http://www.xchangemag.com/articles/221xchange.html ======================================== We'll get this on the web site as part of the weekly news postings. Too bad we can't change the headline... we'll have to work with Peter Lambert to help him understand the bigger picture. Anne Nason Public Relations NMS Communications 508-271-1444 ----- Forwarded by Anne Nason/NMS Communications on 03/22/02 08:30 AM ----- "Betsey Rogers" 03/21/02 07:06 PM To: anne_nason@nmss.com cc: ccarleton@chenpr.com, bayers@chenpr.com, jgreenwood@chenpr.com, agoodrow@chenpr.com, sshaw@chenpr.com, dferbas@chenpr.com Subject: Brough Turner Q&A on XChange Magazine Hi Anne - We've just found this Brough Turner Q&A on the XChange Magazine website. We weren't expecting it because it was originally slated for the January issue of Sounding Board Magazine, and this publication shut down in December. Karen had worked with Brough to write the answers for the questions below for Peter Lambert, who was in charge of the article. To clarify in case you are unfamiliar, Peter Lambert writes for Virgo Publishing, which as you probably know, publishes XChange Magazine, Phone+ Magazine and the former Sounding Board (Sounding Board is now a section within XChange Magazine, and Virgo hopes it will someday again be a separate magazine when economic times are better). While we did some work with Karen to brainstorm on how to recycle the Q&A material after learning of Sounding Board's demise, we ultimately couldn't use the text as it was still Peter's. So we're obviously thrilled to see it here. The thing we're not so thrilled about is the headline that calls NMS a chipmaker :( It's curious, as the company is referenced as providing platforms and subsystems in the text of the original Q&A). Rest assured we're going to doubleback with Peter to make him aware that this is not what NMS is/does. It's also good that we've got Brian Demers lined up to speak with Peter on April 4th to introduce him to the company and NMS HearSay. FYI - The text below is pretty much an exact match to what Karen/Brough had originally provided Peter, with the exception of the removal of two questions/answers about VoIP standards H.323 and SIP, a question/answer on IP operational support systems and another on advice for packet equipment makers for 2002. Let us know if you have any questions! Thanks. Betsey =============================== XChange Posted 2/01/2002 http://www.x-changemag.com/articles/221backX.html EYES ON THE PRIZE Leading Chip maker Sees Booming Wireless IP Opportunities, Ascendance of Packets Everywhere Brough Turner CTO senior vice president NMS Communications With a dozen categories of equipment makers using its products, NMS Communications Inc. enjoys a bird's eye view when it comes to the evolution of packet communication and a position to see where demand is overpowering retrenchments in a tough economy. XChange's Sounding Board asked NMS Communications CTO and senior vice president Brough Turner to share his view. What one or two categories of next-gen products and solutions have remained strongest in sales through this downturn in the economy? Turner: Speech recognition platforms and telecom infrastructure products that operate in and across all types of networks, packet and circuit, wireless and wireline. Right. That ties in nicely with NMS' recent acquisition of the voice enhancement and echo cancellation business of Lucent Technologies Inc. Why do you think this area has remained strong? Turner: The ability to access information and other content easily, particularly on the web or intranets, is driving demand for speech-enabled applications. Even during this downturn, our customers continue to bring voice-activated dialing, IVR, voice portals and other voice web applications to market. And we think our network access platforms are doing well because they can be deployed in and interoperate in today's heterogeneous public network. The applications which are succeeding are those that enhance and extend the value of existing infrastructure. How badly has the failure of DSL and other broadband carrier businesses set back prospects for packet voice in general? Turner: At a minimum, VoDSL has been set back several years, compared to the rosy prospects anticipated in 2000. At this point we see packet voice, in the access network, happening first in business applications where voice over packet uses traditional T1 facilities. On a percentage basis, enterprise VoIP will be stronger, as it's growing from a smaller base. But on a dollar basis, service provider investment will continue to dominate despite being reduced from the frenzied levels of 1999 and early 2000. When residential VoP arrives in any volume, it's likely that VoCable will be ahead of VoDSL, but this transition will take years. For enterprise or wide-area networks, what will drive near term demand? Turner: First, compelling new applications -- for example, voice-activated applications. Second, cost saving, future proof infrastructure that works with and extends existing heterogeneous telecom networks. Third, subscriber growth is causing wireless service providers to invest in VoP infrastructure for their tandem networks. Many in IP communications have envisioned a web-like open systems model would create a groundswell of independent application development. At the dawn of 2002, where does the campaign to draw developers stand? Turner: It's still waiting. Hopefully, a combination of SIP, VXML and some call handling extensions to VXML will provide the needed open system environment. On the other hand, Microsoft is pushing SALT, which may co-exist with VXML or may supersede it in some applications. Clearly there's at least another year or two of flux, before any "groundswell" might emerge. What are the one or two smartest things a next-gen, packet-based service provider should do in 2002? Turner: Focus -- perhaps on a specific customer class or a specific geography -- but segment your market and focus on a small subset where you can get profitable, before looking to larger horizons. On what prize should the remaining packet communications players keep their eyes in the next few years? Where will real, pay-as-you-grow revenue be found? Turner: Wireless telephony! Mobile has the highest traffic growth and highest subscriber growth and, as yet, VoP has barely penetrated the wireless market. Tandem traffic off-load (including long distance) remains the largest existing VoP market segment, but design wins in wireless have the best potential for future growth. The applications which are succeeding are those that enhance and extend the value of existing infrastructure.Brough Turner CTO senior vice president