January 24, 2000 Web posted at: 1:59 p.m. EST (1859 GMT) by Cathleen Moore

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(IDG) -- Networking companies from all over the world will converge on Washington next week for the ComNet 2000 show, touting wares and services for both enterprises and service providers. Many companies will be making a case for voice and data convergence, announcing services and demonstrating products that leverage the benefits converged networks.

Siemens' Information and Communication Networks Group is planning to unveil its converged voice, data, and service networks strategy for carrier and enterprise networks.

The first fruit of its strategy, Siemens' Surpass convergence solution comprises services designed to bring the functionality and features of telephone networks to converged IP networks.

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Plenty to see at ComNet 2000

Services include Click To Dial, which allows a users to initiate a telephone connection on the same line as an Internet connection. By clicking on a special button on a Web browser, a user can establish a voice over IP (VOIP) or a regular telephone call while surfing the Internet. Users can use the Click to Conference service to establish multiple calls while connected to the Internet.

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The Call Completion service allows a customer to answer an incoming voice call while connected to a data network. A window pops up in the Web browser, enabling a user to accept a VOIP call while connected to the Internet.

The Internet Subscriber Controlled Input service gives Internet subscribers the ability to enable and disable communications services and features via the Web.

Also getting into the convergence act at ComNet is Integral Access, which will introduce PurePacket, a packet-based access platform for converged voice and data networks. For carrier and service provider networks, PurePacket uses an MPLS-based architecture to route, transport, and switch voice and data traffic in packet form, which makes more efficient use of bandwidth.

The platform sits at the access portion of the network, between the enterprise and the central office, and supports IP services such as VOIP, voice over DSL, as well as legacy applications and circuit switched voice.

Available next week, an entry-level configuration of PurePacket Node for central office, co-locations, and points of presence starts at $15,000.

Cisco Systems will be on hand demonstrating its MGX 8260, a high-density media gateway for service providers that intelligently switches Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and voice over IP traffic across packet networks. The product, which was announced in late November, can redirect data traffic to more efficient packet networks while freeing up costly TDM resources for voice calls, according to Cisco. In addition, it helps service providers deliver value-added IP services.

3Com, meanwhile, is expected to announce the next steps in its eNetworks strategy, which was unveiled in November. 3Com's eNetworks plan develops products and technologies for converged networks that support electronic-business infrastructures, including intranet, extranet, and e-commerce applications. On the carrier side, 3Com plans to deliver platforms for IP-based enhanced services, such as unified messaging.

Paris-based Alcatel at ComNet will be making a major push into the U.S. enterprise market. Alcatel will introduce its Omni PCX4400 IP telephony system, an IP-based enterprise voice communications system for 50 to 50,000 users. The product networks a company's voice and data systems, allowing the voice system access to the same power available to the data system, according to Alcatel. The Omni PCX4400 is currently in beta testing, with general availability in the summer. Pricing information will be released then.

ComNet will also be the birthplace for a new company, Spirent Communications, which will be formed from five companies pooling their technology and products. The companies joining are Netcom Systems, Adtech, Telecom Analysis Systems, DLS TestWorks, and Global Simulation Systems.

Spirent will develop tests that address the functionality, reliability, and performance of networks and network devices.

As part of Spirent, Netcom will take the wraps off its SmartVoIPQoS, a network test application designed to measure the quality and reliability of VOIP over policy-based networks. The SmartVoIPQoS application is capable of generating and analyzing VOIP flows and IP data flows simultaneously, in real time, according to Netcom.

The company also will be rolling out its GX-1420B, a 1000/100 Base-T Gigabit over copper wire network monitoring tool, which offers full duplex Gigabit and 100Mbps Ethernet testing capabilities over copper wire, Netcom officials said.