MURRAY HILL, N.J. -- Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - News) today announced that Designed Telecommunications (D-tel), a key accredited North American business partner, has signed the second trial customer for Lucent's recently announced iGEN(TM) Compact Switch.

The most recent trial customer Cochrane Cooperative Telephone, located in western Wisconsin, is planning to deploy the switch in a field trial in January. The groundbreaking compact switch can reduce operating expenses by up to 90 percent while enabling networks to support current offers and next-generation services.

In the iGEN(TM) switch trial, Cochrane Cooperative will provide advanced telecommunication services, such as voice over IP and integrated messaging, to its subscribers in rural Wisconsin. D-tel will provide Cochrane Cooperative with technical, project management and network support for the iGEN(TM) Compact Switch.

Cochrane Cooperative Telephone, established in 1906, plans to use the iGEN(TM) switch as the focal point of a network that will deploy integrated telecommunications and broadband services in its service area comprised of mostly rural customers.

"A major consideration for us was the cost savings and next generation technology that the iGEN(TM) Compact Switch provided," said Jeff Kostner, manager, Cochrane Telephone Company. "When the network is complete, we will be able to offer our rural customers access to messaging services that are now only available in major metropolitan areas. Lucent's decades of experience in providing telecom equipment helped influence the decision to select the iGEN(TM) solution."

"Working with enterprising business partners like D-tel, who sell both our traditional products and innovative new ones like the iGEN(TM) switch, is a real advantage for Lucent," said Mark Wilson, vice president, Global Business Partners, Americas for Lucent. "The iGEN(TM) switch allows us to meet the needs of the small switching market, which in North American alone represents a lucrative business opportunity for Lucent and our partners."

The new iGEN(TM) Compact Switch will be available worldwide in January through Lucent's Global Business Partners. The switch consists of a single 23-inch-wide shelf that delivers Class 5 switching and key revenue-generating features, such as caller ID, and supports next generation services such as Voice over IP, Web-based contact centers and Web portals.

Scaleable from 32 to 10,000 subscribers, the iGEN(TM) Compact Switch can provide significant savings on operating expenses including installation, heating, cooling, power, spare parts, maintenance and office space when compared to existing small legacy switches. Savings are achieved by using compact architecture -- known as "switch-on-a-pack" -- that can dramatically reduce the space needed. Previously, a small legacy switch might require several cabinets to support 2,000 subscribers. Now, a single shelf can serve up to 10,000 subscribers.

Lucent Technologies Inc.