PARIS, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MPLS WORLD CONGRESS -- Oracle today introduced Oracle(R) Communications IP Service and Network Management, a new market offering designed to simplify the lifecycle management of complex IP-based services. This offering enables communications service providers to manage growing IP service complexity, scale operations efficiently and facilitate ongoing network change by providing one integrated solution for IP service management and network change control. Included in the offering are updated versions of two key Oracle Service Fulfillment Suite applications, Oracle Communications Configuration Management and Oracle Communications IP Service Activator.

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"Oracle's IP service and network management offering are leading-edge service configuration assurance capabilities that will help us to rapidly deploy high-demand IP services, such as level 3 virtual private networks, multicast and quality of service over our IP/MPLS network," said Torleif Nesheim, chief information officer, BaneTele.

"Increasing IP service complexity, continuous network consolidation and consumers' insatiable demand for new, innovative IP-based services are creating new business challenges and opportunities for today's communications service providers," said David Sharpley, vice president, product marketing and channels, Oracle Communications. "Oracle Communications IP Service and Network Management provides the necessary operational framework that providers need to provision next-generation services, maintain customer satisfaction and improve business performance."

Oracle Communications IP Service and Network Management includes updated versions of Oracle Communications Configuration Management and Oracle Communications IP Service Activator with Release 5.2.3. The 5.2.3 releases deliver enhanced functionality including real-time service configuration traceability, repair and assurance -- enabling providers to proactively identify, troubleshoot and resolve device configuration problems before the customer even notices a problem. This functionality will help increase operational efficiency and control and help providers solve the long-standing industry challenge of service configuration assurance by providing a real-time view of service configuration compliance through visual markers and alert mechanisms.

Further, the offering delivers out-of-the-box support for all leading IP hardware vendors, including Alcatel, Cisco and Juniper. To evolve to meet providers' new business needs, the new offering includes a cartridge software development kit that helps them extend existing service models or design new ones, while supporting new vendor equipment or functionality.

Oracle Communications IP Service and Network Management delivers the flexibility providers need to rapidly deploy next-generation IP-services -- in one carrier-grade, integrated solution composed of four standards-based components:

-- Oracle Communications Network Discovery -- Enables providers to maintain continuous synching between network and management tools, as well as discover and migrate unmanaged IP services to the common managed model -- particularly important for operators that need to efficiently assume management of networks acquired through mergers and acquisitions or as part of large contracts with enterprise customers -- Oracle Communications IP Service Activator -- Simplify the lifecycle management of complex IP-services with a policy-based, multi-vendor activation engine. For example, it helps providers efficiently manage moves, adds, changes and deletes (MACDs) -- a previously very time- consuming, error-prone and expensive process -- Oracle Communications Configuration Management -- Delivers a complete, device and service-aware configuration management view, helping providers proactively ensure network health and service configuration assurance -- Oracle Communications Order and Service Management -- Provide full order management and process control/visibility of IP networks and services with a single interface, enabling improved business efficiency through greater automation and simplifying integration with other operational and business support systems About Oracle Communications

Oracle is #1 in Communications globally with 20 of the world's top 20 telecommunications companies running Oracle applications. Oracle Communications integrates industry-specific BSS and OSS solutions with the capabilities of Oracle's industry-leading enterprise applications, business intelligence tools, and carrier-grade middleware and database technologies. Oracle Communications enables service providers to deliver next generation convergent services rapidly, increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, and reduce costs in the business and the network. For more information, visit http://www.oracle.com/industries/communications.

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