Today, the highly anticipated TelecomNEXT exhibit floor, showcasing the latest technologies for the converged communications and entertainment marketplace, opened for business. The expanded exhibit floor features cutting-edge demos and provocative discussions and displays the latest technologies and solutions for next-generation networks - including IP video, WiMAX, IMS, VoIP, wireless and more.

With the largest ever displays of IPTV and IMS products, the TelecomNEXT exhibit floor offers attendees the opportunity to see the most innovative technologies and end-to-end communications solutions. TelecomNEXT, the only place where the business and technology of communications and entertainment meet, replaces SUPERCOMM as USTelecom's annual industry show and runs March 19-23, 2006.

"The TelecomNEXT exhibit floor is the place for the industry's top decision makers to see the end-to-end solutions that will help them deploy the next-generation networks," said USTelecom CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr. "Only here can you see cutting-edge technologies and forward-looking business solutions from every segment of the communications and entertainment industries."

The TelecomNEXT exhibit floor is open Tuesday, March 21 from 9:30 am - 6:00 pm and Wednesday, March 22 from 9:30 am - 4:00 pm. An additional hall was recently added to accommodate the widely respected AT&T Network Disaster Recovery exercise - one of the must-see demonstrations on the exhibit floor. Specially equipped tractor-trailers show the company's ability to quickly restore services to its business and government customers if a disaster damages parts of the network.

The TelecomNEXT exhibit floor also hosted two informative technology "shoot outs." Leading technology companies presented their products in a side-by-side comparison on the exhibit floor during IDC's IMS technology shoot out and Technology Assurance Labs soft-switch shoot out. The shoot outs help service providers select the best solutions for their networks.

For both days, the TelecomNEXT exhibit floor hosts presentations including the ATIS Demo Theater, the MetroEthernet Forum Theater, and the TeleManagement Forum Pavilion Theater, which will present keynotes and expert panels on key technologies.

• ATIS Demo Theater hosts sessions on next-generation networks, IMS, standardization activity, fiber to the premises, and IPv6.
• MetroEthernet Forum Theater offers attendees an inside look at the latest in Carrier-class Ethernet networks and services
• TeleManagement Forum Pavilion Theater provides a one-stop shop to hear industry leaders discuss the latest trends in using rapid service delivery, customer-centric CRM, and efficient operations as competitive differentiators in the market.

On Tuesday, DiversityNEXT, a key industry gathering for the procurement community bringing together suppliers and senior-level executives from across the international communications industry, tours the TelecomNEXT exhibit floor to see and recognize those exhibitors who are leading the way in the area of supplier diversity.

In addition to cutting-edge exhibits, TelecomNEXT features a stellar group of keynotes and conference programming sessions that focus on the continuing evolution of the communications and entertainment marketplaces and provide critical insight to help companies make the right purchasing decisions and technology investments.

TelecomNEXT continues at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, through March 23, 2006. For more information on TelecomNEXT, go to www.telecom-next.com.