Marconi's SoftSwitch is a carrier-class switching solution which allows voice and data services to be carried as IP packets, rather than in the conventional digital format, across a single integrated network. SoftSwitch is designed to support multimedia applications, while providing the existing functionality of local (Class 5) and trunk/tandem (Class 4) telephone switches with a comprehensive set of telephony features such as Call Forwarding and Call Barring. SoftSwitch can interface to core data networks, access networks, and public telephone networks providing flexibility in deployment as existing networks migrate to an integrated packet network.