* It's making internal product developments, such as the Converged Backbone Transformation Solution, which is designed to unite optical transport and IP routing to enable carriers to run more efficient networks.
* It's pulling off strategic acquisitions, such as the recent buyout of content delivery network products company Velocix;
* And it is commercializing Bell Labs inventions and investing in startups outside of Alcatel-Lucent's walls, through Alcatel-Ventures, the New Jersey-based outfit that Sweldens built from scratch a few years back. Products emerging from the group include the Wireless Network Guardian for carriers and the Nonstop Laptop Guardian designed to help companies keep track of and manage portable computers.
Sweldens says Alcatel-Lucent Ventures' mission is to commercialize and invest in developments that fit with Alcatel-Lucent's overall strengths and that can benefit from the technical, marketing and sales resources of a company with a $10 billion-plus market cap. So far, the group has commercialized eight ventures. As for outside investment, details are scant, but Sweldens says the group generally targets later stage investments and a typical funding might run between $1 million and $10 million.
"We want to make an investment from us worth more than a dollar from other investors," he says.
