Implementation of the BellSouth advanced intelligent network

The advanced intelligent network (AIN) promises to deliver rapid response to customer needs and vendor independence for the services that generate revenue for BellSouth. The BellSouth AIN architecture have service control points (SCP) connected to service switching points (SSP) through a signalling system 7 (SS7) network and service nodes (SN) connected to SSPs using ISDN. A service management system (SMS) is connected to the SCP and SN to provide the service provisioning and software update functions. The experience to date indicates that AIN will in fact provide BellSouth with an important business opportunity and with improved customer response and vendor independence. A sound business case exists for the AIN which supports the development of the technology, the deployment of the infrastructure, the deployment of the services, and the ongoing activities necessary to continue the AIN. BellSouth´s experience in the implementation of AIN indicates that multiple levels of customer response and vendor independence will exist. It is important to understand these levels in order to get a realistic appraisal of the value to customer and service providers of AIN