Voice services concepts for intelligent networks

The author describes the types of functionalities anticipated for intelligent networks (IN), including the call states involved, the extending and customizing of existing services, user vs. subscriber interface issues, and services interactions. It is suggested that initial services offered using IN will probably be very simple and have few interactions either within IN or with switch-based services. However, as skill in using the IN functionalities grows, so will the number, complexity, and interactions of IN services. Services interactions and user vs. subscriber issues will also be more elegantly handled as experience teaches how and when to use points in call and the assist functionality. Perhaps most encouraging of all is that this learning process is also applicable in defining the types of control structures needed for the other networks and services evolving into the future, such as data, broadband, multimedia, etc