Integrating telecommunications and information technology to pave the road for the next millenium´s electronic market place

Abstract only given. The targeted electronic market of the future will be an open versatile place, which will allow for an exchange of any kind of services including traditional telecommunications services, multimedia multi-party services, information services and electronic commerce. Accomplish that kind of conditions, an open software architecture for distributed telecommunications applications based on adaptation of object orientation and distributed processing techniques will be required. Such technology independent software architecture will act as an enabler for an integrated utilization of different networks accomplishing quasi network integration. The Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture Consortium TINA-C has as its mission to define and validate a globally consistent and open architecture for distributed software applications. The layered architecture hides the complexity of the market for different business domains and business roles. A detailed insight into the TINA business model enhanced with specifications of reference points is given and explained. The Scope and direction of the TINA Consortium in its new phase, started in early 1998 is outlined, showing its intent to carry the specification work towards business reality. TINA applications, including Internet integration, next generation mobility, multimedia service management, migration and interworking between TINA and intelligent networks and distributed processing environment (DPE) suitable for real-time telecommunication are focal points outlined. Success stories are highlighted with reference to the newest implementations in ongoing global TINA trails