IN services

• Universal Access NumberWith this service customers who dial this number are automatically routed to the nearest open office or to an office with free lines. The difference between this service and the previous one is that the customer pays for the call.
• Premium Rate Service
  The calls are charged at a rate higher than for normal calls. This service is used in connection with information services offered by service providers and could be for example, sports results, dating services, weather forecasts, horoscopes, etc.
• Credit or Account Card Service
  The user pays for the call using a normal credit card in a public telephone instead of using coins.
• Universal Personal Telecommunication (UPT)
  This service makes it possible for a subscriber to be reached on any telephone via the same number wherever he/she is located. Also, the subscriber can be charged on his/her own account from ANY phone he/she uses.
• Televoting
  This is a service where e.g. TV-viewers are asked to call in and register their opinion on an issue by calling to either one of two numbers (where one can mean 'YES' and the other one 'NO').

Architecture of IN

An IN infrastructure typically involves service logic on network platforms, an out-of-band signaling system, and IN-capable software in the network switch. With this infrastructure in place, service providers, end users and third parties can, in theory, create and modify services independently of switch vendors.

Intelligent Network : Introduction

IN has become one of the most critical technologies in the information industry because of its promise of quick service deployment, efficient network resource utilisation, vendor independence through standardisation, and the separation of intelligence and switching functionality. This essay gives a general description of IN technology and application.
An intelligent network (IN) is a service-independent telecommunications network. That is, intelligence is taken out of the switch and placed in computer nodes that are distributed throughout the network. This provides the network operator with the means to develop and control services more efficiently. New capabilities can be rapidly introduced into the network. Once introduced, services are easily customized to meet individual customer's needs. The orginal IN networks were introduced by BELLCORE organization in the US in the mid 80's. The concept was a success over there and manufacturers all over the world - especially in Europe - began to develop it. 
Intelligent Network systems enable service providers to differentiate themselves from their competitors, increase revenue, and enhance the quality and scope of services to their subscribers. Services may be customized for each user, and end users can control their service through reconfiguration via the telephone or PC workstation. Because Intelligent Network systems often comply with standard interfaces, service providers are less likely to find themselves locked into their suppliers.
The basic promise of the Intelligent Network is to separate the core intelligence and databases for controlling services from the switching elements