TORONTO -- Nortel (NYSE: NT)(TSX:NT) is expanding the compatibility of its voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP) and multimedia solutions through completion of interoperability testing with new, third-party products and the addition of new industry leaders to its interoperability program.

Nortel has awarded Nortel Compatible Product status to products from Adax, ARRIS (Nasdaq: ARRS), AudioCodes (NASDAQ: AUDC), Carrier Access(NASDAQ: CACS), Entrisphere, Nuera and Westell. This designation is awarded to companies that successfully demonstrate interoperability with Nortel's Communication Server (CS) 2000 superclass softswitch and Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5200.

New members of Nortel's VoIP and multimedia interoperability program include ADTRAN (NASDAQ: ADTN), Alpha Networks (TSE: 3380), Dataflex Design Communications, Ltd., Mpathix, and T-Metrics, Inc. As part of this program, member companies plan to participate in extensive testing in Nortel's lab facilities, and in some instances at customer premises, to achieve interoperability with Nortel's VoIP and multimedia portfolio.

Nortel's interoperability testing program was designed to help ensure seamless integration between multi-vendor solutions.

"This is about giving service providers choices as they deliver the widest possible range of new, affordable services that power global commerce and enhance the human experience through communications," said Ken Pecot, general manager, Service Provider Voice Networks, Nortel. "Interoperability between vendors' products allows service providers to speed deployment times and ultimately deliver to the market superior integrated voice, video and data that will enhance how, when and where people communicate with full mobility. This is a new era of communication and Nortel is leading the way. "

Nortel Networks Ltd.