Rather than use its own Sparc-based machines, Fujitsu Ltd has agreed to use Hewlett-Packard Co Unix machines in an Intelligent Network system it plans to offer to telephone operators around the world. Fujitsu and Hewlett-Packard have signed a long-term co-operative agreement under which they will combine technology from Fujitsu’s Fetex-150 main telephone exchanges and Hewlett’s Unix-based Intelligent Network systems and software. The value and terms of the nonexclusive agreement were not disclosed. The Intelligent Networks architecture to be developed by the two is intended to enable operators to upgrade present networks, and to offer competitive and advanced telecommunications services. Fujitsu is to provide the service-switching point, based on its Fetex-150 exchange, and the service-management system running on Hewlett-Packard computers. Hewlett will contribute the service-control point and the service-creation environment on its high-availability computers – not clear whether that means the fault-tolerant HP 9000 Series 1200 machines it buys OEM from Sequoia Systems Inc. It already has Common Channel Signalling System No 7 service control point software. The service control point will be connected to the network via the Fetex-150. The two will concurrently develop elements for the service management system using Hewlett-Packard’s service-creation environment, to be supplied ready-made by Fujitsu or developed directly by the operators themselves. The research and development work will be done at the partners’ respective facilities in Kawasaki, Japan, and in Grenoble, France. The first offerings are set for delivery at the end of 1994. Targets include multimedia over different networks, including broadband Integrated Services Digital Networks and Personal Communications Networks. Fujitsu says it now has 18m lines of Fetex-150 installed and that the base is growing at 29% a year, with the Asia-Pacific region by far the company’s strongest base.
