Verizon Wireless and Lucent Technologies today announced that Verizon Wireless has deployed Lucent's MiRingBack application across its network nationwide to support the company's popular Ringback Tone service which was deployed nationally in June 2005.

Verizon Wireless' Ringback Tone service enables subscribers to select from a wide variety of chart topping music - ranging from hip-hop, classic rock to country western or college fight songs - or other audio content to play to incoming callers while they are waiting on the line for their call to be answered. Ringback Tones from Verizon Wireless also include a jukebox feature that enables customers to create a playlist of songs for their Ringback Tones where a song from the playlist is randomly selected for playback with each incoming call. Customers can also designate Ringback Tones to a specific time of day, or select certain Ringback Tones for days such as birthdays and holidays.

"Lucent's expertise in creating intelligent ring tone applications enabled us to rapidly complete roll out of our Ringback Tone service, offering our customers the ability to personalize their phones and express their individuality," said Ted Casey, associate director of music for Verizon Wireless. "With the MiRingBack application, we are able to offer our customers a variety of call-control features, including the ability to select personalized time-of-day and special day music to define callers individually or callers belonging to groups. With the special day feature, customers can choose a birthday Ringback Tone to play on their birthday, or a holiday tone to play on select days during the holiday season."

Lucent's MiRingBack application allows a tune or message to be played to the calling party. Callers to the customer's phone hear the selected content - such as the latest hit song - until the call is answered. Ringback Tone subscribers can also customize their Ringback Tones with a variety of options, such as music clips, sound effects and celebrity messages. Lucent's MiRingBack application is network-based so there is nothing to download to the phone.

"MiRingBack blends new multimedia capabilities with Verizon Wireless' nationwide Ringback Tone service, bringing customers a wide variety of the most popular music currently available," said Lisa De Laurentis, vice president for Lucent Technologies. "MiRingBack's superior technology gives Verizon Wireless another way to attract subscribers and deliver a personalized entertainment experience."

The MiRingBack application runs on Lucent's Enhanced Media Resource Server (eMRS), a highly reliable, carrier-grade, media resource server platform.