Dennis, I'll ask. No response yet to my call.
(COMTEX) NEC AMERICA AND CISCO SYSTEMS COLLABORATE TO INTEGRATE VOICE
NEC AMERICA AND CISCO SYSTEMS COLLABORATE TO INTEGRATE VOICE AND DATA NETWORKS
Voice Over IP Solutions Will Help Reduce Costs of Voice Transport and
Enable
Users to Begin Merging Separate Voice and Data Networks
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with the PBX
2000 Conference sponsored by Business Communications Review, NEC
America and Cisco Systems today announce that they have signed a
memorandum of understanding establishing their intention to work
together to provide solutions that will meet the growing demand for
integration of PBX and internetworking technology targeted at providing
enhanced and lower cost voice communication for businesses through the
integration of voice and data networks.
According to the memorandum of understanding between the two companies,
the first in a series of planned initiatives is a development effort to
deliver a full Voice over IP-enabled PBX (Private Branch Exchange)
utilizing the new NEAX(R)2400 IMX platform which NEC also unveils at
today's conference. This next generation PBX introduces an innovative
(patent pending) networking technology called "Fusion Call Control
Signaling (FCCS)" which will deploy a new transmission signaling
protocol compatible with IP networks and Cisco's routers and switches.
This application is intended to allow a voice network to seamlessly
integrate into an IP network, making it possible to add voice
networking capabilities to a LAN or WAN without a major network
restructuring. Under the terms of this milestone memorandum of
understanding, NEC intends to contribute expertise in the areas of
voice communications, PBX technology, and vertical market application
development while Cisco intends to provide expertise in data
communications and Internet technology.
In general, the cooperation is intended to provide networking solutions
that will provide businesses large and small with more cost-effective
ways to transport voice services throughout their enterprise. Proposed
collaboration between the two industry leaders on additional
initiatives such as network management systems and tools would also
help to reduce the costs of network ownership. Another key objective
is to develop and produce new applications that will accelerate the
development and deployment of integrated multimedia networks.
Having worked closely over the past five years, Cisco and NEC have
similar visions for development of markets for voice and data networks.
Both companies are focused on meeting the growing demand for computer
and communication systems integration, and seek to enhance voice
services using internetworking technologies.
"Both Cisco and NEC believe that the next wave of the Internet
Revolution will be defined by the ability to integrate voice, video &
data effectively over a single network to reduce costs and enable new
application deployment," stated Mr. John Chambers, president and CEO of
Cisco. "Cisco is excited to be collaborating with NEC, as one of the
top worldwide PBX developers, to lead in the deployment of these
integrated networks. This effort will enable NEC's and Cisco's
products to become more complementary and establishes a foundation for
future collaboration between our companies."
"NEC recognizes the strategic importance of global Internet protocols
for both private and public networks, and is integrating these into its
new PBX platform," stated Dr. Mineo Sugiyama, president of NEC America,
Inc. "NEC's alliance with Cisco will enable us to offer our customers
unique applications to more effectively transport voice services
throughout enterprise networks such as geographically distributed
businesses, school systems, healthcare providers, and virtually all
types of campus environments. NEC has been a key partner with Cisco in
Japan since 1992 and looks forward to continuing and expanding our
partnership in the future, leveraging each company's unique strengths."
NEC America, Inc., an affiliate of NEC Corporation, develops,
manufactures and markets a complete line of advanced communications
products and software for public and private networks, including
digital key telephone and PBX systems; ATM switching systems; PCS
equipment; cellular telephones; pagers; facsimile equipment;
videoconferencing equipment; fiber optic transmission systems; data
communications products; digital microwave radio, satellite
communications and network management systems. NEC Corporation and its
affiliates worldwide are a $40 billion global leader whose 152,000
employees are dedicated to providing leading-edge computer,
communications and semiconductor products and services. For additional
information on NEC America, Inc., the Corporate Networks Group and its
products, please consult the World Wide Web at: cng.nec.com
or call 800-TEAM-NEC.
Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO), of San Jose, CA, is the worldwide
leader in networking for the Internet. News and information on Cisco:
cisco.com.
Cisco, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo are registered trade marks
of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All
other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their
respective owners. SOURCE NEC America, Inc.
-0- 02/09/98 /CONTACT: Mr. Robert P.
Talty, V.P. Marketing of NEC America, Inc. C.N.G, 972-518-4841, E-mail:
btalty@cng.dl.nec.com; ;
; or Mr. Bob Michelet of Cisco
Systems, 408-526-6636, E-mail: bmichele@cisco.com; or George Michael of
Michael & Partners for NEC America, Inc. C.N.G, 972-248-6300, E-mail:
gmichael@cbq.com/
/Website: cng.nec.com; cisco.com (CSCO)
CO: NEC America, Inc.; Cisco Systems, Inc. ST: District of
Columbia, Texas IN: TLS CPR MLM SU: PDT
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