On further review, this is a great product> Comdial Launches Impact FXS Series of Computer Telephony Platforms; Sets New Standards in Scalability and Flexibility
January 4, 1999
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
Comdial Corporation (Nasdaq: CMDL) today
announced that it is now delivering the
powerful new Impact FXS family of digital
telecommunication systems. These unique
platforms are an ideal blend of computer and
telephony technologies designed to carry
Comdial solutions into the next century. The
Impact FXS is scalable up to 544 ports and
offers a host of software applications; such
as Impact Concierge for the hospitality
market, and Impact Avalon for the fast
growing assisted living market. Comdial
engineers have modularized the hardware
and software, which makes the Impact FXS
cost-competitive over a broad range of user
configurations.
Mr. William G. Mustain, President and CEO,
said, "With better technology, better design
and better performance, our flagship Impact
FXS offers a great combination of flexibility,
scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Impact
FXS supports the convergence of voice and
data into a unique and powerful technology
that will serve Comdial customers well into
the twenty-first century."
Impact FXS
Designed with both end users and resellers in
mind, the Impact FXS is the ideal switching
and applications platform for organizations
with up to 500 users. The Impact FXS is a
state-of-the-art digital voice switch, with all
of the advanced switching features including
cost-effective interfaces for ISDN, T-1, and
networking over a wide area network. But
what distinguishes the Impact FXS from
other switching platforms in its class is the
on-board PC. This Windows NT(R) based PC,
equipped with a modem, allows dealers to
order operating system and applications
software directly from Comdial, and download
it to the switch from Comdial's secure web
site. The Impact FXS is an "open" system,
therefore third party applications software
can be easily loaded onto the on-board PC.
Competitive Advantages
Scalability - Competitive systems typically
provide port expansion through the addition
of circuit cards to the main switching
cabinet. However, the " overhead" cost,
consisting of the common components
(power supply, backplane, central processing
unit, system services, operating system
software, etc.), is the same across all size
configurations. This makes smaller systems
much more costly on a per-user basis.
Comdial engineers have modularized all the
common hardware and software, and added
two additional cabinets for expansion. As a
result, end user costs are relatively equal on
a per-user basis across a broad range of user
configurations.
Flexibility - The needs of business users are
rarely the same. Some require advanced
capabilities like voice processing, automatic
call distribution with caller "screen pops," and
IP (Internet Protocol) gateway software to
route long distance voice and fax traffic over
wide area networks. Competitive switching
platforms typically provide these
enhancements by adding peripherals to the
central switch. The Impact FXS is an "open"
platform. The embedded PC is shipped
pre-equipped with voice boards and network
interface cards (sourced from Dialogic Corp.)
and a host of software applications. Comdial
dealers determine from their customers what
software applications are required, and
simply enable the applications after
purchasing a secure " magic number" from
Comdial.
New Software Features - The FXS ships
pre-loaded with several new and enhanced
feature packages.
- VVP-NT - Voice processing and auto
attendant software developed by Comdial's
Key Voice Technologies subsidiary.
- Visual Call Management - Messaging
software that provides users on the LAN a
graphical user interface from which to
manage voice and fax messages.
- QuickQ 4.0 - Comdial's latest automatic call
distribution software runs on a Windows
NT(R) platform, which means other Windows
applications can run simultaneously.
- Impact Attendant - A new PC-based
call-handling package that lets operators see
at a glance the status of all telephones and
active lines. Busy parties can be discretely
alerted to priority calls and on-the-go office
workers can be tracked via messages to their
pagers.
- Impact Group - Groupware that shows the
status of all telephones in the group and
allows call processing from PC screens,
including screen-pops for inbound call
handling.
- Impact Integrator - CTI enabling software
that runs behind the scenes and allows third
party TAPI (Telephone Application
Programming Interface) applications to be
performed from the desktop.
Sales Strategy
The Impact FXS will be sold through both
direct and indirect channels. Sales to large
multi-location end users are the responsibility
of Comdial's national accounts team. The
Impact FXS will also be marketed directly to
original equipment manufacturers. Indirect
sales will be through qualified Platinum
Preferred and Gold Preferred dealers.
Comdial has no plans to discontinue its
popular DXP and DXP Plus digital switching
systems, but does anticipate that sales of
these 1992-1995 vintage systems will decline
over time as dealers focus on the Impact
FXS.
Comdial Corporation
Comdial is a provider of integrated
communications solutions for small and
mid-size organizations. The Company's broad
product line includes digital switches, wired
and wireless business telephones, call center
hardware and software, voice processing
systems, and Internet Protocol telephony
gateways. For more information on Comdial,
visit our web site at
comdial.com.
This release contains forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to,
the impact of competitive products, product
demand and market acceptance risks,
reliance on key strategic alliances,
fluctuations in operating results, delays in
development of highly complex products, and
other risks detailed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These risks could
cause the Company's actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in any
forward looking statement made by, or on
behalf of, the Company.
<<Business Wire, 12-31-98, 07:30 Eastern>> |
