CHICAGO -- The next-generation network will be characterized by distributed intelligence, packet-switched data communications, and value-added services. Creating and leveraging this new network requires examining the role of IP in service-provider networks now and in the future. In response to this, IP Applications and Services 2003: A Comprehensive Report, recently published by the International Engineering Consortium, examines and analyzes what makes IP applications and services work--and pay. According to IP Applications and Services 2003, quality IP services are a valuable means for providers to maintain profitability and attain a competitive edge in today's trying economic environment. "In today's capital-constrained economy, premium Internet protocol (IP) services are emerging as a source of strategic advantage for struggling service providers, helping them differentiate themselves from the competition as voice traffic growth slows and the data access market commoditizes," states Jeffrey P. Cotrupe, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Visionael Corporation and a contributor to IP Applications and Services 2003. As stated in the report, to capitalize on the opportunities that IP presents and to garner new customers, companies need to provide value-added services that augment and accompany their access offerings. Providers need to leverage their legacy network investments and maximize their revenue prospects through the introduction of converged, IP-based voice, data, and application services. International Engineering Consortium (IEC)