Lucent Technologies: The External Environment

Lucent TECHNOLOGIES: The external environment

Lucent Technologies was born as a spin-off of the research and development arm of the communications and technology giant at&T. It has become a major player since, in the communications industry, becoming a benchmark of innovation and quality during the it boom, but has since fallen into disfavor with some industry analysts, because it has had to lay off so many of its employees, so quickly, after the telecommunications 'best. As a mobility, optical, data and voice networking company. "From 1996 to 2001, the [Lucent] company completed 38 acquisitions totaling more than $46 billion, including a $24 billion purchase of Ascend Communications, which made Lucent the leading provider of data networking equipment for service providers." But where is Lucent today, after such great highs and lows in its short company history? (Official Website 2004)

The general economic outlook of the global communications environment Lucent operates in has undergone a tenuous recovery since the recession of the past years. Lucent, internationally has had some major coups, such as its Vital Suite Software being chosen by Japan Telecom. (Business wire, 2004) Most of the major research of investment firms such as JP Morgan has upgraded Lucent's rating against other major communications industry competitors in the field of research and development, such as Tekelec, Inc.