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Equipment Makers Need More Than Low Prices to Attract Micro MSPP Buyers, New Report Finds Light Reading Insider Releases Results of a Worldwide Survey on Carrier Attitudes Toward Low-Cost Multiservice Provisioning Platforms NEW YORK, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Service provider customers are definitely attracted to the low price tags that equipment makers are slapping on so-called micro MSPPs, but vendors need to deliver more than cost savings to close the deal, according to a new report from the subscription research service Light Reading Insider (http://www.lightreading.com/insider). Micro MSPPs: Carrier Deployment Plans analyzes the emerging micro MSPP product sector by not only identifying the key vendors that have joined the market, but also assessing how prospective buyers of micro MSPPs see the market taking shape. The cornerstone of the report is a worldwide survey of more than 370 telecom industry professionals, including dozens of service providers, gauging expected deployment of micro MSPPs in carrier networks. More than two dozen vendors have already introduced micro MSPPs, which are streamlined and far less expensive versions of the multiservice provisioning platforms already used by many network operators. "By pushing intelligent switching to the metro edge, micro MSPPs can increase bandwidth utilization in the network and improve efficiency at the core," the report states. "That function is especially significant for service providers seeking to leverage existing Sonet/SDH networks to meet demand for converged voice and data services, chiefly Ethernet." But while service providers are attracted by the price proposition of micro MSPPs, those surveyed by Light Reading Insider say they also want to make sure that these products will be able to deliver the quality and reliability needed to keep customers happy. Among the report's key findings: * Vendors report that RFP activity is high, but only a few carriers have committed to micro MSPP purchases. * Survey results indicate that carriers view micro MSPPs more as a quick way to extend services than as a long-term strategic play. * Carriers and equipment vendors expect sales of micro MSPPs to pick up later this year and in 2006. * Incumbent telcos are likely to be the biggest buyers of micro MSPPs, rather than CLECs. Public equipment vendors profiled in this report: Adtran Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN); ADVA AG Optical Networking (Frankfurt: ADV); Alcatel (NYSE: ALA; Paris: CGEP:PA); Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ:CIEN); Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO); ECI Telecom Ltd. (Nasdaq/NM: ECIL); Fujitsu Ltd. (OTC: FJTSY; Tokyo: 6702); Lucent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LU); Marconi Corp. plc (NASDAQ:MRCIY) (LONDON: MONI) ; Nortel Networks Ltd. (NYSE/Toronto: NT); Telco Systems, a subsidiary of BATM Advanced Communications Ltd. (LONDON: BVC) ; Tellabs Inc. (Nasdaq: TLAB; Frankfurt: BTLA); Verilink Corp. (NASDAQ:VRLK). Private equipment vendors profiled in this report: Anda Networks Inc.; Luminous Networks Inc.; Overture Networks Inc.; PacketLight Networks Ltd.; RAD Data Communications Ltd.; Tejas Networks India Ltd.; Transmode Systems AB; Turin Networks Inc.; White Rock Networks Inc. Micro MSPPs: Carrier Deployment Plans is available as part of an annual subscription (12 monthly issues) to Light Reading Insider, priced at $1,350. Individual reports are available for $900. To subscribe, please visit: http://www.lightreading.com/insider. For additional information, to request a free executive summary of the report, or for details of multi-user licensing options, please contact: Jeff Claudino Sales Manager Insider Research Services 619-229-9940 Members of the media may request review copies from: Gabriel Brown Chief Analyst Insider Research Services +44-207-701-9330 About Light Reading Inc. Founded in 2000, Light Reading Inc. (http://www.lightreading.com/) is the ultimate source for technological and financial analysis of the communications industry; it leads the media industry in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. It reaches an extensive audience of executives and technologists within the telecommunications and enterprise networking communities, as well as the financial/industry analysts and investors that track these sectors. DATASOURCE: Light Reading Inc. CONTACT: Jeff Claudino, Sales Manager, +1-619-229-9940, or , or Gabriel Brown, Chief Analyst, +44-207-701-9330, or , both of Insider Research Services, for Light Reading Inc. Web site: http://www.lightreading.com/

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