User talk:Hodet
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[edit] Hardware Information Navigational Tool (HINT)
The Hardware Information Navigational Tool, or HINT, is an information web service developed by the former AG Communications Systems (now Alcatel-Lucent) which displays hardware and software characteristics of a central office switching system. It displays the hardware equipment as it is positioned in the central office and it shows how this equipment is being used. Whatever your purpose and whatever your skill level, HINT is useful information that’s just a mouse click away. It’s quick and simple to navigate, starting with an interactive map, selecting the applicable states/provinces or country, then select the switching system, and then finally the module, circuit pack, and circuit. The statistical reports allow customers to maintain a watch on their resources. It is also useful for engineering and the daunting task of assigning all of the various telephony services. In this time where telecom customers are losing expertise to attrition and redirecting resources to other technologies, HINT has become invaluable.
All central offices telephone exchanges are unique, whereby each one is different to provide for the needs of the subscriber. Because of this, there exists a dynamic difference between one central office to another due to capacity, provided features, and hardware vintages. HINT started out as a valuable internal resource used by GTD-5 EAX Engineering Services, Remote Technical Assistance, and Sales Support. It was created with the intent to accurately view a customer’s unique hardware configuration without physically being present at the site. Deciphering the switch’s own Office Dependent Data (ODD), it provided switching system hardware images that were accurate and up-to-date. Through internal feedback and subsequent modifications, it evolved into a tool that was viable enough to be offered as a product and sought after by customers.
Due to the similarities between the GTD-5 EAX and the 5ESS product lines, numerous requests were made by HINT users to develop and expand the scope of HINT so that it includes the 5ESS switching system. After hearing the same request for several years and realizing the revenue potential of adding the 5ESS, we expanded HINT to include the 5ESS switch type, providing the same features, look, and feel that has made the GTD-5 EAX version so popular.
Presently, over 90% of the GTD-5 EAX switching systems are being supported and maintained by the customer using HINT. These are customers that have been using the tool for several years who purchase the service as a yearly subscription that opens the tool to annual scrutiny and review. The customer has and is developing home-grown tools that may perform the same function. Because of this, we are continuously upgrading and adding new features to excite interest and retain our customer base.
[edit] Any sign of external sources?
As an ex-AGCS employee, I'm inclined to be lenient, but the HINT article can't stay in this condition. As it stands, it's basically a product advertisement. Isn't there a single third-party source that can be used to make this more of an encyclopedia article?Kww (talk) 16:25, 23 January 2008 (UTC)
