conference Director, a SIP-based conferencing application, with Succession IMS. Ubiquity's Speak Conference Director is created upon Ubiquity's JAIN SIP Servlet compliant SIP Application Server. The demonstration will highlight audio and video conferencing capabilities.

Nortel Networks Succession IMS and Succession MX are key products in Nortel Networks Multimedia Services solution. Succession IMS and Succession MX provide a common suite of end-user services on open, commercially available hardware platforms that scales to meet the needs of their respective target markets - carrier and enterprise. Succession IMS and Succession MX transform the way users communicate, allowing them to take advantage of next generation tools that improve productivity, facilitate instantaneous decision-making, and deliver clear return on investment for business initiatives such as teleworking, mobility and collaboration.

In a separate release:

To further advance its Succession Services initiative announced in February 2003, Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT - News; TSX:NT - News) today introduced an interoperability program focused on end-to-end voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solutions that help accelerate the time-to-market of packet voice and new session initiation protocol (SIP)-based multimedia services for enterprises and residential subscribers.

This program reinforces Nortel Networks on-going commitment to interoperability and standards compliance, and leverages Nortel Networks understanding of real world, multi-vendor VoIP and multimedia service deployments.

Part of Nortel Networks Developer Program, this new program will focus on enabling interoperability of Nortel Networks Succession Interactive Multimedia Server (IMS), Succession MX and Succession Communication Server 2000 superclass softswitches with key third-party products. In addition, Nortel Networks has dedicated state-of-the-art laboratory facilities configured to represent `real-world' carrier networks, as well as a team of experienced interoperability professionals.

"Nortel Networks is focused on helping wireline and wireless service providers generate new service revenue opportunities by speeding deployment of next generation, converged applications," said Sue Spradley, president, Wireline Networks, Nortel Networks. "Through interoperability testing with other industry leaders, Nortel Networks can expand the number of available applications while simplifying network deployments, making it more cost-effective for service providers to expand their business and offer new services."

As part of this program, Nortel Networks has completed interoperability testing with industry-leading third party vendors, and is either in the process of testing or scheduling further interoperability testing with others.

Nortel Networks has completed interoperability testing with the Comverse network-based voice mail system, a component of its enhanced services platform. Comverse's open, IP-based, modular platform addresses the need for a highly scalable and feature rich messaging system to complement Nortel Networks IMS to enable additional revenue opportunities for carriers.

Nortel Networks plans to conduct interoperability testing with ipDialog, whose SIP-based phones for the enterprise, small office and residential markets address the need for low cost, retail SIP-based CPE choices. ipDialog's family of readily-customizable Ethernet phones will support Nortel Networks commitment to meet specific needs and requirements of service providers.

Nortel Networks is currently conducting interoperability testing with Mediatrix, whose Mediatrix 1104 access device and Mediatrix 1204 gateway provide IP connectivity for conventional analog telephones, PBX and Key Systems, protecting enterprise investments and delivering a cost-effective solution for legacy to IP networking.

Nortel Networks intends to conduct interoperability testing between Newport Networks MediaProxy 1460 session controller and Succession IMS to provide service providers with greater solution flexibility for SIP-based voice and multimedia services. Newport's media proxy enables control and management of media streams to deliver commercial IP telephony and multimedia content, and to deliver scalable, reliable and feature-rich solutions to subscribers.

Nortel Networks is scheduling SIP interoperability testing between Ubiquity's SIP Application Server (SAS) and Nortel Networks Succession IMS. Ubiquity's SAS supports the JAIN SIP Servlet specification that will provide Nortel Networks customers with a Java-based application creation environment to rapidly develop and deploy revenue-generating applications for both wireline and wireless networks.

Nortel Networks is currently conducting interoperability testing with VegaStream Ltd to provide ISDN PRI VoIP gateways for connectivity between IP networks and existing ISDN equipment, driving enterprise investment protection and service provider deployment flexibility.

ARRIS has joined the Nortel Networks Developer Program. Its PacketCable(TM) and DOCSIS® 1.1 qualified CMTS (Cable Modem Termination Systems) and DOCSIS 1.1 certified MTAs (Multimedia Termination Adapters) provide the customer premise termination for cable VoIP applications. Nortel Networks Succession Communication Server 2000-Compact and associated core products deliver the features and call control functionality, integrated with the ARRIS family of cable access products for full-featured residential primary line service, completing the cable operator's triple play. This solution has a real world deployment track-record in Charter Communications.

Nortel Networks Corp.