In this session, Dr. Amir Atai, lead scientist for Lucent's Converged Core Solutions, will chair a panel discussion focusing on the challenges facing service provider firms that are deploying new IMS architectures. Among the challenges to be discussed are the following:

• How to decide whether a best-of-breed approach to purchasing IMS components is preferable to a total solution
• What the best incremental steps to be taken in deploying IMS are
• How service providers can ensure both integration and interoperability when taking a multivendor approach to IMS

Amir Atai Lead Scientist, Convergence Business Group, Multicore Division Alcatel-Lucent

Dr. Atai spearheads development of new products in the area of wireline and wireless convergence technologies, IMS core elements, session management, softswitches, and security. Prior to the merger, Dr. Atai held a similar role at Lucent Technologies as lead scientist for the Converged Core Solutions Group. Dr. Atai was also lead scientist performing research and product development related to next-generation softswitches and the convergence of broadband and the PSTN at Telica prior to the company being acquired by Lucent Technologies.

Siroos Afshar Chief Architect AT&T

Mr. Afshar leads a team of strategists and architects to design a common global IMS-based network capable of supporting present and future multimedia services all over IP. He has worked for AT&T for more than 20 years, during which he has contributed to the design, development, and delivery of numerous multimillion-dollar projects in such areas as computer networking; artificial intelligence; database and transaction systems; operations support systems for fiber-optic networks; TMN-based network management systems; and advanced telecommunications services for voice and data networks such as toll-free services, call center applications, and computer-telephony integration.

Naseem Khan Chief Architect Verizon

Mr. Khan is responsible for the IMS and softswitch architecture. His current work includes network convergence strategy and architecture development, VoIP network design and evolution, and softswitch integration with FTTP. He has more than 20 years of experience in the Telecom R & D in the areas that include broadband technology, voice, data, and video networks, network performance and simulation, reliability analysis, and network management. Previously, he worked for companies including AT&T/Lucent Bell Labs, Motorola, and Keane, Inc.

Tom Valovic Program Director, VoIP Infrastructure IDC

Mr. Valovic manages the worldwide VoIP Infrastructure program and is responsible for planning, developing, and publishing IDC's primary research in this area. He also is responsible for IDC's research in emerging IMS core technologies. Over the course of his career, he has written hundreds of articles on telecommunications, data communications, and the Internet for publications such as the Boston Globe, The San Francisco Examiner, Computerworld, Information Week, and Internet Week. He has been quoted extensively in the general business press, including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, the Chicago Tribune, and The Philadelphia Inquirer and has appeared on CNN and Business Now.

Malcom Wardlaw Director of Converged Services BT Group