L M Ericsson Telefon AB has launched its adapted MD 110 voice and data private branch exchange for the emerging integrated services digital networks. Ericsson has spent UKP35m in research and development on the upgrade and it justifies this amount by pointing to the 3.25m lines it reckons that its MD 110s already connect worldwide. The MD 110 ISPBX is primarily aimed at this existing Ericsson user base, with the company stressing that the product represents a smooth upgrade path. ISPBX converts the Digital Private Networking Signalling System (DPNSS) protocol to ISDN ones – a common, international ISDN standard has yet to be agreed. In the UK, the MD 110 ISPBX conforms to British Telecom’s ISDN 30, commonly known as DASS 2. Telecom’s version of ISDN allows for 30 digital channels with the ISDN services to be connected to a site. And of course this service is still only available in around 30% of the country. Ericsson says it is watching the standards scene closely, especially as the Q931 signalling scheme around which most of its non-UK ISPBX systems are to be built are not currently valid in the UK. British Telecom’s version of ISDN does not conform to it. Other features of the MD 110 ISPBX include extended system capacity from 13,500 to 15,000 lines, in modules of 300 lines. Towards the end of the year it expects to announce the MD 110 ISPBX integrated with databases, for applications such as telemarketing. Ericsson insists that it is impossible to give any average pricing, but the ISPBX will definitely be cheaper for customers wishing to upgrade.
