Kanata, Ontario-based Newbridge Networks Corp and GPT Wisecom System, the new access communications business unit of the GPT Business Systems Group, have announced an initiative that extends the ‘least-cost networking’ concept from PABX speech communications, to inter-site data communications. The two companies said the system will combine bandwidth allocation and compression techniques with the ability to route speech, data and video calls via lowest-cost services. The system, the result of a strategic product development and marketing alliance between Newbridge and the GEC Plessey Telecommunications Ltd company, incorporates Newbridge’s 3600 MainStreet Bandwidth Manager and 46020 MainStreet Network Manager with Infin-X, a switching and call routing capability developed by Wisecom. Physically, it sits on the wide area network as a front-end to PABXs, local network routers, videoconferencing systems, ISDN equipment and other feeder devices. The functions of the Infin-X application on the 3600 include interpreting call information from intelligent customer premises equipment, such as digital PABXs; making routing decisions; and controlling bandwidth allocation over the wide-area network. Infin-X is designed to look at each call and to determine the best route according to the preferred routing tables, as pre-defined by the 46020. The system can use leased, switched and packet services, which may be supplied by different carriers and charged at a variety of tariff rates. GPT will market the offering under the Wisecom brand; existing users of MainStreet systems will be able to upgrade them to Least-Cost Networking with the addition of Infin-X software. No pricing or availability details yet.