Comverse Network Systems Announces Expanded Integration
With IP Standards-Based Components
WOODBURY, NY, March 1, 2000 -- Comverse Network Systems, a subsidiary of Comverse Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMVT), and the world's leading supplier of software and systems enabling network-based enhanced services, today announced expanded capability to integrate its unified messaging solution with Internet Protocol (IP) standards-based components.
Comverse Network Systems' unified messaging solution is available using any standards-based message store and directory, employing the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) interfaces, respectively.
Comverse has established the Interoperability Partners Program (IPP) which is designed to certify components providers' interface for effective integration into the Comverse IP architecture. For example, Critical Path will integrate its message store and directory components into Comverse's expanded IP architecture. Comverse's unified messaging solution can leverage installed or newly deployed Critical Path components.
The open standards-based unified messaging solution enables service providers to offer a portfolio of next generation messaging services to their subscribers through the seamless integration of voice and Internet applications. Comverse's unified messaging solution is scalable, flexible, structured on IP architecture, and satisfies the reliability requirements of service providers. The portfolio of single-sourced messaging consolidates voice, fax and e-mail messages, which can be accessed by a subscriber from any device over any network.
According to Sachi Gerlitz, Chief Technology Officer for Comverse Network Systems, "Our unified messaging solution reflects our continued commitment to provide open-standards technology to the marketplace. The integration of components demonstrates the flexibility of our architecture." Expressing Comverse's ongoing pledge to deliver network-based, value-added communications service solutions, Mr. Gerlitz added, "Our IP component-based architecture allows the seamless deployment of enhanced services in both the traditional and next generation telecommunications and IP networks."
"Critical Path's allsource solutions are specifically engineered to work in large scale environments -- whether for corporations, Internet service providers (ISP's), Web Hosting companies, or Web portals and, are specially suited to meet the high availability demands of their business," said Doug Hickey, CEO at Critical Path. "Comverse's integration of Critical Path's solutions into the Comverse architecture will make our standards-based carrier-grade messaging and directory solutions more readily available to service providers and global telecommunications companies -- and represents a major step forward in our penetration of the service provider market."
Comverse has focused its efforts on the increasing demand for accessing all types of messages via a single interface, committed to full integration into the service providers' Internet environment. Additionally, the growing demand for the consolidation of a variety of personalized services including scheduling, personal address book, content and m-commerce, offers the service provider a clear marketing opportunity for bundled services, providing them with a strong competitive edge. The packaging of network-based voice and Internet applications helps to promote network "stickiness" affording service providers the opportunity to realize increased subscriber loyalty and greater revenue opportunities.
About Critical Path, Inc.
Critical Path, Inc. is a leading global provider of business-to-business Internet messaging and collaboration solutions for corporations, Internet service providers (ISPs), Web hosting companies, and Web portals. Critical Path has built an industry-leading global infrastructure with data centers connected to key Internet exchange points, and currently reaches millions of end-users through its customer relationships. Critical Path provides reliable, secure, and scalable e-mail, and flexible suite of enhanced messaging services to partners such as E*Trade, CompuServe, Network Solutions, US West, Sprint, and ICQ. Critical Path is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in locations nationwide and in Germany, England, Ireland and Argentina. More information on Critical Path can be found at cp.net.
About Comverse Network Systems
Comverse's Network Systems is the world's leading provider of software and systems enabling enhanced services for wireless and wireline communications service providers with over 310 communications customers in more than 90 countries. Comverse Network Systems' software and systems enable a wide range of multimedia enhanced services, which generate revenues, provide competitive differentiation, and increase customer acquisition and retention. The services include: call answering, wireless data and Internet-based information services, prepaid wireless services, mailbox-to-mailbox messaging, Internet-based unified messaging (voice, fax, and e-mail in a single mailbox), interactive voice response, virtual phone/fax, one-touch call return, personal number service, call screening/caller introduction, voice-controlled web portal and other speech recognition-based services, Internet messaging, Internet call waiting, and other personal communication services. For additional information, visit Comverse Network Systems' web site at comversens.com.
About Comverse Technology, Inc.
Comverse Technology, Inc., headquartered in Woodbury, New York, designs, develops, manufactures and markets computer and telecommunications systems and software for communications and information processing applications. In addition to its Network Systems subsidiary, Comverse's operating subsidiaries include: Comverse Infosys subsidiary, which provides: multiple channel, multimedia digital recording, logging, and quality monitoring systems marketed to call centers, financial institutions and other organizations, and multiple channel, multimedia digital monitoring systems marketed to law enforcement and intelligence agencies; and Ulticom, which is a leading provider of network signaling software for wireless, wireline, and Internet communication services. Comverse Technology is an S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100 Index company. Visit Comverse Technology's web site at comverse.com. |
