Europe : Lucent Technologies (has been selected by E-Plus, Germany's third biggest mobile phone operator, to provide a new version of its network management software, delivering advanced network security and billing operations for E-Plus's Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service as well as its UMTS and GPRS network. Terms and conditions of the deal are not being disclosed.

Lucent's NavisRadius™ Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) Server, in use with E-Plus since 1999, is enabling E-Plus to authenticate network users and receive billing data from calls. Now, Lucent will deploy the latest version of its NavisRadius™ AAA Server in E-Plus's networks, offering faster and more secure AAA services. Under the terms of the contract, Lucent Worldwide Services will also provide Remote Technical Support.

"WLAN services are extending our portfolio of mobile broadband services for business customers. Roaming contracts with national and international WLAN partners will enable our customers to use more than 1000 hotspots in the future", said Thorsten Dirks, Chief Officer Innovation, IT and Operations of E-Plus. "The ability of Lucent's software to support advanced security and authentication for our current WLAN offer as well as for GSM, GPRS and UMTS data services was critical for us for investing into the software upgrade."

Lucent's NavisRadius™ AAA Server offers multi-vendor, multi-technology capabilities and advanced features such as an expanded graphic interface for server management and operational control, as well as future development features like SIM-based authentication that will enable seamless roaming between WLAN and UMTS. The latest release of NavisRadius™ AAA Server supports multiple logging channels and customisable log rules, with custom alarm conditions that provide operators with the monitoring capability necessary to ensure high Quality of Service in WLAN and 3G networks.

"Being able to safely and securely deploy new services to customers is critical, and we are delighted to be helping E-Plus roll-out its WLAN service," said Ken Packert, vice president and general manager, Network Operations Software, Lucent Technologies. "Lucent is dedicated to understanding and exceeding the needs of our customers and delivering the software and expertise they need for a successful service."

The NavisRadius™ AAA software is a robust system, addressing authentication needs on a single, high performance platform -- helping to reduce equipment costs, training expenses and time needed to deploy new applications and services.

NavisRadius™ AAA Server is part of the Lucent OSS software portfolio of open, standards-based network, service and IT management systems deployed for multi-vendor and converged wireline, mobile and enterprise networks. For more information on Lucent OSS software, visit: http://www.lucent.com/oss.