Vendors Lead Technology Parade At NetWorld + Interop

Enterprise customers and systems integrators searching for cheaper bandwidth and affordable technologies that solve business problems will converge here next week for the NetWorld Interop show.

Unlike years past, when ATM, DSL or Gigabit Ethernet products filled the floor at NetWorld Interop, no single technology will dominate the first post-Y2K show. Rather, industry experts said they expect a parade of technology from all sectors of the communications market to vie for corporate customers' affections.

Increasing bandwidth: Sprint's ION offers voice, data on one circuit MCI WorldCom adds data switches to network.

"Customers are not as hung up on technology [anymore]," said James Williams, president of Digital Connections Inc., an integrator in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in data communications. "They are looking for what makes their business more efficient and profitable."

One way to get more bandwidth is to squeeze voice onto existing data communications networks, be it frame relay, IP or ATM. Sprint Communications Co., Kansas City, Mo., plans to release some enhancements to its ATM-based Integrated On-Demand (ION) service at the upcoming conference, sources said. ION delivers voice and data on a single circuit.

Meanwhile, MCI WorldCom Inc., Jackson, Miss., early next month is expected to reveal the addition Cisco Systems Inc.'s MGX wide-area data switches with Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) to the MCI WorldCom network to deliver similar services, sources said. MPLS makes ATM and IP possible on the same network. Trials are not expected to begin until this summer, with actual service rollouts scheduled for next year, said sources familiar with the company's plans.

Brian Finley, chief technology officer of PSS World Medical Inc., which distributes medical supplies to doctors and imaging gear to hospitals and nursing homes, said the company is hoping to cut the costs of its ATM connections by starting trials of virtual private networks (VPNs) using DSL technology and the Internet. The Jacksonville, Fla.-based company is looking to replace its voice-over-ATM technology with voice-over-IP and is studying options that will provide Quality of Service features to IP, Finley said.

Although e-business strategies get everyone's attention, the stability of the Internet and VPN viability are more immediate goals, Finley said. He said he expects e-business to become just another channel for the company's customers.

One challenge integrators face is executing on the promise of the many Web breakthroughs for their customers, analysts said. Weeding out what works and what is worthless is not easy, said Peter Bernstein, president of Infonautics Consulting, a consulting firm in Ramsey, N.J. "It is execution vs. promise," he said.

Bernstein called for a return to practicality because corporate America's ability to integrate new technology rather than buy it is out of sync. It is hard to train and keep people, and corporate customers now have to justify the installation of technology, integrators said.

Customers sometimes buy more products than they need because the equipment and software is often beyond what they require, said Edward Marzuronis, president of Park Radio and Television Inc., a systems integrator in New Britain, Conn.CRN

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