MCI's Vault Technology

MCI’s new Vault switching architecture is the first broad commercial capability to bridge and integrate the Internet and conventional switched global networks into one seamless, high-value communications system.

Figure 1 The MCI Vault Environment

As the diagram above shows, Vault Technology links MCI's intelligent switched voice and Internet networks. Vault Technology links every device shown in the diagram regardless of which network they connect to. Previous to Vault Technology, devices such as computers, phones, and fax machines connected to either the voice or Internet networks could not communicate with each other across these networks. Vault Technology connects the networks seamlessly allowing communications to flow between networks at the user’s convenience.

Two key Vault technologies make this possible:

1. The infrastructure that supports each network will combine into a single entity. This common key, network intelligence, will support billing, routing, and reporting functions as well as other command and control capabilities for individual users and enterprises.
2. Gateways provide protocol conversion between Internet and switched signals bridging analog and digital peripherals with exterior networks.

The Minimum Ante

Two minimum requirements are necessary to offer Vault Technology or V-Class products and services.

• A fast, congestion-free, carrier-class Internet network. MCI has and continues significant investment in the world’s largest and fastest internet network.

• A fully developed switched voice network with a high level of infrastructure intelligence. MCI claims to have built the company on this capability.

Vault Technology Benefits

Vault will enhance current products and services and create new ones by:

• Enabling multiple, concurrent voice and data applications over a single connection

• Supporting collaborative multimedia applications including fax, paging, email, video, voice mail and document sharing.

V-Class Products

As an overview, these products fall into two large categories: 1) Communications Management and 2) Collaborative Multimedia Applications.

1) Communications Management

V-Class Communications Management products and services leverage both the Internet and PSTN to control the telephone environment.

Today, MCI offers directlineMCI, an integrated portfolio of personal communications products. This suite includes 'follow-me' one number routing, fax and voice mail, and paging. All of these can be controlled today using the visually oriented World Wide Web based on Vault technology.

Vault technology will bring full internet access to all features and functions later this year. The Enhanced IP Desktop including Audio Streaming of Voice Mail, fax downloading and manipulation, all tightly coupled with e-mail through World Wide Web online and efficient off-line applications will hallmark Vault technology. The payoff for users is ultimate flexibility in managing personal communications from their choice of any phone or internet terminal world-wide.

MCI has found that many of its customers rely on online tools to manage their telecommunications applications. Vault technology brings these tools to the Internet, eliminating the need for special software or access methods or repeated customer service calls. Reviewing invoices online, toll-free routing updates, or employee calling card management will all be accomplished from real-time Internet based applications.

2) Collaborative Multimedia Applications.

The Call Center Internet Connection allows a caller who is viewing a company's website to link directly to a call center agent – and to do it all over one Internet connection. Once in conversation, the customer service agent can send pictures, even video, to the customer. The agent can answer questions and provide additional information to close the sale.

For the host and call center operator, Vault technology enables a call to be routed to the call center agent using their legacy PSTN based equipment, thus, no heavy investment in new systems to meet this demand are required. Using Vault technology, the call is tagged and routed from the Internet and integrated into the same lines as other 800 traffic. This not only optimizes the call routing but also the inbound telecommunications lines coming into the center.

Another Vault based technology in use today allows audio conferencing reservations to be made from any Internet terminal. Previously, conferencing arrangements could only be made through an operator. And that, of course, meant extra time spent on the phone. Now, users can set up calls quickly and easily anytime they want.

Current Marketplace

While some of these capabilities exist independently today, only Vault Technology offers seamless integration of the capabilities of two global networks, PSTN & Internet, from one connection. And, only Vault technology offers users the command and control of intelligent switching and functionality of PC-based computing. One-off product technologies such as voice, fax, and network bridging are scattered among different providers, but do not come close to offering carrier-grade quality or commercial carrier volume.

In addition, superior Internet and voice network infrastructure is required to offer these services to broad markets reliably. MCI is one of the few companies that possesses these minimum requirements, thanks to significant investments..

As for product specifics, MCI V-Class product ideas, launch timing, and pricing will in large part, be determined by:

• the outcome of current FCC regulatory decisions,

• Internet capacity constraints,

• opportunities to jointly develop and launch Vault products with joint venture partners like BT

• consultations with customers.

However, MCI is confident that there will be a great demand for this technology and is already beginning to generate interest in Vault Technology through advertising.