Nortel has signed up several new regional carriers across the U.S. bringing the total number of Communication Server 1500 customers to more than 135 globally. Hancock Telephone, ArkWest Communications, Venture Communications Cooperative and Dakota Central Telecommunications are the latest regional carriers to select Nortel's CS 1500 solution. This IP multimedia softswitch gives regional subscribers and small and medium sized businesses a low-cost but highly-reliable solution for providing traditional voice services, as well as multimedia applications like IPTV, fiber to the premises, and end-user Web portal access.

"It is clear that the value of our carrier VoIP and multimedia solutions are resonating with customers," said Samih Elhage, president, Carrier VoIP and Applications, Nortel. "The CS 1500 is high performance VoIP in a small package, bringing the latest voice and multimedia applications to regional carriers at a price they can afford. With our recently announced release of the CS 1500, we've added new revenue generating applications like unified messaging, single number service, subscriber web portal and on-demand conferencing. These new applications help increase customer satisfaction and retention while providing regional operators with a VoIP platform that allows them to reap the maintenance and cost benefits of a converged network."

The CS 1500 allows a phased migration path to VoIP allowing many carriers to reuse existing equipment, which can help reduce capital investment by up to 50 percent. The CS 1500 is also an environmentally friendly solution that can help save service providers money on annual electric utilities.

Due to its small size and simple design, the Nortel CS 1500 helps decrease service provider's costs associated with installation and engineering as well. The CS 1500 is a complete solution that is housed in a single 19" equipment rack. In its smallest configuration, it will occupy approximately two feet of rack space. A single equipment rack will accommodate a fully configured CS 1500 which can serve over 48,000 lines.

Nortel will be showcasing its solutions for regional service providers at the Rural Cellular Association's 17th Annual Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas. Visit Nortel at booth number 626 from April 28 to May 1.