Active Voice Demonstrates Convergence-Ready Messaging and Call Control Platform at PBX2000 Conference
February 10, 1999
SEATTLE, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/Active Voice Corporation
(Nasdaq: ACVC), a world leader in PC-based
voice processing systems and Computer
Telephony Integration (CTI) solutions, today
demonstrated Voice-over-IP-ready (VoIP)
unified messaging and call control support
with Unity(TM), the company's Windows
NT(R)-based communications server. The
demonstrations were given at PBX2000, an
annual conference on enterprise voice
communications, held in Washington, DC.
Demonstrations included:
* A single Unity server simultaneously
handling calls from a traditional circuit PBX
and an IP PBX. A user calling through a
circuit PBX transparently sent and received
messages for users on the IP PBX and
vice-versa.
* Unity providing the single point of
administration for unified messaging and an
IP PBX. Entering a name one time in a single
network directory created a user's network
account; provided e-mail, voice mail, and fax
mail access; and activated and configured
the user's telephone.
* A general-purpose call control application
that let desktop users manage both circuit
and IP calls from a single, simplified interface.
"Convergence is about simplification, reduced
operating and maintenance costs, and richer
end-user features," said Robert L. Richmond,
Active Voice chairman and chief executive
officer. "Recognizing this, we have invested
heavily in a new, convergence-ready
platform that gives our partners the
competitive features they need for both
existing circuit and IP products. Because of
this, any transition from circuit to IP can be
seamless -- applications built on our platform
work exactly the same on either network.
And since we support a mixed circuit and
packet environment, our partners can focus
on a convergence strategy that respects
existing investments and really works for
mission-critical business communications
systems."
"Commitment to industry standards is a
critical ingredient in our partner and platform
strategy," said Kevin L. Chestnut, Active
Voice vice president of advanced products
and chief technology officer. "Our
demonstrations at PBX2000 used
'off-the-shelf' Cisco IP PBX software. The
demos were possible because both products
use the same standards. Certainly, standards
are reshaping communications. In the IP
environment, the end-point devices --
telephones, PCs, PDAs, and so on --
communicate directly with each other in a
standard way, so the role of the 'switch'
changes dramatically. The devices, the IP
network, and the network operating system
can handle most of the functions you
associate with a traditional PBX."
"With IP, we expect the focus of 'switching'
to shift from simply connecting a call from
one person to another, to intelligent routing
services based on availability, schedule,
location, device capabilities, bandwidth,
cost, and a wealth of other data available on
a converged voice and data network,"
continued Chestnut. "Active Voice plays a
key role here since Unity is built on top of
standard directory services and the standard
e-mail/groupware platforms that provide this
data. That's why we are so focused on the
right combination of end-user features,
platform services, and development tools for
partners."
"What this all means is that with
convergence, the value is in the
applications," Chestnut added. "It doesn't
matter whether you are selling a circuit
telephone system or an IP telephone system
or something in between -- a world-class
telephone system needs world-class unified
messaging and call handling on top of a rich
development platform. That product, that
platform, is Unity."
Unity provides access to e-mail, voice mail,
and fax messages at the desktop PC,
through a touchtone telephone, and over the
Internet. Designed to support key directory,
messaging, call control, and streaming media
standards, Unity provides both true unified
messaging (single directory and message
store) and integrated messaging (separate
directory and store) for leading groupware
products. Unity 2.0 supports Microsoft
Exchange and Outlook. Unity is built on a
communications server platform that provides
a framework for advanced features and
supports extensive customization and
co-development by Active Voice partners.
Designed for global deployment by the
world's leading communications companies,
all user interface components support
multiple languages simultaneously.
Founded in 1983, the Seattle-based Active
Voice has offices in Australia, Canada, China,
France, India, Sweden, The Netherlands, and
the United Kingdom. With more than 62,000
systems installed in virtually every kind of
business in over 60 countries, Active Voice
develops technology that helps businesses
communicate better. Active Voice products
are sold through a global network of
independent telecommunications dealers,
telephone equipment manufacturers, and
computer resellers. More information about
Active Voice and its products is available at
the company's Web site,
www.activevoice.com. |
