Advanced intelligent network services evolution

The authors outline a potential AIN (advanced intelligent network) evolution in three broad phases. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of network capabilities, the progression of service opportunities, and the evolution issues. The initial phase has already been discussed at an industry level and is currently being deployed as IN Release 0 by Ameritech. The second phase is a preliminary view of what may be an appropriate next step based on the current assessment of customers´ needs. The customer perspective on what capabilities are most useful, what capabilities are urgently needed in the next phase, and where in the network these capabilities should be located may be modified as services are deployed. Therefore, the precise definition of this IN proposal remains open. In addition, an effort is made here to examine the capabilities and technologies beyond those included in these two platforms that could be included in future phases of AIN. These include, but are not limited to, multiway capabilities, data capabilities, and dynamic service interaction schemes