February 24, 2000
The Power of Mobile Unified Messaging: Siemens And
Comverse To Demonstrate WAP-Based Messaging
Applications On Live GPRS System
HANNOVER, GERMANY, February 24, 2000 -- At CeBIT 2000 in
Hannover, Siemens Information and Communication Networks and Comverse
Network Systems, a subsidiary of Comverse Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:
CMVT), will demonstrate Comverse' unified messaging services and a
Wireless Application Protocol- (WAP) based Mobile Visual MailboxTM (MVM)
using Siemens' General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Network. By leveraging
WAP and GPRS, the demonstration shows how mobile users are able to
instantly browse through their mailboxes and use the handset's voice
capabilities to listen, reply or return a call. The demonstration is shown on
live GPRS demo handsets at the Siemens booth (H14 in hall 14).
Comverse's unified messaging and MVM applications enable mobile
subscribers to view and manage their voice, e-mail, fax or SMS messages via
GPRS. Comverse's innovative MVM is an enhancement to traditional telephone
interfaces. It frees the subscriber from the telephone's limited
"serial/DTMF only" access to messages, and is available when using any WAP
phone, PDA or terminal with IP connectivity.
Using MVM, voice mail attains the same excellent message management
qualities as e-mail. Subscribers can view the headers of multiple messages
simultaneously and have full control over all the regular mailbox options
(Listen, Send, Modify, Fax Forwarding, etc). Users can access a specific
message without having serially to go through all the messages preceding it as
with regular phones. Having selected the appropriate message, it is then
either played (voice mail or e-mail with text-to-speech), shown on screen
(e-mail), or transmitted (fax). Visit the Comverse Network Systems booth at
CeBIT (E44 in hall 17).
For the demonstration, Siemens provides a complete GPRS and WAP
infrastructure solution to enable end-to-end mobile IP connectivity between
the demo handsets and the Comverse enhanced services system. Using the
Siemens GPRS solution, users at CeBIT are able to instantly view their
messages making it easy to retrieve and respond to each message. The
solution is more efficient than a traditional circuit switch data connection,
since subscribers will be charged by the size of message they retrieve or
send, rather than by traditional airtime.
Lothar Pauly, President of the Communication on Air division at Siemens
Information and Communication Networks, said, "The cooperation with
Comverse enables us to demonstrate that, in addition to information services
and mobile commerce, we can now offer advanced messaging solutions
through GPRS. The integration of Comverse's products within our mobile
solutions portfolio builds on our respective strengths: Siemens expertise in
Internet Communications for cellular networks and Comverse's leadership in
providing enhanced services systems and software."
According to David Booker, Managing Director, Comverse UK, "We are very
pleased to have the opportunity to show with Siemens for the first time,
messaging applications using the IP-based GPRS network. The MVM
application running over GPRS creates new opportunities for service
providers to enrich their enhanced services offer with instant and
interactive access to the subscribers' mailbox. The new services that
Comverse and Siemens demonstrate over GPRS are one of the first
milestones in the road for next generation applications in 3G mobile
networks."
About Siemens, Information and Communication Networks Group
The Information and Communications business segment is part of Siemens
AG, a global powerhouse in electrical engineering and electronics with more
than $75 billion in sales. Information and Communications consists of the
three groups Information and Communication Networks (59,000 employees,
$13 billion sales), Information and Communication Products (33,000
employees, $11 billion sales) and Siemens Business Services (21,000
employees, $four billion sales).
Information and Communication Networks is an integral part of Information
and Communications. As Solution Provider of voice, data, and mobile radio
networks, Information and Communication Networks has a comprehensive
product portfolio - producing and supplying complete systems, enterprise
products, switching and transmission equipment - and many years of
consulting experience in planning, setting up, and operating networks. Within
its overall strategy of "Convergence - Creating A Universe of One" the
Siemens Information and Communication Networks Group is pursuing three
main initiatives for the next generation of communication: innovation in
IP-driven voice and data communications, evolution from GSM to
third-generation mobile voice and data networks and applications, and
customer-oriented end-to-end solutions and service/integration support for
future customer requirements. Siemens provides products and tailor-made
solutions which ensure problem-free Internet traffic and the integration of
different networks into one convergent network, utilizing legacy network
infrastructures. Further information can be found on the Internet at
siemens.com.
Siemens is a provider of complete GSM systems. This is made possible by the
broad product portfolio, from manufacturing to delivering turnkey solutions,
mobile devices, switching stations and transmission systems. Siemens also
offers comprehensive experience in planning, building and operating GSM
systems. As a worldwide leader, Siemens has already provided GSM systems
to more than 140 network operators in over 70 countries. It is estimated
that one in three GSM telephone calls worldwide is made on a Siemens
system. More information about Siemens' solutions for mobile and intelligent
networks can be found on the Internet at
siemens.com.
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, 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.
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