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another, but the programming of a switch in one location
generally cannot be used on a switch of the same type in another
location.
Digital Switch Acquisitions (1982-85)--Generally
The particular design of the digital switches acquired by
Sprint during the years in issue varied from manufacturer to
manufacturer and from model to model. However, the facts
relating to the DMS-100, manufactured by NTI, including its
acquisition and software, are representative of the purchases in
issue.
Although there were many design configurations and
software/firmware combinations, none of that concerned
petitioner, which was interested in a turnkey switch; that is,
Sprint desired that the vendor would engineer, furnish, install,
and prepare a complete switch for service. Sprint's primary
purpose in the procurement process was to determine which
manufacturer could satisfy petitioner's requirements for the
lowest price. Based on those criteria, Sprint selected a
manufacturer and negotiated a final price.
Once an agreement was reached, a software load for the
switch was developed by the manufacturer, NTI in this instance.
First, NTI technicians reviewed Sprint's order to ascertain the
number of lines and trunks and the types of desired features and
prepared a written plan or blueprint to be used in compiling the
software load. The software load was then made by downloading a
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