5/24/99 Bus. Wire 10:47:00
Business Wire
Copyright (c) 1999, Business Wire
Monday, May 24, 1999
Flexion Systems Debuts at CTI Expo
--
Communications Solutions Targeting Today's Hottest New Market
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 1999--
A Windows(R) 2000 First Look Partner Dedicated to Supporting the
Communications Needs of the Small Business With Future-Proof,
Reliable Technology Solutions
Flexion Systems, an innovative new communications solutions provider, today
announced its entry into the rapidly growing market for integrated
communications solutions for small businesses on opening day of CTI Expo, a
major communications industry event.
Flexion was founded with the mission to provide simple, easy-to-use,
comprehensive, and fully integrated solutions to manage all the communications
and messaging needs of growing businesses. Flexion delivers innovative
technology at the right price today, with a future-proof solution and seamless
migration to next generation services and applications.
The first of the Flexion product family for the small business market will be
available in August, from key resellers and channel partners.
"Telephony services are profoundly different today from as little as five
years ago. Yet the business requirement for ubiquity and true 24:7 global
accessibility to the sophistication and reliability of the telephone network
hasn't changed at all," said Andrew Bale, CEO and founder of Flexion Systems.
"In actuality, however, there's a profound change on the horizon that will
change the rules for a lot of different groups.
"Next generation solutions like ours will deliver a new revenue stream for the channel by supporting small businesses with 'right-priced' communications
solutions, create new service opportunities for a new breed of communications
carriers, and ultimately reinvent the shape of communications solutions for the
small business entrepreneur," Bale concluded.
"I know that the success of my entrepreneurial business revolves around
simplicity and integration -- I want something easy to use, priced right, and
without the need to be an IT guru or hire one. While I'm an Internet-based
business, I still ultimately rely on the telephone to keep me in touch.
Anything that allows me to use the phone more effectively makes my business
more efficient. An all-in-one product like the one Flexion is bringing to
market is exactly what I'm looking for," said Beth Olson, director of product
marketing at Della & James, a growing start-up company based in San Francisco.
The right path to communicate
The communications industry today is at a true point of flexion -- still part
traditional telephony yet increasingly moving towards the world of data
communications, packet-based and IP switched networks. Flexion's vision
recognizes that there is a right way and a wrong way to converge voice and
data.
While the potential of integrated communications solutions -- in particular
for the small business market -- to become a vital part of the business model
is enormous, there are some major obstacles before voice can benefit from the
data revolution.
Flexion believes that only by clearly recognizing the true state of telephony
and data networking architectures, infrastructures and available products can a
business make the right choice for their business communications needs today --
and be assured of investment protection for tomorrow.
Flexion's vision includes the right architecture to deliver the quality of
service, performance, ease of use and ubiquity of traditional telephony
solutions at a price almost half that of a traditional PBX solution -- the
communications vehicle of choice in most businesses large and small.
The Flexion solution leverages the power of server-based applications and
best of breed business tools to enable businesses to empower the telephone and
allow resellers to begin to create new revenue streams.
Big market for the right product
According to Joseph Villarosa, the director of the Yankee Group's Small &
Medium Business Communications program, this market segment spends up to $445
Billion annually on IT products and services, and accounts for 98 percent of
all US businesses, as well as representing about 50 percent of the Gross
National Product.
Clearly, there is a tremendous opportunity for a new class of solutions and
services providers who have the right products, at the right price, with the
right channels and support.
Based on market research, focus groups and field trials, Flexion recognized
that small businesses typically don't have the IT expertise or support required
to use the majority of products available today.
The Flexion product offers a solution that manages itself, or is designed for
a communications service provider or channel partner to manage proactively --
allowing them to monitor the customer's voice and data network, in addition to
the product itself.
Flexion's communications solution for small businesses combines proven
telephony and Internet/data networking technology with today's existing
communications infrastructure and the assurance of a cost-effective and
seamless migration path to the future.
To compete successfully in today's fast paced market, small businesses need
the power and performance of technology solutions that run the Fortune 500,
without the price tag, or large IT staff to set up and maintain.
The Flexion solution provides everything a company needs to compete on equal
terms with the 'big boys' in the market: PBX, voice mail and integrated
messaging, Internet access, e-commerce and more.
Equally important, Flexion lowers the barriers to entry with a product priced
at a level significantly less than half the price of a traditional PBX, yet
with the key computer architecture and applications that run the business.
At the same time, Flexion empowers a new channel of solutions providers with
a product designed to broaden the suite of service offerings to their
customers, grow with the market, and provide ongoing account control through
proactive service, support and sales solutions.
Flexion is working with strategic partners to make its vision a reality in
the emerging "professional small business" market. Because Flexion was chosen
by Microsoft for the Windows 2000 First Looks program, users and partners can
be sure of getting the industry's choice for business applications and
performance, as well as an interface they already know how to use.
About Flexion Systems
Flexion Systems, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded in 1998 by its
CEO, Andrew Bale, Chairman Alan Lamb, and VP Sales, Gary Marsden. Board members
include Roger Maggs, Senior Partner, Celtic House Investments, Dr. Sydney
O'Hara, former board member British Telecomm and Cable and Wireless, and Chris
Albinson, senior management at Newbridge Networks.
Investors include Newbridge Networks, Celtic House, and Skypoint Ventures.
Strategic relationships include Microsoft Corporation and Newbridge Networks
with others soon to be announced.
The Flexion vision is to deliver benefits and not just technology, enabling
businesses to communicate more effectively and to compete in an increasingly
competitive, technology-intensive world, without the traditional headache of
managing, supporting and trouble-shooting communications systems.
Flexion provides an easy to use complete communications solution that
delivers advanced telephone, computer, fax and Internet capabilities to a new
generation of small business entrepreneurs that want to enhance their
competitive edge while increasing profitability and reducing costs.
For more information about Flexion, please call 650/378-1306 or go to
www.flexion.com.
CONTACT: Manning Selvage & Lee Anne Desautels, 415/676-
3900 adesaute@msltech.com 10:32 EDT MAY 24, 1999
---- INDEX REFERENCES ----
NEWS SUBJECT: Business Wire; Press Release Wires; New Products & Services
(BW PREL PDT)
Word Count: 1130
5/24/99 BWIRE 10:47:00
END OF DOCUMENT |
