[ncdnhc-discuss] ITU press release on ENUM

[James Love]

Internet Telephone Numbering System (ENUM) offers
promise of a single point of contact for all
communication devices

http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2002/NP05.html

Countries wishing to implement ENUM system can now do
so.

Geneva, 31 May 2002 - The International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Internet
Architecture Board (IAB) announce approval of interim
procedures for ENUM, the technology that builds a
bridge between the public switched telephone network
and the Internet.

Under the proposed ENUM protocol, and subject to
national authorities and end-user approval, it will be
possible for consumers to use a single number to
access many types of terminals and services, such as:
phone, fax, e- mail, pager, mobile telephones,
websites or any other services available through an
internet addressing scheme. "This is an important step
in convergence of ICT's for the consumer whether at
home, work or while roaming," says Roy Blane, Chairman
of the study group responsible within the
Telecommunication Standardization Sector of ITU. "In
the long term this protocol will allow many new
services to be provided. In the short-term, countries
wishing to implement trial systems can begin to work
on developing it."

Two key applications that ENUM will make possible for
the first time is the ability to call a PC from the
public- switched telecommunication network (PSTN) and
to easily determine what type of terminal is
associated with the number. Some analysts predict that
this will permit the introduction of new innovative
applications where a call to a telephone number can
invoke Internet type services. For example, calling an
ENUM-enabled telephone number from a 3rd generation
multimedia handset could allow access to a
location-based mobile web service, thus avoiding
entering Internet-type addresses on numeric keypads.

In keeping with the need to allow for voluntary
implementation of the scheme and recognizing that ENUM
services are primarily national issues, rapid progress
at the international level is necessary to create a
stable environment in which investment can be made in
the worldwide deployment of ENUM.

This interim approval is made possible due to
cooperation between ITU, IAB and the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF). According to Patrik
Faltstrom, IETF Area Director of Applications, "The
fact that we've managed to agree on our respective
roles in regard to this standard pays tribute to the
strength of these organizations and the synergies that
can be gained through cooperation."

Information on how the ENUM requests will be processed
can be found here

About ITU

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a
global organization where the public and private
sectors cooperate for the development of
telecommunications and the harmonization of national
telecommunications policies. Study Group 2 of the ITU
Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T),
where work on ENUM is being carried out, is the Lead
Study Group on Service definition, Numbering, Routing
and Global Mobility and is responsible for the
operational aspects of service provision, networks and
performance. More information on the ENUM protocol,
and the issues related to it, can be found here

About the IETF

The Internet Society - a professional membership
society with more than 150 organizational and 6,000
individual members in over 100 countries - is the
sponsor of the groups responsible for Internet
infrastructure standards, including the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet
Architecture Board (IAB). The Internet Engineering
Task Force is an international community of network
designers, operators, vendors, and researchers
concerned with the evolution of the Internet
architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet.
The definition of the ENUM protocol, as proposed by
the IETF can be found here

About ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a global organization
where the public and private sectors cooperate for the development of
telecommunications and the harmonization of national telecommunications
policies. Study Group 2 of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector
(ITU-T), where work on ENUM is being carried out, is the Lead Study Group on
Service definition, Numbering, Routing and Global Mobility and is
responsible for the operational aspects of service provision, networks and
performance. More information on the ENUM protocol, and the issues related
to it, can be found here

About the IETF

The Internet Society - a professional membership society with more than 150
organizational and 6,000 individual members in over 100 countries - is the
sponsor of the groups responsible for Internet infrastructure standards,
including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet
Architecture Board (IAB). The Internet Engineering Task Force is an
international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and
researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and
the smooth operation of the Internet. The definition of the ENUM protocol,
as proposed by the IETF can be found here

For further information, contact:

      Mr Roy Blane
      Chairman, ITU-T Study Group 2
      Tel: +44 207 728 1276
      Fax: +44 207 728 1778
      Email: roy_blane at inmarsat.com

     Mr Richard Hill
      Counsellor, ITU-T Study Group 2
      International Telecommunication Union
      Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB)
      Tel: +41 22 730 5887
      Fax: +41 22 730 5853
      E-mail: richard.hill at itu.int

      Ms Leslie Daigle
      Chair, Internet Architecture Board
      Tel: +1 703 948 3385
      Email: iab-chair at ietf.org

     Mr Patrik Faltstrom
      Area Director of Applications, IETF
      Tel: +46 70 605 9051
      Email: paf at cisco.com





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James Love mailto:james.love at cptech.org
http://www.cptech.org +1.202.387.8030 mobile +1.202.361.3040