News today...and VERY high volume, even on a down day...anyone know why?
KLP
siliconinvestor.com
8x8 Joins Sun Microsystems' SunTone Program
IntraSwitch iPBX to be Certified for Quality of Service
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2000--8x8, Inc., a leading manufacturer of digital telecommunication products, has announced that it has become a member of Sun Microsystems' (Nasdaq: SUNW) SunTone(SM) Certification and Branding Program. As an applications member, 8x8 has committed to achieve SunTone Application Certification for its IntraSwitch(TM) iPBX Server Software.
A primary goal of the SunTone Program is to establish service-level guarantees for network-based services such as e-mail, e-commerce, enterprise applications and IP telephony. The SunTone Program defines standards for guaranteed levels of performance, security, availability and uptime.
To help service providers choose software that meets SunTone requirements, Sun has expanded the SunTone program to include application software. The SunTone Architectural Council is defining a specification that details application integration and transaction capabilities, scalability, security features, and the availability level required for applications to be branded with a logo that indicates that it complies with the SunTone specifications.
"IP telephony services are an important part of Sun's vision for the future of the Internet," said Tim Dwyer, vice president of marketing and sales development for Sun's Network Service Provider Division. "I am happy to see that 8x8 has the same ambitions for QoS as we do - high-availability, high quality, easy scalability, customer control and excellent security. The SunTone Program will help them more easily achieve these goals."
8x8's IntraSwitch iPBX software provides the switching intelligence for a hosted iPBX system: it sets up and routes calls, interfaces with voice mail systems and interactive voice response (IVR) systems, and provides a link to enterprise computing systems to allow computer/telephony integration (CTI).
The IntraSwitch iPBX is the first software PBX to implement Sun Microsystems' Java Telephony Applications Programming Interface (JTAPI), a CTI interface that allows computers to efficiently control telephone switches.
iPBX hosting is a new concept pioneered by 8x8 wherein telephone service providers such as competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and Internet service providers (ISPs) can provide small- and medium-sized businesses with PBX functionality over IP networks. This arrangement eliminates the need for a business to manage a complex private telephone system while providing the flexibility and customization capability that businesses need to be competitive. iPBX- hosting is similar in concept to application hosting services that allow businesses to outsource email operations, Web site hosting and e-commerce implementations as services.
"The standards that Sun is advocating for service reliability and scalability are exactly what we believe are required to guarantee customer acceptance of Internet services," said Dominique Pitteloud, 8x8's vice president of marketing. "Once customers understand the quality of service guarantee implicit in the SunTone logo, we believe that they will begin to prefer SunTone branded services and sites over other alternatives. We hope to have our IntraSwitch iPBX SunTone certified because it will be an advantage to the service providers that use our products to offer iPBX hosting services."
About 8x8
8x8, Inc (Nasdaq: EGHT) is a leading manufacturer of digital telecommunication products, including both central office and customer premise equipment for IP telephony. By leveraging its vertically integrated technology, the Company provides complete IP telephony solutions to service providers such as ISPs, ILECs and CLECs. For more information, visit 8x8's web site at 8x8.com.
The 8x8 logo is a registered trademark and IntraSwitch is a trademark of 8x8, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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Contact:
8x8, Inc.
Scott St. Clair, 408/727-1885
scottsc@8x8.com
or
Burson Marsteller for Sun
Sue Wun, 415/591-4105
sue_wun@sfo.bm.com
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