Active Voice Demonstrates Unity(TM) 2.3 at COMDEX
PR Newswire - November 11, 1999 10:15
The True Unified Messaging Solution Supports Microsoft Windows 2000
SEATTLE, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Active Voice Corporation, a world leader in unified messaging and computer telephony software solutions, today announced the availability of Unity 2.3, the latest version of its award-winning, Microsoft(R) Exchange(R)-based unified messaging solution. Unity 2.3, which will be demonstrated at COMDEX in Las Vegas, on November 15-20, now supports Microsoft's Windows 2000(R) and features localizations in Australian English, Dutch, French, German, and United Kingdom English.
"Unity is a true unified messaging solution that lets you choose how, when, and from where you manage your messages, putting you in control of your communications," stated Frank J. Costa, Active Voice's president and chief executive officer. "This new release allows us to deliver the benefits of true unified messaging to enterprises that have embraced both Windows 2000 and international markets."
"When considering a messaging solution, it is important to distinguish between 'integrated' and 'unified,'" added Costa. "True unified messaging -- which features one message store, one directory, and one point of administration -- is the best solution to reduce disparate systems, eliminate duplicate tasks, simplify administration and training, and provide superior up-time. A truly unified system, such as Unity, is the only messaging solution that actually lowers an organization's total cost of ownership."
"By basing Unity 2.3 on Microsoft platforms such as Windows 2000 Server, and by using Microsoft Exchange Server for unified messaging, Active Voice is poised to deliver a strong next-generation communications solution for business customers around the world," said Peyton Smith, director of OEM, Network Solutions Group, Microsoft. "Unified messaging is a powerful tool for improving efficiency and communications in businesses of all sizes and we're excited about the role that Microsoft Exchange Server, the world's leading business messaging platform, is playing to enable these capabilities in Unity 2.3."
True Unified Messaging Gives Control to Users
Unity, which was recently named "Best of Show" at the Microsoft Exchange Conference in Atlanta, gives users the ability to manage their e-mail, voice mail, and fax messages from a desktop PC, through a touchtone telephone, or over the Internet. With increased access and control over all their messages, business professionals are able to provide exceptional customer service and quickly share information across the company. Unity allows users to work with a message inbox that they are already familiar with -- Microsoft Outlook -- so it is easy and cost-effective to learn and use. And because Unity is truly unified, all addresses are stored in a single address book, making it easy and efficient to send messages.
Unity and Exchange Lower Total Cost of Ownership
Unity, which delivers true unified messaging through a dedicated Microsoft Exchange server, is perfect for companies that are looking for a system that will fit snugly into their Exchange environment and lower their total cost of ownership. Unity leverages what system administrators already know about their networks and drastically reduces the amount of time spent entering and changing user information. When compared to the duplicate administrative tasks required by integrated messaging systems, Unity's true unified architecture eliminates an estimated $50 to $70 per task. Unity accomplishes this by unifying critical communications features in one message store and linking them to the telephone system, the Internet, and corporate databases.
Unity is Convergence-Ready Today
Unity is designed for customers who are faced with the challenge of converging their voice and data networks. Unlike other unified messaging solutions available today, Unity works equally well with both traditional and Internet Protocol (IP) telephone systems, providing organizations with significant investment protection as they migrate to IP telephony. Additionally, Unity works with both types of telephone systems simultaneously, ensuring a smooth transition.
Unity, for example, already supports Cisco Communication Network's (CCN) CallManager(TM). This eliminates the specialty circuit voice hardware and dedicated IP-PSTN gateway ports used to connect conventional voice messaging systems to CCN. Estimated customer savings are $700-$1,000 per port depending on system configuration.
"We've enjoyed doing something that mature companies rarely get to do -- re-inventing our core product from scratch," said Kevin Chestnut, Active Voice vice president and chief technology officer. "Unity is the latest example of our commitment to build powerful communications solutions that will pay our customers back for their investment, while helping them become more competitive and responsive in today's marketplace."
Unified Messaging Market Poised for Explosive Growth
The unified messaging market is growing dramatically, and industry analysts predict 90,000,000 unified messaging users by 2003. The Pelorus Group anticipates unified messaging revenues to rise to $2.3 billion in 2002 -- up from $26.8 million worldwide in 1997. Meanwhile, IDC projects an increase in unified messaging revenues to $3 billion by 2003, and Frost and Sullivan project the market to boom from $549 million this year to $5 billion by 2005.
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